Release:

Northern Silence Productions / Soulfood
15.10.2010

Info:

Coming from Brittany (western France), BELENOS was formed as one-man-band by Loïc Cellier (guitar, bass, vocals, programming, also member of ASYNDESS, ARTESIA & ex-member of NYDVIND) in 1995. BELENOS is the Celtic/Gaelic god of the sun.

Influenced by the early Black Metal scene of Norway and bands such as Enslaved, Emperor, Burzum, Aeternus & Kampfar, and later acts such as Belphegor and Immortal with regard to the technical level and sound, the music of BELENOS always was and remains a mix of Black Metal (fast and dark) and Pagan Metal (dark and slow parts with Celtic choirs). The universe of BELENOS is like a lonely journey through wild, dark moors and old traditions of the Celtic lands.

After three demo tapes (‘Notre amour eternal’ – 1996, ‘Triste pensée’ – 1997 and ‘Allégorie d’une souffrance’ – 1998) BELENOS turned into a real band and started to play live.

In 2000 BELENOS signed with Sacral Productions who released their highly acclaimed albums ‘Errances oniriques’ – 2001, ‘Spicilège’ – 2002 and the 2-CD demo compilation ‘L’ancien temps’ – 2004 which have gained them many fans in France & around the globe.

At the end of 2004 BELENOS became a one-man-band again & stopped all live activities.

In 2006 Adipocere records released BELENOS’ third album ‘Chants de bataille’ which had been recorded with the help of session drummer Gilles Delecroix (ex Aborted).

One year later, BELENOS signed with Northern Silence Productions who released the critically acclaimed fourth full-length ‘Chemins de souffrance’ that same year and in 2009 the completely rerecorded and improved version of the long sold out debut album ‘Errances oniriques’.

In early 2010 BELENOS, with a line-up completed by 3 session members, returned to the stage to play four very successful festival gigs in France. Further live appearances are possible but due to lack of time and the remoteness of their location nothing is planned as of yet.

The new full length, ”Yen Sonn Gardis”, was recorded at BELENOS home studio as always, between december 2009 and april 2010, and mixed/mastered at the same place in june 2010. The entire album is sung in Breton, the old Celtic language of Brittany, which is very similar to Cornish but is spoken by a mere 200 000 people throughout the world - less than Icelandic! As always, the lyrics deal with classical themes such as winter, death, pride, nature, Celtic legends and rituals and ancient battles.

After the release of this new album it is planned to eventually re-record and reissue the sold out albums “Spicilège” and “Chants de bataille”, and then to write a new, the 6th album.

Line-up:

Loïc Cellier – drums, guitars, bass, vocals and also recording / mix / mastering

Tracklist:

1. ASPEDENN (instrumental)
2. HOLLVED HIRISUS
3. ENE KELT
4. SKORN HA TAN
5. BALEERIEN AN ARE
6. GORSEDD
7. MESTR AR C’HOAD
8. TAOL-DIGOLL
9. EN ARGOLL

Discography:

1996 – Notre amour eternel – demo tape self released – sold out
1997 – Triste pensée – demo tape Impaler of trendies released in 1999 – sold out
1998 – Allégorie d’une souffrance – demo tape self released – sold out
1998 – Notre amour eternel – CD reissue Polyphemus records – sold out
2001 – Errances oniriques – CD / digi Sacral productions – sold out
2002 – Spicilège – CD / box Sacral productions – sold out
2004 – L’ancien temps – double CD / digi (demo compil.) Sacral compilations – sold out
2006 – Chants de bataille – CD Adipocre records – sold out
2007 – Chemins de souffrance – CD / LP Northern silence – available
2009 – Errances oniriques (rerecorded reissue) – CD Northern silence – available
2009 – L’ancien temps – double LP version Cruciatus records – available
2010 – Yen sonn gardis – CD / digi Northern silence – out soon