Mass Hysteria (band)

Mass Hysteria
Origin	Paris, France
Genres	Industrial metal, alternative metal, nu metal
Years active	1993–present
Labels	Yelen (Sony), Wagram, At(h)ome
Members	Mouss Yann Nicolas Raphaël
Past members	Erwan Overload System Olivier Coursier Stéphane
Website	masshysteriaofficial.com

Mass Hysteria is a French heavy metal band formed in 1993 that released six albums between 1997 and 2009. Their breakthrough came in 1999 with their second album Contraddiction.

The band

Mass Hysteria is known for their eclecticism, combining industrial metal, alternative metal, rock and rap (2001–2005).

Language

The band sings primarily in French which has made them an exception throughout the metal sphere.

History

Created in 1993, the band recorded their first album, Le Bien-être et la Paix (Well-being and Peace), four years later. After this album, Mass Hysteria's breakthrough album came in 1999 with the release of Contraddiction which sold over 50,000 copies. The album itself is still widely regarded as the band's iconic 'Black album'. It was produced and mixed by Colin Richardson.

In 2001 the band returned after intensive touring with a different approach with the release of 'De Cercle en Cercle'. This album received mixed feelings with the arrival of new guitarist Olivier Coursier. The album's new pop/rap experiment approach left the band isolated from the metal scene. Michel Houellebecq, met in Québec, was supposed to write one of the songs but the agreement was never concretized. In 2005 the band released 'Mass Hysteria' confirming the band new soften pop/metal approach. Finally, in 2007 with the departure of Olivier and arrival of Nicolas Savoury the band returned with 'Une somme de détails' (an addition of details). The album pushed Mass Hysteria back to its root of origin that made it a success. The album heavier than ever began to close-in on 'Contraddiction' dangerously. Two years later in late 2009 the band released 'Failles' (cracks). The album's cover undeniably confirmed the band renewed past with 'contraddiction' (also in red and black). The album received critical acclaim.

In the mass media, Mass Hysteria was known for some controversies and incidents surrounding them. But some critics have also noticed the quality of their music and their growing success.

- In 1998 the band played in Quebec, Montreal at the Spectrum. They recorded a live album there on May 16. The concert hall was torn down in 2008.
- In 2001 the band played at the Pollywog in Montreal, Québec, Canada on August 11, 2001.
- In 2008 the band played at the Sziget Festival in Óbudai-Sziget, Budapest, Hungary on August 16, 2008.
- In 2008 the band played at the Club Soda in Montreal, Québec, Canada on August 19, 2008.
- In 2009 Metallica called out Mass Hysteria to open for their sold out show at the 'Arènes de Nîmes'.
- In 2010 the band returned to Quebec to attend a special tour along with French metal band AqME.
- In 2010 the band played in Lörrach, Germany on January 29.
- In 2011 the band released its anticipated first DVD live recorded and filmed in Toulouse (southern France).
- On July 9, 2011 the band participated at Sonisphere France along with the big four.
- In 2011 the band played 3 dates in New Caledonia (Pacific). On November 15 & 22 they appeared at Festival Rock in Dore (Village de Bohème). On November 20 the band played at 'Nouméa, Baie des Citrons' - Salle Le Bohème.

Touring

In the last 17 years the band has played principally in France, Belgium and Switzerland. The 1998 Contradiction Tour resulted in over 300 concerts throughout France. In 2013, Mass Hysteria began La Tournée des ombres as part of the band's 20th anniversary and to promote their most recent album.

Background

The band's current line-up are from Brest and Rouen & Paris. Yann and Mouss are from the city of Brest (Brittany). Raphael from Paris and Nicolas from Rouen (Upper Normandy).

Members

Current members

• Moustapha "Mouss" Kelai — Vocals (since 1993)
• Raphael Mercier — Drums (since 1993)
• Yann Heurtaux — Guitar (since 1995)
• Frédéric "Fred" Duquesne — Guitar (since 2014)
• "Atom" — Bass (since 2016)

Former members

• Vincent "Vinz" Mercier — Bass (2012-2016)
• Nicolas "Nico" Sarrouy — Guitar (2007-2014)
• Olivier Coursier — Guitar & Sampling (2000-2007)
• Pascal Jeannet aka Overload System — Sampling (1995-2000)
• Stéphan Jaquet — Bass (1993-2011)
• Erwan Disez — Guitar (1993-1999)

Timeline

Discography

Albums

• 1997 : 'Le Bien-être et la Paix'

