Welcome to the newly revived feature "Upcoming Talent". This is where we pass the baton to unsigned bands from all corners of the globe and give them the chance to tell us all about themselves. Combine this with a full discography low down, merch, social and gig links with some rather fine photos of our chosen band and I think we're onto a winner!
Kicking this off let us introduce you to kick ass, ferocious thrash metal/punk outfit Alpha Omega from Norwich in the East of Anglia, United Kingdom. Take it away guys...
Scene Point Blank: Hi Alpha Omega. Thank you for joining us. Please start off by introducing yourselves and telling us how Alpha Omega started out.
Alpha Omega: We are a 3-piece thrash band from Norwich. Danny on vocals and bass, Charlie on guitar and Rich on drums. It all started with a conversation between Danny and Charlie at a Deicide gig in Norwich in late 2014. Both went to school together and were metal heads as kids and wanted to make some noise. After the gig, Danny sent some covers to learn, although we went straight for originals and the rest is history.
Scene Point Blank: You have song titles such as "Witches Burn At Dawn", " Forest Of Hanged Men" and "God Told Me To Skin You Alive" which seem distinctly dark as well as steeped in folklore. What influences Alpha Omega musically and lyrically?
Alpha Omega: Yeah, we would definitely describe our lyrics as dark! Much of the influence comes from our love of dark material such as horror films and books, the occult, folklore and macabre incidents in history. We also like to write about the human condition and especially when the mind becomes twisted and warped.
Scene Point Blank: How would you describe your sound?
Alpha Omega: Fast, savage, and unrelenting thrash probably sums it up.
Scene Point Blank: You hail from the city of Norwich. What is the scene like for bands like yourself?
Alpha Omega: The scene is actually pretty strong at the moment. There are some real quality bands coming through and plenty of gigs happening.
Scene Point Blank: As a band Alpha Omega are always up for playing live but can you remember where, when and what your first gig was like?
Alpha Omega: Our first gig was opening for English Dogs at B2 in Norwich on 13th November 2015. We played with fellow local bruisers Back Down Or Die. It was great fun and awesome to be back on stage. But our first gig as our current lineup was supporting Synthetic in Norwich on 17th November 2017 with Rich on drums. This is when Alpha Omega really started.
Scene Point Blank: What can we expect from a live Alpha Omega show now?
Alpha Omega: Loud as fuck! Something we pride ourselves on is the intensity and aggression we bring to our live shows with an unrelenting set. No time for fillers or speeches. It’s an aural assault from start to finish with everything turned up to 11.
Scene Point Blank: As well as the live shows, you have also put out some of your own recordings. You released your debut self-titled album in 2019 and gave us a whooping 11 tracks to enjoy... was there anything previous to this?
Alpha Omega: We had done a couple of live demos prior to the album so that we could get our sound out and use it to try get gigs. The album itself was recorded at Plug Studios, Norwich by the awesome Peter Fellowes. Recording with someone we know and trust made it a really enjoyable experience and Pete did an absolute first class job and has the patience of a saint.
Scene Point Blank: You have a new EP coming out this month April) called Crows Of Golgotha. Again, tell us how it went with the recording process and did it differ from your previous recordings (post-covid)?
Alpha Omega: Again, we recorded this at Plug Studios, Norwich and again, had Peter Fellowes at the helm. This time Peter did everything including the mastering and totally smashed it. The funny thing about the EP was it was originally recorded in October 2021 but took till April to get it released. Mainly due to us titting about with it until we were happy. Again, massive thanks to Pete for not only recording us but for putting up with us!
We also did our first video for Crows Of Golgotha: all done on our phones and filmed at Plug Studios -- definitely a learning curve for us but good fun. Now up on YouTube: Alpha Omega - Crows Of Golgotha – YouTube.
Scene Point Blank: What do you consider the benefits of being a DIY band over a signed band?
Alpha Omega: We have only ever been in unsigned bands so can’t really compare. We know we have the freedom and control to do what we want without any external pressures.
Scene Point Blank: In 2018 you won the Norwich leg of the M2TM (Metal to the Masses) competition which gave you the chance to perform on the Jagermeister Stage at the Bloodstock Open Air Festival in Derbyshire, UK. Bloodstock has established itself as one of most popular metal festivals in England so how did you find the whole experience and how did it feel to play such a prestigious festival?
Alpha Omega: Simply awesome. To play Bloodstock was such a privilege and the Bloodstock team treated us so well. Truly an experience none of us will forget. At this point we really need to thank friend and long term-supporter of the band Errol Watson. Without Errol we wouldn’t have got to Bloodstock and wouldn’t be where we are now. He put us up for our first gig, he ran the M2TM competition and believed in us from the start, cheers Errol!
Scene Point Blank: After your performance at Bloodstock 2018 who were you most excited to see play that year?
Alpha Omega: Cannibal Corpse!!
Scene Point Blank: What is next for Alpha Omega?
Alpha Omega: Along with continuing to gig and promote our EP we will start work on our next album shortly. As it stands our next gig on 26th May support titans Krysthla and Red Method] as they co-headline the Brickmakers, Norwich. We are keen to spread our wings and play across the country. We are on FB, Instagram, Bandcamp, BigCartel, Spotify, YouTube – just use @alphaomegametal and you will find us.
