Year of No Light

Last updated

Year of No Light
Droneberg Berlin Year of No Light Apr 16 2015 110.jpg
Year of No Light performing at Droneberg Festival 2015 in Berlin
Background information
Origin Bordeaux, France
Genres Post-metal, post-rock, sludge metal
Years active2001–present
LabelsConspiracy, Crucial Blast, E-Vinyl, Music Fear Satan, Radar Swarm, Pelagic
MembersJérôme Alban
Pierre Anouilh
Bertrand Sébenne
Johan Sébenne
Shiran Kaïdine
Mathieu Mégemont
Past membersChristophe Mora [1]
Julien Perez
Website yearofnolight.free.fr

Year of No Light is a French post-metal band formed in Bordeaux in 2001. On their 2006 debut album Nord , the band combined a dark and aggressive sludge metal sound with psychedelic atmospheres inspired by post-rock and shoegazing. In 2008, they underwent a significant line-up change, replacing their vocalist by a third guitarist and a second drummer to become an instrumental sextet. Thereafter, Year of No Light integrated black metal, doom metal, drone and dark ambient influences on the albums Ausserwelt (2010) and Tocsin (2013).

Contents

History

Year of No Light was founded in September 2001 in Bordeaux by Johan Sébenne, Bertrand Sébenne, Jérôme Alban and Christophe Mora (Finger Print, Undone). Since its conception, Year of No Light was never a "top priority" band but rather an instrumental side project. After one year of rehearsal, Christophe Mora left the band. [1] Pierre Anouilh succeeded him. [1] One month later, the band played live for the first time.

From 2002 to 2003, they played local shows in Bordeaux. In September 2003, Julien Perez joined the band as a singer. [1] One month later, the new line up played its first show. Year of No Light still remains an "active" side project due to all of the musical activities of the vast majority of its members.

The band finally recorded a demo in June 2004. After its release, the group toured Spain and Basque Country. Following the good feedbacks surrounding the demo (one review describing Year of No Light as "The Cure playing Sludge" [2] ), the band worked on its first album during the summer 2005. In September 2005, they recorded Nord with Serge Morattel [3] in Switzerland. The following year, Nord was released to positive reviews. [3] [4] [5] Year of No Light began to tour more often in 2006 and played at the famous Dour Festival in 2007. The same year, Nord was reissued on Crucial Blast, for the CD version, and Cavity Records for the LP.

In 2008, Year of No Light toured Europe and played at the prestigious Roadburn and Hellfest festivals. After several collaborations with acts like Nadja and Fear Falls Burning and some splits recordings, they discarded their singer. At the end of the summer, Year of No Light becomes a six-piece entity with two drummers, one bassist, and three guitarists, backed by some vintage synths. Shiran Kaïdine, from Monarch!, and Mathieu Mégemont, from Aérôflôt, joined the band respectively as third guitarist and second drummer. [6]

Jerome Alban performing in 2009 YONL3.jpg
Jérôme Alban performing in 2009

In September 2009, the band began to record Ausserwelt in Bordeaux with Cyrille Gachet. In April 2010, following the release of Ausserwelt on Conspiracy, Year of No Light toured Europe with Irish black metallers Altar of Plagues. The following month, the band worked on a soundtrack for Dreyer's Vampyr , and performed it for the first time, on 28 May 2010, at Barbey Theatre in Bordeaux. In February 2011, Year of No Light played Vampyr in Tallinn, Estonia. The following months, after having recorded new material for upcoming splits, they toured Europe and played two sets at Roadburn: a classical gig (including the totality of Ausserwelt) and the Vampyr performance. [7]

The group worked with French contemporary artist Christian Vialard on Le Temps de l'Ecoute, a video installation reinventing Yves Klein's Monotone Symphony, exhibited at la Villa Arson in 2011. [8] [9]

In late 2014, Year of No Light embarked on their first ever U.S. tour, playing eleven dates. Sludge metal band Take Over And Destroy opened for the first nine shows with various other openers, booked in west coast and southwestern states. The tour then concluded with two nights at New York venue Saint Vitus. [10] The band however performed as a five-piece during this tour, with the band citing guitarist Pierre Anouilh's visa issues preventing him from touring.

