Category: Music News

0 Canada’s DEVOLVER New Anime Video “Suffocating Syndrome” Off New Album “Non Compos Mentis” Produced by Mark Lewis (Whitechapel, Trivium, DevilDriver, Black Dahlia Murder)

September 10, 2025
by Asher
· Devolver · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – September 10, 2025

Canada’s DEVOLVER New Anime Video “Suffocating Syndrome” Off New Album “Non Compos Mentis”

Produced by Mark Lewis (Whitechapel, Trivium, DevilDriver, Black Dahlia Murder)

L-R: Jayde Penner (guitar), Bevin Booth (drums), Jaylen Elias (bass), Devin Babcock (guitar), Chris Brown (vocals)

Grande Prairie, Canada’s Devolver continues its sonic assault with the release of a new anime video for the track “Suffocating Syndrome” taken from their sophomore album “Non Compos Mentis,” unleashed this past August. Produced by genre heavyweight Mark Lewis (Whitechapel, Trivium, DevilDriver), “Non Compos Mentis” marks a seismic evolution in Devolver’s sound, melding Gothenburg-style melodic death metal with the raw intensity of early 2000s metalcore.

Unlike many tracks on the album, “Suffocating Syndrome” emerged with minimal rewrites in the studio, its raw intensity and emotional weight intact from the demo stage. The song explores themes of mental illness, delving into dementia, dissociative identity disorder, and the erosion of self-identity. It’s a sonic descent into psychological fragmentation, mirrored by the anime video’s surreal, fractured visuals.

Guitarist Jayde Penner shares:

“I pulled some inspiration from Psycroptic for the verse riff of this one. The structure is fairly simple, with each riff changing slightly each time it comes back. The melodic chorus is a really cool contrast to the heavy, noodly nature of the rest of the track, and I think features some of Chris’s best vocal work. The song culminates in a huge soaring chorus at the end with a super tasty solo mixed in, then comes crashing to an insane, chaotic ending that will surely leave some soiled pants.”

The anime video amplifies this emotional chaos, blending glitchy, hyper-detailed animation with disturbing symbolism, shattered mirrors, flickering identities, and collapsing landscapes that echo the song’s lyrical descent. It’s not just a visual companion; it’s a psychological echo chamber, capturing the disorientation and violence of a mind unraveling.

Watch and listen to the anime video for “Suffocating Syndrome” via its premiere on Space Untravel YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/mmRskxYe1q4

Formed in 2015 by guitarist Devin Babcock as a creative outlet for material that didn’t fit his previous band, Devolver has grown into a five-piece force of nature. With members also active in the local project Dog Poison, the band’s roots run deep in the underground scene.

“Non Compos Mentis” features a refined tracklist culled from over 20 demos, each song built collaboratively from riffs and skeletons crafted by guitarists Devin Babcock and Jayde Penner. The result is a relentless, emotionally charged journey that’s both technically precise and soulfully raw.

The haunting title track draws from a chilling true story: the 1805 murder of Amos Babcock’s sister in a religious frenzy, an ancestor of Devin Babcock. The album artwork, created by legendary metal illustrator Travis Smith (Opeth, Avenged Sevenfold, Soilwork), depicts Amos bloodied in the snow, surrounded by the ghostly eyes of his nine children.

“We think Non Compos Mentis will be embraced by fans of our first album; it’s a huge evolution of our sound. Our first album was a passion project for Devin, but this record is what the five of us sound like collaborating as a unit. The razor-sharp production from Mark Lewis helped us push this thing over the edge, into something we think people will grab onto. We want to give people the feeling we felt when we first heard our favourite bands, and the albums that made us fall in love with music,” adds the band.

Recommended for fans of In Flames, Dark Tranquillity, Killswitch Engage, and As I Lay Dying, “Non Compos Mentis” is a bold leap forward, each track a chapter in a larger emotional and sonic narrative.

