Thank You Canadian MDs and DJs for the Airplay Love!
!earshot – The National Loud Chart
For the Week Ending: Tuesday, November 25, 2025
#1 Juliet Ruin, #3 Ancient Thrones
https://earshot-online.com/charts/index.cfm?intChartTypeID=106&dWeekOfID=2025-11-25
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CFUV 101.9 FM – Victoria
Loud – #5 Juliet Ruin
https://earshot-online.com/charts/cfuv.cfm?intChartTypeID=6&dWeekOfID=2025-11-25
==============
CIVL Radio 101.7 FM – Abbotsford
Loud – #1 Juliet Ruin, #5 Phaeton
https://earshot-online.com/charts/civl.cfm?intChartTypeID=6&dWeekOfID=2025-11-25
==============
CJSR FM 88.5 – Edmonton
Loud – #1 Ancient Thrones, #5 Juliet Ruin, #9 Devolver
https://earshot-online.com/charts/cjsr.cfm?intChartTypeID=6&dWeekOfID=2025-11-25
==============
CJSW Radio 90.9 FM – Calgary
Loud – #4 Ancient Thrones
https://earshot-online.com/charts/cjsw.cfm?intChartTypeID=6&dWeekOfID=2025-11-25
==============
CJSR FM 88.5 – Edmonton
Top 30 – #12 Ancient Thrones
https://earshot-online.com/charts/cjsr.cfm?dWeekOfID=2025-11-25
Category: Phaeton
0 Thank You Canadian MDs and DJs for the Airplay Love! !earshot – The National Loud Chart For the Week Ending: Tuesday, November 25, 2025 #1 Juliet Ruin, #3 Ancient Thrones | CFUV 101.9 FM – Victoria Loud – #5 Juliet Ruin | CIVL Radio 101.7 FM – Abbotsford Loud – #1 Juliet Ruin, #5 Phaeton | CJSR FM 88.5 – Edmonton Loud – #1 Ancient Thrones, #5 Juliet Ruin, #9 Devolver | CJSW Radio 90.9 FM – Calgary Loud – #4 Ancient Thrones | CJSR FM 88.5 – Edmonton Top 30 – #12 Ancient Thrones
0 PHAETON Unleash Playthrough Video “Augmented” in Support of New Album Neurogenesis + BC Show Date with ANCIIENTS
NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – November 27, 2025
PHAETON Unleash Playthrough Video “Augmented” in Support of New Album Neurogenesis
+ BC Show Date with ANCIIENTS
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
Instrumental progressive metal quartet Phaeton has released its latest playthrough video, “Augmented,” in support of its brand-new album, “Neurogenesis,” released on October 24, 2025. The release marks another bold step forward for the band, following their acclaimed sophomore album Between Two Worlds (2020).
The new playthrough video spotlights “Augmented,” a track inspired by humanity’s drive to transcend survival through technology, yet haunted by the dystopian possibilities of merging man and machine.
“This song was written to convey the mechanical unease and robotic inhumanity awaiting us in the near future, and how we must be on our guard,” the band explains.
Watch the playthrough via its premiere on Decibel Magazine HERE.
Formed in 2017 in Kimberley, BC, PHAETON blends neo-classical melodicism, crushing riffs, tornado percussion, and contrapuntal basslines. Their lineup includes Kevin Thiessen (guitars, keyboards; ex-Azsension, ex-Datura), Daniel Airth (guitars; ex-Chaos Logic), Ferdy Belland (bass; ex-Bif Naked), and Colin Righton (drums; ex-Chaos Machine).
Described in five words as Interplanetary Psychedelic Hyper-Melodic Metallic Prog, PHAETON’s sound is a kaleidoscope of influences ranging from Devin Townsend, Rush, Haken, Intervals, and Scale the Summit to the jazz-fusion pioneers Weather Report and Mahavishnu Orchestra. Their music blends prog-metal, tech-death, thrash, and djent into a visceral yet cerebral listening experience.
With “Neurogenesis,” the band sharpened their songwriting into concise, dynamic arrangements without sacrificing imagination. The album’s seven tracks form a connected anthology, while its themes explore the technological singularity and humanity’s uneasy march toward cybernetic augmentation. Engineered and mixed by guitarist Kevin Thiessen at The Cube in Kimberley, BC, and mastered by Jamie Sitar at Outtatown Sound in Winnipeg, MB, the album features artwork by Calgary-based artist Matt Semenok and a guest appearance by prog legend Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Planet X, Sons of Apollo) on the track “Isochron”.
“We’ll carry you away to the nebulae and you’ll enjoy every light-minute of it,” adds the band.
PHAETON’s journey began with their self-titled debut, establishing their technical virtuosity and adventurous spirit. Their sophomore offering, “Between Two Worlds”, expanded their sound with heavier, more emotionally impactful compositions. Now, “Neurogenesis” refines their approach with compact, hook-laden tracks that balance clarity with complexity.
Fans can expect more ambitious projects following “Neurogenesis” as the band plans to release a 22-minute epic, “Clouds of Mercury”, slated for 2026, and a fourth full-length album, “Quartum”, projected for 2027.
In additional news, the band will be opening for Vancouver prog masters Anciients in Cranbrook, BC, on November 29th, as part of their “Infinite Eclipse Tour”. Phaeton plans to deliver a heavier, crunchier, thrashier experience than their polished recordings suggest, surprising audiences with their dual identity.