Members

Current

Former

Discography

Studio albums

YearAlbum [11] [12] ReleasedFormatLabel
2006 Nord 2006CDRadar Swarm
20062×LPE-Vinyl, Atropine Records
2007CDCrucial Blast
20082×LPCavity Records, Atropine Records, E-Vinyl
20122×CD (Deluxe Edition)Music Fear Satan
2010 Ausserwelt 2010CDConspiracy
20102×LPMusic Fear Satan
2013Tocsin2013CDDebemur Morti
2021Consolamentum2021CDPelagic Records

Live albums

YearAlbum [11] [12] ReleasedFormatLabel
2009 Live at Roadburn 2008 2009LP+DVDRoadburn Records
2011CDRoadburn Records
2013Vampyr20132×LP+CDMusic Fear Satan
2013CDInit Records

Split albums, EPs and collaborations

Demo

Soundtracks

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Glove</span> Band

The Glove was a 1983 English musical collaboration and recording project by the Cure's Robert Smith and Siouxsie and the Banshees' Steven Severin. They released one studio album, Blue Sunshine, in 1983 as part of Severin's solo deal with Polydor. The latter came up with the band name, the album title and the blue/yellow sleeve concept, as Smith had to leave the project before completion due to prior commitments with the Cure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Ex (band)</span> Dutch band

The Ex is an underground band from the Netherlands, started in 1979 at the height of the original punk explosion as a Dutch punk band. The Ex originated from the squatting movement in Amsterdam and Wormer, and was inspired by bands like The Fall and The Mekons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doda (singer)</span> Polish singer

Dorota Aqualiteja Rabczewska, known professionally as Doda, is a Polish singer, songwriter, producer, actress and television personality. A three-time MTV Europe Music Award winner, she is among the most successful Polish artists in terms of number of prizes won. Doda is notable for her innovative and controversial performances and music videos. She rose to fame as a member of the Polish rock band Virgin, with whom she released four studio albums: Virgin (2002), Bimbo (2004), the triple platinum Ficca (2005), and Choni (2016).

The National Film Award for Best Direction is an honour presented annually at India's National Film Awards ceremony by the Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF), an organisation set up by the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Since 1967, the award is given by a national panel appointed annually by the DFF to a director for their work within Indian cinema. It is presented by the president of India at a ceremony held in New Delhi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. T. O'Sullivan</span> American gridiron football player (born 1979)

John Thomas O'Sullivan is an American former professional football quarterback who played nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL), two seasons in NFL Europe and one season in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the UC Davis Aggies, starting for three years and throwing for career totals of 10,745 yards and 96 touchdowns. He was named a first-team All-American in 2000 and a second-team All-American in 2001. He was inducted into the Cal Aggie Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trophy Scars</span> American experimental rock band

Trophy Scars, is an American experimental rock band from Morristown, New Jersey, United States, with blues and psychedelic influences. Trophy Scars began as a post-hardcore group but has since embraced broader genres.

<i>Christ Illusion</i> 2006 studio album by Slayer

Christ Illusion is the tenth studio album by American thrash metal band Slayer, released on August 8, 2006 by American Recordings. It was the band's first album featuring all four original members in nearly sixteen years. Slayer's drummer, Dave Lombardo, performed with the band for the first time since Seasons in the Abyss (1990).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">X Japan discography</span>

The discography of the Japanese heavy metal band X Japan consists of five studio albums, six live albums, one remix album, eleven compilations, one soundtrack album, 23 singles, and around 22 live video recordings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spellbound (Siouxsie and the Banshees song)</span> 1981 single by Siouxsie and the Banshees

"Spellbound" is a song by English rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees. The group wrote it and co-produced it with Nigel Gray. It was released in 1981 by record label Polydor as the first single from the band's fourth studio album, Juju.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antillectual</span> Dutch melodic hardcore/punk rock band

Antillectual is a Dutch Punk or melodic hardcore band from the city of Nijmegen, founded in 2000. Their lyrics are politically motivated and typically written in English. The band has toured extensively in the US, England, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, and Luxembourg. They have shared the stage with Rise Against, Strike Anywhere, A Wilhelm Scream, Against Me!, Anti-Flag, Ignite, Story of the Year, Strung Out, No Use For A Name, Bad Religion, Propagandhi, and NOFX.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nostradamus World Tour</span> 2008–09 concert tour by Judas Priest

The Nostradamus World Tour was a concert tour by English heavy metal band, Judas Priest, in support of the group's 16th studio album, Nostradamus, which was released in June 2008.

Antidote is a Dutch punk band formed in 1996. Inspiration for the band came when the band members had a jam session at the squat De Blauwe Aanslag. The band has released five full-length studio albums and toured extensively in Europe, North America, and Russia with prominent US punk bands such as The Casualties and The Virus. Antidote's music has been categorized as punk, hardcore, or straight edge. They write politically motivated songs with lyrics that support the squatting movement, are anti-fascist, anti-homophobic, and even criticize the punk scene itself.

