Tag: progressive

0 Streaming Now! ANCIENT THRONES’ New Concept Album “Melancholia” Plunges Listeners Into A Surreal Narrative

September 18, 2025
by Asher
· Ancient Thrones · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – September 18, 2025

Streaming Now! ANCIENT THRONES’ New Concept Album “Melancholia” Plunges Listeners Into A Surreal Narrative

Ancient Thrones Current Line Up

L – Matt LeBlanc (Bass) | Top – Dylan Wallace (Guitar) | Bottom – Sean Hickey (Drums & Vocals) | R – Nick Leslie (Guitar)

Photo Credit – Matt Leblanc

Ancient Thrones, the Canadian progressive blackened death metal force known for their visceral storytelling and relentless sonic assault, is set to officially release their long-awaited sophomore album, “Melancholia,” on September 19th (Vinyl and Digital), and can be heard in full before its unleashed via its album stream premiere on Decibel Magazine HERE.

Described by the band as “the sound of existential exhaustion,” “Melancholia” is a 42-minute concept album that plunges listeners into a surreal narrative: a colourblind protagonist takes hallucinogens in a desperate attempt to see colour, only to spiral into a kaleidoscopic nightmare. From the explosive opening of “A Moon Fused Key” to the haunting decay of “Vacant,” the album is a relentless barrage of speed, aggression, and cinematic atmosphere.

“This is truly an unapologetic extreme metal concept album. It’s a bad trip you can’t escape, jagged, abstract, and emotionally devastating,” says the band.

Formed in 2011 and rebranded in 2018, Ancient Thrones has evolved into a fully realized extreme metal entity, thanks in part to the addition of multi-band virtuoso Dylan Wallace. The writing process began in early 2020, just as the world was descending into pandemic-induced uncertainty. Rather than reflect the global crisis directly, the band channeled their energy into crafting a deeply personal and psychologically intense record.

“We’re proud to share this album with our fans, old and new. We hope it moves you in unnatural ways. Enjoy the trip while it lasts,” adds the band.

“Melancholia” is not just an album; it’s an immersive experience. The band’s signature blend of fast, extreme, progressive, cinematic, and existential metal is on full display, with every track contributing to the overarching narrative. Lyrically, the album explores themes of trauma, hallucination, and the dangers of idealism, all inspired by real-life experiences and a harrowing psychedelic episode.

Drawing inspiration from bands like The Red Chord, The Faceless, Archspire, and Deafheaven, Ancient Thrones pushes the boundaries of extreme music. Their sound is rooted in black metal, 2000s death metal, and modern tech death, but their cinematic approach and lyrical depth set them apart.

With “Melancholia” out on September 19, 2025, the band is already writing new material for the follow-up. Fans can expect more crushing, emotionally charged music in the near future.

Album pre-order (Vinyl, Digital) – https://ancientthrones.bandcamp.com

Lyric Video – “A Moon Fused Key” – https://youtu.be/IfDBNhlJ0sI

Music Video – “Melancholia” – https://youtu.be/_LvSTJ78kd8

Playthrough – “A Turning Point” – https://youtu.be/zQ3wZqZj9EQ

Track Listing:
1. A Moon Fused Key (5:12)
2. Achromatopsia (1:19)
3. Melancholia (6:17)
4. A Turning Point (5:46)
5. A Pellucid Prism (4:26)
6. Sacred Swollen Glass (6:16)
7. Blight (2:18)
8. A Pale Palace (4:55)
9. Vacant (5:31)
Album Length: 42:00

Band Lineup:
Dylan Wallace – Guitar
Nick Leslie – Guitar
Matt LeBlanc – Bass
Sean Hickey – Drums & Vocals

More info: Facebook.com/Ancientthrones | Instagram.com/ancientthrones

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“The music is indeed violent, and immediately so, exploding in a blast of turbulent riffing, heavily undulating bass tones, and furious beats. The guitars wildly writhe and rapidly spear off in crazed angles, kaleidoscopic in effect, and the words spit forth in caustic screams that are equally deranged. Dissonant and dismal tones intrude, along with guttural roars, blast-beat outbursts, and pulverizing blows, and the riffing also seems to swarm in agony, adding further dimensions of darkness to the song’s overarching manifestation of delirium. Backed by a pulse-pounding and highly headbangable groove, the song also introduces yet another dimension, an eerie guitar solo that slowly slithers, brightly swirls, and evolves into an entrancing harmony, very much like a beckoning and seductive presence that manifests within the mayhem.” – No Clean Singing (single – A Moon Fused Key – 2025)

What the press has said about 2020’s “The Veil”:

“A full-throttle attack, the song (The Sight of Oblivion) delivers bludgeoning rhythms, vicious darting and slashing guitar-work, scorching blackened shrieks, and cold-hearted roars. There’s a brazen, borderline-unhinged quality to the barrage, generated by screaming, rapidly whirling leads, magma-like bass notes, and fast-changing, bone-cracking drums. But within the assault there are also fluid, sinuous melodic leads whose mellifluous, reverberating tones give the music a mysterious, mesmerizing, and mournful quality. And near the end one of those leads morphs into a fret-burning dual-guitar extravaganza that really gets the blood rushing.” – No Clean Singing (2020 – The Veil)

“Nearly an hour in length, The Veil earns that run-time with crisply-written compositions and an arsenal of sky-ripping riffs. The acoustic reprieve of “Sentient” and melodic grief of “Permanent” reveal the album’s heavy heart. But the album conjures strength from those pensive moments. Rife with nimble axe-work from Dylan Wallace and Nick Leslie, The Veil never succumbs to the solemnity of its subject. The Veil remains an impactful listen down to its final dying note.” – Decibel Magazine (2020 – The Veil)

“Trailer Park Boys and Hobo With a Shotgun aren’t the only pieces of media that have emerged from Nova Scotia that you should get excited over.” – MetalSucks

“From the massive tremolo sections and bludgeoning riffs to the surprisingly melodic harmonies between guitarists Dylan Wallace and Nick Leslie, Ancient Thrones have definitely honed in on something special with this track.” – GearGods

“From earth crushing riffs and face-melting guitar solos to the overarching theme of grief and devastation that the record encompasses, this single really ramps up the intensity” – Bravewords

“Canadian band Ancient Thrones perform a combination of black, death and thrash metal with some progressive tendencies on The Veil. They have similarities to Skeletonwitch, but have an even more dynamic sound. The songs are both aggressive and intelligent in equal measure and run through a variety of different emotional tangents. There is a vile and harsh aspect to the band, but there is also a forward thinking one. It all results in a creative and dynamic listen.” – Heavy Music Headquarters (2020 – The Veil)

“The prize for most ambitious album of 2020 already has the name of Ancient Thrones carved in marble. Who among you fancies a 56-minute blackened death metal saga with an epic meditation on one man’s descent into the afterlife? No band thought it conceivable to write the metal version of Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal, but this Nova Scotia quartet are not just any band. This is a remarkable journey for the contemplative mind.” – Scream Blast Repeat (2020 – The Veil)

“The Sight of Oblivion and The Millionth Grave are steeped in ferociousness and savagery as only a band well versed in blackened death metal are capable of producing.8.5/10” – Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life (2020 – The Veil)

“With this new incarnation, Ancient Thrones has moved into strict Black/Death territory, producing an album filled with pummeling riffs, intricate song structures, and technical musicianship that’s leavened by atmospheric segments and epic, sometimes audacious melodies that border on Cascadian. The production matches this style perfectly, being heavy and abrasive while allowing the songs enough room to stretch out… fans of more epic and melodic Black/Death will want to give The Veil a listen. 4/5” – The Metal Crypt (2020 – The Veil)

“It is fast, thrashing extreme metal with shrieked/growled vocals, and a headbanging attitude. They have elements of thrash, black and death but their method of delivery won’t confuse anyone. It is metal to make the fans move. It is pretty thrashy, pretty brutal but also melodic, and the guitar work has plenty to offer both in the riffs and the melodies.” – Metal Bulletin (2020 – The Veil)

—
ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
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0 Arizona Prog LITTLE KING Reveals First Single “Catch and Release” From 8th Studio Album “Lente Viviente” Out Sept 2025

August 21, 2025
by Asher
· Little King · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – August 21, 2025

Arizona Prog LITTLE KING Reveals First Single “Catch and Release” From 8th Studio Album “Lente Viviente” Out Sept 2025

L-R – David Hamilton (Bass, Cello), Ryan Rosoff (Guitar, Vocals), Tony Bojorquez (Drums)

Photo Credit – Damien Becerra

Tucson, AZ’s Little King is thrilled to share fresh details about their upcoming 8th studio album, “Lente Viviente, set for release on Friday, September 26, 2025. The record features seven new micro-epics of progressive and hard rock with hooks and strong melodies. Each song is essentially complex and involved, but comes in under 4 minutes, except “Pass Through Filters.” At the same time, the complexity gives way to space and breath…the push and pull of each song works in a way to bring the listener back again and again for a full audio experience. These songs make you think, make you bob your head, and hopefully make you hit the ”Add to Library” button!

