The 4Element story starts in 1998. Just an idea to play cover songs with friends from high school. No band name, no real songs. Just learning to play together.
From that first band, three members decided to continue and start writing music. Phil on guitar and the Theys' brothers, Alban on drums and Cedric on bass. The name 4Element is coined, a concept uniting the four natural elements of wind, fire, water and earth... A few months later, Xavier joins the band. On guitar and eventually vocals… and many years of past experience in a multitude of bands back in France. What are four Frenchmen doing in Texas playing progressive music!
2000 will be the year of the first album Living Spirit. After some unsuccessful recording sessions, 4Element settles in a rehearsal space and practice, practice, practice... to finally get in the studio in April and June and record 9 songs during the graveyard shift, 8 hours of non-stop playing! Finally in October the album is finished and ready to blow people's minds.
During 2001, 4Element plays shows and writes more music. In October Phil decides to pursue other dreams and 4Element is back to its original format as a trio. And what a trio! Some people were saying that it seemed like 6 people on stage! We would always look at each other smiling and never reveal our secrets!
But in mid 2002, Alban left to go back to France and the beast was stopped square in its tracks. It wouldn't be till the end of the year that 4Element would find a new breath with the addition of Tom on percussion and Esteban on drums. The music would have more of a metal approach with amazing lyrics from our dear percussion player, Tom. His first songs ever, all used in the band. Cedric started singing as well to help out Xavier and the band kept churning new songs.
2004 would be another turning point: the end of the band with Tom leaving first. 4Element keeps playing as a trio, a form that seems to work well for the band. More recordings take place now with Esteban drumming away. Towards the end of the year he would leave permanently. Xavier and Cedric finish recording the last parts, knowing full well that this second album will be for posterity. By the end of 2004 a chapter closes. 4Element expires. The second album Duplicity is home grown and released in May 2005 with a DVD including videos from various 4Element shows.
Will 4Element rise from its ashes? That's a question that arises now and then...
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