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NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – July 8, 2020

Interview Request at asher[@]ashermediarelations[.]comFor fans of Opeth, Haken, Porcupine Tree, Alice in Chains, Nevermore

Cinematic Prog Alizarin Streaming New Album “The Last Semblance”

Album Stream Premiere via SonicPerspectives

New Album “The Last Semblance” Out July 10, 2020

L-R: Jon Damon (Drums) | Josh Kay (Guitars & Vocals) | Avelino Ramirez (Keyboards) | Terran Fernandez (Bass & Backing Vocals)

Photographer credits: Rob Aft & Christian Robles

On Friday, July 10th, cinematic rock metallers Alizarin will be releasing their sophomore album “The Last Semblance”. Unlike their strictly instrumental debut record “Cast Zenith” (2018), this next release features prominent vocals throughout from guitarist Josh Kay. Rich harmonies and baritone resonance from Kay’s voice add a new dimension to the music, allowing the band’s sound to expand to truly uncharted territory.

The album covers a wide spectrum of sonic landscapes and emphasizes the melodic journey over deliberate technique. Although vocalist and guitarist Joshua Kay is the chief songwriter of Alizarin, the compositions on the new record focus on a balance from each instrument, with less of an emphasis on the domination of guitar solos and a greater exploration of what each musician is capable of. Drawing influence from such groups as Porcupine Tree, Haken, Alice in Chains, Opeth, Portishead, and many more, the result of Alizarin‘s sound is one that is challenging to define, pensive, and often at the crossroads of melody and dissonance.

Today, before the album’s official release, the band has teamed up with SonicPerspectives for the full stream premiere of “The Last Semblance” HERE.

Kay adds:

“We are extremely excited and proud to present our new album ‘The Last Semblance’, a record that defies the expectations of modern progressive music and offers something for every listener. This music takes our brand of cinematic metal we began on our debut record and expands upon it in every single way. Rich and dramatic compositions, unorthodox chord progressions, lush vocals and harmonies, and compelling melodies abound on our new album. We wanted to stand out from our peers and offer something that will be immediately memorable and captivating, yet will continue to reveal new layers of depth upon every listen.”

“The Last Semblance” will be available on Bandcamp (CD and Digital), Spotify, and Apple Music.

Born out of the forward-thinking inclinations of guitarist/vocalist Josh Kay in late 2017, Alizarin is on a mission to explore unconventional rock music. In addition to Kay, the Los Angeles based group consists of Jon Damon on drums, Terran Fernandez on bass guitar and Avelino Ramirez on keyboard.

Track Listing:
1. Elegy Simulacra (7:55)
2. Fathom (6:53)
3. A Wreath of Temperance (6:40)
4. Velvet Margin (5:12)
5. Heirloom (5:35)
6. Zero Sum (7:03)
7. Attenuation (10:36)
8. The Ivory Silo (8:48)
Album Length: 58:46

Album Credits:
• All songs performed by: Alizarin
• All songs written by: Josh Kay
• Produced by: Josh Kay and Alizarin
• Mixed by: Josh Kay
• Mastered by: Jamie King
• Album Artwork by: Josh Kay

Album and Live Band Line Up:
Josh Kay – Guitars and vocals
Jon Damon – Drums
Terran Fernandez – Bass and backing vocals
Avelino Ramirez – Keyboards

For more info:
Alizarinmusic.com
Facebook.com/alizaringroup
Instagram.com/alizarinband
EPK

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“in a musical world swollen with progressive bands, Alizarin is a welcome and refreshing alternative, and and The Last Semblance an entertaining listen. Recommended. 4/5” – Dangerdog Music Reviews

“ALIZARIN play scintillating prog-metal and create a sonic soundscape.” – RAMzine

“While some of the material is more fitting to be described as “cinematic rock” due to the instrumental muzak feel of the songs’ structure, this album possesses the punch of a Dream Theater release and the momentum of a King Crimson record.” – Metal Injection (Album Review – Cast Zenith)

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NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – December 12, 2019

For fans of Joe Satriani, Rush, Yngwie J Malmsteen, Steve Vai

Canadian Guitar Prog PYRAMIDS ON MARS Next Single ‘The Ambassador’ Off Upcoming Album Out Dec 21st

Guitarist Kevin Estrella’s project Pyramids On Mars has a new album being released on December 21, 2019, entitled “Edge of the Black”. The full length offers up an aural palette of intense instrumental progressive shredding rock that’s emotional, provocative and 4-dimensional.

Teaming up with MusicLegends.ca, Pyramids On Mars is premiering the next single ‘The Ambassador’ here.

