EPK – LUNAR – Tempora Mutantur (2025) (Saibot Reigns Records)

EPK – LUNAR – Tempora Mutantur (2025) (Saibot Reigns Records)

ft. members from Helion Prime, Beholder, Vis Mystica, Mokili Wa, Nordic Frost, Outloud, Double Vision

For fans of Opeth, Caligula’s Horse, Haken, Tool, Porcupine Tree, Ayreon

Band: Lunar
Album title: Tempora Mutantur
Release Date: January 31, 2025
Label: Saibot Reigns Records

Facebook.com/lunarbandofficial | Instagram.com/lunarbandofficial | X.com/LunarBandOffcl | YouTube.com/@lunarbandofficial

Lunarbandofficial.bandcamp.com | Spotify | Apple Music

“It’s really well done technically by a band that clearly cares about their music and can play.” – Rock The Joint Mag (The Illusionist 2023)

“If I had one word to describe this album, it would be this one: whirlwind… “The Illusionist” is an album that is living. From its jazzy highs to its heavy metal lows, this album is constantly on its toes, never repeating itself and never, ever growing complacent. A wonderful whirlwind indeed. 9/10” – Ever Metal

“I feel like Lunar has captured the balance between accessibility and technicality very well. I hear many of the same elements in their sound that, when employed well, make bands like Dream Theater, King Crimson, Voïvod and even Sigh so engaging. I love when an album comes out of nowhere (for me, anyway) and makes this much of an impression.” – The Metal Crypt

“As I said at the start, when I heard this album I was immediately grabbed by it. The story works nicely, it is very character based and features plenty of emotions which as a listener I certainly could relate to. The music is terrific with all the players putting in excellent performances and the instrumentation used in a clever way to match all that is going on with the lead character. There are moments of heavy prog as well as metal, but melody runs through the heart of it. The fact that some of the people in the band have never met or even been in the same room together is remarkable as it sounds like everyone was on the same hymn sheet and it doesn’t sound pieced together. That is a great credit to the writing, arranging as well as all the musicians doing their parts to the benefit of the whole piece. An absolutely delightful as well as enjoyable album.” – CGCM Rock Radio

“The concept is that there are songs that are angry, songs that are confused, songs that are depressed, and everywhere in between. Styles on the album run the gambit from Progressive Metal with melodic vocals, to moments of Jazz, to cookie monster Thrash…. The musicianship is solid on all of the parts, with some excellent performances, notably vocalist Chandler Mogel… it does warrant checking out for Prog-Metal fans that like a mix of growler and melodic vocals.” – Metal Express Radio

“The Illusionist again is at the highest level of the progsphere, Bosson’s continuation of the Lunar name, honouring his co-founder and friend, through the medium of progressive metal, is an advantageous endeavour. 9/10” – Musipedia of Metal

“The disc is well produced and played very well, so anyone who wants to dive into tempo changes and virtuosity will find what they are looking for.” – Metal Shock

“It is a dynamic and inclusive variety of the form we get here, where gentle atmospheric laden sequences and vibrant, guitar driven passages with regular as well as a more alternative variety of progressive metal coexist quite nicely, with occasional flirts towards extreme metal as a part of the experience. The compositions are further fleshed out by the use of world music elements inside of a metal context, as a standalone feature, as elements of more dreamladen ambient tinged interludes as well as combined with passages with a bit more of a jazz orientation. The latter which is present also in a more standalone and elegant manner. Occasional use of orchestral textures is a part of the totality too, and the band aren’t afraid to hit a more energetic power metal run when needed either. The vocals are clean and melodic, with occasional use of growls but more for dramatic effect and less as a defining feature. A production to seek out, inclusive and dynamic progressive metal is a type of music you tend to enjoy.” – Progressor

