Organasm

First few listens to the record reminded you of a post metal feel, just this strange flow devoid of any ambiance. Guitars are down tuned and vocals span the full spectrum of screams to growls. But this lack of any coherent ambiance was well compensated by the more aesthetically integrated aboriginal influences, which eventually begged for repeated listens.

A novel aspect to Alchemist artistry is their graceful blending of tribal drum beats, eastern musical instruments and psychedelic guitars. Compositions integrate progressive musical passages but songs are not that lengthy either. The record hardly emphasizes the vocals even though they do add to the overall experience. Overall structural qualities resemble progressive metal with some industrial sonic influences. If you fancy Riverside or ISIS sound, then you might also find value in Alchemist.

"Austral Spectrum" is a great opener, encompasses all the qualitative attributes of Organasm -- slow lazy guitar riffs, screaming vocals drowned by the guitar sound, tribal beats, psychedelic guitar interleaved with flute instrument and musical passages. Basically the Organasm experience in a song is "Austral Spectrum". Lyrics emphasize evolution and surrealism, sits well with the overall dreamy sonic imprint.

The song names do give away their inspirations. "Evolution Trilogy" is like one single song with smooth transitions across each of its parts. The spectacular aspect of part 3 is the electronica sound around the halfway mark leading to the trademark heavy guitar which abruptly switches to a mellow tone towards the end. On "Single Sided", Adam Agius does get ample opportunity to exhibit his vocal skills. Cannot help noticing the earmark quality of the ear splitting scream towards the end. "Tide In, Mind Out" also possess brilliant screams with bloody good backing vocals. For a change the instruments are not diverting the attention, but this was merely a transient state before the elegance of Alchemist's instrument musicianship comes back with vengeance on "Eclectic".

The record has a very striking feature, all the diverse musical influences are structured into a perfect symphony. When you combine multiple genres it's very easy to get carried away. A typical illustration of such an incoherence would be Orphaned Land's Mabool, where they bludgeon a listener with death metal growls right after a bluesy folk or jazz passage. In that sense, Organasm is a well-made record which keeps the listener entertained with its quirky and smooth transitions. Thanks to the well-balanced production quality, its intricacies tend to grow on you with multiple listens. It actually took half a dozen runs for me to start appreciating the idiosyncrasies of Alchemist terrain embedded with ample melody, good musicianship, and capable unexploited vocals.

It's a shameful time for Australia in the international music scene. Our main exports are Jet and Kylie Minogue, we have some of the most horrible boy bands ever, generally, we suck really bad (Don’t get me started on the emo scene over here). So it's really, really good to hear an Australian Band not just writing great music, but also writing music that has a very outback-y, pioneer like spirit.

This album keeps you permanently guessing. The first song, Austral Spectrum, opens up with some really well done keyboards and didgeridoos, dammit, it’s atmospheric. Then all of a sudden, crushing heavy guitars kick in, but it all fits so perfectly. Or there’s Tide in Mind Out, which starts off full of eerie synths, before some ethereal, uplifting guitars take over. It’s an amazing song, which asks the question “Why isn’t this band selling as much records as Tool?” The song continues to build up, setting a mood that Isis would be proud of, before getting really heavy. Amazing. The trilogy is great too, with some inspired tribal drumming beginning this 3 part epic, before guitars come in. Regardless of what happens though, you can be assured that there will be a great mood created. Few bands can create a mood as well as these guys. There’s a bit of a Middle-Eastern thing going on, mixed with the emptiness, the desolation and the beauty of the Australian outback.

The guitars are always of extremely high quality, whether playing FX treated clean bits of playing powerful, mid-paced metal riffs. The vocals may take a bit of getting used to, but you’ll soon love them. The singer is a very talented lyricist too, always a plus. The keyboards are maybe the best I’ve heard any metal band do. Sometimes they are very subtle, sometimes they are up there with the guitars, but there is no cheesiness at all, and they never, ever sound out of place. Everything in this album is placed perfectly in this mix. All of this great music has been suitably well produced, with everything mixed right, though I would prefer a more raw drum kit.

But who am I to complain? This is an album of Australia-sized proportions, a mind altering, intoxicating epic full of interesting soundscapes and strange, left field, yet totally accessible metal music. Basically, if you like Metal of any sort, you should run out and buy this album, right now.

Alchemist's consistency to bring out absolutely amazing records never ceases to amaze me. While this is perhaps not quite as good as Spiritech, it is so close behind that it makes little or no difference.
The first thing you might notice (if you have listened to previous Alchemist CDs) is the production. It has come quite a long way since Spiritech - much clearer and with better sounding electronics.
Well, what's to expect? What's not to expect from an Alchemist CD? Tribal/middle-eastern elements showing their heads here and there, and even an appearance of the digeridoo in "Austral Spectrum". Original riffs, psychadelic keyboards and even some very catchy clean vocal choruses appear on "Tide In, Mind Out" and "Escape From the Black Hole". "Tide In, Mind Out" is my personal favourite track. Probably the most effective and satisfying build-up I have ever heard starts this song off, and the guitar riffs, vocals (shouts and clean, deep singing) can somehow remain calming despite their heavy nature.
This is an album that must simply be sat down and listened to all the way through. Once again Alchemist will carry you away to another place.
An involving and original title from one of the best metal bands you're ever likely to hear.

I first read about Alchemist while searching metal review websites. They were being praised, this undiscovered gem from down-under. Their music was being described as addictive and hypnotic, but so is LSD. So being the sorry sap I am, I purchased their two most recent albums on the strength of those reviews along. Thankfully, Alchemist delivered tenfold.

Their fourth release, Organasm, is great piece of metal. But, it is not confined to one set way. Numerous influences radiate from the tracks. This makes a sound that is utterly intoxicating. Rhythmic tribal beats, masterfully blended keyboards, and a superb vocal performance. Although I’m unsure of what their previous albums may sound like, at this point on in their career, is easy to surmise that Alchemist knows exactly what they want to be musically.

As the previous review stated it is hard to single out a specific song to recommend. From beginning to end, one is lured into another world of sound. Austral Spectrum, the first track, moves along at a steady pace until the bottom drops with an ungodly shrill shriek-commanding the listener to, “widen the spectrum”. The next three songs are a seamless trilogy, telling the rise and fall of life on Earth. Single Sided is a pounding, shrieking, statement about individualism. Tide In, Mind Out is good in ways I can’t describe. There are no filler tracks. I don’t think Alchemist can make something disposable.

This being my first time reviewing an album I’m not sure how to sum up my ideas. All I can say is the band Alchemist and their release Organasm, are both fine examples of creative prowess. Hopefully, they will be discovered by a vaster audience seeing how they deserve it.

Brilliant work.