NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – January 16, 2026
ANTHEA Unveils First Single “Phantom In The Masquerade” From New Album “Beyond The Dawn” Out April 2026
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Rockshots Records announces the release of “Phantom in the Masquerade”, the brand new single by Los Angeles symphonic metal act Anthea, out now on all digital platforms.
“Phantom in the Masquerade” is the first single taken from Anthea’s upcoming third full-length album, “Beyond The Dawn,” and serves as an introduction to the band’s most ambitious and theatrical chapter to date. The song explores the feeling of being invisible while surrounded by others, translating emotional isolation into a powerful and evocative musical narrative.
Commenting on the track, the band states:
“‘Phantom in the Masquerade’ is one of the most theatrical songs we’ve written. We wanted it to feel both catchy and haunting, with lyrics that capture the experience of being surrounded by people yet completely unseen. It sets the stage for the dramatic direction we’ve been embracing, both musically and visually.”
Musically, the single highlights Anthea’s evolved sound, blending symphonic metal foundations with strong melodic hooks, driving guitar work, and layered orchestrations. The balance between immediacy and atmosphere reflects the broader identity of “Beyond The Dawn“, an album conceived as a dynamic journey where each song offers a distinct mood while remaining part of a cohesive whole.
Expanding on the vision behind the album, the band adds:
“This record pushed us to explore every corner of our sound – from fast and heavy tracks to more emotional and melodic moments. ‘Phantom in the Masquerade’ introduces that range and gives listeners a clear sense of the dramatic and expressive path the album follows.”
An official music video accompanies the release, transforming the song’s themes into a symbolic visual narrative centered on identity, isolation, and transformation. Set within a masquerade ball, the video reinforces Anthea’s strong theatrical aesthetic, a defining element of both their music and live performances.
“Phantom in the Masquerade” marks the opening step toward “Beyond The Dawn“, an album shaped by themes of growth, transition, uncertainty, and renewal, representing a significant evolution in Anthea’s songwriting and artistic vision.
For fans of: Dynazty, Kamelot, Powerwolf
DIGITAL SINGLE: https://lnk.to/sIZl8W
“Phantom In The Masquerade” Official Music Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMxhW6gWY3g
New album “Beyond The Dawn” out April 17th, 2026.
PRE ORDER “Beyond The Dawn“: https://rockshots.eu/products/anthea-beyond-the-dawn
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Track Listing:
1. Beyond The Dawn – 4:13
2. Phantom in the Masquerade – 3:32
3. The Lost Soul – 3:44
4. Awakening (Song for Spring) – 4:16
5. Bygone Age (Chicxulub) – 4:03
6. From Shadows to Light – 4:40
7. Crystal Moon – 4:11
8. Wanderer’s Quell – 3:53
9. Whispers of the Heart – 4:46
10. Duality of Gaia – 4:12
11. Burnin’ in the Third Degree (Tahnee Caine and Tryanglz cover) – 3:38
Album Length: 45:08
Anthea Line-Up:
Diego Valadez: Lead Vocals, Keyboards
Juan Pina: Rhythm Guitars, Harsh Vocals
Marcos Mejia: Lead Guitars
Gabby Hawk: Bass
Peter Vasquez: Drums
The Sirens (Backing Vocals)
Mel Del Real: Backing Vocals
Astrid Anaya: Backing Vocals
More info:
https://rockshots.eu
https://www.facebook.com/antheametal
https://www.instagram.com/antheametal
BIOGRAPHY:
Anthea is a symphonic metal band from Los Angeles, California, known for their distinctive theatrical approach and dynamic blend of symphonic, melodic, and progressive metal elements. Founded in 2015 by vocalist and keyboardist Diego Valadez, Anthea emerged from a desire to explore a more expressive and cinematic musical language combining powerful metal foundations with strong melodic sensibilities and dramatic atmospheres.
What began as a side project quickly evolved into a full-fledged band when Valadez joined forces with longtime collaborators from the local metal scene. Drawing from diverse influences ranging from symphonic metal and melodic death metal to musical theater and film scores, Anthea developed a sound that balances intensity and emotion, heaviness and accessibility, always placing storytelling at the core of their identity.
The band made their live debut at the iconic Whisky a Go Go in Hollywood and steadily gained recognition for their live performances and strong visual aesthetic. Their debut album “Illusion” (2020) received widespread critical acclaim, followed by “Tales Untold” (2022), which further solidified their reputation within the international symphonic metal scene through glowing reviews and extensive media coverage.
In recent years, Anthea has continued to refine and expand their artistic vision. The introduction of backing vocalists known as The Sirens added rich harmonic layers and reinforced the band’s theatrical dimension, both in the studio and on stage. This evolution culminates in their upcoming third studio album, “Beyond The Dawn”, their most ambitious release to date, showcasing a broader dynamic range, heavier arrangements, and a more pronounced dramatic identity.
With “Beyond The Dawn”, Anthea presents a mature and confident chapter in their journey, offering a cohesive yet varied listening experience shaped by themes of growth, transition, uncertainty, and renewal. Blending compelling melodies, powerful orchestration, and expressive songwriting, the band continues to establish itself as a distinctive voice within modern symphonic metal.
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“An epic adventure that everyone needs to go on. 10/10” – Mark Lacey – Power Play Magazine
“The new album ‘Tales Untold’ – released in 2022 – has an even bigger sound than its predecessor, projecting a huge cinematic aura onto its listeners.” – Iron Mathew – Metal Gods TV
“ANTHEA “Tales Untold” Surpasses All Expectations For A Progressive Power Metal Album” – Doug Groff – Rock You Show
“Tales worth telling!” – Bryce Van Patten – Metal Express Radio
“I find ANTHEA’s interpretation to be both fresh and personal.” – Dave “That Metal Guy” Campbell – Metal Temple
“Blends speed, pomp, a catchy chorus and proggy keys into a unified and engaging whole that is fun to sing along with while playing air instruments” – MetalMike – Metal Crypt
“The song writing on this album is commendable and of the highest calibre. If you are looking out for a melodic sound with plenty of surprises and a true rollercoaster experience, you’ve hit the jackpot with this one. Go for it!” (9.5/10) – Ankit Sood – The Metal Resource
“The music and the vocals work together in perfect harmony, whether its through gentler moments or full unashamed bombastic power. Lyrically, Anthea offer a truly poetic experience, elevating a listener’s wonder and imagination to optimum level.” (5 STARS) – Amy Lawrence – MMH Radio
“A long-term, melodic debut album, with excellent musical combinations, there are different tempos that can be heard as Thrash metal briefly, they have a strong combination that goes from Symphonic Metal to Power Metal and vice versa, at the beginning they start very Power Metal and end very Symphonic Metal, that gives variety to the album!” (90/100) – Darkzen Dragon
“Overall, a fast paced and very infectious album of heavy hitting symphonic power metal with stunning twists and turns.” (9.5/10) – Iron Mathew Collins – Metal Gods TV
“I believe that Anthea have managed to convince us of the value of their musical ideas with a strong debut and of course with the composite result they present to us in ‘Illusion’.” – Angelos Hontzias – Rockway.gr
“A sort of dramatic theatrical experience that of this “Illusion”, which ranks among the best releases of the gothic-epic panorama of 2020.” (8/10) – Vittorio “Vice” Giorcelli – Tutto Rock Magazine
“Congratulations ANTHEA on achieving one of the better albums for 2020!” (9/10) – Kevin Lewis – Metal-Temple
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