{{Short description|French post-metal band}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Year of No Light | image = Droneberg Berlin Year of No Light Apr 16 2015 110.jpg | alt = | caption = Year of No Light performing at Droneberg Festival 2015 in Berlin | landscape = yes | background = group_or_band | origin = Bordeaux, France | genre = Post-metal, post-rock, sludge metal | years_active = 2001–present | label = Conspiracy, Crucial Blast, E-Vinyl, Music Fear Satan, Radar Swarm, Pelagic | website = {{URL|yearofnolight.free.fr}} | current_members = Jérôme Alban<br />Pierre Anouilh<br />Bertrand Sébenne<br />Johan Sébenne<br />Mathieu Mégemont | past_members = Shiran Kaïdine<br />Christophe Mora<ref name="early_days">{{cite web | url = http://www.slow-death.org/ | title = Slow Death Fanzine No. 2 | format = fanzine | work = Interview YEAR OF NO LIGHT, p. 12 | publisher = Slow Death | access-date = 22 April 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110806143647/http://www.slow-death.org/ | archive-date = 6 August 2011 | language = fr | url-status = bot: unknown }}</ref><br />Julien Perez }}
'''Year of No Light''' is a French post-metal band formed in Bordeaux in 2001. On their 2006 debut album ''Nord'', the band combined a dark and aggressive sludge metal sound with psychedelic atmospheres inspired by post-rock and shoegazing. In 2008, they underwent a significant line-up change, replacing their vocalist by a third guitarist and a second drummer to become an instrumental sextet. Thereafter, Year of No Light integrated black metal, doom metal, drone and dark ambient influences on the albums ''Ausserwelt'' (2010) and ''Tocsin'' (2013).
== History == Year of No Light was founded in September 2001 in Bordeaux by Johan Sébenne, Bertrand Sébenne, Jérôme Alban and Christophe Mora (Finger Print, Undone). Since its conception, Year of No Light was never a "top priority" band but rather an instrumental side project. After one year of rehearsal, Christophe Mora left the band.<ref name="early_days" /> Pierre Anouilh succeeded him.<ref name="early_days" /> One month later, the band played live for the first time.
From 2002 to 2003, they played local shows in Bordeaux. In September 2003, Julien Perez joined the band as a singer.<ref name="early_days" /> One month later, the new line up played its first show. Year of No Light still remains an "active" side project due to all of the musical activities of the vast majority of its members.
The band finally recorded a demo in June 2004. After its release, the group toured Spain and Basque Country. Following the good feedbacks surrounding the demo (one review describing Year of No Light as "The Cure playing Sludge"<ref name="cure_playing_sludge">{{cite web |url=http://www.rocksound.tv | title = Rock Sound UK No. 89 | author = Kemp, Mike | format = magazine | work = Hot And Happening | publisher = Rock Sound | access-date = 26 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071116113118/http://www.rocksound.tv/ |archive-date = 16 November 2007}} {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20020402073844/http://www.rock-sound.net/ Alt URL]}}</ref>), the band worked on its first album during the summer 2005. In September 2005, they recorded ''Nord'' with Serge Morattel<ref name="yonl_nord1">{{cite web | work = Metal-observer.com | title = Year Of No Light – Nord (10/10) | publisher = Metal Observer | url = http://articles.php?lid=1&sid=1&id=11755 | date = 4 February 2007 }}{{dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> in Switzerland. The following year, ''Nord'' was released to positive reviews.<ref name="yonl_nord1" /><ref name="yonl_nord2">{{cite web | url = http://www.digitalmetal.com/ | title = Digitalmetal.com | author = Gnesin, John | format = webzine | work = Year Of No Light – Nord | publisher = Digital Metal | access-date = 26 November 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121025185326/http://www.digitalmetal.com./ | archive-date = 25 October 2012 | url-status = bot: unknown }}</ref><ref name="yonl_nord3">{{cite web | url = http://www.decibelmagazine.com/ | title = Decibel No. 32 | author = Begrand, Adrien | format = magazine | work = Year Of No Light – Nord | publisher = Decibel | access-date = 26 November 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111126163727/http://www.decibelmagazine.com/ | archive-date = 26 November 2011 | url-status = bot: unknown }}</ref> Year of No Light began to tour more often in 2006 and played at the famous Dour Festival in 2007. The same year, ''Nord'' was reissued on Crucial Blast, for the CD version, and Cavity Records for the LP.
