Wheelfall

Updated on Nov 10, 2023

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Years active 2009-present Albums Glasrew Point, Interzone		Website www.wheelfall.com

Members Fabien W. Furter Niko El Moche Florian Rambour Thibaut Thieblemont Past members Niko Elbow Giraud Quentin Vega Genres Post-metal, Avant-garde, Industrial rock, Ambient music, Doom metal (early), Black metal, Sludge metal, Stoner rock (early) Record labels Sunruin Records, Sun Ruin Records Similar Phazm, A Very Old Ghost Behind th, Semen Datura, Tronus Abyss, Winternight

Wheelfall is a French metal band which tends to Avant-garde. They formed in 2009 as a sludge and stoner doom band, but their sound progressed towards a post metal style, that also included strong influences from industrial rock, dark ambient, progressive metal and black metal.

Thus, there is a real divide between the first period of the band, extending from 2009 to 2012, and the second period beginning from the album Glasrew Point in 2015 after a hiatus of nearly two year.

The band is known for its concept albums, combining music, storytelling, literature and visuals. Wheelfall follows the concept of Gesamtkunstwerk through their records, to broach themes such as "the survival, the relation with technology and mass communication, the madness and loss of identity and ideals" and skepticism, which is a very recurrent doctrine in the concepts of the band.

Creation and From the Blazing Sky at Dusk

In early 2009, Fabien W. Furter (aka FWF), Quentin Vega, Niko El Moche and Florian Rambour created Wheelfall as a stoner doom band, following in the footsteps of bands like Goatsnake and Kyuss .

The first disc of the group, From the Blazing Sky at Dusk, was released in 2010. It already shows the Do it Yourself will of the band, having made all the stages of its production, from the recording (in members' garages) to its release, completely independently. This disc was pressed in a small number of CD copies that are hard to find now.

In tune with the times, Wheelfall decided to put it out as a free download on the internet, which allowed them to reach the international scene. This disc lays out the premises of the concept albums that the band will release later: it already contains a narration over the different songs, and the artwork depicts the story.

Interzone and hiatus (2011-2015)

In late 2010, Quentin Vega is replaced by Niko Elbow on drums, which marks the beginning of the composition of the first album Interzone released in 2012. With this album, the band got to a greater notoriety, playing with Kadavar, Ramesses, Moonspell or Punish Yourself. True to its DIY ethic, the album was released on the independent label Sunruin Records, founded by two members of Wheelfall.

The band begins on this album to use progressive structures, and we can note the presence of a story, narrated by music but also by visuals. Here we find the symbol of the tripod, present on all the band's visuals of this period, representing the themes of Wheelfall's lyrics.

The album title, Interzone refers to the place created by William S. Burroughs, the Beat Generation writer and shows the commitment of the band to experiments in art.

Following this album and a split album with A Very Old Ghost Behind the Farm, the band decided to withdraw from the media to question themselves, which leads to the composition of Glasrew Point. Wheelfall gave no news or gigs for 2 years and some of its members took part in various others bands: Niko Elbow in Joy / Disaster, and Fabien W. Furter released a solo album under the name FWF, "Skeptics", and joins the bands Chaos Echoes and Phazm.

Glasrew Point and recent activities (2015 - present)

The band released the double album and novel "Glasrew Point" on September 19, 2015 via Sunruin Records.

The album marks a stylistic break with the past of Wheelfall, which is now moving towards a more dark and experimental music, keeping the abrasive side of stoner doom music. There are some strong influences of industrial music, dark ambient and black metal within an atypical post-metal style. Thibaut Thieblemont joined Wheelfall for the composition of the album, playing keyboards, samples, third guitar and back vocals.

The album was unanimously praised by critics, for its musical quality but also its ambitious concept. Indeed, Wheelfall pushes the Gesamtkunstwerk concept up to offer in addition to the double album (illustrated by Charlotte Bohn) a novella written by Blandine Bruyère based on the story narrated by Glasrew Point, illustrated by photographies (Marine Gerard and Pauline Talon) and paintings (Sylvie Thouron). The novella, double album, and visuals tell each one a facet of the concept of Glasrew Point.

Following the release of the album, Wheelfall signs with Apathia Records.

Current

Fabien W. Furter – vocals, guitar(2009–present)

Niko El Moche – bass(2009–present)

Florian Rambour – guitar(2009–present)

Thibaut Thieblemont – guitar, keyboards, effects, samples, backing vocals(2015–present)

Skaparen - Drums (2016–present)

Former

Quentin Vega - Drums (2009-2010)

Niko Elbow Giraud - Drums (2010-2015)

Studio albums

Interzone CD (2012, Sunruin Records)

Glasrew Point double CD (2015, Sunruin Records / Apathia Records)

7"/EPs

From the Blazing Sky at Dusk CD (2010)

Splits

split w A Very Old Ghost Behind the Farm CD (2012)

Music Videos

Vanishing Point (2015)

Shape Shifter (2016)

Live albums

Live sessions 2013 CD (2015, Sunruin Records)

Side projects

Chaos Echoes - Death metal, drone and experimental music band with Fabien W. Furter on guitar (since 2015).

Phazm - black metal and Death'n'roll band with Fabien W. Furter on bass from 2014 to 2016.

FWF - dark ambient and experimental music solo project from Fabien W. Furter.

Joy/Disaster - Rock/post-punk band with Niko Elbow Giraud.

Songs

Vanishing PointGlasrew Point · 2015
Shape ShifterGlasrew Point · 2015
The DriftGlasrew Point · 2015

References

Wheelfall Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

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