Track By Tracks: Volubilis - Theasterion (2026)

The album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

Theasterion is a conceptual album in which the lyrics follow themes of science fiction and drama. The narrative revolves around a human colony living on a satellite that discovers a prophecy that tells about Unukhalai (the nearest star) going supernova. This discovery divides the colony and creates chaos on the Satellite, as not everybody believes in it. It becomes political. A group of mercenaries organize a coup d’état on the government and escapes the Satellite to go on an expeditionary mission on the planet they revolve around, Theasterion. There, they find out about the Homo Cumulus and are brought to their extinction after deciphering the content of the Prism’s glyphs. All of this narrative is conveyed with some of the most well-crafted metal music of 2026, blending high-intensity performances and musically complex sections.

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

1. Le Flamboiement Stellaire:

The opening track sets the stage for the sci-fi epic that is Theasterion. Fast-paced and intricate, it features innovative use of each note in its melodies. It is the only track with French lyrics, and it describes the initial point on the Satellite, the prophecy, the coup d’état and the mercenaries fleeing to embark on their reconnaissance mission on Theasterion.

2. Theasterion:

This track describes the arrival of the human colony on Theasterion. The lyrics help to build a better understanding of the planet’s landscape and features. Musically, it is one of the catchiest on the record, with emotional melodies and galloping triplet riffing.

3. Homo Cumulus: 

The fastest song on this record. It features both technical riffing at high velocity and a heavy, dissonant section. The lyrics describe the Homo Cumulus, the anthropoid species that occupies the planet. The song ends with an acoustic guitar outro that acts as a breathing space in the album

4. Ashes & Embers:

This song starts off with a triplets feel riff inspired by bands such as Beyond Creation and Ne Obliviscaris. It then switches to a much higher pace with a Phrygian section, which transitions to a Necrophagist-esque solo. The following instrumental section is a dramatic yet catchy tapping riff

5. The Prism:

The only instrumental track on the record. Based on intricate tech death riffing, it’s a song that showcases the virtuosity of the band. With pummeling blast beats, exquisite fretless bass lines and melodious neoclassical segments, it is one of the more emotional songs on the record without possessing any lyrics.

6. Unukhalai Supernova:

I like to think of this one as if Archspire meets Hans Zimmerman. Unukhalai Supernova is one of those tracks that just keeps growing in intensity until it brutally puts the album to a stop. It features a string section by Shawn Hillman and Michelle Gao, which adds a symphonic element to the high-intensity climactic moment of the album. The riffs are some of the most complex we ever wrote and truly showcase the band’s world-class musicianship. The lyrics describe the cataclysmic event of a star going supernova, and how a mere human experiences it. The symbolism of the supernova acts as a metaphor for a rapture.

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