Saille

Formation (2009-2010)

It started as a one person, one-time project by Dries Gaerdelen (keyboards). During the recordings of the debut album in 2009-2010, the idea of a real live-band grew on him. A complete band was formed in the summer of 2010.

Irreversible Decay (2011)

The recordings for the first album “Irreversible Decay” started at the end of 2009 in Shumcot Studio, Belgium. The debut album was finalized in September 2010. On 4 March 2011 the band released their first full album 'Irreversible Decay' on the Italian label Code666 records.

It was extremely well received by the international press, especially for a formerly unknown band's debut album. Saille's very first gig took place in January 2011. To promote the debut album, an official videoclip for the track "Plaigh Allais" was released in March 2011.

The live-shows of the first album were concluded with a spot on Belgium’s biggest metalfest Graspop Metal Meeting in June 2012.^[1][2] Another highlight was the appearance on a second annual event 'EMM - Eindhoven Metal Meeting' in December 2012.

Ritu (2013)

In July 2012 the band hit the Shumcot Studio again to record their second album. With lyrics inspired by death rites in ancient cultures, the next album had a much darker setting. Again classically skilled guest musicians were invited. After two months of intensive recording sessions, the final mix was finished in September 2012 and sent to the Norwegian mastering specialist Tom Kvålsvoll (Strype Audio). Known for mastering black metal classics Mayhem, Emperor, Arcturus, Limbonic Art, Ulver, Vreid and many others. On 18 January 2013 the successor, entitled "Ritu", saw the light of day as a digipak edition.

After the release of the 2nd album, Saille faced an intensive year. They embarked on their first tour in January 2013, with Transylvanian black metal legends Negura Bunget. Followed by more gigs in Belgium and the Netherlands, supporting bands like Textures, Von, Winterfylleth and The Monolith Death Cult. Again, a promotional/official video for the opening track of the album "Blood Libel" was made and got its release set for June 2013.

During summer, Saille was invited to perform on several festivals like Antwerp Metal Fest (with Napalm Death), Vlamrock (with Exhumed, Belphegor, Rotting Christ) and Metal Méan (with Marduk, Dying Fetus). In September, Saille went to the UK for some gigs as support to Winterfylleth, a British band they consider as friends since they first met on Graspop 2012. The band released another official video, a live recording of the track ‘Tephra’ (captured at Metal Méan) in November 2013 and went to Denmark for a headlining position on Black Winter Fest, Copenhagen.

Eldritch (2014)

Still playing gigs in 2014, Saille prepared the third album. Mentionable gigs were the very successful Tongeren Metal Fest (with Asphyx, Angel Witch), a show supporting Carach Angren (NL) and the honour of playing in the ‘Ancienne Belgique’, sharing the stage with (The True) Mayhem (Norway). In July, Saille played in Germany for the first time.

In May the recordings for ‘Eldritch’ commenced. This time the album was recorded in different studios, to get a different approach for each group of instruments. Again classical instruments were recorded: amongst the forementioned instruments a grand piano, a 100 years old pianola and small vocal choirs were added. Mixing and mastering were handled by Klas Blomgren from Sweden (known for his work for Svart’s last cd). The street date for 'Eldritch' was set for November 10, again released by Code666 as a digipak edition. To promote this release, a three days promotour with Winterfylleth took place in Belgium and the Netherlands. Another performance on the 2014 edition of ‘Eindhoven Metal Meeting’ (for the second time) concluded another successful year for Saille.

2015 is the year Saille experienced a significant growth in terms of important performances. They shared stages with bands like Moonspell, Septicflesh,Eye of Solitude, Impaled Nazarene, Nargaroth, Dødheimsgard, Thulcandra, Cradle of Filth and many more in Belgium, Netherlands and the UK. In May Saille participated in a tour supporting Negura Bunget^[3] hence visiting France and Spain for the first time.

In the following 'festival season' they performed on festivals in Molins de Rei/Barcelona, Spain in June, at the famous British Bloodstock Open Air,^[4][5] and in Austria in August. An official videoclip for the track ‘Aklo’ was released in August 2015.

This continued throughout 2016, but mainly focussed on Germany: Saille played Dark Easter Metal Meeting (München) in March, Ragnarök Festival (Lichtenfels) in April and Summer Breeze Open Air in August. Inbetween they also did a show on Incineration Fest, London, UK.^[6]

Gnosis (2017)

During September 2016 the band also announced being recording their 4th album 'Gnosis'. After some significant line-up changes the band decided to continue as a five-piece. The album got released on March 17, 2017 and was mixed and mastered by the Wiesławscy brothers at Hertz Studio, Poland.^[7] It turned out to be the darkest release of Saille to date, with significantly less keyboards, which consolidated their position in the metal scene: The same year, the band went to Malta, Spain, France, Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Romania and on a nightliner tour with The Vision Bleak (DE) to visit Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The album was accompanied by a promovideo for the track 'Prometheus'.

Current members

• Reinier Schenk – guitars (September 2009 – present)
• Kristof Van Iseghem – bass (October 2014 – present)
• Xavier De Schuyter – vocals (July 2017 – present)
• Yoeri Gemeen – drums (September 2017 – present)
• Guillaume Singer - guitars (April 2018 – present)

Former members

• Yves Callaert - guitars (October 2010 – August 2012)
• Gert Monden – drums (September 2009 – September 2013)
• Didier Vancampo – bass (October 2010 – August 2014)
• Jonathan Vanderwal – guitars (vocals September 2009 - November 2011 & guitars September 2012 – May 2016)
• Dries Gaerdelen – keyboards (June 2009 – August 2016)
• Dennie Grondelaers – vocals (February 2012 – July 2017)
• Kevin De Leener – drums (September 2013 – September 2017)
• Collin Boone - guitars (August 2016 – March 2018)