Two decades in the making, MERIDIAN VEIL brings stars from across the vast skies of Canadian metal into a familiar-but-unexpected new alignment. Guitarist Danny Marino (The Agonist) first met vocalist Matt McGachy (Cryptopsy) during their formative years in Montreal. Now joined by drummer Dylan Gowan (Seven Spires) and Leprous touring cellist Raphael Weinroth-Browne, they push one another to greater emotional extremes on their progressive metal band’s inventive debut album. Bold, blistering and beautiful all at once, 'Forgotten Sun' is a reminder of everything that makes us human.
MERIDIAN VEIL needed time to come together, but the concept behind 'Forgotten Sun' has never been more pressing. Unlike conventional dystopian epics, the album is told from the perspective of an Artificial Superintelligence that’s programmed for good. Lead single “The Watcher” welcomes the A.I. into the world with a rush of blast beats, mile-long screams and raspy cleans. Despite its sincere intentions, the A.I. grows frustrated as human nature thwarts its efforts toward progress. Emboldened by commanding riffs and an undeniable chorus, “False Shepherd” refuses to serve an earthly kingdom it deems built on lies, loss and endless greed.
Whether 'Forgotten Sun' ends with a shred of hope remains open to interpretation. Shrouded by strings that ache from sorrow, “The Last Garden” mourns humanity’s failed potential, though its tragic irony cuts far deeper. “I will not fail again”, McGachy belts as his bandmates end the album in the most ideal way possible: with an incinerating climax.
Perhaps it’s too late for humanity as a whole, but when it comes to metal’s expanded universe, a star is born in MERIDIAN VEIL.
For fans of OPETH, LEPROUS, DEVIN TOWNSEND, NE OBLIVISCARIS.
Cover photography by Sean Mundy.
Tracklist:
01. The Watcher (06:40)
02. Orpheus Before the Light (05:11)
03. Ashen Genesis (06:51)
04. False Shepherd (04:36)
05. Only Perfection (05:19)
06. Downfall (04:40)
07. Children of Betrayal (05:12)
08. The Last Garden (07:26)
This item is available for pre-order. It will be available on 01/22/2027.
Notice: orders cannot be split into several shipments. Your order will be dispatched when all items are available.
