Novelists (band)
{{short description|French metalcore band}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| background = group_or_band
| name = Novelists
| image = Novelists_2016230204034_2016-08-17_Summer_Breeze_-_Sven_-_5DS_R_-_0109_-_5DSR7728_mod.jpg
| image_size =
| landscape = yes
| alt =
| caption = Novelists performing in 2016
| alias =
| origin = Paris, France
| genre = {{hlist|Metalcore|progressive metal|djent}}
| years_active = {{start date|2013}}–present
| label = {{hlist|Arising Empire (2015–2017)|SharpTone (2017–2020)|Out of Line (2020–2024)|ACKOR Music (2025–present)}}
| website =
| current_members =
- Florestan Durand
- Amael Durand
- Nicolas Delestrade
- Pierre Danel
- Camille Contreras
| past_members =
- Matteo Gelsomino
- Charles-Henri Teule
- Tobias Rische
}}
Novelists (often stylised as Novelists FR) are a French metalcore band from Paris, formed in 2013 by brothers Amael and Florestan Durand. They issued three studio albums on Arising Empire and SharpTone Records, then joined Out of Line Music in 2020. After two vocalist changes, the group introduced Camille Contreras in 2023, released the EP Okapi in 2024, and published their fifth studio album, CODA, in 2025, through their artist-run label ACKOR Music.
History
=2013–2020: Early years and ''C'est La Vie''=
Brothers Amael (drums) and Florestan Durand (guitar) founded Novelists in late 2013 with vocalist Matteo Gelsomino, bassist Nicolas Delestrade, and guitarist Charles-Henri Teule. A self-released demo EP (2014) led to the debut full-length Souvenirs (2015) on Arising Empire,{{cite web | url=https://metal-heads.de/reviews/novelists-souvenirs-album-review-voe-13-11-2015/ | title=Novelists – Souvenirs – Album Review | work=Metal-heads.de | date=23 November 2015 | accessdate=14 September 2019 | language=de}}{{cite web | url=https://www.stormbringer.at/reviews/12614/novelists-souvenirs.html | title=Novelists-Souvenirs | work=Stormbringer.com | date=18 January 2016 | accessdate=14 September 2019 | language=de | author=Staub, Pascal}} which was followed by Noir in 2017, on SharpTone Records. The band's third album, C'est La Vie, came out in January 2020,{{cite web|title=Le groupe de metal francais Novelists FR annonce son nouvel album C'est La Vie & publie le single Head Rush |url=https://www.metalzone.fr/news/91763-le-groupe-de-metal-francais-novelists-annonce-son-nouvel-album-cest-la-vie-publie-le-single-head-rush/ |website=metalzone.fr |date=11 October 2019 |accessdate=23 October 2019 |language=fr |trans-title=French metal band Novelists FR announce new album C'est La Vie and release single Head Rush}} earning praise from Kerrang! for its "emotion-soaked riffing".{{cite web |url=https://www.kerrang.com/novelists-fr-cest-la-vie-album-review |title=Album review: Novelists FR – C'est La Vie |work=Kerrang! |date=24 January 2020 |access-date=12 June 2025}}
=2020–2022: vocalist change and ''Déjà Vu''=
Gelsomino left in April 2020.{{Cite web |last=Duffour |first=Adrien |date=7 April 2020 |title=Novelists FR et le chanteur Mattéo Gelsomino se séparent |url=https://www.metalzone.fr/news/130894-novelists-fr-matteo-gelsomino-separation/ |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=23 September 2020 |website=MetalZone |language=fr-FR |trans-title=Novelists FR and singer Mattéo Gelsomino split up}} Former Alazka frontman Tobias Rische joined that October, coinciding with a deal with Out of Line Music.{{cite web |url=https://lambgoat.com/news/33420/novelists-fr-recruit-former-alazka-vocalist-tobias-rische/ |title=Novelists FR recruit former Alazka vocalist |work=Lambgoat |date=27 October 2020 |access-date=12 June 2025}} In May 2022, the band supported the Swedish metalcore band Imminence on their European tour,{{Cite web|date=18 January 2022|title=Imminence verschieben ihre Tour 2022; verkünden den Special Guest|url=https://www.morecore.de/news/imminence-verschieben-ihre-tour-2022-verkuenden-den-special-guest/|access-date=26 January 2022|website=MoreCore.de|language=de-DE|trans-title=Imminence postpone their 2022 tour; announce special guest}} played the UK's Tech-Fest in June–July,{{Cite web|date=18 January 2022|title=Tech-Fest announces bands for 2022 Event • TotalRock|url=https://totalrock.com/tech-fest-announces-bands-for-2022-event/|access-date=26 January 2022|website=TotalRock}} and released their fourth studio album, Déjà Vu, in November, which was preceded by several singles, including "Heretic", which featured LANDMVRKS vocalist Florian Salfati.
