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• Fantasy Meets Prog - CEPHEIDAE VARIABLE “Carving a Dragon” Opens The Gates To Debut "Primordial Reverie" Out Nov 2025

  Sep 30, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Cepheidae Variable, the one-man progressive metal project helmed by Kelowna, Canada, guitarist and composer Ryan Koepke, has officially unveiled its debut single, “Carving a Dragon,” accompanied by a playthrough video. The track serves as the first glimpse into Cepheidae Variable’s upcoming debut full-length instrumental album, "Primordial Reverie," set for release on November 7th, 2025.

  Originally conceived as a personal exploration of musical growth, Cepheidae Variable evolved into a deeply emotional and ambitious endeavour following Koepke’s father’s cancer diagnosis and the news of his own impending fatherhood.

  “I stopped waiting around and created something I’d be proud of. This album became a reflection of emotional turbulence, hope, and transformation,” shares Koepke.

  “Carving a Dragon” was the first track written for the album, and one of the most challenging. Inspired by Robin Hobb’s Assassin’s Quest, the song symbolizes pouring one’s soul into creation and marks the beginning of Koepke’s journey as a solo recording artist. With its energetic, uplifting fantasy feel, it stands in contrast to the moodier, sci-fi-themed tracks that follow.

  “There were many times during the writing process I considered scrapping this song. The result is something that has stuck with me and has a lot of meaning to not only myself, but also friends and family who supported me,” says Koepke.

  The album itself is a genre-defying instrumental narrative, weaving through symphonic fantasy, sci-fi textures, and progressive complexity. Koepke describes the sound as “spacey, weird, melodic, melancholic, happy,” and cites influences ranging from Dream Theater and Haken to Wintersun and Caligula’s Horse. Divided into three distinct acts, "Primordial Reverie" challenges listeners to experience the full arc of its story, with recurring motifs and evolving themes that reward repeat listens.

  The album artwork, created by renowned collage artist Alex Eckman-Lawn, evokes feelings of loneliness, wonder, and cosmic mystery, mirroring the tonal shift that occurs midway through the album.

  "I especially enjoyed this artwork because of the amount of interpretation it allows from the viewer. It was a heavy influence on the tonal shift this album undergoes." Koepke notes.

  With "Primordial Reverie," Koepke aims to release a new album every 2–4 years, continuing to push the boundaries of solo composition and progressive storytelling. Though currently instrumental, Cepheidae Variable may evolve into a collaborative or vocal project in the future.

  Recommended for listeners of Dream Theater, Haken, Intervals, Wintersun, and Caligula’s Horse, “Carving a Dragon” can be heard and watched via its playthrough premiere on TheProgSpace HERE.

  Add to your Spotify playlist - https://open.spotify.com/track/50cqqMHKWKJl9ahcdXY5xD​

  Digital Album pre-save (out Nov 7th) "Primordial Reverie" - https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/cepheidaevariable/primordial-reverie​

  CD Album pre-order - https://cepheidaevariable.bandcamp.com/album/primordial-reverie​​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Overture (3:11)
  2. Carving a Dragon (4:04)
  3. The Waiting Storm (3:13)
  4. Zephyr of Ouroboros (9:15)
  5. Encounter (5:53)
  6. The Conduit (6:03)
  7. Chromatic Haven (5:11)
  8. Entropic Harvester (10:27)
  9. Singularity (11:32)
  Album Length: 58:53

  For more info: https://cepheidaevariable.com/

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• DOLL “Better Days, Different Times” EP Completes Their Triumphant Return

  Jul 17, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Canadian alt-rock powerhouse Doll is now streaming “Better Days, Different Times”, their first new collection of material since 2011's “The Ragdoll Diaries”. The EP represents not just a return to form but a significant evolution for the Ottawa-based band that has expanded their sonic palette while maintaining their core identity. They share their excitement:

  “With this album, we wanted to pull listeners in closer to what’s top of mind to us, our values, our experiences. It’s not just something to hear; it’s something to sit and listen to. It’s less about the volume this time, more about the weight behind the lyrics.”

