Kelowna, Canada – Progressive metal project Cepheidae Variable, the brainchild of guitarist, bassist, composer, and producer Ryan Koepke, has released its debut single Carving a Dragon, complete with an official playthrough video. The track is the first preview of the upcoming instrumental full-length Primordial Reverie, due out November 7, 2025.
Watch Carving a Dragon (Playthrough) via The ProgSpace
Stream on Spotify
Pre-save / Pre-order Primordial Reverie: DistroKid | Bandcamp
Originally conceived as a personal creative outlet, Cepheidae Variable transformed into a deeply emotional and ambitious project when Koepke’s father was diagnosed with cancer at the same time he learned he would soon become a father himself.
“I stopped waiting around and created something I’d be proud of. This album became a reflection of emotional turbulence, hope, and transformation” shares Koepke.
Carving a Dragon, the first song written for the record, was inspired by Robin Hobb’s Assassin’s Quest. The track represents pouring one’s soul into creation, balancing an uplifting fantasy-driven atmosphere with Koepke’s meticulous progressive metal craft.
While Carving a Dragon carries an energetic and adventurous tone, the album as a whole dives into moodier, sci-fi-inspired soundscapes. Across its three acts, Primordial Reverie weaves together symphonic fantasy, cosmic textures, and progressive complexity into a nearly hour-long narrative filled with recurring motifs and evolving themes.
The album artwork, crafted by renowned collage artist Alex Eckman-Lawn, mirrors the journey’s tonal transformation, conjuring a sense of loneliness, wonder, and cosmic mystery.
For fans of Dream Theater, Haken, Intervals, Wintersun, and Caligula’s Horse, Cepheidae Variable’s debut is a bold new entry in modern prog-metal storytelling.
Primordial Reverie Tracklist:
- Overture (3:11)
- Carving a Dragon (4:04)
- The Waiting Storm (3:13)
- Zephyr of Ouroboros (9:15)
- Encounter (5:53)
- The Conduit (6:03)
- Chromatic Haven (5:11)
- Entropic Harvester (10:27)
- Singularity (11:32)
Album Length: 58:53
Founded by Ryan Koepke, Cepheidae Variable is a one-man progressive metal project rooted in fantasy, sci-fi, and emotional catharsis. Blending complex arrangements with soaring melodies and cinematic scope, Koepke aims to push the boundaries of solo composition. Primordial Reverie marks the beginning of what he envisions as a continuing journey, with future albums planned every 2–4 years.
Visit Official Website for more info.