Canadian technical death metal band Archspire has officially parted ways with Season of Mist after 13 years, announcing their decision to go fully independent. The Vancouver-based quintet—Oliver Rae Aleron (vocals), Dean Lamb (guitars), Tobi Morelli (guitars), Jared Smith (bass), and new drummer Spencer Moore—launched a Kickstarter campaign titled “Archspire Independence Day” to fund their upcoming album, their first with Moore following the departure of Spencer Prewett in September 2024. The band cited the music industry’s standard royalty split—where labels often take 80-85% of profits, leaving bands with as little as $3.00 from a $29.99 album sale—as a key reason for the move, aiming to take 100% control of their business and avoid reliance on advances or unfair splits.
Formed in 2007 as Defenestrated, Archspire has released four studio albums, with their 2021 release Bleed the Future winning the 2022 Juno Award for Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year. Known for their breakneck speed and intricate compositions, the band has built a global fanbase through relentless touring and albums like 2017’s Relentless Mutation.
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