In 2008, Year of No Light toured Europe and played at the prestigious Roadburn and Hellfest festivals. After several collaborations with acts like Nadja and Fear Falls Burning and some splits recordings, they discarded their singer. At the end of the summer, Year of No Light becomes a six-piece entity with two drummers, one bassist, and three guitarists, backed by some vintage synths. Shiran Kaïdine, from Monarch!, and Mathieu Mégemont, from Aérôflôt, joined the band respectively as third guitarist and second drummer.<ref name="yonl_new_lineup">{{cite web | url = http://yearofnolight.free.fr | title = Yearofnolight.free.fr | author = Yonl | format = official website | work = Same Blood, New Crew | publisher = Year Of No Light | access-date = 26 November 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120323003611/http://yearofnolight.free.fr/ | archive-date = 23 March 2012 | url-status = dead | df = mdy-all }}</ref> thumb|upright|Jérôme Alban performing in 2009 In September 2009, the band began to record ''Ausserwelt'' in Bordeaux with Cyrille Gachet. In April 2010, following the release of ''Ausserwelt'' on Conspiracy, Year of No Light toured Europe with Irish black metallers Altar of Plagues. The following month, the band worked on a soundtrack for Dreyer's ''Vampyr'', and performed it for the first time, on 28 May 2010, at Barbey Theatre in Bordeaux. In February 2011, Year of No Light played ''Vampyr'' in Tallinn, Estonia. The following months, after having recorded new material for upcoming splits, they toured Europe and played two sets at Roadburn: a classical gig (including the totality of ''Ausserwelt'') and the ''Vampyr'' performance.<ref name="yonl_roadburn">{{cite web |url=http://www.roadburn.com | title = Roadburn.com | format = website | work = Year of No Light will play two shows at Roadburn Festival 2011: Ausserwelt album and live soundtrack to C.T. Dreyer's horror masterpiece Vampyr | publisher = Roadburn Festival | access-date = 25 November 2011 }}</ref>
The group worked with French contemporary artist Christian Vialard on ''Le Temps de l'Ecoute'', a video installation reinventing Yves Klein's ''Monotone Symphony'', exhibited at la Villa Arson in 2011.<ref name="yonl_klein">{{cite web | url = http://www.villa-arson.org/ | title = Villa-arson.org | format = official website | work = Pratiques sonores et musicales sur la Côte d'Azur des années 1950 à nos jours | publisher = Villa Arson | access-date = 26 November 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111109113916/http://www.villa-arson.org/ | archive-date = 9 November 2011 | language = fr | url-status = bot: unknown }}</ref><ref>{{URL|https://web.archive.org/web/20010221151727/http://www.artep.net/kam/symphony.html}}</ref>
In late 2014, Year of No Light embarked on their first ever U.S. tour, playing eleven dates. Sludge metal band Take Over And Destroy opened for the first nine shows with various other openers, booked in west coast and southwestern states. The tour then concluded with two nights at New York venue Saint Vitus.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://yearofnolight.free.fr/index2.php?topic=shows|title=--=[YEAR OF NO LIGHT]=--|website=yearofnolight.free.fr}}</ref> The band however performed as a five-piece during this tour, with the band citing guitarist Pierre Anouilh's visa issues preventing him from touring.
Guitarist Shiran Kaïdine died from cancer on 17 April 2026, at the age of 44.<ref>{{cite news |title=Year Of No Light: è morto il chitarrista Shiran Kaïdine |url=https://metalitalia.com/articolo/year-of-no-light-e-morto-il-chitarrista-shiran-kaidine/ |access-date=19 April 2026 |publisher=Metal Italia |date=19 April 2026}}</ref>
== Members == '''Current''' *Jérôme Alban – guitar (2001–present) (Baron Oufo, Donald Washington, Metronome Charisma) *Bertrand Sébenne – drums, percussions, keyboards (2001–present) (Metronome Charisma) *Johan Sébenne – bass, keyboards, electronics (2001–present) (Altaïr Temple, Nexus Sun) *Pierre Anouilh – guitar (2002–present) (Déjà Mort) *Mathieu Mégemont – drums, keyboards, synthesizer (2008–present) (Aérôflôt)
'''Former''' *Christophe Mora – guitar (2001–2002) (Finger Print, Undone) *Julien Perez – vocals, keyboards (2003–2008) (Metronome Charisma) *Shiran Kaïdine – guitar (2008–2026; his death) (Monarch!)
