After nearly a decade of anticipation, Canadian instrumental Prog masters Phaeton are set to release their third studio album, “Neurogenesis,” on October 24, 2025. Known for their fusion of Technical Prog Metal and modern soundscapes, this new work promises to push the boundaries of the genre even further. We had the privilege to speak with the band to uncover the creative process behind this ambitious project.
What inspired the title “Neurogenesis,” and how does it reflect the themes explored in the album?
The decision to title the album “Neurogenesis” came about from a conversation that certain music, classical music for example, like Bach, or Beethoven, can promote the generation of neurons in the brain of infants. It’s our “tongue in cheek” way of saying our music, when listened to, will make one smarter! Being an instrumental band, the song titles are what dictate the “theme” of a song. On this album, like the previous two, the song titles come about from the feeling a song
evokes.
How would you describe the sonic evolution of “Neurogenesis” compared to your previous works?
Sonically speaking, with “Neurogenesis,” the songs are shorter in length than the previous albums, but that wasn’t intentional. We experimented with new sounds, for example, at the beginning of “Discontinuum”, and some new recording techniques. We also brought in keyboard legend Derek Sherinian to add his hallmark sound to “Isochron”. That’s the
beauty of progressive music: there are no boundaries or guidelines that need to be followed.
What was the compositional process for this album? Did you follow a collaborative or individual approach?
This was the first album that involved the whole band through the writing process. The opener, “Tethy’s Rising,” was written entirely by Ferdy, which is his first for Phaeton. The rest of the album was more of a collaborative approach, which is another first for us. I was going through cancer during the writing of “Neurogenesis,” so all of the drum parts
were programmed on my DAW. Kevin and Dan would send either a number of riff ideas or well-sculpted concepts via Google Drive, and then I would help arrange the songs and program drums to get an overall feel and direction. From there, we would collaborate as a band on what we liked and didn’t like until we had completed songs.
How did technical experimentation and new sonic textures influence your music on this project?
“Neurogenesis” is a very dense and compact album compared to the previous two albums. There’s more aggression, and it’s harder hitting from start to finish. All of the songs have a more “in your face” feel. “Tethys Rising” opens with an aggressive punch that carries on through the album until the closing track “Neurogenesis”. “Neurogenesis” from the intro
to the long fade out at the end is the perfect finale for the album. We seem to unintentionally write “closers” like Vortex on the self-titled, and “Between Two Worlds” on our previous album; in retrospect, we should have named the first album Vortex! We feel we’ve created a thoughtful and cohesive album that will entice people into giving it multiple listens.
The track “Tethys Rising,” written by bassist Ferdy Belland, is inspired by Chesley Bonestell’s astronomical art and the dream of walking on Saturn’s moon. How does this piece fit into the album, and what emotions were you aiming to convey?
It’s all about provoking thought and imagery into the listener. It’s “fit” thematically, extends beyond just this album. Astronomy and all things sci-fi are what Phaeton is predominantly based on thematically. We wanted to maintain that space theme on “Neurogenesis”, as well as exploring other themes like math with “Isochron” and neuroscience with “Synesthesia”, which is a neurological phenomenon where the stimulation of one sense involuntarily triggers an experience in another sense. Or “Augmented” which is Dan’s idea of how AI is creating a dystopia through the guise of
helping humanity.
The album features notable collaborations, including Derek Sherinian. How did this collaboration come about, and what impact did it have on the album’s sound?
The collaboration with Derek Sherinian came about when I opened up a dialogue through Instagram with him. Both Kevin and I have been long-time fans of Derek’s work, since the mid-late 90’s, so when he offered his services on “Neurogenesis,” it was an offer we couldn’t refuse. The album was complete before Derek added his keyboards to “Isochron”, and he absolutely made that song become the song that it is.
“Isochron” is another single previewing the album. What does this track represent for you, and how does it connect to the “Neurogenesis” concept?
There are a few definitions of the mathematical principle of isochron that we took to form our own concept. “Isochron” works within the “Neurogenesis” theme by opening up the audience to the idea of multi-dimensional time lines happening at the same time, until the two events come to a single point. It’s quantum physics, math, and creative interpretation.
This is why we used the “two trains leave the station…where do they meet up?”
You’ve mentioned that this album marks a new direction for the band. What distinctive elements define this new chapter in your musical career?
