Search Results: prog

• Dark Tales of Redemption Await with IN VIRTUE's Music Video “Gunslingers of the New American Desert" From Upcoming Album "Age of Legends" Out Nov 2025

  Sep 19, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  L-R Bruno Valverde (drums), Jamie Hush (bass), Trey Xavier (guitar/vocals), Alex Nasla (keys), Rami Khalaf (guitar)

  Phot Credit: Felix Martin

  In Virtue, the Los Angeles genre-defying metal band known for emotionally raw storytelling and cinematic soundscapes, is proud to announce the release of their third studio album, "Age of Legends," arriving November 21st, 2025. Alongside the announcement, the band unveils their first single, “Gunslingers of the New American Desert,” accompanied by a gripping music video that sets the tone for the album’s dark, redemptive journey.

  “Gunslingers is by far the heaviest song in the In Virtue catalog. It really sets the mood for a dark and harrowing tale. It brings you along for the ride as the antihero of the story returns from his self-imposed damnation to the real world and starts breaking bad after seeing a world of opportunity open up. He once again sets aside his humanity to pursue power through violence and corruption in a lawless land. In the end, he comes face to face with the consequences of his lack of empathy, and finally truly comes to grips with how he’s trading his soul for something empty,” adds guitarist and vocalist Trey Xavier.

  Watch and listen to the music video for “Gunslingers of the New American Desert” via its premiere on Metal Injection HERE.

  Add To Your Spotify Playlist - https://orcd.co/invirtuegunslingers​

  Fronted by YouTuber and Gear Gods founder Trey Xavier (also featured on viral hit “Dread Machine”), In Virtue blends power, progressive, and melodic death metal. The third full-length took six years to complete after their producer ghosted the band with just 10% left to finish, forcing Xavier to finish vocals in his home studio. The final product is a full-bodied concept album, "Age of Legends", which follows a flawed protagonist inspired by the myth of Sisyphus. Through a narrative of self-forgiveness and existential reckoning, the 14-track album invites listeners to reflect on their own inner battles.

  "I think fans will be pleasantly surprised, because although it builds on our past releases, it’s really the ultimate form of the same beast. The casual listener will be able to enjoy all of it without clocking the story, but anyone who wants to go deeper will be rewarded with the dark journey of a deeply flawed character on a quest to forgive himself by asking the big questions, making mistakes, and doing the hard work. It’s an emotional deep dive, a rollercoaster of textures and colors, but a cohesive trip that doesn’t just feel like a series of disconnected singles. A true concept album, the kind you should turn your phone off and light a candle to listen to on your bed with headphones from start to finish. A relatable protagonist who seeks what we all seek, to love himself in spite of himself and his flaws, to know himself deeply, and to win his battle against crushing self-doubt," adds Trey Xavier - In Virtue.

  The album's artwork was created by former Dark Tranquillity guitarist Niklas Sundin and depicts Sisyphus breaking free from his eternal punishment, a visual metaphor for the record’s central theme of liberation and self-redemption.

  Recommended for fans of Soilwork, Amaranthe, Shinedown, Symphony X, and Bad Wolves, In Virtue's "Age of Legends" is available for pre-order / pre-save at https://orcd.co/agofle​
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  Track Listing:​
  1. Ascent Glorious (00:36)
  2. Sisyphus Awakening (4:55)
  3. Karma Loop (ft. Charlotte Wessels) (3:35)
  4. Push That Rock (2:46)
  5. Purgatory (4:39)
  6. Exposed (3:27)
  7. Scream (3:40)
  8. Where The Edges Meet (3:16)
  9. Gunslingers of the New American Desert (4:42)
  10. Desolation Throne (3:03)
  11. Thoughts in Freefall (ft. Dave Davidson of Revocation) (4:10)
  12. The River (2:24)
  13. Tempus Fugue (ft. Chaney Crabb of Entheos) (8:05)
  14. Descent Limitless (1:22)
  Album Length: 50:40

  More info: Facebook.com/invirtue | Instagram.com//invirtue

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• Prog Collective LUNAR Reimagines Marilyn Manson with Progressive Metal Cover "Mechanical Animals"

