Alazka

{{Short description|German post-hardcore band}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Alazka

| image = Alazka.jpg

| caption = Alazka 2019 in Milan

| landscape = yes

| origin = Recklinghausen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

| genre = *post-hardcore

| years_active = 2012–2020

| label = *Redfield Records

| website =

| current_members =

| past_members = * Tobias Rische

}}

Alazka, (stylized in all caps) formerly known as Burning Down Alaska, was a German melodic hardcore band, originally from Recklinghausen, North Rhine-Westphalia, active from 2012 till their disbandment in 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.arising-empire.com/artists/alazka|title=ALAZKA|work=Arising Empire}}

History

= As Burning Down Alaska =

The band was formed in 2012 by guitarist Marvin Bruckwilder, bassist Julian Englisch, and drummer Jonas Baier under the original name 'Burning Down Alaska'. At the start of 2013, a second guitarist, Dario Sanchez, was recruited to the band and as 2013 came to a close, Tobias Rische was brought into the fold as the vocalist.{{Cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017033649/http://www.freiepresse.de/NACHRICHTEN/KULTUR/Der-Druck-steigt-artikel9163797.php|title=Der Druck steigt|language=de|work=FreiePresse|date=April 9, 2015}} On February 18, 2015, the band signed a record deal with Redfield Records, and within a month they released their debut EP Values & Virtues. The song titled 'Phantoms' on the EP, features Being as an Ocean singer and guitarist Michael McGough as a featured artist.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XRueCDg9rU&list=PLbVntGq0i3ta-orBbY0M5wLYVT_pE44ef&index=6|title=06 Burning Down Alaska - Phantoms (feat. Michael McGough of Being As An Ocean)|work=youtube|publisher=Redfield Records|date=March 13, 2015}} Shortly afterwards, the band went on a small European tour with the American metalcore band Kingdom of Giants, which took them throughout Central Europe.{{Cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116040429/http://magazin.shout-loud.de/burning-alaska-video-ep-tour/|title=Burning Down Alaska: Video, EP & Tour|work=Shout Loud Konzerte und Mehr|author=Florian Hilger|date=February 17, 2015|language=de}} This was followed by appearances with The Ghost Inside and Parkway Drive, as well as appearances at the Impericon Festival in Leipzig, the Mair1 Festival, and the Full Force music festival.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metal-hammer.de/the-ghost-inside-nasty-burning-down-alaska-296058/|work=Metal Hammer|title=The Ghost Inside + Nasty + Burning Down Alaska|author=Christina Wenig|date=April 29, 2015}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allschools.de/article/show/22_06_2015_Parkway_Drive_Burning_Down_Alaska_European_Summer_-_Hamburg_-_Logo_1435138119551|title=22.06.2015: PARKWAY DRIVE, BURNING DOWN ALASKA, European Summer - Hamburg - Logo|work=llschools|date=June 24, 2015}} In November 2015, the band was the opening act for the Never Say Die! Tour, which was also supported by Fit for a King, Cruel Hand, Being as an Ocean, Defeater, and The Amity Affliction.{{Cite web|url=https://www.slam-zine.de/php/slam_presents_impericon_never_say_die_tour_2015,13584,38011.html|title=SLAM presents: Impericon Never Say Die! Tour 2015|work=SLAM|language=de}} In May 2016, the group completed their first headlining tour along with Sailing Before The Wind in Japan.{{Cite web|url=https://punxsavetheearth.com/burning-down-alaska-sailing-before-the-wind-japan-tour-2016-announced/|language=ja|title=Burning Down Alaska / Sailing Before The Wind Japan tour 2016 決定|work=PUNX SAVE THE EARTH|date=February 13, 2016}} Beforehand, the band played a European tour in March, accompanied by Acres and Casey.{{Cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207131024/http://www.revivalmedia.co.uk/burning-down-alaska-announce-uk-european-headlining-tour/|title=Burning Down Alaska announce UK & European headlining tour|work=Revival Media|author=Rayne Peck|date=December 4, 2015}} In August of that year, the band performed at Summer Breeze Open Air 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.summer-breeze.de/en/bilder/festival/summer-breeze-2016/|title=Summer Breeze 2016|language=de|work=Summer Breeze}} During that same year, they welcomed in an additional vocalist, Kassim Auale.{{Cite web|url=https://www.punktastic.com/pov/with-a-new-name-comes-new-opportunities-for-alazka/|title=With a new name comes new opportunities for Alazka|work=Punktastic|author=Mark Johnson|date=April 21, 2017}} Also, Baier departed the band and was replaced with Tobias Lotze as the new drummer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.morecore.de/news/burning-down-alaska-zweiter-saenger-rein-alter-drummer-raus/|work=morecore.de|title=BURNING DOWN ALASKA: Zweiter Sänger rein, alter Drummer raus|language=de|date=April 18, 2016}}

= Name Change to ALAZKA =

On March 29, 2017, the band officially announced that they were changing their name to ALAZKA. They then signed with SharpTone Records and Arising Empire. During that same year, they released their first album titled "Phoenix" and headlined the Phoenix tour throughout Europe.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allthingsloud.com/catching-up-with-alazka/|title=Catching Up With Alazka|work=All Things Loud|date=May 18, 2018}}

= Band breakup =

On October 4, 2019, the single titled "Dead End" was released. Sometime after, Kassim and Dario departed from the band. In September 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the band dissolved.{{Cite web|url=https://dark-festivals.de/2020/09/20/alazka-loesen-sich-auf/|title=Alazka lösen sich auf|work=dark-festivals.de|author=Stefan Frühauf|language=de|date=September 20, 2020}}

= Post dissolvement =

In 2022, ex-guitarist Marvin Bruckwilder, now being referred to as Marv Wilder, teamed up with former Time, The Valuator frontman Phil Bayer in starting a new music project under the duo name FLOYA.{{Cite web|url=https://heavymag.com.au/re-discovering-the-wonders-of-music-with-floya/|work=Heavy Mag|title=Re-Discovering The Wonders Of Music With FLOYA|author=Kris Peters}}

Band members

= Final lineup =

  • Tobias Rische - vocals
  • Marvin Bruckwilder - guitar
  • Julian Englisch - bass
  • Tobias Lotze - drums

= Past members =

  • Kassim Auale - vocals
  • Dario Sanchez - guitar
  • Jonas Baier - drums

Discography

Albums

  • Phoenix (2017)

EPs

  • Values & Virtues (2015)

Singles

  • Blossom (2016)
  • Empty Throne (2017)
  • Phoenix (2017)
  • Ghost (2017)
  • Dead End (2019)

Music Videos

  • Farewell (2012)
  • Brighter Days (2013)
  • Monuments (2014)
  • Savior (2014)
  • Phantoms (2015)
  • Clockwork (2015)
  • Blossom (2016)
  • Empty Throne (2017)
  • Phoenix (2017)
  • Everything (2018)
  • Dead End (2019)
  • Living Hell (2020)

References