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Posts By Asher

0 EPK – Karnage Through Crossing – The Underground (single) (2025)

  • September 5, 2025
  • by Asher
  • · EPKs · Karnage Through Crossing

EPK – Karnage Through Crossing – The Underground (single) (2025)

For fans of Grim Reaper, King Diamond, Exodus, Megadeth, Wasp, Striker, Skullfist, Judas Priest

“The Underground was the second song written for our forthcoming second album, and the first rehearsed after our debut album’s release. Soon, we found the dramatic pauses at the end of the first pre-chorus and the tightness at the end of the song evolved into an energizing mood, elevating the song. Describing philosophies of anger and conflict electrify the mid sections of the song, while a story plays out in the verses of a gutter-bound wasteland child rising to a life of power and vengeance.” – Rhyse Tremel – Karnage through Crossing

Band: Karnage Through Crossing
Single Title: The Underground
Release Date: Sept 5, 2025
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: CD Baby
Single Length: 5:27

Facebook.com/ktxmetal | Instagram.com/ktx_metal | Youtube.com/@KTX_METAL | Tiktok.com/@karnage.through.c | X.com/ktx_metal

Ktxmetal.bandcamp.com | Spotify |  Apple Music | Amazon Music

“Karnage Through Crossing is a Canadian band that takes Heavy Metal traditions to create a sound that distinguishes them as the ‘New Wave of Canadian Heavy Metal’ “ – En Tijuana Hay Rock

“There’s a new face in Heavy Metal breaking free with the debut album Shattered Chains” – Gaffa Magazine

Band: Karnage Through Crossing
Single Title: The Underground
Release Date: Sept 5, 2025
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: CD Baby
Single Length: 5:27

Single Info:
-The Underground by Karnage Through Crossing
-Written by Rhyse Tremel and Karnage Through Crossing
-Lead Guitar and Lead Vocals Recorded by Rhyse Tremel
-Bass Guitar and Screams / Growls Recorded by Josh Bricker
-Drums Recorded by Ashton Lal
-Recorded and Mastered by Scott Oliphant at Colossus Audio
-Single artwork created by Elizabeth Ackerman at: http://www.instagram.com/tbd_art
– Music is Canadian Content – MAPL
– Lineup is:
Rhyse Tremel on Lead Guitar and Lead Vocals
Ashton Lal on Drums and Backup Vocals
Josh Bricker on Bass Guitar and Screams / Growls

=====================================================

About the single artwork:
The image is the back load in the staircase of a popular underground venue in Calgary, tied in with the lyrical themes in the song, telling of a steampunk dystopia where a woman grows up in the slums to become a pit fighter

About the single
“The Underground was the second song written for our second album, and the first rehearsed after our debut album’s release. Soon, we found the dramatic pauses at the end of the first pre-chorus and the tightness at the end of the song, evolved into an energizing mood, elevating the song. Describing philosophies of anger and conflict electrify the mid sections of the song, while a story plays out in the verses of a gutter-bound wasteland child rising to a life of power and vengeance.”

=======================================================

FUN FACTS – STORY ANGLES:

What can we say, the boys have partied with the animals, brought the baddies, and rocked stages they dreamed of only a few years before. But most of that we can’t talk about. We’ve played with some of our favorite bands, and played with bands that aren’t here with us anymore, burned up venues that no longer exist, and changed tires beside the fastest highway traffic in western Canada. We like to play BIG and we like to ROCK HARD! The Underground is for all of you, and the start of the new KTX Era is coming to you from this moment on

  L-R – Josh Bricker – Bass Guitar and Screams / Growls, Ashton Lal – Drums and Backup Vocals, Rhyse Tremel – Lead Guitar and Lead Vocals

For fans of New Wave Traditional Heavy Metal and Thrash Metal, crossing over with explosive moments of death metal, Karnage Through Crossing is the next heavy-hitting powerhouse! Releasing full-bodied, screaming, shredding singles off their new album, throned on the songwriting diversity of their independently released debut album, an intriguing new conquest is capturing the hearts and fists of headbangers abroad. Taking western Canada by force, these high-energy rockers have been seen playing with international acts such as Iron Kingdom, Tower Hill, and Lycanthro, while competing in their local scene as the flag bearers of gritty old school Metal.

Discography:
Single Judgement Day (2023)
Debut EP (2023)
Single Frozen Crown (2024)
Debut Album Shattered Chains (2024)
Single Chosen Paths (2025)
Single The Underground (2025)

Shared Stage with: Iron Kingdom, Tower Hill, Lycanthro, Cabrakaan, Illyrian, Syryn, Red Cain, Product of Anger, Divine Apprehension, Sleepy and the Bugs

Tours and Festivals:
Joloblot winter festival (2023)
Groverfest Festival at Beiseker (2024)
Loud as Hell Drumheller Festival Fundraiser (2025)
Alberta KTX album Release tour (2025)

0 Thank You Canadian MDs and DJs for the airplay love! For the Week Ending: Tuesday, September 2, 2025 !earshot -The National Loud Chart #4 Eternal Drak | CFRU 93.3 FM – Guelph – Loud #7 Eternal Drak | CJSW Radio 90.9 FM – Calgary – Loud #1 Eternal Drak, #10 Necrambulant Gore House Productions | CJLO – 1690AM – Montreal – Loud #2 Ivy Gardens

  • September 4, 2025
  • by Asher
  • · Eternal Drak · Ivy Gardens · Necrambulant (GoreHouse Productions) · radio charts

Thank You Canadian MDs and DJs for the airplay love!
For the Week Ending: Tuesday, September 2, 2025
!earshot -The National Loud Chart
#4 Eternal Drak
https://earshot-online.com/charts/index.cfm?intChartTypeID=106&dWeekOfID=2025-09-02
=======================
CFRU 93.3 FM – Guelph – Loud
#7 Eternal Drak
https://earshot-online.com/charts/cfru.cfm?intChartTypeID=6&dWeekOfID=2025-09-02
========================
CJSW Radio 90.9 FM – Calgary – Loud
#1 Eternal Drak, #10 Necrambulant Gore House Productions
https://earshot-online.com/charts/cjsw.cfm?intChartTypeID=6&dWeekOfID=2025-09-02
========================
CJLO – 1690AM – Montreal – Loud
#2 Ivy Gardens
https://earshot-online.com/charts/cjlo.cfm?intChartTypeID=6&dWeekOfID=2025-09-02

0 Quebec’s BORN DIVIDED’s New Video ‘Everything Comes to an End’ Opens the Gates to October Album “Chronicle of a Shipwreck”

  • September 4, 2025
  • by Asher
  • · Born Divided · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – September 4, 2025

Quebec’s BORN DIVIDED’s New Video ‘Everything Comes to an End’ Opens the Gates to October Album “Chronicle of a Shipwreck”

(Mixed and Mastered by Chris Donaldson (Cryptopsy)

L-R – Michael Beaudoin – Guitar, Fred Bedard – Guitar, Maxim Levesque – Vocals, Lucas Biron – Drums, Tommy Demers – Bass

Photo Credit – Paul Giacomo

Quebec City progressive melodic death force Born Divided has dropped their blistering new single and music video, “Everything Comes to an End”. The track is the first glimpse into their upcoming full-length album, “Chronicle of a Shipwreck,” (mixed and mastered by Cryptopsy’s Chris Donaldson), set to release on October 24, 2025.
​
Formed in 2020 by former members of Blinded by Faith, Born Divided has carved out a signature sound that’s epic, melodic, orchestrated, aggressive, and progressive. Their latest offering is a cinematic metal journey that fuses clean vocals, explosive guitar work, and relentless blast beats—culminating in a finale that’s as emotionally rich as it is musically intense.
​
​“Everything Comes to an End” showcases the band’s evolved sound with Maxim Levesque delivering a powerhouse vocal performance, backed by Tommy Demers on bass, Lucas Biron on drums, along with Fred Bédard, and Michael Beaudoin rounding out the lineup with razor-sharp guitar shredding. The track’s emotional depth and orchestral intensity set the tone for the rest of the album, which promises a dynamic blend of melody and aggression.

“Everything Comes to an End kicks off the album with an epic and catchy fusion of sound. Intense clean vocals take center stage, including a standout performance by Tommy Demers that evokes the emotional depth of Opeth. The track builds towards a breathtaking finale, where rapid melodic guitar picking collides with relentless drum blast beats—delivering a cinematic and explosive finish,” adds the band.