  Sep 11, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Progressive metal collective LUNAR returns with a powerful new standalone single, “Mechanical Animals,” a bold reinterpretation of the iconic Marilyn Manson track. Following the critical acclaim of their 2025 concept album "Tempora Mutantur," LUNAR continues to evolve, this time stepping into the world of covers for the first time in their career.
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  ​“We’re really excited to release our new single ‘Mechanical Animals'. This is a cover of an old Marilyn Manson song that we’ve been wanting to do for quite some time now. I’ve listened to this song many times over the years, and there were certain parts that I always thought, ‘ooh, that would be cool to do there.’ Having these different ideas in my head to make it a bit more proggy, I figured it was a perfect track for LUNAR to cover. It’s also the first recorded LUNAR track with our new guitarists, Jordan Price and Jason Ashcraft, on it. We hope you all enjoy it!” shares drummer and founding member Alex Bosson.
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  ​“Mechanical Animals” bridges the gap between "Tempora Mutantur" and the band’s forthcoming fifth album, offering fans a taste of LUNAR’s evolving sonic palette. The track blends the haunting industrial tones of Marilyn Manson's original with LUNAR’s signature progressive flair, layered instrumentation, dynamic vocal interplay, and atmospheric depth. This release also marks the debut of new guitarists Jordan Price and Jason Ashcraft, whose contributions bring fresh energy and complexity to the band’s sound.

  With “Mechanical Animals,” LUNAR not only pays homage to a formative influence but also showcases their ability to transform familiar material into something uniquely their own. The single will be available now on all major streaming platforms on September 12, 2025.

  Listen to “Mechanical Animals” via its premiere on Metal Addicts HERE.

  Digital pre-save - https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/lunar231/mechanical-animals​

  LUNAR was formed in 2013 by Bosson and the late Ryan Erwin and has grown from a studio passion project into a full-fledged progressive force, with a lineup now featuring Jason Ashcraft (Rhythm Guitar), Alex Bosson (Drums), Brian Lewis (Growl Vocals), Chandler Mogel (Lead Vocals), Jordan Price (Lead Guitar), Ryan Price (Bass), and Anthony Stahl (Keyboards).
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  Making their live debut at the 2025 Hyperspace Metal Festival in Vancouver, they are already booking festival appearances for 2026 to be revealed at a later date.

  LINEUP:
  RHYTHM GUITAR: Jason Ashcraft
  DRUMS: Alex Bosson
  GROWL VOCALS: Brian Lewis
  LEAD VOCALS: Chandler Mogel
  LEAD GUITAR: Jordan Price
  BASS: Ryan Price
  KEYBOARDS: Anthony Stahl

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

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• Chilean Prog ENGRUPID PIPOL Unleashes Music Video “Tripel Ultimatum” Off New Apocalyptic Concept Album "Quadragenta At Finem Mundi" Out Nov 2025

  Sep 8, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Chilean progressive metal power trio Engrupid Pipol has released their explosive new single “Tripel Ultimatum,” the opening act of their upcoming conceptual album "Quadragenta At Finem Mundi", arriving November 7, 2025. Accompanied by a cinematic music video, the track sets the tone for a dark, prophetic journey through the collapse of civilization.

  “Tripel Ultimatum” is a high-octane burst of groove and adrenaline, described by guitarist Kaztrol as “a banger to kick off the album, full of heavy riffs and melodies that stick in your head, especially when you’re driving at high speed.”

  The music video, inspired by Mad Max, features the band as masked survivors of a nuclear disaster, performing one last time before scattering into the wasteland. The single’s artwork comes directly from the video shoot.

  “We’re some of the last humans alive in a desolate world. I designed a mask for each member to reflect our personalities, and we each created our own wardrobe, very Mad Max-inspired,” explains Kaztrol.

  Add to your Spotify playlist - https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/engrupidpipol/tripel-ultimatum​

  "Quadragenta At Finem Mundi" is Engrupid Pipol’s most ambitious work to date, a seven-act instrumental prog-metal album that metaphorically chronicles the downfall of humanity. With themes ranging from nuclear catastrophe and AI overreach to narcissism and societal collapse, the album offers a gripping sonic prophecy. Each track is a symptom, a warning, delivered by the trio’s explosive riffs and intricate compositions. “Voragine” captures the whirlwind of consumerism and chaos. “Animal Inteligenz” offers a sarcastic reflection on AI as a new god, questioning whether it will be benevolent or sadistic. “Inspireichon Burn” tells the story of thermonuclear war driven by greed, while “Vairal Madnez” critiques the viral madness of social media, fake news, and digital surveillance. “Aztral Configureited” imagines cosmic alignment as the final apocalypse, and “Ameba Emenens,” a fully acoustic track, closes the album with a note of introspective hope, life beginning anew from a single surviving Amoeba.