“I think this will be BY FAR our biggest release. The playing, songwriting, and production are our greatest accomplishments. New players on drums and bass, plus a new studio, have really elevated this project. I want people to take a short, mind-blowing journey…like Musical DMT. We are aiming to hit all the notes and emotions…the dynamic range of this record will push and pull from the first note to the last,” adds Ryan Rosoff (Guitar, Vocals).

Lyrically, “Lente Viviente” (Spanish for “Living Lens,” a play on Rosoff’s Video Memoir production company, LivingLens Memoirs) explores the delicate dance between memory and presence, perception and truth. The songs span a wide emotional arc—from reflections on childhood and lasting friendship (“Catch and Release,” “Dawn Villa”) to meditations on immigration and identity (“Who’s Illegal?”), aging and addiction (“Pass Through Filters”), and the blurred line between strength and vulnerability (“Kindness for Weakness”). At its core, the album asks how we see ourselves—and each other—through the ever-shifting lens of time, emotion, and experience. Tied together by dynamic arrangements and textured performances, “Lente Viviente” is both personal and universal, an honest portrait of life’s sharp edges and soft light.

Lente Viviente was recorded from April to June 2025, at Cimamusic in Tucson, AZ, by Ricky Wascher Tavares, making it the first Little King record to be tracked outside of Texas. The album was mixed in July of 2025 at Command Space Audio in Los Angeles by Daniel Salcido, who also mixed Amuse De Q in 2021 and the recent singles “Amber Waves GoodBye” and “Silver Tongue” (both from 2023). The record was then mastered by Maor Appelbaum at Maor Appelbaum Mastering.

Today, the band unveils their first single, “Catch and Release”, a nostalgic trip down the Yellowstone River and back in time to a place under the Big Sky that remains etched in our memories.

Rosoff explains the track:

“I grew up fly fishing in Montana and Northern California with my dad, grandfather, and brother. It was a special time, and the metaphors for light and reflection are strong in this song. (“Polarized,” for example, refers to glasses that allow one to see underwater, making it easier to see a trout coming from the deep to slurp a dry fly.) For my birthday last year, I went fishing on the Yakima River with my dad (“Len,” also a play on the word “lens,” apropos of everything). It brought back a flood of memories and the realization that I am so much happier on a river with my dad (or, as I sing in the song, my son and daughter, who both love to fly fish but don’t get to do it often.) But the overall sentiment of the tune is a reflection on fishing with my dad and how much I prefer that to, say, city life. Other references include “Ten and Two,” “False Casting,” “Bigger Sky” (Montana is known as “Big Sky Country”), and on and on…”

Watch and listen to the lyric video for “Catch and Release” via its premiere on Bravewords HERE.

Recommended for fans of Rush, Porcupine Tree, Pink Floyd, Muse, Led Zeppelin, Little King’s “Lente Viviente” is available for pre-order/digital pre-save (out Sept 26th) at (insert link)

Track Listing:
1. Catch and Release – 3:22
2. Dawn Villa – 3:42
3. Who’s Illegal? – 3:56
4. Kindness for Weakness – 3:21
5. Sweet Jessie James – 2:42
6. Pass Through Filters – 4:50
7. The Living Lens – 3:37
Album Length: 25:34

For more info: LittleKingtunes.com

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“Talk about the album as a whole, it’s one hell of an experience of Melodic Rock, with elements of metal, there is Power, Heaviness, Melodic, and a lot of progressive materials added to this album, making this an awesome release. The songwriting is something known from Little King, the album had is concept of writing from the Covid Situation of the last two years on the unrest in the US. A short album but very much listenable, especially for the fans of Little Rock, this is not something you want to miss.” – Metal Heads Forever Magazine (Amuse De Q – 2021)

“There are just some artists that when you sit down to chat to you soon realise that they are such great people that you’d love them as a friend. HEAVY Magazine’s Dave Griffiths recently discovered that when he sat down to chat to Ryan Rosoff the frontman of Little King.

The conversation not only got deep as they spoke about the band using the loneliness and depression they felt during the lockdowns into the songs on their new album, Amuse De Q, but then also swung around to another passion they both – Aussies in the NBA. Yes when you sit back to listen to this interview, be prepared to not only hear some talk about the legendary hard rock of Little King but also chat about Joe Ingles, Kyrie Irving and Patty Mills… oh and a lot of Brooklyn Nets talk.” – Heavy Mag (Amuse De Q – 2021)

“The measure of the album, and the band, are demonstrated for me on “Internal Smut”. The track is one of two instrumentals, although to be fair “Moving On” is more of an introduction to “Nineteen Strong”, into which it segues seamlessly. Not all rock bands can really hit hard with instrumentals, but Little King manage it with “Internal Smut”. It’s every bit as good as the last rock instrumental to make such an impression on me, Rush’s “The Main Monkey Business” from Snakes & Arrows. High praise indeed! Little King are not Rush – not yet at any rate – but in Legacy of Fools they have produced an album that fans of that band, and of others, will enjoy very much.” – Sea of Tranquilty (Legacy of Fools – 2008)

“Having put out four full length LPs and two EPs in 24 years, this latest offering, “Occam’s Foil”, is an entertaining five song piece that shows off a savvy awareness of the current state of affairs and has some fun showing off their musical and vocal prowess. This band defies genre typing. No two songs really fit the same mold. There’s a heavier rock song, one with Caribbean influences, an instrumental, a mid-tempo rocker, and one with a really nice string arrangement. This is a bold mixture that works well together, despite the obvious disparity. “Occam’s Foil”, is a bold piece of work put out in 2019 via Mad Bell Records…. This is very good record with something for everyone. 9/10″ – Metal-Temple (Occam’s Foil – 2019)

“In just these 5 tracks Little King is able to show listeners a glimpse of their musical reach. They are able to touch on a variety of musical sounds, while never sacrificing the authenticity of theirselves. This album as a whole may not be for everyone, but there are definitely tracks that anyone could enjoy, and coming from a 5 track EP that is quite the accomplishment. ” – You Make The Scene (Occam’s Foil – 2019)

“Occam’s Foil is further proof that a trio can take on the best of rock music – and any genre- and create a grand sound like no other. Lend them your ears…it’s worth the leap and if you’re a fan of Alice In Chains, Blind Melon, The Mavericks and more – you’ll want to add these tracks to your musical library.” – Indie Pulse Magazine (Occam’s Foil – 2019)

“One of many thickly alluring aspects of the EP is the real individuality of songs to each other” – Ring Master Reviews (Occam’s Foil – 2019)

—
ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
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0 Prepare For A 260 BPM Descent into Chaos w/ ANCIENT THRONES New Music Video “Melancholia” Off Upcoming Album “Melancholia” Out Sept 2025

August 20, 2025
by Asher
· Ancient Thrones · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – August 20, 2025

Prepare For A 260 BPM Descent into Chaos w/ ANCIENT THRONES New Music Video “Melancholia” Off Upcoming Album Out Sept 2025

+ Launch Vinyl Pre-Order

Ancient Thrones Current Line Up

Top L-R: Dylan Wallace (Guitar) | Nick Leslie (Guitar)

Bottom L-R: Matt LeBlanc (Bass) | Sean Hickey (Drums & Vocals)

Photo Credit – Matt Leblanc

Set to unleash their sophomore album “Melancholia” on September 19, 2025, to follow their 2020 breakout debut “The Veil”, Halifax, Canada’s progressive death metal titans Ancient Thrones are sharing their second single and title track, accompanied by a new music video.

At 260 beats per minute, Ancient Thrones introduce the protagonist of their concept record, his condition, and how he describes feeling out of place, plunging listeners headfirst into his psyche.

