Alchemist

 Today in 1998 Alchemist released the EP Eve Of War

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory,Australia Avant-garde/Progressive Death Metal
Status:Split-up
Years active: 1987-2010
Alchemist was one of those exceedingly rare bands that embrace the premise of metal and then, by incorporating external influences and striving to be individualistic songwriters, come up with a style and sound that is uniquely original and all their own, yet still undeniably metal. Tribal rhythms and a definite Middle East influences are seemlessly blended with brutal riffing, as many songs alternate between relaxed, experimental mellow sections and up-tempo, heavy guitars. The vocals are often semi-death metallish, hoarse and growly, with the occasional ungodly shriek (for example, as found on "Chinese Whispers", perhaps the best song on one of their best albums, 1997's Spiritech). Listening to Alchemist has an almost hypnotic effect, as one is seemingly transported to another world as the songs drift by. Simply put, Alchemist was one of the best metal bands to emerge in the 90's, though seemingly virtually unknown outside their home of Australia. The band split up around 2010, with guitarist/vocalist Adam Agius forming a similar band in The Levitation Hex.
Shock Australia Records
Adam Agius Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards
Roy Torkington Guitars
John Bray Bass, Keyboards, Samples
Rodney Holder Drums
Guest/Session
Josh Nixon Guitars (rhythm)
Mark Rochelle Keyboards (additional)
1. Eve of the War (Jeff Wayne cover) 05:16
2. Yoni Kunda (Live) 05:32
3. Chinese Whispers (Live) 09:30
4. Yoni Kunda (Remix) 03:58
5. Brumal: A View from Pluto 05:46
6. Worlds Within Worlds 07:19
37:21
Track 1 is an adaptation of one of the movements in Jeff Wayne's musical version of "The War of the Worlds". This version omits all the spoken vocals and retains only a distorted version of the chorus.
Tracks 5 & 6 taken from "Jar of Kingdom" album (1993).
Recording information:
Engineered at Backbeach Studios VIC 1998.
Produced at The Disco Playpen.