  “We want listeners to disconnect and let the music carry them to an altered level of consciousness. It’s a journey through soundscapes that reflect the chaos of our times,” says drummer Nacho García.

  Founded in Santiago, Chile, in October 2000, Engrupid Pipol began as SíFiLiS, releasing two experimental albums: SiFiLiSaCioN (2005) and Paranoia en Paragua (2009). Known for accelerated riffs and abrupt time changes, the band evolved into a more mature and cohesive unit, rebranding as Engrupid Pipol in 2009. Their sound is groovy, powerful, and melodically rich, which has earned them critical acclaim and a loyal fanbase. Their discography includes Essenchial Engrupid Element (2016), praised for its originality and technical prowess, and Engrupid Divais (2022), which earned a nomination for Best Metal Artist at the 2023 Pulsar Awards.

  Their song titles are often written in deliberately misspelled Spanglish, including the band’s name itself. “Engrupid” comes from the Chilean verb engrupir—to charm or deceive.

  “If you’re an engrupid person. You believe in yourself and your art no matter what anyone says,” comments Kaztrol.

  The new album "Quadragenta At Finem Mundi" was made possible thanks to a grant from the Chilean Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Heritage, awarded in February 2025.

  Album Track Listing:
  ​1. Tripel Ultimatum - 5:48
  2. Voragine - 6:53
  3. Animal Inteligenz - 7:34
  4. Inspireichon Burn
  5. Vairal Madness 5:01
  6. Aztral Configureited 8:24
  7. Ameba Emenens 4.20
  Album Length 45:20

  For more info: Engrupidpipol.cl | Instagram.com/engrupid_pipol | Facebook.com/engrupid

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• PHAETON Unveils First Single "Tethys Rising" From Third Album "Neurogenesis" Out Oct 2025

  Sep 3, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Canadian instrumental progressive metal quartet Phaeton returns with their third full-length album, "Neurogenesis", out on October 24th, 2025, via INB Music, along with it being made available on vinyl at a later date this year. The record is a tightly wound, interstellar journey through melody, muscle, and mind-expanding musicality. With no vocals, no limits, Phaeton lets their instruments do the talking, creating emotional landscapes without a single lyric.

  The album’s title refers to the birth of new neural pathways, fitting for a band that thrives on cerebral complexity and visceral impact. "Neurogenesis" builds on the foundation laid by their previous releases, "Self-Titled" (2018) and "Between Two Worlds" (2023), but sharpens the focus with more concise compositions that never sacrifice imagination. Each track is a self-contained universe, yet together they form a cohesive anthology of sonic exploration. Fans will also be delighted to hear that keyboard wizard Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Planet X, Sons of Apollo) guests on the track "Isochron".​
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  The album artwork, created by Calgary visual artist Matt Semenok, features a suspended human brain infused with bioelectricity and cybernetic implants, a chilling nod to the accelerating march of technology and the psychological lag it leaves behind. Think H.R. Giger meets Bill Sienkiewicz in a dystopian dreamscape.

  Today, the band unveils the first single, “Tethys Rising,” which was written by bassist Ferdy Belland. It is a triumphant, high-energy track inspired by the astronomy art of Chesley Bonestell and Belland’s own dream of setting foot on Saturn’s moon.

  The band comments:

  "This was the first complete song that Ferdy wrote for us. He’s big into astronomy, and he loves the retro sci-fi art of Chesley Bonestell, who illustrated this classic image of Saturn as viewed from the surface of its moon Tethys. So he comes up right out of the blue with this tune with all these busier-than-hell riffs. He was nervous at first about submitting his own stuff, since he wanted what he presented to us to be as strong as the songs Kevin and Daniel normally write, but we were encouraging, and “Tethys Rising” certainly matches up in power and quality to anything we’ve written. Ferdy wants to be the first human astronaut on Tethys, for real, but in the meantime, he can celebrate it in song."