“With unrelenting intensity from the opening second, the title track Melancholia is simply a demonstration of what we set out to do with this album. Not one instrument stands out more than the other on this track, as it storms through a plethora of chaotic riffs, rapid blast beats, and lightning-quick vocals at 260 beats per minute, before reaching a breaking point where we flip the script to welcome change both musically and lyrically. If you like to invite some emotion to go with your extreme metal, then this is the song for you,” adds bassist Matt LeBlanc.

Watch and listen to the music video for “Melancholia” via Slam Worldwide at https://youtu.be/_LvSTJ78kd8

Formed in 2011 and reborn in 2018 with the arrival of guitarist and composer Dylan Wallace, Ancient Thrones carved out a new identity rooted in fast, extreme, progressive, cinematic, and existential soundscapes. With “Melancholia”, the band introduces a 42-minute descent into existential exhaustion, delivering an unapologetic extreme metal concept album that fuses blistering speed, cinematic storytelling, and emotional brutality.

From the chaotic opener “A Moon Fused Key” to the doom-laden closer “Vacant,” the band exposes raw intensity and jagged vulnerability. The narrative follows a colorblind protagonist navigating hallucinogenic visions in search of meaning, an unsettling journey through idealism, dread, and transformation. After five years of creation, Ancient Thrones proudly bring to light this new chapter, inviting listeners to embrace the chaos and feel something truly unnatural.

“For this album, a big focus for us was on the production. We meticulously, painstakingly spent several hours dialing every tone, note, layer, vocal, etc. We were fortunate to have time and a slower world on our side during production. Everything on this album was thought out and brought to life in a fully fleshed-out way. It took us 5 years to make this album, with 1 of those years used just levelling up our musicianship and techniques in order to play the material. We’re faster, more technical, and have a singular focus to make sure this album was beating you down from head to toe,” says Leblanc.

Drawing from the raw ferocity of black metal, the brutal edge of 2000s death metal, and the precision of modern tech death, “Melancholia” is a must-listen for fans of Archspire, The Red Chord, Deafheaven, and The Faceless.

Album pre-order (Vinyl, Digital) (out Sept 19th, 2025) – https://ancientthrones.bandcamp.com

Lyric Video – “A Moon Fused Key” https://youtu.be/IfDBNhlJ0sI

Band Lineup:
Dylan Wallace – Guitar
Nick Leslie – Guitar
Matt LeBlanc – Bass
Sean Hickey – Drums & Vocals

More info: Facebook.com/Ancientthrones | Instagram.com/ancientthrones

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What the press has said about 2020’s “The Veil”:

“Trailer Park Boys and Hobo With a Shotgun aren’t the only pieces of media that have emerged from Nova Scotia that you should get excited over.” – MetalSucks

“From earth crushing riffs and face-melting guitar solos to the overarching theme of grief and devastation that the record encompasses, this single really ramps up the intensity” – Bravewords

—
ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780
jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
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0 Reminder – July 11-12 – ARMSTRONG METALFEST 2025 w/ BORN OF OSIRIS, HAVOK, GLYPH, RIOT CITY, THE BROWNING, VIRVUM and more!

July 7, 2025
by Asher
· Armstrong Metal Fest · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – July 7, 2025

Reminder – July 11-12 – ARMSTRONG METALFEST 2025

w/ BORN OF OSIRIS, HAVOK, GLYPH, RIOT CITY, THE BROWNING, VIRVUM and more!

Armstrong, BC, Canada – 15 Years of Mountain Moshing In The Okanagan!

“It’s one of the premier festivals of its kind in Canada, showcasing the biggest names in local, national, and international heavy metal music.” – Vancouver Sun

Celebrating 15 Years of mountain moshing in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, Armstrong MetalFest’s conquering 2025 lineup with BORN OF OSIRIS, HAVOK, GLYPH, RIOT CITY, THE BROWNING, VIRVUM, and lots more from across Canada and beyond will descend on Armstrong, BC on July 11th and 12th at the Hassen Arena, for two days of moshing, headbanging, and camping.

Video – Celebrating 15 Years of Armstrong MetalFest 2025 – https://youtu.be/47QjFrOHLv8

Armstrong MetalFest 2025 Spotify playlist – https://spoti.fi/4i4u2OV

AMF Weekend Passes are available at https://armstrongmetalfest.ca/tickets

All tickets provide general admission and grant access to the festival grounds, camping area, and arena from 9:00 AM on Friday, July 11, 2025, until 10:00 AM on Sunday, July 13, 2025. Free camping is included.

Headlining opening night, Friday, July 11th, Denver thrashers HAVOK are no strangers to the mosh pits, these veterans have unleashed five studio albums – Burn (2009), Time Is Up (2011), Unnatural Selection (2013), Conformicide (2017), V (2020) – and recently surprised fans this past November with the EP “New Eyes”. Music Video – Death Is An Illusion – https://youtu.be/hkUgz-DeFAo

Also supporting the Friday night stage, the Pacific Northwest’s Glyph (ft. members from Gatekeeper, Greyhawk, Hjelvik), which is not just a heavy metal band, they are a crew of intergalactic mercenaries escaping a dying planet in their spaceship, the VSS Dragonlord. Clearly, Glyph isn’t just writing songs, they’re building worlds and they bring it forth in their latest album “Honor, Power, Glory” released in March 2024. Lyric Video – March of the Northern Clan (feat. Nathan Harrison) – https://youtu.be/htSyUb25wD4

Another highlight for Friday is the screaming heavy metal from Calgary’s speed demons Riot City, who bring forth their steel, spikes, and leather! A youthful band that represents the new face of Canadian metal. An amalgam of ripping and hot heavy metal, created in pure and youthful madness, their bullet belts feature two full-length albums, “Electric Elite” (2022), “Burn The Night” (2019), and their latest live album, “Live in Newcastle” (2023). Album Stream – Electric Elite – https://youtu.be/j3hA1nrG7M0

Saturday, July 12th will be headlined by international tour de force, progressive deathcore titans, Chicago’s BORN OF OSIRIS. The group is signed to Sumerian Records and has released seven full-length albums and two EPs. Their album, A Higher Place, reached number 73 on the Billboard 200. Their second full-length album, The Discovery, debuted at 87 on the Billboard 200. The band unveiled their latest single “In Desolation” this past August. Visualizer – In Desolation – https://youtu.be/9OyMRRAq9fI

Also featured on Saturday is AMF alumni Kansas City’s THE BROWNING who will be unleashing their unique eclectic blend of electronicore and deathcore. This past November, they released their sixth album, “OMNI,” which features 10 powerful tracks, including collaborations with Nik Nocturnal and the eponymous song with THE DEFECT. Music Video – OMNI (feat. THE DEFECT) – https://youtu.be/VhyuduP3MdY

Performing for the first time at AMF and adding to the nostalgia of Saturday night, VIRVUM, progressive/technical death metal all the way from Zürich, Switzerland, that many in Canada have been waiting a long time to witness. There’s no better place to see them along with the backdrop of the Canadian Rockies than at AMF 2025. The Cypher Supreme – https://youtu.be/9W9Kp38I9yY

Other treasured highlights of this year’s fest not to miss are Montreal, QC up-and-coming thrashers DROWNING IN BLOOD, who are notorious pit mongers and have made quite a name for themselves in Eastern Canada. Vancouver’s GRAVEMASS might be a new band, but they feature some seriously experienced metalheads from Zimmers Hole, The Golers, Punch Drunk, 3 Inches of Blood, and Revocation. Switzerland’s technical death/black metal Stortregn delivers a mix of charging riffs, blast beats, and brutality that leaves the listener begging for more. The Defect is an electronic rock/metal project created by husband and wife duo – Jonny McBee (The Browning) and Moon McBee. Their debut album “Death X Destiny” was released on February 7, 2025, under the record label FiXT. From the Salish lands of Spokane, WA, Hísemtuks Hími•n introduces their Indigenous melodic black metal of hard-hitting riffs, fast-paced drumming, and a lot of melody. This project has strong roots in the Spokane Tribe/Nez Perce. Most songs are about Native American mythology, history, and folklore.