“We don’t growl and shriek as if we’re imitating demons from the Ninth Level of Hell. We let the guitars and keyboards do the singing,” the band adds.
Upcoming Show Dates:
Nov 29 – Cranbrook BC – Shotties Nightclub w/ ANCIIENTS – info
“Neurogenesis” 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 – Arachnid – https://youtu.be/QxyU0U-vSOc
Isochron ft. Derek Sherinian – https://youtu.be/Ri8wXGYJcJg
Tethys Rising – https://youtu.be/mjehuUQS9G8
|
|
Track Listing:
1. Tethys Rising (6:25)
2. Discontinuum (6:37)
3. Isochron (4:12) ft. Derek Sherinian
4. Synethesia (6:24)
5. Arachnid (4:48)
6. Augmented (4:37)
7. Neurogenesis (6:16)
Album Length: 39:19
Band Lineup:
– Colin Righton: Drums & Percussion
– Daniel Airth: Lead & Rhythm Guitars
– Kevin Thiessen: Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Keyboards
– Ferdy Belland: Electric Bass
For more info: https://linktr.ee/phaetonofficial
– 30 –
“”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
—
ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780
jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Facebook – Asher Media Relations
Instagram – AsherMedia
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0 Prog Virtuosos PHAETON Hit The Road For Western Canadian Dates (AB, BC) For Third Album “Neurogenesis” Out Now! ft. Album Guest Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Planet X, Sons of Apollo)
NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – November 3, 2025
Prog Virtuosos PHAETON Hit The Road For Western Canadian Dates (AB, BC)
Third Album “Neurogenesis” Out Now!
ft. Album Guest Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Planet X, Sons of Apollo)
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|
Canadian instrumental progressive metal quartet PHAETON is hitting the road this November for a string of Western Canadian tour dates in support of their third full-length album, “Neurogenesis.” Known for their electrifying live performances, the band will bring their cerebral, crushing sound to Alberta and British Columbia:
Upcoming Show Dates:
Nov 7 – Lethbridge, AB – The Slice w/ Pharm, S.I., Rainbow Patrol – info
Nov 8 – Edmonton, AB – Divebar w/ Pharm, Excerebration, Spruce Moose – info
Nov 21 – Cranbrook, BC – Shotties Nightclub w/ Dead Bob, Blind Marc – info
Nov 29 – Cranbrook BC – Shotties Nightclub w/ ANCIIENTS – info
|
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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
Following their acclaimed 2020 release “Between Two Worlds,” “Neurogenesis” marks a bold evolution in PHAETON’s sound, more concise, yet no less imaginative. Engineered and mixed by guitarist Kevin Thiessen at The Cube in Kimberley, BC, and mastered by Jamie Sitar at Outtatown Sound in Winnipeg, MB, the album features artwork by Calgary-based artist Matt Semenok and a guest appearance by prog legend Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Planet X, Sons of Apollo).
Formed in 2017 in Kimberley, BC, PHAETON blends neo-classical melodicism, crushing riffs, tornado percussion, and contrapuntal basslines. Their lineup includes Kevin Thiessen (guitars, keyboards; ex-Azsension, ex-Datura), Daniel Airth (guitars; ex-Chaos Logic), Ferdy Belland (bass; ex-Bif Naked), and Colin Righton (drums; ex-Chaos Machine).
PHAETON‘s music channels cosmic chaos into meticulously crafted soundscapes, wordless journeys through shifting time signatures, soaring melodies, and tectonic riffage. “Neurogenesis” explores themes of technological singularity and the convergence of biological minds with machine intelligence: part cold warning, part sober observation.
“Neurogenesis” is available now on digital platforms via INB Music. Vinyl editions arrive later this year, with more music on the horizon, including the standalone 22-minute epic “Clouds of Mercury” in 2026 and their fourth album “Quartum” in 2027.
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/46CVWFcd3u2pSRt0D9pSrV
Bandcamp – https://phaetonband.bandcamp.com/
Previous Singles:
Band playthrough – Arachnid – https://youtu.be/QxyU0U-vSOc
Isochron ft. Derek Sherinian – https://youtu.be/Ri8wXGYJcJg
Tethys Rising – https://youtu.be/mjehuUQS9G8
|
|
Track Listing:
1. Tethys Rising (6:25)
2. Discontinuum (6:37)
3. Isochron (4:12) ft. Derek Sherinian
4. Synethesia (6:24)
5. Arachnid (4:48)
6. Augmented (4:37)
7. Neurogenesis (6:16)
Album Length: 39:19
Band Lineup:
– Colin Righton: Drums & Percussion
– Daniel Airth: Lead & Rhythm Guitars
– Kevin Thiessen: Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Keyboards
– Ferdy Belland: Electric Bass
For more info: https://linktr.ee/phaetonofficial
– 30 –
“”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
“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
—
ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780
jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Facebook – Asher Media PR News
Instagram – AsherMedia
Tweet – AsherMedia
0 Oct – Nov 2025 – Absolute Underground TV / Magazine w/ Visitant – Exitus Stratagem Records, Ancient Thrones, Ivy Gardens, Harvested, Phaeton, Little King, #ashesofthesun, The Fixer, Unpunished, Devolver
Oct – Nov 2025 – Absolute Underground TV / Magazine
w/ Visitant – Exitus Stratagem Records, Ancient Thrones, Ivy Gardens, Harvested, Phaeton, Little King, #ashesofthesun, The Fixer, Unpunished, Devolver
https://absoluteunderground.tv/absolute-underground-magazine-issue-126/
0 Out Now! Canadian Prog PHAETON Unveils Album “Neurogenesis” ft. Album Guest Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Planet X, Sons of Apollo) + Western Canadian Show Dates (BC, AB)
NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – October 24, 2025
Out Now! Canadian Prog PHAETON Unveils Album “Neurogenesis”
ft. Album Guest Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Planet X, Sons of Apollo)
+ Western Canadian Show Dates (BC, AB)
|
|
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,” a tightly wound sonic journey through melody, muscle, and mind-expanding musicality. Following their acclaimed 2020 release “Between Two Worlds,” this new chapter marks a bold evolution in the band’s sound, more concise yet no less imaginative.
