If we had to pick two genres that probably wouldn’t or shouldn’t work together, R&B and metal would likely be leading contenders. But Manchester band Alchemize have successfully fused the two while taking on the added complexity of having three vocalists in a Pop Metal sound that they describe as “catchy, heavy and fun.”
Alchemize initially started out as a four-piece but is now formed of vocalist Connor, who provides yells, screams and some clean vocals, Brandon (guitar, vocals and turntables), Adam (guitar and vocals), Josh (bass and microphoneless vocals) and black metal lover George (drums).
And on the fusion of R&B and metal, Connor told us: “Because it’s such a drastic dynamic, sometimes it is hard to place a finger on it! But I’d honestly say, we bring the heat and we bring the hooks! You know, we’ve got some really heavy stuff lined up but on the flip side, we also have jams that you can sing along too and really get you feeling some kind of way!”
Our latest taste of this is the band’s latest single In Two Minds, which was released in November. It opens up with echoey vocals and building instrumentals that drop into big screams, a crushing riff and turntable sounds. A laid-back verse with mellow vocals and dreamy instrumentals ends with heavy screamed vocals, which feed into an engaging chorus “And I don’t know, I’m in two minds, You got my heart in overdrive, To the point I’m feeling paralysed, Adrenaline coursing through my veins, Do I take this chance or call it off? My head is spinning in a daze,” supported by big guitar chords. Another chunky riff and turntable noises bridge into vicious screams, immediately contrasted by clean vocals before a big scream tees up another chorus. The pace drops completely with twinkling keys and mellow echoey vocals to bring the track to a calm conclusion.
On the track, Connor said: “(The reception) has honestly been amazing, and it’s actually taken us back a bit. What I mean by this is, we have full faith in all of our music, otherwise we wouldn’t release it. But this one has always been one of my personal favourites due to its anthemic feel, along with the catchy chorus, makes you just want to move! But to see how everyone is taking to it, with streams and reactions, is honestly amazing and we can’t thank everyone enough!”
In Two Minds is the latest in a series of singles through 2024, including the diverse Upside Down and the hard-hitting Bad Motives. But a personal favourite is their debut single Mixed Signals, which opens up with a chunky riff that drops into intense screamed vocals. Engaging clean vocals take over, flowing into a big singalong chorus supported by moody guitars and ends with a big “bleugh.” The track comes to a delicious conclusion, with a chorus giving way to a cool riff and soaring synths, then heavy guitars and turntable spins. You can check it out in the video below:
Unsurprisingly, the Alchemize sound contains a mixed bag of influences. The band’s members are inspired by heavier bands like Volumes and Dayseeker, while their vocal melodies and R&B vibes come from the likes of Elliot Trent, Post Malone and late 90s R&B anthems.
And on what inspires them to write music, Connor explains: “Just life! If you listen to the tracks, you’ll actually find that quite a few of them tell a story and that’s how we really like to get music down. The beauty in it all is that all the songs can relate to someone in someway because feeling emotion is something we all have in common. So why not write about our life experiences? Good and bad!”
R&B and metal don’t necessarily sound like natural companions, but Alchemize certainly make it work. We enjoy the contrast between the calm, clean sections and pure ferocity of their intense metalcore edge, with the added appeal of nu-metal-esque turntable scratches thrown in for good measure.
Alchemize are starting 2025 strong by supporting one of our favourite bands Defences in Manchester on 31 January (tickets here). They may also have a new track released in time for that, and will be focusing heavily on getting more music out through the rest of the year.
And Connor told us: “We’re not planning on slowing down any time soon, so keep your ears and eyes ready. We’re stocked up on a bunch of tracks that we’re finalising and putting the finishing touches together on, so you won’t be waiting long between releases. And again, for those of you who have already streamed and taken the time to listen to us, Thank you, it honestly does mean everything!”
You can follow Alchemize on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, and check out their music on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
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