California-based band Energy Alchemist is the brainchild of Bill Hankins, a multi-talented musician who draws his influences from many different sources and musical styles. Because of that, the music he creates is guitar-driven but also contains plenty of keyboard sound that helps to give his music a very strong multi-layered feel.
Initially, Energy Alchemist was a one-man creation with Bill Hankins creating everything himself. Soon, however, Hankins found himself the possibility of something bigger and richer. That was where the concept of expanding the musical concept of Energy Alchemist into a full band was born. Soon, the band consisted of Bill Hankins on Guitar, Vocals, and Programming; Erik Koski on Bass, Matt Heath on Drums and guitarist Julian Sterling. Together, the newly-formed quartet is taking the music of Energy Alchemist to where it has never been.
Currently, Energy Alchemist is busy creating new music. And having already releasing a full-length album entitled Ghost in the Machine earlier in 2017, the band has returned with yet another release; a three-song EP entitled Reminder.
The Reminder EP begins with the sole original track from Energy Alchemist entitled “Reminder”. The EP’s title track begins with an electronic feel to the music as electronic drums join forces with keyboards that create a slightly Middle Eastern musical approach. The music is joined by Bill Hankins as his vocals adds to the exotic feel of the track. That exotic sound turns quickly into something heavier as the band creates a track that is a lot closer to Heavy Metal than the first thirty seconds had been. The rest of the track features that Heavy Metal feel to the music with solid bass lines, strong drums and the sound of two guitars that blend together to create a solid Heavy Metal sound. It’s the interaction between Bill Hankins and guitarist Julian Sterling that helps to make the melodic metal come to life. Soon, the addition of keyboard programming joins the guitars to create a track with lots of depth to the music. The nearly six-minute track shows off the two different mindsets of electronic and Heavy Metal that the band members bring to the music of Energy Alchemist.
Setting this release apart from anything that had been released by Energy Alchemist in the past, the three-song EP is part tribute release as two of the tracks included in the release are the band’s reworkings of songs from a Heavy Metal band that had come from the town of Ukiah in Northern California. That band was named Definition Unknown. The two songs remade by Energy Alchemist end up being a short but sweet tribute to the now-defunct band that existed from 2002-2008.
The first of the two tracks from Definition Unknown that was remade by Energy Alchemist is the track “Way Too Late”. Comparing the two versions of “Way Too Late,” Energy Alchemist starts their version staying pretty loyal to the original material. So loyal, in fact, that for the first minute or so, the listener would have a hard time telling the two versions apart. In time, however, Energy Alchemist brings in a lot more of the Electronic/Metal mixture that’s present in the band’s style. The Electronic/Metal mixture takes the Definition Unknown track and gives the song a fresh musical take. Between the two versions of “Way Too Late,” what it ultimately comes down to is which style of music you like better. But overall, Energy Alchemist has produced a version of the song that pays homage to Definition Unknown and does it in a classy way.
Energy Alchemist follows their tribute of Definition Unknown’s “Way Too Late” with their version of the Northern California band’s song “Flush”. Like Energy Alchemist’s version of “Way Too Late,” they stay pretty loyal to the original version of the track. In fact, they stay closer to the original version of the song “Flush” than they did with the first cover. Of course, the electronics in Energy Alchemist’s version do shine through in their version, but the overall feel stays the same until late in the track. It is late in the five-minute playtime that the band introduces strings into the song. The inclusion of strings is what truly sets the two versions apart.
The three songs that make up the 2016 Reminder EP from Energy Alchemist shows off the talent of the members of the band. Plus, the artwork used for the album was based on artwork created by Bill Hankins’ father, proving that talent does run in families.
Energy Alchemist will shortly be celebrating the release of their Reminder EP. For more information on the release date, check out the band’s website. Until the release date, check out the video to the band’s song “Awaken the Dreamers“.
For more information, check out the band’s PR firm, Whiplash PR.
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