Formed in the rugged wilderness of Kimberley, British Columbia, in 2017, PHAETON fuses neo-classical melodicism, crunching rifferama, tornado percussion, and contrapuntal basslines, making them not only a captivating listening experience on record but a thrilling and ultra-heavy live band in the flesh. Named after the mythical proto-planet believed to have collided with primordial Earth, PHAETON channels cosmic chaos into meticulously crafted soundscapes that are as cerebral as they are crushing.
The band, Kevin Thiessen (guitars, keyboards; ex-Azsension, ex-Datura), Daniel Airth (guitars; ex-Chaos Logic), Ferdy Belland (bass; ex-Bif Naked), and Colin Righton (drums; ex-Chaos Machine), has carved out a distinct sonic identity, drawing inspiration from titans like Dream Theater, Rush, Mastodon, and King Crimson. Their music is a wordless journey through shifting time signatures, soaring melodies, and tectonic riffage, designed to ignite the imagination and challenge the ear.
“Neurogenesis” represents a left-field shift for PHAETON, an unexpected but thrilling change of pace. While their self-titled debut album laid the foundation for their identity as composers and musicians, and “Between Two Worlds” expanded that vision with heavier, more emotionally resonant compositions, “Neurogenesis” takes a more compact and concise approach, not by design, but by organic evolution.
Even as an all-instrumental band, PHAETON’s arrangements follow familiar narrative arcs, verse, chorus, bridge, but instead of supporting vocals, the riffs and rhythms become scaffolding for guitar and keyboard melodies. This time, the band embraced a sideways approach, inviting listeners to interpret song titles and let their imaginations roam freely through the music’s unfolding landscapes.
“It’s jazz-fusion ears within prog-metal boundaries. And while Neurogenesis isn’t a concept album in the strictest sense, many of the song ideas overlap,” the band explains.
Thematically, the album draws inspiration from modern theories of the technological singularity, the looming convergence of biological minds with robotics, cybernetic implants, and microchips. It’s a meditation on what it means to be human in an age of accelerating machine intelligence: part cold warning, part sober observation.
Engineered and mixed by Kevin Thiessen at The Cube in Kimberley, BC, and mastered by Jamie Sitar at Outtatown Sound in Winnipeg, MB, “Neurogenesis” also features artwork by Calgary-based artist Matt Semenok, capturing the album’s cosmic themes.
With a growing international following and a reputation for electrifying live performances, PHAETON continues to evolve, fearlessly, relentlessly, and without saying a word. The band has confidently shared stages with such notable artists as Beyond Creation, Anciients, and Bison, and is looking to open musical doorways across the nation and across the oceans.
Upcoming Show Dates:
Nov 7 – Lethbridge, AB – The Slice w/ Pharm, S.I., Rainbow Patrol
Nov 8 – Edmonton, AB – Divebar w/ Pharm, Excerebration, Spruce Moose
Nov 21 – Cranbrook, BC – Shotties Nightclub w/ Dead Bob, Blind Marc
Nov 29 – Cranbrook BC – Shotties Nightclub w/ ANCIIENTS
“Neurogenesis” will be available on digital platforms on October 24 via INB Music, with vinyl editions arriving later this year and more music, including the standalone 22-minute epic “Clouds of Mercury,” coming in 2026, and a fourth full-length album, “Quartum,” slated for 2027.
“Neurogenesis” is available at the following links:
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/46CVWFcd3u2pSRt0D9pSrV
Bandcamp – https://phaetonband.bandcamp.com/
Previous Singles:
Band playthrough – Arachnid – https://youtu.be/QxyU0U-vSOc
Isochron ft. Derek Sherinian – https://youtu.be/Ri8wXGYJcJg
Tethys Rising – https://youtu.be/mjehuUQS9G8
|
|
Track Listing:
1. Tethys Rising (6:25)
2. Discontinuum (6:37)
3. Isochron (4:12) ft. Derek Sherinian
4. Synethesia (6:24)
5. Arachnid (4:48)
6. Augmented (4:37)
7. Neurogenesis (6:16)
Album Length: 39:19
Band Lineup:
– Colin Righton: Drums & Percussion
– Daniel Airth: Lead & Rhythm Guitars
– Kevin Thiessen: Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Keyboards
– Ferdy Belland: Electric Bass
For more info: https://linktr.ee/phaetonofficial
- 30 –
“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
—
ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780
jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Facebook – Asher Media PR News
Instagram – AsherMedia
Tweet – AsherMedia
0 Instrumental Prog Masters PHAETON Unveil Crushing Band Playthrough “Arachnid” from Upcoming Album “Neurogenesis”
NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – October 9, 2025
Album Download HERE (for media use only)
Instrumental Prog Masters PHAETON Unveil Crushing Band Playthrough “Arachnid”
New Album “Neurogenesis” Out Oct 2025 via INB Music
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 prog-metal quartet Phaeton has dropped their latest sonic beast, “Arachnid,” the next single from their forthcoming third album, “Neurogenesis,” out on October 24th. With a riff that bites and grooves like its namesake, “Arachnid” weaves a dazzling web of melody, menace, and metallic precision, solidifying Phaeton’s place in the modern vanguard of instrumental rock.
