American progressive trio Lux Terminus are set for the release of their second full-length album, Cinder, due out on April 18th. With Cinder, Lux Terminus (keyboardist Vikram Shankar, bassist Brian Craft, and drummer Matthew Kerschner) aims to reshape progressive music in 2025, spotlighting keyboards in a bold departure from guitar-driven sound.
“Catalyst,” the second single from Cinder, features guest vocalists Ross Jennings (Haken) and Jon Pyres, plus saxophonist Jørgen Munkeby (Shining). The track lyrically explores mental health issues through a dynamic blend of styles, from musical theater and cinematic prog metal to mellow introspection and vibrant synthpop.
Watch the video for “Catalyst” here:
Cinder’s ten tracks showcase Lux Terminus’s evocative exuberance through an impressive array of soundscapes. Lead single “Mosaic Mind” concisely highlights the trio’s musical hallmarks, meticulously blending mind-bending riffs with anthemic and infectious melodies. “Natsukashii” exemplifies their uniquely emotional approach to progressive music, pairing asymmetric meters with retro aesthetics for an effervescent tribute to the memory and the beauty of yesteryear. Three-part opener “Jupiter” steadfastly prioritizes mood and atmosphere over displays of technicality, reflecting on the serendipity of life’s journey with metaphors of theoretical physics and sublime vocal contributions from Espera (Sleep Token, Exploring Birdsong). And album centerpiece “Catalyst” traverses diverse stylistic ground – melding musical theater with cinematic prog and synthpop – while conveying a potent narrative about the peaks and valleys of mental health, featuring emotive performances from Ross Jennings (Haken), Jon Pyres (Threads of Fate, Violet Sin, Lost in Reverie), and Jørgen Munkeby (Emperor, Ihsahn, Shining, Periphery, et al.).
TRACKLISTING:
1. Jupiter I: Starless (feat. Espera)
2. Jupiter II: To Bend a Comet (feat. Espera)
3. Jupiter III: Perihelion (feat. Espera)
4. Mosaic Mind
5. Neon Rain
6. P.L.O.N.K.
7. Catalyst (feat. Ross Jennings, Jørgen Munkeby & Jon Pyres)
8. The Devil’s Eyes
9. Apparent Horizon
10. Natsukashii
Cinder is available for physical pre-order now through Glassville Records in multi-colored vinyl and CD digipak formats.
PRE-ORDER:
https://store.glassvillemusic.com/page/lux-terminus