=2023–present: Camille Contreras, ''Okapi'', and ''CODA''=
Vocalist Rische departed Novelists in April 2023. After open auditions, the band selected Camille Contreras, debuting her on the track "Turn It Up".{{cite web |url=https://loudwire.com/novelists-fr-turn-it-up-single/ |title=Novelists FR unveil new vocalist Camille Contreras with "Turn It Up" |work=Loudwire |date=9 September 2023 |access-date=12 June 2025}} The four-track EP Okapi followed on 9 May 2024.{{cite web |url=https://distortedsoundmag.com/novelists-fr-release-okapi-ep/ |title=Novelists FR release new EP "Okapi" |work=Distorted Sound |date=9 May 2024 |access-date=12 June 2025}}
In January 2025, Novelists, together with their French metalcore fellows LANDMVRKS, announced the creation of the record label ACKOR Music.{{cite web|title=Novelists announce new album 'CODA' and release single 'All for Nothing' |url=https://www.grimmgent.com/novelists-announce-new-album-coda-and-release-single-all-for-nothing/#:~:text=French%20metal%20band%20NOVELISTS%20boldly,2025%2C%20via%20ACKOR%20Music.%E2%80%9D |website=grimmgent.com | date=31 January 2025 |access-date=12 June 2025}} They also released the single "All for Nothing" and revealed their upcoming studio album, CODA.{{cite web |url=https://www.theprp.com/2025/01/30/news/novelists-fr-debut-all-for-nothing/ |title=Novelists FR debut "All for Nothing", "CODA" album due in May |work=The PRP |date=30 January 2025 |access-date=12 June 2025}} A second single, "Say My Name", came out on 20 March,{{cite web |url=https://metalinjection.net/video/novelists-fr-say-my-name |title=Novelists FR drop new single "Say My Name" |work=Metal Injection |date=20 March 2025 |access-date=12 June 2025}} ahead of the album's release on 16 May.
Musical style
The band's sound has been described as metalcore, with guitar styles heavily inspired by progressive metal and djent.{{cite web | url=https://www.metal-hammer.de/reviews/novelists-souvenirs/ | title=Novelists Souvenirs Review | work=Metal Hammer | date=3 November 2015 | accessdate=14 September 2019 | language=de | author=Grundke, Vincent}}
Band members
{{columns-start}}
Current
- Florestan Durand – lead guitar, backing vocals (2013–present)
- Amael Durand – drums (2013–present)
- Nicolas Delestrade – bass, backing vocals (2013–present)
- Pierre Danel – rhythm guitar (2021–present)
- Camille Contreras – lead vocals (2023-present)
{{column}}
Past
- Charles-Henri Teule – guitar (2013–2018)
- Matteo Gelsomino – lead vocals (2013–2020)
- Tobias Rische – lead vocals (2020–2023)
{{columns-end}}
=Timeline=
ImageSize = width:1000 height:300
PlotArea = left:130 bottom:55 top:10 right:20
DateFormat = yyyy
Period = from:2013 till:2026
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
ScaleMajor = increment:1 start:2013
AlignBars = justify
Colors =
id:vocals value:red legend:Lead_vocals
id:lguitar value:teal legend:Lead_guitar
id:rguitar value:brightgreen legend:Rhythm_guitar
id:bass value:blue legend:Bass_guitar
id:drums value:orange legend:Drums
id:album value:black legend:Studio_albums
id:ep value:gray(0.6) legend:EPs
Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom
BarData =
bar:Matteo text:Matteo Gelsomino
bar:Tobias text:Tobias Rische
bar:Camille text:Camille Contreras
bar:Florestan text:Florestan Durand
bar:Charles text:Charles-H. Teule
bar:Pierre text:Pierre Danel
bar:Nicolas text:Nicolas Delestrade
bar:Amael text:Amael Durand
PlotData = width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
# Vocals
bar:Matteo color:vocals from:2013 till:2020
bar:Tobias color:vocals from:2020 till:2023
bar:Camille color:vocals from:2023 till:end
# Guitars
bar:Florestan color:lguitar from:2013 till:end
bar:Charles color:rguitar from:2013 till:2019
bar:Pierre color:rguitar from:2021 till:end
# Bass
bar:Nicolas color:bass from:2013 till:end
# Drums
bar:Amael color:drums from:2013 till:end
LineData = layer:back width:1
at:2015 color:album
at:2017 color:album
at:2020 color:album
at:2022 color:album
at:2025 color:album
at:2014 color:ep
at:2024 color:ep
Discography
{{columns-start}}
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable"
! Year | Title | Label |
| 2015 | Souvenirs | Arising Empire |
| 2017 | Noir | SharpTone |
| 2020 | C'est La Vie | SharpTone |
| 2022 | Déjà Vu | Out of Line |
| 2025 | CODA | ACKOR Music |
=EPs=
| class="wikitable"
! Year | Title | Label |
| 2014 | Demo EP | Self-released |
| 2024 | Okapi | Out of Line |
{{column}}
=Singles=
| class="wikitable"
! Year | Single |
| 2015 | "Gravity" |
| 2017 | "The Light, the Fire" |
| 2018 | "Eyes Wide Shut" |
| rowspan=2|2020 | "Lost Cause" |
| "After the Rain" | |
| rowspan=2|2021 | "Terrorist" |
| "Do You Really Wanna Know?" | |
| rowspan=2|2022 | "Smoke Signals" |
| "Heretic" | |
| rowspan=3|2023 | "Turn It Up" |
| "Prisoner" | |
| "Mourning the Dawn" | |
| 2024 | "Coda" |
| 2025 | "All for Nothing"{{cite AV media |title=Novelists FR – "All for Nothing" (official video) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF24UojtJPc |date=30 January 2025 |access-date=12 June 2025}} |
| 2025 | "Say My Name"{{cite AV media |title=Novelists FR – "Say My Name" (official video) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZ-t_sK19jQ |date=20 March 2025 |access-date=12 June 2025}} |
{{columns-end}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
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Category:French progressive rock groups
Category:French metalcore musical groups
Category:2013 establishments in France
Category:Musical groups established in 2013
Category:Musical groups from Paris
Category:Female-fronted musical groups