VIKRAM SHANKAR
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SILENT SKIES sign with Sweet Lemon!

9/27/2019

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Soulfood Music Distribution’s inhouse label Sweet Lemon proudly announces the signing of a very special new project: Silent Skies!

If you voice Scandinavian melancholy and let it run through the virtuosic fingers of an Oberlin Conservatory film score graduate, you get Silent Skies. It is the sum of two individual musical journeys that came together by coincidence; some would even call it fate.

Tom S. Englund, vocalist of Swedish band Evergrey, and Vikram Shankar's ways crossed when Englund saw Shankar re-interpret one of his compositions on piano on YouTube. A swift email suggesting a collaboration gave birth to ideas of a musical landscape rooted in cinematic, film score music, driven by Shankar's tender and emotive piano playing, but with the added sound of Englund's unique and charismatic vocals and strong melodic sensibility.

The compositions are both bleak and hopeful, setting a sombre tone, and with lyrics that stem from self-reflection and existential contemplation, the atmospheric music of Silent Skies is engrossing and hypnotizing, evoking in the listener visions for the inner eye.

ecorded and produced in Sweden and the USA by Vikram Shankar and Tom S. Englund
Mixed by Christer-André Cederberg, Cederberg Studios Kristiansand, Norway
Additional Cellos by Raphael Weinroth-Browne

Listen to Silent Skies "Horizons" on Spotify, Apple Music, and more:
https://fanlink.to/silentskies
https://youtu.be/i3QRzZfMQUw

Follow Silent Skies on social media:
https://www.instagram.com/silent_skie_s/
https://www.facebook.com/silentskiesband/

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"The Clouds Parted, If Only for a Moment." New single out Friday, March 22nd...

3/9/2019

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LUX TERMINUS ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF DEBUT ALBUM THE COURAGE TO BE; LISTEN TO FIRST SINGLE “ELECTROCOMMUNION” BELOW

6/8/2018

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June 8, 2018 (Cleveland, OH) -- Lux Terminus is excited to announce the release of their debut album, The Courage to Be, on August 24th, 2018.  Written and recorded over the course of more than a year, The Courage to Be is a powerful first statement from the progressive rock trio, which consists of keyboardist Vikram Shankar (Redemption), drummer Matthew Kerschner, and bass guitarist Brian Craft.  

In celebration of this new release, Lux Terminus has officially launched the album’s first single, “Electrocommunion,” which can be streamed via digital retailers HERE.

Lux Terminus has also launched a crowdfunding campaign to help finance the creation and promotion of The Courage to Be. For more information, pre-orders, and to contribute, visit https://igg.me/at/luxterminus.

Over the course of its 10 tracks, The Courage to Be highlights the band’s unique blend of progressive metal, rock, jazz fusion, electronic, and cinematic influences. The album features guest performances from several acclaimed musicians: vocalist Anneke Van Giersbergen (ex-The Gathering, Devin Townsend Project, VUUR, et al.), guitarist Timo Somers (Delain, Vengeance), and cellist Raphael Weinroth-Browne (Leprous, Musk Ox).  The Courage to Be was produced by the band and mastered by Brett Caldas-Lima (Ayreon, The Gentle Storm, Devin Townsend Project).

Lux Terminus (translated as “the light at the end”) was formed in 2016 by three musicians with a shared vision to create unique and powerful instrumental music. Their debut record features a 21-minute orchestrally driven epic, high-octane jazz fusion, and a variety of other diverse influences including swing and electronic music. In addition, The Courage to Be includes a four-part musical suite that thematically tells a story of separation and hardship, but also hope and transcendence. With The Courage to Be, Lux Terminus will quickly establish themselves among a growing and ever-changing progressive rock and metal musical landscape.

