Invasion - The Master Alchemist

TRACKLISTING:

01 Follow The Smoke
02 Conjure War
03 Alchemy
04 Spells of Deception
05 Rainbows
06 Cursed Treasure
07 Kings
08 Moongazer
09 Invasion
10 Evil Forest
11 Six Red Wizards
12 Chaos & The Ancient Night


“The Master Alchemist” is the debut album from London’s soul-powered psych metal three-piece Invasion, the sort of rock band that only comes along once in a blue moon. Using only Marek Steven’s three-stringed guitar, the vocal stylings of singer Chan Brown and the fierce drumming of Zel Kaute, the band have a uniquely stripped down yet grand approach.

Having become disillusioned with the technical, over-produced and samey metal of the last decade the band fell upon their own brand of wizard metal. Out would go the pointless solos and fake macho posturing and in would come classic riffing and maximum heaviosity. The blueprint for Invasion was fully laid out in 2007 when Marek and Cornish drummer Zel Kaute recruited singer Chan - who provides the power soul element (think Betty Davis born on Alpha Centauri).

Finding that there was no scene they fitted in within London the three-piece started to meet like minded bands and refine their music at their own Skill Wizard club at the Old Blue Last. After releasing a small EP ‘Moongazer’ and having been noticed by artists as varied as The Sword and Diplo - who says they are “Like the Gossip but with some balls” - the band were duly snapped up by the independent record label This Is Music Ltd.

Invasion’s debut album “The Master Alchemist” was recorded with Simian Mobile Disco’s Jas Shaw in just four days at London’s own temple to minimalism Toerag Studios. Recorded using analogue equipment and played entirely live (“Mostly first takes and it didn’t go anywhere near a computer.”) The album is a synapse shredding twenty one minute assault which owes more to “Spine Of God” era Monster Magnet and “Masters of The Universe” era Hawkwind than anything else. In short, as Marek says “It should sound pretty good when you’re stoned.”

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