Sortilège (band)
Encyclopedia
Sortilège was a French heavy metal band from Paris
, whose style lay between Judas Priest
and Iron Maiden
. Regarded by many as a cult band of the French scene, the group ceased to exist in 1986.
The following year, the quality of their repertoire and their concerts in France improved so they were hired as an opening act for Def Leppard
on their tour in France. Since none of the French record label
s wanted to offer them a recording contract
, they signed for the Netherlands
label Rave-On Records. A few months later, the band recorded an EP
titled "Sortilège
" which was successful. With this initial success, the band signed to the French record label, Madrigal. A few weeks later, the band went to Germany to record their first album Métamorphose
. This was again a success, especially in France and Germany.
With the success of Métamorphose, the band played in many international festivals and became popular in Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium and France. Feeling that their French
may harm global sales, the band decided to re-record their album Metamorphose in English
. However, the English version of the record sold poorly everywhere except in Japan.
In 1986, Sortilège released their last album, Larmes de Héros
. Like the previous album, it was recorded in Germany. At the same time they recorded an English version, which again sold badly.
Tired of the lack of public support, and difficulties encountered in relation to record companies, Sortilège decided to split up in 1986.
Metal Warriors (released by Ebony Records).
Christian Augustin appeared as a guest on the album by Furious Zoo. Stephane Dumont works as a sound engineer
in the United States
. Didier Demajean is director of a computer company, and Jean-Philippe Dumont is noticeable for his attempt to reform Sortilège in the early 2000s.
Chuck Schuldiner
, founder of Death, was repeatedly photographed wearing a Sortilège T-Shirt, and once he cited them as his favourite band.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, whose style lay between Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
and Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
. Regarded by many as a cult band of the French scene, the group ceased to exist in 1986.
Biography
The band was formed in 1981 with Christian Augustin on vocals, Daniel Lapp on bass, Jean-Philippe (Bob) Dumont on drums and Stephane Dumont and Didier Demajean on guitars. Originally, the bands'name was Bloodwave.The following year, the quality of their repertoire and their concerts in France improved so they were hired as an opening act for Def Leppard
Def Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...
on their tour in France. Since none of the French record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
s wanted to offer them a recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
, they signed for the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
label Rave-On Records. A few months later, the band recorded an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
titled "Sortilège
Sortilège (EP)
Sortilège is the debut EP by French heavy metal band Sortilège. It was released by Rave-On Records in 1983.CD reissue as bonus tracks contains English versions of Bourreau, Gladiateur and Amazone. It also contains three songs from the album Metamorfosis which are also on English language...
" which was successful. With this initial success, the band signed to the French record label, Madrigal. A few weeks later, the band went to Germany to record their first album Métamorphose
Métamorphose (Sortilège album)
Métamorphose is first studio album by French Heavy metal band Sortilège released in 1984. It was the first album released by Madrigal. In 1997 Madrigal re-released this album with English versions of Majesté, Légende, Civilisation Perdue, Cyclope De L'etang and Métamorphose as bonus tracks.-...
. This was again a success, especially in France and Germany.
With the success of Métamorphose, the band played in many international festivals and became popular in Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium and France. Feeling that their French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
may harm global sales, the band decided to re-record their album Metamorphose in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. However, the English version of the record sold poorly everywhere except in Japan.
In 1986, Sortilège released their last album, Larmes de Héros
Larmes de Héros
Larmes de Héros is second, and last studio album by French heavy metal band Sortilège released in 1986. After this album band decided to disband.- History :...
. Like the previous album, it was recorded in Germany. At the same time they recorded an English version, which again sold badly.
Tired of the lack of public support, and difficulties encountered in relation to record companies, Sortilège decided to split up in 1986.
Other media exposure
The song "Le Cyclope De l’Etang", released in 1984 on the album Métamorphose is on the compilation albumCompilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
Metal Warriors (released by Ebony Records).
Christian Augustin appeared as a guest on the album by Furious Zoo. Stephane Dumont works as a sound engineer
Audio engineering
An audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Didier Demajean is director of a computer company, and Jean-Philippe Dumont is noticeable for his attempt to reform Sortilège in the early 2000s.
Chuck Schuldiner
Chuck Schuldiner
Charles Michael "Chuck" Schuldiner was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist.Schuldiner was the singer, songwriter, and guitarist of the band Death, which he founded in 1983, initially under the name Mantas. He also recorded as guitarist and songwriter with his other band, Control Denied...
, founder of Death, was repeatedly photographed wearing a Sortilège T-Shirt, and once he cited them as his favourite band.
Discography
- 1983: SortilègeSortilège (EP)Sortilège is the debut EP by French heavy metal band Sortilège. It was released by Rave-On Records in 1983.CD reissue as bonus tracks contains English versions of Bourreau, Gladiateur and Amazone. It also contains three songs from the album Metamorfosis which are also on English language...
- 1984: MétamorphoseMétamorphose (Sortilège album)Métamorphose is first studio album by French Heavy metal band Sortilège released in 1984. It was the first album released by Madrigal. In 1997 Madrigal re-released this album with English versions of Majesté, Légende, Civilisation Perdue, Cyclope De L'etang and Métamorphose as bonus tracks.-...
- 1984: Live Breaking Sound Festival (bootleg)
- 1986: Larmes de HérosLarmes de HérosLarmes de Héros is second, and last studio album by French heavy metal band Sortilège released in 1986. After this album band decided to disband.- History :...
Members
- Christian Augustin known as "Zouille" - vocals
- Stéphane Dumont known as "L'Anguille" - lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
- Didier Demajean known as "Dem" - rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
- Daniel Lapp known as "Lapin" - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Bob Dumont known as "Snake" - 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 ....