AMF 2025 Lineup:
Havok (Denver, CO)
Born of Osiris (Chicago, IL)
Glyph (Seattle, WA)
Riot City (Calgary, AB)
The Browning (Kansas City, KS)
Virvum (Zürich, Switzerland)
Atavistia (Vancouver, BC)
Drowning In Blood (Montreal, QC)
Convictions (Fremont, OH)
Scalding (Vancouver, BC)
Syryn (Calgary, AB)
Stortregn (Geneva, Switzerland)
The Defect (Kansas City, KS)
Gravemass (Vancouver, BC)
Lover (Calgary, AB)
Yegg (Vancouver Island, BC)
Hísemtuks Hími•n (Spokane, WA)
The Spruce Moose (Edmonton, AB)
Volt (Fort McMurray, AB)
Jisei (Vancouver, BC)
Nomad (Okanagan Valley, BC)
Planetkiller (Kelowna, BC)
Shackled To The Throne (Edmonton, AB)
The Cadavor Dog (High River, AB)
Famous Strangers (Edmonton, AB)
Valley of Despair (Edmonton, AB)
Naitaka (Kelowna, BC)
FloodGate (Kelowna, BC)

In addition to the performing bands, Armstrong Metal Fest is bringing back the following on-site activities: Yeti Games, Metal Madness Market, and Thrash Wrestling.

Please Note: Camping – RV / Non-Hookup RV / Vehicle Passes: Make sure to reserve your vehicle spot to get the best location on the grounds. A fee is required for a weekend pass per vehicle in addition to your day or weekend pass. RV hookups include water and power. If you choose to park your vehicle outside the camping area in the main parking lot, then a vehicle pass is not required.

For more info:
Armstrongmetalfest.ca
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter

About: Since 2009 (minus pause years 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid pandemic), West Metal Entertainment and Armstrong Metalfest have not only fostered the talent of hundreds of local bands, but have imported well-known, international acts to the quiet, little Canadian town of Armstrong, British Columbia.

Each year hundreds of metal music fans from Canada and the USA descend into the picturesque Okanagan Valley and under the blistering sun, they spend three days camping, taking in a tonne of heavy metal fun over two days, spectating wrestling events, participating in scavenger hunts, and catching up with their extended metal family.

The festival has seen such renowned headliners as Kataklysm, Cattle Decapitation, Archspire, Nekrogoblikon, Origin, Rivers of Nihil, Warbinger, Fallujah, Striker, and Beyond Creation as well as emerging artists from across North America. At the end of the revelry, the festival disappears without a trace, leaving the landscape as pristine as it has always been.

West Metal Entertainment is a non-profit society that not only puts on the Armstrong Metal Festival every year in Armstrong, B.C. but also gives bands opportunities to play at different venues throughout the region including all-ages shows, to encourage musical passion in kids as well as adults.

Partners:
WCMFA
AlumaPro Welding & Fabrication Ltd
Vox and Hops
Rancho Vignola
Creative BC
Province of BC
Shepherds Hardware
Askews Foods
ACE Containers
Asher Media Relations
Staggs Head
Sunbelt Rentals
Bravewords
V13
Metal-Rules
Absolute Underground Mag
Broken Neck Radio
Ghost Cult Magazine
This Day In Metal
Valstar Electric
Voets

What the press is saying:

“Armstrong Metalfest brings aggressive music to the North Okanagan” – Global BC News

Kelowna Now: Armstrong Metal Festival Co-founder reflects on a decade of metal – Video Interview here.

CHBC – Global Okanagan: Metalheads celebrate a decade of gathering in Armstrong – Video Interview here.

Global Okanagan – Armstrong Metalfest brings aggressive music to the North Okanagan – Video here.

“In the past, metalheads had to travel to Germany to experience the rush of a big festival, such as Wacken Open Air. But local headbangers decided to bring that feeling home with Armstrong Metalfest.” – Vernon Morning Star

“Go Big or Stay at Home: Armstrong has that welcoming feeling for a rock show.” – The Valley Voice

“To witness such a gathering of talent is an absolute privilege, and for that fact alone, I will certainly be returning to Armstrong Metal Fest.” – Beatroute BC

“This festival is now going to be my yearly must-go-to event and if you’re a metal head that hasn’t attended or a curious metal voyeur, do yourself a favour and check it out, you will not regret it.” – Abort Mag

“The Armstrong Metalfest is one such event and has grown from its initial, humble beginnings seven years ago to be a regular mainstay, with its south-central BC location making for a popular summertime destination for fans and bands alike.” – Decibel Mag

Named one of the out-of-town music festivals worth the trip by The Vancouver Sun

“For metalheads, this is a great vacation where groups of all sizes can enjoy their favourite musical genre in a fun, energized environment. Not to mention, the camping!” – The Permanent Rain Press

“From farm to stadium: Armstrong Metal Fest’s humble beginnings” – Info News

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0 Toronto Prog DEREV Explores The Inner Beast With New Lyric Video “Darker Self” Off Debut Album “Troubled Mind”

June 6, 2025
by Asher
· Derev · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – June 6, 2025

Toronto Prog DEREV Explores The Beast With New Lyric Video “Darker Self” Off Debut Album “Troubled Mind”

New Album Out on Vinyl!

L-R (Clockwise) – Live Lineup – Ran Zehavi (Keys), Stan Komarovsky (Bass), Armando Bablanian (Guitar), Mike Symons (Vocals), Michel Karakach (Drums)

Wrapping up their Western Canadian Tour this past May, in support of their first full-length, “Troubled Mind”, Toronto prog rock Derev is sharing their latest lyric video “Darker Self”. It is the album’s closing track and speaks of embracing our true selves. Specifically, the instinctual, animalistic side we often suppress in an attempt to please others. Ignoring the value that this side of us brings in dire times renders us weak, fragile, and miserable.

“Our darker self is portrayed as a beast in hibernation, the lyrics start by enticing this animal to ‘Rise up and shake the dust off..”. As the song progresses, we begin to understand the true value of these traits that were deemed disgraceful and learn to embrace them, rather than bury them,” adds the band.

Watch and listen to “Darker Self” – https://youtu.be/lLDZfkebxkM

Derev‘s new album “Troubled Mind” is the follow-up to their 2021 debut EP “Leap of Faith,” and takes a deep dive into the intricacies of the human psyche, addressing a spectrum of mental health issues with each track, ranging from temporary mental instability to more severe conditions such as schizophrenia, cognitive immobility (a fixation on the past), and depression stemming from loss.

Offering a diverse range of sounds from mellow, calm tracks to adrenaline-pumping heavy headbangers while maintaining their distinctive progressive rock sound, enriched with Middle Eastern influences. Incorporating more prominent keyboard parts, experimenting with various time signatures, and introducing new instruments such as the Cajon, Darbuka, and electronic elements. This evolution showcases the band’s innovative spirit and commitment to pushing musical boundaries.

The band adds:

“This album is very personal and introspective. It’s full of memorable songs and parts to listen to and digest, both from a musical and lyrical perspective. Every song tackles a different state of mind and takes the listener into their thoughts of a mental state that they can relate to. As this one marks our second official release, we think the fans will be excited about hearing what Derev still has to offer. They’re in for a crazy ride full of energetic ups and heartbreaking downs.”

Derev was conceived after founding member and drummer Michel Karakach, after fleeing the war in the Middle East and finding refuge in Toronto, Canada, reunited with his best friend, guitarist Armando Bablanian, to turn what was once a mere childhood dream into a powerful reality.

Derev‘s dynamic lineup now includes bassist Stan Komarovsky, providing the backbone of Derev‘s sound, and keyboardist Ran Zehavi from the progressive rock band Scalar, adding depth and complexity. Leading the live charge is frontman and vocalist Mike Symons, who has replaced previous singer Adel Saflou, whose recorded vocals are featured on “Troubled Mind”.

Recommended for fans of Opeth, Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree, Soen, and Riverside, “Troubled Mind” was released on March 26th, 2025, and is available at https://www.derevmusic.com/store (on Vinyl, CD, Tour Pass) and all digital platforms (Spotify, Bandcamp).

