ALCHEMY X: The complete story/interview
Reviews and interview by Anthony DeLuca
ALCHEMY X: a band that has prowled the underground for some time now. Seeking their own identity, AX has crafted a style of music I have LONGED to hear from a band of their genre. Imagine the progressive feel of recent SAVATAGE with a touch of ANGEL DUST’S progressive elements, wrapped up with the musicianship of an old-school power metal band, such as a slower HELSTAR or the upbeat IRON MAIDEN. Some have even compared this band to the likes of DREAM THEATRE or made references to SYMPHONY X. However, there is so much more to this band, as you will soon see. Introducing New Jersey’s ALCHEMY X, equipped with a new vocalist UNLIKE their first (whom fit into the prog-metal category). This new vocalist crosses the line of where power metal meets progressive metal. Throw away all the rules…take a classic metal vocalist (who isn’t another Geoff Tate clone) and throw him into the mix of progressive power metal, and you get the new voice and sound of AX. Welcome, Bob Mitchell (former ATTACKER, SLEEPY HOLLOW, current VYNDYKATOR vocalist) and this new brand of metal. Following this review is the AX interview, where you can introduce yourself to this GREAT band. This review can also be found on my ALBUM REVIEWS page.
ALCHEMY X: Demo 2001-2002
TRACK 1- Looking Glass TRACK 2- 11:59:59
TRACK 1- Looking Glass
Opening the song is a small drum intro, followed by the galloping guitar riffs. The bass lines fit well into this song, and remind me of IRON MAIDEN from their Killers album. The vocals are of the old-school vein, as they always have been with the talents of Bob Mitchell. This song is a true head-banging tune, with awesome time signature and melody. The time change at 2 minutes and 50 seconds reminds me of a JUDAS PRIEST riff; it sounds so well in this part of the song and really continues the feel of the song. The time-changes back to the way it was before, then incorporates this riff. AMAZING!! At the 5-minute mark, the vocals become higher and higher; the guitar plays faster and faster…it’s pure adrenaline bleeding through the speakers! The song ends this way, leaving the listener on the edge of their seat, foaming at the mouth and wanting more. More is exactly what you get…
TRACK 2- 11:59:59
One second away…from the stroke of midnight. Being the title track of their forthcoming album, AX has REALLY pushed the boundaries of metal to the next level. The true musicianship of AX shines through on this song. The guitars, bass, drums, and keys are perfectly placed in this song. Then, the vocals kick in…an unexpected surprise from this type of music. Somehow, it all fits in together and kicks your ass in a serious way. The atmosphere presented in this song goes hand in hand with the galloping guitar melodies, spelling out disaster and apocalypse. There are several time changes presented in this song, yet this does NOT take away from the interest or attention of the song. Based on a story of impending doom and evil, 11:59:59 is an awesome song that shows the true magic of AX. The lyrics KICK ASS:
“The eyes are staring…All uncaring”
“Reflecting my sin…Of my undoing”
This band has it all: chemistry, musicianship, talent…I could go on and on. This leaves me wanting to hear MORE and MORE. I look forward to the full length release.
HIGHLY FUCKING RECOMMENDED…get this or you are MISSING OUT!!!
RATING: 10/10
CONTACT: Alchemy-X@prodigy.net
An Exclusive Interview with Vocalist Bob Mitchell and Bassist Steve Ratchen of
1. How did AX start? Was it the original intention to have a band that sounded as unique as AX?
SR: I’ll leave Rob and Chris Fox to reiterate the history, as I was the last to join the original lineup in the fall of 1996. With regard to sound, I don’t think we ever made a conscious effort to sound like anyone or any particular genre. I’ve always been very flattered by all the press comparisons to Dream Theatre or Fates Warning, but I think the sound of the band emerged from our diverse musical backgrounds and eclectic tastes, though, having said that, I’m not sure how many other bands have 3 seven strings!
2. Does the band name represent anything? Does the X stand for anything?
SR: I believe I came up with the name "Alchemy" shortly after joining. Prior to that, the guys had gone under the name "Time". We decided to add the "X" when our attorneys advised some kind of alteration for both legal and differentiation purposes. To be quite honest with you, at the time we amended the name, we weren’t really aware of all the "X" bands out there in our so-called genre.
3. On "A Delicate Balance", every song has its strong points. I was curious to know if the song "AlchemyX" was something which stood for the band, like a trademark. Does this song have any sentimental meaning to the band; What message is being presented?
SR: Actually, the eponymous song is called "Alchemy" and I wrote the lyrics with the theme being how divergent parts come together to become something greater in the whole than the individual parts alone. This, of course, is what the science of Alchemy was, the transforming of base metals into gold. An obvious paradigm, but I thought it was a valid testament to what we could do as a unit.