Watch the official video for “Everything Comes to an End” – https://youtu.be/IVkHsg6vkk0

​Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/track/0JDzA0Rx2OTG5hps4ULYYR​

The forthcoming album, “Chronicle of a Shipwreck”, features seven meticulously crafted tracks selected from twelve original compositions. Lyrically penned by Danny Emond, the album explores themes of chaos, introspection, and resilience, anchored by fast, heavy riffs and soaring vocal passages.

“This isn’t just an album. It’s a reflection of where we’ve been, what we’ve endured, and how we’ve emerged, louder, heavier, and more unapologetically ourselves,” says the band.

With influences ranging from Ne Obliviscaris and Dimmu Borgir to Symphony X, Born Divided’s sound is a collision of death metal, black metal, and heavy metal crafted with precision and passion. Prepare for the full sonic voyage when “Chronicle of a Shipwreck” drops this October 24th, 2025.

Album pre-order – https://borndividedofficial.bandcamp.com/​

Track Listing:
​
1. Everything Comes to an End – 5:09
2. Chronicle of a Shipwreck – 4:10
3. Illusion Factories – 7:38
4. The Dead Inside Ourselves – 5:54
5. Run, Burn, Die! – 7:52
6. Subterranean Corridors – 4:48
7. Anxiety – 7:57
Album Length: 43:31
​
​Born Divided is:​
Tommy Demers – Bass
Maxim Levesque – Vocals
Michael Beaudoin – Guitars
Fred Bedard – Guitars
Lucas Biron – Drums

For more info: https://linktr.ee/borndivided​

– 30 –

“Born Divided is in every way my surprise for 2022. I’m really looking forward to seeing them in concert. This is a new group that I think is likely to break through if the right people hear them. Born Divided – Impending Doom = 9.8/10” – Ondes Chocs (Impending Doom 2022)

“Alternating between clear vocals and « growl», melodies and aggressiveness, it’s a promising album!” – Metal Universe (Impending Doom 2022)

“This was the group I was looking forward to. I had the opportunity to see the musicians of the group with their other projects (except the singer), but never all together. We’re talking about groups like Blinded by Faith, Moonlight, Kalter and GFK. I want to say that I was not disappointed… Born Divided is a new group that, in my opinion, deserves to be on big shows or even tours. They have their own sound. A group to watch!!” – Ondes Chocs (Live Review -Le Corsaire, Lévis – May 20, 2023)

“A solid opening performance for this promising group with experienced musicians and compositions that adapt wonderfully well to live performances. If you still haven’t listened Impending Doom, I highly recommend this first album.” – Metal Universe (Live Review – Quebec City – Source de la Martinière – June 15, 2024

“Born Divided delivers the listener’s ears with a musical spectrum consisting of melodic sections of melodic death metal combined with a high level of complex/technical proficiency, intricacy, and dynamics from progressive music. They also blend orchestration arrangements within their musical spectrum. Impending Doom doesn’t just deliver a fruit of art death metal to the listener’s ears -but the lyrical concept (without looking into it – it’s there in front of the listener) that has a solid/meaningful lyrical meaning.” – Aathenaeumofsinreviews (Impending Doom 2022)

“While it is a fact that tight, hard and intense extreme metal parts dominate this production, this is also a band that appears to know their way around progressive metal landscapes. Just about all the compositions here will twist and turn multiple times, alternating the extreme metal onslaught with delicate and atmospheric interludes, instances of classic era progressive metal and also passages exploring a more distinct and melodic variety of atmospheric metal. Orchestral style backing is applied for both the extreme and some of the less intense parts, and quirky, technical details is a recurring feature too. The vocals alternate between harsh, distorted vocals and clean, clear and melodic singing, with the former mainly being restricted to the extreme metal parts and the latter mainly restricted to the passages that doesn’t venture into the most extreme passages here. Progressive death metal is apparently a thing, and those who tend to enjoy music defined in that manner can safely add this album to their list of music to get more familiar with.” – Progressor (Impending Doom 2022)

—
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0 EPK – Born Divided – Chronicle of a Shipwreck (2025)

  • September 4, 2025
  • by Asher
  • · Born Divided · EPKs

EPK – Born Divided – Chronicle of a Shipwreck (2025)

Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com

“We hope the new album will be embraced and—most importantly—discovered in a positive light by as many people as possible. Each track on the album has its own unique atmosphere. Some songs are catchier with memorable choruses, while others stretch into longer, progressive journeys. It’s a compelling blend of melody and aggression.” – Born Divided

For fans of Ne Obliviscaris, Symphony X, Scar Symmetry, Persefone, Dimmu Borgir

Band: Born Divided
Album Title: Chronicle of a Shipwreck
Release Date: October 24, 2025
Label: Self-Release
Album Length: 43:31

Linktr.ee/borndivided

Borndivided.com | Facebook.com/BornDivided | X.com/borndivided | Instagram.com/borndivided | YouTube 

Borndividedofficial.bandcamp.com | Spotify

“It doesn’t matter whether BORN DIVIDED plays fast and furious, slow and deliberate or is hovering somewhere in between, everything on “Chronicle Of A Shipwreck” is as it should be. 9/10″ – Metal-Temple

“Quebec City’s Born Divided perfectly captures this endurance in their second album, Chronicle of the Shipwreck, released on October 24th, 2025. Formed from the ashes of Blinded by Faith, the band features seasoned musicians like Tommy Demers and Maxim Levesque. The record balances razor-sharp riffs with cinematic orchestration. Lyrically, it navigates emotional collapse and existential turmoil, mirroring the fierce journey toward redemption. For those battling through a “shipwreck” of their own, this music serves as a powerful reminder that resilience is born from the wreckage.” – Sonic Perspectives – Sonic Perspectives – How Metal Music Inspires Resilience Through Adversity How Metal Music Inspires Resilience Through Adversity

“Weaknesses? Not a single one! Craft? Everything is great! The vocals? A celebration in all respects. Would AMON AMARTH suddenly jump on the prog metal bandwagon, adapting a bit of modern death lead and at the same time adding traditional melodic metal to the gallery, would the Northmen possibly sound similar to BORN DIVIDED – but this is just a clue. Musically, the band is completely independent and combines several genres into a rousing, always gripping symbiosis that we can’t get enough of, even in the long term. Check out the boys’ band camp page, familiarize yourself with the previous material and place a collective order immediately – because this band more than deserves the support! 9.5/10″ – PowerMetal.de

“““Chronicle of a Shipwreck” is an excellent album in balance between softness, reinforced concrete riffs and violence. A record to discover urgently ! ” 4/5 – Music Waves

““Chronicle of a Shipwreck” est un excellent album en équilibre entre douceur, riffs en béton armé et violence. Un disque à découvrir d’urgence ! ” 4/5 – Music Waves

“If it wasn’t obvious, Born Divided’s Chronicles of a Shipwreck was a very good experience for me. This one netted me about 8–10 listens (I stopped counting around 6) and I never felt like there was a song that didn’t fit. Nothing was skipped, and I remain entirely impressed this one was self-released. So, here’s one for us Canadians!” – Dire Notes

“This was some melodic death metal, and I was quite impressed with it except for the clean vocals the band uses. The songs are catchy and still retain the death metal sound, and they are catchy and memorable as well. The music never went over my head, either. I was playing air guitar quite often to this.” – Extreminal

“Like the waves the ship on the cover of Chronicle Of A Shipwreck traverses through, Born Divided keep their music in constant motion. There isn’t any smooth sailing to be found in this endless body of choppy melodic death metal that’s supplemented by progressive/black metal. They try to make each song its own event, whether that be the frenzied hop of “The Dead Inside Ourselves” or the orchestral elevation of the title track. Opener “Everything Comes To An End” has an Opeth tribute in the middle with singing that could be a doppelganger for Mikael Åkerfeldt. It’s a bit distracting, especially since it’s never used again on Chronicle Of A Shipwreck. That’s the most blatant nod Born Divided make to another band directly. Though the ship on the cover meets a woeful end, the band avoids such a fate.” – Head Music Headquarters

