Live review from Soundsplashing Underground (07-02-2025):
1. Intro (Instrumental)
2. 無明火
3. 黑思想
4. 蝴蝶
5. 迷宮
6. Last Party
Vocal: Chiu Cheuk Sing (Zing)
Guitarist: Shek Mong Wa (Moz)
Bassist: Ng Kwok Sum (Frankie)
Drummer: Chan Hoi Tung (Crow)
Programmer: Wong Chi Chiu (Steve)
Alpha Tone walked onstage billed as “pop rock,” which is a bit like calling a typhoon “light drizzle.” Whatever private joke that was between the band and Chris B, it became the night’s first punchline the moment they hit their first downbeat.
From 〈無明火〉 onward, the band lived in that space where alt‑metal, J‑rock drama and big‑room catharsis collide. Zing is a frontman who doesn’t just sing over the band; he surfs the noise. Moz and Frankie keep things visually and musically lively, their precise guitar and bass lines giving the set extra bite. Crow, the tightest drummer of the night by some distance, is the axis around which this all spins. His playing is precise: kicks and toms hit with weight, cymbals punctuate rather than clutter, and he leaves just enough space for Steve (on programming) to breathe. This is the kind of rhythm section work that makes you realize how many bands confuse “busy” with “powerful.”
What makes this set linger is not just the volume or the polish, but the sense of intention. Alpha Tone clearly know exactly what they want to be: a band that bends heaviness toward emotional impact, not aggression. So, yes, you could label this “pop rock” if your definition of “pop” includes Sleep Token, stadium‑era Bring Me The Horizon and the moment in every anime opening theme where the sky explodes behind the protagonist.
Onstage at SoundSplashing Underground, Alpha Tone weren’t joking at all. They were busy sounding like the heaviest thing on the Carnival stage – and very possibly the most ready for a much bigger one.
-Peter L
Review from Death’s Embrace:
1. Intro
2. 黑白
3. 無明火
4. 迷失的瞬間
5. 蝴蝶
6. Last Party
7. 黑思想
There’s no universe in which Alpha Tone could be mistaken for death metal. Their sound is big, melodic and built for arenas, mixing J-rock energy, 80s heavy rock swagger and pop-metal polish. Shout-out to 16-year-old Aurelius on lights, who nails the atmosphere and gives their set a stadium glow.
They ease in with an atmospheric instrumental, a slow-burn intro that sets the scene before Zing steps forward to introduce the band. His range is impressive, blending soaring highs and gritty lows.
黑白 hits like an Airbourne song, plowing in with heavy, theatrical 80s-style rock. Zing, sporting a shaggy dichromatic mop of hair, commands the stage with crowdwork: claps, singalongs and a catchy “woah” motif. Keyboardist/programmer Steve couldn’t make it (he’s a pilot and had to fly), so a backing track fills the gap. Frankie takes the song’s bridge vocals, which adds pop flavour, even if not quite the same pedigree as Zing.
無明火 is the high point so far. Frankie shines with creative licks that add real dimension on a song that’s hook-driven and arena-ready. Moz was quiet early on but fixed quickly, and the energy spikes again.
迷失的瞬間 draws a quip from the crowd: “Sounds like a Hong Kong anime rock band.” This track feels made for fight scenes: pounding beats from Crow, theatrical guitar work from Moz and soaring harmonies between Zing and Frankie. The solos aren’t flawless but packed with interesting transitions and tone. The writing is strong – scene-setting, tension, release. As punters wave along, Frankie fires out a solo that leaves the room buzzing.
蝴蝶 evokes the likes of X Japan in its rock drama. Zing grins: “If I’m breathless, you must be too!” A countdown – “Three, two, one!” – then a huge scream and blistering solo from Moz. Crow dazzles on drums with rolls and cymbal flourishes, locking into a metronomic snare. They transition into a Guitar Hero-esque section of shredding and fireworks, Frankie’s fretboard glowing red. Easily “the snazziest guitars we’ve had at an Underground heavy night,” Chris B says.
The final stretch – Last Party and 黑思想 – keeps the adrenaline high with anthemic choruses and bigger riffs, keeping the energy high till the final notes. Alpha Tone leave the stage looking like a band destined for bigger platforms, with plenty of complimentary words for The Underground and a promise to return soon.
–El Jay
