Novelists

Novelists, often styled as Novelists FR, formed in Paris in 2013 around brothers Amael and Florestan Durand and quickly became a notable French name in progressive metalcore. Souvenirs introduced the band's combination of technical guitar work, djent rhythm, and emotional melody, with songs that balanced intricate riffing against open, atmospheric choruses. Noir and C'est La Vie expanded that sound, often leaning into jazzier guitar phrasing and a more elegant sense of motion than many metalcore peers. Deja Vu and later material brought lineup changes and a different vocal identity, including the arrival of Camille Contreras, which shifted the band's texture without erasing the technical foundation. Novelists fit metalcore scope directly through their riff language, harsh vocals, breakdowns, and scene placement, but their identity depends on fluidity. The guitars often feel expressive rather than purely percussive, and the best songs let melodic detail move through heavy structures instead of sitting above them. Novelists are strongest when the musicianship feels emotional, not ornamental, making precision serve atmosphere, tension, and release.