Karcius — Wikipedia

Carcius is a Canadian progressive rock group, from Montreal, Canada, formed in 2001. The group’s style has changed album albums a lot. The group began by producing three more influenced instrumental albums of jazz-fusion and instrumental progresses. Following a change of a member of the group in 2009, Karcius integrated singing into his style and developed a style more focused on rock and progressive metal. Since 2018, the group has a new keyboardist and has produced current progressive rock music, while keeping the exploratory and alternative side characteristic of training.

Training and start (2001) [ modifier | Modifier and code ]

It was in 1997 that the meeting between Thomas Brodeur, drummer, and Mingan Sauriol, a keyboard player, was met. Their common passion for music opens the door to them to a great friendship and to the birth of a musical complicity. They decide to create a music group to give free rein to their imagination overflowing with creativity.

In September 2000, when they entered music studies, they meet Simon L’Espérance, guitarist. This one shares the same ambitions and the same passion for music and he fits into the project with enthusiasm towards the beginning of 2001. It only remains to find a bass player whom they take a few weeks to find In the person of Dominique Blouin, also a music student.

Sphere And Kaleidoscope (2001-2006) [ modifier | Modifier and code ]

After two years of research and creation, between 2001 and 2003, they recorded their very first album, Sphere. The taking of its is partly made at the Victor studio in Montreal and at Jonathan Cabot, a friend of the group. The launch of SPHERE was made on February 25, 2004 at the Plaza Theater, in Montreal.

The recording of the second album, Kaleidoscope, is entirely done at the Studio Victor at the beginning of 2006. It is Simon L’Espérance, guitarist of the group, who takes the sound and the mix of this album which will be launched May 23, 2006 in Montreal. Karcius releases the album under the Unicorn Digital label which offers him an international distribution and now allows the group to make himself known on a larger scale. They also participated in the first edition of the Montreal Progressive Music Festival, in Gésu, September 16, 2006 and at the Prog in the Park festival in Rochester, in New York State, on October 8 of the same year, For their second presence.

Episodes (2008-2009) [ modifier | Modifier and code ]

In the summer of 2007, the four musicians headed for France to participate in the 9th edition of the Crescendo3 festival. There, their presence is a success. They meet Sébastien Monteau, founding president of the festival at that moment. This meeting will advance the group significantly. Karcius is also invited to participate in the festival the following year to do the Crescendo tour.

Intoxicated by the success of their first participation in the Crescendo festival, the members of Karcius embark on the composition of their third album, Episodes. With six years of experience, the group’s artistic management and maturity lead to the realization of music of high quality and beautiful subtlety. Episodes is also recorded and mixed at the Victor studio by Simon L’Espérance. This album is the apotheosis of Karcius instrumental sound.

Very proud of their work, the quartet goes again to France to launch this album and participate in the tour of the tenth edition of the Crescendo Festival. The album will also be launched in Montreal on September 19, 2008.

Back in Montreal, the members of the group are looking for a concept for the composition of the fourth album. However, Dominique Blouin, group’s bass player, announces his withdrawal from the group shortly after their return. They now have a new challenge, fill the void left by Dominique.

Change and Renaissance (2010-2011) [ modifier | Modifier and code ]

The search for a new member to complete the group is not easy and the candidates are scarce. Nevertheless, Karcius’s sights is on Sylvain Auclair, who plays for the Heaven’s Cry training, a Progressive Metal group from Montreal. The members of Karcius also want to take advantage of Dominique’s departure to change artistic direction. They hope to be able to integrate song into their music. Auclair is therefore the ideal candidate, accustomed to the musical style, remarkable bass player and singer.

In the spring of 2010, Sylvain agreed to participate with the group in a French tour during which they will play among others at the Prog’Sud5 festival in the suburbs of Marseille, as well as the second edition of the Prog Rock Fest6 which takes place on the Bastille scene in Paris. It was only after this getaway that Sylvain officially joins the group. Creation becomes the group’s priority again.

The First Day (since 2012) [ modifier | Modifier and code ]

Upon their return from France, the group is recovering to the composition of a new album. They also participate in the Crescendo Guyana festival which takes place in French Guyana where they also have a tour of seven performances, one of which takes place on Guyanese television7. The album is recorded at Studio Wild, Saint-Zénon, and Studio Victor, in Montreal. This album is striking for the addition of West African percussion and the start of an artistic direction based on songs. The album will be launched on June 5, 2012 in Montreal. The group is also invited to participate in the Crescendo festival in Saint-Palais-sur-Mer in France in August 2012.

Simon l’Espérance and Sylvain Auclair return to the studio Victor in November 2013 in Montreal to record an acoustic version of the song Water and one last time before the legendary studio closed to record a simple, the song The Space Between which is born November 14, 2014.

The Fold (2017-2019) [ modifier | Modifier and code ]

After a break of almost 2 years, the group returns to work for the composition of their next album. The keyboardist Mingan Sauriol makes the decision to leave the group and is replaced by Sébastien Cloutier, a good friend of the group. The group is offered the chance to return to the Crescendo festival in Saint-Palais-sur-Mer in France in 2018, provided you present new equipment. The group returns to work; The composition and recording are done fairly quickly and the album The Fold was born on August 17, 2018. This performance was captured in full and was released in the form of a live album in 2019 (Live in France).

In 2019, the group was invited to perform at the Night of the Prog, Germany festival. This large -scale event brings a lot of new fans to Karcius’ music. Back from this event, the group is recovering to the composition of an upcoming album.

Grey White Silver Yellow & Gold (2019-présent) [ modifier | Modifier and code ]

Karcius is recovering at the end of 2019 and like everyone else, the group experienced a period of arrest due to COVVI-19. The group continues to compose, exchange and record ideas remotely. Once ready, Karcius decides to record his next album in a chalet, converted into a recording studio for the occasion. This album is the result of a narrow artistic collaboration between Simon L’Espérance Thomas Brodeur and Sylvain Auclair. The trio thus becoming the heart and mechanics of the group. The result is heavier music, the heaviest than the group has never produced, but also a more nuanced and more direct assembly than beforehand. . The album was launched in the spring of 2022 and is very well received by criticism. With this album Karcius size its place among the largest current progressive rock groups such as Porcupine Tree, The Pineapple Thieves, Opeth, Steven Wilson, Leprous, Elder and many others.

Albums Studio [ modifier | Modifier and code ]

2004: Sphere (Unicorn Digital) Night Liquid Meat Evolution Lunatik Highway To The Moon Lunatik synapse Lunatik Back To Earth 1111 Labyrinth Wood your music Absolute Decadence

2006: Kaleidoscope (Unicorn Digital) Hypothesis has NOW Destination Tunnel Hypothesis B A-0-14 Epilogue Hypothesis c

2008: Episodes (Unicorn Digital) Elements I : Submersion Elements II : Sol Elements III : Combustion Incident Levant Purple King Roots

2012: The First Day (Unicorn Digital) The First Day Hypnotic Rest My Head The Word Number Ten Why Brother Djoko Water

Absence Of Light Something Hardwired Goodbye Burning My Dreams The Fold

2022: Grey White Silver Yellow & Gold Parasite Supernova The Ladder Cosmic Rage Distance Kills A Needle Tree

Albums Live [ modifier | Modifier and code ]

Absence of light Something Hardwired Incident Water Hypnotic Sun Goodbye Burning my dreams The fold Purple King The Space Between (Bonus Track) Water (Bonus Track) [Acoustic Version]