NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – April 6, 2026
Preview the HYPERSPACE METALFEST 2026 Lineup with the Official Spotify Playlist
ft. SANCTUARY, EDGE OF PARADISE, ATAVISTIA, VOIDCHASER, OWLBEAR, ARTIFICIAL LANGUAGE, and more!
Vancouver – April 16-17 (The Cobalt), April 18 (Rickshaw Theatre)
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With Vancouver, B.C.’s leading melodic and power metal festival, HYPERSPACE METALFEST, gearing up for its 7th edition, fans can now get an early taste of the 2026 lineup through the festival’s newly released Spotify preview playlist. Ahead of the three‑day event, set for April 16 and 17 at The Cobalt and April 18 at the Rickshaw Theatre, the playlist showcases this year’s full roster, featuring SANCTUARY, EDGE OF PARADISE, ATAVISTIA, VOIDCHASER, OWLBEAR, ARTIFICIAL LANGUAGE, and more.
Check out the HMF 2026 Lineup Spotify Playlist – https://open.spotify.com/playlist/29rcYoWLyYXPFyN7OKdPDB?si=7Kke2MVVSyS6v_Lxe5-KSg
“The full lineup for Hyperspace Metal Festival VII is here! Sanctuary will be performing a Canadian exclusive performance of Into The Mirror Black in its entirety! Atavistia will headline night 1, which will feature a heavy emphasis on melodic death metal. Night two headliner Edge of Paradise will cap off a night of epic symphonic and melodic power metal! After this year, the festival will be going on indefinite hiatus, so if you’ve been wanting to make it to Hyperspace, this could be your last chance. Let’s rage together at the Rickshaw and the Cobalt one last time!” adds festival organizer Joey Hockin of Journeyman Productions.
Check out Hockin‘s interview about this year’s festival lineup with Metal-Rules.com HERE.
“Lovers of Melody and Power Unite! Hyperspace Metalfest VII is Nigh!” – Decibel Magazine
Hyperspace Metal Festival VII – April 16th – 18th.
One-day passes and three-day passes are available at http://hyperspace-vii.eventbrite.ca/
Facebook Event – https://www.facebook.com/events/858534116963447
HYPERSPACE METAL FESTIVAL VII
Day One – April 16
Atavistia
Inpathos
Hyperstrike
Ravensun
Kayas
Day Two – April 17
Edge of Paradise
The Scepter
Lycanthro
Ophelia Falling
Valley of Despair
Day Three – April 18
Sanctuary – Performing Into The Mirror Black in its entirety
Owlbear – Canadian Debut
Artificial Language – Canadian Debut
Voidchaser
Witchkiller
About The Bands:
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This year’s HMF headliner, Sanctuary, will make their exclusive Canadian appearance unforgettable by performing their acclaimed 1990 album Into the Mirror Black in full.
Formed in Seattle in 1985, Sanctuary quickly became a major force in the city’s metal scene, driven by the soaring vocals of the late Warrel Dane. Their debut, Refuge Denied (1988), produced by Dave Mustaine (Megadeth), put them on the global metal map, followed by the darker and more refined Into the Mirror Black in 1990. The rise of grunge paused the band’s momentum, leading members to form Nevermore, but Sanctuary reunited in 2011 and returned to major festival stages worldwide.
They released The Year the Sun Died in 2014 and the archival collection Inception in 2017. After Dane’s passing later that year, the band continued with Joseph Michael on vocals, earning strong support from fans. Today’s lineup features Michael, original members Lenny Rutledge and Dave Budbill, plus bassist George Hernandez, with a second guitarist joining them live.
Sanctuary will perform special sets of Refuge Denied and Into the Mirror Black at select 2026 festivals and is currently working on a new album, Transmutation. The band is ready to bring fresh music and a powerful new show back to Europe and beyond. See you on the road!
https://www.sanctuaryofficial.com/
Video – Future Tense – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5NCBaPE3k0
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Headlining the night two of HMF, Los Angeles’ Edge of Paradise arrives fresh off extensive North American touring with Delain, Xandria, and Japan’s Lovebites. Hyperspace Metal Fest in Vancouver is one of several major headline appearances for the band this year, alongside Fire It Up Festival in California and Rock in Rautheim in Germany, with more dates on the way.
The band recently released a striking new video for “Martyr (Monster)” from last year’s hit album Prophecy, expanding their immersive sci‑fi universe and showcasing new keyboardist Alex Nasla in his first performance with the group. The video’s second act reimagines the track as an instrumental, further deepening the album’s sonic world.
