I wasn't aware of the fact that Fjoergyn would start so early and somehow my conversation with Neige (Alcest) and Fursy - live bassist of Alcest and mastermind of Les Discrets - got longer then expected. So I just got into the venue when the Germans presented their last 2 songs. But it seemed that they entertained the audience well...
Change over. Alcest did it on their own, also a line check - and that did the sound good. They were out to promote Écailled de Lune. Then the stage was flooded in blue light and smoke was billowing. Mastermind Neige created soundscapes which would just be more impressive, if they were somehow visualized... The melancholy sounds and the 'clean' vocals on the first songs took the audience by surprise - at least the ones who aren't familiar with the Alcest sounds. The band seemed to be totally drowned into their sonic universe. Neige and drummer Winterhaller (Amesoeurs, Les Discrets) were joined by guitarist Zero - who was also adding some vocals and Fursy, bassist and mastermind of Les Discrets and illustrator of e.g. Alcest's latest artwork. It's Alcest's first tour, but the guys work together very well and offered a set incl. songs of their debut and their latest release Écailled de Lune. They simply took you onto a sonic journey which towards the end was spiced up with some black-ish elements. After a 60 minute long set some were a bit bored by Alcest and waited impatiently for The Vision Bleak, but the majority was just stunned by the melancholy sound universe of Alcest.
The venue was already filled when Alcest got on stage, but more people arrived while the French were on stage and so the club was pretty much packed. Then it was time for The Vision Bleak! The intro announced the beginning of the show, Ulf Theodor Schwadorf and Allen B. Konstanz entered the stage and headed into Descent Into Maelstrom. They had set the sails and took the people onto a journey which first took the fans back in time - Night Of The Living Dead off their debut The Deathship Has A New Captain. The theatric show of Konstanz was intense and fascinating. After he welcomed the fans they offered Carpathia - and it got loud! With The Black Pharao Pt II - and towards the end of the set Brotherhood With Seth - they didn't present much of their album The Wolves Go Hunt Their Prey, but this was the Set Sail To Mystery tour and so The Outsider, Romance With The Grave and I Dined With The Swans they played a few highlights of their new album, but the show's highlights was Kutulu! And like a witch doctor Konstanz seemed to cast an evil spell onto the people who just followed his instructions and repeated the words. The closer of the regular set was The Charm Is Done off Carpathia and the band left the stage. The people wanted more and so The Vision Bleak came back. "e;Ladies and gentlemen, here comes The Lone Night Rider"e;! One more to go and it was over. The Vision Bleak delivered an impressive show full of heavy riffs and a theatric vocal performance.
Alcest and The Vision Bleak are quite different acts, but both are impressive in their own way. I don't think that anybody regretted spending this Thursday night at Turock!