L-R: Armando Bablanian (Guitar) | Stan Komarovsky (Bass) | Michel Karakach (Drums) | Mike Symons (Vocals) | Ran Zehavi (Keys) Photo Credit – Jon Blacker
Set to release their first full-length “Troubled Mind” at the end of March 2025, Toronto prog Derev is kicking off their first leg of tour dates for 2025across Ontario and Quebec.
“Troubled Mind” follows Derev’s 2021 debut EP “Leap of Faith”. Derev was conceived after founding member, and drummer Michel Karakach, after fleeing the war in the Middle East and finding refuge in Toronto, Canada, reunited with his best friend, guitarist Armando Bablanian to turn what was once a mere childhood dream into now a powerful reality.
“Troubled Mind” builds on the foundation laid in Derev’s first release, offering a diverse range of sounds from mellow, calm tracks to adrenaline-pumping heavy headbangers, while maintaining their distinctive progressive rock sound, enriched with Middle Eastern influences. Incorporating more prominent keyboard parts, experimenting with various time signatures, and introducing new instruments such as the Cajon, Darbuka, and electronic elements. This evolution showcases the band’s innovative spirit and commitment to pushing musical boundaries.
“While our debut EP tackled broad themes like war, technology, and injustice in the world, Troubled Mind shifts focus to the personal realm. We wanted to explore and articulate various mental states, the subtle thoughts, and inner dialogues that when nurtured and fed over time, makes us who we are. And while we offer some kind of resolution in a few tracks, the purpose of the album is to explore and highlight these different states of mind, rather than try to resolve them.” adds the band.
Derev‘sdynamic lineup now includes bassist Stan Komarovsky, providing the backbone of Derev‘s sound, and keyboardist Ran Zehavi from the progressive rock band Scalar, adding depth and complexity. Leading the live charge is frontman and vocalist Mike Symons to replace previous singer Adel Saflou who is featured on “Troubled Mind”.
Set for release on March 26, 2025, Derev‘s debut album “Troubled Mind” promises to be an introspective journey, offering listeners a relatable experience with mental health and its struggles. It is recommended for fans of Opeth, Dream Theater, and Porcupine Tree.
Track Listing: 1. Buried Voice (7:23) 2. Cyclone (5:39) 3. Crawl Space (1:16) 4. Room 9 (6:15) 5. Paracusia (4:35) 6. Tides of Time (5:59) 7. Darker Self (5:44) 8. Trace Within (5:01) Album Band Line Up: Adel Saflou – Vocals Armando Bablanian – Guitar Michel Karakach – Drums Stan Komarovsky – Bass Ran Zehavi – Keys Live Band Line Up: Mike Symons – Vocals Armando Bablanian – Guitar Michel Karakach – Drums Stan Komarovsky – Bass Ran Zehavi – Keys
Derev is a progressive rock band captivating global audiences with its innovative blend of progressive rock and traditional Middle Eastern music.
After fleeing the war in the Middle East and finding refuge in Toronto, Canada, founding member, and Drummer Michel Karakach reunited with his best friend, guitarist Armando Bablanian, to turn what was once a mere childhood dream into a powerful reality.
Derev’s debut release “Leap of Faith” melded the raw energy of hard rock with the rich textures of traditional Middle Eastern music they grew up with, offering a fresh perspective on topics often overlooked in modern music. This distinctive sound quickly caught the attention of both local and international audiences, propelling Derev into a series of successful shows across Canada.
The band’s dynamic lineup now includes bassist Stan Komarovsky, providing the backbone of Derev’s sound, and keyboardist Ran Zehavi from the progressive rock band Scalar, adding depth and complexity. Leading the live charge is frontman and vocalist Mike Symons to replace previous singer Adel Saflou who is featured on their forthcoming studio offering “Troubled Mind”. Symons’ compelling presence and vocal prowess complete the live ensemble.
As Derev gears up to release their anticipated second album “Troubled Mind” on March 26th, 2025, they continue to carve out a unique niche in the music world. Their innovative sound promises to captivate new listeners and industry veterans alike. Keep an eye on Derev as they redefine what rock music can be.