Music Video – “Tides of Time” – https://youtu.be/rklJp_t3CdM

Lyric Video – “Cyclone” – https://youtu.be/1il9zsnxl0U

Animated Video – “Room 9” – https://youtu.be/ryl-vajc7-M

Live Video – “Cyclone” at Supermarket in Toronto – https://youtu.be/lhwZR9ItKIo

Track Listing:
1. Buried Voice (7:23)
2. Cyclone (5:39)
3. Crawl Space (1:16)
4. Room 9 (6:15)
5. Paracusia (4:35)
6. Tides of Time (5:59)
7. Darker Self (5:44)
8. Trace Within (5:01)

Album Band Line Up:
Adel Saflou – Vocals
Armando Bablanian – Guitar
Michel Karakach – Drums
Stan Komarovsky – Bass
Ran Zehavi – Keys

Live Band Line Up:
Mike Symons – Vocals
Armando Bablanian – Guitar
Michel Karakach – Drums
Stan Komarovsky – Bass
Ran Zehavi – Keys

More info: Derevmusic.com | Facebook.com/derevmusic | Instagram.com/derevmusic | X.com/derevmusic

About: “Divided by war, United by music”

Derev is a progressive rock band captivating global audiences with its innovative blend of progressive rock and traditional Middle Eastern music.

After fleeing the war in the Middle East and finding refuge in Toronto, Canada, founding member and Drummer Michel Karakach reunited with his best friend, guitarist Armando Bablanian, to turn what was once a mere childhood dream into a powerful reality.

Derev’s debut release, “Leap of Faith,” melded the raw energy of hard rock with the rich textures of the traditional Middle Eastern music they grew up with, offering a fresh perspective on topics often overlooked in modern music. This distinctive sound quickly caught the attention of both local and international audiences, propelling Derev into a series of successful shows across Canada.

The band’s dynamic lineup now includes bassist Stan Komarovsky, providing the backbone of Derev’s sound, and keyboardist Ran Zehavi from the progressive rock band Scalar, adding depth and complexity. Leading the live charge is frontman and vocalist Mike Symons, who replaces previous singer Adel Saflou, who is featured on their forthcoming studio offering “Troubled Mind”. Symons’ compelling presence and vocal prowess complete the live ensemble.

As Derev gears up to release their anticipated second album, “Troubled Mind,” on March 26th, 2025, they continue to carve out a unique niche in the music world. Their innovative sound promises to captivate new listeners and industry veterans alike. Keep an eye on Derev as they redefine what rock music can be.

Discography:
2025 – Troubled Mind – LP
2021 – Leap of Faith – EP

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“Toronto prog quintet Derev will release their debut full-length album, Troubled Mind, on March 26. The yearning, epic tones of Cyclone is the second single to be taken from the upcoming album, and Derev will be touring throughout Ontario and Quebec over the coming months to support the new album.” – Prog Magazine – Great new prog you must hear… Tracks Of The Week – Cyclone – Feb 21, 2025

“The best part of the album (Troubled Mind) is the band’s ability to carry strong emotions into their music. Many of the songs are not complicated, but they are loaded with feelings. I’m not sure I have heard a Progressive album that is this unpretentious and this emotional at the same time. 8/10” Metal-Temple

“its eight tracks draws us into a music that combines intensity and peaceful atmospheres of old school prog. The melodies thus highlight many sound universes from one composition to another including beautiful vocal harmonies and important instrumental parts… Derev delivers retro-sounding music with plenty of late 70s and early 80s progressive influences… Troubled Mind, with its instantly relatable melodies, is a resounding success. 4/5” – Prog Critique

“every minute is a blessing to your progressive ears. Porcupine Tree and Opeth enthusiasts might appreciate this.” – Rock Portaal

“I definitely find myself looking forward to putting on my headphones again and letting myself fall and drift after enjoying the thickly produced record “Troubled Mind, to close my eyes, sit back and just enjoy. DEREV: Great band, great discovery. Playing tips: Room 9, Cyclone, Paracusia 8/10” – PowerMetal.de

“Excellent music and a beautiful, intelligent album.” – Plus PROG de Vous

” Troubled Mind is a great album as Derev redefine what rock music can and should be. ” – Background Magazine

“Solid debut from this progressive metal band from Canada. Not your typical “noisy” prog metal, some real soul and dynamics to it. Really love Adel Saflou’s vocals.” – Prog Radio

“Derev’s sound combines the energy and intensity of metal music with the atmospheric sound of old-school progressive rock, while incorporating elements of their Arabic and Armenian heritage.” – The Prog Space

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0 FROGG To Deliver A Sonic “Eclipse” of Bold, Modern Metal w/ Debut Album Coming March 2025

January 30, 2025
by Asher
· FROGG · Music News

Montreal, QC – January 30, 2025

FROGG To Deliver A Sonic “Eclipse” of Bold, Modern Metal w/ Debut Album Coming March 2025

L-R: Will Brown (Drums) | Sky Moon Clark (Vocals & Guitar) | Brett Fairchild (Guitar) | Ethan Emery (Bass)

Frogg, the technical metal sensation from New York, USA, announces they will unveil their debut album “Eclipse” in March 2025. A long time in waiting, this first full-length features ten tracks of heavy, raw, progressive, and avant-garde thinking metal.

Over the last two years, the band has been unraveling singles such as “Double Vision Roll”, “Dandelion”, and “Wake Up” with music videos, all of which will be showcased on the record that was co-produced by Frogg guitarist/vocalist Sky Moon Clark and Jamie King (Between the Buried and Me, The Contortionist, Scale the Summit).

The singles each exhibited different stylistic strengths, “Wake Up” being more progressive, “Dandelion” and “Double Vision Roll” more in the vein of something between death metal and prog metal. At the end of the day, Frogg is an amalgamation of the music the quartet enjoys, and that’s what the band is and why they sit in between a few key sub-genres.

“A sonic eclipse where every genre collides—progressive, technical, and just enough death to keep your neck sore for weeks.” adds the band’s newest addition bassist Ethan Emery (Survive The Sun & Absurd Condition).

“The people who are already faithful to FROGG will find as much of the stuff that they signed up for as surprises. We don’t operate in one genre all the time,” adds drummer Will Brown.

Lyrically, the record explores Mythology from various places along with tying tales and emotions together. Fans can expect seasonal singles from Frogg going forward as they already have plans for follow-up singles to come real soon after the album’s release.

FROGG’s main ambition is to hit the live circuit with a perfected performance and its brand-new line-up. With performance in mind, FROGG has been relentlessly rehearsing new original material and old, to deliver an authentic live experience.

Committed to technical excellence and progressive innovation, Frogg is recommended for fans of weird and wild, and fans who appreciate bands such as Protest The Hero, Between The Buried And Me, Zenith Passage, Unexpect, and Obscura.

“Eclipse” is due out on March 7, 2025, and is available for pre-order at https://froggofficial.bandcamp.com.

Spotify – https://spoti.fi/4heSdtu

Music Videos:

Double Vision Roll – https://youtu.be/BW1WP2vaxnQ

Dandelion – https://youtu.be/r90cV290Usk

Wake Up – https://youtu.be/RMhtVNE6WYw

Album Artwork – Artists: Yann Kempen & Bertrand LeFebvre

Track Listing:
1. Walpurgisnacht (4:44)
2. Life Zero (4:30)
3. Dandelion (3:50)
4. Eclipse I: Blind Bakunawa (4:20)
5. Eclipse II: Sickened By Silence (4:48)
6. Interspecific Hybrid Species (4:19)
7. Wake Up (6:22)
8. Sun Stealer (4:41)
9. Double Vision Roll (3:29)
10. Omni Trigger (4:07)

Album Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: FROGG
• All songs written by: FROGG
• Produced by: Jamie King & Sky Moon Clark
• Mixed by: Jamie King
• Mastered by: Jamie King
• Album Artwork by: Yann Kempen & Bertrand LeFebvre

Album Band Line Up:
Sky Moon Clark – Vocals, Guitars
Will Brown – Drums, Percussion, World Instruments
Brett Fairchild – Guitars on tracks 1, 5, 6,10
Nick Thorpe – Bass on tracks 1,4,5,7,8,10
David White – Bass on track 2
Brad Williamson – Bass on track 6
Jack Lynch – Bass on track 3
Emma Rae – Clean vocals & keys

Live Band Line Up:
Sky Moon Clark – Vocals, Guitars
Brett Fairchild – Backup Vocals, Guitars
Ethan Emery – Bass
Will Brown – Drums

For more info: https://linktr.ee/froggband

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“Weirdo avant-garde metal band Frogg have jut shared a video for “Double Vision Roll,” and, boy, is it quirky. If you’re not yet familiar with Frogg, they are all about delivering a weird and wonderful live experience They experiment with different world instruments and songwriting ideas, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in heavy music, and you can see a little bit of that on display here. The song was produced by Frogg guitarist/vocalist Sky Moon Clark and Jamie King (Between the Buried and Me, The Contortionist, Scale the Summit). Frogg are recommended for fans of weird and wild, as well as those who appreciate a little technicality in their music.” – Decibel Magazine