Known for their cinematic fusion of heavy riffs, soaring vocals, electronic textures, and vivid storytelling, Edge of Paradise, fronted by vocalist and visual artist Margarita Monet, has toured more than 30 countries and released acclaimed albums including Universe, The Unknown, Hologram, and now Prophecy (Napalm Records, 2025). Widely praised as their most ambitious work yet, Prophecy introduces 8‑string guitars and explores the looming “Singularity,” balancing futuristic themes with Monet’s emotional lyricism and artwork.
The band’s expanding creative universe also includes a graphic novel series that enriches the albums’ narratives. Lead single “Death Note” has quickly become a fan favorite, accompanied by a visually rich, cinematic video directed by Monet. With their bold artistic vision, relentless touring, and multi‑dimensional storytelling, Edge of Paradise continues to push modern rock forward—inviting fans into a world where music, art, and imagination collide.
https://www.edgeofparadiseband.com/
Video – Martyr (Monster) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtHYeuZpXbA
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Headlining the first night of HMF, Atavistia (HMF Alumni) is a Canadian symphonic melodic death metal band that blends aggressive riffs, cinematic orchestrations, and melancholic atmospheres. The band has built a strong international following, particularly across Europe, through consistent releases and extensive touring alongside established acts. Known for their powerful live performances and polished production, Atavistia continues to push their sound forward while remaining rooted in melodic death metal.
Video – Eternal Oceans (Reforged) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vthxzis6lzs
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Voidchaser, a progressive metal band from Montreal and Stockholm, has rapidly gained international attention since 2023, earning praise from major outlets across the Americas and Europe. Their 2024 concept album Solace surpassed 250,000 streams and charted globally, followed by the 2025 EP Trust, which features high‑profile collaborations. In 2025, the band launched their debut international tour, performing at ProgPower Europe, the inaugural ProgStorm Festival, and sharing stages with Threshold, Kingcrow, Vulkan, Nospūn, and more.
Video – Time (feat. Universe Effects) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnxaEiAmBv4
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Owlbear, forced to cancel their 2025 HMF appearance, is now set on taking the stage in 2026. Formed in 2020 by North American metal veterans Katheryn Scary, Jeff Taft, and Leona Hayward, the band quickly evolved from a remote project into a full live act following the success of their 2023 debut Chaos to the Realm and their 2024 performance at Chicago’s sold‑out Legions of Metal festival. Drawing on classic heavy and speed metal with lyrics inspired by beloved games and fantasy worlds, Owlbear continues to build momentum with their acclaimed sophomore album, Feather & Claw
https://www.facebook.com/OwlbearMetal
Lyric Video – Hawkriders Of The Waste – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AXFZ3ZmF5o
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Artificial Language is a progressive rock/metal band from Fresno, California, known for blending technical precision with a cinematic, emotionally driven sound. Since 2017, they’ve built a reputation for intricate songwriting and immersive arrangements that bridge the intensity of metal with the expansiveness of modern prog. Their evolution continues through ambitious studio work and striking visual storytelling, including their standout “Skinwalker” music video.
https://www.artificiallanguagemusic.com/
Video – Skinwalker – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyHudUCLQIM
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Ophelia Falling, a Vancouver‑based symphonic metal band and HMF alumni, blends soaring vocals with driving power metal, orchestra, and choir, gaining early momentum after Chelsea Rose joined in 2015 and their explosive 2018 debut. With the lineup solidified by bassist Sylvain Maltais and drummer Chris Pallot, the band’s rise included their Savage Love EP, soundtrack placements, and performances at Wacken Battle Canada and Decimate 2.0. Their 2020 debut album, Destroyed in Delight, continues to receive global radio play, and the band is now writing new material as they prepare for their return to the stage.
https://www.opheliafalling.com/
Music Video – Destroyed in Delight – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksRUe2mCS5I
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The Scepter is an Ottawa heavy metal band known for blending classic metal power with a sharp modern edge. Formed by seasoned musicians united by their love of traditional metal, the group has built a reputation for high‑energy performances and commanding, riff‑driven songwriting. With new music underway and momentum growing, The Scepter stands poised as one of Ottawa’s strongest emerging voices in the next wave of heavy metal.
https://www.facebook.com/thesceptermetal
Stream – Protector of the Skies – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA0xp6VoWEY
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Inpathos is a melodic death metal band from Bellingham, WA, blending Scandinavian‑inspired riffs with rhythms influenced by the founding Boulos brothers’ Lebanese heritage to create a distinct and dynamic sound. They have released an EP and three LPs, including 2025’s Apparitions, and have performed alongside acts like Be’lakor, Anciients, and Nekrogoblikon at sold‑out Pacific Northwest venues. The current lineup features Patrick Bradford, Alex Mattison, Brendan Brendible, and brothers Adonis and Nabil Reed‑Boulos.
