Antiquus

History

Antiquus formed in 2000 and assembled its original lineup of Andrew Bak, Jeff Dormer, Scott Unger, vocalist Jesse White, and second guitarist Dave Priban. Their debut album, Ramayana, was released independently in 2004 and was a concept album retelling the ancient Hindu story of Ramayana, with one song covering the Battle of Eylau. Critics called it one of the best progressive metal albums from Canada. In 2005, Dormer and Priban left and were replaced by guitarists Trev Leonard and Geoff Way.

The second album, Eleutheria, came out in 2006 on the Italian label Cruz Del Sur. It was recorded at Larry Anschell's Turtle Recording, mixed by Anschell (who had worked with Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden), and mastered in Gothenburg, Sweden by Göran Finnberg (In Flames, Soilwork). The album's concept followed a captain exploring new lands for his monarch, with the Greek word for freedom, Eleutheria, as a theme. Its more accessible power metal sound led to tours with bands like Sonata Arctica.

In 2008, Antiquus played the New wave of British heavy metal festival in Vancouver. Geoff Way left in 2009 and was replaced by guitarist Toshi Osawa. The band began work on a third album, In the Land of the Blind, but was dropped by Cruz Del Sur during recording and released it independently in 2011. Most of its songs are connected to men who attempted to assassinate US presidents, such as Charles Guiteau and Samuel Byck, portraying them as having delusions of grandeur and alienation, with an overall message critical of socialist and collectivist ideology.

Style and influences

Antiquus ignored mainstream musical trends, crafting concept albums with acoustic interludes and unusual instruments like the sitar. Their sound drew heavily from Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, and others, with Jesse White’s vocals frequently compared to Bruce Dickinson. The band defined their style as “Metal, with elements of Traditional, Power, Prog, Doom, Thrash and NWOBHM.”