EPK – Altersoul – Origins (EP) (2026)
Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarealtions[.]com
“With this EP, we are introducing ourselves with a piece of our past to showcase where we came from and who we are now.” – Altersoul
For fans of Death, Revocation, Gojira, Children of Bodom, Opeth
Band: Altersoul
EP Title: Origins
Release Date:
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: DistroKid
Genre: Death Metal
Location of Band: Brockville, ON
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Band: Altersoul
EP Title: Origins
Release Date:
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: DistroKid
Genre: Death Metal
Location of Band: Brockville, ON
Track Listing:
1. Abandoned – (5:20)
2. End of Days – (4:09)
3. Beyond the Apocalypse – (5:14)
EP Length: 14:43
EP Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Graham Murphy, James Close, Evan Ferguson, Andrew Poskus
• All songs written by: Graham Murphy, James Close, Ryan Clements
• Produced, Mixed, and Mastered by: James Close
• Album Artwork by: Max Southwood and Altersoul
• Member of SOCAN
• Canadian Content (MAPL)
EP Band Lineup:
Graham Murphy – Guitar/Vocals
James Close – Guitar/Vocals/Additional Instruments
Evan Ferguson – Bass
Andrew Poskus – Drums
Additional Guest Recording:
Wenhao Zhou – Piano
Heather Istead – Oboe
Live Band Lineup:
Graham Murphy – Guitar/Vocals
James Close – Guitar/Vocals
Evan Ferguson – Bass
Theo Konrad – Drums
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About the EP Artwork:
[James, Guitar/Vocals] The lyrics of ‘Abandoned’ tell of a man left behind by his loved ones to freeze to death in a barren, snowy landscape, and the final moments of the composition represent his last peaceful breath, when acceptance takes over. When creating the artwork for this track, we chose to focus on the serenity of the nature scene he spends his final moments in, showing the northern lights above him, the trees surrounding him, and the footsteps that led him to his final place where he will become one with nature.
The artwork from our debut album as Ominous Eclipse, ‘End of Days’, designed by Max Southwood, shows a symbol meant to signify an eclipse, in reference to the apocalypse described in the lyrics of the song.
The artwork from our final single as Ominous Eclipse, ‘Beyond the Apocalypse’, shows a collage of our 15 years of friendship and music. It shows photos going all the way from the very first time Ryan introduced me (James) to Graham and Evan (who would join the band more than a decade later), through the years, ending on the final performance at the tribute show to Ryan.
When assembling the artwork for the EP, we combined all three of these concepts into one piece – the forest scene from ‘Abandoned’, the eclipse symbol from ‘End of Days’, and the overlay image of Ryan up in the clouds looking over the scene.
About The EP as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):
Altersoul performed for more than a decade under the name Ominous Eclipse, with Ryan Clements on bass. At our first show in 2014, we closed by performing the first song Graham wrote, the first song James wrote, and the first song Ryan wrote for the band. Shortly after, they became the closing numbers of our first studio album as well.
When Ryan passed away, these songs became even more sentimental. After years of history, they closed out the band’s final set – a bookend for Ominous Eclipse, and our tribute to our brother and bandmate. As we transition from Ominous Eclipse to Altersoul, we give you this EP as a reminder of where we came from.
The ‘Origins’ EP is our return to the songs that made us, recorded for the first time with real drums and real orchestral instruments. It features guest appearances by our friends, including the original drummer of Ominous Eclipse, Andrew. This is our thank you to Ryan, the scene, and everyone who pitched in along the way.
Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):
[Graham, Guitar/Vocals] ‘Abandoned’ is a symbolic debut for us in that it is a re-recording of a song from our past, which also happens to be the oldest composition in our catalogue. It was originally created as an acoustic guitar piece I wrote around 2009-2010. I remember being heavily influenced by the Norwegian black metal band ‘Immortal’, having just picked up their album ‘All Shall Fall’, which was released around that time. Inspired by that sound, I picked up my cheap acoustic (which can be seen in the music video) and wrote the main guitar part. Years later, when ‘Ominous Eclipse’ was being formed, I arranged the other instruments and made it a full band composition, which was featured on our album ‘End of Days’. When rebranding as Altersoul, we chose this as our first single. The core composition and lyrics remain unaltered, other than a slight timing adjustment at the beginning to add anticipation. James arranged additional orchestral instruments that he recorded himself (plus some by guest musicians), and engineered the track, performing the mixing and mastering. Lyrically, I envisioned a cold and barren climate, devoid of warmth or life, which stems from its black metal influence.
[James, Guitar/Vocals] ‘End of Days’ is the first song I wrote for Ominous Eclipse. As a teenager, I didn’t have a computer at my disposal, and there was one occasion Graham went to play some pick-up hockey with Ryan, leaving his computer unattended. When he returned, there was a composition on his computer titled ‘Song JD wrote in an hour that’s better than anything Graham’s written in his life’. Considering this track became the title track of our debut album, I think the title was justified. It was written in a stream-of-consciousness style in a moment of heavy inspiration, and I feel the new recording of it is true to that emotion.
[James, Guitar/Vocals] ‘Beyond the Apocalypse’ was a punk rock bass riff brought to the table by Ryan when he was trying to get us to be anything but a metal band. Naturally, Graham took that track and made a blisteringly fast thrash tune with a groove metal ending.
