Customer Reviews

Organasm

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Alchemist, those tribal metalers from the Land Down Under, have had very remarkable career of which very few know about. Relegated, for the most part, to Import bins and Back order catalogues, the band has released three previous albums ("Jar Of Kingdom", "Lunasphere" and "Spiritech") all of which made significant progression and were VERY poorly promoted. They present a very unique brand of metal which draws influences from a number of musical styles--most recently, a fetish for mixing Fear Factory and "Chaos A.D."-era Sepultura monster riffs with weird, twisty Australian tribal beats and a knack for really catchy, memorable vocal lines. Add to that the abundance of synth lines and piercing vocal screeches and you have a band doing more than merely coming across as the newest Cradle Of Filth clone in the cluttered world of third-rate black/death metal.

All of these elements combine to make "Organasm" a monster of an album, and one of my biggest surprises from the year 2000 so far. Upon hearing the first notes of this album, it is obvious that this is the best produced piece of work this band has had thus far in their career. "Spiritech", released in 1997, had some tremendous songs, but was hampered, somewhat, by a muddy, undefined guitar sound, which was usually just a "hole filler" rather than being the driving force for their songs. That is remedied here to a HUGE extent--the guitar sound is thunderous, panned very hard on both sides, and is a huge improvement from the above mentioned album. And the vocals of guitarist Adam are absolutely remarakable! Another very overlooked talent in the metal world, as he employs some very strong clean vocals this time around to complement his great aggressive overtones and that nut-twisting screech, which is used a hell of lot more here than in the past.

The album works best as one long, deep listen, as the songs and songtitles are very tied in with each other. I wasn't expecting much when I heard it, but it absolutely FLOORED ME! I know none of you out there have even heard of these guys and probably will never even come across this review, but if you are a fan of old Fear Factory and Sepultura, I suggest that you put down your copies of "Demanufacture" and "Chaos A.D." and try moving on to something far, FAR greater! Thanks to the folks at Holland's Displeased Records, that task is definitely much more easier than it has been for the first part of this band's career. Support a band with REAL talent--pick up "Organasm", either by mail-order or at your local store if they're cool enough to carry it, and experience for yourself Australia's best kept secret and a key to the future of metal!

It's hard to describe this band. This is a band you can't really compare to any other metal band. They are very heavy, and at the same time, kind of trippy. Sort of Pink Floyd-ish. There are heavy guitars and vocals on the heavy parts, and some steel or slide guitar (whatever you call it) with cool keyboards on the lighter parts. Plenty of catchy guitar riffs and melodys. A lot of these songs are memorable after just a couple of listens unlike a lot of bands out there nowadays where it takes 100 listens to tell one song from the next.
A lot of different vocal styles are found here. Some heavy deep vocals, some Cradle Of Filth-style high pitch screams, and clean melodic vocals are all found here. I don't know if it's all one singer or if they have more than one singer, but it sure sounds killer! Tired of buying metal cds nowadays because most bands sound the same? Well give this one a try! If you're a metal head who also loves Pink Floyd, you'll love this band. DON'T think that just because I compare this to Pink Floyd means Alchemist sounds like The Gathering. It's nothing like that. Yes, The Gathering rules, too, but Alchemist is totally different. You will not be disappointed with Alchemist! They're hard to find in stores, so you might as well order it online right now since you're here reading this review.

Atmospherically stunning, heavy but never overdone (well not anymore than is required.) Along with fellow Australians, John Butler Trio and Canadian-artist, Devin Townsend, one of the few artists still worth listening to is Alchemist.

As the follow-up to the hard-act-to-follow "Spiritech", Alchemist seemed like they can do no wrong with 'Organasm'. Two years down the track and several more listens later the album stills hold its own as an incredibly different chapter for Alchemist.

Where similiarities between 'Organasm' and previous albums arise its incredible how better alchemist have done. Listening to tracks like 'Closed Chapter' from 'Lunasphere' left one amazed at sudden progressions from full-on death metal to peaceful guitar ambience. Now on 'Tide In Mind Out', there is far more seemless sound which holds each song together as a song. There's no songs within songs here. This helps the album to really stand out as a collection of songs as opposed to all over the place dynamics.

The album begins perfectly with the didgeridoos on 'Austral Spectrum' and ends with an absolute bang titled 'Escape from the Blackhole'. 'Escape from the Blackhole' while being very full on shows mastersty of the art of subtelty - the song just seems to linger for a while as you expect some huge sudden impact. Not one moment between is done badly. Any screeching vocals are sparing. The albums has its brilliant heavy moments but the softer ones are what truly amaze. The 'Bio Approach' begins absolutely beautifully.

While i have given the album 5 stars to counteract the person who wrote a review having never heard of the band, there are flaws. The basic song structure is very natural, most of the songs start soft and build up to something big. This has been done on 'Spiritech' too and does just get the slightest bit tiring. Anyway 'Surreality' and 'Warring Tribes' begin quite heavy and 'Bio Aproach' doesn't go as far as it could go, so as to break the mould.

Atmospheric metal done with obvious artist integrity. The band have a real distinct sound.

New album to be released mid 2002 will be worth watching out for.

