From Bandcamp, “ALCEST were founded in the year 2000, they established the Post Black Metal/Shoegaze Black Metal/Blackgaze genre. Over the years, ALCEST made this music popular beyond genre borders, and today they are the protagonists of the music genre they invented. Their latest effort here is titled “Les Chants de l'Aurore,” which translates to English as “The Songs of Dawn.”

“Komorebi” is first, and out of the gate comes a vivid sound with clean vocals that are clean and bright. The song is very dramatic, peaked with vocal swells, and is impassioned and charged at times, and sentimental and introspective at others. They ride out the sun’s deep ray all the way to the rainbow that lies beyond the mountain. It is Japanese for “sunlight,” and that is exactly what the song bottles. “L’Envol” was the first single released on the album, and it renewed my sense of wonder. It means “flight” or “to soar.” A jovial guitar melody combines with vocals that are tinged with just enough sorrow to make your heart ache. It is gorgeous. The ride is swift but you have time to look around. When you do, the beauty of what you see is almost too much.

“Améthyste” has harder edges with more angles, and it represents the dichotomy if their sound more accurately…a hefty and study sound with a juxtaposition of harsh vocals and clean vocals. “Flamme Jumelle” means “twin flame” in English, and it is another luminous offering that is ablaze with spirit and emotions. For me, it represents the burning love of two youths, and that feeling that are you are deeply connected to someone else. “Réminiscence” is a sublime and colorful piano driven song with ethereal vocals, and I found myself revisiting it often. It makes me long for better days of the past. “L'Enfant de la Lune” translates to “Child of the Moon” in English, and there is something mysterious about the rousing and lively song. Although much of it is steady, a big crescendo comes out of nowhere and sweeps you off your feet.

“L'Adieu” is an expression of “best wishes” when someone leaves. After the heavy emotional rollercoaster ride of the album, it’s a hushed and peaceful way to end the album. In sum, “Les Chants de l'Aurore” explores the delicate balance between light and darkness, villains and heroes, beauty and beastly. Each track masterfully navigates these contrasting themes, and the music captures the constant interplay between opposing forces, offering moments of uplifting melodies intertwined with darker, more intense passages. This balance causes a sense of tension and resolution, mirroring the complexities of the human experience. There are some utterly breathtaking moments, and it’s the best album I have heard this year to date.