== Discography ==
=== Studio albums === {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" ! Year ! Album<ref name="discography_yonl">{{cite web | url = http://yearofnolight.free.fr | title = Yearofnolight.free.fr | format = official website | work = Discography | publisher = Year Of No Light | access-date = 22 April 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120323003611/http://yearofnolight.free.fr/ | archive-date = 23 March 2012 | url-status = dead | df = mdy-all }}</ref><ref name="discography_discogs">{{cite web | url = http://www.discogs.com/ | title = Discogs.com | format = website | work = Discography | publisher = Discogs | access-date = 22 April 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040629023053/http://www.discogs.com/ | archive-date = 29 June 2004 | url-status = bot: unknown }}</ref> ! Released ! Format ! Label |- |rowspan="5"|2006 |rowspan="5"|''Nord'' |2006 |CD |Radar Swarm |- |2006 |2×LP |E-Vinyl, Atropine Records |- |2007 |CD |Crucial Blast |- |2008 |2×LP |Cavity Records, Atropine Records, E-Vinyl |- |2012 |2×CD (Deluxe Edition) |Music Fear Satan |- |rowspan="2"|2010 |rowspan="2"|''Ausserwelt'' |2010 |CD |Conspiracy |- |2010 |2×LP |Music Fear Satan |- |2013 |''Tocsin'' |2013 |CD |Debemur Morti |- |- |2021 |''Consolamentum'' |2021 |CD |Pelagic Records |- |}
=== Live albums === {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" ! Year ! Album<ref name="discography_yonl" /><ref name="discography_discogs" /> ! Released ! Format ! Label |- |rowspan="2"|2009 |rowspan="2"|''Live at Roadburn 2008'' |2009 |LP+DVD |Roadburn Records |- |2011 |CD |Roadburn Records |- |rowspan="2"|2013 |rowspan="2"|''Vampyr'' |2013 |2×LP+CD |Music Fear Satan |- |2013 |CD |Init Records |}
=== Split albums, EPs and collaborations === *''Karysun / Year of No Light'' split 7-inch EP (2009) *''Year of No Light w/ Fear Falls Burning & Nadja'' (split w/ Machu Picchu Mother Future) LP (2009) *''3 way Split'' (split w/ East of the Wall & Rosetta) LP (2009) *''s/t'' (split w/ Altar of Plagues) LP (2012) *''s/t'' (split w/ Thisquietarmy) LP (2012) *''s/t'' (split w/ Mars Red Sky) LP (2012) *''s/t'' (split w/ Bagarre Générale) LP (2015)
=== Demo === *''Demo'' CDR (2004)
=== Soundtracks === *''{{URL|https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1779808|Frogtown Movie}}''<ref name="frogtown">{{cite web | url = http://www.frogtownmovie.net/ | title = ''Frogtown Movie'' | author = Hall, C. Andrew | format = official website | work = Music | publisher = Frogtown Movie | access-date = 22 April 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110208162111/http://www.frogtownmovie.net/ | archive-date = 8 February 2011 | url-status = bot: unknown }}</ref> (2010) *''Mademoiselle...''<ref name="mademoiselle">{{cite web | url = http://maisondesarts.malakoff.fr/ | title = ''Rupture mon amour Exhibition'' | author = Ladoire, Eddie | format = pressbook | work = Mademoiselle..., p. 09 | publisher = Maison des Arts Malakoff | access-date = 22 April 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110820123857/http://maisondesarts.malakoff.fr/ | archive-date = 20 August 2011 | language = fr | url-status = bot: unknown }}</ref> (original soundtrack performed live for the exhibition ''Rupture mon amour'') (2010) *''Vampyr''<ref name="yonl_roadburn" /> (original soundtrack performed live) (2010–2012) *''Les Maîtres Fous''<ref name="yonl_quai_branly">{{cite web | url = http://www.quaibranly.fr/ | title = ''Exhibitions, l'invention du sauvage'' | author = Jean Rouch | format = website | work = Before Exhibitions | publisher = Musée du quai Branly | access-date = 25 February 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110222001724/http://www.quaibranly.fr/ | archive-date = 22 February 2011 | language = fr | url-status = bot: unknown }}</ref> (original soundtrack performed live) (2012-01-06)
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{cc}} *{{official website|http://yearofnolight.free.fr}} *{{allmusic}} *{{Discogs artist}} *{{imdb name|4230941}}
{{Year of No Light}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:French post-rock groups Category:Post-metal musical groups Category:Sludge metal musical groups Category:Drone metal musical groups Category:Musical groups from Bordeaux Category:Musical groups established in 2001 Category:2001 establishments in France