Search Results: progressive

• 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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• LOUD AS HELL OPEN AIR FESTIVAL Opens Band Submissions For 2026 Line Up - Camping & Extreme Music In Alberta's Badlands

  Sep 30, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

  

  Set against the rugged backdrop of Alberta’s badlands, where sculpted sandstone, wind-carved hoodoos, and sweeping canyons dominate the landscape, Canada’s most decibel-breaking extreme music gathering, the Loud As Hell Open Air Festival, returns for its 14th edition in 2026. From July 31st to August 2nd, Drumheller’s Dinosaurs Down Stampede will erupt with the ferocity of rising Canadian and international metal acts, roaring through the heart of the nation’s largest dinosaur fossil beds.

  Band submissions for the 2026 edition officially open on October 1st and will be accepted until October 31st. This is your band's chance to join one of the loudest and most brutal festivals in Canada, where underground talent meets prehistoric fury.

  Bands interested in performing can apply at the following link: https://loudashell.ca/​

  Early Bird tickets go on sale December 1st, 2026. Don’t miss your chance to lock in the loudest weekend of the summer at a killer price. Get ready for prehistoric heaviness and decibel-shattering performances in one of Canada’s most surreal landscapes. Loud As Hell is coming… and it’s going to be louder than ever.

  The 2025 edition of Loud As Hell delivered three relentless days of headbanging, moshing, and pure metal chaos, featuring over 40 bands from Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. Acts like Revocation, Insurrection, First Fragment, Gorgatron, Filth, Opal in Sky, Judicator, Beguiler, Gore Pig, Spit On Your Grave, Hazzerd, Cyborg Octopus, and Thirteen Goats tore through the badlands with crushing performances. The festival even hosted a heavy metal wedding, adding a unique twist to the weekend’s sonic carnage.

  LAH 2025 Lineup Spotify Playlist – https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3cu3CgEX8n2g2MQbADNJmg

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  Since launching in 2012, Loud As Hell Open Air Festival has cemented its place as a cornerstone of Canada’s extreme music scene, showcasing hundreds of bands from across the country and around the world, save for a brief pause in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the years, the festival has hosted heavyweights like Beyond Creation, Striker, Green Jelly, The Convalescence, Jungle Rot, Narcotic Wasteland, Into Eternity, Goatwhore, Fit for An Autopsy, Archspire, Unleash The Archers, Protest the Hero, AngelMaker, and many more, drawing metalheads from coast to coast for a weekend of sonic devastation.

  In 2026, Loud As Hell returns for its 14th edition, presented by Loud As Hell Productions, Jurassic Ink Custom Tattoo, Prairie Fire Events, and Asher Media Relations. Renowned for delivering one of the most punishing lineups in Western Canada, the festival promises another unforgettable experience packed with crushing performances, freak shows, burlesque acts, clinics, vendors, and yes, dinosaurs. Loud As Hell isn’t just a festival. It’s a full-throttle celebration of metal mayhem.

  More info:
  ​LoudAsHell.ca​
  ​Facebook.com/LoudAsHellFestival​
  X: @LoudAsHellFest
  Instagram: @LoudAsHellFestival
  ​Social Media Hashtags #LAHXIV, #LAHOA, #LAHOA2026

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• ARMSTRONG METALFEST Opens Band Submissions For 2026 Lineup - The Okanagan’s Ultimate Mountain Mosh Pit Returns

  Sep 29, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Following a landmark celebration of 15 years of extreme metal in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, marked by record-breaking attendance and its most triumphant edition yet, ARMSTRONG METALFEST is officially set to return in 2026 on July 17th and 18th at the Hassen Arena, for two days of moshing, headbanging, and camping.

  Armstrong MetalFest’s 15th year of mountain moshing roared to life with a powerhouse 2025 lineup featuring BORN OF OSIRIS, HAVOK, GLYPH, RIOT CITY, THE BROWNING, VIRVUM, and many more heavy hitters from across Canada and beyond. On July 11th and 12th, the town of Armstrong, BC, was transformed into a metal haven, complete with Yeti Games, the Metal Madness Market, and the chaos of Thrash Wrestling.

  Check out the Armstrong MetalFest 2025 Spotify playlist - https://spoti.fi/4i4u2OV​

  Armstrong MetalFest has also released a promotional video that traces its journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of Canada’s premier metal festivals in British Columbia. Watch the full recap below.

  Band submissions for the 2026 edition of Armstrong MetalFest will be open from October 1st to 15th, inviting artists to become part of the next chapter in the festival’s legendary legacy.

