A Magic: The Gathering tournament provides the setting for CANDOR ZEALOT’s new music video, ‘Dark Desires.’ Shot at Danireon Cards & Games in Ottawa, the clip follows the band members competing under aliases as chaos develops around them. Ryan Stacey shot and directed the video.
The song features guest vocals from Montreal musician Johnny Franco and is the Ottawa progressive metal band’s third unveiled track. It appears on Revolt!, their debut EP, scheduled for December 4, 2026 through Slyde Productions.
Ottawa musicians Troy Huizinga, of The Escape Society and Satellite Birdhouse, and Matt Babineau also appear in the clip, performing on bass and drums respectively. The single artwork is by Casey Shea / Yardwolves; Stacey also receives the supplied band-photo credit.
While the video takes a lighthearted approach to competition, vocalist and guitarist Nate Silva describes the song as a conversation about online arguments.
“Lyrically, this song is an indirect conversation between two people with similar perspectives on interacting and arguing with others on social media platforms. The narrative hints at how this kind of behaviour is ultimately a futile experiment and a waste of one's time,” Silva explains.
Franco’s guest vocals contribute to that conversational framework. Musically, ‘Dark Desires’ draws on Rush and Coheed & Cambria, combining melodic dual-guitar arrangements, unconventional structures and a mid-tempo pop-rock approach.
The six-track EP addresses political commentary, social division, personal struggle, healing and relationships, bringing progressive rock and heavy metal together with hooks and modern hard-rock elements.
The earlier singles approach different parts of that subject matter. Silva describes ‘All For You,’ the band’s second single, as a song for people making peace with emotional and other forms of abuse in a previous relationship. He cites Linkin Park and Bring Me The Horizon as reference points, with guitar and instrumental passages drawing on Gojira and Dream Theater.
Debut single ‘Lie For Country’ addresses manipulation and political indoctrination without critical thinking. Silva identifies Megadeth, Killswitch Engage, Billy Talent and System of a Down among its influences. The band’s wider musical references also include Dream Theater, European metal, pop-punk, video-game music, J-rock and K-pop.
Silva fronts the group on lead vocals and guitar alongside guitarist and vocalist Chris Gagnon, drummer Dino Soares, and bassist and vocalist Alberto Campuzano. Silva, Soares and Campuzano previously played in Toronto progressive metal band The Slyde, winning the 2019 Wacken Metal Battle Canada competition and performing at Wacken Open Air in Germany.
Silva and Soares have played music together since they were 14. An international touring artist and chiptune researcher, Silva wrote his master’s thesis on chiptune artists who incorporate guitar into their music. Soares continues to freelance in Kingston’s music scene.
Ottawa-based Gagnon performs in eight tribute bands covering artists ranging from Queen to Rage Against the Machine. Campuzano, formerly of Annihilator, also plays with Toronto Metallica tribute act Sandman.
The band says its name reflects the storytelling intention “to be uncompromising in the pursuit of honesty and openness.” Additional material is already being planned beyond the debut EP.
- Revolt! — 4:27
- All For You — 4:15
- Dark Desires (ft. Johnny Franco) — 5:25
- Lie For Country — 3:29
- Shed The Night — 4:16
- Hollow (ft. Satellite Birdhouse) — 6:57
The announced EP running time is 28:51.
