NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – January 2026
Take A Journey Through Sound and Space w/ CEPHEIDAE VARIABLE’s Playthrough For “The Conduit”
Debut Album “Primordial Reverie” Out Now!
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Photo Credit – Solo artist: Ryan Koepke – Guitar, Bass, Composition, Production
Progressive metal solo project Cepheidae Variable has released a brand‑new guitar playthrough for “The Conduit,” one of the most dynamic and emotionally charged tracks from the debut album “Primordial Reverie.”
“The Conduit” marks a pivotal moment in the album’s second act, an intense, cinematic chapter that bridges the whimsical sci‑fi elements of “Encounter” with the escalating scale of the album’s final movement.
The track opens with melancholic synths before erupting into layered taiko drums, atmospheric guitar harmonies, and shifting rhythmic tension. A dark, unexpected synth interlude fractures the momentum before the main theme returns in a mutated form, culminating in blast beats, a crushing breakdown, and a soaring, multi‑layered outro.
Koepke visualizes the piece as a journey through a cosmic portal, an entry point into the album’s “final frontier.”
The new guitar playthrough showcases the track’s technicality, emotional weight, and intricate layering, offering fans a closer look at the musicianship behind one of the album’s standout compositions.
Watch the playthrough for “The Conduit” via its premiere on NoCleanSinging HERE.
Created by multi‑instrumentalist and composer Ryan Koepke, Cepheidae Variable began as a personal creative outlet, an experiment in musical growth that unexpectedly evolved into a fully realized artistic endeavor. The project took on new urgency following Koepke’s father’s cancer diagnosis, a life‑changing moment that pushed him to stop waiting and finally release music publicly after nearly two decades of playing guitar.
“Primordial Reverie became something I needed to make. It reflects the turbulence of that period—my father’s treatment, the optimism that followed, and becoming an expecting father myself. All of that emotion found its way into the music,” explains Koepke.
“Primordial Reverie” is a concept‑driven instrumental album built around three distinct acts, each defined by evolving biomes, tonal shifts, and recurring motifs. The record moves from symphonic fantasy elements to increasingly technical, sci‑fi‑influenced soundscapes. Fans of Dream Theater, Haken, Intervals, Wintersun, and Caligula’s Horse will find familiar touchpoints, though Koepke’s writing maintains a unique identity shaped by improvisation, orchestration, and thematic storytelling.
“The album was always meant to be experienced as a complete piece. Themes mutate, rhythms return in unexpected ways, and each track supports the next. I wanted listeners to imagine their own story,” says Koepke.
The album features artwork by renowned collage artist Alex Eckman‑Lawn, whose surreal imagery helped shape the album’s tonal evolution. The music mirrors Koepke’s personal journey, blending uplifting fantasy elements with darker, more complex compositions.
From the adventurous energy of “Carving a Dragon” to the chaotic, orchestrated grandeur of “Singularity,” “Primordial Reverie” offers a wide spectrum of moods and textures while maintaining a cohesive narrative arc.
“I hope listeners can build their own story from the instrumentation. This album means a lot to me, and sharing it feels like sharing a piece of my life,” adds Koepke.
“Primordial Reverie” (released Nov 7th, 2025) is available now on all major streaming platforms and on CD at the following links:
https://cepheidaevariable.com/music
https://open.spotify.com/album/4BLZtU4yKDxOJEBiwE4Mpg
Videos:
“Carving a Dragon” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhp5qvAn2Pk
“The Waiting Storm” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohvtVeir32g
“Chromatic Haven” ft. guest solo from Matt Mills – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBuDp0Pm_Cw
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Track Listing:
1. Overture (3:11)
2. Carving a Dragon (4:04)
3. The Waiting Storm (3:13)
4. Zephyr of Ouroboros (9:15)
5. Encounter (5:53)
6. The Conduit (6:03)
7. Chromatic Haven (5:11)
8. Entropic Harvester (10:27)
9. Singularity (11:32)
Album Length: 58:53
For more info: https://cepheidaevariable.com/
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“This was a solid album to listen to. Without vocals, the artist has to work harder to convey his feelings and emotions in his music, and Ryan did that well. Many of the melodies you can hum or sing along with, and that’s a testament to the instrumental album.” – Metal Temple
“This is a well-performed album, great playing and a punch of a production too. Almost a 4 in grading.4/5” – Melodic.net
“Combining symphonic textures, sci-fi ambience, and progressive intricacy, Primordial Reverie explores the balance between chaos and melody, emotion and evolution. Through layers of orchestral arrangements, synths, and guitar-driven storytelling, Ryan invites listeners to experience a sonic voyage through creation, transformation, and reflection.” – Crannk
“It’s easy for instrumental metal, and for progressive metal, to lose their emotional punch in a pile of clever passages. Ryan Koepke does an excellent job maintaining poignancy throughout Primordial Reverie‘s hour-ish run time. This album does feel like a singular journey that takes the listener into different emotional headspaces as the music unfolds.” – Metal Utopia
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