Alkerdeel

Alkerdeel is a Belgian lo-fi metal group from Zomergem, active since 2005. The band plays black metal, doom metal and sludge metal, and is known for a rough, low-fidelity sound built around droning passages, heavy guitars, distorted drums and harsh vocals. Its music also moves into sludge and minimal sections, and the group is described as drawing on black, doom, sludge and war metal.

Formation and recording approach

The band begins as a three-piece garage jam project with guitar, drums and voice, without bass. Early sessions are partly improvised and recorded on a tape deck, with an emphasis on a raw, unpolished result. That approach remains central to the group’s identity, with live recording and minimal studio correction forming part of its method.

Members

The group includes Steven van Cauwenbergh and Pui.

Releases and labels

One early recording is issued as Luizig, a tape release that appears on Funeral Folk after Blesken of Sylvester Anfang hears the recording and gives it the title. The tape is issued in a limited run of 66 copies and sells out quickly, leading to a CD release on At War With False Noise and then a repress. The EP The Bollaf! follows on Universal Tongue and includes an Ildjarn medley.

The Speenzalvinge is the band’s debut album and is recorded live to tape by Blesken. It receives Roadburn’s album-of-the-day recognition. The album Morinde is released on Consouling Sounds, a Ghent label associated with acts such as Amen Ra, Aderlating and Aidan Baker. It contains four tracks, is recorded live without overdubs in one night, and is mastered by Tom Kvalsvoll of Strype Audio.

Live appearances

Alkerdeel plays live sporadically and appears with acts including Wolves in the Throne Room, Aluk Todolo and Lugubrum. It also performs at festivals including Ashes To Ashes Doom To Dust, Incubate, Aurora Infernalis and Roadburn Festival. The band’s contrasting presence at doom, indie and black metal events reflects the range within its sound.

Style and character

The group is associated with a punk approach to recording and performance, with the idea that live playing presents the most direct version of the music. Its work is marked by distortion, improvisation, minimal overdubs and a deliberately abrasive sound.