1. "L'Homme qui en savait trop rien" - 4:16
2. "Knowledge is power" - 2:56
3. "Mass protect" - 3:53
4. "Shine" - 3:22
5. "L'Effet papillon" - 3:27
6. "Donnez-vous la peine" - 3:42
7. "Hard corps" - 1:54
8. "Gone" - 5:22
9. "Respect to the dance-floor" - 3:00
10. "Unique" - 3:22
11. "MH2" - 3:16
12. "Knowdege is power (New Year's Remix)" - 4:06

• 1999 : 'Contraddiction'

1. "Contraddiction" - 4:09
2. "Zion" - 4:30
3. "Aimable à souhait" - 4:15
4. "Attracteurs étranges" - 3:52
5. "Finistère amer" - 4:08
6. "P4" - 2:24
7. "Sur la brèche" - 4:06
8. "Furia" - 3:45
9. "Le Dernier Tango" - 3:58
10. "Osmos '99" - 3:12
11. "Le Plus Juste Effet" - 4:23
12. "Carazones olvidados" - 13:06

• 2001 : 'De cercle en cercle'

1. "Remède" - 5:21
2. "La Puissance Bienvenue" - 4:00
3. "La Aventura Humana" - 3:44
4. "Ya Vyemma" - 5:48
5. "Millenium Appauvri" - 4:40
6. "Fragment" (instrumental) - 1:13
7. "Immixtion" (featuring La Brigade) - 3:55
8. "La Canopée" - 3:46
9. "Temps Mort" (instrumental) - 3:41
10. "L'Harmonie Invisible" - 3:41
11. "Coup2Mass" - 4:50
12. "Montherlant" - 3:42
13. "L'Importance Du Sort" - 5:26

• 2005 : 'Mass Hysteria'

1. "Poison d'asile" - 3:17
2. "Instant Film" - 3:15
3. "L'Emo clef" - 3:16
4. "Fausse route" - 4:00
5. "On coule !" - 3:03
6. "Intérieur à revoir" - 3:30
7. "Un homme à la mer" - 3:45
8. "Désaxé" - 4:10
9. "La Permanence" - 4:06
10. "Pures heures" - 3:21
11. "Laissez pensez" - 3:14
12. "La Démesure" - 4:07
13. "Sexylex" - 2:52

• 2007 : 'Une somme de détails'

1. "Des nouvelles du ciel" - 3:25
2. "Babylone" - 3:25
3. "Une somme de détails" - 2:51
4. "Killing the hype (ruff style!)" - 3:14
5. "Échec" - 3:54
6. "L'Espoir fou" - 3:13
7. "Nous sommes bien" - 3:21
8. "Je ressens" - 3:52
9. "Regarde le monde" - 3:16
10. "Se lover dans les flammes" - 3:32
11. "Mon horizon" - 2:12
12. "Une joie kamikaze" - 2:39
13. "Briller pour toi" (Featuring Manu Monet) - 3:47

• 2009 : 'Failles'

1. "World On Fire" - 04:08
2. "Plus qu'aucune mer" - 04:07
3. "Failles" - 03:34
4. "L'archipel des pensées" - 03:29
5. "Clean" - 03:13
6. "Dysphoria" - 02:56
7. "Le magnétisme des sentiments" - 04:10
8. "Aller plus loin" - 02:56
9. "Respirer" - 04:04
10. "Get High" - 03:46
11. "Rien n'être plus" - 03:18
12. "Comme on danse" - 03:10

• 2012: 'L'Armée Des Ombres'

1. "Positif à bloc" - 2:58
2. "L'homme s'entête" - 3:36
3. "Commedia dell'inferno" - 3:37
4. "Même si j'explose" - 5:05
5. "L'esprit du temps" - 3:25
6. "Tout doit disparaître" 4:25
7. "Sérum barbare" - 4:04
8. "Raison close" - 4:57
9. "Pulsion" - 2:17
10. "Vertiges des mondes" - 2:50

CD Bonus Tracks

1. "La valse des pantins" - 3:10
2. "Soyez vous-même" - 4:18

• 2015: 'Matière Noire'

1. "Chiens de la Casse" - 4:00
2. "Vae Soli !" - 5:09
3. "Vector Equilibrium" - 4:34
4. "Notre Complot" - 4:43
5. "L'Espérance et le Refus" - 4:53
6. "Tout est Poison " - 4:53
7. "L'Enfer des Dieux" - 4:09
8. "À Bout de Souffle" - 3:24
9. "Matière Noire" - 4:42
10. "Plus que du Metal" - 3:39
11. "Mère d'Iroise" - 5:09

Live

• 1998 : Live à Montréal (live performance recorded in Montréal, Canada)
• 2011 : Mass Hysteria : Live (live performance recorded in Toulouse, France)
• 2013 : Mass Hysteria à l'Olympia (live performance recorded in Paris, France)