We will definitely be coming back, most likely in 2015 with an album to promote - ALKIRA
ALKIRA is a young Thrash Metal outfit from South Australia with 2 self released EPs out. We recently caught them thrashing the stage in Johor with solid and killer set. They were supporting HAVOK for the 'Unnatural Selection - South East Asia Tour 2014'. So we talked to Ryan (drum) to know more about ALKIRA and what he has to say about the tour.
WELCOME RYAN ! HOW'S EVERYTHINGS BACK IN AUSTRALIA ?
Hey there Pitt ! Things are swell down under. The weather has been crazy and weird (47 degrees one day, cold and raining the next). It's back to reality with work and study after a solid month touring in January. But we've got SOUNDWAVE, KREATOR, DEATH ANGEL, TOXIC HOLOCAUST and SKELETONWITCH hitting our hometown to look forward to !
HOW DID THE BAND GOT TOGETHER ? ANY PARTICULAR THRASH BANDS THAT INSPIRED THE BAND TO KICK START ?
It actually started as a SEX PISTOLS cover band, haha ! Kyle (guitar) and I (Ryan, drum) started jamming punk songs in the garage when we were 17/18 and it all just went from there. Right from the start, we loved our Thrash Metal (particularly METALLICA, TESTAMENT and EXODUS) and everything progressively got faster and faster. Sean (bass) and Greg (vocal/guitar) had been jamming together for a few years as well and it all kinda fell into place in late 2010. We certainly don't just consider ourselves a straight up Thrash Metal band, but it is the genre we closest associate with and definitely our influence. 'Ride The Lightning' is our collective favourite album of all time !
ALKIRA HAS RELEASED 2 EP - 'DOWN FROM THE HILLS' (2012) AND 'RED DEVIL' (2013) TODATE. TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR DEBUT EP AND HOW WAS THE RESPONSE ?
'Down From The Hills' was very low budget and a very drunken process. We did it with a good mate of ours two summers ago and every session involved copious amounts of alcohol. So the end product wasn't exactly what we envisioned at the start (though it was a pretty good representation of our drinking habits, haha !). We only ever printed off 150 odd copies of that EP and they are all poisoning some unlucky peoples music collections as we speak. I think one drunk dude somewhere said he liked it ...
WITH IT NO LONGER AVAILABLE, IS THERE ANY PLAN TO RE-RELEASE IT SINCE ALKIRA IS GAINING MORE AND MORE ATTENTIONS THESEDAYS ?
There are a few tracks from 'Down From The Hills' that we have toyed around with the idea of re-recording as we still play them live quite regularly. But I don't think we will re-release the EP as it is. You never know, we might get our asses into gear and release the whole thing one day. I think there are a few songs on there that really deserve it.
WHAT ABOUT THE LATEST - 'RED DEVIL' ?
We spent a lot more time and money on our second release - 'Red Devil', which I think is pretty clear from first listen. We recorded the drums with Andy Kite at Against The Grain studio in Adelaide and recorded everything ourselves before getting it mixed and mastered by Darren 'Jenk' Jenkins (MORTAL SIN, DEPRIVATION) in New South Wales. We were really happy with how that turned out and the response has been amazing. I think it really helped getting us on the tour with HAVOK, considering we are unsigned, self-managed and don't even have a full length release.
'RED DEVIL' HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MAN UNITED RIGHT ? HAHAHA !
Hahaha ! Well I am a avid United supporters (though I wouldn't say that too loud at the moment), but unfortunately no. It actually refers to our beer of choice - Cooper's Sparkling Ale. It gets you drunk as fuck very quickly, so the next day it can make you feel like you did a deal with the devil
(Hahaha ! So, this is the answer to the Coopers shirt 'Deal With The Devil' - ed)
HOW DO YOU MANAGED TO JOIN HAVOK FOR THE 'UNNATURAL SELECTION - SOUTH EAST ASIA TOUR 2014' ?
I saw on Facebook that HAVOK tour had been announced so close to home. So being a huge HAVOK fan I just emailed the booking agent and sent him the 'Red Devil' EP on the off chance we could score a support slot. I never thought we would actually get it.
BUT IT WAS ONLY FOR THE SINGAPORE AND MALAYSIA (JOHOR & KUALA LUMPUR) SHOWS, WHY NOT THAILAND (BANGKOK) AS WELL ?
I'm not sure why we weren't offered the Bangkok show, we definitely would have been interested in playing it as well. It just wasn't part of the agreement for some reason. We definitely enjoyed and made the most of the 3 shows we were offered though and we would do it again in a heartbeat.
