Fellsilent

Fellsilent (also typeset as 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, "Djent" 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.^[1]

Influences

Fellsilent listed many influences including bands such as Meshuggah, Sikth, Textures and the early metal band Led Zeppelin.^[2] This mix of new and old was an important tool utilized by the band in pioneering the genre.

Reception

Kerrang! 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.^[3]

Break up

On April 30, 2009, Fellsilent announced that they were looking for a new guitarist to fill the position of ex band member, Acle Kahney.^[4]

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".

Browne and Acle expanded their then-side projects TesseracT and Monuments; Joe formed the hip-hop group Sub Project 151. Noddy currently drums for Heart Of A Coward, and also acted as a stand-in for Enter Shikari when they toured the United States, as Rob Rolfe was not able to get a US Visa until 2011.^[5]

Reunion rumours

A campaign was started on Facebook when the band explicitly stated on their official Facebook page that if 3000 of the band's fans wanted them to reunite they would do so. After several months and failing to reach the goal of 3000 fans, Joe Garrett posted on the band's Facebook stating that it was unanimously agreed that they would never play together as a band again.

Former members

• Neema Askari - vocals (2003–2010)
• John Browne - guitar (2003–2010)
• Max Robinson - bass (2003–2009)
• Christopher 'Noddy' Mansbridge - drums (2003–2009)
• Acle Kahney - guitar (2003–2009)
• Joe Garrett - vocals (2006–2009)

Discography

• The Double 'A' (2006)
• The Hidden Words (2008)

References