4. Original vocalist Martin Morin indeed was an appropriate vocalist for this band. Was he a self-taught musician, or did he take vocal lessons to reach the ranges he did?
SR: To the best of my knowledge Marty, like all of us (except Chris Scorsese who studied with John Serocco) are totally self-taught.
5. Speaking of Martin, was AX his first band, or did he perform in other bands? What about the rest of AX...any previous bands before, or was AX a first for everyone?
SR: I had never heard of Marty before, but I’m sure he played here and there before AX. For myself personally, I fronted the power/prog trio Trinity (later called Dominion) back in the mid to late 1980’s. It was then that I shared the stage with and became friendly with bands like Sneak Attack, and of course, Attacker.
6. Why did Martin depart from the band? Is AX still in contact with him? Did he move on to be in another band?
SR: Marty had done some work with a NJ-based prog band called "Cyrcle IX" shortly after leaving AX. He and his wife had wanted to move to Seattle for several years and finally did so back in 2000. Quite honestly, we seemed to be going in different directions after "Balance" was recorded. So his departure was completely amicable. We’ve always wished him nothing but success in all his future endeavors.
7. Since Martin's departure, how long did AX search for a new vocalist? How many auditions took place? Was it difficult to find an appropriate replacement?
SR: It took almost a year before I called Bob and asked him if he was interested. In the interim we auditioned a plethora of hopefuls, but none seemed to fit. Finally, I began thinking "outside the box", so to speak, and rather than opt for the typical Geoff Tate operatic vocal most prog bands favor, I thought of how Bob’s style could play counterpoint to our 15-minute epics and 2 million time changes style!
8. How did Bob Mitchell find himself becoming the new vocalist? What elements does he bring into the band?
SR: He fit in from the get-go. Obviously, it was a great help that he loved the first record, and really appreciated us from a conceptual as well as musical point of view. From there we’ve just taken the natural progression of combining Bob’s vocal stylistics with our musical concepts.
9. It's unusual to introduce a classic sounding metal vocalist into a power/prog metal band. Does this add any pressure to Bob as a performer?
Will Bob's style change because of the progressive elements in the band? Will AX's musicianship change because of Bob's classic metal elements?
SR: I think we all took a leap of faith, so to speak, when Bob joined AX. He’ll tell you that this music has challenged him like no other project, forced him to use every aspect of his vocal ability, and, in short, made him better at what he already does better than just about anyone. I also took the proverbial leap in that 11:59:59 was basically my concept album, and I had previously written all of AX’s lyrics. But this has truly evolved into a joint effort with regard to the lyrical content as Bob and I have collaborated on the storyboard, lyrics, and basic premise of this vignette we’re telling.
To answer the second part of your question, we haven’t altered our playing one iota, and I personally, haven’t changed my writing style. As for Bob, I wouldn’t want him to change a thing either, and he hasn’t, thankfully. The man is a tremendous singer and has been for some time. He’s just as comfortable singing Dean Martin or Beatle songs as he is Udo or Oliva. It’s just that most people outside of his immediate family and friends only know him as a quintessential power metal vocalist, which he is, but that only scratches the surface of what he’s capable of. Bearing that in mind, I had absolutely NO reservations about asking him to take on 11:59:59 where he has to bridge the gap between ballads and heavy duty wailing!
10. Do you find it challenging to front VYNDYKATOR, DENIM & LEATHER, and AX all at the same time, Bob?
Bob Mitchell: No not all. As you know Anthony, I've been an entertainer for 20 years so, pretty much, I'm prepared at all times. Plus I schedule myself accordingly so that each band gets one hundred per-cent of my time and in turn, I can deliver a strong performance for whichever I'm fronting.
11. How does singing for AX compare to singing for your other bands? Do you sometimes find yourself mixing both styles of music into your performance & songwriting?
BM: It's quite different from anything I've ever done. Aside from joining the A-X because of the great music they perform, it was really an artistic choice. I needed to see if I can perform a more progressive style and it has paid off for me in spades. This is a great band and I'm very proud to be a part of it. To answer the second part, at first yes I did but now I have become accustomed to the progressive style of Metal and I'm quite comfortable with it. Plus, overall, I think it's made me a better singer. The music of Alchemy X is challenging to say the least and, thankfully, I've learned a whole new way of singing. I mean I finally get to utilize the influences of John Arch and Ian Gillan as opposed to Udo and Halford to which fans of my music have become so used to.
12. The new AX album, "11:59:59", is an important album for the whole band, introducing Bob as the new vocalist. How will the fans react to this style of singing for a power/prog band?
SR: I can only hope they’ll embrace it as they did our fist effort, and hopefully we’ll continue to get cross-over between Bob’s fans discovering AX and AX fans discovering Bob! I think the marriage of his vocal style and this type of music is a perfect fit, one that makes us even more unique than we were previously.
