The Alchemist's Euphoria

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The Alchemist's Euphoria
Studio album by
Kasabian
Released12 August 2022 (2022-08-12)
StudioThe Sergery, Leicester, England
Genre
Length38:05
LabelSony
Producer
Kasabian chronology
For Crying Out Loud
(2017) 		The Alchemist's Euphoria
(2022) 		Happenings
(2024)
Singles from The Alchemist's Euphoria
  1. "Alygatyr"
    Released: 26 October 2021
  2. "Scriptvre"
    Released: 6 May 2022
  3. "Chemicals"
    Released: 3 June 2022
  4. "The Wall"
    Released: 29 July 2022
  5. "Strictly Old Skool"
    Released: 18 August 2022

The Alchemist's Euphoria is the seventh studio album by British band Kasabian, released on 12 August 2022 through Sony Music. It is Kasabian's first album in five years, following For Crying Out Loud (2017), and first to feature Serge Pizzorno as a sole lead vocalist after former frontman Tom Meighan was fired in 2020 amid his domestic assault conviction. It is also their first album to feature guitarist Tim Carter as a permanent member, who contributed to all of the band's albums since West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum in 2009, and joined the band in 2013 as a touring guitarist.[3]

The album was produced by Pizzorno and Fraser T. Smith and preceded by four singles—"Alygatyr", "Scriptvre", "Chemicals"[4] and "The Wall".[5] The band toured in support of the album from late 2022.[4]

The album's release was pushed back by a week from 5 August 2022 due to vinyl manufacturing issues.[6]

Background

[edit]

Former frontman Tom Meighan parted ways with the band in July 2020, and the following day pleaded guilty to assaulting his then-fiancée, now-wife Vikki Ager. Pizzorno, previously the lead guitarist and occasional lead vocalist in the band, then took over sole lead vocal duties.[7]

The album was primarily recorded at Pizzorno's home studio, the Sergery, in Leicester.[7] About the album, Pizzorno stated that it "takes some pretty obscure turns" and has a "big, epic sound but with a personal touch as well. There are some softer edges alongside the massive parts. As a whole, it's a beautiful thing and the most cohesive record we've ever made. It's an emotional trip."[8]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic74/100[9]
Review scores
SourceRating
The Arts Desk[10]
Clash8/10[5]
Classic Rock[11]
DIY[12]
Evening Standard[13]
The Guardian[14]
The Independent[15]
MusicOMH[16]
NME[17]
The Telegraph[1]

The Alchemist's Euphoria received a score of 74 out of 100 from nine critics' reviews on review aggregator Metacritic, indicating "generally favorable" reception.[9] David Smyth of the Evening Standard wrote that Meighan "was never the most remarkable singer [...] so he's not particularly missed on record", although felt that Pizzorno "will need to grow in stature" to "control" the crowds the band performs to. Smyth described the album as "punchy", writing that "Scriptvre" has "crunching breakbeats and snarling guitars" and "Rocket Fuel" is "a bit silly really, with its mix of rave synths and chanted vocals".[13] Reviewing the album for The Guardian, Michael Hann felt that the album "goes for broke" and "teems with ideas that don't always land", and despite Pizzorno's "imagination elevat[ing] them above their lad-rock leanings", as a vocalist he is "adequate but unremarkable". Hann found The Alchemist's Euphoria "offers up some of the bullish, uptempo rock that sets moshpits roiling. It is generally pretty good fun, too."[14]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Serge Pizzorno

The Alchemist's Euphoria track listing
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Alchemist"Fraser T. Smith2:39
2."Scriptvre"Smith3:49
3."Rocket Fuel"Smith3:02
4."Strictly Old Skool"Smith3:07
5."Alygatyr"Smith3:45
6."Æ Space"Sergio Pizzorno, Tim Carter0:48
7."The Wall"Smith3:29
8."T.U.E (The Ultraview Effect)"Smith5:45
9."Stargazr"Pizzorno, Carter4:56
10."Chemicals"Smith3:31
11."Æ Sea"Pizzorno, Carter0:33
12."Letting Go"Pizzorno, Carter3:03
Total length:38:27
  • On digital services, "Alygatyr" is only 3:23 due to the single version being supplied instead of the album version.

Personnel

[edit]

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for The Alchemist's Euphoria
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Australian Digital Albums (ARIA)[18] 32
Australian Physical Albums (ARIA)[18] 60
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[19] 101
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[20] 63
Japanese Digital Albums (Oricon)[21] 45
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[22] 73
Irish Albums (IRMA)[23] 80
Scottish Albums (OCC)[24] 1
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] 26
UK Albums (OCC)[26] 1

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b McCormick, Neil (12 August 2022). "Kasabian shed their aggression, Megan Thee Stallion dials back the sex – the week's best albums". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  2. ^ White, Chris. "Kasabian – Happenings". MusicOMH. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  3. ^ Reilly, Nick (28 May 2021). "Kasabian announce first UK tour since Tom Meighan's departure". NME. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  4. ^ a b Krol, Charlotte (3 June 2022). "Listen to Kasabian's pulsating new single 'Chemicals'". NME. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  5. ^ a b Harrison, Emma (12 August 2022). "Kasabian – The Alchemist's Euphoria | Reviews". Clash. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  6. ^ Mensah, Jenny (19 July 2022). "Kasabian postpone new album release due to production issues". Radio X. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  7. ^ a b Doherty, Niall (17 May 2022). "Kasabian on sacking their frontman: 'It was like seeing your house burn down'". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  8. ^ Trendell, Andrew (6 May 2022). "Kasabian talk 'Scriptvre' and new album 'The Alchemist's Euphoria': "This is a re-set"". NME. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  9. ^ a b "The Alchemist's Euphoria by Kasabian Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  10. ^ Carr, Tom (6 August 2022). "Album: Kasabian – The Alchemist's Euphoria". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  11. ^ Beaumont, Mark (August 2022). "New Kasabian, new mainstream outlook". Classic Rock. p. 68. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  12. ^ Buchanan, Rhys (10 August 2022). "Kasabian – The Alchemist's Euphoria review". DIY. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  13. ^ a b Smyth, David (5 August 2022). "Kasabian – The Alchemist's Euphoria review: Plenty of sparks to keep the fire burning". Evening Standard. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  14. ^ a b Hann, Michael (4 August 2022). "Kasabian: The Alchemist's Euphoria review – first album minus Tom Meighan goes for broke". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  15. ^ Brown, Helen (11 August 2022). "Kasabian review, The Alchemist's Euphoria: Departure of Tom Meighan hasn't dimmed electro-rockers' energy". The Independent. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  16. ^ Hogwood, Ben (12 August 2022). "Kasabian – The Alchemist's Euphoria | Album Reviews". MusicOMH. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  17. ^ Bassett, Jordan (8 August 2022). "Kasabian – 'The Alchemist's Euphoria' review: Leicester rockers reach infinity – and beyond!". NME. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  18. ^ a b "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 22 August 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1694. Australian Recording Industry Association. 22 August 2022. pp. 6, 10.
  19. ^ "Ultratop.be – Kasabian – The Alchemist's Euphoria" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  20. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Kasabian – The Alchemist's Euphoria" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  21. ^ "Weekly Digital Albums Chart: August 22, 2022" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  22. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of August 17, 2022". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  23. ^ "Irish Albums Chart: 19 August 2022". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  24. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  25. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Kasabian – The Alchemist's Euphoria". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  26. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
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