  Every track on this record was handpicked because it struck something deep in Doll. Some songs come in softer, quieter moments. But don’t let that fool you, the weight is still there. The message is still dark, still heavy.

  The EP maintains the band’s commitment to authentic expression and therapeutic songwriting. Each track emerges from genuine experience and emotion, continuing the band’s tradition of using music as both personal processing and connection with listeners who share similar struggles.

  “Better Days, Different Times” marks not just Doll’s return from the dead, but their emergence as a more complete artistic entity. The EP proves that time away has served to deepen rather than diminish their creative impact, offering both longtime fans and new listeners a compelling entry point into the band's evolved sound. They are recommended for fans of Nobro, SoftCult, Amyl and the Sniffers, and The Pretty Reckless.

  Listen to the EP's full stream premiere on GhostCultMagazine HERE.

  EP-pre-order (out July 18th) - https://doll.bandcamp.com/​

  ​

  More info: https://www.facebook.com/dollband

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• Kelowna's SWEETBEAST Unveils Sludgy Stoner Video "Illusion" ft. Space Queen; Debut Album "Illusions" Out Feb 21st, 2025

  Jan 9, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Hailing from Canada's Okanagan Valley in Kelowna, BC, SweetBeast is gearing up to make its debut full-length "Illusions" heard by the masses this coming February 2025. Unshackling the first single "Dream Eater" this past November, they are offering the next glimpse into their pressurized sludgy psychedelic stoner rock with their new music video for "Illusion", which features vocal harmonies done by the lovely ladies of Vancouver trio Space Queen.

  The album's closing track, "Illusion" captures the essence of awakening and self-discovery, with fuzzed-out guitars and emotional guitar solos that drive the message home. Space Queen's vocal harmonies elevate the song to new heights, creating a rich tapestry of sound that invites listeners to explore the depths of their realities. With its haunting lyrics and dynamic instrumentation, “Illusion” serves as both a rallying cry and a moment of introspection.

  The band comments on the making of the song:

  "We laid down this entire album, live off the floor, in just 2 days. Now of course there were a few overdubs that we plugged in during that weekend but by the end of the 2 days, all that was left was the mixing and mastering. We also added some special treats post-production that made the songs really pop, like vocal harmonies in the song “Illusion” done by our friends in Space Queen, and a few studio effects for added flavor. When we told the studio what we had planned to accomplish that weekend they thought we were crazy, and said it’s usually at least a week of studio time to get all those songs laid out. But we got it done and couldn’t be happier with the results."

  Watch and listen to "Illusion" ft. Space Queen via its premiere on DoomedAndStoned HERE.

  Digital pre-save - https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/sweetbeast/illusion-feat-space-queen-single​

  SweetBeast's first studio album "Illusions" is a sonic exploration of shifting realities, blending heavy, distorted riffs with introspective lyrics. It invites listeners to journey inward and outward, reflecting the complex relationship between mind, sound, and reality. The record leans heavily on low-tuned guitars, swirling effects, and a tight rhythm section that creates a dense, atmospheric sound. There’s a hypnotic groove throughout, with moments of psychedelic exploration, where riffs evolve into mind-bending progressions. The songs fluctuate between creative riffs and light, airy melodies that offer a contrast, pushing the boundaries of stoner rock.

  Recommended for fans of Queens Of The Stone Age, All Them Witches, Kyuss, and Alice In Chains, SweetBeast's album “Illusions” is due out on February 21st, 2025 from Humalien Records, and will be available for pre-order at https://sweetbeastrock.bandcamp.com/​

  First Single - “Dream Eater” - https://youtu.be/ErLKQGlu8Qk

  Digital - https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/sweetbeast/dream-eater​

  Track Listing:​
  1. 70/30 - 7:57
  2. Thunder - 4:01
  3. Dream Eater - 5:29
  4. Midnight - 4:38
  5. Plastic People - 6:41
  6. Illusion ft. Space Queen - 11:26
  Album Length - 40:12

  More info: SweetBeast.ca | Facebook.com/SweetBeastFuzz | Instagram.com/sweetbeastfuzz | Tiktok.com/@sweetbeastfuzz

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