Gary Holland is an American hard rock and heavy metal drummer who worked in the 1980s with bands originating from California. He is perhaps best known for being the original drummer in Great White and for his brief stint in Dokken. He later played as a session musician and soundtrack contributor.

<i>Nord</i> (Year of No Light album) 2006 studio album by Year of No Light

Nord is the debut full-length album by French post-metal band Year of No Light, released in 2006. It was originally released by Radar Swarm (CD), E-Vinyl & Atropine (LP), and reissued later by Crucial Blast for the US version.

<i>Demo 2004</i> 2004 demo album by Year of No Light

Demo 2004 is the demo album by French post-metal band Year of No Light, released in 2004. It was originally released on a limited edition CDR on Radar Swarm. Most of the songs were later re-recorded for the band's first album, Nord.

<i>Karysun / Year of No Light</i> 2009 EP (split) by Karysun and Year of No Light

Karysun / Year of No Light is a split EP between the French heavy metal bands Karysun and Year of No Light.

<i>Oxymoron</i> (Schoolboy Q album) 2014 studio album by Schoolboy Q

Oxymoron is the third studio album by American rapper Schoolboy Q. It was released on February 25, 2014, through Top Dawg Entertainment and distributed by Interscope Records. Oxymoron was his first album released under a major record label to music retailers, whereas his previous albums were released independently to digital retailers only.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bambix</span> Dutch punk band

Bambix is a Dutch punk band founded in Nijmegen in 1988. Their music can also be categorized as riot grrrl or queercore. Their music is melodic punk, driven by female vocals. Bambix has been indexed as a significant musical export of the Netherlands. Bambix has named Propaghandi, NOFX, Dixie Chicks, Leonard Cohen, Mary Black, Indigo Girls, Michelle Shocked, and early Eagles as musical influences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EA80</span> German punk band

EA80 is a German punk band founded in Mönchengladbach in West Germany in 1979. EA80’s music includes sophisticated lyrics that are written in German and rarely rhyme. As a matter of principle, the band produces no merchandise or promotional material. Since the beginning of the 1990s, they have given few interviews. When they have granted interviews it has been on the condition that no recording of the interview be made and that their answers will not be directly quoted. On the band's official website, there only appears the name of the band, and no further information. They prefer to advertise their rare concerts only with local flyers and by word of mouth, and have usually been able to sell-out concerts that way.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Slow Death Fanzine No. 2". Interview YEAR OF NO LIGHT, p. 12 (in French). Slow Death. Archived from the original on 6 August 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. Kemp, Mike. "Rock Sound UK No. 89". Hot And Happening. Rock Sound. Archived from the original (magazine) on 16 November 2007. Retrieved 26 November 2011. Alt URL
  3. 1 2 "Year Of No Light – Nord (10/10)". Metal-observer.com. Metal Observer. 4 February 2007.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. Gnesin, John. "Digitalmetal.com". Year Of No Light – Nord. Digital Metal. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. Begrand, Adrien. "Decibel No. 32". Year Of No Light – Nord. Decibel. Archived from the original on 26 November 2011. Retrieved 26 November 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  6. Yonl. "Yearofnolight.free.fr". Same Blood, New Crew. Year Of No Light. Archived from the original (official website) on March 23, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2011.
  7. 1 2 "Roadburn.com" (website). Year of No Light will play two shows at Roadburn Festival 2011: Ausserwelt album and live soundtrack to C.T. Dreyer's horror masterpiece Vampyr. Roadburn Festival . Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  8. "Villa-arson.org". Pratiques sonores et musicales sur la Côte d'Azur des années 1950 à nos jours (in French). Villa Arson. Archived from the original on 9 November 2011. Retrieved 26 November 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. web.archive.org/web/20010221151727/http://www.artep.net/kam/symphony.html
  10. "--=[YEAR OF NO LIGHT]=--". yearofnolight.free.fr.
  11. 1 2 "Yearofnolight.free.fr". Discography. Year Of No Light. Archived from the original (official website) on March 23, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2011.
  12. 1 2 "Discogs.com". Discography. Discogs. Archived from the original on 29 June 2004. Retrieved 22 April 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. Hall, C. Andrew. "Frogtown Movie". Music. Frogtown Movie. Archived from the original on 8 February 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  14. Ladoire, Eddie. "Rupture mon amour Exhibition". Mademoiselle..., p. 09 (in French). Maison des Arts Malakoff. Archived from the original on 20 August 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  15. Jean Rouch. "Exhibitions, l'invention du sauvage". Before Exhibitions (in French). Musée du quai Branly. Archived from the original on 22 February 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)