Formed by drummer Colin Righton, who had a hunch that combining the talents of Daniel Airth (guitar), Kevin Thiessen (guitar, keys), and Ferdy Belland (bass) would spark something extraordinary, Phaeton has evolved into a genre-defying force. Their sound? Interplanetary Psychedelic Hyper-Melodic Metallic Prog. Their mission? To thrill the senses and expand the mind.
“Arachnid” is a standout track on “Neurogenesis,” crawling through crushing riffs and elegiac passages that evoke the delicate artistry of a spider’s web. It’s a metaphor for the band’s intricate songwriting, which balances brute force with melodic finesse.
“Even if spiders freak people out. They’re essential, and so is this riff. Without it, the song would fall apart,” adds the band
“Neurogenesis” marks a new chapter for Phaeton. While their debut laid the foundation and “Between Two Worlds” expanded their sonic universe, this third album sharpens the edges and tightens the structures, without sacrificing imagination. Inspired by themes of technological singularity and the fusion of biology with machine, the album offers a cold warning wrapped in warm, electrifying grooves.
As an all-instrumental outfit, Phaeton lets the guitars and keyboards do the talking. Their live shows are heavier, crunchier, and thrashier than their crystal-clear recordings suggest, often catching audiences off guard in the best way possible. With influences ranging from Devin Townsend and Rush to Meshuggah, Mastodon, and Gojira, Phaeton’s sound is a kaleidoscope of prog, tech-death, thrash, and djent.
The band’s playthrough for “Arachnid” is now streaming at https://youtu.be/QxyU0U-vSOc
Add to your Spotify playlist – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5F6RHipUtHpTXxrlABsHth
“Neurogenesis” will be available on October 24th, 2025, with more music, including the standalone 22-minute epic “Clouds of Mercury,” coming in 2026, and a fourth full-length album, “Quartum,” slated for 2027.
Album pre-order – https://phaetonband.bandcamp.com/
Previous Singles:
Isochron ft. Derek Sherinian – https://youtu.be/Ri8wXGYJcJg
Tethys Rising – https://youtu.be/mjehuUQS9G8
|
|
Track Listing:
1. Tethys Rising (6:25)
2. Discontinuum (6:37)
3. Isochron (4:12) ft. Derek Sherinian
4. Synethesia (6:24)
5. Arachnid (4:48)
6. Augmented (4:37)
7. Neurogenesis (6:16)
Album Length: 39:19
Band Lineup:
– Colin Righton: Drums & Percussion
– Daniel Airth: Lead & Rhythm Guitars
– Kevin Thiessen: Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Keyboards
– Ferdy Belland: Electric Bass
For more info: https://linktr.ee/phaetonofficial
– 30 –
“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
“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 PHAETON Unveils Single “Isochron” ft. Keyboard Wizard Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Planet X, Sons of Apollo); New Album “Neurogenesis” Out Oct 2025
NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – September 23, 2025
Canadian Instrumental Prog Metal PHAETON Unveils Single “Isochron” ft. Keyboard Wizard Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Planet X, Sons of Apollo)
New Album “Neurogenesis” Out Oct 2025
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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
Canadian instrumental prog-metal outfit Phaeton has released their latest sonic whirlwind, “Isochron”, featuring keyboard icon Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Planet X, Sons of Apollo). The single offers a high-voltage glimpse into their upcoming third album, “Neurogenesis,” out October 24th via INB Music.
Clocking in at just under five minutes, “Isochron” is one of the densest and most dynamic tracks Phaeton has written in years. It ricochets between killer riffs, Middle Eastern mellowness, and clenched-fist power, all supercharged by Sherinian’s signature synthesizer tsunami that came together with lightning speed.
The band explains:
“Colin reached out, and to our astonishment, Derek agreed immediately. He sent us half a dozen takes the next day, each with different moods and effects. Kevin stitched together a hybrid performance from all of them; we couldn’t choose just one. We’re happy with how this track sounded. There’s a feeling of whirlwind rush we deliberately injected into the tune. If an isochron connects different points where an event occurs simultaneously, then the song itself is that event, stretched across time, Newtonian physics be damned,” says the band.
Listen to “Isochron” ft. Derek Sherinian via its premiere on Metal Addicts HERE.
“Neurogenesis” marks a bold left-field shift for Phaeton. While their self-titled debut album established their identity and sophomore Between Two Worlds expanded it with heavier, more emotionally resonant compositions, “Neurogenesis” takes a more compact and concise approach, though not by design.
“The songs just ended up that way. Even as an instrumental band, our arrangements follow a kind of verse-chorus structure, but instead of vocals, it’s guitar and keyboard melodies that carry the narrative,” the band explains.
