Symbiotic Growth Teams Up with Bolverk Records for CD Release of “Beyond The Sleepless Aether”

Canadian progressive blackened death metal outfit Symbiotic Growth has officially announced a collaboration with Bolverk Records for the physical CD release of their latest album, Beyond The Sleepless Aether. Originally released digitally in March 2025, the CD version will be available on May 2nd, 2025.

The band shared their excitement about the partnership, stating:

“We’re proud to team up with Bolverk Records for a limited CD release of our new album. In an age of digital saturation, there’s something powerful about holding music in your hands — something tangible, raw, and real. Bolverk shares our DIY ethos, making them the perfect partner for this release. We’re stoked to bring this record to life in physical form for those who still value the ritual of pressing play.”

Following the path of their 2020 self-titled debut, Beyond The Sleepless Aether is a conceptual album rooted in fiction, but this time it leans further into exploring the emotional turbulence of everyday life. Vocalist and guitarist Aaron Barriault explains:

“I feel like this time around, the sound is a bit darker and experimental, with more synth-heavy sounds and a melancholy atmosphere. The lyrics were very loosely inspired by a dream I had about the multiverse theory, intertwined with personal struggles regarding a sense of being and existential purpose.”

Musically progressive, experimental, and deeply foreboding, each track carves its own identity, weaving a sonic narrative that follows a protagonist traversing different dimensions — from ominous forests to desolate deserts and the vast expanse of the cosmos. The album grapples with heavy topics like loneliness, self-hatred, existential dread, and suicide. Some of these themes are overt, while others are subtly woven into the lyrics and compositions.

Aaron adds:

“Fans familiar with our first album might be a bit surprised by the shift in sound. This new material is more experimental. We hope listeners experience both uneasiness and wonder — an odd combination, but one that fits the themes we explore.”

Beyond The Sleepless Aether was mixed and mastered by Tom Maclean (Twelve Tone Studio; known for work with Haken, Athemon, Brutta). The album features seven tracks, totaling over an hour of intricate, technical metal. The core recording lineup includes Aaron Barriault (vocals, guitar, bass), Devin McQueen (vocals, guitar), and Dan Favot (drums, formerly of Wolven Ancestry and Fractal Generator).

The cover art, created by Erskine Designs, depicts an enigmatic figure standing before an otherworldly entity — an image the band associates with the cosmic being Azathoth. While the album doesn’t directly engage with Lovecraftian mythos (except lightly on The Sleepless Void), the concept of existing within the dream of a sleeping god aligns thematically with the album’s exploration of existential fragility.

Recommended for fans of Ne Obliviscaris, Der Weg Einer Freiheit, Cor Scorpii, and Gojira, Beyond The Sleepless Aether invites listeners into an emotional, atmospheric journey through darkness and introspection.

Track Listing:

1. Of Painted Skies and Dancing Lights – 7:03

2. Spires Of The Boundless Sunset – 7:28

3. The Architect Of Annihilation – 10:57

4. The Sleepless Void – 9:52

5. Arid Trials and Barren Sands – 7:35

6. Lost in Fractured Reveries – 8:44

7. Trading Thoughts For Sleep – 10:02

Total Album Length: 1:01:43

Album Credits:

• Mixed and Mastered by: Tom Maclean (Twelve Tone Studio)

• Artwork by: Erskine Designs

Recording Lineup:

• Aaron Barriault – Vocals, Guitar, Bass

• Devin McQueen – Vocals, Guitar

• Dan Favot – Drums

Live Lineup:

• Aaron Barriault – Vocals, Guitar

• Dan Favot – Drums