13. Speaking of the new album, when will it be released? Why the title "11:59:59"? what story is being told (is this a concept album)?
SR: It is a concept album, one that I had envisioned being an homage to Marillion’s "Misplaced Childhood" or "Clutching at Straws" in that the songs told a cohesive story, but could be appreciated either as individual pieces or as an entire "opera", if you will. The main character has led a less than exemplary life, in fact, he’s spent much of it destroying those around him, either physically or emotionally. Told in flashback sequence, he’s recounting his existence, pondering when or where it all went wrong, searching for answers where there are none. Rather than a methodical descent, the story follows the randomness with which one falls into such depravity, almost innocuously. The title and song refer to that split second before it all ends, which, in this case is where the album really begins, and the 45 minutes or so represent all these images which go through the protagonists mind in that smallest fraction of time.
14. Will AX continue to self-release their material? Why hasn't there been any interest for a record label? Has the band label-shopped yet?
SR: Until we find a deal suitable to us, yes, we’ll continue to do it ourselves. We’ve had several offers, but none provided us with either the long-term financial security or the complete artistic autonomy we’ve always had and enjoyed.
15. Will AX tour for the new album? Any appearances in the NY/NJ area? What about Metal Meltdown, or Powermad?
SR: Like Vyndykator, AX will pick and choose live appearances carefully. Festivals and periodic local shows are planned to coincide with the release of "11:59:59". Since we’re all in our mid-30’s and have jobs and families, extensive touring just isn’t a viable option for the lack of demand there is in the U.S. for this kind of music. Having said that, I think we can deliver 110 percent performances every time out, something I couldn’t necessarily guarantee if we were playing three to four nights per week.
16. What will the live set consist of? Will Bob perform the songs just as Martin did, or will he add a new twist to the songs? Are there any cover-songs performed live?
SR: Nothing’s set in stone at the moment, but I would think we’d do pretty much everything off the new record, and probably some of the more recognizable tracks off "Balance" like "Alchemy" or "Seventh Sign", though I’ve always been partial to the trilogy that begins the first album, so you may very well hear part or all of that as well. We’ve all told Bob to take the old material and make it his own. I certainly don’t want him to be uncomfortable trying to sing someone else’s style. As for covers, oddly enough, the only cover AX ever played was Tools "Sober" which we did a few times back in 1998-99.
BM: I can tell you that I will never compromise the integrity of what Martin has done for this band. He is a great vocalist and I'm honored to fill his shoes. In a live setting, I will no doubt give the material a harder edge but I will stick to the tradition of the original vocal lines, again, without compromise.
17. What can fans expect from AX on tour? Where does AX draw its largest crowd?
SR: One of the things people always tell me after seeing us live is they can’t believe how heavy we are and how much energy we convey on stage. I think most people after hearing the record obviously recognize the technical proficiency, but certainly don’t expect us to be as aggressive and animated as we are! Of course, one of the advantages I have in Vyn is that I don’t have to worry about knocking over my keyboards!
18. Would AX ever tour with VYNDYKATOR, or is that a distant possibility?
SR: Not as remote as you might think, although for a couple of old guys like Bob and myself, we may need oxygen tanks to do that kind of double duty! While these are two different bands with two different styles, AX is a lot heavier than most people think, as I mentioned earlier, and Vyn is a lot more progressive than people might ordinarily think, having seen the Vyn show at Luxx, I think you’ll agree with that assessment.
BM; Actually that will, or would, only occur at Festivals. In a regular exclusive engaement, I think we would be billed with other bands similar, or better suited to Alchemy X's style. I feel Alchemy X would do well with bands like Aztec Jade, Twisted Tower Dire, Symphony X and even Overlorde as opposed to Vyndykator who are better suited to play with bands like October 31, K-Octave, Exciter, Anvil and Seven Witches.
19. What bands has AX shared a stage with? Is there a possibility of AX touring with bands such as DREAM THEATER or SAVATAGE?
SR: Quite possible, with regard to the second part of your question. One of the biggest problems we encountered in the past was getting put on bills with bands completely incompatible to ourselves. Aztec Jade, who were kind enough to come down to our record release back in March 1999 were probably the only band in the same ballpark, though, having said that, I don’t know that they’re not a little more prog and AX a little more power.
20. That's it, AX. Thanks for great music. Is there something I missed or anything that someone would like to add? Please also provide our readers with info on how they can purchase AX merchandise.Thank you!!!!!
SR: Check out our official site at
http://www.alchemy-x.com
or our UK based site as part of the walking Lion group (U.S. representative) at
www.nwoghm.com
Thanks very much for the opportunity to introduce ourselves to your readers!
BM: Thanks Anthony!! Unstoppable Force Rules! Call On The METAL!!
DISCOGRAPHY
A Delicate Balance (199?)
11:59:59 (2002-2003)
LINKS