Sons of Alpha Centauri

Sons of Alpha Centauri (sometimes abbreviated to SOAC) is an English instrumental rock band based in Swale, Kent. Founded in 2001 by Nick Hannon and Marlon King,[1] the band has developed and borrowed from a range of styles from the 1970s through to the 1990s including stoner rock, desert rock, post-metal and the New wave of British heavy metal, as well as British artists as Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd.[2]

This article is about the band. For their eponymous studio album, see Sons of Alpha Centauri (album). For their eponymous demo album, see Sons of Alpha Centauri (demo album).

Sons of Alpha Centauri
Sons of Alpha Centauri in 2010
Sons of Alpha Centauri in 2010
Background information
OriginSwale, Kent, England
Genres
Years active2001–present
Labels
  • Sound Devastation
  • Underdogma
  • H42 Records
Spinoffs
Members
  • Nick Hannon
  • Marlon King
  • Blake
  • Stevie B.
Websitesonsofalphacentauri.co.uk

Sons of Alpha Centauri are mostly noted for their ongoing collaborations and aversion to public performances, having performed under 20 gigs since their formation in 2001,[3] of which six have been at the Camden Underworld in London.[4] Their eponymously titled debut studio album Sons of Alpha Centauri was released in 2007, with common themes for the band including outer space, World War III and environmental preservation.[5]

Etymology

The band name "Sons of Alpha Centauri" is aligned on identity with Alpha Centauri, the closest star system to the Solar System, and that "sons" can be interpreted as "suns" to give additional meaning.[6]

History

2001–2007: Formation and Sons of Alpha Centauri

Sons of Alpha Centauri was formed by Nick Hannon and Marlon King on 27 July 2001 in Faversham, Kent. The duo formed the band after becoming dissatisfied with a band called Pariah, which they were a part of at the time,[3][7] and wrote a number of tracks together before inviting Stevie B. and Blake, who had previously worked together in a band called Negative Noise Orchestra, to join the group in 2004.[5][7] Tracks were composed as numbers (to correspond with their chronological order) and were instrumental from the outset,[8] with the band describing themselves as "not-for-profit equal opportunities".[9] Critics have traced this back to the instrumental rock band Karma to Burn and their influence on the band's work.[10]

A two-track demo released in 2004 saw very limited distribution (only 13 copies), and from 2004 to 2007, Sons of Alpha Centauri sporadically performed around Kent with fellow Kent-based band Bossk.[11][12] In 2005 and 2006, the band also collaborated with Australian photographer and artist Seldon Hunt.[13] In 2007, the band released its debut studio album, entitled Sons of Alpha Centauri, through Sound Devastation Records on 26 November 2007.[14]

2008–present: Collaborations and second studio album
See also: Yawning Sons

Since 2008, Sons of Alpha Centauri have largely been involved in collaborative projects, but since 2014 have stated that they would not be involved in any more until after the release of their second album.[13][3][7] In September 2012, the band announced that "Phase II" would be "coming soon";[15] press notes for the third Karma to Burn/Sons of Alpha Centauri vinyl release stated that the band had completed their "six vinyl release" that they were "moving from Phase I to Phase II".[16] The band has denied on multiple occasions that the project is stuck in development hell.[17][5]

On 1 April 2018 the band released a teaser trailer that announced a new project. This was later confirmed on the 14 April as the band's second album, entitled Continuum. The album was released on 1 June 2018 by H42 Records.[18]

A third album, Push was released in August 2021 and saw the band depart from their trademark instrumental sound with the addition of guest vocalist Jonah Matranga (Far, onelinedrawing, Gratitude) alongside Will Haven drummer, Mitch Wheeler.[19]

Band members
Current members
  • Nick Hannon – bass (2001 – present)
  • Marlon King – guitar (2001 – present)
  • Blake – textures (2004 – present)
  • Stevie B. – drums (2004 – present)

Discography
Studio albums
Compilations
Split singles

References
  1. "Sons of Alpha Centauri". Encyclopaedia Metallum. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  2. "Interview – Yawning Sons". StonerRock.gr. 25 February 2013. Archived from the original on 2 September 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  3. "Interview with Sons of Alpha Centauri". The Sludgelord. 7 August 2014. Archived from the original on 2 September 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  4. "The Underworld, London, England Concert Setlists". Setlist.fm. Archived from the original on 2 September 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  5. "Sons of Alpha Centauri – an eclectic musical venture". AllHeavyMetal.net. 30 December 2015. Archived from the original on 3 January 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  6. Blair E. Gibson. From the Minds of Madness: Origins of Heavy Metal Names. Rymfire Books. pp. 104–107.
  7. Robex Lundgren. "Interview with Sons of Alpha Centauri". ghgumman.blogg.se. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  8. "Sons of Alpha Centauri". Prog Archives. Archived from the original on 2 September 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  9. "Sons of Alpha Centauri: Sons of Alpha Centauri: Album Review". SonicFrontiers.net. 24 May 2007. Archived from the original on 22 October 2008. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  10. "Buried Treasure Gets Born in Space". The Obelisk. 29 September 2010. Archived from the original on 2 September 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  11. "Past Gigs". Ashford Rocks. Archived from the original on 25 February 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  12. "Gig Diary 2006". The Def Zone. Archived from the original on 2 September 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  13. "Sons of Alpha Centauri". Thee Big Black. Archived from the original on 19 June 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  14. "Sons of Alpha Centauri". Spirit of Rock. Archived from the original on 2 September 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  15. "Sons of Alpha Centauri The Official Website". Sons of Alpha Centauri. Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  16. Hunt-Bryden, Mark (10 June 2015). "Karma To Burn / Sons of Alpha Centauri 'Six/66' Split 7"/DD 2015". The Sleeping Shaman. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  17. "Interview: Nick, Sons Of Alpha Centauri". Sludgeworm. 23 September 2014. Archived from the original on 2 September 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  18. "News". Sonsofalphacentauri.co.uk. 1 June 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  19. "Review: Sons of Alpha Centauri 'Push'". 19 August 2021.
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