EPK – Medevil – Mirror in the Darkness (2023)
Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
“‘Mirror in the Darkness’ is our boldest step into different musical stylings than ever before. It is a very dark sounding album mood-wise, and can be described as ‘progressive power metal’ in most areas. Each song throughout sounds completely unique from each other, bringing out a new metal flavour unheard from the previous tracks. We also experimented with Drop-C tuning here on a couple songs, adding to the dark sound. While it is not a concept album, the lyrics throughout have consistent themes about heavy personal issues such as depression and negativity you feel in life.” – Medevil
For Fans of Metallica, Mastodon, Metal Church, Accept, Baroness
Band Name: Medevil
Album Title: Mirror in the Darkness
Releases: April 7th, 2023
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: CD Baby
Facebook.com/medevilband | Twitter.com/MedevilMusic | YouTube | Instagram.com/medevilofficial
Medevil.bandcamp.com | Apple Music | Spotify | Amazon Music
Album of the Year 2023 – Prog Power Metal Category – Metal Pedia
“At fifty six minutes in length, some listeners may be daunted by the sheer amount of Medevil they are being asked to absorb, but I can quite honestly say that there is not one second wasted here as the band deliver one of the most compelling, absorbing albums I’ve heard in quite some while. Congratulations to all involved.” – Sentinel Daily
#13 on The Top 20 of 2023 So Far: Readers Choice – Sentinel Daily
“Medevil – Pray For Me – Six great new prog tracks you really must listen to!” – Prog Mag (March 6, 2023)
“a heavy onslaught of aggressive and menacing metal with moments of progressive diversion and musical exploration.” – Metal Roos
“The band has expanded their approach from their debut, writing songs that are more complex and progressive. Tracks like “Dead Before Birth” are intense and bombastic, while songs such as “Pray For Me” are mellower and more expansive. There are a few shorter numbers, but Medevil prefer extended compositions, with several tracks in the 6 to 9 minute range. The Udo Dirkschneider-esque vocals may be polarizing, but the songs are engaging and the musicianship impressive.” – Heavy Music Headquarters
“There are more twists that catch you off guard here (Dead Before Birth), and is the perfect way to kick off “Mirror in the Darkness”. It’s probably their most complicated song rhythmically, and while they didn’t originally write this thinking it should be complex, it seemed to happen naturally with the riffs they were coming up with at the time. Somehow despite that complexity, it’s also extremely catchy.” – First Angel Media
“The sequel doesn’t disappoint in any way. The listening pleasure increases with every single track. Nothing is veiled (“Veiled”) here, the bandwidth of musical ability is lived out openly. Who or what to emphasize here is up to you. I recommend “Pray for Me”, “Weight of the Crown” and “Veiled” as check out tips. With the mirror of darkness you can see the direction: it’s going forward!! My rating is a full 10 Hellfire points.” – Hellfire Magazin
“Medevil has put their thinking caps on for this because there are some really interesting songs on this. There’s something for everyone on this so it will appeal universally to metalheads everywhere. Something is happening in Canada because this is about the tenth release I’ve reviewed, and they are all of high quality and pretty diverse. The question is – what will Medevil do next? They’re going to have to go some to top this. Score: 9/10” – My Global Mind
“Medevil’s overall sound is often interesting, like a weird mash-up of Metal Church and 90s prog-metal acts like Wicked Maraya. Cool ideas populate nearly every song and there are a collection of killer moments that hook the ear ” – Angry Metal Guy
“Overall, a heavy onslaught of aggressive and menacing metal with moments of progressive diversion and musical exploration.” – Metal Gods Tv
“Medevil have broadened their musical range on their second album. Mirror in the Darkness is ostensibly Progressive Metal, but if you take a closer look it offers an amazing musical depth. The album is recommended for friends of the hard riff as well as connoisseurs. 8.5/10” – Sound Magnet
“”Mirror In The Darkness” due to its catchy chorus was my favorite song from the start. It’s also great how skilfully the keyboards are used here. In general, the band put a lot of effort into the arrangements.” – PowerMetal.de
“”Medevil signs here a varied record. ‘Mirror In The Darkness’ starts from a thrash base to open up to progressive influences, and the result is very convincing.” ” – Music Waves
“The Canadian metallers MEDEVIL come up with an extravagant, independent style mix, which can be described as Power Prog Thrash or simply Progressive Power Metal, and present their second studio work “Mirror In The Darkness”. We can expect a balanced, varied mix of styles from Nevermore meets Dream Theater, from which strong songs such as the opener ‘Dead Before Birth’ and the great ‘Among Thieves’ emerge and to which the characteristic, Dirkschneider-esque vocals of front voice Liam Collingwood are added.” – Obliveon
