Dutch contemporary metal band joined by members of Dodecahedron & Alkaloid
“True torchbearers and trailblazers for the future of metal” – Nine Circles
AUTARKH are locked in a state of constant evolution. After the dissolution of Dodecahedron, in 2019, frontman Michel Nienhuis assembled a new band of innovators for his blackened, electro-shocked vision of the future on Autarkh’s debut Form in Motion. Just last year, the contemporary metal band pushed their cybernetic view on the digital age to even greater extremes.
“It is even safe to say that the Autarkh that exists on Emergent is not the same Autarkh that existed on Form in Motion”, No Clean Singing wrote about their latest album, “…right when you’re able to put a pin in why you’re enjoying a particular segment of Emergent, Autarkh problem themselves off in a completely different direction with joyous abandon”.
The circularity that courses through Autarkh has even sparked two separate alter egos. Autarkh III re-imagines their cutting-edge contemporary metal as ambient drones, while Autarkh Collective is a fully improvised collaboration that features a revolving lineup around Nienhuis.
While their third album is already in its earliest test phases, before the band embarks on their first tour supporting Emergent, today, Autarkh are introducing two new members.
For the very first time, Autarkh will now feature a live drummer. Nienhuis’ old band mate Jasper Barendregt has earned a reputation as both a brutal metal drummer and a refined groove master during his time in Dodecahedron, Ulsect and Our Oceans. Adding him to the lineup will not only inject heart-pounding fervor to the band’s rhythm section but frees electronic wizard Tijnn Verbruggen to focus entirely on his dazzling synthetic textures and razor-sharp percussive layers.
“I find the synergy between these musicians inspiring, especially how it evolves new and existing cooperations”, Barendregt says. “Teaming up with Autarkh has been a logical and intuitive step for me. I appreciate the mutual trust, respect and admiration between these individuals, who also align with my hybrid live drumming experiments. It’s rewarding to work on new music as well as re-imagining work of Autarkh’s precursor, Dodecahedron, which I was part of from inception to disbandment”.
Unfortunately, former bassist Desmond Kuijk has left to focus on other priorities, but Autarkh have found a talented replacement. Max Blok is the bassist for the heavy rock band Dead Eyed Creek and live guitarist for Autarkh label mates and progressive metal scientists Alkaloid. He’s also worked as a session musician for Ruins of Beverast and Dark Fortress. His supercharged low-end will bring even more heft to the band’s industrial-sized riffs.
“It’s a pleasure to be working with people that are not afraid to try something different and keep re-inventing themselves in the process”, says Blok. “I’m grateful to be joining this group of very skilled musicians and composers”.
Autarkh will debut their new lineup live next year when they play a string of shows in The Netherlands and Belgium with Farer and Alkahest.
Emergent Live 2025:
January 3 – Uden, NL @ De Pul w/ Farer & Alkahest [TICKETS]
January 4 – Utrecht, NL @ DB’s w/ Farer & Anapoda [TICKETS]
January 7 – Antwerp, BE @ Music City w/ Alkahest
January 8 – Tilburg, NL @ Hall of Fame w/ Alkahest [TICKETS]
January 9 – Groningen, NL @ Vera w/ Farer & Alkahest [TICKETS]
January 10 – Apeldoorn, NL @ Gigant w/T.F.O. & Alkahest [TICKETS]
January 12 – Haarlem, NL @ Patronaat w/ Farer & Alkahest [TICKETS]
February 21 – Bergen Op Zoom, NL @ Gebouw-T w/ Farer & Alkahest [TICKETS]
March 15 – Leiden, NL @ Resistor w/ Farer & Alkahest
Emergent is now available through Season of Mist.