“Non Compos Mentis” is available at the following links:

Album order (released Aug 22nd) – https://devolvermusic.bandcamp.com/

Spotify for Playlist Add – https://open.spotify.com/album/3eeLxBrxx55QvIm3EnahLm

Music Video – Merciless Storm – https://youtu.be/o_6jcqK2qFQ

Track Listing:
1. Deathtouch – 3:55
2. New Blood – 3:14
3. Jewels of the Maw – 3:30
4. Wraiths – 3:20
5. At Any Cost – 3:40
6. Non Compos Mentis – 3:53
7. Merciless Storm – 3:56
8. Suffocating Syndrome – 3:36
9. Dehumanize – 3:47
Album Length: 32:55

Album Credits:
– All songs performed by: Devolver
– All songs written by: Devolver
– Produced, Mixed, Mastered by: Mark Lewis
– Album Artwork by: Travis Smith
– SOCAN members

Band Lineup:
Chris Brown – Vocals
Devin Babcock – Guitar (lead)
Jayde Penner – Guitar (rhythm)
Bevin Booth – Drums
Jaylen Elias – Bass

More info: https://linktr.ee/devolverab

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“The goal of Devolver through Non Compos Mentis has been to take the listener on a thoroughly pleasing journey from the first note to the final crushing moment. That’s been achieved, and so much more – as these Canadians understand how to compose songs and execute them in a highly convincing fashion that has this scribe grinning ear to ear – bringing the exciting sounds of the late 90s/early 2000s to a newer generation who desire more of this style. 9/10” – Dead Rhetoric

“Devolver uses melodies, intensity, and a variety of vocalists to hook you, reeling you from song to song making this such a welcoming and comfortable listen. I don’t mean they’re “easy listening,” there heavy as f***, I mean there’s always something different, you’ll never get bored while diving into this debut.” – Vulture Hound

“If After The Burial and The Ghost Inside had a lovechild, it would be Devolver. These guys blew me away with how professional, well written, and how well structured they’ve presented themselves with their SelfTitled record. Each song has its own personality, while still maintaining a signature sound. The breakdowns are simple, yet effective in each song. There is dynamic tension and then well-needed release throughout the record, and it’s downright masterful. This album is captivating, and I recommend anyone that is a fan of metal to check this out.” – Bucketlist Music Reviews

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0 Exitus Stratagem Records – VISITANT Unleashes New Video “Rubidium” Ahead of “In the Wake of Flame Tour” (FL/GA/TN/SC/NC) w/ IATT

September 9, 2025
by Asher
· Music News · Visitant

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – September 9, 2025

VISITANT Unleashes New Video “Rubidium” Ahead of “In the Wake of Flame Tour” (FL/GA/TN/SC/NC) w/ IATT

Debut Album “Rubidium” Out Aug 2025 via Exitus Stratagem Records

Blackened death metal collective Visitant has dropped the official video for their album’s title track, “Rubidium”, a visceral visual companion to one of the most progressive and punishing songs on their debut record, unleashed on August 22nd via Exitus Stratagem Records. The release sets the stage for Visitant’s scorching “In the Wake of Flame Tour”, a five-state trek through Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina with genre-defying allies IATT, culminating in a climactic performance at the Tennessee Metal Devastation Fest.

“Rubidium” is a sonic and lyrical descent into mythic horror. The track conjures a deity that feeds on human souls to nourish the forest floor, with trees bearing hauntingly human faces and worshippers willingly surrendering to the soil. Guitarist Taylor Tidwell, inspired by serpentine imagery, crafted riffs that slither and strike, while the band’s signature orchestral layering and thunderous rhythm section elevate the track into a cinematic nightmare.

The “Rubidium” video captures this eerie mythology with stark visuals and ritualistic intensity, setting the tone for the tour’s immersive live experience. Watch the music video at https://youtu.be/GL-kNR6rPDA

Visitant’s debut album “Rubidium” has already made waves for its genre-defying sound. Featuring seven tracks of ritualistic brutality, the record blends orchestral grandeur with guttural rage. The lineup includes riff architect Taylor Tidwell (Unaligned), drums and orchestration by Anthony Lusk-Simone (Abiotic, Lattermath), bassist Kilian Duarte (Abiotic, Scale the Summit), growler Chelsea Marrow (Voraath, DOOM ETERNAL, Hellblade II), and Thomas Weidick, on guitar, who recently joined their live lineup this past June.

The album explores themes of grief, betrayal, and vengeance, with each track acting as a chapter in a dark spiritual journey. As Chelsea Marrow puts it, “After you listen to the album from beginning to end, you feel like you were just on the biggest journey. It evokes all sorts of feels. Like damn… I feel like I was audibly hit by a big ol’ bus. In a good way… if there was a good way!”

Recommended for fans of Gojira, Opeth, Naglfar, and Between the Buried and Me, “Rubidium” is a must-listen. And for those craving more, they can catch Visitant with IATT live this fall as they bring “Rubidium” to life on the “In the Wake of Flame Tour” (dates listed below).