LUX TERMINUS - THE COURAGE TO BE - TRACK LISTING
1. Prologue: The Departure (I) - 1:39  
2. Electrocommunion - 5:07  
3. The Journey (II) - 4:15  
4. Aberration - 5:32  
5. Miles Away - 4:52  
6. Spectral Shapes - 3:33  
7. The Road Home (III) - 6:06  
8. Effusion - 6:36  
9. The Courage to Be [feat. Timo Somers & Raphael Weinroth-Browne] - 20:56  
10. Epilogue: Fly (IV) [feat. Anneke Van Giersbergen] - 4:38

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Redemption releases new single "Little Men"

5/16/2018

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The follow-up to 2016′s The Art Of Loss, which van Dyk counts amongst Redemption‘s very best, Long Night’s Journey Into Day is inarguably the sound of a band at the height of their powers. As followers of Redemption are also aware, it is the first full-length since the departure of vocalist Ray Alder, and features the debut of Evergrey vocalist Tom Englund. “We were unable to tour ‘The Art Of Loss‘ because Ray was not able to actively participate in Redemption any longer, so we decided it was time to part company shortly after its release. Ray is a dear friend, and I have nothing but respect and love for him and what we created together. But at some point, it just became untenable.” Of course, Alder’s shoes were not exactly going to be easy to fill, and it was essential that his successor be someone who would immediately command respect, as well as somebody who could exceed expectations when it came to performance. Moreover, it was integral that they had someone who could fully invest in the lyrical themes concerning the human condition, which have always been central to Redemption. So, the fact that from the beginning of his career Englund has penned lyrics about feelings of doubt, fear and despair with an unshakable emotional authenticity made him the perfect choice. “Because of the power of his voice and the emotion he brings, this isn’t going to be a shocking transition for fans. Tom’s also a very versatile vocalist, and being a songwriter, he has a tremendous melodic and compositional sensibility, and on top of that, we’ve known each other for many years, and there is a level of not just professional respect but personal friendship to it all.” 

​Guitarists Chris Poland (Megadeth, OHM) and Simone Mularoni (DGM) return as guest musicians. When it came to backing up the music with visuals, the band once again turned to a longtime collaborator, Travis Smith, whose humbling resumé includes records by bands such as Art Of Defiance, Opeth and Iced Earth.

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Keyboardist Vikram Shankar joins progressive metal band Redemption

4/12/2018

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I am honored to announce that I have joined veteran progressive metal band and Metal Blade Records artist Redemption as keyboardist! Check out the press release on Metal Blade's official site here. Looking forward to the release of our new album soon, and to playing for the fans during the Redemption headlining set at Progpower USA and elsewhere!

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Periphery - The Way the News Goes - Piano  Cover

2/5/2018

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I am proud to release this cover of one of my favorite progressive metal songs from the last few years: Periphery's "The  Way the News Goes..."! 

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Pain of Salvation - Silent Gold - Cover feat. Derrick Schneider of Next to None

1/12/2018

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It was my pleasure to handle piano, strings and production work for this cover of "Silent Gold" by Pain of Salvation, done with my friend Derrick Schneider (Next to None, Tallah) on lead vocals!

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LUX TERMINUS - Extended Pre-Production Audio Teaser

11/18/2017

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In honor of our debut show with Imminent Sonic Destruction next month, Lux Terminus is excited to present a second, extended teaser of material! We hope you enjoy these three snippets of pre-production audio from our upcoming debut record. 

Check out Lux Terminus on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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LUX TERMINUS Announces Debut Live Show

11/5/2017

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Lux Terminus is excited to announce that our debut show will be on Saturday, December 2nd, at The Loving Touch (Detroit, MI area) with Imminent Sonic Destruction and Iron Belly! We are excited to be premiering material from our upcoming debut record. Purchase tickets here.

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Vikram Shankar Unveils New Band LUX TERMINUS

10/7/2017

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I am so thrilled to unveil my new band LUX TERMINUS, an instrumental progressive rock band influenced by metal, jazz fusion, and cinematic music. We are currently working on our debut record, and I can confidently say that this music in many ways exemplifies my skills as a keyboard player and as a composer better than anything I have ever done in my career thus far. The record will also feature guest appearances from some of my favorite people in prog and metal. Check out this pre-production audio teaser below, and follow LUX TERMINUS on Facebook, Instagram (@LuxTerminus) and Twitter (@LuxTerminus).
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