“Frogg cover seemingly contradictory bases of portentous tech-death, galloping melodic thrash and hopeful, opne chord djent. It’s smart musical alignment with their theme of something new rising from the ashes of the old.” – Metal Hammer (2020 – A Reptilian Dystopia – EP)

“FROGG is a dangerous force of Technical Metal making themselves known!” – The Circle Pit

“Technical Death rising star” – GhostCult Mag

“The music is impressively performed and written. Crazy technical menageries of Adderall-fueled obsession meshed with emotive melody just spilling out everywhere. It’s a great time, and definitely worth checking out. Definitely a band to be watching in the future.” – No Clean Singing

“The guitar work is beyond phenomenal, and the vocals are just as catchy. They aren’t 100% death metal but are really a blend of modern tech metal and death metal. I’m extremely excited to see if the band is cooking up any live shows to promote the release and am definitely keeping my eyes on this project from here on out. If you want that Decapitated/Arsis/Obscura blend of groove and technicality Frogg is meant for you.” – Technical Music Review (2020 – A Reptilian Dystopia – EP)

“This is an incredible EP, guys. Every one of these songs has made it into heavy rotation, and I am honestly so excited to hear more in the future.” – Metal Trenches (2020 – A Reptilian Dystopia – EP)

“The quality on show here is amazing for a first release and has left us salivating at the prospect of their debut album [9/10]” – Metal Noise (2020 – A Reptilian Dystopia – EP)

“Bursting into life with a colossus bang, it’s a technical monstrosity that greets listeners with Ancient Storm. It’s wild, it’s nasty but it’s built on a foundation of sharp riffs and ferocious groove.” – Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life (2020 – A Reptilian Dystopia – EP)

“A Reptilian Dystopia” shines with technical sophistication” – Artnoir (2020 – A Reptilian Dystopia – EP)

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0 PROG METAL MANIA (Munich, DE) Announces 2025 Lineup w/ SCAR SYMMETRY, DISILLUSION, XAON, OBSIDIOUS, POEM, F.K.Ü. and More!

January 28, 2025
by Asher
· Music News · Prog Metal Mania - Munich

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – January 28, 2025

PROG METAL MANIA (Munich, DE) Announces 2025 Lineup

w/ SCAR SYMMETRY, DISILLUSION, XAON, OBSIDIOUS, POEM, F.K.Ü. and More!

Festival Artwork by Ryan T Hancock

Offering an exciting mix of established greats as well as emerging, young bands, Prog Metal Mania Festival is making its event debut on May 2nd and 3rd in Munich, Germany at the world-famous Backstage, featuring the headliners SCAR SYMMETRY, DISILLUSION along with OBSIDIOUS, XAON, POEM, and more.

Official Prog Metal Mania Spotify Playlist – https://spoti.fi/4aqkF9p

Shaping up to be a must-attend for Progressive Rock and Metal fans from Germany and beyond, the 2025 inaugural lineup sees 13 bands and one special guest hailing from Sweden, Germany, the UK, France, Greece, Italy, and Lebanon. While each one of them brings something special out of the broad Prog, Metal & Mania spectrum, most haven’t played in the Bavarian capital before or rarely visited Southern Germany until now.

Organizer Katha states: “The idea for Prog Metal Mania came to life through the collaboration of Mostly Metal \m/ & The Progspace and the common wish to bring certain bands on one of Munich’s most prestigious stages for heavy music. Even though it’s a new festival, the response to the first announcements has been overwhelming, grateful for the warm welcome we got within the scene. We’re really happy to have so many fantastic bands on board, and can’t wait to celebrate their music and the festival’s debut with all those Prog Metal Maniacs from near and far!”

Day split tickets and weekend passes are available at the following link HERE.

Friday, May 2nd, 2025 – Doors 13:00, Stage times 13:30 – 23:30
Disillusion
Obsidious
F.K.Ü.
Vulkan
Loch Vostok
Ihlo
Jester’s Tears

Saturday, May 3rd, 2025 – Doors 12:30, Stage times 13:00 – 23:30
Scar Symmetry
Poem
Xaon
Turbulence
Aeons
Soulsplitter
John Macaluso

About The Bands – https://progmetalmania.com/en/Bands/

SCAR SYMMETRY – With legendary guitar wizard Per Nilsson as a driving force, the Swedish band perfectly blends mind-blowing riffs with virtuoso soloing, built up on mighty synth layers, complex yet groovy rhythms, and topped by a vigorous dual vocal attack. Fascinating Metal fans all over the world, they will play their first show in Munich after 12 years!

DISILLUSION – With their special blend of Progressive Death Metal, the German band takes their audience from the top of the world to the end of the sea. By creating dense, multi-layered soundscapes and versatile movements at the forefront of artistic concepts, they already released three rich, fully matured Metal masterpieces.

OBSIDIOUS – Named after black volcanic glass, the group’s moniker exudes something dark, of fiery origin, and metaphorically offers a nearly limitless platform for expression and advancement. Having caught the Extreme Metal scene by storm with their iconic debut in 2022, the international Tech Death powerhouse is set to blow the roof off at Prog Metal Mania 2025!

TURBULENCE – The Lebanese masters of musical story-telling even make a robot dream with their marvelous soundscapes and virtuosic playing, inviting their listeners on captivating, emotional journeys.

JOHN MACALUSO – Born in the US, now living in Italy, the legendary drummer has already played on over 200 albums (ARK, Michael Romeo, Powermad, Yngwie Malmsteen…) and countless tours. He will present a special show for fans of hot rhythms and cool stories with his terrific, versatile playing and some glimpses behind the scenes.

XAON – The French Symphonic Death Metal band spreads its wings on the hunt for nothing less than epicness. By melting the raw energy of Extreme Metal with the finesse and vehemence of a mighty orchestra, their music is absolutely mind-blowing, yet with an amazing sense for details – Brutal and beautiful at the same time.

VULKAN – The Swedish band with the eruptive name offers mesmerizing melodies to immerse yourself in, served on a layer of intriguing rhythms with a true sense for incredibly atmospheric soundscapes.

LOCH VOSTOK – By bringing together raw beauty with complexity and finesse, their music comes along brutal yet with a catchy grooviness, delivering fat choruses, shredalicious solos, and poisonous hooks.

POEM – There’s a certain beauty in melancholy, and the Greek quartet absolutely brings this to the top with its unique, intense compositions. The outstanding voice and expressive performance of singer George Prokopiou make each song a highly emotional experience.

F.K.Ü. – Since there’s a huge overlapping between the Horror and the Metal communities, it seems like a great idea to bring these two beasts together, and F.K.Ü. clearly pull out all the stops on this. Heavily inspired by Freddy Krueger & Co, these four Swedish guys will bring Metal and Mania to Munich.

AEONS – Hailing from the Isle of Man, the Progmetal powerhouse will come to Germany with three albums under their belt, taking their audience from the plains of the American West to ancient Greece, and even to the vast reaches of space with their mighty, musical tales.

SOULSPLITTER – Following their combined musical vision, the German arts collective melts various stylistic splitters into a soulful, new whole. Over the past years, they delved deeper into a specific aspect of their signature sound where heavy guitars and intricate rhythms meet classical piano in a prominent position.

IHLO – The band from Scotland blends modern Progressive Metal with electronic and pop influences to create a sound that is huge musically, emotionally crushing, and full of hooks. Their debut recently got a re-issue via Kscope, and with album No2 showing up on the horizon, they also might bring new music to Munich in May.

JESTER’S TEARS – Even though the name of this Munich-based band might be quickly associated with an album title by Marillion, it is rather the multi-layered symbol for their music, and was actually inspired by Venice and its famous carnival. The five musicians will open Prog Metal Mania with their powerful mix of wonderful playfulness and complex, yet accessible songs.

More info:

https://progmetalmania.com

https://www.facebook.com/ProgMetalMania/

https://www.instagram.com/progmetalmania

https://linktr.ee/progmetalmania

——

Festival Press Promotional Packet HERE.

