Beijing-based progressive power metal project Wheel of Time, founded by multi-instrumentalist and composer Jimmie Hong, will release their debut full-length album, Asymmetry, on November 12, 2025. Launched in 2022 under the mentorship of ex-Megadeth guitarist Kiko Loureiro, the project draws inspiration from Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s collaborative spirit, uniting top musicians from across the globe. Named after Robert Jordan’s fantasy epic, Wheel of Time blends technical prog metal, melodic power metal, symphonic grandeur, and subtle Eastern influences, citing Metallica, Dream Theater, Stratovarius, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Opeth, and Symphony X as influences.
Following their 2023 single “Grand Cosmos” and EP The Enlightenment, Asymmetry is a narrative-driven masterpiece composed by Hong, produced and engineered by Tom MacLean (ex-Haken), and recorded with an international lineup. The album, mixed and mastered at Twelve-tone Studio, explores themes of time, destiny, and self-discovery through eight tracks, featuring guest performances by Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater), Michele Luppi (Whitesnake), Timo Tolkki (ex-Stratovarius), Tony MacAlpine, and more. Its innovative production process will be studied at the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Popular Music in 2025.
Stream “Grand Cosmos” on Spotify or Apple Music.
Pre-order Asymmetry on Bandcamp
Asymmetry Track-by-Track Breakdown
- Grand Cosmos – A cosmic elegy inspired by Dream Theater’s “The Alien,” with Craig Cairns (vocals) and Derek Sherinian (keyboards). It probes humanity’s search for meaning in the universe.
- Freedom Day – An anthem of inner conflict featuring Michele Luppi (vocals), Derek Sherinian (keyboards), and a cathartic guitar solo symbolizing liberation.
- Blind Sight – A journey of self-discovery with Ignacio Rodríguez (vocals), Alexandre Aposan (drums), Ricardo Pinto (keyboards), and lapsteel guitar textures evoking David Gilmour.
- Addicted!… – A high-energy Stratovarius-style track with Timo Tolkki’s iconic guitar solo, Derek Sherinian’s keys, and reversed solos for dynamic interplay. Lyrics draw from Nick Cave’s dark introspection.
- …To the Awakening – A cinematic sequel to “Addicted!…” with orchestration by Marcos Barilari and bass by Tom MacLean, shifting from darkness to peace.
- The Night of Eternity – A meditative track on impermanence with Farhad Hossain (vocals) and Buddhist-inspired lyrics, featuring Derek Sherinian.
- China Moon – Infused with Song Dynasty poetry and Chinese Guzheng by Ariel Tsao, with Eszter Vegvari (vocals) and Marcos Barilari’s orchestration, inspired by the film 30,000 Miles from Chang’an.
- 2063 – An instrumental closer inspired by Star Trek’s first contact, with Tony MacAlpine (guitar), Clark McMenemy (drums), and astronaut voiceovers, echoing “Grand Cosmos.”
Album Credits
- Executive Producer: Jimmie Hong
- Producer/Engineer/Mixing/Mastering: Tom MacLean
- Recording Studio: Twelve-tone Studio
- Orchestration: Marcos Barilari
- Album Cover Artist: Aleh
- Musicians: Jimmie Hong (guitars, composition), Derek Sherinian, Michele Luppi, Timo Tolkki, Tony MacAlpine, Craig Cairns, Ignacio Rodríguez, Farhad Hossain, Eszter Vegvari, Alexandre Aposan, Ricardo Pinto, Ariel Tsao, Clark McMenemy, Tom MacLean.
Hong’s vision, shaped by Loureiro’s mentorship, integrates progressive and power metal with Eastern melodic nuances, exploring philosophical and emotional themes. Asymmetry showcases a roster of world-class musicians across five continents, recorded remotely over ten time zones, cementing Wheel of Time as a bold new voice in metal.
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With Asymmetry, Wheel of Time delivers a genre-defying, emotionally resonant debut that marks Jimmie Hong as a visionary in progressive metal.