Pensées Nocturnes
France · formed 2008 · last active 2022
Pensées Nocturnes is the avant-garde black metal project of French composer Léon Harcore (formerly Vaerohn), founded as a solo studio endeavor in Paris in 2008 before Harcore assembled a live band in 2016. Fusing black metal fundamentals with musette, cabaret, tango, and neoclassical orchestration, the project's Grand Guignol Orchestra (2019) and Douce Fange (2022) have been called 'the most French a black metal album can possibly be.' The band records for Les Acteurs de l'Ombre Productions and has performed at festivals including Hellfest (2018).
SCORE PROFILE
Accent numbers counted towards the index. Hover an axis — or hold it on a phone — for what it means.
WHY THOSE SCORES
- Jazzy 5 — The Progressive Subway's review of Douce Fange notes 'jazz-influenced passages' and instrumentation including saxophone, trumpet, and double bass (https://theprogressivesubway.com/2022/07/21/pensees-nocturnes-douce-fange/)
- Barbershop 3 — The same review describes 'French operatic elements and even a cappella choral moments' layered over the metal (https://theprogressivesubway.com/2022/07/21/pensees-nocturnes-douce-fange/)
- Black 6 — The project is classified as avant-garde/neoclassical black metal ('Déglingué Black Metal') (https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pens%C3%A9es_nocturnes)
- Theatrical 8 — Grand Guignol Orchestra (2019) is explicitly built around Le Théâtre du Grand-Guignol's macabre stage tradition, and Douce Fange is compared to 'a metal-ized excerpt of Entry of the Gladiators' (https://theprogressivesubway.com/2022/07/21/pensees-nocturnes-douce-fange/)
- Folk 6 — French Wikipedia documents accordion, trombone, trumpet, harmonica, violin, flute and piano in the arrangements, rooted in French musette and cabaret tradition (https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pens%C3%A9es_nocturnes)
MEMBERS
- Léon Harcore (aka Vaerohn)vocals, composition, multi-instrumentalist (founder)
- Jasondrums (live, since 2016)
- Le Grandbass (live, since 2016)
- Robertguitar (live, since 2016)· also in The Mountain King
- Zacquesguitar (live, since 2016)
- Jéjéaccordion, keyboards (live, since 2016)
CONNECTIONS
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