Alkaloid Break with Metal Tradition on “Agnus Dei”

They’ve already redefined the very composition of progressive death metal, but on their upcoming live album, Alkaloid conduct a one-of-a-kind experiment that only a true maestro can perform. Joined on stage by an award-winning ensemble, on Bach Out of Bounds, the supergroup bring the revered classical composer in conversation with the heaviest of underground arts.

Today, Alkaloid are releasing the second advanced single from Bach Out of Bounds. While honoring the otherworldly power of Bach’s original offering, the band’s performance of “Agnus Dei” breaks from metal’s traditions.

“This is the most faithful interpretation of Bach on our new live album”, vocalist, guitarist and primary composer Morean says. “It’s a serene, fragile sound world hitherto unexplored by Alkaloid”.

Watch Alkaloid perform “Agnus Dei” on the Season of Mist YouTube channel. 

https://youtu.be/TDpr–e3k0g

Bach Out of Bounds – Live in the Netherlands comes out January 23, 2026 on Season of Mist

Pre-order 
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Across three studio albums, Alkaloid have experimented with worldly polyrhythms, brutally technical riffing, infectious choruses and sci-fi concepts built in honor of Lovecraftian entities. The band remain curious as ever on Bach Out Of Bounds, though even the brains behind their first-ever live album is shocked by its latest creation. “Agnus Dei” began life as a prayer back in the 5th century before Johann Sebastian Bach arranged it as the fourth movement of “Mass in B minor”, his final masterpiece.

“It’s quite the departure”, says Morean, who the Bachfestival in Dordrecht invited for this performance. “Bach Out of Bounds is very different from what other metal bands – or even Alkaloid – normally do”.

While it stems from a place of worship that’s far removed from metal’s underground crypts, Alkaloid’s performance of “Agnus Dei” is a stroke of divine inspiration. The guitars wisely bow to the quiet command of the string section, ceding the spotlight to soprano Rianne Wilbers. Blessed with grace and gravitas, her voice transcends to a higher realm that’s not of any genre nor this Earth.

“Like all of the guests who accompanied Alkaloid for Bach Out Of Bounds, Rianne is a true wanderer between worlds”, Morean says. “After a youth in metal, she acquired an impeccable pedigree in the Netherlands as a performer of traditional and contemporary classical music. She sings ‘Agnus Dei’ so beautifully. She really knows how to sing Bach”.

The video for “Agnus Dei” was compiled from footage filmed live during performances at the 2024 Bachfestival in Dordrecht, Netherlands, Paard van Troject in The Hague and November Music in Den Bosch. It was created by Thomas Niehof / Creative Headroom & Lindy Balduk Photography.   

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