ALCHEMIST: Tripsis

Produced by DW Norton and Alchemist

Released: 2007

The four years since Austral Alien is the longest gap between albums of new material in Alchemist history. The double retrospective Embryonics garnered a lot of well-deserved and long-awaited interest in this most enduring of Australian metal bands but a follow-up to the 2003 release was essential to maintain the momentum that the compilation had built up.There was a bit of talk from the band in the lead-up to the release of this that they were aiming for something of a return to their early days here, but on first listen Tripsis sounds essentially and stylistically like a virtual continuation of Austral Alien, albeit a significantly heavier one. It is really only the opening track "Wrapped in Guilt" where this is really the case however, because on repeated spins the truth of Alchemist's claims begin to become apparent.

First of all, every song is simply driven by a ceaseless churning undercurrent of grinding guitars that pound like a monstrous surf. Alchemist has not been this heavy in a long time, or probably ever. For example, "Tongues & Knives" begins with a savage burst, briefly subsides into jangling guitars with an echo of an Eastern theme from ages past, and then plunges headlong towards a series of blood-curdling shrieks not heard since "Chinese Whispers" ten years ago. Later on, the gently pining intro of "CommunicHate" suddenly explodes into a ripping thrashy riff and Adam's growl is at its angriest its ever been before he unleashes an anguished howl that hasn't been heard from him in many a day.

The longer you listen, the more you notice that Tripsis is just as different from past Alchemist albums as every other one has been. "Nothing in No Time" has a truly catchy headbanging groove at a speed unlike any song this band has done before. "Anticipation of a High" keeps the pace going before gradually fading out over a suitably trippy guitar line. "Substance For Shadow" is built around an incredible bouncing riff underpinned by what is almost a marching beat. "God-Shaped Hole" is an really uncharacteristically dark track in which some seriously distorted vocals spit forth from a maelstrom where a relentlessly buzzing, droning riff on one side competes with a swirling motif on the other. True genius.

Throughout it all are the occasional keyboard flourishes, the moments of tribal rhythms and those distinctive twangy guitar sounds but on Tripsis they are much less prevalent than usual. Instead, Alchemist use the power of the riff like never before--this is the most riff-oriented volume of their career.Perhaps most striking of all however are the lyrical themes. Gone are the mystical hippy broodings, the transcendental excursions and the odes to nature of past Alchemist outings. These songs are about the dark side of humanity, betrayal and failings, and the surging heavy drive of each one ram home the point.

With Tripsis, Alchemist once again proves themselves to be a band like no other. Their brilliance is undeniable.

1. Wrapped in Guilt
2. Tongues & Knives
3. Nothing in No Time
4. Anticipation of a High
5. Grasp the Air
6. CommunicHate
7. Substance for Shadow
8. God Shaped Hole
9. Degenerative Breeding

Rating: 96%