Discography: 2025 – Troubled Mind – LP 2021 – Leap of Faith – EP
“Toronto prog quintet Derev will release their debut full-length album, Troubled Mind, on March 26. The yearning, epic tones of Cyclone is the second single to be taken from the upcoming album, and Derev will be touring throughout Ontario and Quebec over the coming months to support the new album.” – Prog Magazine – Great new prog you must hear… Tracks Of The Week – Cyclone – Feb 21, 2025 “The best part of the album (Troubled Mind) is the band’s ability to carry strong emotions into their music. Many of the songs are not complicated, but they are loaded with feelings. I’m not sure I have heard a Progressive album that is this unpretentious and this emotional at the same time. 8/10” Metal-Temple “its eight tracks draws us into a music that combines intensity and peaceful atmospheres of old school prog. The melodies thus highlight many sound universes from one composition to another including beautiful vocal harmonies and important instrumental parts… Derev delivers retro-sounding music with plenty of late 70s and early 80s progressive influences… Troubled Mind, with its instantly relatable melodies, is a resounding success. 4/5” – Prog Critique “For the prog-rock group Derev, this new work continues to carry on its shoulders the burden of the misfortune of living in times of war, which unites two childhood friends: Michel Karakach (battery) and Armando Bablanian (guitar), who after fleeing the war in the Middle East and taking refuge in Toronto (Canadá), meet again through music to reflect on pain, loss and, above all, persistence…. This album represents a profound act of emotional liberation both for its creators and for those who immerse themselves in listening to it.” – Dargedik
“Derev’s sound combines the energy and intensity of metal music with the atmospheric sound of old-school progressive rock, while incorporating elements of their Arabic and Armenian heritage.” – The Prog Space
DEREV – Troubled Mind ON/ QC Tour March 15 – Barrie, ON – The Queens w/ Kill/Death Radio & Cudbear March 22 – Toronto, ON – The Supermarket w/ Magnavita & St. Doval, and Rod Rodrigues March 28 – Waterloo, ON – Midnight Run Café w/ Local Goblin March 29 – Guelph, ON – The Red Papaya w/ Jupiter Hollow, Crown For A King, and Exolithic April 5 – Montreal, QC – Piranha Bar w/ World On Alert & Vinyl Hero April 11 – Hamilton, QC – Club Absinthe w/ 8 Banger, Hollow Core, Bad Communication April 12 – Brantford, ON – Brandi’s Kitchen & Bar w/ Jupiter Hollow & Guests April 25 – Kingston, ON – The Mansion w/ Mad Wet Sea & Guests
Set to unleash his latest and eighth studio album “Powercore” toward the end of January 2025, prog guitarist Marko Bojkovic has one more treat for fans with the last single to reveal before the full-length officially drops from Forerunner Recordings.
Entitled “From Within” featuring guest vocals fromGabe Vermund, the track is an empowering composition of progressive, power, and metalcore. Bojkovic states:
“We all have a power within us, and we already have that power! We didn’t get it from training or experience; we just have it! All you have to do to realize you have it is to believe in yourself! This song also has the best guitar solo that I’ve written by far because it’s the perfect showcase for my current style!”
Previous Singles “What We Accomplished” ft. Chris Thomas and “Find Your Flame” ft. Johnny Ray (The Mourning), Gabe Vermund, and Chris Thomas (a cover of the song from the video game Sonic Frontier can be heard at the following links:
Inspired by his youthful years of playing Sonic Adventure on his Sega Dreamcast and being wondered but its luring soundtrack, Marko Bojkovic over the years has been exploring instrumental guitar sounds, and will be presenting his eighth studio album “Powercore” on January 24th, 2025 on Forerunner Recordings.
Packing the most punch with perfectly combined progressive metal, power metal, metalcore, and djent along with influences from jazz fusion to classical music, Bojkovic‘s new album “Powercore” (named after his own dubbed genreof metal called Progressive PowerCore) is meant to send positive messages such as being able to accomplish anything you set your mind to and believing in yourself. Musically, the album’s guitar solos are among the best he’s ever written. As a small content creator on YouTube and Patreon, Bojkovic has become known on the internet for his economy-picking prowess, which he showcases to excellent use on the songs featured in this full-length. In addition to the guitar work, Bojkovic played all the bass lines on “Powercore” along with recruiting guest vocals from Chris Thomas (growling vocals, clean vocals) and Gabe Vermund (clean vocals).
“This album is me finally channeling my personality in my music! Its predecessor ‘Venom’ represented how I felt at a certain point in my life, and those familiar with that record may be caught a bit off guard given the drastic change in my style, but PowerCore represents how I feel in general! It is meant to be accessible to metal fans and non-metal fans alike. This album is a reflection of how I stay positive in difficult situations, but also has moments of self-reflection, or as Eckhart Tolle calls it “presence.” A lot of metal songs seem to be about sadness and negativity, and while those songs are very cool and heartfelt, metal songs can be positive and inspire the listener to go out and achieve a set goal!” adds Bojkovic.
