Eths (variably stylized as eths and ETHS) was a French metal band from Marseille, formed in 1996.[1]

Eths
Eths performing at the Motocultor Festival 2012
Background information
OriginMarseille, France
Genres
Years active
  • 1996–1997 (as What's the Fuck)
  • 1997–1999 (as Melting Point)
  • 1999–2016, 2017, 2023
LabelsSeason of Mist
Past members
  • Stéphane "Staif" Bihl
  • Marc "Roswell" Burghoffer
  • Candice Clot
  • Guillaume "Yom" Dupré
  • Grégory "Greg" Rouvière
  • Damien Rivoal
  • Rachel Aspe
  • R.U.L.
Websiteeths.net

History edit

Eths formed in 1996 under the name What's the Fuck, with a lineup consisting of vocalist-guitarist Stéphane Bihl and guitarist Grégory Rouvière.[2][3] The following year, Candice Clot, the best friend of Bihl's ex-girlfriend, joined the group as a lead vocalist, and the band was renamed Melting Point.[4][5]

Through 1999, drummer Guillaume Dupré and bassist Marc Burghoffer were added to the lineup, and together they formed Eths.[6][7] That same year they released a first demo titled Eths, containing "Encore" and "Rien à Dire".[8][9] The band also appeared on a CD compilation titled Attentat Sonore.[10]

The band was part of Coriace, a small collective bringing together metal bands representing southeast France.[11]

In 2000, Eths released a seven-track EP titled Autopsie.[12]

On 14 November 2001, Eths was the opening act for Machine Head at L'Usine in Istres.[13][14] The band featured on two CD compilations, Boukan and A Core Et à Cri.[10]

In March 2002, Eths made a television appearance at Rock Press Club's Canal Jimmy, performing "Samantha" and "Dévore".[15] In September 2002, the band released a second EP titled Samantha and gained acclaim in the French extreme metal circuit.[7]

On 11 October 2004, Eths released its first full-length album, Soma, and launched a 120-date national concert tour.[16][7] That year, Clot, aged twenty three, who sang exclusively in her native language, said that she wrote "about things that scare me, that disgust me, about what I have inside of me".[17]

In 2006, the group announced the departure of both Dupré and Burghoffer.[5] As a result, the drumming on Eths' 2007 album Tératologie was performed by Pierre Belleville, then the drummer for Lofofora.[18] Dupré returned to the band in 2011.[9] Through constant touring, Soma would go on to sell over 25,000 copies.[9]

Considered "very popular in part of the youth" in France, Eths was often featured on the covers of Hard 'n' Heavy, Rock One, Rock Mag, and Rock Sound magazines.[11]

On 18 September 2012, frontwoman Candice Clot left the band.[19] Virginie Goncalves of Kells and Nelly Wood replaced Clot as temporary touring vocalists.[20]

In 2013, the group announced Rachel Aspe as their new lead vocalist.[21] In the same month, an injury led Rouvière to depart the band.[22]

On 30 November 2016, the band notified the public of their breakup via a Facebook post and announced their last concert in Angers on 3 December 2016.[20]

The original lineup of Bihl, Clot, Rouvière, Dupré, and Burghoffer reunited to play two final concerts, which took place at Le Moulin in Marseille and Le Trianon in Paris, on 8 April 2017, and 30 April 2017, respectively.[20][23] The two concerts were also a posthumous homage to the band's friends, Mika Bleu and Julien Isilion.[23][20]

On 15 December 2022, the official Eths Facebook page was updated with the status "Eths 2023". Shortly after, the band was confirmed to perform at Hellfest in June 2023.[24]

Musical style and influences edit

Eths cited as influences Meshuggah, Tool, Gojira,[25] Korn, Sepultura,[13] and Metallica. They also appreciated electro, hip hop and jazz.[26] Clot cited alternative rock band Hole as an early influence.[27] Clot had no female voices as references but respected the work of My Ruin's Tairrie B.[28] Aspe said her early influences include Slipknot and Walls Of Jericho, bands that made her discover "her vocal range while growling".[4]

Eths' musical style was described as metalcore,[29] groove metal,[30] and nu metal.[1] La Dépêche du Midi described the band as "Practising a neo-metal imbued with black [metal] and unscrupulously favouring a slight tendency for death metal."[31] Metal Hammer called the band "dark tech-metal".[4]

Author Jérôme Alberola[32] wrote that Autopsie, Samantha and Soma displayed "gothic-tinged death metal" featuring blast beats that directed the band's musical aggression towards "the deathcore subgenre".[33] Heavy metal magazine Hard Force labelled Soma as alternative metal,[34] Tératologie and Ankaa as death metal,[35][36] and III as metalcore.[37]

Bihl stated the band liked to mix styles because they tended to get weary.[27] Clot emphasised, "We do metal, because it brings together all our influences, and we all like different things, without labels."[17]

Clot was the primary lyricist, but Bihl and Dupré also took part.[13][31]

Members edit

Timeline edit

Discography edit

Studio albums
Year Title Label
2004 Soma Sriracha Records, Coriace Management
2007 Tératologie Coriace Management
2012 III Seasons of Mist
2016 Ankaa Seasons of Mist
2017 The Best of Eths -
EPs & Demos

As Melting Point

Year Title Label
1998 Melting Point -

As Eths

Year Title Label
1999 Eths -
2000 Autopsie Musicast
2002 Samantha Coriace Management
2004 Autopsie|Samantha Sriracha Records
2014 Ex Umbra In Solem Seasons of Mist
Reissues
Year Title Label
2003 Autopsie Coriace Management
2012 Soma Seasons of Mist
2012 Autopsie|Samantha Coriace Management