Thematically, “Neurogenesis” explores overlapping concepts inspired by the technological singularity, the looming fusion of biological consciousness with robotics and cybernetic implants. Musically, the album blends jazz-fusion sensibilities with prog-metal architecture, inviting listeners to interpret each track’s title and let their imaginations roam.
“It’s not a concept album in the strictest sense, but the ideas do interlock. It’s a cold warning as much as a sober observation. We’re asking: when that happens, will we still be human?” adds the band.
Formed by drummer Colin Righton, who united longtime collaborators Daniel Airth, Kevin Thiessen, and Ferdy Belland, Phaeton has carved out a niche with their “Interplanetary Psychedelic Hyper-Melodic Metallic Prog.” Their sound draws comparisons to Symphony X, Devin Townsend, Rush, Meshuggah, and Gojira, minus the vocals.
“We let the guitars and keyboards do the singing. Live, we’re heavier, crunchier, and thrashier than our polished recordings suggest. It catches people off guard in the best way,” explains the band.
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.
For fans of instrumental metal, progressive rock, and sonic storytelling, Phaeton offers visceral thrill and intellectual expansion, song after song after song.
“Neurogenesis” – album pre-order (out Oct 24th) – https://phaetonband.bandcamp.com/
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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
– 30 –
“A”An instrumental quartet from Kimberley, British Columbia, Phaeton are skillfully blurring the boundaries between old- and new-school prog metal. Their second album, Between Two Worlds, covers a vast amount of ground, from intricate post-djent riffing, to indulgent prog pomp, and no single outstays its welcome. The nine-minute title track is a particularly impressive display of showboating and smart songwriting.” – Prog Mag – Dom Lawson (Between Two Worlds – 2023)
It’s Prog Mag’s brand new Tracks Of The Week! (April 21, 2023) – “Hailing from Columbia, Canada’s Phaeton are an interplanetary instrumental heavy prog metal quartet and as their name suggests, they are fascinated with astronomy, and the idea of life itself, in all its beauty and wonder and majesty, emerging from an instant of catastrophic cosmic violence. The epic Between Two Worlds is the title track of the band’s latest album.” (Between Two Worlds – 2023)
“Top-tier instrumental prog-metal-math music from the East Kootenay region performed by a quartet of veteran musicians.” – Stuart Derdeyn (The Vancouver Sun) (Between Two Worlds – 2023)
“Phaeton are relatively unknown, especially compared to the above mentioned bands (scale The Summit, Animals as Leaders), but they definitely hold their own on Between Two Worlds. All members absolutely kill it on their instruments, the songs are wonderfully arranged and produced, and there’s plenty of variety here to hold our attention. Instrumental prog might be a little talked about genre, but Phaeton belong in the conversation.” – Heavy Music Headquarters (Between Two Worlds – 2023)
“…a killer album indeed, wonderfully arranged and produced; a superb prog metal opus where the music almost makes you dizzy, but most of all longing for more indeed. “Between Two Worlds” to me is one of the absolute highlights of this year, a unique twist and rollercoaster of progressive, instrumental metal, highly recommended indeed: especially suitable for fans of Rush, Dream Theater and Liquid Tension Experiment. Play it LOUD and you will be hooked, listening tip: “Monsoon.”” – Rock United (Between Two Worlds – 2023)
“”Between Two World” was very competently arranged and recorded by PHAETON. Prog fans, who like sounds and virtuosity above all, will be well served with the disc.” – PowerMetal.de (Between Two Worlds – 2023)
“PHAETON releases an instrumental album in which the voice is not lacking; a nervous, boosted opus where the frank and limpid musicality makes you dizzy, where the notes invite you to travel in space to another dimension, where harmony is combined with controlled djent power; innovative music, on modern math metal-prog.” – Profil Prog (Between Two Worlds – 2023)
“If you’re open minded in your choice of Metal genres, you should feel free to let this instrumental work slip through your ears. It takes a little getting used to, so completely without singing. But if you get involved and listen carefully, one or the other will surely like something. The whole thing should appeal to fans of RUSH or DREAM THEATER.” – Hellfire Magazin (Between Two Worlds – 2023)
“The sound on all seven tracks is huge and if there was a “best sounding hammer-ons” award then March of the Synthetics could be a contender.” – Stuart Derdeyn (The Vancouver Sun) (Self-titled – 2018)
—
ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780
jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Facebook @AsherMediaRelations
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0 Canadian Instrumental Prog Metal PHAETON Unveils First Single “Tethys Rising” From Third Album “Neurogenesis” Out Oct 2025
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)
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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
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
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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
– 30 –
“A”An instrumental quartet from Kimberley, British Columbia, Phaeton are skillfully blurring the boundaries between old- and new-school prog metal. Their second album, Between Two Worlds, covers a vast amount of ground, from intricate post-djent riffing, to indulgent prog pomp, and no single outstays its welcome. The nine-minute title track is a particularly impressive display of showboating and smart songwriting.” – Prog Mag – Dom Lawson (Between Two Worlds – 2023)