“LUNAR present an impressive show with „The Illusionist“. In contrast to the album title, however, there are no illusions, but quite real musical art. Thereby LUNAR conjure all kinds of things out of the hat. Their magic consists of a collection of high-quality multi-faceted songs. Thereby they go mainly a hard way. But many fine passages, which are refined with classical instruments of all kinds, provide great experiences. Furthermore, exotic sounds additionally provide for an atmospherically deep and exciting work. Personally, I also noticed especially the excellent guitar work, which conjures up fantastic moments again and again. In its entirety, it is a work of art of all the musicians involved, who have created something magical here. I can’t see any weaknesses here.” – Metal-Heads.de

“This is a record that everyone must own. Every generation and every country should adore an album like this, as one like Theogony rarely makes itself known. If you like music and consider it art, this is a must.”  – Prog-Sphere on “Theogony” #23 Best Albums of 2017

“The sophomore album from this Cali band is showing the band expanding their horizons in sound. The heavy parts are heavier, the lighter parts are even lighter and the proggier parts are even more insanely proggy plus on the song, Surrender, there is a very cool nod to the final lasting riff in Opeth’s Deliverance to close out the track…don’t think I didn’t catch that! With all of the guest appearances, fantastic production and just masterful songwriting, this is one of the strongest prog albums you will hear all year. Trust me!” – Heavy Debriefings on “Eidolon” #39 Best Albums of 2019

“Inspired by a tragedy that befell the project in the way of losing guitarist Ryan Erwin, drummer and songwriter Alex Bosson has put his emotions towards honing a release that is as beautiful as angry. Helping him in his vision are guest contributions from members of Haken, Leprous, Thank You Scientist, Fallujah, etc.” – Prog-Sphere on “Eidolon” #19 Best Albums of 2019

“The word “classic” gets tossed around a lot, but I honestly can’t think of a better word for Eidolon. From front to back and top to bottom, this album is both firmly rooted in death metal with a progressive bend while standing alone atop the mountain. It’s equally headbanging heavy and enthralling, music to get in the mosh pit and simply sit in awe of. This is required listening because there’s nothing else quite like it.” – Progarchy on “Eidolon”

“Like Theogony, Eidolon is another very impressive showcase of modern progressive metal. It’s technical, emotional, melodic, and aggressive and is just very well put-together overall.” – wimpsandposers.com

Best of AOTY:
Prog-Sphere: “Theogony” #23 best of 2017
Prog-Sphere: “Eidolon” #19 best of 2019
Heavy Debriefings: “Eidolon” #39 best of 2019
Wimpsandposers: “Eidolon” #20 best of 2019
2019 SAMMIES (Sacramento Area Music Awards) Nominee “Best Metal Band”

 

[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]

Band: Lunar
Album title: Tempora Mutantur
Release Date: January 31, 2025
Label: Saibot Reigns Records

Track Listing:
1. A Summer To Forget – 6:37
2. Fall Back Into Old Habits – 11:16 ft. guest guitar solo by Wayne Ingram (Wilderun)
3. Seasonal Interlude – 4:47
4. Weakening Winter Touch – 8:46
5. Spring In My Step – 7:26
6. Tempora Mutantur: Part I – Passage of Time – 3:12 ft. guest guitar solo by Sam Vallen (Caligula’s Horse)
7. Tempora Mutantur: Part II – Broken Pendulum – 3:47
8. Tempora Mutantur: Part III – Watch The Weather Change – 4:51
Album Length: 50:45

Album Credits:
Performance and Writing credits – full info HERE.
Produced by: Alex Bosson
Mixed by: Carlos Alvarez
Mastered by: Tony Lindgren
Album Artwork by: Ed Bosson
Member of ASCAP

Album Main Lineup:
Chandler Mogel – Clean Vocals
Brian Lewis – Growl Vocals
Carlos Alvarez – Rhythm Guitar
Connor McCray – Lead Guitar
Ryan Price – Bass
Alex Bosson – Drums
Anthony Stahl – Keyboards

Live Lineup:
Chandler Mogel – Clean Vocals
Brian Lewis – Growl Vocals
Jordan Price – Guitars
Ryan Price – Bass
Alex Bosson – Drums

