Instrumental progressive metal quartet Phaeton has released its latest playthrough video, “Augmented,” in support of its brand-new album, “Neurogenesis,” released on October 24, 2025. The release marks another bold step forward for the band, following their acclaimed sophomore album Between Two Worlds (2020).

The new playthrough video spotlights “Augmented,” a track inspired by humanity’s drive to transcend survival through technology, yet haunted by the dystopian possibilities of merging man and machine.

“This song was written to convey the mechanical unease and robotic inhumanity awaiting us in the near future, and how we must be on our guard,” the band explains.

Watch the playthrough via its premiere on Decibel Magazine HERE.

Formed in 2017 in Kimberley, BC, PHAETON blends neo-classical melodicism, crushing riffs, tornado percussion, and contrapuntal basslines. Their lineup includes Kevin Thiessen (guitars, keyboards; ex-Azsension, ex-Datura), Daniel Airth (guitars; ex-Chaos Logic), Ferdy Belland (bass; ex-Bif Naked), and Colin Righton (drums; ex-Chaos Machine).
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Described in five words as Interplanetary Psychedelic Hyper-Melodic Metallic Prog, PHAETON’s sound is a kaleidoscope of influences ranging from Devin Townsend, Rush, Haken, Intervals, and Scale the Summit to the jazz-fusion pioneers Weather Report and Mahavishnu Orchestra. Their music blends prog-metal, tech-death, thrash, and djent into a visceral yet cerebral listening experience.
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With “Neurogenesis,” the band sharpened their songwriting into concise, dynamic arrangements without sacrificing imagination. The album’s seven tracks form a connected anthology, while its themes explore the technological singularity and humanity’s uneasy march toward cybernetic augmentation. Engineered and mixed by guitarist Kevin Thiessen at The Cube in Kimberley, BC, and mastered by Jamie Sitar at Outtatown Sound in Winnipeg, MB, the album features artwork by Calgary-based artist Matt Semenok and a guest appearance by prog legend Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Planet X, Sons of Apollo) on the track “Isochron”.

“We’ll carry you away to the nebulae and you’ll enjoy every light-minute of it,” adds the band.
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​PHAETON’s journey began with their self-titled debut, establishing their technical virtuosity and adventurous spirit. Their sophomore offering, “Between Two Worlds”, expanded their sound with heavier, more emotionally impactful compositions. Now, “Neurogenesis” refines their approach with compact, hook-laden tracks that balance clarity with complexity.
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Fans can expect more ambitious projects following “Neurogenesis” as the band plans to release a 22-minute epic, “Clouds of Mercury”, slated for 2026, and a fourth full-length album, “Quartum”, projected for 2027.

In additional news, the band will be opening for Vancouver prog masters Anciients in Cranbrook, BC, on November 29th, as part of their “Infinite Eclipse Tour”. Phaeton plans to deliver a heavier, crunchier, thrashier experience than their polished recordings suggest, surprising audiences with their dual identity.

“We don’t growl and shriek as if we’re imitating demons from the Ninth Level of Hell. We let the guitars and keyboards do the singing,” the band adds.

Upcoming Show Dates:​
Nov 29 – Cranbrook BC – Shotties Nightclub w/ ANCIIENTS – info​

“Neurogenesis” is available now on digital platforms via INB Music. Vinyl editions arrive later this year.

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/46CVWFcd3u2pSRt0D9pSrV​

Bandcamp – https://phaetonband.bandcamp.com/​

Previous Singles:

Band playthrough – Arachnid – https://youtu.be/QxyU0U-vSOc​

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/phaetonofficial​

Canadian instrumental progressive metal quartet PHAETON returns with their third full-length album, “Neurogenesis,” a tightly wound sonic journey through melody, muscle, and mind-expanding musicality. Following their acclaimed 2020 release “Between Two Worlds,” this new chapter marks a bold evolution in the band’s sound, more concise yet no less imaginative.
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Formed in the rugged wilderness of Kimberley, British Columbia, in 2017, PHAETON fuses neo-classical melodicism, crunching rifferama, tornado percussion, and contrapuntal basslines, making them not only a captivating listening experience on record but a thrilling and ultra-heavy live band in the flesh. Named after the mythical proto-planet believed to have collided with primordial Earth, PHAETON channels cosmic chaos into meticulously crafted soundscapes that are as cerebral as they are crushing.
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The band, Kevin Thiessen (guitars, keyboards; ex-Azsension, ex-Datura), Daniel Airth (guitars; ex-Chaos Logic), Ferdy Belland (bass; ex-Bif Naked), and Colin Righton (drums; ex-Chaos Machine), has carved out a distinct sonic identity, drawing inspiration from titans like Dream Theater, Rush, Mastodon, and King Crimson. Their music is a wordless journey through shifting time signatures, soaring melodies, and tectonic riffage, designed to ignite the imagination and challenge the ear.
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​“Neurogenesis” represents a left-field shift for PHAETON, an unexpected but thrilling change of pace. While their self-titled debut album laid the foundation for their identity as composers and musicians, and “Between Two Worlds” expanded that vision with heavier, more emotionally resonant compositions, “Neurogenesis” takes a more compact and concise approach, not by design, but by organic evolution.
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Even as an all-instrumental band, PHAETON’s arrangements follow familiar narrative arcs, verse, chorus, bridge, but instead of supporting vocals, the riffs and rhythms become scaffolding for guitar and keyboard melodies. This time, the band embraced a sideways approach, inviting listeners to interpret song titles and let their imaginations roam freely through the music’s unfolding landscapes.
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​“It’s jazz-fusion ears within prog-metal boundaries. And while Neurogenesis isn’t a concept album in the strictest sense, many of the song ideas overlap,” the band explains.
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Thematically, the album draws inspiration from modern theories of the technological singularity, the looming convergence of biological minds with robotics, cybernetic implants, and microchips. It’s a meditation on what it means to be human in an age of accelerating machine intelligence: part cold warning, part sober observation.
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Engineered and mixed by Kevin Thiessen at The Cube in Kimberley, BC, and mastered by Jamie Sitar at Outtatown Sound in Winnipeg, MB, “Neurogenesis” also features artwork by Calgary-based artist Matt Semenok, capturing the album’s cosmic themes.
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With a growing international following and a reputation for electrifying live performances, PHAETON continues to evolve, fearlessly, relentlessly, and without saying a word. The band has confidently shared stages with such notable artists as Beyond Creation, Anciients, and Bison, and is looking to open musical doorways across the nation and across the oceans.

