Aberdeen/Inverness alt duo Alkanes have teamed up with a prog rock legend to release their first new material in three years.
Hotly-anticipated new single Artefact is released on Friday.
It is the lead single from EP This Is It which will be out on May 5.
Alkanes brought in Acle Kahney, guitarist with prog greats TesseracT, to master Artefact.
Kahney has produced every TesseracT release and also mastered and produced bands including Heart Of A Coward, Sylosis and Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes.
Alkanes singer/guitarist Dale Sutherland said: “When it came to mastering we sat on it for a long time as we wanted to get it right.
“Then we got in touch with Acle and thankfully he was keen to do it.
“Connor (Meeks, drums) was really buzzing about that as he is a huge fan of TesseracT.
“Acle has done some incredible work outside of Tesseract.
“He has worked with Counterfeit as well as Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes so we weren’t really sure if he would work with us.
“However we thought we would take the chance as it was an opportunity to work with a name with a bit of weight.
“Acle responded really quickly and said he would do it.
“We were really impressed with the work and Acle was very complimentary about the tracks.”
Pre-save our new single 𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐓 now! https://t.co/45B2ss1oFH#newmusic #Spotify #AppleMusic pic.twitter.com/zWQiuuZ2Sq
— A L K Λ N E S (@Alkanes_band) February 7, 2023
‘Passion and energy’ returns for duo
Artefact will be the duo’s first release since Make It Right three years ago.
Dale relocated to Aberdeen last year, with drummer Connor remaining in Inverness.
Guitarist and singer Dale revealed the popular duo considered calling it a day due to inertia caused by the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown.
But now they are back rejuvenated and will launch their new EP at The Tooth & Claw in Inverness on Friday May 5.
Alkanes will be joined at that show by special guests Distance Between Us, Fight the Raptor and Dead Sapien.
The duo also play Aberdeen’s Krakatoa on Friday May 19 and Bloc+ in Glasgow on Wednesday May 3.
Dale said: “I moved back to Aberdeen last year so we are between the two at the moment.
“We weren’t really sure if we were going to do anything as we had been sitting on tracks for a while.
“Our first sell-out show was just weeks before Covid hit.
“After that the momentum died out and nothing really happened with us for a few years.
“We had been sitting on a handful of songs for a while and I didn’t want to end it on nothing.
“I said to Connor the very least we are doing is recording those songs.
“Since recording them I don’t see any sign of it stopping any time soon.
“I feel we have the passion and energy that we had for it back.
“It seems like we are ready to push on again.”
Influences merge for dynamic sound
Originally formed in 2014, Alkanes blend emotionally raw and honest lyrics with dynamic riffs and powerful rhythms.
They produce a thunderous sound for a two-piece.
The duo share different influences but they merge to form a dynamic sound.
Dale said: “I started putting this together in 2014.
“There have been a few line-up changes throughout but it has never been through fallouts or anything like that.
“I really appreciate everyone that has come and gone in this band.
“I am the only original member left but this band wouldn’t have done what it has without all those people being part of the journey.
“Now it is myself and my good friend Connor.
“Connor and I understand one another and click so well in terms of writing.
“He is into a lot of progressive metal and I touch a bit on that although I am very much into alternative and rock.
“We blend all that well into one package.”
Conversation