Alchemist - Embryonics

Thu 24th Nov, 2005 in Music Reviews

Few Australian metal bands can boast the staying power and magnificence of Alchemist. From their first full-length release Jar Of Kingdom in 1993 to the present day, the quartet of Canberra natives has gone from strength to strength, chopping and changing their style of metal, but always making sure it is like nothing you have heard before. Whether it is psych metal, electronica, death metal, or world-music influenced heavy rock, Alchemist has done it all. You would be wrong for thinking that a band that has been around for so long would become stale in their delivery – just two years ago the band released Austral Alien, one of the strongest records of their career and undoubtedly one of their most critically acclaimed, and embarked upon their first ever European tour last year (which included a stint at the mighty ProgPower festival).  

So, if you want to see what all the fuss is about, then you should definitely get your hands on Embyonics, the newly-released double-disc collection of Alchemist’s work from their beginnings until 1998 (the year they released their six-track EP Eve Of The War). Tracks from the two most recent albums, Austral Alien and Organasm (2000) have been excluded from this release, but this release is supposed to be a celebration of Alchemist’s first years. And how.

Kicking off the first disc of the double album is the magnificent Chinese Whispers (from 1997’s Spiritech), where triumphant keyboards and rhythmic tribal sounds indicate what kind of experimentation that the band was embarking upon at that time of their career. Other tracks from Spiritech that have made the cut are Road to Ubar, Spiritechnology, Dancing To Life, Beyond Genesis and Staying Conscious, all of which promote this layered, progressive metal.

During the two and a half hour duration of the album, we continue to be treated to a wonderful miasma of tracks, including songs from Alchemist’s first two demos, titled Demo 90 and Demo 91 (no prizes for guessing when these were released).

Six songs each from 1995’s Lunasphere and Jar of Kingdom also make an appearance, including the well-known Yoni Kunda (Lunasphere), a track which really pushed the envelope for ambient, textured metal.

As for previously unreleased material, Embryonics features live versions of Yoni Kunda, Closed Chapter (from Triple Js Three Hours of Power) and Chinese Whispers, all of which are executed with unbelievable force and atmosphere.

Even if you are not particularly fond of metal, keep in mind that Alchemist are so much more than that. And there really is no better introduction than Embryonics.