The biggest component for the direction we took for “Neurogenesis” was writing as a collaborative unit, rather than as individuals writing songs that the rest of the band learns, with the exception being “Tethy’s Rising,” but we all have our own maker’s mark on it. Additionally, we feel we pushed the boundaries of our talents on our respective instruments to shape our sound into having a rougher and heavier edge sonically.
How did you tackle the challenge of creating an instrumental album that is engaging and narrative-driven without the use of lyrics?
It seems to come naturally for us, so it doesn’t feel like a challenge. How a song is constructed takes on a very different mindset when there are no lyrics for the listener to focus on. The melodies, the solos, the air, the accents, they all tell the story. It allows us to be less constrained on our instruments to allow that space for lyrics.
Which musical influences shaped “Neurogenesis”? Are there new references or inspirations compared to your previous works?
A lot of the modern prog contributed to shaping “Neurogenesis”. Bands like Haken, Caligula’s Horse, Between the Buried and Me, Animals as Leaders, Intervals, and Arch Echo can be heard throughout the album on songs like “Disconninuum”, “Synethsesia”, “Arachnid”, and “Augmented”. But there’s a heavy old school influence that can be heard on the album, like Rush, Genesis, and Dream Theater on songs like “Tethy’s Rising”, “Isochron,” and the title track “Neurogenesis”.
Were there any particular challenges during the production of the album? How did you overcome them?
There were a few challenges in writing this album and the previous album, “Between Two Worlds”. I live a four-and-a-half-hour drive from Kevin, Dan, and Ferdy, which makes regular commuting a challenge. COVID meant that getting together at all in the same room was not going to be possible. I also fought a lengthy battle with cancer from late
2020 to late 2022, which added to the delay of completing “Neurogenesis “. During that time, the song ideas were sent back and forth through Google Drive and edited in our respective DAWs, and when I was back to full health, I learned to play what I programmed and then record the drums. The rest of the album was recorded and produced in Kevin’s expertly designed sound cube in Kimberley, BC.
How do you expect “Neurogenesis” to be received by fans and critics? What reactions are you hoping to elicit?
For those who are familiar with Phaeton, this album will make sense in the timeline. It fits well within our evolution. We hope that the audience goes on a journey every time they listen. We hope it will create a kaleidoscope of thoughts and images that changes and gets better with each listen. Our goal is always to write an album that the listener wants to go back to over and over. Like we do with our favorite albums.
Do you have a tour planned to support the album release? If so, what are the dates and locations?
We all have day jobs we are committed to, so no supporting tour currently. We have applied to a number of festivals for 2026, and are constantly putting out feelers to fill in dates as they come up. We have four shows confirmed for November 7th @ the Slice, Lethbridge, Alberta, November 8th @ Dive Bar, Edmonton, Alberta, November 21st @ Shotties, Cranbrook, BC, and November 29thwith w/Anciients @ Shotties, Cranbrook, BC.
How do you see the evolution of instrumental Prog Metal in recent years, and what role do you think “Neurogenesis” might play in the current landscape?
Instrumental Prog Metal has gained traction over the last 5-10 years, with bands like Animals as Leaders, Intervals, Between the Buried and Me, Plini, and Scale the Summit being notable bands of the genre. “Neurogenesis” takes a more groovy approach to odd time signatures, solos are more integrated into the melodie,s and it’s not as polyrhythmic
as the aforementioned bands. It might be a good “gateway” into the world of instrumental prog metal, in fact.
With the new album out, are there plans to bring “Neurogenesis” to the stage? How do you envision translating these complex compositions into a live performance?
Absolutely! We’ve already added ” Tethys Rising”, ” Arachnid”, “Isochron”, and “Augmented” into our live set, and each of the songs has been very well received thus far. “Tethys Rising” is as good an opener live as it is on the album, and we really amp the songs up when we are playing live. One of the most frequent compliments we get is how much heavier we are live compared to recorded. The next step will be to add visual imagery to make the Phaeton experience a seamless audiovisual journey for our audience.
With “Neurogenesis,” Phaeton once again demonstrates their ability to innovate and push the boundaries of instrumental Prog Metal. Combining impeccable technique, emotionally charged compositions, and high-level collaborations, the album promises to become a milestone in their discography. We eagerly await to see how this new chapter unfolds and what impact it will have on the contemporary music scene.
Pre-Order “Neurogenesis” on Bandcamp: https://phaetonband.bandcamp.com/album/neurogenesis