About The Venue – Backstage – Reitknechtstraße 6, 80639 München – www.backstage.eu

Located in the heart of Munich, Backstage is easy to reach by public transport thanks to the S-Bahn station Hirschgarten being pretty close. A chargeable parking space is also available, several hotels are within walking distance.

As all concerts are set on the same stage, there are no overlaps in the playing times so all bands can be experienced. The venue’s beer garden is a great place for lively chats with other music enthusiasts during the breaks while getting drinks and food there.

Festival Links:

Prog Metal Mania will take place on 2 & 3 May 2025 at the Backstage (Werk) in Munich, Germany

Organizer: Mostly Metal Events & PR

For requests please contact info[@]progmetalmania[.]com

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0 Prog Collective LUNAR Confronts Personal Struggles in “Fall Back Into Old Habits” Lyric Video From New Album “Tempora Mutantur” Out Jan 31st

January 23, 2025
by Asher
· Lunar · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – January 23, 2024

Prog Collective LUNAR Confronts Personal Struggles in “Fall Back Into Old Habits” Lyric Video

ft. members Helion Prime, Beholder, Vis Mystica, Mokili Wa, Nordic Frost, Outloud, Double Vision

Fourth Studio Album “Tempora Mutantur” Out Jan 2025 via Saibot Reigns Records

Making Live Debut at Hyperspace Metal Festival 2025 (Vancouver, BC) – April 11th

Top 1st Row – Ryan Price – Bass, Alex Bosson – Drums
Middle 2nd Row – Connor McCray – Lead Guitar, Chandler Mogel – Clean Vocals
Bottom 3rd Row – Carlos Alvarez – Rhythm Guitar, Brian Lewis – Growl Vocals, Anthony Stahl – Keyboards

Sacramento, USA’s progressive metal visionaries LUNAR shares their new lyric video for “Fall Back Into Old Habits”, delivering a powerful exploration of personal patterns and emotional cycles. As the third preview of their upcoming concept album “Tempora Mutantur”, the track promises to be a visceral examination of human vulnerability, showcasing the band’s unique ability to transform personal struggles into universal musical experiences. Drummer Alex Bosson comments on the single:

“This is, I think, the longest, and maybe the “heaviest” song for Lunar thus far. Mostly features the growl vocals from Brian Lewis (although there is some of Chandler’s beautiful voice on here too). Lots of double basses, and multiple shreddy guitar solos (including one from Wildrun’s Wayne Ingram).”

Lyrically, “Fall Back Into Old Habits” deals with addiction, or anything we do that can give us temporary relief to help us get through rough moments, but ultimately have terrible long-term effects on ourselves. The 11-minute epic represents Lunar‘s commitment to creating music that is therapeutically honest and musically innovative.

“Fall Back Into Old Habits” continues Lunar’s tradition of creating progressive metal that challenges listeners to confront their inner landscapes. It is recommended for fans of Haken, Tool, and Porcupine Tree.

Watch and listen to the video for “Fall Back Into Old Habits” via its premiere on MetalAddicts HERE.

Founded by drummer Alex Bosson (Helion Prime, Planeswalker) and Ryan Erwin who passed away in 2018, LUNAR continues in his memory. This fourth full-length “Tempora Mutantur” follows 2023’s “The Illusionist” and features a fresh lineup with the addition of guitarists Carlos Alvarez and Connor McCray (Vis Mystica) along with keyboardist Anthony Stahl plus album guests Wayne Ingram (Wildrun), Joe Gullace (Thank You Scientist) and Sam Vallen (Caligula’s Horse).

A collaboration of musical minds, and with anything LUNAR does; “Tempora Mutantur” is an emotional thematic listening experience with ups and downs musically and lyrically dealing with the passing of time and the effects it has on us physically and mentally.

LUNAR’s “Tempora Mutantur” is due out on January 31, 2025, from Saibot Reigns Records.

Album pre-order – http://lunarbandofficial.bandcamp.com/

Previous Singles

“Watch The Weather Change” – https://youtu.be/WKdnZD_DJsE

“Weakening Winter Touch” – https://youtu.be/0in2WNVshGM

“Spring In My Step – https://youtu.be/mtOhnwOpK_0

A studio project since first conceived in 2014, LUNAR will make its live debut next year at the 2025 Hyperspace Metal Festival in Vancouver, BC, Canada on April 11th. Info here.

(Album Artwork by Ed Bosson)

Track Listing:
1. A Summer To Forget – 6:37
2. Fall Back Into Old Habits – 11:16 ft. guest guitar solo by Wayne Ingram (Wilderun)
3. Seasonal Interlude – 4:47
4. Weakening Winter Touch – 8:46
5. Spring In My Step – 7:26
6. Tempora Mutantur: Part I – Passage of Time – 3:12 ft. guest guitar solo by Sam Vallen (Caligula’s Horse)
7. Tempora Mutantur: Part II – Broken Pendulum – 3:47
8. Tempora Mutantur: Part III – Watch The Weather Change – 4:51
Album Length: 50:45

Album Credits:
Performance and Writing credits – full info HERE.
Produced by: Alex Bosson
Mixed by: Carlos Alvarez
Mastered by: Tony Lindgren

Album Main Lineup:
Chandler Mogel – Clean Vocals
Brian Lewis – Growl Vocals
Carlos Alvarez – Rhythm Guitar
Connor McCray – Lead Guitar
Ryan Price – Bass
Alex Bosson – Drums
Anthony Stahl – Keyboards

Live Lineup:
Chandler Mogel – Clean Vocals
Brian Lewis – Growl Vocals
Jordan Price – Guitars
Ryan Price – Bass
Alex Bosson – Drums

For more info: Facebook.com/lunarbandofficial | Instagram.com/lunarbandofficial | X.com/LunarBandOffcl | Spotify

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“It’s really well done technically by a band that clearly cares about their music and can play.” – Rock The Joint Mag (The Illusionist 2023)

“If I had one word to describe this album, it would be this one: whirlwind… “The Illusionist” is an album that is living. From its jazzy highs to its heavy metal lows, this album is constantly on its toes, never repeating itself and never, ever growing complacent. A wonderful whirlwind indeed. 9/10” – Ever Metal

“I feel like Lunar has captured the balance between accessibility and technicality very well. I hear many of the same elements in their sound that, when employed well, make bands like Dream Theater, King Crimson, Voïvod and even Sigh so engaging. I love when an album comes out of nowhere (for me, anyway) and makes this much of an impression.” – The Metal Crypt

“As I said at the start, when I heard this album I was immediately grabbed by it. The story works nicely, it is very character based and features plenty of emotions which as a listener I certainly could relate to. The music is terrific with all the players putting in excellent performances and the instrumentation used in a clever way to match all that is going on with the lead character. There are moments of heavy prog as well as metal, but melody runs through the heart of it. The fact that some of the people in the band have never met or even been in the same room together is remarkable as it sounds like everyone was on the same hymn sheet and it doesn’t sound pieced together. That is a great credit to the writing, arranging as well as all the musicians doing their parts to the benefit of the whole piece. An absolutely delightful as well as enjoyable album.” – CGCM Rock Radio

“The concept is that there are songs that are angry, songs that are confused, songs that are depressing, and everywhere in between. Styles on the album run the gambit from Progressive Metal with melodic vocals, to moments of Jazz, to cookie monster Thrash…. The musicianship is solid on all of the parts, with some excellent performances, notably vocalist Chandler Mogel… it does warrant checking out for Prog-Metal fans that like a mix of growler and melodic vocals.” – Metal Express Radio

“The Illusionist again is at the highest level of the progsphere, Bosson’s continuation of the Lunar name, honouring his co-founder and friend, through the medium of progressive metal, is an advantageous endeavour. 9/10” – Musipedia of Metal

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0 Prog Guitarist Marko Bojkovic Shares An Empowering Message “From Within” Off New Album “Powercore” Out Jan 2025

January 9, 2025
by Asher
· Marko Bojkovic · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – January 9, 2025

Prog Guitarist Marko Bojkovic Shares An Empowering Message “From Within”

New Album “Powercore” Out Jan 2025

Set to unleash his latest and eighth studio album “Powercore” toward the end of January 2025, prog guitarist Marko Bojkovic has one more treat for fans with the last single to reveal before the full-length officially drops from Forerunner Recordings.