===================================================

===================================================

Top 1st Row – Ryan Price – Bass, Alex Bosson – Drums
Middle 2nd Row – Connor McCray – Lead Guitar, Chandler Mogel – Clean Vocals
Bottom 3rd Row – Carlos Alvarez – Rhythm Guitar, Brian Lewis – Growl Vocals, Anthony Stahl – Keyboards

Based out of Sacramento, CA, LUNAR is a progressive metal band formed in 2013 when longtime friends Alex Bosson (drums/percussion) and Ryan Erwin (guitar/vocals) decided to get together and write the style of music that was always in their hearts: genre-defiant and free of restrictive influence.  After securing Danny Stevenson on Keyboards, the search continued for a full lineup… but to no avail.  Rather than delay their progress, the trio decided to record and self-release their debut EP, PROVENANCE, in the Winter of 2014.

Shortly after the release of PROVENANCE, Danny parted ways with the group, while Bosson and Erwin began work on LUNAR’s debut full-length, THEOGONY – a concept album based on the nine Muses of Greek mythology.  While reading about Melpomene, the Greek Muse of tragedy, Alex realized that the concepts that these nine Muses represent – subjects such as history, tragedy, music, love, etc. – are the backbone for most creative output in this world.  In keeping with the progressive element of the band, he had the idea to spread the musical and lyrical diversity of these themes across an entire album: each of the nine tracks named after one of the Muses, the music and lyrics based around the theme that each specific Muse represents.

Once more unable to flesh out a suitably complete lineup as writing progressed, Alex and Ryan decided to enlist contributions from other professional musicians around the world – initially a handful of guests laying down additional guitar solos.  With the eventual additions of Ryan Price on bass and Chandler Mogel on vocals, a proper lineup for THEOGONY was set: and by the end of the recording process 17 different musicians had participated – including members of Hatriot, Angel Vivaldi, Helion Prime, Berried Alive, and many more.

In the Summer of 2017, LUNAR signed on with Divebomb Records and in November of 2017 THEOGONY was released on CD.  A logical step forward from PROVENANCE, the dynamically atmospheric hour-long journey of THEOGONY is sure to please fans of Porcupine Tree, Opeth and Tool – to name but a few – with its lushly textured contrasts of beauty and aggression.

THEOGONY received numerous raving reviews even being called a “masterpiece” and “A record everyone must own.  Every generation and every country should adore an album like this.”  And even made #23 on Prog-Sphere’s Top albums of 2017.

In the Spring of 2018 Ryan Erwin unexpectedly passed away, leaving Alex unsure of what to do.  After some time passed, he decided to persevere through the tragedy and continue on with LUNAR.  Using the tragedy as inspiration, he began writing the next album, EIDOLON – another concept album based around the cycle of life and death and the stages of grief that the ones left behind feel.  After writing all the music for the album, Alex enlisted friend Balmore Lemus (NOVAREIGN) to handle tracking guitars for this album.  And with Ryan Price and Chandler Mogel both returning again, the lineup for EIDOLON was set.

In keeping with the diversity that the guests brought to THEOGONY, Alex decided to continue with that idea.  By the end of recording, a total of 18 musicians contributed to EIDOLON – this time including members of Haken, Thank You Scientist, Fallujah, Leprous & Caligula’s Horse, to name a few.

EIDOLON is another journey of progressive metal at its finest, spanning 7 tracks and nearly an hour of material.  Once again being released through Divebomb Records, EIDOLON is available as of November of 2019.

LUNAR’s 3^rd full-length album, entitled “The Illusionist,” is available as of March 3^rd, 2023 on Saibot Reigns Records.  This album features another slew of amazing guest musicians, including: Sam Vallen, Andy Gillion, Jørgen Munkeby, Christian Muenzner, Ben Karas and more!  Plus features the addition of Alex Nasla on keyboards.  The album was mixed and mastered at Fascination Street Studios and features cover art by Travis Smith.

Discography:
2025 – Tempora Mutantur – LP
2023 – The Illusionist – LP
2019 – Eidolon – LP
2017 – Theogony – LP
2014 – Provenance – EP

Endoresements: Alex Bosson – Scorpion Percussion sticks