RICK MASSIE To Release Prog Metal Album Guided to an Imperfect Light Internationally On CD

After a successful digital release, solo artist RICK MASSIE from Whitehorse, Yukon, is preparing to release Guided to an Imperfect Light on CD on September 30th, 2022. Musically, Guided to an Imperfect Light reaches across the realms of progressive rock, black metal, hard rock, and doom metal, while lyrically, the songs explore themes of unexpected darkness and sadness, and the power of positivity and love.

Rick comments:

"With so much negativity in the world, I want to shine a positive light, or at least a ray of hope, through the music I create. I think of many of the songs as soundtracks to the vast range of emotions of humans as they work through dark times. Getting from darkness to happiness usually involves a chaotic journey of emotions, from despair, to denial, to anger, to frustration, to progress, to hope, and maybe, eventually, happiness.”

Inspired by acts such as DEVIN TOWNSEND, HAKEN, ENSLAVED, YES, OPETH, and ANDREW W.K., this solo effort is intentionally unconstrained by genre expectation. RICK's intent is to take metal music and give it free rein to wander far afield into non-metal pastures. The album begins with the powerful opener "Once Upon a Time…". Heavy guitars and pounding percussion deliver an explosion of power before gently subsiding to allow soaring synths and vocals to take the prominent role. It's a dynamic contrast of metal tones and dreamy atmospheres. "Counting the Stars" descends into darker realms with demonic vocals, speeding riffs and dissonance producing an eerie mood. The track diverges from its initial path into serene realms with clean guitars, clean vocals and orchestral elements moving away from the darkness. Distorted rhythmic guitar patterns, ethereal vocals and strings emerge from "Need" while "Lullabye" ventures on a grand journey through multiple genres and styles over 15 minutes. Vast soundscapes in the interlude "Moonlit Hallways" add a dramatic theatricality segueing into the ebb and flow of "The River". Closing with "Unity" all elements combine to create a sound with depth, revealing both dark and light, that aptly melds the ideas behind Guided to an Imperfect Light.

Falling towards the ethereal end of the prog metal spectrum, Rick’s song-writing seeks to defy attempts of categorization. Exploring nightmares, dreams and everything in-between, RICK MASSIE brings to life a compelling ensemble of creative compositions across each track on Guided to an Imperfect Light .