➤ Order: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/AutarkhEmergent
➤ Stream: https://orcd.co/autarkhemergentpresave
More praise for Autarkh:
“Smart, adventurous, and unquestionably brave, Autarkh continues the streak of producing material that defies any expectations of a presumed next chapter while fitting its new mutant member into another nook of the extended Nienhuis universe.” – Angry Metal Guy
“Autarkh will become highly influential on the next generation of extreme metal” – Chicago Reader
“In their particular realm of experimental music, Autarkh have truly crafted something of grave significance – Everything is Noise
“No matter what the path Autarkh eventually choose to follow, the result in Emergent is stunning” – Pop Matters (Best Metal Albums of the November 2023)
Tracklist:
1. Open Focus (6:59)
2. Strife (5:23) [WATCH]
3. Duhkha (5:20) [WATCH]
4. Trek (5:26)
5. Refocus (4:49) [WATCH]
6. Aperture (1:46)
7. Eye Of Horus (4:23)
8. Countless Kaleidoscopes (5:17)
9. Ka (6:14)
Total runtime: 45:37
Style: Contemporary Metal
FFO: Gojira, Strapping Young Lad, Igorrr
AUTARKH is a group of music adventurers dedicated to pushing the boundaries of their artistic development. The contemporary metal outfit was founded in Tilburg (NL) by vocalist/guitarist Michel Nienhuis and can be seen as a development of the artistic vision of his previous band DODECAHEDRON. In 2019, Nienhuis teamed up with producer Joris Bonis (DODECAHEDRON, ULSECT), guitarist/producer David Luiten (INFERUM), bassist Desmond Kuijk (DEAR MOTHER) and electronics wizard Tijnn Verbruggen, musicians with backgrounds ranging from metal to techno.
The debut album Form In Motion (Season Of Mist, 2021) feels like an evolution from the two albums Nienhuis released with Dodecahedron. Musically, because of the radical approach the band takes with their rhythm section: IDM-style beats, glitch effects and percussion are perfectly balanced with crushing riffs and vocals that range from tormented screams to exciting harmonies. Lyrically, because the album is more about a personal experience of human nature and the nature of the universe.
Autarkh continues its approach of inner exploration on its sophomore full-length album Emergent. It delivers increased versatility and contrast, and sees the band expand towards more uplifting and consonant territories. On Emergent, composers Nienhuis’s and Luiten’s statements capture the same capriciousness and unease of Form In Motion, this time leaving a more open, diverse and radiant imprint.
Circularity has become a key component of how these musicians handle their artistic content. An alternative three- piece band called AUTARKH III was founded in 2021 wherein Luiten, Verbruggen and Nienhuis reimagine their work in a different musical context. AUTARKH III focuses on ambient and drone atmospheres, improvised sound collages and heavier down-tempo arrangements while experimenting with inverted storylines and rearranged AUTARKH themes. When the opportunity arose in 2023 to participate in a 100% improvised collaboration with Drone Assembly and Kypski during Best Kept Secret festival, another corner of the Autarkh universe was unlocked and ultimately led to the establishment of a free improv group with a varying line-up known as AUTARKH COLLECTIVE. The debut of this collective will be released in 2024.
Form In Motion explored the boundaries of sonic extremes; Autarkh III’s Roadburn Redux 2021 showed subtlety, introversion and contrast; and Emergent sheds a brighter light on the inner self and exposes it to the world with intensity and conviction. The group shows diversity and nuance while preserving their intense and razor-sharp edge. With performances at Roadburn festival (NL) in 2021 and 2022, Dutch television show Muziekstad and Hellfest (FR) in 2022, 4 releases in 4 years and numerous press features praising their artistic endeavors, the group shows their vivid imagination and serious work ethic – and they are just getting started.
Autarkh are currently working on their third studio album with a new lineup featuring Jasper Barendregt (ex-DODECAHEDRON) on drums and Max Blok (ALKALOID, DEAD EYED CREEK) on bass.
Lineup:
Michel Nienhuis – Vocals, Guitars
David Luiten – Vocals, Guitars
Tijnn Verbruggen – Synths, Beats
Jasper Barendregt – Drums
Max Blok – Bass
Recording Studio:
David Luiten Studio, Monodisc Studio, Moonbear Music & Engineering
Mix/Master:
David Luiten
Cover Artwork:
Arno Frericks
➤ Order:https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/AutarkhEmergent
➤ Stream:https://orcd.co/autarkhemergentpresave
Follow Autarkh:
www.autarkh.com
info@autarkh.com
www.facebook.com/autarkh
www.instagram.com/autarkhband
www.youtube.com/c/autarkh
www.autarkh.bandcamp.com