“Chronicle Of A Shipwreck is a great album. You do need to enjoy enough variety and be a fan of both grunts and clean vocals. But when that’s the case, you can calmly enjoy the three quarters of an hour of this death metal album.” – Rock Portaal

“Born Divided is in every way my surprise for 2022. I’m really looking forward to seeing them in concert. This is a new group that I think is likely to break through if the right people hear them. Born Divided – Impending Doom = 9.8/10” – Ondes Chocs (Impending Doom 2022)

“Alternating between clear vocals and « growl», melodies and aggressiveness, it’s a promising album!” – Metal Universe (Impending Doom 2022)

“This was the group I was looking forward to. I had the opportunity to see the musicians of the group with their other projects (except the singer), but never all together. We’re talking about groups like Blinded by Faith, Moonlight, Kalter and GFK.  I want to say that I was not disappointed… Born Divided is a new group that, in my opinion, deserves to be on big shows or even tours. They have their own sound. A group to watch!!” – Ondes Chocs (Live Review -Le Corsaire, Lévis – May 20, 2023)

“A solid opening performance for this promising group with experienced musicians and compositions that adapt wonderfully well to live performances. If you still haven’t listened Impending Doom, I highly recommend this first album.” – Metal Universe (Live Review – Quebec City – Source de la Martinière – June 15, 2024

“Born Divided delivers the listener’s ears with a musical spectrum consisting of melodic sections of melodic death metal combined with a high level of complex/technical proficiency, intricacy, and dynamics from progressive music. They also blend orchestration arrangements within their musical spectrum. Impending Doom doesn’t just deliver a fruit of art death metal to the listener’s ears -but the lyrical concept (without looking into it – it’s there in front of the listener) that has a solid/meaningful lyrical meaning.” – Aathenaeumofsinreviews (Impending Doom 2022)

“While it is a fact that tight, hard and intense extreme metal parts dominate this production, this is also a band that appears to know their way around progressive metal landscapes. Just about all the compositions here will twist and turn multiple times, alternating the extreme metal onslaught with delicate and atmospheric interludes, instances of classic era progressive metal and also passages exploring a more distinct and melodic variety of atmospheric metal. Orchestral style backing is applied for both the extreme and some of the less intense parts, and quirky, technical details is a recurring feature too. The vocals alternate between harsh, distorted vocals and clean, clear and melodic singing, with the former mainly being restricted to the extreme metal parts and the latter mainly restricted to the passages that doesn’t venture into the most extreme passages here. Progressive death metal is apparently a thing, and those who tend to enjoy music defined in that manner can safely add this album to their list of music to get more familiar with.” – Progressor (Impending Doom 2022)

[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]

Band: Born Divided
Album Title: Chronicle of a Shipwreck
Release Date: October 24, 2025
Label: Self-Release

Track Listing:
1. Everything Comes to an End – 5:09
2.  Chronicle of a Shipwreck – 4:10
3. Illusion Factories – 7:38
4. The Dead Inside Ourselves – 5:54
5. Run, Burn, Die! – 7:52
6. Subterranean Corridors – 4:48
7. Anxiety – 7:57
Album Length: 43:31

Album Credits:
– All songs performed by: Born Divided
– All songs written by Tommy Demers and Michael Beaudoin
– Produced by: Born Divided
– Mixed Mastered: Chris Donaldson
– Album Artwork: *********
– SOCAN Members
– Canadian Content MAPL

Album Line-up and Live band
Tommy Demers – Bass
Fred Bedard – Guitar
Michael Beaudoin – Guitar
Maxim Lévesque – Vocal
Lucas Biron – Drums

===============================================

About The Album Artwork:

The concept behind the artwork of Chronicle of a Shipwreck is as follows: the ship sailing through a raging sea with torn sails represents the broken human being… humanity losing itself in life, in time.

About the album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

This album delivers fast, heavy riffs that are as catchy as they are complex. The vocals range from brutal screams to epic clean passages, offering a dynamic contrast that hits hard. Atmospheric orchestration adds depth to each track, while the guitar melodies strike with a hook-laden heaviness that keeps the energy surging throughout.

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY)

1. Everything Comes to an End kicks off the album with an epic and catchy fusion of sound. Intense clean vocals take center stage, including a standout performance by Tommy Demers that evokes the emotional depth of Opeth. The track builds towards a breathtaking finale, where rapid melodic guitar picking collides with relentless drum blast beats—delivering a cinematic and explosive finish. It paints a vivid picture of that opening track as both emotionally rich and musically complex. If you’re crafting a full album overview, I’d love to help string these pieces together into one cohesive narrative that really sells the artistic journey. Let me know how deep you want to go!

2. Chronicle of a Shipwreck dives into a much darker atmosphere. The influence of Black Metal is unmistakable, adding a raw and haunting edge to the song. The chorus stands out as one of the most epic on the album, showcasing Maxim’s impressive vocal power and emotional depth. After that, the song erupts into a chaotic riff section, only to circle back to a triumphant reprise of the chorus—leaving listeners with a sense of devastation and glory intertwined.

3. The Illusion Factories draws on a wide array of influences, blending Death Metal, Power Metal, and Progressive Metal into a single cohesive force. It’s a longer piece that evolves steadily, layer by layer, leading to an epic crescendo that delivers both emotional and sonic intensity.

4. The Dead Inside Ourselves is an unapologetic, in-your-face powerhouse. It unleashes raw, stripped-down guitar riffs—no frills, just pure aggression. The bridge channels a dark, symphonic intensity reminiscent of Cradle of Filth, before catapulting into an epic finale. Maxim’s clean vocals soar with haunting clarity, closing the track on a moment both powerful and unforgettable.

5. Run Burn Die” is the wildest track on the album—a true sonic eruption. Riff after riff layers and collides, building toward an unforgettable climax. It’s a progressive masterpiece that weaves together melodic Death Metal, Black Metal, and epic orchestration. With its unpredictable structure and dramatic flair, this is a track that demands multiple listens to fully absorb its depth and fury.

6. Subterranean Corridors” is a high-energy, hook-laden track with an infectious chorus that sticks with you. The guitar rhythms are built for the mosh pit—driving, heavy, and impossible to resist. It’s a song that explodes live and gets bodies moving.

7. Anxiety” brings the album to a haunting close, with a dark and complex atmosphere that navigates through multiple shades of metal. From brooding passages to intense surges, the track embodies emotional chaos and sonic depth. It all leads to an epic Black Metal finale—ferocious and unrelenting—that drags you deep into the shadows and leaves you lingering in the abyss.

L-R – Michael Beaudoin – Guitar, Fred Bedard – Guitar, Maxim Levesque – Vocals, Lucas Biron – Drums, Tommy Demers – Bass

Photo Credit – Paul Giacomo

 

 

Born Divided is a melodic death metal band hailing from Québec, Canada. Composed of five seasoned musicians—including three former members of Blinded by Faith (Tommy Demers on bass, Michaël Beaudoin and Fred Bédard on guitars), along with Lucas Biron on drums and Maxim Levesque on vocals—the band delivers a powerful and richly orchestrated sound. Their debut album, Impending Doom, released in October 2022, showcased a dynamic range of seven tracks marked by precision and intensity. Following their 2022 video Human Masquerade, Born Divided returns in October 2025 with Chronicle of a Shipwreck, a new album mixed and mastered by Chris Donaldson of Cryptopsy, diving deeper into their signature style. The release is accompanied by the haunting new video Everything Comes to an End.

Discography:
2022: Impending Doom – LP
2025: Chronicle of a Shipwreck – LP

0 Groove, Sludge, and Fury ANCIENT THRONES Drop “A Turning Point” Guitar Playthrough Off New Album “Melancholia” Out Sept 2025

  • September 4, 2025
  • by Asher
  • · Ancient Thrones · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – September 4, 2025

Groove, Sludge, and Fury ANCIENT THRONES Drop “A Turning Point” Guitar Playthrough Off New Album “Melancholia” Out Sept 2025

+ Launch Vinyl Pre-Order

Ancient Thrones Current Line Up

Top L-R: Dylan Wallace (Guitar) | Nick Leslie (Guitar)

Bottom L-R: Matt LeBlanc (Bass) | Sean Hickey (Drums & Vocals)

Photo Credit – Matt Leblanc

Halifax, Canada’s Ancient Thrones has dropped a blistering guitar playthrough for their latest single “A Turning Point,” offering fans a visceral preview of their forthcoming full-length album, “Melancholia,” out on September 19th, 2025 (Vinyl and Digital). The track marks a sonic shift for the band, trading speed for sludge, groove, and emotional weight as they continue to evolve their progressive and existential sound.
​​
“A turning point is exactly that; a complete shift from speed into a groove-focused, more sludge-influenced sound, with twists and turns as our character in the story sinks his feet into the muddy path ahead, going deeper into the trip. Originally, this song was meant to be a bit more straightforward rhythmically, until Sean flipped the drum part to channel influences like Brann Dailor on Mastodon’s “Leviathan’, big energy and lots of fills. Featuring a ground-shaking bass performance by Matt LeBlanc and ending with a standout finger-bleeding solo from Dylan Wallace, the song offers something to satisfy all metal fans,” 
adds the band.