https://www.inpathosofficial.com/
Music Video – Radiance – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aokQVIH35EU
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Lycanthro, an Ottawa‑based power metal force and HMF alumni, blends power, thrash, and traditional metal into a bold, cinematic sound inspired by classic horror, mythology, and genre legends like Savatage and W.A.S.P. Their acclaimed 2021 full‑length Mark of the Wolf showcased dynamic storytelling and helped propel them onto stages such as Power Metal Quest Fest and Legions of Metal. Now signed to Psychomanteum Records, the pack is hard at work on their anticipated second album, proving the howl never dies and the hunt never ends.
Video – Far Beyond The Walls – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5ImX4EEwjk
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Witchkiller emerged from Ottawa’s early‑’80s metal underground as one of Canada’s standout heavy metal forces, gaining a cult following with their powerful blend of classic metal and NWOBHM‑inspired intensity. Their 1984 EP Day of the Saxons became a defining release of the era, and after disbanding in 1985, the group reignited in 2012, introducing their legacy to a new generation. Today, Witchkiller remains a celebrated name in traditional metal, their influence continuing to resonate through collectors, die‑hard fans, and the genre’s modern revival.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064302991214
“Day of the Saxons” LIVE Headbangers Open Air 2025 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcVtxUuhRmk
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Valley of Despair is an independent metal band from Edmonton blending modern rock, power metal, and thrash, earning national attention when their 2024 debut EP Burn At The Stake hit #1 on college radio and charted on the Earshot National Loud Chart. They toured Western Canada in 2025 with festival stops in Armstrong and Yellowknife and are now preparing their full‑length debut for release in 2026. The band features Cheryl Leia, TJ Buggins, Joel Croft, and Preston Lehoux.
Video – Burn At The Stake – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJcccWhNpUs
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Born of “The Blade,” Seattle, WA, Hyperstrike brings action, danger, and excitement back to heavy metal. Feat. members of Xoth, Ghost Ship Octavius. Chop Daddy on Nasty Slap Bass, Brain Lord on Explosive Pipes, Siberian Claw on Ripping Guitar, and Goblin Hammer on epic drums.
https://www.facebook.com/hyperstrikeband
Video – Leaving You Again – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuLjvIJyz8w
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Ravensun is a Vancouver Island-based melodic death metal band. Themes of war and brutality are the main focus of the lyrical content. Blending soaring vocals, driving riffs, and atmospheric soundscapes into a style that bridges modern metal and classic influences. Known for their dynamic live performances and emotionally charged songwriting, the band has quickly become a standout presence in the BC metal scene. With new music in development and a growing regional following, Ravensun continues to expand its sound and carve out its place in Western Canada’s heavy music landscape.
https://www.facebook.com/ravensunmetal
Live at Armstrong MetalFest 2024 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxPgSDlXgCs
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Replacing the originally announced Thorsguard, who unfortunately canceled, Vancouver melodic death metal band Kayas has been asked to join the lineup. Known for blending melodic intensity with modern aggression, creating a sound that bridges classic influences and contemporary edge. Their dynamic live performances and tightly crafted songwriting have quickly earned them a growing presence in the West Coast metal scene. With new music underway and momentum building, Kayas continues to carve out their identity as one of Vancouver’s most promising rising acts.
https://linktr.ee/kayasofficial
Music Video – Reflections in the Water – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1VQ07Pej40
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To follow updates for Hyperspace Metal Festival 2026, please visit the following links:
Facebook.com/HyperspaceMetalFestival
Instagram.com/HyperspaceMetalFestival
Festival Press Materials Dropbox HERE.
Over the six editions of Hyperspace Metal Festival, bands from all over the world have come to play power, prog, melodic death, and speed metal on the Canadian West Coast. The festival has presented lineups that have included performances by Týr, Flotsam and Jetsam, Skelator, Enforcer, Psyhostick, Trollfest, Aether Realm, Exmortus, Striker, Riot City, Into Eternity, Witherfall, Lunar, Planeswalker, Iron Kingdom, Helion Prime, Crimson Shadows, West of Hell, Judicator, Odinfist, Tanagra, Scythia, Greyhawk, The Order of Chaos, Red Cain, and many more.
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“It’s Western Canada’s premier melodic and power metal festival with a lineup of local, national, and international acts ranging from Sweden’s Enforcer and Toronto’s Crimson Shadows to local faves Crüzer. All told, 15 acts will turn amps to 11 and bring the noize to headbanging fans.” – Stuart Derdyn, Vancouver Sun (2025)
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