Estrella explains the track in further detail:

“The idea for The Ambassador was actually sparked from the guitar it was played on. It is played on a Signature ‘Aurora’ Guitar. Built by the Signature Guitar Company sometime around 1987. Alex Lifeson of Rush made the guitar famous playing it exclusively for the albums “Hold Your Fire” and “Show of Hands”. Alex designed the guitar, along with Russ Heinl. What makes it unique is the balance of Basswood (from a rare variety found only in Quebec) and has the three active single-coil pickups, giving the guitar a very unique: clear, bright yet warm distinctive sound. No guitar sounds like it. It was meant to be the ultimate Superstrat. It’s almost like an acoustic guitar on hyperdrive. Only 500 Signatures were ever made. My Signature Aurora is quite unique. The original owner purchased it from Steve’s Music Store in Toronto back in the late eighties. It was a floor model. It doesn’t even have a serial number. It is quite the collector’s item.

The Ambassador was written by-that-guitar. I didn’t write the song, the Signature guitar did.

Speaking of Rush, the song is heavily influenced by Rush’s early works from the eighties. The concert video Show of Hands comes to mind was a huge influence on the Edge of the Black sound, particularly in the songs The Ambassador and Arcturian Rain.

The theme of the song is about an Ambassador who has been selected from Earth, chosen to be a spokesperson for the people of Earth. Scientists found a way to open a portal to another galaxy and he was chosen to go through it and hopefully meet some Extraterrestrial nation on the other side.

Some other interesting things come to mind in the song. The guitar solo is doing some interesting combinations of two-note per string sweep picking, combined with string skipping arpeggios a-la Paul Gilbert style. The solo ends in a nice diatonic extension arpeggio legato phrasing. These and other techniques I teach on my online instructional guitar lessons https://pyramidsonmarsguitarlessons.pivotshare.com/“

Following Pyramids On Mars’ two previous albums, “Edge of the Black” was written, composed and performed solely by Kevin Estrella who cites influences from musical greats including J.S Bach and Antonio Vivaldi along with today’s guitar virtuosos Yngwie Malmsteen and Joe Satriani. “Edge of the Black” pays homage to these artists while still maintaining Estrella’s own creative flair. Estrella shares his thoughts on the album:

“On Edge of The Black, I wanted to put emphasis on songwriting and telling a story. The emphasis is not just on the lead guitar melody, but on the band as a whole. Harmonic variations on repeating themes are strongly utilized; like rhyming phrases in spoken language that allows easier accurate retelling of the original story. This idea of repeating music phrases/themes so the audience can easily recall it and hum it all the way home.”

“Edge of The Black” pre-order available on Bandcamp.

Singles:
‘F-22 Raptor’ here.
‘Song of Light’ here.
‘Nacht Waffen’ here.

Track Listing:
1. Blood Moon 5:42
2. Nacht Waffen 6:56
3. Song of Light 5:44
4. F-22 Raptor 5:53
5. The Ambassador 4:57
6. Mercury Magnetar 4:58
7. Arcturian Rain 4:38
8. Time to Believe 4:40
9. Arioso Lullaby 4:39
10. Whale Song 4:28
Album Length: 52:40

For more info:
PyramidsOnMars.com
Facebook
Instagram

About:

Every once in awhile there comes along a band that is so different or unique, you would think they were dropped on Earth from another planet. Pyramids On Mars is one of those bands. What first catches you, is that they are an instrumental band. A combination of elements such as hard rock, industrial, metal and psychedelic rock: and then the lead guitar comes soaring in. Well crafted, beautiful, melodic phrases so catchy and memorable they will be stuck in your head for the rest of the day.

Pyramids On Mars is the solo project of guitarist Kevin Estrella. He wanted to do something musically different that would stand out from the crowd. Estrella’s musical style is very similar to world-renowned rock guitarist Joe Satriani, so much so that Estrella has nicknamed himself the “Satriani of the North.”

“Of course Satriani has had a huge influence on me,” he says “But he (Satriani) does more of a bluesy thing whereas I am more influenced by classical music. I absolutely love the Baroque classical composers J.S Bach and Antonio Vivaldi who are my biggest musical influences.

Estrella recorded, produced, engineered and mastered his debut album, self-titled “Pyramids On Mars” in 2013. Since then, he has been capturing music industry attention-getting international radio airplay in the U.S, Canada, South America, and Europe. He is a regular guest on Brian ‘the hammer’ Jackson radio (Los Angeles) to over 4 million listeners and a weekly speaker on Real Rock Radio (Chicago).

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ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS

Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780
asher[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Facebook @AsherMediaRelations
Instagram @AsherMedia
Tweet @AsherMedia

Tag: progrock

0 Cinematic Prog Alizarin Streaming New Album “The Last Semblance” via SonicPerspectives

0 Canadian Guitar Prog PYRAMIDS ON MARS Next Single ‘The Ambassador’ Off Upcoming Album Out Dec 21st