Watch and listen to the playthrough for “A Turning Point” via its premiere on Metal Insider HERE.

Formed in 2011 and rebranded in 2018, Ancient Thrones carved out a new identity rooted in fast, extreme, progressive, cinematic, and existential soundscapes. With “Melancholia”, the band introduces a 42-minute descent into existential exhaustion, delivering an unapologetic extreme metal concept album that fuses blistering speed, cinematic storytelling, and emotional brutality.

From the chaotic opener “A Moon Fused Key” to the doom-laden closer “Vacant,” the band exposes raw intensity and jagged vulnerability. The narrative follows a colorblind protagonist navigating hallucinogenic visions in search of meaning, an unsettling journey through idealism, dread, and transformation. After five years of creation, Ancient Thrones proudly bring to light this new chapter, inviting listeners to embrace the chaos and feel something truly unnatural.

“For this album, a big focus for us was on the production. We meticulously, painstakingly spent several hours dialing every tone, note, layer, vocal, etc. We were fortunate to have time and a slower world on our side during production. Everything on this album was thought out and brought to life in a fully fleshed-out way. It took us 5 years to make this album, with 1 of those years used just levelling up our musicianship and techniques in order to play the material. We’re faster, more technical, and have a singular focus to make sure this album was beating you down from head to toe,” says Leblanc.

Drawing inspiration from the chaotic precision of The Red Chord and The Faceless, the poetic intensity of Deafheaven, and the breakneck technicality of Archspire, Ancient Thrones forges a sound that’s ferocious and relentlessly extreme. “Melancholia” marks their most ambitious leap yet—each note sharpened and sculpted over five years of obsessive writing and sonic refinement.

Album pre-order (Vinyl, Digital) (out Sept 19th, 2025) – https://ancientthrones.bandcamp.com​

Lyric Video – “A Moon Fused Key” – https://youtu.be/IfDBNhlJ0sI​

Music Video – “Melancholia” – https://youtu.be/_LvSTJ78kd8​

Track Listing:​
1. A Moon Fused Key (5:12)
2. Achromatopsia (1:19)
3. Melancholia (6:17)
4. A Turning Point (5:46)
5. A Pellucid Prism (4:26)
6. Sacred Swollen Glass (6:16)
7. Blight (2:18)
8. A Pale Palace (4:55)
9. Vacant (5:31)
Album Length: 42:00

Band Lineup:​
Dylan Wallace – Guitar
Nick Leslie – Guitar
Matt LeBlanc – Bass
Sean Hickey – Drums & Vocals

More info: Facebook.com/Ancientthrones | Instagram.com/ancientthrones​

-30-

“The music is indeed violent, and immediately so, exploding in a blast of turbulent riffing, heavily undulating bass tones, and furious beats. The guitars wildly writhe and rapidly spear off in crazed angles, kaleidoscopic in effect, and the words spit forth in caustic screams that are equally deranged. Dissonant and dismal tones intrude, along with guttural roars, blast-beat outbursts, and pulverizing blows, and the riffing also seems to swarm in agony, adding further dimensions of darkness to the song’s overarching manifestation of delirium. Backed by a pulse-pounding and highly headbangable groove, the song also introduces yet another dimension, an eerie guitar solo that slowly slithers, brightly swirls, and evolves into an entrancing harmony, very much like a beckoning and seductive presence that manifests within the mayhem.” – No Clean Singing (single – A Moon Fused Key – 2025)

What the press has said about 2020’s “The Veil”:

“A full-throttle attack, the song (The Sight of Oblivion) delivers bludgeoning rhythms, vicious darting and slashing guitar-work, scorching blackened shrieks, and cold-hearted roars. There’s a brazen, borderline-unhinged quality to the barrage, generated by screaming, rapidly whirling leads, magma-like bass notes, and fast-changing, bone-cracking drums. But within the assault there are also fluid, sinuous melodic leads whose mellifluous, reverberating tones give the music a mysterious, mesmerizing, and mournful quality. And near the end one of those leads morphs into a fret-burning dual-guitar extravaganza that really gets the blood rushing.” – No Clean Singing (2020 – The Veil)

“Nearly an hour in length, The Veil earns that run-time with crisply-written compositions and an arsenal of sky-ripping riffs. The acoustic reprieve of “Sentient” and melodic grief of “Permanent” reveal the album’s heavy heart. But the album conjures strength from those pensive moments. Rife with nimble axe-work from Dylan Wallace and Nick Leslie, The Veil never succumbs to the solemnity of its subject. The Veil remains an impactful listen down to its final dying note.” – Decibel Magazine (2020 – The Veil)

“Trailer Park Boys and Hobo With a Shotgun aren’t the only pieces of media that have emerged from Nova Scotia that you should get excited over.” – MetalSucks

“From the massive tremolo sections and bludgeoning riffs to the surprisingly melodic harmonies between guitarists Dylan Wallace and Nick Leslie, Ancient Thrones have definitely honed in on something special with this track.” – GearGods

“From earth crushing riffs and face-melting guitar solos to the overarching theme of grief and devastation that the record encompasses, this single really ramps up the intensity” – Bravewords

“Canadian band Ancient Thrones perform a combination of black, death and thrash metal with some progressive tendencies on The Veil. They have similarities to Skeletonwitch, but have an even more dynamic sound. The songs are both aggressive and intelligent in equal measure and run through a variety of different emotional tangents. There is a vile and harsh aspect to the band, but there is also a forward thinking one. It all results in a creative and dynamic listen.” – Heavy Music Headquarters (2020 – The Veil)

“The prize for most ambitious album of 2020 already has the name of Ancient Thrones carved in marble. Who among you fancies a 56-minute blackened death metal saga with an epic meditation on one man’s descent into the afterlife? No band thought it conceivable to write the metal version of Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal, but this Nova Scotia quartet are not just any band. This is a remarkable journey for the contemplative mind.” – Scream Blast Repeat (2020 – The Veil)
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​“The Sight of Oblivion and The Millionth Grave are steeped in ferociousness and savagery as only a band well versed in blackened death metal are capable of producing.8.5/10” – Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life (2020 – The Veil)

“With this new incarnation, Ancient Thrones has moved into strict Black/Death territory, producing an album filled with pummeling riffs, intricate song structures, and technical musicianship that’s leavened by atmospheric segments and epic, sometimes audacious melodies that border on Cascadian. The production matches this style perfectly, being heavy and abrasive while allowing the songs enough room to stretch out… fans of more epic and melodic Black/Death will want to give The Veil a listen. 4/5” – The Metal Crypt (2020 – The Veil)

“It is fast, thrashing extreme metal with shrieked/growled vocals, and a headbanging attitude. They have elements of thrash, black and death but their method of delivery won’t confuse anyone. It is metal to make the fans move. It is pretty thrashy, pretty brutal but also melodic, and the guitar work has plenty to offer both in the riffs and the melodies.” – Metal Bulletin (2020 – The Veil)

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0 Streaming Now! Quebec’s UNPUNISHED’s New EP Is An Aggressive Lesson In The “Echoes of History”

  • September 4, 2025
  • by Asher
  • · Music News · Unpunished

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – September 4, 2025

Streaming Now! Quebec’s UNPUNISHED’s New EP Gives You An Aggressive Lesson In “Echoes of History”

Quebec Tour Dates (Quebec City, Trois-Rivieres, Montreal)

L-R – Pierre-Luc Defoy (Guitar, Back Vocals), Jean-Christophe Magnan (Vocals), Alex Brochu-Meloche (Bass, Back Vocals), Justin Lefebvre (Drums), Dean Pavicic (Guitar)

Photo Credit – Julien Bouffard

Circle pitting the Quebec City metal scene and becoming a leading tour de force, Unpunished unleashes an aggressive metalcore lesson with their new EP “Echoes of History,” dropping this Friday, September 5th, 2025. Before its official release, the quintet has teamed up with Bravewords for a full stream premiere HERE.

