photo by Roeluf Witmans
Today, Danish progressive doom metal wizards ALKYMIST release the second single, “The Scent,” preceding their forthcoming third album, UnnDerr. The album marks yet another musical leap forward for the visionary band, and sees them venturing towards new horizons, conveying a more direct expression while retaining their psychedelic and progressive trademarks.
In 2018, ALKYMIST released their critically acclaimed, eponymous debut album, alongside performances across Denmark including 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. Much has happened since then, with the band contemplating and now back at full force.
In a large soundproof basement in Copenhagen, ALKYMIST set up their own studio and worked nonstop for three years on the enigmatic UnnDerr, initially recording the album themselves, after which they trashed the recordings and switched drummers. The seven tracks on UnnDerr are the band’s first recordings to include new drummer Per Silkjær (Fossils, Brunsten, Double Space, Sons Of Cain) joining vocalist Peter Bjørneg, guitarist Stefan Krey, and bassist Kaspar Luke. They then returned to Ballade Studios to record and mix the album with producer Lasse Ballade (Orm, Solbrud, Konvent, Night Fever) as on previous albums, with Ballade also handling the mastering. UnnDerr is completed with artwork/design by Anders Kidmose.
Listen to ALKYMIST’s second UnnDerr single, “The Scent,” now at THIS LOCATION.
Also watch the video for the album’s lead single “Digging A Grave” HERE and stream the song HERE.
UnnDerr will be released November 15th on vinyl LP– 300 on Black, 100 on Petrol Transparent, 100 on Red Transparent – which are now available for preorder HERE. Digital presaves are available HERE and digital preorders HERE.
ALKYMIST has announced a release show for UnnDerr for November 29th at Loppen, Christiania in Copenhagen, Denmark with special guests and labelmates Offernat.
ALKYMIST Live:
11/29/2024 Loppen – Copenhagen *LP release show w/ Offernat [tickets]
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 ALKYMIST fairing into new horizons, conveying a more direct expression while retaining their psychedelic and progressive trademarks. The album 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 is normal in the band’s 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.
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