Alkymist

In a large soundproof basement in Copenhagen, ALKYMIST, one of Denmark's most distinctive metal bands, set up their own studio and worked non-stop for three years on their enigmatic third album ‘UnnDerr’. In the meantime, the band has recorded the album themselves, dropped the recordings, changed drummer and recorded the final album with producer Lasse Ballade (Orm, Solbrud, Konvent, Night Fever) as on previous albums.

In 2018, ALKYMIST released their critically acclaimed, self-titled debut album. The band played the same year e.g. at the Danish music industry’s SPOT Festival and the following year at Roskilde Festival. Expectations were high and the heavy artillery had moved into position for the release of the sequel ‘Sanctuary’ in the spring of 2020. But a well-known pandemic shut down all plans. Instead, ALKYMIST chose to spend energy on improving their recording possibilities in the rehearsal room in Copenhagen and proclaimed shortly after the release of ‘Sanctuary’ that they were working on new material. That was almost four years ago. A lot has happened since then, with the band contemplating and now back at full force.

On their debut album ALKYMIST's focus was on finding their own expression. With ‘Sanctuary’, it was about further developing the sound and the special symbiosis in the music. And now on ‘UnnDerr’, ALKYMIST brings all the elements to a boil and explores what happens if the accelerator is stepped on a little further. Musically, the third album embraces musically more broadly and comes off as more direct with its distinct use of melody and groove, while the progressive and atmospheric elements are intact.

‘UnnDerr’ sees the band fairing into new horizons, conveying a more direct expression while retaining ALKYMIST’s psychedelic and progressive trademarks. The album consists of seven tracks and is the band’s first recording to include new drummer Per Silkjær (Fossils, Brunsten, Double Space Sons Of Cain). The new effort is once again produced by Lasse Ballade and bears artwork from Anders Kidmose, while Ballade has also overseen the mastering.

‘UnnDerr’ dives down into the ambiguity of what is above the surface and what lurks below... what is seen and what is hidden away, but is still messing around in the subconscious. Nothing’s normal in the ALKYMIST auspices… what happens if it's all manipulated? Letters as symbols… what if you take the symbolism and look at the other side... does it start to mean something else? What kind of messages do you get and where does it lead you? With the music, ALKYMIST questions everything we believe, see and hear.

Members
Peter Bjørneg – Vocals
Stefan Krey – Guitar
Kaspar Luke – Bass
Per Silkjær – Drums

Discography
UnnDerr (Album 2024)
Sanctuary (Album 2020)
Alkymist (Album 2018)
Element (EP 2017)

Online
www.facebook.com/alkymist
www.instagram.com/handofthealkymist
www.alkymist.bandcamp.com