“Echoes of History,” our second EP, took over two years to create, shaped by personal challenges and creative differences. With diverse musical influences, we struggled to agree on direction—but that tension gave rise to a unique sound. Unpunished aims to avoid formulaic songwriting, crafting each track to evoke distinct moods and emotions. The EP blends 2000s metalcore roots, melodeath-inspired riffs, and vocals ranging from melodic to deathcore breakdowns,” adds vocalist Jean-Christophe Magnan.

Produced by Unpunished drummer Justin Lefebvre, “Echoes of History” is a powerful and emotionally charged five-track EP that explores humanity’s recurring failures and inner turmoil. Inspired by the Ouroboros and an almost-empty hourglass, the artwork symbolizes the urgent warning that time is running out as we repeat the same destructive patterns. Musically, the EP blends metalcore, melodic death metal, and deathcore, delivering intense riffs, melodic solos, and relentless energy. Lyrically, it dives into themes of betrayal, societal collapse, regret, genocide, and vengeance, each track offering a distinct emotional journey that reflects both personal and collective battles.

Recommended for fans of As I Lay Dying, The Black Dahlia Murder, Trivium, Parkway Drive, and Bleed From Within, Unpunished‘s “Echoes of History” is available for pre-order at https://unpunished.bandcamp.com.

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/2V8YKy50wVSJ6e5B9SPwrx​

Music Video – “Shattered in Disarray” – https://youtu.be/Yr5pD6tPuas​

Lyric Video – “Burn the Traitors” ft. Alex Leblanc (ex-Fracturus, ex-Neuraxis, ex-Mass Murder Messiah) – https://youtu.be/uJO4s8QDxng​

“As Water Fills My Lungs” – https://youtu.be/HvyJu1Mo3uk​

In additional news, Unpunished will be performing a series of show dates in the province of Quebec, listed below. Fans can anticipate a tight, high-energy live performance, with a dynamic setlist that mirrors the EP’s emotional and musical range.

Unpunished – Echoes of History EP Launch Tour w/ Concessions, Deadwood, In Disarray, Observants, Terror Symphony:

Sept 20 – Quebec City, QC – L’Anti Bar – info​

Sept 27 – Trois Rivieres, QC – Taverne Royale – info​

Oct 10 – Montreal, QC – Piranha Bar – info​

Track Listing:​
1. As Water Fills My Lungs – 4:49
2. Plague of Our Race – 4:39
3. Shattered in Disarray – 5:06
4. Echoes of History – 4:52
5. Burn the Traitors ft. Alex Leblanc – 4:38
EP Length: 24:06

Recording Credits:​
• All songs performed by: Unpunished
• All songs written by: Unpunished
• Produced, mixed, and mastered by: Justin Lefebvre
• Album Artwork by: I And I Art
• Member of SOCAN
• Canadian Content (MAPL)

EP Recording and Live Line Up:​
Jean-Christophe Magnan (vocals)
Justin Lefebvre (drums)
Alex Brochu-Meloche (bass, back vocals)
Pierre-Luc Defoy (guitar, backing vocals)
Dean Pavicic (guitar)

More info: Facebook.com/Unpunishedband | Instagram.com/unpunished_band​

-30-

“UNPUNISHED has the aggression side of the music just right, which does help with the kind of music that the band is playing on “Echoes of History”. Plus, they know how to display it to us as listeners in a way that you can’t but help be impressed by what you hear. Even if you are not a fan of any kind of music which ends in core you will find that the 24:08 minutes of music also gives you a real Death and Thrash Metal vibe to keep you interested. And that is just what the doctor ordered, making the boundaries vague and unclear, providing the listener with enough points that will have them think towards their own likes. As for me, when I listen to a song like “Shattered in Disarray” it makes me think back to the time when IN FLAMES had their logo with a clear print. There are a few similarities.8/10” – Metal Temple

“UNPUNISHED Ignites Metalcore Scene with New Single “Burn the Traitors”… “Burn the Traitors” showcases guest vocalist Alex Leblanc, enhancing the track with his formidable experience. UNPUNISHED describes this single as their most brutal offering yet, leaning heavily into melodic death metal territory, devoid of clean vocals. The relentless intensity is punctuated by a captivating, melodic chorus and a strategically paced guitar solo, offering listeners a brief respite before plunging into the explosive climax.” – See Rock Live

“Le groupe de metalcore qui contient des sonorités de deathcore et death metal, Unpunished, a dévoilé une couleur plus agressive avec son nouvel extrait ¨Burn The Traitors¨, titre qui est collaboré au niveau vocal par Alex Leblanc de Fracturus (Ancien Mass Murder Messiah / Neuraxis).” – Grizzly Media

“It’s all this musical baggage that Alex Leblanc (Fracturus, ex-Mass Murder Messiah, ex-Neuraxis) brings to this new song UNPUNISHED. As a collaborator, of course, but he allows us to give another dimension to their sound which leans more towards melodic death this time. The intensity of the song growl from Jean-Christophe Magnan takes up much more space and gives new weapons to UNPUNISHED. At times we feel like we have a mix between Amon Amarth, Soilwork and Killswitch Engage. To discover!” – Metal Universe (2023 – Burn the Traitors – single)

“Unpunished comes to us with an EP that will please fans of metalcore from the good years combined with the more modern melodic side. The vocal playing between clear and « growl » is effective, especially on the title track « Shadows And Dust ». The guitar riffs are eye-catching and that’s one of the things that introduced me to metalcore in the mid-2000s, and we’re well served with this EP. They knew how to bring their personal touch to their influences, and that is what makes « Shadows And Dust» so effective.” – Metal Universe (2022 – Shadows and Dust EP)

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0 Witness Technical Fury with Canadian Death Metal HARVESTED’s Drum Playthrough “Unanchored” Off New Album “Dysthymia” Out Now!

  • September 3, 2025
  • by Asher
  • · Harvested · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – September 3, 2025

Witness Technical Fury with Canadian Death Metal HARVESTED’s Drum Playthrough “Unanchored” Off New Album “Dysthymia” Out Now!

Album Line-up: (L-R) – Jacob Collins – Drums, Vitto Oh – Guitars, Mitchi Dimitriadis – Guitars, Adam Semler – Vocals, Eric Forget – Bass

Photographer Credit: Kristen Semler

Unleashing their latest death metal opus “Dysthymia” this past August, Ottawa, Canada’s Harvested are sharing their latest drum fury with a new playthrough for their track “Unanchored”. One of the more brutal tracks on this album, it contains influences from deathcore but is molded into a death metal song. You’ll find a mix of fast and aggressive riffs to heavy breakdowns. The song touches on the greed and gluttony of the human experience, essentially abusing the earth as long as it serves them.

Watch the drum playthrough for “Unanchored” from Jacob Collins via its premiere on Technical Music Review HERE.

Unleashing their first full-length, “Dysthymia,” the band delivers nine relentless tracks of extreme metal that fuse intricate musicianship with unyielding heaviness. Centered around themes of mental illness, the album weaves a unified narrative across its 31-minute span, with each song delving into distinct facets of psychological turmoil through a lens of raw sonic aggression. This release marks a clear evolution from their debut, retaining the ferocity while introducing a deeper, more introspective edge.

