# Austral Alien

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> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Austral_Alien.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austral_Alien
> Source revision: 1235766429
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2011}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Austral Alien
| type       = studio
| artist     = [Alchemist](/source/Alchemist_(band))
| cover      = AustralAlien.jpg
| alt        =
| released   = 12 May 2003
| recorded   = January 2003
| venue      =
| studio     = Backbeach Studios, [Rye, Victoria](/source/Rye%2C_Victoria), [Australia](/source/Australia)
| genre      = [Avant-garde metal](/source/Avant-garde_metal), [progressive metal](/source/progressive_metal), [progressive rock](/source/progressive_rock)<ref name=Metalstorm/>
| length     = 44:22
| label      = [Chatterbox](/source/Chatterbox_Records), [Relapse](/source/Relapse_Records)
| producer   = D.W. Norton
| prev_title = [Organasm](/source/Organasm)
| prev_year  = 2000
| next_title = [Embryonics](/source/Embryonics)
| next_year  = 2005
}}
{{Album ratings
|rev1 = [Allmusic](/source/Allmusic)
|rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web|last=Rivadavia |first=Eduardo |url={{AllMusic|class=album |id=r645851 |pure_url=yes}} |title=Allmusic review |publisher=Allmusic.com |date=2003-06-17 |accessdate=2012-06-11}}</ref>
|rev2 = [Metal Storm](/source/Metal_Storm_(webzine))
|rev2score = 10/10<ref name=Metalstorm>{{cite web |url=https://metalstorm.net/pub/review.php?review_id=1508 |title=Alchemist - Austral Alien review |publisher=Metalstorm.net |date=2004-03-14 |accessdate=2024-05-13}}</ref>
}}<!-- Automatically generated by DASHBot-->

'''''Austral Alien''''' is the fifth full-length studio album by the Australian [progressive metal](/source/progressive_metal) band [Alchemist](/source/Alchemist_(band)). It was recorded and mixed in only ten days.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.savioursofrock.com/interviews/interviewalchemist.htm |title=Saviours of Rock interview with Adam Agius |publisher=Savioursofrock.com |accessdate=2012-06-11 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207065218/http://www.savioursofrock.com/interviews/interviewalchemist.htm |archivedate=7 February 2012}}</ref> It was released in 2003 by [Chatterbox Records](/source/Chatterbox_Records) in Australia and worldwide by [Relapse Records](/source/Relapse_Records). ''Austral Alien'' is semi-conceptual with a lyrical focus inspired by the Australian environment and the impact of man on the [ecology](/source/ecology). Promotional music videos for the songs "First Contact", "Solarburn" and "Alpha Capella Nova Vega" were released, with the video for "Solarburn" expressing the album's concept, using imagery from the [2003 Canberra bushfires](/source/2003_Canberra_bushfires). The cover art is influenced by [Surrealism](/source/Surrealism). ''Austral Alien'' featured more keyboards and a mellowing of their previous death metal guitar sound, with even shorter songs than ''[Organasm](/source/Organasm)''. [Allmusic](/source/Allmusic) suggested that "''Austral Alien'' is for Alchemist what, say, ''[Permanent Waves](/source/Permanent_Waves)'' was to [Rush](/source/Rush_(band)) (see the increased use of [synthesizers](/source/synthesizers)): a work of unquestionable merit and maturity that may nevertheless leave older fans yearning just a little for the excesses – both successful and not – of albums past" and noted that this was the band's most commercially accessible release, while still praising Alchemist for their "inspired brand of sci-fi metal".

== Track listing ==
{{tracklist
| title1 = First Contact
| writer1 = [Alchemist](/source/Alchemist)
| length1 = 3:08
| title2 = The Great Southern Wasteland
| writer2 = Alchemist
| length2 = 4:13
| title3 = Solarburn
| writer3 = Alchemist
| length3 = 3:51
| title4 = Alpha Capella Nova Vega
| writer4 = Alchemist
| length4 = 4:33
| title5 = Older Than the Ancients
| writer5 = Alchemist
| length5 = 4:42
| title6 = Backward Journey
| writer6 = Alchemist
| length6 = 4:24
| title7 = Nature on a Leash
| writer7 = Alchemist
| length7 = 4:03
| title8 = Grief Barrier
| writer8 = Alchemist
| length8 = 3:34
| title9 = Epsilon
| writer9 = Alchemist
| length9 = 3:55
| title10 = Speed of Life
| writer10 = Alchemist
| length10 = 4:07
| title11 = Letter to the Future
| writer11 = Alchemist
| length11 = 5:52
}}

== Credits ==
* Adam Agius − vocals, guitar, keyboards
* Rodney Holder − drums, triangle
* John Bray − bass guitar
* Roy Torkington − guitar, artwork, layout and design

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Alchemist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Austral Alien}}
Category:2003 albums
Category:Alchemist (band) albums
Category:2000s concept albums
Category:Relapse Records albums

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Austral Alien](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austral_Alien) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austral_Alien?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.