Progressive metal collective LUNAR returns with a powerful new standalone single, “Mechanical Animals,” a bold reinterpretation of the iconic Marilyn Manson track. Following the critical acclaim of their 2025 concept album “Tempora Mutantur,” LUNAR continues to evolve, this time stepping into the world of covers for the first time in their career.
“We’re really excited to release our new single ‘Mechanical Animals’. This is a cover of an old Marilyn Manson song that we’ve been wanting to do for quite some time now. I’ve listened to this song many times over the years, and there were certain parts that I always thought, ‘ooh, that would be cool to do there.’ Having these different ideas in my head to make it a bit more proggy, I figured it was a perfect track for LUNAR to cover. It’s also the first recorded LUNAR track with our new guitarists, Jordan Price and Jason Ashcraft, on it. We hope you all enjoy it!” shares drummer and founding member Alex Bosson.
“Mechanical Animals” bridges the gap between “Tempora Mutantur” and the band’s forthcoming fifth album, offering fans a taste of LUNAR’s evolving sonic palette. The track blends the haunting industrial tones of Marilyn Manson’s original with LUNAR’s signature progressive flair, layered instrumentation, dynamic vocal interplay, and atmospheric depth. This release also marks the debut of new guitarists Jordan Price and Jason Ashcraft, whose contributions bring fresh energy and complexity to the band’s sound.
With “Mechanical Animals,” LUNAR not only pays homage to a formative influence but also showcases their ability to transform familiar material into something uniquely their own. The single will be available now on all major streaming platforms on September 12, 2025.
Listen to “Mechanical Animals” via its premiere on Metal Addicts HERE.
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LUNAR was formed in 2013 by Bosson and the late Ryan Erwin and has grown from a studio passion project into a full-fledged progressive force, with a lineup now featuring Jason Ashcraft (Rhythm Guitar), Alex Bosson (Drums), Brian Lewis (Growl Vocals), Chandler Mogel (Lead Vocals), Jordan Price (Lead Guitar), Ryan Price (Bass), and Anthony Stahl (Keyboards).
Making their live debut at the 2025 Hyperspace Metal Festival in Vancouver, they are already booking festival appearances for 2026 to be revealed at a later date.
LINEUP:
RHYTHM GUITAR: Jason Ashcraft
DRUMS: Alex Bosson
GROWL VOCALS: Brian Lewis
LEAD VOCALS: Chandler Mogel
LEAD GUITAR: Jordan Price
BASS: Ryan Price
KEYBOARDS: Anthony Stahl
For more info: Facebook.com/lunarbandofficial | Instagram.com/
“If you like your progressive metal equal parts weird and rocking then look no further than the latest from Lunar. There’s a little bit of an Opeth vibe sometimes, but like recent Opeth, Lunar have a love for the classics. Tempora Mutantur is a fun one and an early favorite of mine in this new-ish year.” – Metal Injection (2025 -Tempora Mutantur)
“An album of Progressive Metal with forays into the more technical Death with interesting interweaving of clean and harsh vocal parts, between cantatoed virtuoso instrumental sections. The band confirms the good things heard previously, offering 8 incisive and technical tracks that enhance the compositional and performing technique of the lineup and guests. A recommended listen for lovers of the most Extreme sounds of Progressive Metal with references to bands like Opeth, to start this 2025 at its best.” – Progressive Rock Journal (2025 -Tempora Mutantur)
“Tempora Mutantur is an impressive concept album – especially when you have in mind that several of the musicians have worked independently and never met… It will be interesting to see what it can develop into when the band finally meet each other for their first live performance in 2025.” – HeavyMetal.dk (2025 -Tempora Mutantur)
“Their technical ability is right up there with a lot of Progressive musicians” – Metal Temple (2025 -Tempora Mutantur)
“Progressive music has taken on a form of its own in the metal world over the years. At this point, there are only a few common elements that are present. With Lunar, every album remains progressive, yet is entirely different from each other, and Tempora Mutantur is no exception. One thing you can expect is that it is going to be good, no, great. Tempora Mutantur is Lunar’s fourth album and will be released on January 31st, 2025.” – Metal Nation (2025 -Tempora Mutantur)