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BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS:
1. This EP guest features our friend Andrew Poskus on drums, who was the original drummer for Ominous Eclipse. Back then, we relied on programmed drums for our releases. His first release for the band, surprisingly, happened a decade after leaving the band.2. The first release of these songs was from Ominous Eclipse’s first album, ‘End of Days’, which is a masterclass in how not to record an album. The guitar parts were recorded in one day, and the vocal parts were recorded in another day. The final note in the solo of the original version of ‘Abandoned’ was punched in the next day, using a Telecaster tuned to standard tuning. The vocals in the original version of ‘Beyond the Apocalypse’ are scratchy and weak because it was the final song of the day that we recorded.
3. When we were first starting as ‘Ominous Eclipse’, our rehearsal space was in the basement of James’s father’s house. Now our main rehearsal and studio space is in James’s (and Evan’s) Attic, in a studio now referred to as ‘The Crack Attic ’, full of instruments. The orchestral parts heard are real instruments recorded by the members of the band.
4. The majority of ‘End of Days’ was written in just over an hour when Graham left his laptop unattended at James’ house. The final breakdown and melodic section of the song came to James as he was mowing his neighbor’s lawn for $10.
5. ‘Beyond the Apocalypse’ was a punk rock bass riff brought to the table by Ryan when he was trying to get us to be anything but a metal band. Naturally, Graham took that track and made a blisteringly fast thrash tune with a groove metal ending.
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L-R: Theo Konrad (drums), James Close (guitar & vocals), Graham Murphy (guitar & vocals), Evan Ferguson (bass)
Altersoul is a progressive death metal band from Brockville, Ontario, forged from both tragedy and renewal. Formed by longtime collaborators James Close (Guitar/Vocals) and Graham Murphy (Guitar/Vocals) after more than a decade performing together as Ominous Eclipse, the band represents a new chapter built upon friendship, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to creative independence. Rounded out by Evan Ferguson (Bass) and Theo Konrad (Drums), Altersoul carries forward the spirit of its predecessor while exploring a broader and more ambitious musical vision.
The roots of Altersoul stretch back to a group of high school friends who would eventually spend over a decade writing, recording, and sharing stages with major touring acts under the Ominous Eclipse banner. However, after years of lineup changes, the disruption of the pandemic, and the decision to retire the Ominous Eclipse name following bassist and founding member Ryan Clements’ departure, the band began planning a fresh start. What was initially intended as a simple rebrand would ultimately take on much deeper significance.
In August 2024, Ryan Clements tragically passed away. His loss profoundly impacted everyone connected to the band and reshaped their vision for the future. The final Ominous Eclipse performance became both a memorial celebration and a mental health awareness fundraiser, honoring the friend whose presence had united the group from the very beginning.
Seeking a name that acknowledged the past while embracing a new future, the band chose Altersoul, inspired by the Latin phrase “Alter Sol” meaning “A New Sun” or “Second Sun.” Referencing the eclipse imagery associated with their former identity, the name symbolizes rebirth, remembrance, and moving forward while carrying the legacy of those who came before.
Musically, Altersoul refuses to be confined to a single style. Drawing influence from death metal, technical death metal, thrash, black metal, folk metal, progressive metal, doom, and even genres beyond metal, the band crafts songs that shift seamlessly between crushing aggression, cinematic orchestration, technical precision, and emotional atmosphere. Their sound has been described using five defining words:
Authentic. Diverse. Volatile. Inspired. Layered.
Influences including Opeth, Gojira, Mastodon, Children of Bodom, and Dethklok are woven throughout their music, while fans of Death, Revocation, and progressive modern metal will find familiar elements within Altersoul’s dynamic songwriting.
What truly distinguishes Altersoul is their fiercely independent philosophy. Every aspect of the band is self-produced. From recording, editing, mixing, and mastering to artwork, video production, orchestral arrangements, and stage design, the band maintains complete creative control. Their recordings feature real orchestral instrumentation performed by the members and guest musicians, while their live performances incorporate custom-built and programmed lighting systems synchronized to the music.
Their debut release, “Origins,” serves as both a tribute and a mission statement. The EP revisits three foundational compositions from the early Ominous Eclipse catalog: the first song written by Graham Murphy, the first song written by James Close, and the first song contributed by Ryan Clements. Originally recorded with limited resources, these songs have now been reimagined with modern production, real drums, expanded orchestral arrangements, and the experience gained through years of musical growth.
Leading the release is “Abandoned,” the oldest composition in the band’s catalog, originally conceived by Murphy as an acoustic guitar piece inspired by Scandinavian black metal. Re-recorded with lush orchestral arrangements and enhanced production, the song embodies the band’s philosophy of honoring the past while pushing forward. Alongside it are newly realized versions of “End of Days” and “Beyond the Apocalypse,” three songs that collectively represent the creative foundations upon which both Ominous Eclipse and Altersoul were built.
The “Origins” EP also features a special guest appearance by Andrew Poskus, Ominous Eclipse’s original drummer. Ironically, despite having been a member of the band years earlier, this marks the first official release to feature his performance.
For Altersoul, “Origins” is more than a collection of songs. It is a tribute to friendship, a thank-you to the fans who supported them over the years, an acknowledgment of Ryan’s lasting influence, and the bridge between what was and what comes next.
With multiple albums’ worth of unreleased material already completed and a renewed focus on recording and releasing music, Altersoul stands poised to enter the most creative and ambitious era of its career. Honoring its past while embracing the future, the band continues to evolve with the same passion and determination that first brought a group of friends together over a decade ago.
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