Anciients reveal lineup change

Following recent collaborative efforts, Anciients have appointed Justin Hagberg as their new keyboardist. He is recognized for his contributions to 3 Inches Of Blood, Ritual Dictates, and The Organist.

It all began when we decided to cover an Alan Parsons’ song [‘Some Other Time‘]. We asked Justin if he’d like to be a part of the recording, and within a few hours, he sent us 15 tracks of keys and synths that sounded perfect for the song. From there, I sent him a few demos for songs from what was to become ‘Beyond the Reach of the Sun‘ and asked if he’d be into contributing anything. We were all blown away with what he added to the songs and are excited to expand upon the last record with him in the fold from the ground floor for our next one. We are very happy to announce Justin as a permanent member moving forward. – Kenny Cook

It’s been an absolute pleasure working with Anciients, from providing synths on their latest record to performing live with them. They’re all incredible musicians and, above all, brothers. I’m truly honored that they’ve invited me to officially join them as they enter their next phase. – Justin Hagberg

The band was established in 2011 by Cook and Hannay, alongside bassist Aaron “Boon” Gustafson and guitarist Chris Dyck. Cook, Gustafson, and Dyck had previously been members of the band Spread Eagle, distinct from a similarly named New York hard rock band.

Anciients released their debut studio album, “Heart of Oak”, in 2013 under the Season of Mist label. This album was recognized as a long-listed nominee for the 2013 Polaris Music Prize.

During spring 2013, the band toured in the United States as an opening act for Lamb of God. In fall 2013, they were scheduled to perform as an opening act for selected dates on Sepultura’s “Tsunami of Metal” tour across Canada and the United States. However, the tour was ultimately canceled due to Sepultura’s travel visa issues preventing entry into the United States.