Alchemist - Eve of the War Shock
Cathy Sexton - Massive Magazine Dec 98

'It’s never been any huge secret that I believe Alchemist are possibly the single most ingenious and intelligent band on the face of the Earth. “Eve of the War” however is a Clayton’s CD for which I’m still trying to figure out the point. OK, I understand that it’s a tribute to “War of the Worlds” Being that is the 20th anniversary of the musical and the 100th anniversary of the book), but “Eve of the War” is fundamentally the only new track on here. Yes, there is a techno version of “Yoni Kunda”, creatively titled “Koni Yunda” which unfortunately fails to rise the pulse above a murmur and in it’s very worst moments is reminiscent of that appalling pop band Steps. And why release live tracks when you’re the only band in the world who is brilliant enough to actually produce CD-quality sound at every show? “Yoni Kunda” and “Chinese Whispers” sound like studio recordings, which I guess is nothing to be complained about other than for the fact that most fans will already have them in their collection. Chuck on the end rerecordings of early Alcho tunes “Brumal and “World within Worlds” and you wrap up the world longest EP. Having said all that, for me this CD represents an invaluable piece of nostalgia, without which my life would not be complete. I guess it depends on hoe dedicated to the cause you are.

Cathy Sexton