Alcest is a shoegaze / atmospheric black metal band formed in Bagnols Sur Cèze, France in 2000.
Formed by French multi-instrumentalist Neige (who has also worked with Amesoeurs, Mortifera, Lantlôs, Peste Noire, and more). Alcest was originally conceived as a solo project, though it would eventually take on the form of a full band as Hegnor (also of Peste Noire) and Arguth joined the fray and released a four-track demo entitled Tristesse Hivernale in 1999. This demo was a more straightforward black metal affair, much different from what would happen next.