Steve Ratchen came up with "Alchemy" upon joining the band in October 1996, and after advice from the bands legal representatives, the "X" was added for differentiation. While this may seem somewhat amusing now that so many prog-metal bands now contain "X" somewhere in their name, when the band made this decision that certainly wasn't the case. Steve has been quoted in various interviews over the years as saying the choice of name came from the concept of "Five divergent elements coming together to form something greater en masse than the sum of parts", though it certainly helps to have five individuals with the kind of writing, playing and performance abilities exhibited by these guys!

Alchemy X concentrates on playing festivals, though they do manage to pull off select local performances in the NY-Metro area occasionally for fans who can't get to see them otherwise. The band has done nothing but solidify their reputation as an electrifying live act over the years, and nothing showcased their combination of power and precision like last summers "Classic Metalfest" in Chicago IL.

It's quite a double-edged sword to be sure. Obviously, the internet brings thousands of bands to the attention of millions of music fans world-wide who otherwise would certainly never hear of them, so in that sense, it's been invaluable. However, the market saturation it's created has made it rather difficult to sift between the wheat and chaff.

Only if said company gave us the necessary support, both in terms of marketing/promotion and keeping artistic integrity totally within the locus and control of the band itself.

Critically compared to prog acts like Dream Theatre and Fates Warning for much of the mid-to-late 1990’s, Alchemy X nonetheless has managed to carve out their own niche in the very underground scene that is progressive metal in the U.S. At times sounding heavier than the aforementioned bands, AX has also drawn comparisons to Iron Maiden and Savatage, as well as contemporaries in the field like Symphony X, Aztec Jade and Defyance All these characterizations have merit, depending upon which album or song one is hearing at the moment. The superior Petrucci-esque guitar work of twin 7-string ax-men Chris Fox and Rob Schreiber finds the perfect balance between furious riffing and bottom-end heaviness, while Steve Ratchen’s virtuosity on seven string bass(upside down no less!) is a well-documented configuration that further adds to AX's unique sound. Ratchen also adds everything from atmospheric strings to classical piano, laying texture to the bands more lush pieces. Drummer Chris Scorsese walks the fine line between Neil Peart precision and all-out thrashing. New vocalist Tom Engel brings amazing chops and a more modern sound as the band continues to move away from the DT comparisons, evoking the dark imagery and sound of bands like Tool, Tea Party and Korn, as well as the conceptualized lyrics and themes we’ve come to expect from Mr. Ratchen and company. The band is currently recording their third studio album, tentatively due out sometime in 2006.

Everything and anything! The Beatles to Brahms, Cheap Trick to Concrete Blonde, though we do hold special affection for Deep Purple, Kansas, Rush, Yes, Journey, Jethro Tull, the Tea Party and literally hundreds of other great acts.

Anyplace that'll have us play and shower us with the kind of adoration we're totally unfamiliar with.

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