Visitant‘s “Rubidium” is available via Exitus Stratagem Records at https://hypeddit.com/visitant/rubidium

Music Videos:

Briars – https://youtu.be/XMr5E2DGX2E

Fodder – https://youtu.be/UCfxSpoPf60

Starless – https://youtu.be/quktaBXaeVM

“On The Wake of Flame Tour” – IATT, VISITANT:
Oct 2 – New Orleans, LA – Holy Diver (Visitant only)
Oct 3 – Pensacola, FL – Sisi’s Store
Oct 4 – Jensen Beach, FL – Dark Riff Records
Oct 5 – Duluth, GA – Sweetwater
Oct 7 – Nashville, TN – Cobra
Oct 8 – Piedmont, SC – Tribbles
Oct 9 – Raleigh, NC – Chapel Of Bones
Oct 10 – Knoxville, TN – The Pilot Light
Oct 11 – Jackson, TN – TN Metal Devastation Fest (Visitant only)

Track Listing:
1. Unworldly – 4:48
2. Briars – 5:20
3. Starless – 5:07
4. Rubidium – 5:24
5. Fodder – 4:37
6. Envies Lament – 4:56
7. Moon Bathe – 2:38
Album Length: 32:50

Album Band Line Up:
Chelsea Marrow Vocals
Kilian Duarte Bass
Taylor Tidwell Guitars
Anthony Lusk-Simone Drums / Orchestration

Live Band Line Up:
Chelsea Marrow – Vocals
Taylor Tidwell – Guitar & Backing Vocals
Kilian Duarte or Anthony Wheeler – Bass
Charles Webber or Anthony Lusk-Simone – Drums
Thomas Weidick – Guitar

For more info:

Exsrmusic.com | Facebook.com/ExSRecords | Instagram.com/exsrmusic | X.com/exsrmusic

Facebook.com/visitantband | Instagram.com/Visitantband | Tiktok.com/@_visitant_

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“Visitant is here to utterly wreck your morning thanks to their brand new single “Fodder”, the first offering from their upcoming album Rubidium due out on August 23 via Exitus Stratagem Records. Visitant is vocalist Chelsea Marrow (Voraath, The Monster Factory, Doom Eternal, Hellblade 2, etc.), guitarist Taylor Tidwell, drummer Anthony Lusk-Simone (Abiotic, Lattermath & ex-Pathogenic), and bassist Kilian Duarte (Abiotic, Lattermath, Felix Martin & Scale The Summit). So a real powerhouse of a band that brings some savage energy to the metal world.” – Metal Injection

“Called “a blackened invitation to a ghoulish night at the opera,” Rubidium proves why these vets of Abiotic, Scale the Summit, and more are turning heads in extreme metal. From spectral piano and spidery technical riffs on Starless to Opeth-esque solos on Unworldly and the ghoul choir on the title track, this album is a masterclass in dark symphonic extremity. Blending late-90s symphonic black metal flamboyance with modern melodic death precision, Visitant delivers “an apparition of necromantic delight”. Recommended for fans of Naglfar, Dark Fortress, and The Faceless, Rubidium proves these metal veterans are a force to watch in the underground.” – Metal Hammer UK

““Fodder“, presents different warps and wefts in its weave. Also presented through a video (this time we get to see the band perform), it was inspired by a very dark dream in which Chelsea attempted to bring a murdered friend back to life and lost her own life in the process, leaving the friend trapped in a hellish limbo, bound to a body over which their control had been lost to dark spirits. To be sure, this song is also musically extravagant. It features a lot of borderline deranged and technically demanding high-speed maneuvers (a tour de force that would make lots of tech-death bands jealous) but it’s also hallucinatory, and unhinged in many other respects. It further demonstrates that Chelsea Marrow can really sing, as well as howl like a wolf and scream like a goblin. It’s a highly theatrical experience, but also instrumentally kaleidoscopic and viscerally frightening, and the singing makes the song stand out as much as every other demented and dazzling aspect of it.” – No Clean Singing

“This was an outstanding album, and the band left no stone unturned, even the smaller ones. The aggressive bite of Black Metal was there, just as you would want, but intelligent, technical elements also mixed in, as well as thoughtful, Progressive ones. I would call this “thinking man’s Black Metal.”” – Metal Temple

“There’s no shortage of quality performances, and Rubidium has all the ingredients for a gripping album.” – Angry Metal Guy