It’s Prog Mag’s brand new Tracks Of The Week! (April 21, 2023) – “Hailing from Columbia, Canada’s Phaeton are an interplanetary instrumental heavy prog metal quartet and as their name suggests, they are fascinated with astronomy, and the idea of life itself, in all its beauty and wonder and majesty, emerging from an instant of catastrophic cosmic violence. The epic Between Two Worlds is the title track of the band’s latest album.” (Between Two Worlds – 2023)
“Top-tier instrumental prog-metal-math music from the East Kootenay region performed by a quartet of veteran musicians.” – Stuart Derdeyn (The Vancouver Sun) (Between Two Worlds – 2023)
“Phaeton are relatively unknown, especially compared to the above mentioned bands (scale The Summit, Animals as Leaders), but they definitely hold their own on Between Two Worlds. All members absolutely kill it on their instruments, the songs are wonderfully arranged and produced, and there’s plenty of variety here to hold our attention. Instrumental prog might be a little talked about genre, but Phaeton belong in the conversation.” – Heavy Music Headquarters (Between Two Worlds – 2023)
“…a killer album indeed, wonderfully arranged and produced; a superb prog metal opus where the music almost makes you dizzy, but most of all longing for more indeed. “Between Two Worlds” to me is one of the absolute highlights of this year, a unique twist and rollercoaster of progressive, instrumental metal, highly recommended indeed: especially suitable for fans of Rush, Dream Theater and Liquid Tension Experiment. Play it LOUD and you will be hooked, listening tip: “Monsoon.”” – Rock United (Between Two Worlds – 2023)
“”Between Two World” was very competently arranged and recorded by PHAETON. Prog fans, who like sounds and virtuosity above all, will be well served with the disc.” – PowerMetal.de (Between Two Worlds – 2023)
“PHAETON releases an instrumental album in which the voice is not lacking; a nervous, boosted opus where the frank and limpid musicality makes you dizzy, where the notes invite you to travel in space to another dimension, where harmony is combined with controlled djent power; innovative music, on modern math metal-prog.” – Profil Prog (Between Two Worlds – 2023)
“If you’re open minded in your choice of Metal genres, you should feel free to let this instrumental work slip through your ears. It takes a little getting used to, so completely without singing. But if you get involved and listen carefully, one or the other will surely like something. The whole thing should appeal to fans of RUSH or DREAM THEATER.” – Hellfire Magazin (Between Two Worlds – 2023)
“The sound on all seven tracks is huge and if there was a “best sounding hammer-ons” award then March of the Synthetics could be a contender.” – Stuart Derdeyn (The Vancouver Sun) (Self-titled – 2018)
—
ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780
jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Facebook @AsherMediaRelations
Instagram @AsherMedia
Tweet @AsherMedia
0 EPK – Phaeton – Neurogenesis (2025)
EPK – Phaeton – Neurogenesis (2025)
Publicist Jon Asher – Jon[@]ashermediarelations[.com]
For fans of Mastodon, Meshuggah, Anciients, Between the Buried and Me, Devin Townsend
““Neurogenesis” is a continuation of the sounds we’ve established on our first two albums, with more of a focus on concision without sacrificing the imagination. We’ll carry you away to the nebulae, and you’ll enjoy every light-minute of it. Visceral thrill and intellectual expansion, song after song after song.” – Phaeton
Album Title: Neurogenesis
Label: INB Music
Release Date: October 24, 2025
Phaetonprog.com | Facebook.com/Phaetonband | Instagram.com/phaetonband | Youtube.com/@phaeton-officialyoutubecha9571 | X.com/phaetonband
Phaetonband.bandcamp.com | Spotify | Apple Music
All Links: https://linktr.ee/phaetonofficial
“”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
“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
“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)
“”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)
Album Title: Neurogenesis
Label: INB Music
Release Date: October 24, 2025
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
– All songs written and performed by PHAETON.
– Engineered and Mixed by Kevin Thiessen at the Cube (Kimberley, BC, Canada).
– Mastered by Jamie Sitar at Outtatown Sound (Winnipeg, MB, Canada).
– Album Artwork by Matt Semenok (Calgary, AB, Canada).
– SOCAN members.
– Music is MAPL / CanCon.Band Lineup:
– Colin Righton: Drums & Percussion
– Daniel Airth: Lead & Rhythm Guitars
– Kevin Thiessen: Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Keyboards
– Ferdy Belland: Electric Bass
============================================
About The Album Artwork:
Colin came up with the idea of the suspended human brain, awash with eldritch bioelectricity and cybernetic implants. Our concept of “neurogenesis” ties in with all the unsettling modern talk about the singularity, where elitist jerk-futurists are persuading everyone to get jiggy with the A.I. and upload our minds into the Wankersphere.
We wanted the album imagery to be dark and moody and wrap around all four panels of the LP’s gatefold sleeve and connect back on itself, but it was a struggle to find a suitably motivated, imaginative artist to bring the concept to life – until Colin found Calgary’s Matt Semenok! His results were impressive and astounding. Matt captured a very real visual balance between the eerie creepiness of H.R. Giger and the surreal washiness of Bill Sienkiewicz. We were damn lucky to find him, and we will trust him with future visual concepts if he can stand to work with us ever again.
The artwork’s message is a warning. Technology is exploding across our world at a highly accelerated exponential rate, and human technology always outpaces human psychology, and it’s not always for the better. We’re trying to download 21st-century software into cerebral hard drives that haven’t been updated in over 50,000 years. Hilarity will not ensue.