  Watch and listen to “Tethys Rising” via its premiere on TheProgSpace HERE.

  Formed from a fusion of four seasoned musicians, Colin Righton, Daniel Airth, Kevin Thiessen, and Ferdy Belland, Phaeton was born from a hunch and a history. Righton had played with each member in separate bands and sensed that combining their talents would spark something extraordinary. Nearly a decade later, that spark has become a supernova.

  From Devin Townsend and Rush to Meshuggah and Gojira, Phaeton blends prog, tech-death, thrash, and djent into a kaleidoscope of sound.
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  Beyond "Neurogenesis", fans can look forward to the 22-minute epic “Clouds of Mercury” slated for release as a standalone EP in 2026, and the band’s fourth album “Quartum” expected in 2027. With new material already brewing, Phaeton shows no signs of slowing its cosmic ascent.

  "Neurogenesis" - album pre-order (out Oct 24th) - https://phaetonband.bandcamp.com/

  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/5F6RHipUtHpTXxrlABsHth​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Tethys Rising (6:25)
  2. Discontinuum (6:37)
  3. Isochron (4:12) ft. Derek Sherinian
  4. Synethesia (6:24)
  5. Arachnid (4:48)
  6. Augmented (4:37)
  7. Neurogenesis (6:16)
  Album Length: 39:19

  Band Lineup:​
  - Colin Righton: Drums & Percussion
  - Daniel Airth: Lead & Rhythm Guitars
  - Kevin Thiessen: Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Keyboards
  - Ferdy Belland: Electric Bass

  For more info: https://linktr.ee/phaetonofficial​

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• One Man Band From Patrick Loisel (AUGURY) - MERFOLK Unveils Remastered EP "Demersal" with Haunting New Video "Mind Hive"

  Sep 3, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  The enigmatic solo project Merfolk, helmed by Patrick Loisel (Augury), returns with a remastered edition of the cult 2012 EP "Demersal," accompanied by a surreal new music video for the track “Mind Hive.” Entirely conceived, performed, filmed, and edited by one man, known for his work with Augury, Kralized, and Foreshadow, Merfolk is a sonic and visual odyssey unlike anything else in the metal underground.
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  ​“Mind Hive” is the third and final video from "Demersal," a record that blends whistled melodies, vintage keyboards, and furious metal instrumentation into a ghoulish, genre-defying experience. The video, like its predecessors, features handcrafted puppets, practical effects, and a visual style that evokes the psychedelic climax of 2001: A Space Odyssey, all built and filmed solo in total darkness, often with props collapsing mid-shot.
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  ​“I built the studio, the instruments, the puppets, about 50 of them, and filmed everything myself. It was easier than trying to coordinate with someone at 3 AM when inspiration strikes,” says Patrick Loisel, aka Merfolk.

  
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  ​"Demersal" is a sonic dive into the abyss, inspired by supernatural aquatic phenomena, UFOs, and lost civilizations. The interlude “Doggerland” features a harp once owned by singer/historian Peter Pringle, while the EP’s eerie textures range from 70s manga soundtracks to black metal and free jazz. The remaster brings new clarity to its murky depths, while preserving the unsettling ambiance fans have come to love.
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  ​Merfolk’s creator, an adopted child of Native ancestry, former physics teacher, patent historian, and lifelong ecologist, has overcome degenerative arthritis through physiotherapy and weight loss, and now channels his eclectic life into music that’s as furious as it is thoughtful.
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  ​“Some people thought my drums were programmed. “I’m in my 50s, it’s not my main instrument, but I played every note,” adds Loisel.
  ​
  The "Demersal" remaster is available now on all major platforms - https://artists.landr.com/990591563315​

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  Merfolk’s 2025 album "Sundaland" (released May 26th) promises even more ambitious storytelling, classical instrumentation, and psychedelic visuals, including a video filmed in the depths of Montreal’s Lachine Canal set for release in the coming weeks.

  "Sundaland" available at https://artists.landr.com/990591564626​
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  For fans of Emperor, Mayhem, Hollenthon, Mercyful Fate, and the weirdest corners of 70s music, Merfolk offers a blastier blast and a spookier spook—no backup tracks, no compromises, just one man and his abyss.

  More info: https://www.melogy.ca/merfolk | https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553443841461

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