Marcus Bridge / vocals
Jonathon Deiley / guitar
Josh Smith / guitar
Brendon Padjasek / bass
Nic Pettersen / drums
Alien is the critically acclaimed fifth album from Sydney metallers Northlane. The album proved a watershed moment in the band’s career, raking in worldwide global praise and accolades and landing in countless Best Of The Year lists. At home, the album debuted at #3 on the ARIA Album Chart, gave the band their third win at the 2019 ARIA Awards (making them the first artist to achieve three wins in the Hard Rock/Heavy Metal category) and was nominated for the coveted triple j Album Of The Year.
Alien is easily the most personal statement of Northlane’s career, and particularly so for lead vocalist Marcus Bridge, who rips open his traumatic childhood and bears all his pain and healing on the album. While some long-time listeners might assume that the title is a continuation of the space and futuristic themes that have characterised previous Northlane releases, it’s instead a reflection of the alienation Bridge felt as a child due to his situation.
Produced by the band themselves, the album was recorded at Chris Blancato’s studio in Sydney, where Northlane recorded their first EP, 2010’s Hollow Existence. Bridge did his vocals at Sydney’s Electric Sun Studios, where the quintet made their 2011 debut album, Discoveries. For a band marking their 10th anniversary in 2019, Alien is a bold leap forward; the work of a group fighting their way out of their corner by moving forward rather than looking back.
Northlane continue their titanic Alien world tour in 2020.