About the album (Lyrically and Musically):
Our third album is a left-field change of pace for us, and we’re thrilled with the results. On our debut album, we established who we are and what we do as musicians and composers, and we’ll always be proud of that first statement. When we moved on to “Between Two Worlds,” we created an album with an overall heavier sound, and all the hyper-melodic neo-classical adventurousness and the bludgeoning riffola were brought into sharper focus and expanded into broader, more lengthy, more emotionally impactful songs – which we believed, then as now, was an impressive improvement on our part. With “Neurogenesis,” the songs ended up more compact and concise, but that wasn’t deliberate – they just ended up that way. Even as an all-instrumental band, our arrangements follow what might be described as verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-etc., but instead of the riffs and rhythms being frameworks for the vocal delivery of storylines, they become the frameworks for guitar melody, or keyboard melody. Which we’ve always done, but we took a sideways approach to it this time around. It’s up to the individual listener to take the titles we give our songs and let their own imaginations take them where they will as the music unfolds: jazz-fusion ears within prog-metal boundaries, so to speak. And although “Neurogenesis” isn’t a Concept Album in the strictest prog-rock definition, the individual concepts of many of the songs included here do overlap each other – we were inspired by the modern theories of the technological singularity, of how we’re only a few years away from humanity’s biological brains uniting with robotics and cybernetic implants and microchips – and whether we’ll still be human when that happens. It’s a cold warning as much as a sober observation.
=========================================
Fun Facts – Story Angles:
1. Ferdy Belland has a record collection numbering close to 8,000 albums, which he’s been building since he was a little boy. He also collects first-edition hardcover classics, Bronze Age comics, MAD Magazines, toys from the 1970s, and assorted militaria. His house is very cluttered but utterly fascinating. Just don’t ask his poor, bewildered wife about any of that junk.
2. Ferdy Belland has an established parallel career as a respected music journalist for as long as he’s been a respected active musician, and has been published in the Georgia Straight, the Nerve Magazine, Terminal City Weekly, Absolute Underground Magazine, and numerous outlets of the Black Press chain. He’s interviewed such notables as Dweezil Zappa, Uli Jon Roth, Charlie Benante, Chuck Billy, Ian Thornley, Jeff Martin, Bert Jansch, Dave Alvin, Ian Tyson, Joey Shithead, Randy Bachman, and Greg Godovitz. Ferdy is very proud of having been told to fuck off by Terry David Mulligan.
3. Colin Righton is an excellent chef, and not only should he challenge the Red Seal, he should be operating a food truck at all the festivals, which effectively makes him the Gordon Ramsey of prog-metal, both in culinary skill and emotional temperament. And he’s into tennis the way the Pope is into Catholicism.
4. Daniel Airth’s nickname is “Danimal,” which is hilarious since he’s the quietest, gentlest, most laid-back and soft-spoken member of Phaeton. Dan is most at home at his DAW with a guitar in his hands, casually flinging out one million-dollar riff after another, minute after minute, for hours on end. And if anyone bumps into Dan in the bars after hours, please buy him an Old Fashioned.
5. Kevin Thiessen is, hands down, the best recording engineer/producer you’ll find anywhere in Southeastern British Columbia, and his talents are national-caliber talents, but it usually takes the superhuman intervention of Galactus to pry him out of his boxlike studio (aptly nicknamed “The Cube”). Kevin is also a huge die-hard fan of the “Back to the Future” trilogy, but the band has so far heroically repelled all furious pressure from Kevin to arrange Huey Lewis and the News’ “The Power of Love” into an all-instrumental prog-metal arrangement.
Photo Credit – Scott Courtemanche
Formed in the rugged wilderness of Kimberley, British Columbia, in 2017, Phaeton is a four-piece instrumental progressive metal band that fuses neo-classical melodicism, crunching rifferama, tornado percussion, and contrapuntal basslines, making them not only a captivating listening experience on record but a thrilling and ultra-heavy live band in the flesh. Named after the mythical proto-planet believed to have collided with primordial Earth, Phaeton channels cosmic chaos into meticulously crafted soundscapes that are as cerebral as they are crushing.
The band—Kevin Thiessen (guitars, keyboards) (ex-Azsension, ex-Datura), Daniel Airth (guitars) (ex-Chaos Logic), Ferdy Belland (bass) (ex-Bif Naked), and Colin Righton (drums) (ex-Chaos Machine) —has carved out a distinct sonic identity, drawing inspiration from titans like Dream Theater, Rush, Mastodon, and King Crimson. Their music is a wordless journey through shifting time signatures, soaring melodies, and tectonic riffage, designed to ignite the imagination and challenge the ear.
Following their acclaimed albums Phaeton (2018) and Between Two Worlds (2023), the band is set to release their highly anticipated third offering, the full-length Neurogenesis, in September 2025. This new chapter promises to push their compositional boundaries even further, delivering a cerebral and visceral experience that redefines what instrumental metal can be.
With a growing international following and a reputation for electrifying live performances, Phaeton continues to evolve—fearlessly, relentlessly, and without saying a word. The band has confidently shared stages with such notable artists as Beyond Creation, Anciients, and Bison, and is looking to open musical doorways across the nation and across the oceans.
