EPECTASE

Epectase biography
Epectase are a French post-black metal duo from Paris, formed in 2018 by multi-instrumentalist Titouan le Gal (aka Vague) and Emile Rousse (aka Avitus). The two share songwriting and vocal duties, and are supported in live performance by bassist J.B. (of death-doom band Atavisma) and drummer/synthesist Angus Schieber (of black metal groups Acedia Mundi and Ronces).

Currently signed to Frozen Records, Epectase take inspiration from continually evolving and shapeshifting artists in the progressive music sphere like Radiohead, Blut aus Nord, Ulver, Ihsahn and Justin K. Broadrick, which has yielded two distinct and eclectic LPs: 2019's I, Voidhanger-distributed debut Astres and 2022's N​é​croses. In between, the band released the more ambient-oriented The City That Fell Asleep EP in 2020, where Rousse was temporarily replaced by Schieber.

Epectase's sprawling sound fuses black metal with classic 1970s progressive rock, jazz, post-rock, krautrock and gothic metal, which has earned them comparisons to Enslaved, Borknagar, Ætheria Conscientia, Ludicra, Moonspell and Oranssi Pazuzu.


- Gordy, September 2023