THE CROWDS TREATED ALKIRA WELL AND WILD IN SINGAPORE ?
The Singapore show was crazy ! Definitely one of the highlights of the tour. A full house packed into a tiny club with everyone going nuts made it feel like we were living in the 80s Thrash movement. You honestly don't get the same energy and passion for the music from Australian crowds. Even though no one knew us and everyone was hanging out for HAVOK, they all still went crazy and wanted an encore. It was an indescribable feeling.
HOW DO YOU FIND THE JOHOR-MALAYSIA SHOW ? A SMALL SHOW INDEED BUT WITH SUPPORTIVE CROWDS ...
We had a blast at the Johor show as well. There were a few minor technical issues but all the punters went off again and seemed to dig it. It was crazy having people from a country we have never been to chanting our name while we were setting up to play. Everyone treated us like royalty after we finished.
ALKIRA live in Johor-Malaysia
WE HAVE THIS KILLER SPONTANOUS MOMENTS WHERE THIS ONE DIEHARD BANGER AT THE FRONT ROW GOT HIS HAIR TANGLED INTO GREG'S GUITAR. REMEMBER THAT ?
Hahaha ! Yes, I remember that very well. I was chuckling to myself behind the kit as Greg was riffing out and everyone was trying to untangled that guy hair from the headstock. Them the perils of Thrash Metal !
WHILE ANOTHER JUST TOOK THE MIC AND OPENED TO THE SEPULTURA'S COVER ...
He did a killer rendition of "Inner Self" as well. We always encourage people to get up and steal the mic for a verse or chorus if they know the words. (Hail KUKUBESI ! - ed)
HEARD THAT THERE WERE SOME SETBACKS AT THE KUALA LUMPUR-MALAYSIA SHOW, BUT ALKIRA STILL MANAGED TO THRASH 'EM ALL RIGHT ?
Ahh ... Kuala Lumpur, the dark horse of the tour. Yes, we rocked up to a disco venue which supplied only half a drum kit and no guitar amps, so we immediately thought for the worst. But everyone pulled together and we managed to get hold of some more drum stands and some guitar/bass combos and we hit the stage fucken hard. It actually turned out to be a really good show as well, and HAVOK absolutely killed it that night !
WHAT ARE THE BEST THINGS YOU MIGHT APPRECIATE HAVING PLAY HERE IN SINGAPORE AND MALAYSIA ? WILL YOU COME AGAIN ?
Those three shows were three of the best sets we have ever played. The hospitality and the enthusiasm from the fans, promoters (Eric we love you !), the venues, the local bands and everyone else involved made it a great atmosphere. We will definitely be coming back, most likely in 2015 with an album to promote.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE BAND - HAVOK ? YOU JOINED 'EM FOR ONE MORE SHOW BACK IN AUSTRALIA ...
HAVOK are absolutely killing at the moment. They are the tightest band I have ever seen live, and Pete Webber is the best thrash drummer in years, maybe ever ! It was an honour to share the stage with them over there and in Melbourne, and even more of an honour to hang out with them everyday (and a couple all-nighters on the beers as well). Given their status in the metal scene at the moment, they are still four of the coolest, most down to earth dudes you will ever meet. I haven't got anything but good words for (and some even better stories with) those guys.
HOW'S THE PROGRESS WITH YOUR DEBUT ALBUM ? WILLING TO GIVE US SOME HINTS ?
The album is coming together very nicely. We have almost finish writing all the music and have got all the lyrics down for a few as well. Looking at an August/September '2014 release at this stage. Those who caught our Singapore show were privy to a brand new song which called "Land Of The Sodomite Damned", which is very thrash. Without giving too much away, there is a lot of very fast shit, some really heavy shit, some groovy shit and some melodic shit to break it all up. We think everyone will dig it.
THANKS RYAN & ALKIRA ! SOME LAST WORDS TO ALL THOSE ASIAN ALKIRA DIEHARDS ...
Thanks for having me Pitt, it was a pleasure. All I want to say is thanks to everyone for all your support. Those who were there at the show(s), bought merchs, took photos, like us on the Book. All that crap helps fuel us to keep going. We will definitely be back soon, if you will have us ?!
Johor Setlists
1) Red Devil (Red Devil)
2) Power Trip (Down From The Hills)
3) Hell's March (Red Devil)
4) Down From The Hills (Down From The Hills)
5) The Nightmare (Red Devil)
6) Inner Self (SEPULTURA - Beneath The Remain)