References edit

  1. ^ a b True, Chris. "Eths | Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  2. ^ "Eths most brutal band from France (Interview)". Metalhead Spotted. December 2013. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  3. ^ Marie (10 November 2001). "Rencontre avec Candice (Interview)" [Meeting with Candice]. French Metal Familia (in French). Marignane. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "New Noise: Eths". Metal Hammer. 26 April 2016. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  5. ^ a b «Biography» French-Metal
  6. ^ "Présentation de Eths". All For Music (Database) (in French). n.d. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  7. ^ a b c "Eths en tournée française au printemps 2012" [Eths on French tour in spring 2012]. Ouï FM (in French). 8 March 2012. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Eths, playlist de 2 pistes". All For Music (Database) (in French). n.d. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  9. ^ a b c Hervé (14 January 2009). "Eths". Encyclopédie du Rock (in French). Rock Made in France. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Eths". Info Concert (in French). n.d. Retrieved 10 May 2021. See: Présentation
  11. ^ a b P.C. (8 February 2008). "Eths, fer de lance de la scène metal française" [Eths, spearhead of the French metal scene]. Le Parisien (in French). Beauvais. Archived from the original on 27 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  12. ^ "Eths, playlist de 7 pistes". All For Music (Database) (in French). n.d. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  13. ^ a b c Cambray, Eric (26 January 2002). "Interview de Eths le 26/01/02 - Montpellier (Victoire 2)" [Interview with Eths on 01/26/02 - Montpellier (Victoire 2)]. Metalorgie (in French). Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  14. ^ Olivier (2001). "Eths + Machine Head: Novembre 14, 2001, Istres, L'Usine". French Metal Familia (in French). Bouches-du-Rhône. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  15. ^ Eths (2002). Eths − Samantha live (Television production). Paris: Jimmy (TV channel). x2egv2. Retrieved 10 May 2021 – via Dailymotion.
  16. ^ Bagot, Pascal (17 February 2006). "Le métal à la française − Les univers de Eths et Gojira" [Metal in a French way − The universes of Eths and Gojira]. Radio France Internationale (in French). Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  17. ^ a b Lecaudey, Martine (15 December 2004). "Candice ou la voix en métal de Eths" [Candice or the metal voice of Eths]. La Dépêche du Midi (in French). Toulouse. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  18. ^ Hervé (11 January 2009). "Lofofora". Encyclopédie du Rock (in French). Rock Made in France. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  19. ^ «Eths Singer Quits» Archived 5 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine Blabbermouth
  20. ^ a b c d Faure, Laurence (23 December 2016). "Eths: Deux concerts d'adieu avec Candice" [Eths: Two farewell concerts with Candice]. Hard Force magazine (in French). Paris. OCLC 32640105. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  21. ^ Eths Pick Talent Show Star As New Singer Archived 6 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine Metal Hammer 3 April 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  22. ^ «Eths Guitarist Quits» Blabbermouth
  23. ^ a b Meurot, Julien (2017). "Eths: La fin d'une épopée" [The end of an epic tale]. Metal Obs' magazine (in French). Niort: H.I.M. Media. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  24. ^ Childers, Chad (15 December 2022). "Hellfest Announces 179 Bands for 2023 Lineup − Iron Maiden, Slipknot, Motley Crue + More". Loudwire. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  25. ^ Néo (14 September 2004). "Eths". Interview. French Metal (in French). Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  26. ^ Didier; Florent V (20 December 2008). "Interview". Aux Portes Du Metal (in French). Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  27. ^ a b Kandra (24 September 2004). "ETHS (FRA) - Candice et Staif (Sept-2004)". Interview. Metal Impact (in French). Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  28. ^ Ilaria Rossi, Roberta (20 September 2012). "Interview: Candice Clot". Femme Metal Webzine. Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  29. ^ "Eths: 'Harmaguedon' Video Featuring New Singer Rachel Aspe". Blabbermouth.net. 1 June 2013. Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  30. ^ Enis, Eli (7 May 2021). "Hear TesseracT and Eths Members Rage in New Hardcore Supergroup Cage Fight". Revolver. Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  31. ^ a b "Rendez-vous métal ce soir" [Metal rendezvous tonight]. La Dépêche du Midi (in French). 30 April 2003. Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  32. ^ Guedj, Philippe (22 November 2017). "Un bon coup de headbang" [A good shot of headbang]. Le Point (in French). Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  33. ^ Alberola, Jérôme (2012). Camion Blanc: Les Belles et les Bêtes Anthologie du rock au féminin, de la soul au métal [White truck: Beauties and the Beasts - Anthology of female rock, from soul to metal] (in French). Éditions du Camion blanc. ISBN 978-2-3577-9574-7. Archived from the original on 26 August 2023.
  34. ^ "Eths: Soma". Hard Force Magazine (in French). Paris. n.d. OCLC 32640105. Archived from the original on 27 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  35. ^ "Eths: Tératologie". Hard Force Magazine (in French). Paris. n.d. OCLC 32640105. Archived from the original on 27 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  36. ^ "Eths: Ankaa". Hard Force Magazine (in French). Paris. n.d. OCLC 32640105. Archived from the original on 27 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  37. ^ "Eths: III". Hard Force Magazine (in French). Paris. n.d. OCLC 32640105. Archived from the original on 27 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.

External links edit