““Dead Before Birth,” hits hard, a song that weaves through the contraptions of time and cascades into something more than being. A powerful turn of the screw.” – Median Man
“On the Canadian west coast, MEDEVIL gives its version of Heavy Metal by injecting a lot of modernity, while respecting a certain tradition that sounds very European. In a rather dark atmosphere, the combo reconnects with sounds reminiscent of Accept or Metal Church with a serious boost and some progressive elements. “Mirror Of The Darkness” is a deliberate, hard-hitting and well-conducted achievement… “Mirror In The Darkness” is vigorous, sometimes epic and above all full of surprises (“The Signal”).” – Rock n Force
“for those who appreciate epic heavy metal just as much as thrash metal and progressive metal, this album may come across as quite the nice little gem.” – Progressor
“The band deliver on every track, the album is brilliant. Do add it to your metal collection.” – Project Metal Music
“Perfectly situated to please fans of classic heavy metal, Conductor Of Storms is very strong debut from the young Medevil.” – The Monolith (2016)
“Rejoice metalheads! Chiliwackian power thrashers, Medevil, has created a top-notch debut full-length album entitled Conductor Of Storms”. – Bravewords (2016)
“Play it loud, play it fast as heavy metal world has found another new soldier to carry on the flag in the form of “Medevil”” – Planet Caravan (2016)
“Conductor of Storms is one of the most complete, fully-formed and damn near perfect debut albums I’ve ever heard from a young heavy metal band. Tracks like Escape – a blustering, no-holds-barred mashup of Metal Church, Megadeth and Overkill – are just so mature, so faultlessly executed and so, well, heavy metal, it beggars belief that they are not being delivered by a band that’s been in the game for thirty years.” – Sentinel Daily (2016)
“Riding out of the cold wastes of western Canada on warhorses of steel comes Medevil with their amazing, self-released debut album Conductor of Storms. Bruising Traditional Heavy Metal is what these guys play and they play it well. Monstrous riffs and pounding, organic drums underscore the powerful vocals and intricate solos. The band has a taste for things epic, so no love songs or cliché odes to the Metal lifestyle here.” – Metal Crypt (2016)
Band Name: Medevil
Album Title: Mirror in the Darkness
Releases: April 7th, 2023
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: CD Baby
Track Listing:
1. Dead Before Birth (6:18)
2. Among Thieves (5:00)
3. Pray for Me (6:35)
4. The Signal (7:22)
5. Smoke and Mirrors (1:48)
6. Weight of the Crown (4:18)
7. Mirror in the Darkness (8:31)
8. Gateways (2:41)
9. Veiled (3:56)
10. No Peace in Rest (9:23)
Album Length: 55:58
Album Credits:
All songs performed by Medevil
All songs written by Medevil, except:
The Signal, Mirror in the Darkness & No Peace in Rest written by Medevil & Ken Schellenberg
Smoke and Mirrors written by Ken Schellenberg
Orchestra on Tracks 4, 5, 7 & 10 Arranged and Recorded by Ken Schellenberg
Produced & Mixed by Brett Gibbs & Eric Wesa
Mastered by Jeff Black (Blacknote Music)
http://www.jeffblackmusic.com
Guitars Engineered by Brett Gibbs & Jeff Black (Blacknote Music)
Drums Recorded and Engineered by Larry Anschell (Turtle Recording Studios)
http://www.turtlerecording.com
Vocals for Track 2 – 8 Recorded and Engineered by Brett Gibbs
Vocals for Track 1 & 10 Recorded and Engineered by Tim Neuhaus (Ear Art Music Studios)
http://www.earartmusicstudios.com
Album Cover Art by Ivona Vasileva
Members of SOCAN
Music is Canadian Content (MAPL)
Album Recording Lineup:
Liam Collingwood – Vocals
Gary Cordsen – Lead Guitar
Brett Gibbs – Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar & Backup Vocals
Eric Wesa – Bass & Backup Vocals
Chris Malcolmson – Drums
Live Lineup:
Gary Cordsen – Lead Guitar
Brett Gibbs – Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar & Backup Vocals
Eric Wesa – Bass & Backup Vocals
(Temporary/rotating drummer)
(Temporary/rotating singer)
Discography:
2023 – Mirror in the Darkness LP
2016 – Conductor of Storms LP
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The album as a whole:
‘Mirror in the Darkness’ is our boldest step into different musical stylings than ever before. It is a very dark-sounding album mood-wise and can be described as ‘progressive power metal’ in most areas. Each song throughout sounds completely unique from each others, bringing out a new metal flavour unheard from the previous tracks. We also experimented with Drop-C tuning here on a couple songs, adding to the dark sound. While it is not a concept album, the lyrics throughout have consistent themes about heavy personal issues such as depression and the negativity you feel in life.
