France’s ALCEST have announced an April 20th North American release date for their latest full-length opus, entitled Écailles De Lune (Prophecy Productions).

This news comes on the heels of the group’s very first North American tour – a string of intimate club dates this April and May commencing in Québec and culminating in Boston, Massachusetts.

Écailles de Lune is, in many ways, unique from past Alcest albums. Story-driven and reflective, it aims to capture and channel feelings of ambivalence and existentialism. Stylistically, front man Neige has shifted back towards the sound of black metal that helped first shaped his compositions. For all the changes incurred, Neige has kept his trademarks: calm passages, massive walls of guitar, catchy melodies and hook-lines that go straight for the heart.

In explaining Lune’s concept and meaning, Neige says, "This story isn't really a metaphor of death, as it would seem to be. For me, it is about a man who decides to leave one world for another one, literally. Like a passage to another reality, another state of existence.”

Meaning Scales Of Moon in English, the record is as otherworldly and ethereal as its title might suggest. Neige explains the record’s somber tone, saying "This time I was especially inspired by the seaside, the energy and the exaltation you can feel when you sit in front of the sea at night. It appears terribly fascinating, full of secrets and scary at the same time."

Ècailles De Lune will include the following tracklisting:

'Ècailles De Lune' (Part I)

'Ècailles De Lune' (Part II)

'Percées De Lumière'

'Abysses'

'Solar Song'

'Sur L'Océan Couleur De Fer'

The album will be released as standard jewelcase CD, limited digibook CD, limited box set (incl. digibook CD, wallflag, and set of postcards; limited to 1,000), and limited gatefold LP (incl. poster and available in two editions: "classic edition" (black vinyl, lim. 500) and "deep sea edition" (blue vinyl, lim. 500)).

As previously reported, Alcest's new track 'Ècailles De Lune' (Part I) is currently available at this location.

Alcest's first North American tour, set to begin April 22nd in Quebec City and ending May 1st in Boston, will see the the band peform songs from their Souvenirs d'un Autre Monde debut as well as songs from Écailles De Lune.

Here are the confirmed dates/venues:

April

22 - Québec, QC - Bar Octobre
23 - Toronto, ON - Hard Luck Bar
24 - Chicago, IL - Reggie's Rock Club
25 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom
26 - Pittsburgh, PA - Rex Theatre
27 - Philadelphia, PA - Kung Fu Necktie
28 - New Haven, CT - Cafe Nine
29 - New York, NY - The Studio at Webster Hall
30 - Montreal, QC - Underworld

May

1 - Boston, MA - Unit 11