It seems that all the bands Ive encountered from Australia as of late are as unique and strange as the Australian fauna. Alchemist, by far, is the cream of the Aussie crop. This is an amazing CD. 'Organasm' has the strange ability to be catchy enough to grab you on the first listen while still retaining a depth that can only be appreciated after intense, prolonged exposure. They are unique and technical, but not too technical. You can actually follow these songs even if you aren't a musician - something a few bands need to learn. Their songs are so natural and organic that you can follow them, but you will be surprised by the originality at the same time. Alchemist are the masters of building a song to astounding intensity while still retaining a strange, psychedelic vibe. I would compare them to Neurosis in that respect, though they sound nothing like them. Their core sound is much like the thrash/death hybrids of the late 80's and early 90's, but they do something so unique with that core sound. Hard to catagorize. Even harder to stop listening to.

Alchemist have amazingly progressed from 'Spiritech' to release the best, most uncompromised, original album. The death metal influences are toned down but Alchemist aren't afraid to get heavy. 'Bio Approach' and 'Rampant Microlife' show some of Alchemist's best atmospherics yet. 'Tide In, Mind Out' shows are far more seamless mix of metal and ambience that used heavily on 'Lunasphere'. Highlight is album-closer 'Escape from the Blackhole'.

This recording has to be heard to be believed and i guarentee once you put this on your cd player,you wont take it off for a very long time.The best way to describe this album to the reader of this review is to say that this is psychadelic metal and contains beutifull emotional content which your ears have never and i stress never ever heard.Ive followed metal for more than 17 years and this to date is the most original,facinating album i have ever heard in my life.If i could give it more stars i would.5 stars

Alchemist, those tribal metalers from the Land Down Under, have had very remarkable career of which very few know about. Relegated, for the most part, to Import bins and Back order catalogues, the band has released three previous albums ("Jar Of Kingdom", "Lunasphere" and "Spiritech") all of which made significant progression and were VERY poorly promoted. They present a very unique brand of metal which draws influences from a number of musical styles--most recently, a fetish for mixing Fear Factory and "Chaos A.D."-era Sepultura monster riffs with weird, twisty Australian tribal beats and a knack for really catchy, memorable vocal lines. Add to that the abundance of synth lines and piercing vocal screeches and you have a band doing more than merely coming across as the newest Cradle Of Filth clone in the cluttered world of third-rate black/death metal.

All of these elements combine to make "Organasm" a monster of an album, and one of my biggest surprises from the year 2000 so far. Upon hearing the first notes of this album, it is obvious that this is the best produced piece of work this band has had thus far in their career. "Spiritech", released in 1997, had some tremendous songs, but was hampered, somewhat, by a muddy, undefined guitar sound, which was usually just a "hole filler" rather than being the driving force for their songs. That is remedied here to a HUGE extent--the guitar sound is thunderous, panned very hard on both sides, and is a huge improvement from the above mentioned album. And the vocals of guitarist Adam are absolutely remarakable! Another very overlooked talent in the metal world, as he employs some very strong clean vocals this time around to complement his great aggressive overtones and that nut-twisting screech, which is used a hell of lot more here than in the past.

The album works best as one long, deep listen, as the songs and songtitles are very tied in with each other. I wasn't expecting much when I heard it, but it absolutely FLOORED ME! I know none of you out there have even heard of these guys and probably will never even come across this review, but if you are a fan of old Fear Factory and Sepultura, I suggest that you put down your copies of "Demanufacture" and "Chaos A.D." and try moving on to something far, FAR greater! Thanks to the folks at Holland's Displeased Records, that task is definitely much more easier than it has been for the first part of this band's career. Support a band with REAL talent--pick up "Organasm", either by mail-order or at your local store if they're cool enough to carry it, and experience for yourself Australia's best kept secret and a key to the future of metal!

No matter whether you enjoy the heavy vocals on this cd or not, you can't overlook the music. this band is full of brilliant musicians, and the songs will pull you in and make you listen to them over and over.
tide in mind out and the bio approach are highlights.

Why Alchemist isn't mentioned in the same breath as bands like Death, Cynic, and Atheist is beyond explanation. They might not quite reach the over-the-top technicality of those bands, but they're not that far removed either. And when it comes to creating truly progressive atmospheric death metal, no band short of Opeth can touch what Alchemist serves up. This band is the Porcupine Tree of extreme metal.

The band's 2001 album Organasm is the perfect example of Alchemist's sound. Musically, this is a very complex and progressive album, though it never gets bogged down with the self-indulgent instrumental passages that plague a lot of progressive metal bands. It seems very experimental as well, mixing progressive and death metal styles with Middle Eastern and ambient flavors. Like some mental strobe effect, other artists flash briefly through your mind when hearing Organasm - Cynic! Atheist! Faith No More! Orphaned Land! Borknagar! Paradise Lost! Death! This is simply one of the most enthralling extreme metal album's I've ever heard. It's like stepping into some exotic alien world where all you can do is marvel at what you're seeing (or in this case hearing).

Listening to this album, especially with a good set of noise-cancelling headphones, is the sonic equivalent of being under the influence of a controlled substance. I wish I could explain it better, but it's the kind of powerful and moving experience that very few albums can deliver (Faith No More's Angel Dust works the same way for me).

If you've heard Alchemist you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't, then it's past time to rectify that situation. Organasm is an album for just about any open-minded metal fan, and it gets my highest recommendation.

On first listen of "Organasm", the band that instantly comes to mind is Neurosis, the avant-garde Bay area band that pioneered the sound that is shamelessly ripped off here by Alchemist. I would urge the reader to purchase Neurosis' "Souls at Zero," "Enemy of the Sun," and "Through Silver in Blood" and listen to them in continuous succession. It is a cathartic experience unmatched by any band I have heard yet.