Review: The Alpha Incident – Convergence

Style: Metalcore (mixed vocals)
Review by: Dylan
Country: US-IN
Release date: 21-12-2018

NOTE: This album was originally included in the December 2018 issue of The Progressive Subway

In a dull month like December, this band seriously sticks out, in the best way possible.

The Alpha Incident play a style of Prog Metal/Metalcore that’s been very popular for the last 12 years, thanks to the release of Between the Buried and Me‘s Colors. That album still to this day is held up as one of the greatest of the genre, being able to merge frantic heavy passages, with beautiful melodic hooks. This style is not easy to pull off, and a lot of bands who try to replicate or come close to it fail miserably.

I’m very happy to report that these guys know what they’re doing. A beautiful acoustic intro sets the tone for the album, followed by an amazing 6 minute piece that both bombards you with polyrhythms and chuggy riffs, while also having memorable hooks with amazing clean vocals. Next track is another sort of acoustic outro to the previous song we just heard. This 3 song combo is one of the best triple punches I’ve heard in a while, they flow perfectly.

What I’ve just described applies to the second half of the album too. They even got some unconventional sounding interludes going on at the title track which also manages to fit the tune.
The potential here is huge. This is a great demonstration of what this band can do in just 33 minutes. That may sound a bit short, but it’s great that they knew when to stop before they ran out of great ideas. If they can cram this much excellence in 33 minutes, in a few years, they could be making the next Colors.

Recommended tracks: Psychonaut, Run the Gamut, Dreamspeak
Recommended for fans of: Between the Buried and Me, The World Is Quiet Here
Final verdict: 9/10

Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Metal-Archives page

Label: Independent

The Alpha Incident is:
– Michael Morrow (vocals)
– Daniel Wade (guitars)
– Thomas VanBibber (drums)
– Daniel Welman (bass)
– Buck Williams (Guitars)