Music
Press
"Invasion dazzle as they play a set that is powerful, riff heavy and loud. Jaws are slack throughout the set for more than one reason." 9/10 Rock Sound - Rock sound
"Invasion are pretty much the most exciting thing happening in UK metal right now" - NME
"I think these are the guys who the NME said were going to save music. Well they’re a lot better than the Datsuns and they saved music too, so these guys must rule 9/10" - VICE
"These invaders are set to rip our tiny world apart, and we should welcome them with open arms" - Kerrang
"Invasion give heavy metal a good name once again, mining the pounding, grooving primeval seam which inspired the greats." - Time Out
Discography
Moongazer EP - 2007
Conjure War 10" - June 09
Spells of Deception 10" - Sept 09
The Master Alchemist (debut album) gatefold vinyl & CD - 4th Oct 2009
Photos
Bio
60's soul
70's psychedelia
80's thrash
90's stoner
00's experimental
For those not yet in the know, Invasion are something of a unique proposition in the world of heavy metal. Using only Marek Steven’s three stringed guitar, the vocal stylings of singer Chan Brown and the fierce drumming of Zel Kaute, the band have a uniquely stripped down yet grand approach.
Having become disillusioned with the technical, over-produced and samey metal of the last decade the band fell upon their own brand of wizard metal. Out would go the pointless solos and fake macho posturing and in would come classic riffing and maximum heaviosity. The blueprint for Invasion was fully laid out in 2007 when Marek and Cornish drummer Zel Kaute recruited singer Chan - who provides the power soul element (think Betty Davis born on Alpha Centauri).
The three agreed on a love of space, fantasy imagery, wizards, dragons and the like. “Fantasy fits perfectly with heavy music. All the best metal is about wizards and magic”. This love of fantasy becomes apparent on brief inspection of their debut album track-listing ‘Six Red Wizards’, ‘Spells of Deception’ and ‘Evil Forest’ anyone?
Finding that their was no scene they fitted in within London the three-piece started to meet like minded bands and refine their music at their own Skill Wizard club at the Old Blue Last. After releasing a small EP ‘Moongazer’ and having been noticed by artists as varied as The Sword and Diplo - who says they are “Like the Gossip but with some balls” - the band were duly snapped up by the independent record label This Is Music Ltd.
Invasion’s debut album “The Master Alchemist” was recorded with Simian Mobile Disco’s Jas Shaw in just four days at London’s own temple to minimalism Toerag Studios. Recorded using analogue equipment and played entirely live (“Mostly first takes and it didn’t go anywhere near a computer.”) The album is a synapse shredding twenty one minute assault which owes more to “Spine Of God” era Monster Magnet and “Masters of The Universe” era Hawkwind than anything else. In short, as Marek says “It should sound pretty good when you’re stoned.”
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