Wheelfall
French avant-garde metal band known for concept albums.
Wheelfall is an avant-garde metal band from France, initially formed in 2009 as a stoner/doom band. The band is known for its concept albums that combine music, storytelling, literature, and visuals, following the concept of Gesamtkunstwerk to explore themes such as survival, technology, mass communication, madness, loss of identity, and skepticism.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Avant garde, industrial rock, black metal, sludge metal, doom metal (early), stoner rock (early)
- Years Active
- 2009–present
- Label
- Sunruin Records, Apathia Records, No Good To Anyone Productions
- Current Members
- Fabien W. Furter / Niko El Moche / Florian Rambour / Thibaut Thieblemont / Maxime Hanné
- Past Members
- Niko Elbow Giraud / Quentin Vega / Skaparen
- Background
- group_or_band
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Wheelfall was created in early 2009 by Fabien W. Furter, Quentin Vega, and Florian Rambour as a stoner doom band. Their first disc, From the Blazing Sky at Dusk, was released in 2010, produced entirely independently with a DIY ethic, and made available as a free download. In late 2010, Quentin Vega was replaced by Niko Elbow on drums, leading to the composition of the first album Interzone, released in 2012 on the independent label Sunruin Records, founded by two band members. This album brought greater notoriety and introduced progressive structures and a narrated story with visuals, including the recurring symbol of the tripod.
Reader's Guide
Wheelfall's significance lies in their commitment to the Gesamtkunstwerk concept, integrating music, narrative, and visual art across their albums. Their stylistic evolution from stoner/doom to a more diverse sound incorporating industrial, dark ambient, and black metal, particularly with the 2015 double album Glasrew Point, marked a critical turning point. The band's DIY approach and independent releases, along with their thematic focus on skepticism and societal issues, have contributed to their reputation in the avant-garde metal scene. Their work continues to influence discussions on multimedia art in heavy music.
Did You Know?
- Wheelfall's first disc, From the Blazing Sky at Dusk, was recorded in members' garages and released as a free download.
- The album Interzone takes its title from a place created by Beat Generation writer William S. Burroughs.
- Glasrew Point is a double album accompanied by a novella written by Blandine Bruyère and photographs by Marine Gerard and Pauline Talon.
- The band's symbol of the tripod appears on all visuals from the Interzone period.
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