Alex Haines, the fierce melodic metal maestro from New York City, has redefined the boundaries of metal with her latest album, The Instrumental Sessions. This self-produced collection of instrumental tracks showcases her unparalleled ability to weave complex, emotionally-charged soundscapes that speak louder than words.
Born from a series of serendipitous events, The Instrumental Sessions emerged when Alex Haines faced a pivotal moment during the recording of her former band’s album, The Monster. A last-minute dropout by a violinist led her to her old keyboard, where she discovered the power of MIDI to simulate a full orchestra. This revelation sparked a creative evolution, pushing her to master full-band arrangements and audio production. The result is a melodic metal masterpiece with a symphonic edge, drawing inspiration from heavyweights like Kittie, In This Moment, Mushroomhead, System Of A Down, Stone Sour, Disturbed, Cold, and Evanescence.
The Instrumental Sessions is a testament to Alex Haines’s belief that music alone can convey profound emotions. Stripped of vocals, the album lets her intricate instrumentation take centre stage, with tracks like Look Up, Why You, and Tightrope Dancer featuring unique MIDI effects that add an ethereal, otherworldly depth. From the phaser-drenched guitars in Look Up evoking a dance between doubt and resolve, to the layered guitar chaos in Why You mimicking an emotional rollercoaster, each song is a journey. Tightrope Dancer uses MIDI-crafted verses doubled with effects like Dripping Cycles to create a lush orchestral backdrop before the guitars roar in.
Recorded entirely in her living room using Logic Pro X, an MBox, and meticulous MIDI inputs, Alex Haines crafted every note with precision. From manually placing percussion and bass in Piano Roll to layering string sections, her hands-on approach delivers a raw, rewarding sound. Fans can catch a glimpse of this process in her Instagram story highlights, where she plays isolated string sections on her piano, complete with a hilarious meowing cameo from one of her two cats. "Toothless is a little singer; he takes after me!" she says.
The album’s core message is clear: instruments can speak as powerfully as words. Alex Haines, a singer since childhood, channels pain and resilience into her music, hoping listeners feel the depth of emotion embedded in each track. This record also serves as a tantalising preview of her upcoming EP, The Rain on Your Parade, which is set for a fall 2025 release. It features three tracks from The Instrumental Sessions, including the lead single Sweet Strawberry, which will debut with a music video.
Influences Kittie, In This Moment, Mushroomhead, System Of A Down, Stone Sour, Evanescence, Cold, Disturbed