“This record marks a significant step forward in our sound, pushing beyond what we introduced with our 2022 EP. It’s a more complete showcase of our musical capabilities, tighter, heavier, and more refined. We’ve stayed true to the lyrical themes, confronting the harsh realities of mental illness, but this time with less reliance on gratuitous gore and more focus on psychological depth. From production to songwriting, everything’s been elevated. Dysthymia is the embodiment of what Harvested stands for: raw, aggressive, and unapologetically intense. The riffs are designed to grab you and not let go, and lyrically, we’ve kept the brutality intact, just sharpened it with a more cerebral edge.” – Harvested

Recommended for fans of Cattle Decapitation, Decapitated, and Cannibal Corpse, Harvested‘s “Dysthymia” is available at the following links:

Album Stream – YouTube – https://youtu.be/ni9XelZ6zHE​

Spotify – https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/harvested1/dysthymia​

Album order (released August 1st) – https://harvested.bandcamp.com​

Music Video “Harvested” – https://youtu.be/geF_C-Qn_7s​

Lyric Video “The Infestation” – https://youtu.be/XwQ1bs7NdZw​

Playthrough “Synaptic Confusion” – https://youtu.be/HzvwY-r_NMg​

Track Listing:​
1. Harvested (3:28)
2. Repressed Neurosis (3:32)
3. Unending Madness (3:21)
4. Synaptic Confusion (3:30)
5. Designed Dilemma (3:18)
6. Gathered and Deluded (3:00)
7. Voices of the Void (3:16)
8. Unanchored (3:51)
9. The Infestation (4:36)
Album Length: 31:55

Album Credits:​
Artwork by: CJ Bertram
All songs written and produced by: Harvested
Mixed and Mastered by: (Joe Lyko) Darkmoon Productions

Album Band Lineup:​
Adam Semler – Vocals
Mitchi Dimitriadis – Guitars
Vitto Oh – Guitars
Eric Forget – Bass
Jacob Collins – Drums

Live Band Lineup:​
Adam Semler – Vocals
Mitchi Dimitriadis – Guitars
Vitto Oh – Guitars
Eric Forget – Bass
Nick Rodgers – Drums

More info: Facebook.com/harvested666 | Instagram.com/harvestedband​

– 30 –

“Canadian death metal band Harvested announce their new album Dysthymia, out August 1. The record will be their first release since their 2022 demo and blends technical, brutal and old-school death metal into a sound all their own.” – Decibel Magazine
​
“Your muscles are about to reflexively twitch, your head is about to hammer, your pulse is about to accelerate. Audio worms will slither into your ear canals and take up residence there. Some of your cranial neurons may start spinning, creating visions of fast devils and hulking monsters. Those are our predictions of what will happen when you see and hear the playthrough video we’re premiering for the song “Synaptic Confusion” by the Ottawa-based death metal band Harvested. It’s an excellent way to rev up your own motor as Harvested rev up theirs.” – No Clean Singing
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​“Dysthymia is an impressive first full-length effort for Harvested. It’s absolutely brutal and groovy in it’s more ’90s death metal approach, but they give it a modern coating of paint that makes it feel more relevant and weaves in some intricacy for the tech-fiends without losing sight that it’s still an aggressive death metal album. There’s something for pretty much anyone who likes extreme music here. A very promising future for these guys.” – Dead Rhetoric​
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​“Lyrically poignant, brutally heavy, and bursting with engagingly twisted, hook-filled instrumentation, Dysthymia is a helluva debut, and one Harvested should be proud of. As poetically as I have waxed, I still believe there’s room for Harvested to grow. God help those who might lay their ears on a sophomore effort from this line-up, should they remain intact. Rest assured, I’ll definitely be watching and waiting. For now, however, I wholeheartedly recommend you spend some long-lasting, quality time with Dysthymia.” – Angry Metal Guy​
​
​“If you had the chance to see their video of ‘Harvested’ before the album release, you would be able to see how brutal and technical they sound. Harvested knows how to hit you like a punch in your chest, from their first riffs. By the way, riffs are something that you won’t miss here. Mitchi Dimitriadis and Vitto Oh are responsible machine-gun-like guitar picks. The drum sound also hits you with all blasts, and thankfully it’s not that digitalized soulless recording style that a lot of bands fall into now. It carries good organic production qualities, in good measure. My honourable congratulations also go to all the effort the bassist Eric Forget has made to keep his bass present among all the heaviness of the other instruments, and through the complexity of playing his own parts. The vocalist Adam Semler completes the team with good vocal lines… As always, Heavy Metal Canadian bands never disappoint us! And Harvested is one more band to honour its Heavy Metal scene with this incredible album, “Dysthymia”.8.5/10” – Ever -Metal​
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​“If you’re into relentless death metal in the vein of CANNIBAL CORPSE and DYING FETUS, HARVESTED from Ontario could be your favorite new band. These guys have churned forth a classic of brutality with “Dysthymia”. The sound is just as clear and professional as those bands and HARVESTED deal crushing riffs and transitions with appalling intensity. One of the best things about this album, which separates it from a lot of “brutal” efforts, is that the songs are easily distinguishable and don’t melt together in a faceless mush.” – Wormwood Chronicles​
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​“Following a demo released in 2022, Dysthymia represents a true validation of the potential of this group from Ottawa (Ontario, Canada), which deserves special attention. Combining brutal death metal with ‘old school’ influences, the quartet brilliantly demonstrates that their music will resonate with crowds during their concerts… With titles like ‘Repressed Neurosis’, ‘Unending Madness’, ‘Designed Dilemma’, ‘Gathered And Deluded’, ‘Unanchored’, or ‘The Infestation’, Harvested sets the tone! The album was produced by the band itself with mixing and mastering by Joe Lyko of Darkmoon Productions, achieving a modern sound that remains rooted in the fundamental elements of death metal.” – Metallian​
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​“Harvested Delivers 50 Shades of Vicious on ‘Dysthymia’… Dysthymia is one of the year’s best metal records.”-The Rock Father​
​
​“If you like brutal death metal with technical elements, this is a great album.” – ZwareMetalen​
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​“HARVESTED deliver flawless death metal with technical sophistication, powerful riffs, gripping vocals and brutal energy.” – MetalUnderground.at​
​
​“Harvested channel the struggles of mental illness within the seedy confines of death metal on their debut album, Dysthymia. The group doesn’t skimp on the gorier details, like the depictions of torture on opener “Harvested,” but much of the lyrical prose isn’t that graphic. It takes the views of mental illness from not only a personal perspective, but globally as well. Their death metal has nods to the classics like Cannibal Corpse and Suffocation, while adding a bit of technical bounce as they do on “Designed Dilemma.” Harvested does well with capturing the genre from every corner. Speed freaks will love “Gathered And Deluded,” those with some head banging in their hearts will get down to “Unending Madness” and “The Infestation” ends Dysthymia with a stark message.” – Heavy Music Headquarters​
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​“After knocking the first three tracks out of the park like a home run into the stratosphere, “Synaptic Confusion” goes harder and faster during an opening onslaught second to none before getting menacing and sinister with a slower churn and burn. A violent delight with a catchy hook and a scream-a-long lyrical narrative in the chorus, its the kind of blunt force trauma that everyone can enjoy without a visit to the hospital. Maintaining the quality levels of both musicianship and song writing throughout the record seems like an impossibility of reason and yet its probably why this record took three years to complete because “Designed Dilemma” is another absolute beast. It’s like the band have taken your favourite Death Groove Thrash cut and adrenalized it by mainlining caffeine until their eyes pop out on stalks. The energy levels are as ridiculous as the poise and precision as the band conjure a Technical Death Metal tune of the highest order.” – Metal Noise

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0 Canadian Instrumental Prog Metal PHAETON Unveils First Single “Tethys Rising” From Third Album “Neurogenesis” Out Oct 2025

  • September 3, 2025
  • by Asher
  • · Music News · Phaeton

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – September 3, 2025

Canadian Instrumental Prog Metal PHAETON Unveils First Single “Tethys Rising” From Third Album “Neurogenesis” Out Oct 2025

ft. Album Guest Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Planet X, Sons of Apollo)

Front (L-R): Kevin Thiessen (Guitars, Keyboards), Ferdy Belland (Bass), Daniel Airth (Guitars), Back: Colin Righton (Drums)

Photo Credit – Scott Courtemanche

Canadian instrumental progressive metal quartet Phaeton returns with their third full-length album, “Neurogenesis”, out on October 24th, 2025, via INB Music, along with it being made available on vinyl at a later date this year. The record is a tightly wound, interstellar journey through melody, muscle, and mind-expanding musicality. With no vocals, no limits, Phaeton lets their instruments do the talking, creating emotional landscapes without a single lyric.