“A stunning debut that announces the arrival of a band destined for great things. Rubidium burns bright and leaves a lasting impression.” – Moshville Times

“The powerful rhythmic presence in Vistant will keep this beast going. The drum work is phenomenal and the bass is tasty. A metalhead into extreme music should appreciate this debut album. It has its artistic moments with melodic riffs, solos and said beautiful singing….dont expect constant brutality. It’s so well done it makes the heavy parts even heavier, and the melodic sections prettier. It helps creates mood and emotion every second you listen to their music.” – Technical Music Review

“I try to be as objective and open on all of my reviews, but my dear reader, this may be my first 10/10 this year. Everything worked perfectly. There are ABSOLUTELY ZERO skips on this album and it needs to be heard in full to be completely appreciated. “Rubidium” is out on Exitus Stratagem Records on the 22nd of August. I know I am going to purchase a physical copy and I strongly encourage you to do the same. Sit in your living room, balcony, or in the middle of the desert and take this journey again and again.” – Female Fronted Power

“Rubidium by Visitant isn’t just a good Black Metal album, nor is it a just great Black Metal album. What it is, is an essential Black Metal album, and one that any fan of Black Metal should have pencilled in to purchase when it crawls into the light of day. You need this in your life.” – Black Metal Archive

“Rubidium is a tightly-wound, cerebral slab of modern dissonant death metal with a distinctly unearthly voice. Fans of Ulcerate, Artificial Brain, and Convulsing will find plenty to sink into here — just don’t expect comfort. Visitant aren’t here to soothe; they’re here to stare you down until you blink.” – Metal Purgatory Media

““2025 has definitely had its share of great albums, and I’m counting this among the those… It absolutely impressed, outshined by expectations, and I’m already anxiously awaiting the next release by Visitant!” – The Great Metal Debate

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0 Chilean Prog ENGRUPID PIPOL Unleashes Music Video “Tripel Ultimatum” Off New Apocalyptic Concept Album “Quadragenta At Finem Mundi” Out Nov 2025

September 8, 2025
by Asher
· Engrupid Pipol · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – September 8, 2025

Chilean Instrumental Prog ENGRUPID PIPOL Unleashes Music Video “Tripel Ultimatum”

New Apocalyptic Concept Album “Quadragenta At Finem Mundi” Out Nov 2025

L-R- Kaztrol (guitar), Nacho García (drums), John Dai (bass)

Phot Credit – Philippe Vigoroux

Chilean progressive metal power trio Engrupid Pipol has released their explosive new single “Tripel Ultimatum,” the opening act of their upcoming conceptual album “Quadragenta At Finem Mundi”, arriving November 7, 2025. Accompanied by a cinematic music video, the track sets the tone for a dark, prophetic journey through the collapse of civilization.

“Tripel Ultimatum” is a high-octane burst of groove and adrenaline, described by guitarist Kaztrol as “a banger to kick off the album, full of heavy riffs and melodies that stick in your head, especially when you’re driving at high speed.”

The music video, inspired by Mad Max, features the band as masked survivors of a nuclear disaster, performing one last time before scattering into the wasteland. The single’s artwork comes directly from the video shoot.

“We’re some of the last humans alive in a desolate world. I designed a mask for each member to reflect our personalities, and we each created our own wardrobe, very Mad Max-inspired,” explains Kaztrol.

Watch and listen to the music video at https://youtu.be/6smOGzzH_OY

Add to your Spotify playlist – https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/engrupidpipol/tripel-ultimatum

“Quadragenta At Finem Mundi” is Engrupid Pipol’s most ambitious work to date, a seven-act instrumental prog-metal album that metaphorically chronicles the downfall of humanity. With themes ranging from nuclear catastrophe and AI overreach to narcissism and societal collapse, the album offers a gripping sonic prophecy. Each track is a symptom, a warning, delivered by the trio’s explosive riffs and intricate compositions. “Voragine” captures the whirlwind of consumerism and chaos. “Animal Inteligenz” offers a sarcastic reflection on AI as a new god, questioning whether it will be benevolent or sadistic. “Inspireichon Burn” tells the story of thermonuclear war driven by greed, while “Vairal Madnez” critiques the viral madness of social media, fake news, and digital surveillance. “Aztral Configureited” imagines cosmic alignment as the final apocalypse, and “Ameba Emenens,” a fully acoustic track, closes the album with a note of introspective hope, life beginning anew from a single surviving Amoeba.

