NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – March 31, 2026
Instrumental Prog-Metal Quartet PHAETON Announces “The Cosmic Dissonance Tour” Across British Columbia in Support of New Album “Neurogenesis”
ft. Album Guest Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Planet X, Sons of Apollo)
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Front (L-R): Kevin Thiessen (Guitars, Keyboards), Ferdy Belland (Bass), Daniel Airth (Guitars), Back: Colin Righton (Drums)
Photo Credit – Scott Courtemanche
British Columbia’s all‑instrumental progressive metal force PHAETON is gearing up to hit the road for their 2026 Canadian West Coast “The Cosmic Dissonance Tour,” supporting their latest third full‑length album, “Neurogenesis,” released this past October 2025. The tour marks the band’s first extended run across the province of British Columbia since the release of their 2020 sophomore album “Between Two Worlds.” It promises a blistering showcase of their evolving, hyper‑melodic, and technically ferocious sound.
Formed in 2017 in the mountain city of Kimberley, BC, Phaeton, Kevin Thiessen (guitars, keyboards), Daniel Airth (guitars), Ferdy Belland (bass), and Colin Righton (drums) have carved out a unique place in Canada’s metal landscape. Their fusion of neoclassical melodicism, crushing riff architecture, and cosmic prog-metal atmospherics has earned them a growing international following and stages alongside Beyond Creation, Anciients, and Bison.
“We’re beyond stoked to finally pull off a tour like this. We impress many people through our recordings, but live it’s a souped‑up, heavy‑hitting experience that gets in your face right before it’s melted down to the skull. We’re playing selections from all three of our albums and bringing our A‑Game. This won’t be the last time we rock across British Columbia, but we plan to make this first stint something special for everybody to remember,” says bassist Ferdy Belland.
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Phaeton 2026 Canadian West Coast Tour:
April 4 – Cranbrook, BC – Shotties Nightclub w/ The Honeymans, Brotherhood of Lost Souls, and Garuda (Ferdy’s 55th Birthday Party) – info
April 8 – Kamloops, BC – Blue Grotto Nightclub w/ Tortion – info
April 9 – Kelowna, BC – Dunnenzie’s Downtown w/ Tortion – info
April 10 – Vancouver, BC – Cobalt w/ Vaegon, Quasicosm, No Faith in Fortune (Hyperspace Metal Festival VII Pre-Party) – info
April 11 – Mission, BC – Captain’s Cabin Pub w/ Anthem (Rush tribute), The Bifurcated – info
Following their acclaimed releases, self-titled (2018) and “Between Two Worlds” (2020), the band’s new and third album, “Neurogenesis,” sharpens their signature sound into something more concise, more dynamic, and more thematically unified. Inspired by concepts surrounding the technological singularity, cybernetic evolution, and the future of human identity, the album blends jazz‑fusion sensibilities with prog‑metal precision, djent‑infused heaviness, and neo‑classical melodic architecture.
Tracks such as “Tethys Rising,” “Isochron,” “Synesthesia,” “Arachnid,” and the expansive title track “Neurogenesis” explore everything from cosmic awe to psychological phenomena to dystopian futurism, without a single lyric. Phaeton’s instrumental approach allows listeners to project their own narratives, guided only by the band’s kaleidoscopic riffs, soaring leads, and tectonic rhythmic shifts.
Named after the mythical proto‑planet believed to have collided with primordial Earth, Phaeton channels cosmic chaos into meticulously crafted instrumental soundscapes. Their music draws from Dream Theater, Rush, Devin Townsend, Meshuggah, Mastodon, Gojira, and the jazz‑fusion giants of the 1970s, while maintaining a distinct identity rooted in technical virtuosity and interstellar imagination.
The band’s writing process is a fluid, collaborative effort, with each member contributing compositions and refining arrangements as a unit. Their live performances are heavier, crunchier, and more visceral than their polished studio recordings, an unexpected duality that has become a hallmark of their reputation.
“Neurogenesis” (released Oct 24th, 2025) is available now on digital platforms via INB Music. Vinyl editions arrive later this year.
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/46CVWFcd3u2pSRt0D9pSrV
Bandcamp – https://phaetonband.bandcamp.com/
Previous Singles:
Band Playthrough – Augmented – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy28HaTZjvY
Band playthrough – Arachnid – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxyU0U-vSOc
Isochron ft. Derek Sherinian – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri8wXGYJcJg
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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
Fun facts about the band:
Bassist Ferdy Belland owns nearly 8,000 vinyl records, collects Bronze Age comics and militaria, and has a long career as a respected music journalist.
Drummer Colin Righton is an exceptional chef and tennis fanatic, known as the “Gordon Ramsay of prog‑metal.”
Guitarist Daniel “Danimal” Airth is the quietest member of the band despite his ferocious riff output.
Guitarist/keyboardist Kevin Thiessen is one of BC’s top recording engineers and a die‑hard Back to the Future fan.