The album’s title refers to the birth of new neural pathways, fitting for a band that thrives on cerebral complexity and visceral impact. “Neurogenesis” builds on the foundation laid by their previous releases, “Self-Titled” (2018) and “Between Two Worlds” (2023), but sharpens the focus with more concise compositions that never sacrifice imagination. Each track is a self-contained universe, yet together they form a cohesive anthology of sonic exploration. Fans will also be delighted to hear that keyboard wizard Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Planet X, Sons of Apollo) guests on the track “Isochron”.​
​
The album artwork, created by Calgary visual artist Matt Semenok, features a suspended human brain infused with bioelectricity and cybernetic implants, a chilling nod to the accelerating march of technology and the psychological lag it leaves behind. Think H.R. Giger meets Bill Sienkiewicz in a dystopian dreamscape.

Today, the band unveils the first single, “Tethys Rising,” which was written by bassist Ferdy Belland. It is a triumphant, high-energy track inspired by the astronomy art of Chesley Bonestell and Belland’s own dream of setting foot on Saturn’s moon.

The band comments:

“This was the first complete song that Ferdy wrote for us. He’s big into astronomy, and he loves the retro sci-fi art of Chesley Bonestell, who illustrated this classic image of Saturn as viewed from the surface of its moon Tethys. So he comes up right out of the blue with this tune with all these busier-than-hell riffs. He was nervous at first about submitting his own stuff, since he wanted what he presented to us to be as strong as the songs Kevin and Daniel normally write, but we were encouraging, and “Tethys Rising” certainly matches up in power and quality to anything we’ve written. Ferdy wants to be the first human astronaut on Tethys, for real, but in the meantime, he can celebrate it in song.”

Watch and listen to “Tethys Rising” via its premiere on TheProgSpace HERE.

Formed from a fusion of four seasoned musicians, Colin Righton, Daniel Airth, Kevin Thiessen, and Ferdy Belland, Phaeton was born from a hunch and a history. Righton had played with each member in separate bands and sensed that combining their talents would spark something extraordinary. Nearly a decade later, that spark has become a supernova.

From Devin Townsend and Rush to Meshuggah and Gojira, Phaeton blends prog, tech-death, thrash, and djent into a kaleidoscope of sound.
​
Beyond “Neurogenesis”, fans can look forward to the 22-minute epic “Clouds of Mercury” slated for release as a standalone EP in 2026, and the band’s fourth album “Quartum” expected in 2027. With new material already brewing, Phaeton shows no signs of slowing its cosmic ascent.

“Neurogenesis” – album pre-order (out Oct 24th) – https://phaetonband.bandcamp.com/

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5F6RHipUtHpTXxrlABsHth​

Track Listing:​
1. Tethys Rising (6:25)
2. Discontinuum (6:37)
3. Isochron (4:12) ft. Derek Sherinian
4. Synethesia (6:24)
5. Arachnid (4:48)
6. Augmented (4:37)
7. Neurogenesis (6:16)
Album Length: 39:19

Band Lineup:​
– Colin Righton: Drums & Percussion
– Daniel Airth: Lead & Rhythm Guitars
– Kevin Thiessen: Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Keyboards
– Ferdy Belland: Electric Bass

For more info: https://linktr.ee/phaetonofficial​​

– 30 –

“A”An instrumental quartet from Kimberley, British Columbia, Phaeton are skillfully blurring the boundaries between old- and new-school prog metal. Their second album, Between Two Worlds, covers a vast amount of ground, from intricate post-djent riffing, to indulgent prog pomp, and no single outstays its welcome. The nine-minute title track is a particularly impressive display of showboating and smart songwriting.” – Prog Mag – Dom Lawson (Between Two Worlds – 2023)

It’s Prog Mag’s brand new Tracks Of The Week! (April 21, 2023) – “Hailing from Columbia, Canada’s Phaeton are an interplanetary instrumental heavy prog metal quartet and as their name suggests, they are fascinated with astronomy, and the idea of life itself, in all its beauty and wonder and majesty, emerging from an instant of catastrophic cosmic violence. The epic Between Two Worlds is the title track of the band’s latest album.” (Between Two Worlds – 2023)

“Top-tier instrumental prog-metal-math music from the East Kootenay region performed by a quartet of veteran musicians.” – Stuart Derdeyn (The Vancouver Sun) (Between Two Worlds – 2023)

“Phaeton are relatively unknown, especially compared to the above mentioned bands (scale The Summit, Animals as Leaders), but they definitely hold their own on Between Two Worlds. All members absolutely kill it on their instruments, the songs are wonderfully arranged and produced, and there’s plenty of variety here to hold our attention. Instrumental prog might be a little talked about genre, but Phaeton belong in the conversation.” – Heavy Music Headquarters (Between Two Worlds – 2023)

“…a killer album indeed, wonderfully arranged and produced; a superb prog metal opus where the music almost makes you dizzy, but most of all longing for more indeed. “Between Two Worlds” to me is one of the absolute highlights of this year, a unique twist and rollercoaster of progressive, instrumental metal, highly recommended indeed: especially suitable for fans of Rush, Dream Theater and Liquid Tension Experiment. Play it LOUD and you will be hooked, listening tip: “Monsoon.”” – Rock United (Between Two Worlds – 2023)

“”Between Two World” was very competently arranged and recorded by PHAETON. Prog fans, who like sounds and virtuosity above all, will be well served with the disc.” – PowerMetal.de (Between Two Worlds – 2023)

“PHAETON releases an instrumental album in which the voice is not lacking; a nervous, boosted opus where the frank and limpid musicality makes you dizzy, where the notes invite you to travel in space to another dimension, where harmony is combined with controlled djent power; innovative music, on modern math metal-prog.” – Profil Prog (Between Two Worlds – 2023)

“If you’re open minded in your choice of Metal genres, you should feel free to let this instrumental work slip through your ears. It takes a little getting used to, so completely without singing. But if you get involved and listen carefully, one or the other will surely like something. The whole thing should appeal to fans of RUSH or DREAM THEATER.” – Hellfire Magazin (Between Two Worlds – 2023)

“The sound on all seven tracks is huge and if there was a “best sounding hammer-ons” award then March of the Synthetics could be a contender.” – Stuart Derdeyn (The Vancouver Sun) (Self-titled – 2018)

​
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0 One Man Band From Patrick Loisel (AUGURY) – MERFOLK Unveils Remastered EP “Demersal” with Haunting New Video “Mind Hive”

  • September 3, 2025
  • by Asher
  • · MERFOLK · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – September 3, 2025

One Man Band From Patrick Loisel (AUGURY) – MERFOLK Unveils Remastered EP “Demersal” with Haunting New Video “Mind Hive”

Solo artist builds puppets, plays every instrument, and dives into the abyss, literally!

The enigmatic solo project Merfolk, helmed by Patrick Loisel (Augury), returns with a remastered edition of the cult 2012 EP “Demersal,” accompanied by a surreal new music video for the track “Mind Hive.” Entirely conceived, performed, filmed, and edited by one man, known for his work with Augury, Kralized, and Foreshadow, Merfolk is a sonic and visual odyssey unlike anything else in the metal underground.
​
​“Mind Hive” is the third and final video from “Demersal,” a record that blends whistled melodies, vintage keyboards, and furious metal instrumentation into a ghoulish, genre-defying experience. The video, like its predecessors, features handcrafted puppets, practical effects, and a visual style that evokes the psychedelic climax of 2001: A Space Odyssey, all built and filmed solo in total darkness, often with props collapsing mid-shot.
​
​“I built the studio, the instruments, the puppets, about 50 of them, and filmed everything myself. It was easier than trying to coordinate with someone at 3 AM when inspiration strikes,” says Patrick Loisel, aka Merfolk.
​
​“Demersal” is a sonic dive into the abyss, inspired by supernatural aquatic phenomena, UFOs, and lost civilizations. The interlude “Doggerland” features a harp once owned by singer/historian Peter Pringle, while the EP’s eerie textures range from 70s manga soundtracks to black metal and free jazz. The remaster brings new clarity to its murky depths, while preserving the unsettling ambiance fans have come to love.
​
​Merfolk’s creator, an adopted child of Native ancestry, former physics teacher, patent historian, and lifelong ecologist, has overcome degenerative arthritis through physiotherapy and weight loss, and now channels his eclectic life into music that’s as furious as it is thoughtful.
​
​“Some people thought my drums were programmed. “I’m in my 50s, it’s not my main instrument, but I played every note,” adds Loisel.
​
The “Demersal” remaster is available now on all major platforms – https://artists.landr.com/990591563315​

Watch and listen to the video for “Mind Hive” at https://youtu.be/Cgv_x5EMJyA

​

Merfolk’s 2025 album “Sundaland” (released May 26th) promises even more ambitious storytelling, classical instrumentation, and psychedelic visuals, including a video filmed in the depths of Montreal’s Lachine Canal set for release in the coming weeks.

