Formed by Guillaume in 2009 in Nice/France, this project is the continuation of a former constellation called Forlon Hope, which did not succeed but all the same played with bands like BORGIA, Assacrentis, Etheryal, Fir Bolg, Necromantic etc. The idea was to create a project around the 19th century romanticism in Germany as well as in France and England. The music is a personal way to describe tormented feelings about love and hate, the impossible quest of an ideal. Anyway, after a while XCIII decided to restart to concert with a live line up, created around a lot of session musicians. A lot of bands inspired XCIII, as for example My Dying Bride, Opeth, Porcupine tree, Katatonia, Anathema, Agalloch etc. The former idea to play a folk black metal disappeared by the time Guillaume composed new songs, which were more open to new horizons, including Experimental and Prog elements. The result is a bleak experiment around a same idea. Destructed in the musical conception, the theme remains a whole. After a few concerts (within one with the great Dornenreich), XCIII released a Split with the Band Abyss Cerebrum. XCIII has signed a contract with the label German Naturmacht Productions, and released his first album, “Like a Fiend in a Cloud” in February 2013! At the end of the year, XCIII and Naturmacht part ways because the music was not matching the labels policy anymore. For a better transition to different musical universes, XCIII released the EP “Event Horizon” in 2014. It was composed, mixed and mastered by the band itself in November 2013 and April 2014, at the Forlorn Hope studios in Lyon/France. XCIII wanted to experiment new sounds, new genres. The result is a complex psychedelic journey composed by traditional black metal music and more. Still melancholic, the music finds its inspiration in both the essence of life and catatonia. It is a mix between cold eerie sounds and warm encouraging rhythms. The cover artwork, a simple white painted picture of trees, was made by Fanny R. The band is now looking for a new label and musicians who will be able to promote the second album, which is expected for summer 2016, both on CD and live!

Source : https://xciiispleen.wordpress.com