INTERVIEW w/ LOCHIE KEOGH OF ALPHA WOLF

Alpha Wolf is becoming one of the strongest names in Australian Metal and for good reason. With two prior EPs and their debut album, Mono; the band returns with a darker but broader sound and new outlook on life with the new EP, Fault, coming out April 19th through Sharptone Records. I had the opportunity to ask frontman, Lochie Keogh, a few questions about everything going on in the world of Alpha Wolf. ENJOY!
 
Thank you very much for taking the time to do this interview! For anyone who may not be familiar, describe Alpha Wolf.
Honest and heavy, the one and the only Alpha Wolf. 



The brand new EP, Fault, is coming out next Friday through Sharptone Records. How does it feel to have this EP available for the world to hear so soon?
It's a really exciting feeling, Almost just as equally nerve wracking, especially putting it out there as the new voice in the mix. Either way we're really happy with what we've put together so we just want it out, we write music that we want to hear and it’s always great finally getting to let everyone else hear it. 
 
I thoroughly enjoy Fault and it’s pummeling, nearly 18 minutes of heavy, groovin and absolutely catchy songs and interludes. What went into the writing process for Fault?
Scottie (guitar) normally lays down some quality demo tracks as he is the riff lord and we’ll all pitch in with structure and anything else necessary for the song. Lyrics are always being written behind the scenes and then we’ll pick a lyric set that’ll suit a vibe of a song and consistently tweak it until everyone is happy with everything.
 
I gotta imagine it will be a great feeling to be able to play songs from Fault in a live setting going forward?
It's wild. Every show the new songs seem to be reaching new ears. To see the fans getting into them at the shows is always cool, the new songs definitely seem to be the crowd favorites.

One thing I truly appreciate about Fault is the atmospheric moments of the songs that really capture your interest and makes the brutal parts more brutal and the more mellow moments feel even more mellow. How important is the atmospheric vibe in the band?
I wouldn't say it's something so important that we are driving to create it, the vibe is either there or it isn't and it'll usually come naturally with the creation of the song, we’re always writing for our own ears and the dynamics are something that we really enjoy creating. 

The artwork for Fault is absolutely stunning. How did you decide on this artwork for the EP?
We knew we wanted to paint a really cold picture for the record so we took that and bounced around with some artists til we got a product we felt represented it well. 
It’s one of those things that isn’t right until you see it for the first time and know instantly that it’s right.
 
What would you say was the biggest change(s) going from the debut album, Mono, to Fault?
Majority of the lyrics on Mono were drawn more so from fresh wounds and things happening at the time of the record being written, which resulted in a more depressing vibe. Fault is drawn from all experiences of our lives new and old and expresses a variety of emotion. 
 
I’ve always noticed with the Australian Metal scene that is so varied and well rounded with so many killer bands. What is it like for you guys playing in Australia over the years?
Playing in Australia was definitely harder in the early years, there is a lot of saturation and so much music happening every night that it can be hard to draw a crowd, which makes every band strive so hard to be greater and break free from the mold. This is exactly what we did and now each time we run around the country is significantly better than the last. 
 
So with Fault coming out next Friday, what is going on with Alpha Wolf for the rest of 2019?
A whole lotta touring. 
 
Have you had any favorite albums yet this year or any previously from 2018?
Black Tongue's Nadir is probably my favourite for the year. 
 
What do you like to when you are not focused on Alpha Wolf?
Not a hell of a lot. We like video games and anime so we're staying home maybe a little too much sometimes. 
 
Thank you very much for taking the time to do this interview. As a new fan of the band and absolutely loving what I hear, I really appreciate you taking the time to talk about everything going on in the world of Alpha Wolf. Before we are done, is there anything else you would like to mention that I hadn’t brought up yet?
Thanks to everyone who made it through this; hope you’re enjoying ‘Fault’



ALPHA WOLF- FAULT AVAILABLE APRIL 19TH THROUGH SHARPTONE RECORDS