“We want listeners to disconnect and let the music carry them to an altered level of consciousness. It’s a journey through soundscapes that reflect the chaos of our times,” says drummer Nacho García.

Founded in Santiago, Chile, in October 2000, Engrupid Pipol began as SíFiLiS, releasing two experimental albums: SiFiLiSaCioN (2005) and Paranoia en Paragua (2009). Known for accelerated riffs and abrupt time changes, the band evolved into a more mature and cohesive unit, rebranding as Engrupid Pipol in 2009. Their sound is groovy, powerful, and melodically rich, which has earned them critical acclaim and a loyal fanbase. Their discography includes Essenchial Engrupid Element (2016), praised for its originality and technical prowess, and Engrupid Divais (2022), which earned a nomination for Best Metal Artist at the 2023 Pulsar Awards.

Their song titles are often written in deliberately misspelled Spanglish, including the band’s name itself. “Engrupid” comes from the Chilean verb engrupir—to charm or deceive.

“If you’re an engrupid person. You believe in yourself and your art no matter what anyone says,” comments Kaztrol.

The new album “Quadragenta At Finem Mundi” was made possible thanks to a grant from the Chilean Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Heritage, awarded in February 2025.

Album Track Listing:
1. Tripel Ultimatum – 5:48
2. Voragine – 6:53
3. Animal Inteligenz – 7:34
4. Inspireichon Burn
5. Vairal Madness 5:01
6. Aztral Configureited 8:24
7. Ameba Emenens 4.20
Album Length 45:20

For more info: Engrupidpipol.cl | Instagram.com/engrupid_pipol | Facebook.com/engrupid

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0 Breaking Out of “The Underground” KARNAGE THROUGH CROSSING Have A New Headbanger For You!

September 5, 2025
by Asher
· Karnage Through Crossing · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – Sept 5, 2025

Breaking Out of “The Underground” KARNAGE THROUGH CROSSING Have A New Headbanger For You!

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

Calgary, Alberta, gritty, melodic crossover metal Karnage Through Crossing (KTX) have announced the release of their searing new single “The Underground”, a powerhouse track from their forthcoming sophomore album, due to detonate in 2026. This follow‑up to their 2024 debut, “Shattered Chains”, and 2025 single “Chosen Paths” marks the dawn of a heavier, more ambitious chapter in the KTX saga.

Born from the ashes of Nova 1 and forged in the chaos of the pandemic years, KTX, led by founding songwriter Rhyse Tremel and drummer Ashton Lal, has evolved from determined survivors into a finely tuned machine of sonic mayhem. Their mission: to fuse the thunder and majesty of traditional heavy metal with the blistering edge of thrash, the weight of death metal, and the anthemic firepower of hard rock.

“The Underground” embodies this ethos in full force. Lyrically rooted in a steampunk dystopia, it tells the tale of a slum‑born pit fighter rising to power and vengeance. Musically, it’s a battlefield of melodic euphoria, breakneck speed, and tension‑filled pauses that explode into unrelenting energy, a sound sharpened through months of rehearsal after their debut album hit the streets.

“It was the second song written for the new record and the first we rehearsed after the debut. Those dramatic pauses, the tight finish, it just kept evolving until it became one of the most energizing songs we’ve ever played,” adds Tremel.

On stage, KTX live their creed of going BIG. Think full-stack amps, custom‑built steel props wrapped in barbed wire and chrome, leather and ripped denim, massive drum kits, and the blazing strobes and fog of heavy metal’s golden age. Their storytelling blends dark fantasy, historical echoes, and unflinching empowerment, all delivered with the defiance and showmanship of their heroes: Death Angel, Megadeth, Iced Earth, Judas Priest, and Skull Fist.

With “The Underground” now unleashed, KTX is setting the stage for their most cohesive, high‑voltage release yet. The 2026 album promises monumental leaps in skill, production, and scope, a true testament to the band’s evolution from raw underground contenders to commanding torchbearers of modern metal’s old‑school soul.

Listen to “The Underground” at the following links:

Youtube – https://youtu.be/avSv6RItI9k

Add to your Spotify Playlist – https://open.spotify.com/track/2bRwsJbi4sRRTwzNvpqy6X

More info: Facebook.com/ktxmetal | Instagram.com/ktx_metal | Tiktok.com/@karnage.through.c | X.com/ktx_metal

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“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

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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

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“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 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)

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

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“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

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