'Les Voyage' of Alcest

Whatever word most casual listeners would use to describe metal, beautiful is not one that gets tossed around much.

Even though bands such as Tool and Opeth frequently mix tender moments in with the ferocity, it is their rage that sticks out the most. Yet it is the beauty of French duo Alcest’s music that stands out. Their latest album, “Les Voyages de L’ame,” is a gorgeous blend of shoegaze and black metal that is more for falling asleep to than for moshing.

The label of black metal is often a hard sell for Alcest among certain crowds. Rough vocals appear rarely and blast beats only slightly more often. But the two are handled with such care that they flow together without ever feeling awkward, and even the blast beats feel graceful.

Lead vocalist Neige said he is disappointed when listeners find his music sinister. It is an easy mistake to make, but in this case, mournful can still be alluring.