Front (L-R): Kevin Thiessen (Guitars, Keyboards), Ferdy Belland (Bass), Daniel Airth (Guitars), Back: Colin Righton (Drums)
Photo Credit – Scott Courtemanche
Canadian instrumental prog-metal quartet Phaeton has dropped their latest sonic beast, “Arachnid,” the next single from their forthcoming third album, “Neurogenesis,” out on October 24th. With a riff that bites and grooves like its namesake, “Arachnid” weaves a dazzling web of melody, menace, and metallic precision, solidifying Phaeton’s place in the modern vanguard of instrumental rock.
Formed by drummer Colin Righton, who had a hunch that combining the talents of Daniel Airth (guitar), Kevin Thiessen (guitar, keys), and Ferdy Belland (bass) would spark something extraordinary, Phaeton has evolved into a genre-defying force. Their sound? Interplanetary Psychedelic Hyper-Melodic Metallic Prog. Their mission? To thrill the senses and expand the mind.
“Arachnid” is a standout track on “Neurogenesis,” crawling through crushing riffs and elegiac passages that evoke the delicate artistry of a spider’s web. It’s a metaphor for the band’s intricate songwriting, which balances brute force with melodic finesse.
“Even if spiders freak people out. They’re essential, and so is this riff. Without it, the song would fall apart,” adds the band
“Neurogenesis” marks a new chapter for Phaeton. While their debut laid the foundation and “Between Two Worlds” expanded their sonic universe, this third album sharpens the edges and tightens the structures, without sacrificing imagination. Inspired by themes of technological singularity and the fusion of biology with machine, the album offers a cold warning wrapped in warm, electrifying grooves.
As an all-instrumental outfit, Phaeton lets the guitars and keyboards do the talking. Their live shows are heavier, crunchier, and thrashier than their crystal-clear recordings suggest, often catching audiences off guard in the best way possible. With influences ranging from Devin Townsend and Rush to Meshuggah, Mastodon, and Gojira, Phaeton’s sound is a kaleidoscope of prog, tech-death, thrash, and djent.
The band’s playthrough for “Arachnid” is now streaming at https://youtu.be/QxyU0U-vSOc
Add to your Spotify playlist – https://open.spotify.com/
“Neurogenesis” will be available on October 24th, 2025, with more music, including the standalone 22-minute epic “Clouds of Mercury,” coming in 2026, and a fourth full-length album, “Quartum,” slated for 2027.
Album pre-order – https://phaetonband.bandcamp.
Previous Singles:
Isochron ft. Derek Sherinian – https://youtu.be/Ri8wXGYJcJg
Tethys Rising – https://youtu.be/mjehuUQS9G8
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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/
“Oh prog-metal how we love thee…case in point, the new single ‘Isochron ft. Derek Sherinian’ from Phaeton. This dandy little slice of modern prog-metal is not only exceptionally recorded but is jammed full of stabbing riffs, fluid bass lines, drum rolls galore and of course keyboard wizardry courtesy of the legendary Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Planet X, Sons of Apollo). Keep an eye out for the new album “Neurogenesis” from PHAETON set to drop on Oct. 24th and to tide you over listen up for ‘Isochron’ on your Home for the Best New Rock… W-J-O-EEEE” – WJOE – Findlay’s Home for Rock & Roll
“I’ve always maintained that instrumental bands have to work harder at their craft, because the lack of vocals is one more thing they have to find a replacement for. Lead guitar breaks can take the place of vocals, as can keyboards. They do a solid job of this on the album… They have the chops, that’s for sure.” – Metal-Temple
“A”An instrumental quartet from Kimberley, British Columbia, Phaeton are skillfully blurring the boundaries between old- and new-school prog metal. Their second album, Between Two Worlds, covers a vast amount of ground, from intricate post-djent riffing, to indulgent prog pomp, and no single outstays its welcome. The nine-minute title track is a particularly impressive display of showboating and smart songwriting.” – Prog Mag – Dom Lawson (Between Two Worlds – 2023)
It’s Prog Mag’s brand new Tracks Of The Week! (April 21, 2023) – “Hailing from Columbia, Canada’s Phaeton are an interplanetary instrumental heavy prog metal quartet and as their name suggests, they are fascinated with astronomy, and the idea of life itself, in all its beauty and wonder and majesty, emerging from an instant of catastrophic cosmic violence. The epic Between Two Worlds is the title track of the band’s latest album.” (Between Two Worlds – 2023)
“Top-tier instrumental prog-metal-math music from the East Kootenay region performed by a quartet of veteran musicians.” – Stuart Derdeyn (The Vancouver Sun) (Between Two Worlds – 2023)
“Phaeton are relatively unknown, especially compared to the above mentioned bands (scale The Summit, Animals as Leaders), but they definitely hold their own on Between Two Worlds. All members absolutely kill it on their instruments, the songs are wonderfully arranged and produced, and there’s plenty of variety here to hold our attention. Instrumental prog might be a little talked about genre, but Phaeton belong in the conversation.” – Heavy Music Headquarters (Between Two Worlds – 2023)
“…a killer album indeed, wonderfully arranged and produced; a superb prog metal opus where the music almost makes you dizzy, but most of all longing for more indeed. “Between Two Worlds” to me is one of the absolute highlights of this year, a unique twist and rollercoaster of progressive, instrumental metal, highly recommended indeed: especially suitable for fans of Rush, Dream Theater and Liquid Tension Experiment. Play it LOUD and you will be hooked, listening tip: “Monsoon.”” – Rock United (Between Two Worlds – 2023)
“”Between Two World” was very competently arranged and recorded by PHAETON. Prog fans, who like sounds and virtuosity above all, will be well served with the disc.” – PowerMetal.de (Between Two Worlds – 2023)
“PHAETON releases an instrumental album in which the voice is not lacking; a nervous, boosted opus where the frank and limpid musicality makes you dizzy, where the notes invite you to travel in space to another dimension, where harmony is combined with controlled djent power; innovative music, on modern math metal-prog.” – Profil Prog (Between Two Worlds – 2023)
“If you’re open minded in your choice of Metal genres, you should feel free to let this instrumental work slip through your ears. It takes a little getting used to, so completely without singing. But if you get involved and listen carefully, one or the other will surely like something. The whole thing should appeal to fans of RUSH or DREAM THEATER.” – Hellfire Magazin (Between Two Worlds – 2023)
“The sound on all seven tracks is huge and if there was a “best sounding hammer-ons” award then March of the Synthetics could be a contender.” – Stuart Derdeyn (The Vancouver Sun) (Self-titled – 2018)
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