EPK – Lunar – The Illusionist (2023) (Saibot Reigns Records)

EPK – Lunar – The Illusionist (2023)

Pubclisit – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com

For fans of Opeth, Katatonia, Haken, Caligula’s Horse, Devin Townsend

Album title: “The Illusionist”
Release Date: March 3, 2023
Label: Saibot Reigns Records

“We are so excited to finally be able to present our new album, “The Illusionist,” to the world!  This album has taken so many twists and turns for us.  We started the process of writing and recording everything for this album in 2020 during lockdowns.  Now, 3 years later, after so many different issues, it’s finally finished and released!  Despite how difficult it was for us to finish this album, we couldn’t be more proud of it!  This album has the best songwriting and production of any Lunar album to date.  There is such a wide variety of sounds and influences, but also the album flows seamlessly from one song to another.  And, once again, there is a huge list of amazing guest appearances from members of Obscura, Caligula’s Horse, Paladin, Emperor, Thank You Scientist and more!” – Alex Bosson – Lunar

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

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“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

[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]

Album Title: “The Illusionist”
Release Date: March 3, 2023
Label: Saibot Reigns Records

Track Listing:
1. Prestidigitation – 6:16
2. The Illusionist – 10:04
3. Showtime – 3:45
4. Worship The Sun – 5:23
5. Turn Off The World – 7:14
6. Disassembled – 5:53
7. Juggling Chainsaws – 7:30
8. For My Next Trick – 3:57
9 . Now You See Me – 8:39
Album Length: 58:46

Album Credits:
– Album Produced by: Alex Bosson
– Album Mixed by: Linus Coreliusson
– Album Mastered by: Jens Bogren
– Album artwork by: Travis Smith
– Album layout / design by: Brian Lewis
– Member of ASCAP

Recording Lineup:
Drums & Percussion – Alex Bosson
(Music – Track 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8,9) (Lyrics – Track 2, 3, 5, 6,9)
Guitars – Balmore Lemus
(Music – Track 4) (Lyrics – Track 4, 7
Bass – Ryan Price (Music – Track 8)
Keyboards & Synthesizers – Alex Nasla
Lead Vocals – Chandler Mogel
Growl Vocals – Brian Lewis
Clarinet – Gleb Kanasevich (Track 1)
Saxophone – Patrick Corona (Track 2)
Flute & Saxophone – Jørgen Munkeby (Track 6)
Violin & Viola – Ben Karas (Track 9)
Additional Guitar Solo – Andy Gillion (Track 2)
Additional Guitar Solo – Taylor Washington (Track 3)
Additional Guitar Solo – Sam Vallen (Track 5)
Additional Guitar Solo – Christian Münzner (Track 7)

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The album as a whole:
Lyrically this album tells the story of a magician that questions his entire life’s work.  He’s spent his entire life devoting himself to his craft and now he questions if it was worth it.  I think this is a concept many people can relate to, especially those of us that have careers in some kind of artistic field. We often question what we’re doing in life to pursue our dreams.  Musically the album goes through many stages as the character does on this journey of himself.  There are songs that are angry, songs that are confused, songs that are depressed, and everywhere in between.

Track by Track:

1. “Prestidigitation” – this song is the most intense instrumental the band has ever done.  It’s meant to set the stage for the variety of feelings you’re going to have throughout the show to come.

2. “The Illusionist” – the title track is meant to really introduce the character and tell us about who he is and what he does.  Musically I think this helps us experience some of the constant changes of feelings about who he is and questioning himself.

3. “Showtime” – this song is the hype of him about to go out and perform, even when he doesn’t want to and what he has to do to make that happen.  Musically I wanted something high-energy, so it’s a bit more power metal inspired.

4. “Worship The Sun” – this track has our title character questioning why people worship or look up to him, or any performer for what they do.  Questioning not only himself but his fanbase. This song is very Egyptian sounding musically.  This one was written by Balmore.

5. “Turn Off The World” – this song starts the character’s feelings of depression, just wanting the world to “turn off” and shut it all down.  Musically I feel like this one is the most “accessible” to people as it has some more of the pop vibes throughout the progressive metal song.  Definitely has a catchy chorus, in my opinion.

6. “Disassembled” – another song really diving into the depression feeling.  Feeling life is falling apart, questioning every decision he’s ever made and why people have supported him in what he’s done.  This song has some electronic kind of vibes.  Very inspired by Lunatic Soul for this one.

7. “Juggling Chainsaws” – this song brings the character into feeling as if he’s completely lost control.  Constantly trying to juggle the chainsaws of life and keep them all in the air without something terrible happening.  It’s very chaotic, technical, and probably the proggiest and heaviest song of the album (maybe even the craziest song we’ve ever done).  You can definitely hear the Dream Theater and Haken influence in this song.

8. “For My Next Trick” – another instrumental song.  This one is very serene.  Very centered around bass as a lot of this one was written by Ryan Price.   A calm before and after the storm.  After his mind has calmed down he has an idea for one last epic trick to pull and finally feels a sense of peace.

9. ”Now You See Me…” – the closing track to the album brings forward the idea of the previous track; our main character’s final trick.  An epic show where he disappears forever.  Did he perform this successfully or did he epically fail?  Was he meant to disappear forever?  Is he even still alive? Was he a master of his craft and this was his plan to disappear and know peace? Do we mourn him or celebrate him? The world may never know.

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1. The album “Eidolon” was written by Alex about the grieving process of losing his friend and Lunar co-founder, Ryan Erwin.

2. The album cover art for “Theogony” and “Eidolon” were both painted by Alex’s father, Ed Bosson, along with the art used for the “Turn Off The World” lyric video.

3. On top of all the drums, percussion, and much of the songwriting, Alex played synth on one track on “Eidolon” and also played bass on one song from the debut “Provenance” EP.

4. Despite the fact that many of the members of Lunar have been with the band for years and have released multiple albums together, the core members have never all been in the same room together at the same time and many of them have never even met each other in person!

5. Once, during the days when “Theogony” was still being written, Alex and Ryan met Mikael Akerfeldt (from Opeth) and told him that they had kind of ripped him off with something they had written and his response was “that’s cool.”

Top – L- R – Ryan Price – Bass, Alex Nasla – Keyboards & Synthesizers, Chandler Mogel – Lead Vocals
Bottom – L – R – Alex Bosson – Drums & Percussion, Brian Lewis – Growl Vocals, Balmore Lemus – Guitars

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 the 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.