{{Short description|Canadian progressive metal band}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Alpha Galates | image = | alt = | caption = | image_size = | alias = The Hollow | origin = Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada | genre = Progressive metal | years_active = 2001-2011 | label = EMI, Ladder Records, Swarm Theory Music | spinoffs = Most Non Heinous | past_members = {{Unbulleted list|Matthew Wagner|Karen Wagner|Todd Lefever|Harmony|Phil Elliott|Colin Snortland|Rowan MacPhail|Adam Taylor}} }} '''Alpha Galates''', formerly '''The Hollow''', was a Canadian progressive metal band that originated in Medicine Hat, Alberta and later became based in Toronto, Ontario.

Matthew von Wagner, his ex-wife, Karen Wagner, Adam Taylor and Todd Lefever formed The Hollow in 2001. The band released three albums: ''Natio'' in 2002,<ref>{{cite web |title=The Hollow – Natio |url=https://www.discogs.com/master/1570082-The-Hollow-Natio |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=28 January 2022}}</ref> ''Vita'' in 2004,<ref>{{cite web |title=The Hollow – Vita |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/11899421-The-Hollow-Vita |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=28 January 2022}}</ref> and, in 2006, ''ab Gehenna'' which was an independent, digital-only release.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Hollow – Ab Gehenna |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/17501632-The-Hollow-Ab-Gehenna |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=28 January 2022}}</ref> Another album, ''Obitus'', was released on iTunes only. All of these albums were produced and mixed by Wagner, who also mixed and produced music for Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker, Crystal Castles and A Primitive Evolution.

Guitarist Adam Taylor, and drummer Colin Snortland (aka Nilock Lang) left the band. Singer Matthew von Wagner, (former drummer for pop punk band Racer 10), moved to drums. Karen Wagner remained on bass; Rowan MacPhail was added on guitar, and in 2006 Harmony was added on keyboards.

After EMI Music Canada president Deane Cameron saw the band at the Bovine Sex Club in Toronto, they signed to EMI in December, 2006 and began recording two new songs to be added to the album, which was originally called ''Obitus''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bliss|first=Karen|title=EMI president signs Alpha Galates|url=http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Lowdown/2008/03/15/5014766-ca.html|publisher=Canoe.ca|access-date=17 August 2011}}{{dead link|date=April 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

''A Stimulus for Reason'', which was produced by Wagner and mixed by Joe Barresi, was released February 19, 2008 under the band's new name, Alpha Galates.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Usinger |first1=Mike |title=Alpha Galates loves lavish layers, Apr 2008 |url=https://www.straight.com/article-139224/galates-loves-lavish-layers |website=straight.com |date=2 April 2008 |publisher=The Georgia Straight |access-date=28 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Alpha Galates – A Stimulus For Reason |url=https://www.discogs.com/master/868184-Alpha-Galates-A-Stimulus-For-Reason |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=28 January 2022}}</ref><ref name=Chartattack>{{cite web|last=CHARTattack Staff|title=Alpha Galates Aim To Stimulate With New Album|url=http://www.chartattack.com/news/44342/alpha-galates-aim-to-stimulate-with-new-album|publisher=Chartattack.com|accessdate=17 August 2011|url-status=usurped|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607121804/http://www.chartattack.com/news/44342/alpha-galates-aim-to-stimulate-with-new-album|archivedate=7 June 2011}}</ref> The album was released as a digipak album, and in a deluxe version packaged in a metal tin. This version contained three bonus tracks that were recorded and mixed by Wagner. It also contains a video for the track "Natio".<ref>{{cite web |title=Alpha Galates Natio |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pgt2vwTkl9M |website=youtube.com |publisher=YouTube |access-date=28 January 2022}}</ref>

In January 2008, Alpha Galates filmed their video for "Standing",<ref>{{cite web |title=Alpha Galates - Standing |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxgn0j8gLuQ |website=youtube.com |publisher=YouTube |access-date=28 January 2022}}</ref> which was directed by Margaret Malandruccolo.<ref>{{cite web|last=MacNeil|first=Jason|title=Alpha Galates finds stimulus for change|url=http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Artists/A/Alpha_Galates/2008/03/07/4937571-sun.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311224530/http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Artists/A/Alpha_Galates/2008/03/07/4937571-sun.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 11, 2016|publisher=Canoe.ca|access-date=17 August 2011}}</ref> It was based on the film "They Live" by John Carpenter. The video was added to the MuchLOUD station,<ref>{{cite web|title=Alpha Galates - Standing|url=http://watch.muchmusic.com/artists-a-z/a/alpha-galates/clip83008#clip83008|publisher=Much Music|accessdate=17 August 2011}}{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and was also 'Loudtested' on Much Music.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