Track By Track:
1. Dead Before Birth – Kicking things off is Dead Before Birth, a hard-hitting opening track that begins with a drum-only intro. Featuring complex arrangements, precise timings, and vicious guitar riffs. Between the many different time signatures, dense guitar layers, and menacing chorus, Dead Before Birth’s goal is to be catchy while also challenging the listener. The lyrics are kept abstract, dealing in a metaphorical sense with the feelings of depression.
2. Among Thieves – Continuing directly from the first song is Among Thieves, with a sharp snap of the snare. A straight-shooting thrashy metal song – with some interesting twists – that bridges the gap sonically between Conductor of Storms and Mirror in the Darkness. Fans of the first album should appreciate this song. A triplet feels with unrelenting riffs, catchy bass lines, that is brought to life through Liam’s vocals and lyrical themes relating to greed, and stealing time (whether your own or someone else’s).
3. Pray for Me – A slower paced, moodier song with a dense atmosphere, and spacious chord progressions that give Liam room to shine on the vocals. The lyrics portray a person who is building walls around them, keeping others out and not wanting to deal with the world. Pray for Me is one of the more accessible tracks on the album, with a driving groove and lush production. Featuring dual guitar solos and biting vocal harmonies over a soaring chorus section that will definitely get stuck in your head.
4. The Signal – The fourth track on the album, The Signal is another venture into more progressive territory. This is the first song we could consider being an ‘epic’ on the album. This is also the first song to feature Ken Schellenberg’s orchestral elements. The Signal is a dynamic blend of heavy emotion and a delicate atmosphere. The lyrics are about looking for signs of issues or problems in your life, with themes of hospitals and life/death.
5. Smoke and Mirrors – An extension of The Signal, and the only instrumental on the album that acts somewhat like an intermission, cleansing the audio palette for the listener.
6. Weight of the Crown – Weight of the crown is the sixth track on the album. The lyrics are about power, responsibility, and the negativity that comes with that. Heavy is the head that wears the crown is taken from Shakespeare. Musically, the song explores a darker and heavier side of the band. A sinister opening, dynamic verses that grow in intensity, and escalating guitar and bass riffs give the listener a sense of overwhelming doom.
7. Mirror in the Darkness – The title track of the album. The lyrics explore the themes of not being comfortable with yourself, disliking what you see in the reflection, and trying to break through that mirror of darkness. This song is epic in length and has a more classic heavy metal styling inspired by power metal riffage. It also features orchestral elements throughout.
8. Gateways – Short and to the point, Gateways features an understated bass solo tucked beneath Liam’s vocal melodies and sprawling guitar chords. The song quickly elevates in intensity and pace, taking the listener somewhere they might not expect the first time around. The lyrics use digital media as a way to describe the negative escapism, where you become too addicted to the point where it affects the real life. The song ends almost as soon as it begins, abruptly leading directly into the next track.
9. Veiled – A progressive song written with a pop structure in mind, this song is a departure from our usual style. With heavy emphasis on atmosphere and groove, Veiled is mostly focused on the drums and bass, with flavours of keys and guitars used throughout. The song is our first to feature a synth solo. The lyrics are about someone who is struggling to change or accept change, yet still trying anyway, through different viewpoints. Climbing a hill, only to fall back down again.
10. No Peace in Rest – This track is the album closer, and the longest song. No Peace in Rest journeys through many different musical ideas and soundscapes with ruthless vocals, orchestral elements, dueling guitar solos, and clean passages. It encompasses many of the themes of the album, with the music tying back to the first song in the finale, creating a cycle. The song’s lyrics are independent from Dead Before Birth, but contain similar metaphors through Medusa rebuilding the earth of stone (watch them turn to stone). The perspective is from someone who is going through a journey through hell and climbing out of it to be reborn and start back again in the birth afterlife.
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Story Angles – Fun Facts:
1. Ken Schellenberg, who recorded the orchestra elements on the album, was also our drummer for a period at various live shows while we were looking for a new drummer after Ross left. His drum set came on wheels, and had a full lightshow and smoke machine built in!
2. While the drums were recorded in studio at Turtle Recording Studios in Vancouver, the rest of the album was recorded fully at home. Guitars, Bass, and vocals were all recorded by Brett at his house using Ableton Live.
3. Our first show we ever played was at a Church in Abbotsford, all the way back in 2014.
4. We performed in the Wacken Metal Battle Canada, placing in the Top 6 across Canada as a National Finalist. As a result, we opened up for Sepultura on their 30th Anniversary Tour show in Vancouver.