Discography:
2018 – Phaeton (album)
2023 – Between Two Worlds (album)
2025 – Neurogenesis (album)
Shared Stage with: Beyond Creation, Anciients, Bison, Atavistia, Syryn, Kelevra, Striker, Terrifier
Festivals:
2024 – Loud As Hell Festival (Drumheller AB)
2025 – Fun Field Festival (Wardner BC)
0 PHAETON Announces First Shows (BC, AB) In Nearly Five Years In Support of Latest Album “Between Two Worlds”
NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – March 20, 2024
PHAETON Announces First Shows (BC, AB) In Nearly Five Years In Support of Latest Album “Between Two Worlds”
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L-R – Colin Righton – Drums & Percussion, Daniel Airth – Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Kevin Thiessen – Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Keyboards, Ferdy Belland – Electric & Fretless Bass
Photo by Julian Bueckert
Phaeton has been a noticeable force in the underground Canadian progressive metal scene since their debut self-titled album in 2018. The band has amassed a dedicated following for their instrumental attention-focused listening experience. One drenched in joy and wonder and the emotional, visceral release that only prog-metal can deliver. The lack of lyrical interference only allows the listener the better opportunity to let their imaginations run wild with the music, drifting emotionally away on the solar winds to wherever they wish to soar. Their second album “Between Two Worlds” was released in April 2023 and now they are ready to bring it to a live atmosphere with their first two shows since October 2019.
Phaeton‘s first show date will be on March 29th in Fernie, BC at the Fernie Elks Hall with Vancouver’s SVNEATR and Boise ID’s WEALD & WOE along with their other live performance on April 12th as a special guest opener for the Calgary Wacken Battle Final at Dickens.
Phaeton bassist Ferdy Belland adds about their upcoming performances:
“It’s beyond exciting for us to be playing live onstage for the first time since before the pandemic. We had the Between Two Worlds album completed, mixed, mastered, and ready for release, and what do you know – that was the first week of March 2020. Great timing or what? The whole wide world shut down the following week, and we had to wait, and wait, and wait, like everybody else did. And then, when the pandemic restrictions were gradually stumbling away, and we were all frothing at the mouth to get back to the abnormal we used to know, Colin got sick. There was no frustration over that – fuck the band, that was our friend who almost died. But he pulled through and got back into fighting shape again, and then we began to think of ourselves as a band again. So we released the album and watched in curiosity as the world tried to make sense of us if they could. Quite a few did, and they really got off on Between Two Worlds, which was so very gladdening for us. The positive reviews we received made the wait worth it. So now we had to remember what it was like to be a live act again. Our last live show was at Vern’s Pub in Calgary back in October of 2019, playing with Atavistia and Syryn. We only had maybe half a dozen shows under our belt when that gig happened, since we started off as a composing and recording project; after the first album was released we immediately started receiving requests to play live, so finally we just shrugged our shoulders and said ‘okay, let’s rehearse these things. And from our first show, we were always very well-received by excitable audiences. Not that I think we’re astonishing, but that certainly propelled us to seek out more shows. And then the pandemic erupted while we were making other plans. I suppose all good things come to those who wait. Looking so forward to getting back onstage, and staying onstage for a while. See you soon!”
Event details for both events can be found below.
March 29 – Fernie, BC – Fernie Elks Hall – info here.
April 12 – Calgary, AB – Dickens – info here.
The members of Phaeton 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 intrigued us conceptually. This is reflected in their dramatic music which emerges from the void in thrilling bursts and unexpected turns.
“Between Two Worlds” was released on April 21st, 2023, and is available at Phaetonband.bandcamp.com, Spotify.
Band Playthrough – Monsoon – https://youtu.be/-sRzrejyHuA
Band Playthrough – Australis – https://youtu.be/xkrHkmmY6xM
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Track Listing:
1. Predestination – 4:57
2. Oceans of Time – 6:44
3. Terra Australis – 4:42
4. Monsoon – 6:06
5. Refraction – 4:48
6. Geomorphic – 4:51
7. Magma Chamber – 6:09
8. Between Two Worlds – 9:21
Album Length: 47:40
For more info: Facebook.com/Phaetonband | Instagram.com/phaetonband | Twitter.com/phaetonband
About: PHAETON was formed in Kimberley, BC in March 2017 by Kevin Thiessen (lead & rhythm guitar), Daniel Airth (lead & rhythm guitar), Colin Righton (drums & percussion), and Ferdy Belland (electric & fretless bass). Combining technically ferocious compositions of modern metal with the ambitious song-arrangement mindset of classic prog-rock, PHAETON (named for the theoretical proto-planet that collided with Ancient Earth during the Primordial Era) stands alone in the wilderness of British Columbia with their unique approach to instrumental prog-metal.
Phaeton is:
Kevin Thiessen – Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Keyboards
Daniel Airth – Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Ferdy Belland – Electric & Fretless Bass
Colin Righton – Drums & Percussion
Discography
2018 – Self Titled – LP
2023 – Between Two Worlds – LP
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“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
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.”
“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,’ the song, is the magnum opus of Phaeton: a progressive instrumental metal rollercoaster, almost second to none. This impressive track is filled with power chords galore, outstanding melodies, neck breaking riffs, almost inimitable solos and lots of tempo changes and variety; in other words, you never get bored here, even as the song clocks in over the nine minutes mark!” – Rock United
“…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
“All metal influences flow into the respective songs and riffs and power chords are widely spread. The sound of the opener “Predestination” is very reminiscent of GHOST.” – Hellfire Magazin
“”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
“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
“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 Magazine
“Top-tier instrumental prog-metal-math music from the East Kootenay region performed by a quartet of veteran musicians.” – Stuart Derdeyn (The Vancouver Sun)
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