Upcoming Show Dates:​
Nov 7 – Lethbridge, AB – The Slice w/ Pharm, S.I., Rainbow Patrol
Nov 8 – Edmonton, AB – Divebar w/ Pharm, Excerebration, Spruce Moose
Nov 21 – Cranbrook, BC – Shotties Nightclub w/ Dead Bob, Blind Marc
Nov 29 – Cranbrook BC – Shotties Nightclub w/ ANCIIENTS
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​“Neurogenesis” will be available on digital platforms on October 24 via INB Music, with vinyl editions arriving later this year and more music, including the standalone 22-minute epic “Clouds of Mercury,” coming in 2026, and a fourth full-length album, “Quartum,” slated for 2027.
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​“Neurogenesis” is available at the following links:

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/46CVWFcd3u2pSRt0D9pSrV

Bandcamp – https://phaetonband.bandcamp.com/

Previous Singles:

Band playthrough – Arachnid – https://youtu.be/QxyU0U-vSOc

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/phaetonofficial

Canadian instrumental prog-metal outfit Phaeton has released their latest sonic whirlwind, “Isochron”, featuring keyboard icon Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Planet X, Sons of Apollo). The single offers a high-voltage glimpse into their upcoming third album, “Neurogenesis,” out October 24th via INB Music.
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Clocking in at just under five minutes, “Isochron” is one of the densest and most dynamic tracks Phaeton has written in years. It ricochets between killer riffs, Middle Eastern mellowness, and clenched-fist power, all supercharged by Sherinian’s signature synthesizer tsunami that came together with lightning speed.

The band explains:

“Colin reached out, and to our astonishment, Derek agreed immediately. He sent us half a dozen takes the next day, each with different moods and effects. Kevin stitched together a hybrid performance from all of them; we couldn’t choose just one. We’re happy with how this track sounded. There’s a feeling of whirlwind rush we deliberately injected into the tune. If an isochron connects different points where an event occurs simultaneously, then the song itself is that event, stretched across time, Newtonian physics be damned,” says the band.
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Listen to “Isochron” ft. Derek Sherinian via its premiere on Metal Addicts HERE.​
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​“Neurogenesis” marks a bold left-field shift for Phaeton. While their self-titled debut album established their identity and sophomore Between Two Worlds expanded it with heavier, more emotionally resonant compositions, “Neurogenesis” takes a more compact and concise approach, though not by design.

“The songs just ended up that way. Even as an instrumental band, our arrangements follow a kind of verse-chorus structure, but instead of vocals, it’s guitar and keyboard melodies that carry the narrative,” the band explains.
​
Thematically, “Neurogenesis” explores overlapping concepts inspired by the technological singularity, the looming fusion of biological consciousness with robotics and cybernetic implants. Musically, the album blends jazz-fusion sensibilities with prog-metal architecture, inviting listeners to interpret each track’s title and let their imaginations roam.

“It’s not a concept album in the strictest sense, but the ideas do interlock. It’s a cold warning as much as a sober observation. We’re asking: when that happens, will we still be human?” adds the band.
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Formed by drummer Colin Righton, who united longtime collaborators Daniel Airth, Kevin Thiessen, and Ferdy Belland, Phaeton has carved out a niche with their “Interplanetary Psychedelic Hyper-Melodic Metallic Prog.” Their sound draws comparisons to Symphony X, Devin Townsend, Rush, Meshuggah, and Gojira, minus the vocals.

“We let the guitars and keyboards do the singing. Live, we’re heavier, crunchier, and thrashier than our polished recordings suggest. It catches people off guard in the best way,” explains the band.
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Beyond “Neurogenesis”, fans can look forward to the 22-minute epic “Clouds of Mercury” slated for release as a standalone EP in 2026, and the band’s fourth album “Quartum” expected in 2027. With new material already brewing, Phaeton shows no signs of slowing its cosmic ascent.

For fans of instrumental metal, progressive rock, and sonic storytelling, Phaeton offers visceral thrill and intellectual expansion, song after song after song.

“Neurogenesis” – album pre-order (out Oct 24th) – https://phaetonband.bandcamp.com/​

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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/phaetonofficial​