“Sundaland” available at https://artists.landr.com/990591564626​
​
For fans of Emperor, Mayhem, Hollenthon, Mercyful Fate, and the weirdest corners of 70s music, Merfolk offers a blastier blast and a spookier spook—no backup tracks, no compromises, just one man and his abyss.

More info: https://www.melogy.ca/merfolk | https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553443841461​

-30-

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0 EPK – Merfolk

  • September 3, 2025
  • by Asher
  • · EPKs · MERFOLK

EPK – Merfolk

For fans of Hollenthon, Arcturus, Akercocke, Emperor, Abigor

Melogy.ca/merfolk | Facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553443841461

Merfolk.bandcamp.com | Spotify

Digital – Sundaland (2025) – https://artists.landr.com/990591564626

Digital – Demersal (Remastered) – https://artists.landr.com/990591563315

Band: Merfolk
Album Title: Sundaland
Release Date: May 26, 2025
Album Length: 29:32
Track Listing:
1. The Plowing Sea – 3:04
2. Krasue Came Warning – 4:15
3. The Ghost Fleet – 6:59
4. Castaways – 6:05
5. Sundaland – 1:54
6. Time Warp – 2:49
7. MOUSEHUNT !!! – 4:22
Album Credits:
All words, vocal, music, arrangements, and performances by Patrick Loisel
Keyboards, violins, cellos, and contrabasses recorded in Laval-Ouest in 2023
Drums, guitars, bass, and vocals recorded in St-Henri (Montréal,) summer/fall 2024.
Mixed by Patrick Loisel in St-Henri, January and February 2025.
Mastered by Alain Londero in Laval, March 2025.
Booklet by Patrick Loisel & Jean-Rémi Marceau
Guitar: Merfolk 2018 ( Mini RR V in walnut with EMG pickup)
Bass: Merfolk 2023: Fretless 5 strings in purpleheart with Bond pickup.

=================================================

About The Album Artwork:

The album artwork is actually an old, cheap Aztec shield that my ex-wife bought in a Mexican market and gave me. I found it cool, and I also wanted people to react because Sundaland was in Asia, and that piece is from Mexico, so I wanted to see if anyone would notice.

About the album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

Sundaland is eclectic, and goes between Therion and Cryptopsy-like ambiance.

The concept is about an Atlantis-like cataclysm that sinks the land, but the people then mistook it for a sea monster, whom they try to appease with offerings (The Plowing Sea), which was a bit late since they were notified in advance by witches (Krasue came warning)

Krasues are ghosts that are basically a hovering head with entrails dangling underneath, and that’s METAL !!!

Parts of the population move to mainland Asia, the Americas (The Ghost Fleet), and some stay and try to retrieve artifacts from their sunken homes (Castaways).

While doing so, they encounter another civilization that the cataclysm had revealed (most of the clip).

The title track is a short instrumental, and the last two are bonus tracks. Time Warp is about the Alt-Right moral panics (that mimic similar 40 years ago) while MOUSEHUNT !!! It is total cartoonish delirium.

=====================================================

Band: Merfolk
EP Title: Demersal (Remastered)
Release Date: May 16, 2025 – Original EP – December 3, 2022

Track Listing:
1. Demersal – 5:49
2. Orbs Night Out – 7:00
3. Mind Hive – 4:40
4. Doggerland (Harp solo) – 2:55
5. Inner World (Inst..) – 4:59

EP Credits:
Recorded, mixed and mastered at Merfolk Studio, Laval,  2021 through 2022.
All compositions, performance and engineering by Patrick Loisel
except female vocals on ”Orbs Night Out” by Sylvie Régimbald and additional mastering by Antoine Baril.
Remastered by Patrick Loisel May 2025..
Strings instruments and recording facilities built by Patrick Loisel.
Mind Hive videoclip : Filmed by the same facilities in 2023.
all art, props and operations by Patrick Loisel.

===============================================

FUN FACT – STORY ANGLE :

1. What’s unique with Merfolk is that the whole chain of production up to the mastering / the T-shirt printing / the online clip diffusion, is only one person. Nearly all one-man bands I know about actually hire extra musicians and/or engineers.

Funny is that the most accomplished multi-instrumentalist that I know… plays in my band!!!

I also built the instruments used. I built the studio and about 50 puppets and props for the clips. For many, this was a stunt. For me, it was the easiest way to go.

It is sometimes hard to synchronize my creativity with other people and have someone available at 3 AM when inspiration strikes.

Everything was a first and an over-the-top challenge. Filming the clips = maneuvering several props and accessories in total darkness and having everything collapse on me.  I actually immersed myself in to film ‘’Castaways’’. Behold the Abyss of the Lachine Canal!

Because I am in my 50s, a bit of a novice, and it’s not my main instrument, some folks actually thought that my drums were programmed !!!

2. I am an adopted kid of Native ancestry. I was born with osteoarthritis problems and recently overcame degenerative arthritis… by losing 50 lbs + and doing a full year of physiotherapy.

-3. I started my public life at … 8, in 1978, by winning a literature contest, then as an ecologist. I also tried as a stand-up comic. I write historical and sociological articles, both on social media and on paper.

4. I am a former physics teacher and patent historian

-5. I like to surround myself with large numbers of exotic animals. I owned up to 300 tarantulas at once.

-Normalcy?

 

Emerging from the depths of imagination and the abyssal trenches of sonic experimentation, Merfolk is the solo brainchild of a Montreal-based multi-instrumentalist known for his work with Augury, Kralized, and Foreshadow. Conceived in name as far back as 1994, Merfolk is the culmination of over three decades of unfiltered musical ideas, too intricate, too peculiar, and too uncompromising to be diluted by collective consensus.

Eclectic, psychedelic, spooky, unusual, and furious, Merfolk’s sound defies genre and expectation. Drawing from post-black metal’s atmospheric extremity, the eerie elegance of symphonic arrangements, and the unpredictable textures of 70s experimental music, Merfolk crafts unsettling sonic narratives that feel like haunted transmissions from submerged civilizations.

Merfolk’s debut, Demersal, was built from whispered melodies, delayed whistling, and vintage keyboard fragments, later encased in metal instrumentation. Its ambiance drifted from 70s anime soundtracks to black metal and free jazz. The follow-up, Sundaland, dives deeper into organic classical textures—violin, cello, double bass, and piano, recorded with raw authenticity. The fretless bass, custom-built for Merfolk, and a shift to electronic drums mark a sonic evolution that remains murky yet meticulously crafted.

Merfolk’s lyrical universe is steeped in aquatic mythology, USOs (Unidentified Submerged Objects), and drowned continents like Sundaland. Inspired by the 1989 film The Abyss and ancient flood myths, the songs explore the idea that the ocean’s depths and underground waters are inhabited by sentient, forgotten beings. It’s a conceptual journey through submerged histories and spectral landscapes.

The music begins in the mind—sometimes surfacing as automatic compositions, other times as deliberate constructions. Tracks are sequenced to form a fluid narrative, with lyrics emerging organically from the ambiance. Collaborations happen internally, between disparate parts of the artist’s psyche.

Though Merfolk is a solo studio project, there’s growing interest in bringing its eerie grandeur to the stage. A live setup would feature a full band, two guitars, bass, keys/violin, and a silent stage built around electronic drums and modelers to preserve the spectral whistling and immersive soundscapes. No backing tracks. No shortcuts. Just raw, live ritual.

Fans of Emperor, Mayhem, Hollenthon, Mercyful Fate, and obscure 70s oddities will find familiar shadows in Merfolk’s music. But don’t expect imitation, Merfolk is a vessel for the blastier blasts and spookier spooks, unconcerned with genre purity and driven by a singular vision.

Discography:
2025 – Sundaland – LP
2022 – Demersal – EP
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