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“A creative restlessness drives the music of Phaeton, British Columbia’s fieriest instrumental prog metal quartet. Their new album, Neurogenesis (INB Music), defies the notion that a lack of vocals can be a disadvantage, with smart, detailed tunes that get the balance between virtuoso showboating and tight, taut songwriting just about right. A cameo from Derek Sherinian on the exotic Isochron is a neat bonus, but this band have hooks and dynamics to burn, and Synesthesia and the title track are simply masterful.” – Prog Magazine
“Hailing from picturesque Kimberly, British Columbia — which is actually closer to Montana’s Glacier National Park than anywhere geographically challenged Americans might have heard of in British Columbia — comes progressive metal quartet Phaeton. Earlier this year the band released their third full-length, Neurogenesis a collection of songs with dizzying and intricate salutations to Cynic, BTBAM, Meshuggah and fellow BC-ers Anciients (who hail from the more recognizable Vancouver). Today we present the play through video of the album’s fourth single “Augmented.” Normally, we frown upon play through videos around these parts, but gave Phaeton a mulligan because not only does the track rule in a structured ‘tear-that-math-textbook-up!’ sort of way, but also because it reminds us a teensy bit of the classic Animusic digital video series.” – Decibel Magazine (Video Premiere: Getting Tech-y With Phaeton’s “Augmented”)
“Neurogenesis refers to the formation of new nerve cells in the brain. A suitable album title for a band that sees intellectual complexity as a pillar of their work. In this case, the brain consists of progressive heavy metal. Its way of thinking is fueled by a long learning process as well as a rich wealth of experience. That the “big names” of the genre have manifested themselves in it is also recognizable without neurological expertise. The art of the Canadian quartet consists of implementing the whole purely instrumentally. They succeed in doing this on “Neurogenesis” even a little better than on the predecessor “Between Two Worlds” (2023). The pieces are composed more clearly to the point, without losing any sophistication. Although the absence of the human voice still makes itself felt as a musical ‘guiding force.’ Once again, the band provides an extensive ‘track-by-track’ in which the backgrounds of the pieces are explained. And: Already, another EP as well as the successor to ‘Neurogenesis’ have been announced with title and release year. Someone is thinking ahead. Top Track: Isochron (feat. Derek Sherinian)” – Eclipse Magazin
“”Neurogenesis” one of the hottest tips of the running season. At least when it comes to instrumental prog, the band has reached the top of the annual list!” – PowerMetal.de
“Explore the sonic evolution of PHAETON in their album Neurogenesis, blending melody and heavy instrumentation for a unique experience.” – Bass Musician Magazine
“Neurogenesis is a crushing and cerebral listen from a band that has sharpened its sound to a fine point. Phaeton confidently bridges the gap between melody and pure, unadulterated musicianship. They fuse the ferocious compositions of modern metal with the ambitious spirit of classic prog rock, creating a unique and thrilling sound that stands alone.” – AltYegMusic
“Oh prog-metal how we love thee…case in point, the new single ‘Isochron ft. Derek Sherinian’ from Phaeton. This dandy little slice of modern prog-metal is not only exceptionally recorded but is jammed full of stabbing riffs, fluid bass lines, drum rolls galore and of course keyboard wizardry courtesy of the legendary Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Planet X, Sons of Apollo). Keep an eye out for the new album “Neurogenesis” from PHAETON set to drop on Oct. 24th and to tide you over listen up for ‘Isochron’ on your Home for the Best New Rock… W-J-O-EEEE” – WJOE – Findlay’s Home for Rock & Roll
“I’ve always maintained that instrumental bands have to work harder at their craft, because the lack of vocals is one more thing they have to find a replacement for. Lead guitar breaks can take the place of vocals, as can keyboards. They do a solid job of this on the album… They have the chops, that’s for sure.” – Metal-Temple”Neurogenesis“ is a work that combines virtuosity, atmosphere and emotion in extraordinary balance.” 4/5 – MetalUnderground.at
“PHAETON’s Neurogenesis: Where Prog-Meets-Precision, and Machines Whisper to the Riffs” – Papy Jeff Metal
“Phaeton’s sound is a kaleidoscope of progressive sounds, tech-death, thrash and djent… The album opens with the song “Tethys Rising” has in it’s a lot of austerity, but you can hear perfectly strong and expressive here sound and style. Song “Discontinuum” also holds the right one level and very exciting. The dynamics and rhythm are impressive here. Piece “Isochron” with the guest participation of Derek Sherinian, he enriches and has in great riffs, but there are also Middle Eastern elements, which it also increases the effect. Number “Synethesia” it emphasizes even more the intensity and complexity of sounds with a lot of power and energy. Track “Arachnid” he has a lot of neoclassical playing, but he doesn’t forget about it crushing playing with lots of thrills. Song “Augmented” it also has a specific level to it. Title piece “Neurogenesis” he crowns the album with pride and precision. You can hear perfectly balanced music here, which has a claw, feistiness and focuses on diversity and versatility. 4/5″ – W-Mgnieniu-Rocka
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