5. Eric Wesa was originally the guitarist, and Liam Collingwood was both bass and vocals back before the group was fully formed. After getting two answers from a Craigslist ad looking for a new guitarist from both Brett Gibbs and Gary Cordsen back-to-back, Eric decided to take over bass. This stroke of Craigslist luck forever defined the unique blend of guitar styles that make up our sound.
L-R – Brett Gibbs (Guitar) | Eric Wesa (Bass) | Liam Collingwood (Vocals) | Chris Malcolmson (Drums) | Gary Cordsen (Guitar)
Photo Credit: Matthew Collingwood
Medevil is a highly energetic, fast-paced metal band known for its tight songwriting, intense stage presence, and roaring vocals. They are one of the few metal bands coming out of Chilliwack BC and hold that title proud as they have earned much praise and respect since their inception in 2014. As one of the 6 national finalists of the 2015 Wacken Metal Battle Canada, they are becoming more and more renowned throughout the country; their fame attaining them a following in their local town and across through to Vancouver.
Their music could be described as “power thrash” with half of their set being chorus-driven, and the other half focusing on blistering fast riffs. Influences for the band include Iron Maiden, Megadeth, and Metal Church. Their fast but catchy songs keep the crowd chanting throughout the set, and leave them wanting more. Liam Collingwood, the band’s singer, keeps the band image in theme with the songs while on stage and will wear thematic outfits when the mood demands it.
The band was founded on January 13, 2014, by Eric Wesa (bass), as well as brothers Liam (vocals) and Ross Collingwood (drums). It only took two months after the band’s inception before the boys found the ultimate guitar duo they were looking for, Gary Cordsen and Brett Gibbs. Once the lineup was solidified, they wasted no time performing shows and begin their musical journey. As a band, Medevil has two common goals; to explore their musical talents, and continue performing live for their fast-growing fanbase.
Now in 2023, Medevil is gearing up to release their second album “Mirror in the Darkness” in April and they couldn’t be more pleased to show off their updated sound. This album is also bittersweet as it is dedicated to drummer Chris Malcolmson who, since recording, has passed away.
According to the band, this album is a big step up from their previous album, with a more progressive and ambitious direction than before. Overall, the songs have much more variety and a lot more to offer, which should accommodate a wider array of musical tastes from metal fans or fans of music in general. Confident that fans of the first album will enjoy this one, they share their excitement:
“We can’t believe we made it to the finish line, what felt like forever since our debut! “Mirror in the Darkness” for us has been a long time coming, honestly mostly due to our ambitions being much higher this time around. Our goal was to create something better on all fronts compared to the last album, and we really feel like we succeeded. There’s much more to offer here in terms of styles, musicality, and maturity. There are a couple songs here as well that we took a stab at creating something more accessible, which fans of us as well as fans of non-metal music could all enjoy. Despite that, the album as a whole is fittingly a lot darker than “Conductor of Storms” in both lyrics and soundscape.”
“Mirror in the Darkness” is Medevil’s boldest step into different musical stylings than ever before. It is a very dark-sounding album mood-wise and can be described as ‘progressive power metal’ in most areas. It has a lot more inspiration pulled from progressive bands, a lot more focus, and the soundscapes have a lot more depth than they’ve had in the past.
Recommended for fans of Metallica, Mastodon, and Metal Church, “Mirror in the Darkness” comes out on April 7, 2023.
Album Recording Lineup:
Liam Collingwood – Vocals
Gary Cordsen – Lead Guitar
Brett Gibbs – Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar & Backup Vocals
Eric Wesa – Bass & Backup Vocals
Chris Malcolmson – Drums
Live Lineup:
Gary Cordsen – Lead Guitar
Brett Gibbs – Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar & Backup Vocals
Eric Wesa – Bass & Backup Vocals
(Temporary/rotating drummer)
(Temporary/rotating singer)
Discography:
2023 – Mirror in the Darkness LP
2016 – Conductor of Storms LP
Shared Stage with:
Sepultura, Hammerfall, Flotsam and Jetsam, Unleash the Archers
Tours and Festivals:
2018 – Thunderfest – Mission, BC
2018 – Hammerfall ReBuilt to Tour – Vancouver, BC
2018 – Hyperspace Metal Fest – Vancouver, BC
2016 – Conductor of Storms Western Canada Tour – BC/Alberta
2016 – Special Guest for Wacken Metal Battle 2016 Final – Vancouver, BC
2015 – Wacken Metal Battle 2015 (National Finalist – Top 6) – Toronto, ON
2015 – Sepultura 30th Anniversary Tour – Vancouver, BC
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