Recommended for fans of Trivium, Avenged Sevenfold, Periphery, Dream Theater, and Firewind, Marko Bojkovic‘s new album “Powercore” is available for pre-save at the following link – https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/markobojkovic/powercore
Fans interested in Bojkovic’s Patreon Page to get exclusive content about his guitar playing and techniques, please subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/MarkoBojkovic
Track Listing: 1. Anesthesia (No Easy Way Out) – 3:58 2. From Within – 5:29 3. Sacrifice For Sanity – 3:50 4. What We Accomplished ft. Chris Thomas – 3:17 5. Find Your Flame ft. Johnny Ray (The Mourning) – 4:00 6. Thrown – 5:41 7. To Reminisce – 4:54 Album Length: 31:11
You can do stuff on lead guitar that no one else can do, such as your economy picking.” – Patrick Finster – Producer
“Venom is a very heavy album and I absolutely loved the guitar work. The self-titled track really showcased the heavy riffs and helped set the course for the rest of the album. ‘Maximum Carnage’ also had nice guitar work as well. Hard, heavy, and head bang worthy riffs…. In all I highly recommend this album for fans of bands like Trivium and Meshuggah. With Marko’s guitar work plus the vocals, it’s definitely worth a listen for anyone that enjoys heavy metal, with some screaming vocals.” – Music Crowns
Florida metal guitarist Marko Bojkovic has released his latest album, Venom. Musically, the album is a mixture of progressive metal, death metal, power metal, and thrash metal, with a hint of influence from anime and video game OSTs… Marko’s music is perfect for fans of Trivium, Meshuggah, Allegeaon, Obscura, Dream Theater, Firewind, Sabaton, Powerwolf, Iron Maiden, Kiko Loureiro/Angra, and Leprous.” – Punkerton Records
“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Marko and mentoring his playing for over 2 years now and can easily see he’s one of the most capable, hardest working and fastest learning guitarists I’ve ever come across!” – Bradley Hall, guitar Youtuber
Toronto, Canada’s Jupiter Hollow takes music to a whole new level. Led by the fearless Grant MacKenzie and Kenny Parry, this powerhouse duo and live quartet featuring John Ryan Godfrey and Nathaniel Reynolds-Welsh have been making waves in Canada since 2015 with their unique brand of progressive rock/metal.
With thought-provoking lyrics, unique vocal melodies, harmonies, powerful guitar riffs, unyielded songwriting, and the duo’s incessant desire to bring fans on a journey, there’s always something new to explore. Thus far they have two full-length albums under their belts: 2020’s “Bereavement”, and 2018’s “AHDOMN”, and have another one in the works. Planning to release singles over the coming months, Jupiter Hollow takes their time to ensure a polished, impressive offerings song by song. The band just wants nothing more than to make their art and share the experience with as many people as they can.
Presenting their latest single, “Cohesion”, to follow their previous track “Distant Shadow”, this new song represents the relationship between an artist who wants nothing more than to have the freedom and the ability to express, share, and grow, but is trapped by the demands of survival in an oversaturated society incapable of supporting the true diversity of each individual.
Musically, “Cohesion” is a complete 180 on level of aggressiveness, however still touches elements of beauty throughout the piece. Jupiter Hollow wanted to have a song that is heavy-hitting, while also having very melodic sections that break out into a sense of euphoria. The performance in the accompanied music video was meant to portray the different emotions and struggles a person may endure when dealing with mental health, having music as an emotional escape.
“Most of us are struggling out there in some way, and a lot of us are on the verge of giving up on everything because we don’t have the life we dream of, constantly reminded everywhere we go by someone who is succeeding while we struggle to survive. So whether you’re an artist, a mechanic, a doctor, or just a single mother or father with barely enough time for their family, let alone themselves, everyone deals with darkness in their life at some point. This song is a reminder that no matter what may get in the way, never lose focus on what makes you be yourself, and never give up on what gives you joy.” adds vocalist Kenny Parry.
Explorative, and intriguing, Jupiter Hollow continues to push the limits of progressive rock and metal and is recommended for fans of Porcupine Tree, Coheed, and Cambria, Rush, and Protest The Hero.
“If Jupiter Hollow are emblematic of the next generation of progressive metal bands, a bright tomorrow lies ahead. Hugely impressive.” – Prog Magazine.