  Interested bands can apply through the official portal: https://armstrongmetalfest.ca/band-submissions/

  "To close the night and the weekend, Born of Osiris delivered a high-octane headline set that tore the roof off. It was the perfect finale to an unforgettable weekend. When the last note rang out, it hit us — AMF 2025 was coming to a close. There's always that bittersweet feeling as you start packing up. But that's the beauty of this festival: it stays with you long after the amps cool down. Every year, Armstrong Metalfest brings together a community that truly loves heavy music. It's not just about bands and beer — it's about belonging. The friends you make, the moments you live, the memories that stick — they're why we keep coming back. If you've never been to AMF, consider this your sign. It's more than a music festival—it's a metal rite of passage. Once you go, it gets into your blood. We're already counting the days until the next one." - Stan Schinners of Broken Neck Radio / Absolute Underground Magazine (Live Review AMF 2025)

  Tickets for AMF 2026 will be announced at a later date, granting general admission and access to the festival grounds, camping area, and arena from 9:00 AM on Friday, July 17, 2026, until 10:00 AM on Sunday, July 18, 2026. Free camping is included.

  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.

  About:

  Since its inception in 2009 (with a brief hiatus in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), West Metal Entertainment and Armstrong MetalFest have championed hundreds of local bands while welcoming renowned international acts to the quiet town of Armstrong, British Columbia.
  ​
  Every year, metalheads from across Canada and the U.S. converge on the scenic Okanagan Valley for three days of camping and two days packed with heavy metal mayhem. Under the blazing summer sun, fans revel in live performances, wrestling spectacles, scavenger hunts, and reconnecting with their extended metal family.
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  Armstrong MetalFest has hosted legendary headliners like Kataklysm, Cattle Decapitation, Archspire, Nekrogoblikon, Origin, Rivers of Nihil, Warbringer, Fallujah, Striker, and Beyond Creation, alongside rising stars from across North America. And when the final riff fades, the festival vanishes without a trace, leaving the landscape as untouched as it was before.
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  West Metal Entertainment, a non-profit society, not only produces Armstrong MetalFest annually but also supports the regional music scene by organizing performances at various venues, including all-ages shows, to inspire musical passion in both youth and adults.

  For more info:​
  ​http://www.armstrongmetalfest.ca/​

  ​https://www.facebook.com/armstrongmetalfest/​

  ​https://www.instagram.com/armstrongmetalfest/​
  ​
  ​https://x.com/amfcanada

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• A Sonic Journey of Years Past with LITTLE KING's 8th Studio Album "Lente Viviente"

  Sep 25, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  After nearly three decades of pushing musical boundaries, Little King returns with their most ambitious and emotionally resonant release to date, "Lente Viviente," set for release on all major platforms on September 26th.

  Before the album officially drops, the trio has teamed up with V13.net for the full-stream premiere, which can be heard HERE.
  ​
  Described by frontman and songwriter Ryan Rosoff as “Musical DMT,” "Lente Viviente" is a seven-track suite of “micro-epics” that blend progressive rock, melodic hooks, and heavy riffs into a tightly woven tapestry of sound and sentiment.

  “A true listening experience should hit all the notes… sometimes contemplative, sometimes raging, but always engaged and honest. We feel like this record is the highlight of our 28 years of making music,” says Rosoff.

  
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  With Dave Hamilton (bass, cello) and Tony Bojorquez (drums), and a fresh studio environment, Little King has elevated their sound to new heights. The result is a dynamic, melodic, progressive, heavy rock experience that’s both cerebral and heartfelt.
  ​
  From the first note to the last, "Lente Viviente" invites listeners on a short but mind-blowing journey. The album’s dynamic range and textured performances are designed to push and pull, offering music for both the head and the heart. Each track stands alone yet contributes to a larger narrative arc, one that explores themes of identity, aging, addiction, immigration, and the fragile balance between strength and vulnerability.

  
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  Lyrically, the album draws inspiration from Rosoff’s work with LivingLens Memoirs, his video memoir production company. The title itself, Spanish for “Living Lens,” is a nod to the interplay between memory and presence, perception and truth. Songs like “Catch and Release,” “Who’s Illegal?” and “Kindness for Weakness” reflect Rosoff’s background in creative writing and his deep commitment to storytelling through sound.
  ​
  For the first time in Little King’s history, all three band members appear on the album cover. The artwork, centered around themes of reflection and perception, features a crown slightly off-center, a metaphor for the imperfect balance between artist and audience. As Rosoff puts it, “One is left to wonder what the world looks like from behind the band’s side of the lens… what do they see?”

  A lean, powerful record that demands repeat listens, Little King's "Lente Viviente" is recommended for fans of Rush, Porcupine Tree, Pink Floyd, Muse, Led Zeppelin, and is available for pre-order/digital pre-save (out Sept 26th) at https://show.co/nI24kSK

  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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• ANCIENT THRONES' New Concept Album "Melancholia" Plunges Listeners Into A Surreal Narrative

  Sep 18, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  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.

  
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  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.

  
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  ​"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​

  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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