Phlogiston: The Fixture of Modern Progressive Metal
Phlogiston is an American progressive metal band known for its complex compositions and conceptual storytelling. Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, the group achieved a notable commercial milestone with their 2018 album Catalyst, which debuted at number 12 on the Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums chart.
Early career
Formed in 2009 by guitarist and primary composer Aris Thorne and vocalist Lara Vance, Phlogiston began as an ambitious project fusing technical metal with atmospheric rock. The band self-released their debut EP, First Combustion, in 2011, which garnered enough underground attention to secure a deal with the independent label Kinetic Sound Records in 2013.
Breakthrough
The band's major breakthrough arrived in 2016 with their sophomore full-length album, The Elemental Shift. Released via Kinetic Sound, the album's lead single gained significant traction on digital rock radio platforms. This success led to The Elemental Shift moving over 50,000 units, earning it a certification from the RIAA as a Gold record.
Key tracks
Caloric — This was the breakout single from The Elemental Shift that first received widespread rock radio airplay.
Catalyst — The title track from their 2018 album is a fan-favorite epic known for its shifting time signatures and lyrical depth.
Oxidize — Featuring a guest guitar solo by Periphery's Mark Holcomb, this track highlighted Phlogiston's rising profile within the progressive metal scene.
Phantom Heat — This song from their 2021 album Ethereal Remains showcases the band's evolution into more melodic territories while retaining technical rigor.
Following the success of Catalyst, Phlogiston embarked on extensive touring, including a North American run supporting bands like Between the Buried and Me. Their 2021 album, Ethereal Remains, saw them experimenting with more synthesizers and ambient textures, though it maintained their core progressive metal identity. The band continues to write new material, with studio sessions planned for late 2024.
Fans of Phlogiston often appreciate the intricate work of Between The Buried And Me for their shared love of genre-blending complexity. The atmospheric guitar work and conceptual albums of The Contortionist also resonate with Phlogiston's audience. For listeners drawn to the band's melodic vocals and heavy rhythms, TesseracT offers a similar balance. The technical precision and dynamic song structures of Periphery provide another clear point of comparison in the modern progressive metal landscape.
Phlogiston's music maintains a strong presence on radio, particularly on dedicated progressive metal and modern hard rock FM stations. Their tracks are staples on online radio streams that focus on independent and technical metal, ensuring their complex sound reaches a global audience of dedicated fans.
Listeners can discover the dynamic catalog of Phlogiston through the radio stations featured on onairium.com. Tune in to hear their groundbreaking tracks and latest releases across a variety of rock and metal-focused stations available on our platform.
