Alcest

Spiritual Instinct

"Spiritual Instinct" is a pretty epic "metal" record with incredible riffs, great vocals and outstanding production. There's also a concept to chew up, but the language barrier and the translations coming out as vague didn't really make me envelope it as much as I needed to.

Fav Tracks: Les jardins de minuit, L’île des morts, Sapphire, Spiritual Instinct

Least Fav Track: Protection

Score:
8.6
Exceptional

While I'm a massive fan of blackgaze, Alcest has always been one of those bands that fell into the "not heavy enough" section of the subgenre. Spiritual Instinct is not a reinvention of the band's core sound, but it is a refinement of the elements that makes the band stand out, and is their best executed to date. The shorter tracks feel a tad uninspired and feel as though they're only there to pad out the tracklist, but the longer cuts showcase grand climaxes that rival the triumphant ... read more

Ahh I wish this were doing more for me but it's unfortunately a bit underwhelming. It does have the atmosphere that I enjoy from Alcest but it doesn't really feel like it amounts to much for me here. I need more than just sad blackgaze riffs to keep me interested. Everything feels not only tame but also forgettable- I cannot remember these tracks for the life of me once they're done and that isn't true of some of this band's previous work. I'm glad it's resonating with lots of people though ... read more

Once again, the boys in Alcest prove they consistently make some of the most ethereal and ambient blackgaze one will find. This is a "metal" record but it's much more than that, with the instruments creating an absolute wall of sound that is so easy to just let envelope you. It paints a fantastic picture, and the only reason I dock some points here is because Alcest aren't exactly reinventing the wheel. They've been doing this for some time and hit their peak with Kodama. However, if ... read more