“Comparisons to bands like Tool, Live, A Perfect Circle and Nine Inch Nails come easy and for good reason. This is the new generation of players who are putting their spin on all things progressive, industrial and synthy. The grandsons of Genesis and Yes, this is progressive rock for the youth of today who find the originators a bit to baroque for their tastes… Their sound is built to appeal to fans of so many genres and preferences it should be a slam dunk.” – Skulls n’ Bones “JUPITER HOLLOW just produced the best prog metal album of all time this year, condensing, mixing and forging a hot musical steel here.” – Prog Archives “Each track displays plenty of musicianship from this young duo, with vocals continuing to strengthen and songwriting solidifying.” – Heavy Music Headquarters “A young Canadian duo ready to bring fans of complex music a spacey, experimental and refreshing experience… bursting with high-quality heaviness and progressiveness.” – The Headbanging Moose
Canada’s The Wring is gearing up to release a third album in December, which is an amalgamation of different styles, brought together by solo artist Don Dewulf. His project has been growing by leaps and bounds, and this new release will wow listeners across the heavy spectrum. “Spectra” is a bit like a 1970’s King Crimson album, but without any ethereal soliloquies and certainly with a more significant hard rock/metal influence. It is a cauldron of hard rock, jazz, metal, classical, 80’s rock, 70’s rock, and probably a few other things. The performances are tight and meaningful. Dewulf comments on the album:
“I am very proud of the compositions on this album. You will hear rock, prog, metal, jazz, classic rock, and a few other things, covering a wide range of approaches, but still cohesive and very accessible for any kind of listener. Prog music can tend to be grandiose; I wanted this album to be the opposite of that. Tight, concise, and well-executed with interesting melody, rhythm, and lyrical themes. Marco Minnemann’s drums were the first thing to be recorded. His performance set the tone; the other guys had no choice but to play their asses off, and they did!”
To bring his vision to life, Sudbury, Ontario local Dewulf enlisted some of the best professional musicians to play the parts. Marco Minnemann – world-renowned drummer, member of The Aristocrats, and successful solo artist. Chandler Mogel – Amazing singer with a great 80’s vibe. Reggie Hache – Canadian bass superstar. Does his own thing and contributed incredible parts to this album. Isamu McGregor – Session keyboard player with great vision and feel. Together they deliver an expansive, detailed eight-track album that touches on a wide range of musical styles and themes. Each listener will hear something different in the compositions.
The Wring started in 2015, as Dewulf had a lot of material written that needed to see the light of day. He assembled the players and released the self-titled album in 2017. They played some shows, and players drifted off, but there was still an abundance of material. Another batch of studio musicians was brought together to release “Project Cipher” in 2021 and yet another diverse bunch got together for “Spectra”.
The band’s classic heavy rock intertwined with prog is recommended for fans of Rush, King Crimson, and Dream Theater.
“Spectra” is due out on December 16, 2022 via Wormholedeath Records.
Track Listing: 1. Stiletto 4:40 2. Stones & Bones 4:58 3. The Prince 3.54 4. The Wolf 5:00 5. Tin Man 5:25 6. From Mars 4:43 7. Sins 4:43 8. Fallen 5:05 Album Length: 38:28
Album Recording Line Up: Don Dewulf – Guitars Marco Minnemann – Drums Chandler Mogel – Vocals Reggie Hache – Bass & Keyboards Isamu McGregor – Keyboards
““Wring² Project Cipher comes with a heavy, classic rock feel, but there’s an epic, questing nature to tunes like Sorceress, Steelier and Dose that pushes The Wring beyond metal norms and into prog territory.” – Prog Magazine
“The extreme professionalism on display throughout this entire album, although a labour of love, is a true master class of musicianship performed by musicians who are truly at the top of their game, making the industry what it is today. The sheer attention to detail is a credit to each and every performer as they tailor their craft neatly and precisely throughout every track, with nothing less than perfect being the order of the day.” – Stargazer Music Magazine
“Overall, the entire album is laden with a rich tapestry of sound and lyrics, well thought out and carefully developed by founder member and visionary Don Dewulf, taking the listener on that perfect journey of thought, and is a credit to its makers gathering no dust in any collection. 10/10” – Stargazer Music Magazine
“Thanks to his renowned session musicians and original compositions, The Wring is a refreshing discovery that offers a personal reading of modern metal. 4/5” – Music Waves
“What sounds at first to be a straight-forward rock album, turns out to be so much more. It’s a tad short, but sometimes less is more. You can hear many influences in these tracks, some of them familiar, but The Wring have stamped their own identity all over it. This should keep you going for the time being but expect more from Don Dewulf with The Wring3 already in the recording stage!” – The Prog Space
“Dewulf’s guitar work shines throughout, at times reminiscent of Alex Lifeson in his prime, such as his powerful solo on ‘Steelier’ which soars above the raging musical maelstrom below. There’s even a funk-infused breakout on ‘Dose’, which is infectious with its driving hook. It’s an absorbing record, one that takes time to soak in, but several plays ensure that it’s burnt deep into the memory. When those end-of-year lists come round, ‘Wring² Project Cipher’ is likely to be pushing for a slot.” – The Razor’s Edge
“The Wring generally succeed at what they’re going for—Dewulf has produced a fun, catchy record. Particularly on the album’s middle section (“Cipher,” “Steelier” and “Dissension”), there’s some great songs with great riffs. If you’re after some new prog, you could do a lot worse than this album, and I found it quite hard to score.” – Angry Metal Guy
“The overall sound is something like the heavier side of Rush, with hooks and melodic elements smoothing out the guitar crunch, making this very accessible.” – The Progressive Aspect
New Album ‘Sideways In Time’ Out April 12th via Kozmik Artifactz
Citing a strong fascination with our place as earthlings in the cosmos and the origins of our planet, our solar system, our galaxy, and ultimately our universe, GONE COSMIC is a soulful psychedelic rock band from Calgary, Canada.
