Take beautiful melodies, inherited from pop music,
add a dash of heavy and powerful guitars from the 2000s (MUSE, PAPAROACH, LINKIN PARK, ZORNIK),
sprinkle with some electronic keyboards (IAMX, DEPECHE MODE),
serve it with heavy lyrics, inspired sometimes by literature, sometimes by inner struggles and society,
and you'll get Almaniax.
Almaniax is a Brussels-based rock band, inspired by the 2000s music, which explores universal and timeless themes of life, inner struggles and society.
They released their debut EP, “L’Ombre du Minotaure”, in 2015, which deals with the difficulties of finding one's place in the modern society.
In 2018, the band made an ambitious and narrative music video for the EP’s single – “Le Minotaure”.
Over the years, the band performed numerous concerts and festivals in Belgium and received praise from critics.
Almaniax was released on February 28th 2024 their debut album, titled "Out of Time".
This powerful album explores universal, introspective and overwhelming subjects across eleven tracks.
To sum it up in two words: Death and Time.
The album is available on CD, Vinyl, Audio Cassette, USB Drive, and VHS, allowing the audience from any era to enjoy it.
PRESS CD delivery upon request at info@almaniax.be
The opening track is inspired by H.G. Wells' science-fiction novel "The Time Machine", as well as its sequel, written by Stephen Baxter "The Time Ships".
The song follows a time traveller, exploring the meanders of time, who observes with despair that humanity keeps repeating the same mistakes through crimes and wars.
“Hopes and Dreams” is the first single of the album. The song is about a man who learns he is soon going to die.
Through questions about the meaning of life and the inability to close all the opened doors, the song is also an invitation not to procrastinate and to live life to its fullest.
This conceptual track reminds the disaster of the nuclear power plant in Chernobyl in 1986.
The song tackles the thorny issue of toxic relationships and the need to free oneself to move forward.
This is probably the most positive song of the album.
It brings up the idea that the dark parts of our past and the painful events we've experienced over the years is shaping the person we are today.
Also inspired by Science-Fiction, the song rejects the possibility of time travelling because the past mustn’t be changed. The future is built in the present, based on what we learned.
In this track, we witness the world’s transformation during the industrial era.
This song delves us into the unconscious and all its darkest thoughts. The key message is to not let those parts take control of ourselves.
This track revolves around George Orwell’s last quote (author of "1984") by which he presents a pessimistic view of the world and a warning for future generations.
This song talks about how the world changes through time, and can no longer be recognized. It develops the feeling of being an outsider in a society in which one should belong.
This song addresses suicide, experienced through the eyes of a tree on which a person is taking their own life. They are the only French lyrics on the album.
This final song talks about the loss of loved ones and the sense of helplessness in the face of fate.
To introduce their new album, "Out Of Time", the first single’s music video – "Hopes & Dreams" – was premiered at the Cinéma Galeries on Saturday, September 16th 2023, in front of 110 people..
In 2024, the clip celebrated a series of successes and won international awards.
The clip received numerous nominations and awards at Video clip Festivals around the world.
The music video, produced, written, and directed by Sébastien (lead vocalist) and Valentine (drummer), is a dramatic sci-fi short film, which portrays a team of astronauts on a mission to Saturn, whose fate changes in an instant.
It is an ambitious short film with stunning visuals, inspired by major Hollywood sci-fi productions. The aim was to capture the aesthetics of the movies from the band’s childhood (1980s-1990s - Steven Spielberg, Robert Zemeckis) before the rise of CGI. The sets, props, models and costumes, including the music video it-self, were all conceived and manufactured “at home” by the band.
Trained as a graphic designer and multimedia creator, Sébastien is the founder and leader of the band. He heads the project and brings it to life through composition, writing, production, and realization. He is also the lead vocalist and one of the guitarists of the band.
Fiona uses her melodic skills to participate on vocals and piano compositions. She is playing the keyboard/piano and is supporting the main vocals as a backup vocalist (in this album, she is sometimes taking the lead vocal as well).
Valentine plays an essential part in the project's artistic direction. She is also the co-author of most of the band's lyrics, co-produces and plays the drums.
Julien brings his charisma and undeniable presence to set the stage on fire during the band's performances, and plays the bass.
« The construction is magnificent and the passion blossoms into a masterpiece. »
"the band delivers a stunning production"
"an exemplary creativity"
"...the music develops on solid foundations... and incredible melodic lines..."
"Long Interview of the band."
« This Belgian band has carved out a niche for itself, with a sound as complex as it is captivating...
...a fresh yet familiar experience that resonates long after the last note.»
« The Brussels band offers us a nice and extremely attractive first album that should reach a maximum of people, thanks to a multi-faceted and modern alternative rock. To be discovered... »
« We're hyped by this amazing visual and musical piece that give us so much energy, despite the dark theme addressed »
« A remarkable video with a science-fiction feel - Best Of 2023 »
« Classic 21 and Court-Circuit present to you a new 2024 focus »
Interview for the prize at EUROPE MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS 2024
"A six-track EP of stunning coherence"
"L'ombre du Minotaure is powerful and filled with gravity. Touched by romantic grace."
"Big Minotaure is watching you!"
"An audacious production that has the merit of breaking new ground"
"Enormous radio potential"
"Closely watched by the Minotaure, a feared dictator,
citizens live in fear where the slightest misstep can be fatal to them."
