Fellsilent
Encyclopedia
Fellsilent were a British
experimental metal band from Milton Keynes
. They possessed a technical, polyrhythmic style similar to bands such as Meshuggah
and Sikth
. The band also focused on some melodic elements. They are considered important pioneers in the genres of experimental metal and progressive metal
as they incorporated newer, more technical elements into their music. They released their debut album, The Hidden Words in 2008 which gained immediate popularity among metal fans. Touring with other British bands such as Enter Shikari
and Exit Ten
helped them to gain further popularity. In 2008, Fellsilent signed to US record label Sumerian Records
.
The band split up on 5 April 2010. Most of the band's members are still active. Browne and Neema became members of Monuments (Neema would later leave the band). Acle expanded his side project TesseracT
and Joe joined SonicK. Noddy also plays drums in SonicK as well as the metal band Heart of A Coward. He also played for Enter Shikari
when they toured the United States until their usual drummer Rob Rolfe was granted permssion for a US visa in 2011.
, Sikth
, Textures
and the early metal band Led Zeppelin
. This shows that they incorporated musical styles from several different sources and time periods. This diversity can be heard in their music. This mix of new and old was an important tool utilized by the band in pioneering the genre.
Magazine noted the band highly saying: "The six piece stir up some seriously brutal technical bludgeoning riffs interspersed with stratospheric choruses, an exciting and invigorating soundtrack to break things to".
Karl Schubach of Misery Signals
called Fellsilent's album The Hidden Words one of the best of 2008.
On April 30, 2009 Fellsilent announced that they were looking for a new guitarist to fill the position of ex band member, Acle Kahney.
Joe, Max and Noddy also left the band. Despite their Myspace stating these members were still within the band, Browne and Neema confirmed they had left, but were focusing on finishing their second album before announcing the departure of these members publicly.
On April 5, 2010 the band announced on their myspace-page that "after 7 years of putting everything we had into this band, we've simply all moved on and are taking our musical creativity into new and exciting projects".
Neema and Browne continued their work as musicians in "Monuments". Joe and Noddy are currently working on a hip-hop project called "SonicK". Noddy also works as a drum technician and plays drums for "Heart of A Coward".
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
experimental metal band from Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes , sometimes abbreviated MK, is a large town in Buckinghamshire, in the south east of England, about north-west of London. It is the administrative centre of the Borough of Milton Keynes...
. They possessed a technical, polyrhythmic style similar to bands such as Meshuggah
Meshuggah
Meshuggah is an extreme metal band from Umeå, Sweden, formed in 1987. Meshuggah's line-up has primarily consisted of founding members vocalist Jens Kidman and lead guitarist Fredrik Thordendal, drummer Tomas Haake, who joined in 1990, and rhythm guitarist Mårten Hagström, who joined in 1992...
and Sikth
SikTh
Sikth were a progressive metal band from Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.-Early days:SikTh formed in late 1999, but consolidated their line-up in March 2001...
. The band also focused on some melodic elements. They are considered important pioneers in the genres of experimental metal and progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
as they incorporated newer, more technical elements into their music. They released their debut album, The Hidden Words in 2008 which gained immediate popularity among metal fans. Touring with other British bands such as Enter Shikari
Enter Shikari
Enter Shikari are a British band, that combine post-hardcore with elements of various electronic genres, formed in 2003 in St Albans, Hertfordshire. The band is named after a boat belonging to Roughton "Rou" Reynolds' uncle, and a character in a play which he wrote before forming the band, both of...
and Exit Ten
Exit Ten
Exit Ten is a British Rock/Metal band. Their debut full-length album, Remember The Day, was released in 2008. Their second studio album was released in October 2011.-Biography:Exit Ten are a post-hardcore/progressive rock band from Reading, Berkshire...
helped them to gain further popularity. In 2008, Fellsilent signed to US record label Sumerian Records
Sumerian Records
Sumerian Records is an American independent record label based in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles. The label was founded in 2006 by Ash Avildsen, who is also a booking agent, and is managed by Shawn Keith. Fellsilent became the first non-US band to be signed to the label, in 2008. The label made a...
.
The band split up on 5 April 2010. Most of the band's members are still active. Browne and Neema became members of Monuments (Neema would later leave the band). Acle expanded his side project TesseracT
TesseracT (band)
TesseracT are a British progressive metal band formed in 2003. They are currently signed to Century Media Records.-History:Tesseract started out back in 2003 as a personal side project, to Fellsilent, in the then-teenage Acle Kahney's bedroom...
and Joe joined SonicK. Noddy also plays drums in SonicK as well as the metal band Heart of A Coward. He also played for Enter Shikari
Enter Shikari
Enter Shikari are a British band, that combine post-hardcore with elements of various electronic genres, formed in 2003 in St Albans, Hertfordshire. The band is named after a boat belonging to Roughton "Rou" Reynolds' uncle, and a character in a play which he wrote before forming the band, both of...
when they toured the United States until their usual drummer Rob Rolfe was granted permssion for a US visa in 2011.
Influences
Fellsilent listed many influences including bands such as MeshuggahMeshuggah
Meshuggah is an extreme metal band from Umeå, Sweden, formed in 1987. Meshuggah's line-up has primarily consisted of founding members vocalist Jens Kidman and lead guitarist Fredrik Thordendal, drummer Tomas Haake, who joined in 1990, and rhythm guitarist Mårten Hagström, who joined in 1992...
, Sikth
SikTh
Sikth were a progressive metal band from Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.-Early days:SikTh formed in late 1999, but consolidated their line-up in March 2001...
, Textures
Textures (band)
Textures is a metal band from the Netherlands, formed in 2001. Textures' lineup revolves around founding members Jochem Jacobs, Stef Broks, Bart Hennephof, and bassist Remko Tielemans who joined in 2007...
and the early metal band Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
. This shows that they incorporated musical styles from several different sources and time periods. This diversity can be heard in their music. This mix of new and old was an important tool utilized by the band in pioneering the genre.
Reception
Kerrang!Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
Magazine noted the band highly saying: "The six piece stir up some seriously brutal technical bludgeoning riffs interspersed with stratospheric choruses, an exciting and invigorating soundtrack to break things to".
Karl Schubach of Misery Signals
Misery Signals
Misery Signals is an American metalcore band formed in Wisconsin in 2002. The sound of their music is defined by bright melodies backed up by odd time signatures, chugging riffs, and breakdowns.-Formation :...
called Fellsilent's album The Hidden Words one of the best of 2008.
Discography
- The Double 'A' (2006)
- The Hidden Words (2008)
Former members
- Acle Kahney - GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(2003–2009) - Neema Askari - Vocals (2003–2010)
- Joe Garrett - Vocals (2006–2009)
- John Browne - Guitar (2003–2010)
- Max Robinson - BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2003–2009) - Christopher 'Noddy' Mansbridge - DrumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(2003–2009)
On April 30, 2009 Fellsilent announced that they were looking for a new guitarist to fill the position of ex band member, Acle Kahney.
Joe, Max and Noddy also left the band. Despite their Myspace stating these members were still within the band, Browne and Neema confirmed they had left, but were focusing on finishing their second album before announcing the departure of these members publicly.
On April 5, 2010 the band announced on their myspace-page that "after 7 years of putting everything we had into this band, we've simply all moved on and are taking our musical creativity into new and exciting projects".
Neema and Browne continued their work as musicians in "Monuments". Joe and Noddy are currently working on a hip-hop project called "SonicK". Noddy also works as a drum technician and plays drums for "Heart of A Coward".