- Spotify – Alpha Omega
- Facebook – Alpha Omega
- Instagram – @alphaomegametal
- Youtube – AlphaOmegaMetal
- BigCartel – Alphaomegametal
- BandCamp – Alpha Omega
- Homepage – http://www.alphaomegametal.com/
Scene Point Blank: Thank you again for taking part in this feature – please use this space to mention anything else about yourselves you think will be beneficial to the band or any venues and other bands you think deserve a shout out! Best of luck with the launch of Crows Of Golgotha!
Alpha Omega: Big shout out, again, to Errol Watson for all his support. Massive thanks to Pete and Sharon at Plug Studios for providing a safe place to rehearse and record our noise. Thanks to Simon Powell at Power Promotions for putting us on, thanks to the Brickmakers/B2, Norwich for providing first class places to play thrash metal. Big up for fellow noise merchants Patient who I think we have played most with and thanks to everyone we have played with including Bastard, Back Down Or Die, Red Method, and Shrapnel. Thanks to everyone who has put us on and, most importantly, thanks to everyone who comes to our shows and buys our shit!
Discography
Before their current line up Alpha Omega had two demos recorded. The first was simply called Demo Tape (2015) and their second entitled Witches Burn At Dawn (2018). Both contain old versions of tracks that they chose to re-record for their newer releases so I'm going to concentrate on these current Alpha Omega recordings.
Alpha Omega
Alpha Omega
Self-released (2019)
Track listing:
1. Witches Burn At Dawn
2. Blackbird Sings
3. Forest Of Hanged Men
4. Mechanical Heart
5. Human Remains
6. Field Of Skulls
7. Milwaukee
8. Harrowing Of Hell
9. Horns Of Hattin
10. Mexican Nights
11. We Share The Eye
Recorded and mixed by Peter Fellowes at Plug Studios in Norwich, UK and mastered at All Silk Mastering House in Lancashire, UK. This self-titled, 11-track debut album is 27 minutes and 6 seconds of no holds barred, ballsy thrash/punk. Throwing you head first into "Witches Burn At Dawn" a popular set starter and the first of many tracks that meld folk lore with modern day thrash. You are taken on a damned journey through tracks "Blackbird Sings" and "Forest Of Hanged Men" quickly driven along similar lines in ferocious style. "Mechanical Heart" throws a curveball in as the big chugging intro is different to what we have heard thus far but after this intro you start to notice that the band cleverly blend some great time signatures and precision breaks into their other tracks. "Human Remains", "Field Of Skulls", "Milwaukee" and "Horns Of Hattin" do not hold back lyrically when it comes to the desecration of the human form or soul. "Mexican Nights" urges us to "Praise Hell Satan when someone dies." and the final track "We Share The Eye" warns us all that in no uncertain terms humanity is doomed no matter what religion you do or do not follow.
Charlie’s guitars are the driving force throughout the album. Racing along at a blinding pace without missing a single beat and still pulling off the odd solo here and there. The band as a whole are tighter than a gnats chuff with precision pace from Rich’s relentless drumming and Danny’s thundering bass lines combined with his guttural, purposely-angled vocals that bring an accomplished mix of old style lyrical content and fast-paced classic thrash metal with a hint of modern hardcore punk. They do not lean on big solos or any kind of posturing, as a three-piece their sound and set up for this recording creates a bigger sound then the sum of their parts. Nothing here is overproduced or pretentious in any way. They have gone for something that sounds real and authentic to them as a band and their live performances. The delivery and intent behind these dark lyrics only spur them on to drive the music harder and faster bringing the album to a triumphant crescendo and leaving the listener exhausted but elated and ready to play it again!
Alpha Omega
Crows Of Golgotha
Self-released (2022)
Track listing:
1. Pigs
2. Crows Of Golgotha
3. Emptiness
4. God Told Me To Skin You Alive
5. Harrowing Of Hell
This 5-track EP, again recorded, mixed and now mastered by Peter Fellowes at Plug Studios, Norwich UK is just over 15 minutes long and showcases four brand new tracks and a re-recording of "Harrowing Of Hell" from their self-titled album.
"Pigs" kicks things off in true Alpha Omega style with a frantic yet very catchy riff with a barrage of angry vocals spat out with ferocity and some obvious animosity towards the squealing of pigs which may or may not be metaphorical. Title track "Crows Of Golgotha" packs a huge punch in its delivery with another distinctive intro throwing it straight into fast thrash with a drawn out midway breakdown coming out the other end running. "Emptiness" is rolled out in style with a drum led intro and a thundering solo. "God Told Me To Skin You Alive" which is lyrically one of their darkest and slower paced with a more deliberately chuggy feel to it. The last track "Harrowing Of Hell" is a re-recording of the same track from their 2019 album. For the CD they have added a sample from Hellraiser (1987), added some more lyrics and generally given it a bit of a revamp. Fair play to them it certainly has given it that little bit extra.
Crows Of Golgotha has shown that Alpha Omega are a force to be reckoned with. It has a slightly more polished feel than their debut album. It also showcases their advancement in song structure. It is still the same great thrash/punk style you come to associate with the band yet you see real growth between the two releases: same great dark lyrical content and aggressive ballsy thrash-tastic music but showing real progression and dedication to the cause of bringing their metal to the masses.
Going by these two great releases, Alpha Omega have a bright future ahead of them. I hope with this feature revival we have introduced you to a band that you will very soon be checking out: live, it you are local, or on Facebook, Instagram, and Bandcamp for everyone else.
--
If you're in a band and would like to be featured in Upcoming Talent then please drop me a line at sarahjane@scenepointblank.com.