“On each listen I get more out of it and as you can probably tell I think it is excellent. I appreciate that the band have made sure not to attempt to repeat the last album but to try new ideas and give listeners something fresh, new and exciting. The playing is excellent, the use of vocalists works very well and the themes are explored nicely… Considering how amazing “The Illusionist” was says how strong a follow up this album is. Anyone into bands like Dream Theater, Opeth, Haken, Ayreon or Tool should find a lot to enjoy here. This is thoughtful, intelligent, progressive music with words to match and I thoroughly recommend it.” – CGCM Rock Radio (2025 -Tempora Mutantur)
“New release from progressive collective Lunar drops tomorrow (Jan. 31st)! The new album “Tempora Mutantur” is a dense forest of progressive rock stylings that prog fans can sink their teeth into, the album cut “Weakening Winter Touch” is a favorite from the album that we have been eagerly anticipating adding and you can catch it on your Home for the Best New Rock…” – WJOE – Findlay’s Home for Rock & Roll (2025 -Tempora Mutantur)
“As Lunar get further into their career, they are becoming more agitated, as evident by how assertive the music is on their fourth album, Tempora Mutantur. Their use of two vocalists, one for the melodic content and the other for the growls, is more defined on this record, as they have more of an even partnership than before when the harsh vocals were less prevalent… Though originally conceived as an EP revolving around the four seasons, Tempora Mutantur was expanded with a vaster vision. It happens that this vision has the group at their heaviest, a spot from which they show great confidence. 4/5” – Heavy Music Headquarters (2025 -Tempora Mutantur)
“Tempora Mutantur is filled with riffs and varied musical styles. They cover everything from clean, beautiful sections to challenging technical sections to prog death metal. Repeated listens are necessary to not only appreciate all that the band is doing on the album, but to learn how to appreciate some of the more challenging passages as well. If you enjoy progressive metal/death metal, I would recommend you give Tempora Mutantur a shot. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you give it a chance, it is actually a very enjoyable album that will stand the test of time.” – Metal Epidemic (2025 -Tempora Mutantur)
“Marking their fourth full-length album, I’m happy to conclude that Lunar continues to produce music that very consistently delivers in quality. On Tempora Mutantur, they’ve honed their stylistic influences on a few ideas while treading on looser territory with their songwriting approach. Lunar has brought us a bevy of solid riffs to indulge in with a studio that, I hope in this economy, didn’t cost the band as much as they sound like they do. As time passes and the seasons continue to change I hope Lunar is still in the game for another four releases.” – The Progressive Subway (2025 -Tempora Mutantur)
“Every Lunar album is a cause for celebration and Tempora Mutantur is another incredible offering from a band becoming a progressive metal powerhouse…. Any fan of progressive metal or extreme metal will yet again find themselves loving what Lunar do, a jukebox of prog metal which kept me loving it throughout. 9/10” – Musipedia of Metal (2025 -Tempora Mutantur)
“This quality is so high, and the variation as well.” – Melodic.net (2025 -Tempora Mutantur)
“Album dealing with the effects of time on our body, musically symbolized by this melodic alternation and heavy discharge. On OPETH, HAKEN, TOOL for a varied extreme music that is fun, moving, bestial and takes you to the guts. A sound closer to a VOIVOD than a DREAM THEATER, with Chandler playing on Brian’s growl to give this conglomerate of extreme music, like our personal double facet. A must for extreme fans, a musical danger for the progs of the 70s.” – Profil Prog (2025 -Tempora Mutantur)
“a fantastic display of Prog for the heaviest of fans to those who just appreciate masterclass musicianship. If you want a tribute to Prog, give this one a listen.” – Heavy Debriefings (2025 -Tempora Mutantur)
“An album to seek out by those who enjoy a more contemporary oriented variety of progressive metal that comes with 70s progressive rock inspired passages and interludes as a bit of a recurring feature.” – Progressor (2025 – Tempora Mutantur)
“LUNAR have sure hit on a way to keep you engaged, waiting for the next tonal shift and surprising instrumental variety. Not a flawless album, but a real interesting one.” – Wormwood Chronicles (2025 – Tempora Mutantur)
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