ARTIST: ALKIRA
ALBUM: RED DEVIL (EP) 2013
TRACKS :
IN THE SETTING OF THE ADELAIDE HILLS IS SMALL TOWNSHIP OF STRATHALBYN WHERE YOU COULD QUITE HAPPILY PACK THE KIDS UP WITH THE MISSUS AND A PICNIC AND KICK BACK WITH YOUR FAVOURITE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BEER OR WINE AND RELAX NEXT TO THE ANGAS RIVER, LOVELY STUFF, BUT ITS NOT ALL BUTTERFLIES AND FAIRIES FOR THIS IS WHERE ALKIRA WERE SPAWNED!
THESE UPSTARTS CONSISTING OF MEMBERS GREGORY CHALLIS (GUITAR/VOCALS), KYLE SIMPSON (GUITAR/VOCALS), SEAN GRUBAL (BASS) AND RYAN QUARRINTON ON DRUMS SOON PUT A NAIL THROUGH THE HEART OF USUALLY QUITE QUANT LITTLE TOWNSHIP WITH AN EAR BLISTERING SERIES OF THRASH TRACKS THAT WOULD GET ANY CIRCLE PIT TWISTING AND CHURNING LIKE A WILD WHIRL POOL.
HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY 80S AND 90S THRASH METAL, ITS EASY TO HEAR ON THIS EP WITH THE CHUGGING RIFFING AND THROATY VOCALS, IT TAKES ME BACK TO THE GLORY DAYS OF SLAYER, DARK ANGEL, EXODUS AND EARLY SEPULTURA IN BOTH A MUSICAL SENSE AND LYRICAL SENSE WHERE THEY COVER TOPICS SUCH AS VIOLENCE, DEATH, WAR AND THE GOOD LORD SATAN HIMSELF, AND LIKE ANY GOOD AUSSIE THE COVER IT FEATURES LUCIFIER MARCHING UP THE STREET WITH A SIX PACK OF BEERS WITH HIS UNDEAD ENTOURAGE CAUSING MISCHIEF, LOVE IT!!
MUSICALLY THESE GUYS ARE A VERY TIGHT UNIT, WHICH YOU HAVE TO BE WHEN PLAYING THIS STYLE OF MUSIC, AND A DEFINITE HATS OFF TO THE PRODUCTION TEAM FOR THERE EFFORTS IN THE RECORDING OF THE EP, ITS VERY CLEAN, AND IT DOES THESE GUYS A HUGE FAVOUR BY SHOWING OFF THERE MUSICIANSHIP WITH THIS THRASH ATTACK.
“RED DEVIL” IS A DEFINTIE MUST HAVE FOR ALL THOSE THRASH LOVERS, OR FOR THOSE OLD FARTS LIKE MYSELF WHO LISTEN TO THIS AND ARE REMINDED OF THE OLD SCHOOL DAYS WHERE EVERY METALLER HAD BASKETBALL BOOTS, SKINNY JEANS AND A CUT OF DENIM JACKETS THAT HAS NEVER BEEN WASHED SMOTHERED IN VENOM, SLAYER AND MAIDEN PATCHES.
IM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO A FULL LENGTH ALBUM BY ALKIRA, THE 4 TRACKS ON THIS EP JUST GAVE ME A TASTE OF THE BLOOD WHERE I REALLY WANT TO GET MY CHOMPERS INTO THE WHOLE CARCASS, AND ILL BE WAITING WITH BAITED BREATH FOR IT TO COME AROUND. THESE GUYS HAVE A HUGE FUTURE IN THE THRASH SEEN NOT JUST THE AUSSIE BUT IN A WORLD WIDE SENSE, THEYRE JUST AS TIGHT AS THE STUFF COMING OUT OF EUROPE AND THE STATES AT THE MOMENT AND I HOPE THE RECORD LABELS ARE PUTTING THERE HANDS UP WITH A CONTRACT IN HAND. I RAISE THE HORNS TO ALKIRA WISH THEM ALL THE BEST AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CATCHING THEM ON THERE TRAVELS, EXCUSE ME NOW, IM DUSTING OFF MY RANCID DENIM JACKET CRANKING THIS EP AND WRECKING SOME SHIT UP!
-- HAYDEN G.M.
