Saille

Saille

Left to right: Kevin De Leener, Jonathan Vanderwal, Kristof Van Iseghem, Dries Gaerdelen, Reinier Schenk and Dennie Grondelaers.
Background information
Origin Belgium and Netherlands
Genres Symphonic black metal, black metal
Years active 2009–present
Labels Code666 Records/Aural Music
Website saille.be
Members Dries Gaerdelen
Reinier Schenk
Jonathan Vanderwal
Dennie Grondelaers
Kevin De Leener
Kristof Van Iseghem
For the Ogham letter, see Sail (letter)

Saille is a Belgian Symphonic black metal band, formed in 2009 by Dries Gaerdelen.
The word 'Saille' is derived from the old Irish alphabet Ogham and means willow.

Saille consistently incorporates real classical instruments (e.g. cello, violin, cornet, trumpet, euphonium) into their compositions, as well as strong influences from black metal. Their songs include both black screams and death growls, with every now and then even clean vocals.

Lyrically Saille handles ‘the fearful, the uncanny and the weird’. On earlier releases: Death rites and Forces of Nature. Saille has released three studio albums so far.

History

Formation (2009-2010)

It started as a one person, one-time project by Dries Gaerdelen (keyboards). During the recordings of the debut album in 2009, the idea of a real live-band grew on him. A complete band was formed in the summer of 2010. The collaboration with Jonathan Vanderwal (guitar/vocals) was a logical result of their longstanding cooperation in previous activities. Shortly after Gert Monden (drums) was added to the line-up. They met Reinier Schenk (guitar) during the recording sessions in the studio and he also became a member of the band.[1]

Irreversible Decay (2011)

The recordings for the first album “Irreversible Decay” started at the end of 2009 in Shumcot Studio, Belgium. The accompaniment of a number of classically trained musicians caused the sessions to be spread over several months. The debut album was finalized in September 2010.

On March 4, 2011 the band released their first full album 'Irreversible Decay' on the Italian label Code666 records.

It was extremely well received by the international press, especially for a formerly unknown band's debut album. Saille's very first gig took place in January 2011. Thanks to the good reviews and their solid live-reputation, Saille got the chance to play many gigs all over the country.

To promote the debut album, an official videoclip for the track "Plaigh Allais" was released in March 2011.

In November 2011, Jonathan Vanderwal (vocals) decided to leave Saille, since he was not happy being the band's frontman. He was immediately replaced by Dennie Grondelaers.

The live-shows of the first album were concluded with a spot on Belgium’s biggest metalfest Graspop Metal Meeting in June 2012.[2][3] Another highlight was the appearance on a second annual event 'EMM - Eindhoven Metal Meeting' in December 2012.

Ritu (2013)

In July 2012 the band hit the Shumcot Studio again to record their second album. With lyrics inspired by death rites in ancient cultures, combined with new member Dennie Grondelaers’ (vocals) interest for H.P. Lovecraft and Cthulhu, the next album had a much darker setting. Again classically skilled guest musicians were invited to create the irreplaceable real sounds: flugelhorn, cello, violin, theremin, tuba, trombone and much more.

It also sets the return of Jonathan Vanderwal, as a guitarist this time, to replace the former guitarist, who left the band just before the recordings started. After two months of intensive recording sessions, the final mix was finished in September 2012 and sent to the Norwegian mastering specialist Tom Kvålsvoll (Strype Audio). Known for mastering black metal classics Mayhem, Emperor, Arcturus, Limbonic Art, Ulver, Vreid and many others.

On January 18, 2013 the successor, entitled "Ritu", saw the light of day as a digipak edition.

After the release of the 2nd album, Saille faced an intensive year. They embarked on their first tour in January 2013, with Transylvanian black metal legends Negura Bunget. Followed by more gigs in Belgium and the Netherlands, supporting bands like Textures, Von, Winterfylleth and The Monolith Death Cult. Again, a promotional/official video for the opening track of the album "Blood Libel" was made and got its release set for June 2013.

An official videoclip for the track ‘Blood Libel’ was released in June 2013.

During summer, Saille was invited to perform on several festivals like Antwerp Metal Fest (with Napalm Death), Vlamrock (with Exhumed, Belphegor, Rotting Christ) and Metal Méan (with Marduk, Dying Fetus). The latter was recorded and filmed for a live video, to be released at the end of the year.

In September, Saille went to the UK for some gigs as support to Winterfylleth, a British band they consider as friends since they first met on Graspop 2012. During this period Saille introduced Kevin De Leener as their new and permanent drummer. The band released another official video, a live recording of the track ‘Tephra’ (captured at Metal Méan) in November 2013 and went to Denmark for the first time for a headlining position on Black Winter Fest, Copenhagen.

Eldritch (2014)

Still playing gigs in 2014, Saille prepared the third album. Like the year before, performing on many stages in Belgium and The Netherlands, but in April they set foot on English soil again, this time sharing stages with Ethereal (UK).

Other mentionable gigs were the very successful Tongeren Metal Fest (with Asphyx, Angel Witch), a show supporting Carach Angren (NL) and last, but most definitely not least, the honour of playing in the ‘Ancienne Belgique’, sharing the stage with Merrimack and (The True) Mayhem (Norway). Eventually, in July, Saille played in Germany for the first time.

In May the recordings for ‘Eldritch’ commenced. This time the album was recorded in different studios, to get a different approach for each group of instruments . Again classical instruments were recorded: amongst the forementioned instruments a grand piano, a 100 years old pianola and small vocal choirs were added. Mixing and mastering were handled by Klas Blomgren from Sweden (known for his work for Svart’s last cd).

In October 2014 Kristof Van Iseghem joined the band as the new bassplayer.

The street date for 'Eldritch' was set for November 10, again released by Code666 as a digipak edition. To promote this release, a three days tour with Winterfylleth took place in Belgium and The Netherlands.

A support gig with 1349 (Norway) and a performance on the 2014 edition of ‘Eindhoven Metal Meeting’ (for the second time) concluded another successful year for Saille.

2015

Amongst others, Saille has been confirmed for a (part of the) tour supporting Negura Bunget[4] in France and Spain and also for the British Bloodstock Open Air[5][6] in August.

Band members

Current members

Former members

Discography

References

External links

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