Combining fuzzy distorted guitars and powerful vocals, GONE COSMIC tinker with experimental elements alongside 70s influenced heavy groove, which can be experienced with their first album ‘Sideways In Time’ set to be released on April 12, 2019, through Kozmik Artifactz with a seven-date tour to compliment it.
“‘Sideways In Time’ focuses on the never-ending push and pull of decisions and consciousness. Exploring the effects of outside influences and really putting to light the concept that our minds control us, but we don’t and won’t ever have complete control of our minds. ‘Sideways In Time’ was written/composed to stimulate senses and be a guide on a galactic journey. Everyone in the band is bursting at the seams during our set – it’s high octane chaos, driven by a thousand horsepower engine ready to explode into a million pieces of intergalactic space dust.”
Comprised of musicians from Western Canadian staple acts Chron Goblin, Witchstone, Funkenshiest, and The Torchettes, fans have an idea of what to expect from this quartet, but can drink it all in, live, on the following dates listed below.
L-R: Abbie Thurgood (Vocals), Marcello Castronuovo (Drums), Devin “Darty” Purdy, (Guitar), Brett Whittingham (Bass) Photo Credit: Mario Montes
Championed by a soaring songstress Abbie Thurgood (The Torchettes), whose boldly evocative tones recall Skunk Anansie chanteuse Skin and Alabama Shakes’ Brittany Howard, and accompanied by an agile and aggressive psych-rock outfit, composed of guitarist Devin “Darty” Purdy (Chron Goblin), bass player Brett Whittingham (Chron Goblin), percussionist Marcello Castronuovo (Witchstone), Gone Cosmic has carved out an expansive domain that stretches from sweltering Southern sludge pits to breath-stealing sonic spacewalks.
A blood (orange)-scented breeze that bows the trees, Gone Cosmic chases the infinite haze from the skies and puts it right back in your eyes. Groove-mining breakdowns become the stuff of legend as the four pieces’ floor-thudding tail kick and hellfire halo holler originates a whole that is far more potent than the sum of its individual elements. Meet your new astromancers, the phase-shifting and hard- rocking force that channels the empyreal sounds of heaven on Earth.
Bio was written by Christine Leonard (Beatroute AB, Canada)
“And then there’s Gone Cosmic with their Sideways In Time album, released through Kozmik Artifactz. Set for an early April release this is some grade A, female-fronted psych rock, it whirls and it winds and it wails like a hard rocking banshee on the prowl! Simply stunning!” – Stoner Hive
“It feels like an evolution of the genre” – Chris Beck – Doom Tomb
“Fresh off of announcing their signing to the Kozmik Artifactz label before the April release of their debut Sideways in Time (so bleeding bloody good, by the way), this Calgary supergroup comprised of members of Chron Goblin, Witchstone and Joplin-esque lung pummeler Abbie Thurgood, formerly of The Torchettes, are a heavy, groovy, psych-storm, headtrip. You’re welcome.” – Mike Bell – YYScene
“ It works in a spectacularly gnarly and boombastic, rifftastic, fantastic Joplin blues-rock way.” Mike Bell – YYScene
“Awakening the ears and seducing souls with an addictive pairing of folk-blues and psych-rock, Calgary’s Gone Cosmic is a band that thrives on the mix of complementary and contrasting traits that each member brings to the party. “ – Christine Leonard – Beatroute
“The electromagnetic energy generated when Thurgood’s soaring vocals and passionate lyrical narratives are added to the compelling riffs and hypnotic pulses of the band’s instrumentation is a stunning and stimulating force to behold. “ – Christine Leonard – Beatroute
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