Alpha Galates completed a Canadian tour with Grimskunk in March/April 2008,<ref>{{cite web |last1=King |first1=Andrew |title=Interview with Alpha Galates vocalist...Apr 2008 |url=https://v13.net/2008/04/alpha-galates/ |website=v13.net |date=29 April 2008 |publisher=V13 |access-date=28 January 2022}}</ref> and toured central Canada with Threat Signal.<ref>{{cite web |title=THREAT SIGNAL - Spring Run 2008 |url=https://bravewords.com/news/threat-signal-spring-run-2008 |website=bravewords.com |publisher=BraveWords |access-date=28 January 2022}}</ref> They also played the 2008 Rock am Ring and Rock im Park festivals in Germany,<ref>{{cite web |title=Alpha Galates - Standing (Rock am Ring) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zv9yjAKcf-4 |website=youtube.com |publisher=YouTube |access-date=28 January 2022}}</ref> Nova Rock 2008 in Austria,<ref>{{cite web |title=Alpha Galates's Concert History |url=https://www.concertarchives.org/bands/alpha-galates |website=concertarchives.org |publisher=Concert Archives |access-date=28 January 2022}}</ref> and Edgefest 2008 in Toronto.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Liebgott |first1=TJ |title=Edgefest 2008 takes over Downsview park, July 2008 |url=https://torontomusicscene.ca/2008/07/21/edgefest-2008-takes-over-downsview-park/ |website=torontomusicscene.ca |publisher=Toronto Music Scene |access-date=28 January 2022}}</ref> After playing a set of shows with the band 3, and Tubring in October 2009,<ref>{{cite web |title=I Saw Three In London, Ontario, Sept 2008 |url=https://www.sevenstring.org/threads/i-saw-three-in-london-ontario.68535/ |website=sevenstring.org |publisher=SevenString |access-date=28 January 2022}}</ref> the band took a 6-month break from performing in order to work on new material.

In June 2009, the band hired new drummer, Phil Elliot, who had had his own band, Born Destroyers. Wagner returned on rhythm guitar, which he had also played on all of the band's recordings, and MacPhail left the band. Alpha Galates set out on a set of shows around southern Ontario in November 2009. {{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}

The band began writing and recording their second album and debuted a new track called "Over It" at the Velvet Underground, in Toronto, on Nov 18, 2009, but never completed the album. The band dissolved in 2011, with Wagner and Harmony starting a new project called 'Most Non Heinous'.

Wagner died of pancreatic failure in July 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=Most Non Heinous |url=https://www.facebook.com/mostnonheinous/ |website=facebook.com |publisher=Facebook |access-date=28 January 2022}}</ref> Snortland went on to play on an album for Three Days Grace; Elliott and MacPhail on albums by The Birthday Massacre.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rowan MacPhail |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/3466898-Rowan-MacPhail-2 |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=28 January 2022}}</ref>

In 2021, the band Melek-Tha independently released ''Synthese Des Forces'', an 11-track album containing five Alpha Galates songs.<ref>{{cite web |title=Melek-Tha / Alpha Galates – Synthese Des Forces |url=https://www.discogs.com/master/1995529-Melek-Tha-Alpha-Galates-Synthese-Des-Forces |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=28 January 2022}}</ref>

==Discography== *As The Hollow: *''Natio'' (2002), Ladder Records *''Vita'' (2004), Swarm Theory **''ab Gehenna'' (2004), Independent **''Obitus'' (2006), EMI Canada

*As Alpha Galates: **''A Stimulus for Reason'' (2008), EMI Canada **''Synthese Des Forces'' (2021), split with Melek-Tha, Independent

==References==

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Category:Musical groups established in 2001 Category:Canadian progressive metal musical groups Category:Medicine Hat Category:Musical groups from Alberta Category:2001 establishments in Alberta