Entitled “From Within” featuring guest vocals from Gabe Vermund, the track is an empowering composition of progressive, power, and metalcore. Bojkovic states:

“We all have a power within us, and we already have that power! We didn’t get it from training or experience; we just have it! All you have to do to realize you have it is to believe in yourself! This song also has the best guitar solo that I’ve written by far because it’s the perfect showcase for my current style!”

Listen to the single at the following links:

Youtube – https://youtu.be/xPVxzN5K9Lg

Digital – https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/markobojkovic/from-within-feat-gabe-vermund

Previous Singles “What We Accomplished” ft. Chris Thomas and “Find Your Flame” ft. Johnny Ray (The Mourning), Gabe Vermund, and Chris Thomas (a cover of the song from the video game Sonic Frontier can be heard at the following links:

“Find Your Flame” – https://youtu.be/7ASxCQiOaMU

“What We Accomplished” – https://youtu.be/PGJLE2tzeaE

Spotify

Inspired by his youthful years of playing Sonic Adventure on his Sega Dreamcast and being wondered but its luring soundtrack, Marko Bojkovic over the years has been exploring instrumental guitar sounds, and will be presenting his eighth studio album “Powercore” on January 24th, 2025 on Forerunner Recordings.

Packing the most punch with perfectly combined progressive metal, power metal, metalcore, and djent along with influences from jazz fusion to classical music, Bojkovic‘s new album “Powercore” (named after his own dubbed genre of metal called Progressive PowerCore) is meant to send positive messages such as being able to accomplish anything you set your mind to and believing in yourself. Musically, the album’s guitar solos are among the best he’s ever written. As a small content creator on YouTube and Patreon, Bojkovic has become known on the internet for his economy-picking prowess, which he showcases to excellent use on the songs featured in this full-length. In addition to the guitar work, Bojkovic played all the bass lines on “Powercore” along with recruiting guest vocals from Chris Thomas (growling vocals, clean vocals) and Gabe Vermund (clean vocals).

“This album is me finally channeling my personality in my music! Its predecessor ‘Venom’ represented how I felt at a certain point in my life, and those familiar with that record may be caught a bit off guard given the drastic change in my style, but PowerCore represents how I feel in general! It is meant to be accessible to metal fans and non-metal fans alike. This album is a reflection of how I stay positive in difficult situations, but also has moments of self-reflection, or as Eckhart Tolle calls it “presence.” A lot of metal songs seem to be about sadness and negativity, and while those songs are very cool and heartfelt, metal songs can be positive and inspire the listener to go out and achieve a set goal!” adds Bojkovic.

Recommended for fans of Trivium, Avenged Sevenfold, Periphery, Dream Theater, and Firewind, Marko Bojkovic‘s new album “Powercore” is available for pre-save at the following link – https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/markobojkovic/powercore

Fans interested in Bojkovic’s Patreon Page to get exclusive content about his guitar playing and techniques, please subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/MarkoBojkovic

Track Listing:
1. Anesthesia (No Easy Way Out) – 3:58
2. From Within – 5:29
3. Sacrifice For Sanity – 3:50
4. What We Accomplished ft. Chris Thomas – 3:17
5. Find Your Flame ft. Johnny Ray (The Mourning) – 4:00
6. Thrown – 5:41
7. To Reminisce – 4:54
Album Length: 31:11

More info: Facebook.com/markobojkovicmusic | Instagram.com/markobojkovicshredsguitar

-30-

“You can do stuff on lead guitar that no one else can do, such as your economy picking.” – Patrick Finster – Producer

“Venom is a very heavy album and I absolutely loved the guitar work. The self-titled track really showcased the heavy riffs and helped set the course for the rest of the album. ‘Maximum Carnage’ also had nice guitar work as well. Hard, heavy, and head bang worthy riffs…. In all I highly recommend this album for fans of bands like Trivium and Meshuggah. With Marko’s guitar work plus the vocals, it’s definitely worth a listen for anyone that enjoys heavy metal, with some screaming vocals.” – Music Crowns

Florida metal guitarist Marko Bojkovic has released his latest album, Venom. Musically, the album is a mixture of progressive metal, death metal, power metal, and thrash metal, with a hint of influence from anime and video game OSTs… Marko’s music is perfect for fans of Trivium, Meshuggah, Allegeaon, Obscura, Dream Theater, Firewind, Sabaton, Powerwolf, Iron Maiden, Kiko Loureiro/Angra, and Leprous.” – Punkerton Records

“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Marko and mentoring his playing for over 2 years now and can easily see he’s one of the most capable, hardest working and fastest learning guitarists I’ve ever come across!” – Bradley Hall, guitar Youtuber

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0 Progressive Collective LUNAR Unveils Emotional Lyric Video “Spring In My Step” Off New Album “Tempora Mutantur” Out Jan 2025

January 3, 2025
by Asher
· Lunar · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – January 3, 2024

Progressive Collective LUNAR Unveils Emotional Lyric Video “Spring In My Step”

ft. members Helion Prime, Beholder, Vis Mystica, Mokili Wa, Nordic Frost, Outloud, Double Vision

Fourth Studio Album “Tempora Mutantur” Out Jan 2025 via Saibot Reigns Records

Making Live Debut at Hyperspace Metal Festival 2025 (Vancouver, BC) – April 11th

Sacramento, USA’s progressive metal outfit Lunar is set to release the lyric video for “Spring In My Step” to offer listeners another captivating glimpse into their upcoming concept album “Tempora Mutantur”, slated for release at the end of January 2025. The new release continues the band’s exploration of seasonal metaphors and personal transformation, promising a musical journey that blends intricate progressive metal with deeply introspective storytelling. Drummer Alex Bosson comments on the single:

“One of my personal favorite songs on the album. This song is more upbeat and about the good times we feel revitalized. When you’ve made it through a rough patch in your life and realize you’ve come out the other side. This song has some really fun moments musically and, I think, is one of the more “proggy” songs on this record.”

One of the more upbeat songs on the album, “Spring In My Step” delivers an awesome main riff and continues with positive melodies throughout. The track embodies the band’s approach to songwriting—creating music that is both technically complex and emotionally accessible, inviting listeners to find their own meanings within the layers of sound and lyrical metaphor.

The lyric video, along with the rest of the album, offers an emotional listening experience. Lots of ups and downs musically and lyrically dealing with the passing of time and the effects it has on us physically and mentally. Lunar is recommended for fans of Opeth, Caligula’s Horse, and Haken.

Watch and listen to “Spring In My Step” at the following links:

YouTube – https://youtu.be/mtOhnwOpK_0

Spotify – https://spoti.fi/3W3wzA7

“This album deals with something everyone can relate to and no one can escape: the passing of time. We get older, our perspective changes, and we gain some things, and lose others… sometimes the things and ones we love. And we struggle and fight along the way. This album deals with some of the highs and lows we deal with along this journey we all share. Hopefully, the fans will be able to resonate with it and find some solace and aid in their own experiences of time passing. I believe the songwriting has gotten stronger over the years. I think the songs are a bit more well-structured. But I think the overall sound of the band has remained pretty consistent over the years. The music is very “prog,” so it’s been diverse I think from day 1. Probably even more so now than it was at first.” adds Bosson.

Recommended for fans of Opeth, Caligula’s Horse, Haken, Tool, and Porcupine Tree, LUNAR’s “Tempora Mutantur” is due out January 31, 2025, from Saibot Reigns Records.

Album pre-order – http://lunarbandofficial.bandcamp.com/

Previous Singles

“Watch The Weather Change” – https://youtu.be/WKdnZD_DJsE

“Weakening Winter Touch” – https://youtu.be/0in2WNVshGM

A studio project since first conceived in 2014, LUNAR will make its live debut next year at the 2025 Hyperspace Metal Festival in Vancouver, BC, Canada on April 11th. Info here.

(Album Artwork by Ed Bosson)

Album Credits:
Performance and Writing credits – full info HERE.
Produced by: Alex Bosson
Mixed by: Carlos Alvarez
Mastered by: Tony Lindgren

Live Lineup:
Chandler Mogel – Clean Vocals
Brian Lewis – Growl Vocals
Jordan Price – Guitars
Ryan Price – Bass
Alex Bosson – Drums

For more info: Facebook.com/lunarbandofficial | Instagram.com/lunarbandofficial | X.com/LunarBandOffcl

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“It’s really well done technically by a band that clearly cares about their music and can play.” – Rock The Joint Mag (The Illusionist 2023)

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