Alchemist (band)

Alchemist
Adam Agius live at Metal for the Brain, 2006
Background information
Origin	Canberra, Australia
Genres	Progressive metal, avant-garde metal, death metal
Years active	1987–2010 (hiatus)
Labels	Relapse, Chatterbox, Shock, Lethal, Displeased
Associated acts	Exceed
Website	www.alchemist.com.au/
Past members	Adam Agius John Bray Rodney Holder Roy Torkington Scott Chivers Andrew Meredith Murray Neill Nick Paddon-Row James Preece Nick Wall

Alchemist was an Australian progressive metal band from Canberra whose style combined death metal, progressive rock, psychedelic, Eastern, Aboriginal and electronic influences. The band formed in 1987 and released six studios albums, an EP and a compilation album. Work began on a new EP in 2010 but the band went on an indefinite hiatus. They are the only group to appear at every Metal for the Brain festival, an event they ran and organised from 1996. Alchemist has also played at the Big Day Out and toured Europe several times.

Alchemist was formed in 1987 by Adam Agius (lead vocals/guitar) as a death metal act. The band released a demo the same year entitled "Eternal Wedlock". The band's style was raw and undeveloped, and began to evolve with the addition of new drummer Rodney Holder in 1989. The following year, the line-up of Agius, Holder, Andrew Meredith (guitar) and James Preece (bass) recorded a second demo. The demo showed the beginning of the band's experimentation with avant-garde arrangements and psychedelic influences inspired by the likes of Pink Floyd and Frank Zappa. Another demo was produced in 1991, with Preece replaced by John (The Seal) Bray from another local band called Exceed. Alchemist also performed at the first Metal for the Brain festival in Canberra, eventually becoming the only group to feature at every occasion. The track "Escapism" from the demo recording was featured the following year on the Roadrunner (Australia) compilation album Redrum, which included other rising metal acts of the time such as Sadistik Exekution, Allegiance, and Shihad.