Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Prog-supergroup DarWin announce new album “Distorted Mirror” + new single “Loophole”
Prog-Rock supergroup DarWin today announce the upcoming release of their new studio album, “Distorted Mirror”, on 26th September 2025 via OoS/Phantom Recordings. Today they also release a new song from the album, “Loophole.”
“Distorted Mirror” is the follow up to last year’s hit release, “Five Steps on the Sun”, and picks up exactly where the last album left off, with original and creative rock songs that continue to break new ground. The album is a true journey, packed with intricate melodies, sledgehammer grooves and wall-to-wall virtuoso playing. The 8 track album should be listened to in its entirety, from the dramatic Instrumental opener “Rising Distortion,” where we sonically witness the rise of superintelligence, to the title track “Distorted Mirror” which marks some of the heaviest—and athletic—work of DarWin to date. The album closes with a multi-minute jam fest at the end of “Winter Face,” with Greg Howe laying down some of his tastiest solo work to date, promising fans that the fun has just started and DarWin has a lot of gas left in the tank.
DarWin released “Man vs. Machine” in June 2025, to a chorus of praise and accolades, reaching over 450,000 streams on Youtube within the first two weeks. Today, DarWin releases the next song from the album, “Loophole.”. The multi-faceted “Loophole” is a jarring cautionary tale about “ancient conflicts rearing their ugly heads again.” Says DarWin, “I envisioned a young man having no choice but to take up arms, the emotional weight of such a decision.” The circular, acoustic guitar patterns underscore this notion of “history repeating,” and an ominous feel weaves its way throughout this stunning track that sees Andrew Freeman joining Matt Bissonette on vocals. See video for “Loophole” HERE.
The “Distorted Mirror” album tracklisting is as follows:
- Rising Distortion
- Distorted Mirror
- Man vs. Machine
- 33rd Century Man
- Cry A River
- Glow
- Loophole
- Winter Fare
Pre-order album HERE
CD pre-order HERE
DarWin is an ongoing musical exploration led by songwriter/guitarist DarWin and drumming legend Simon Phillips (Toto, Jeff Beck, The Who, Judas Priest, Tears for Fears). Since forming in 2015, the duo has collaborated with lead vocalist Matt Bissonette (Joe Satriani, Ringo Starr, Elton John) and has steadily established themselves as a truly original rock group. Bass sensation Mohini Dey (Steve Vai, Willow Smith, Guthrie Govan), joined the group in 2022, contributing her fiery power along with DarWin veteran and virtuoso guitarist Greg Howe (Michael Jackson, Protocol, Justin Timberlake) providing jaw-dropping performances. Joining up with a hall of fame of musicians over the years, including Derek Sherinian, Julian Pollack (J3PO), Jesse Siebenberg, Andy Timmons, Billy Sheehan, Guthrie Govan, and many more, the group seeks to celebrate a shared love for the arts of songwriting, album creation, musicianship and virtuosity. The result is something that must be experienced, and preferably at high volume.
The music of DarWin, which is co-produced by Simon Phillips and DarWin, has its own identity – nothing quite sounds like it; it seems to exist in its own orbit – and the second you think you’ve got the band figured out, they go somewhere fresh and new.
About DarWin
Since forming in 2015, the group has steadily established itself as a true original, issuing a series of studio albums that represent personal, visionary music making at its very best. The group got started when drumming and production legend Simon Phillips and DarWin started working on a few songs without any real plan, and the project just kept growing. Phillips’ career follows the arch of the evolution of modern-day rock music, with his vast credits including Jeff Beck, Gary Moore, Big Country, Tears for Fears, the Chemical Brothers, Pete Townshend, and the Who. He was a member of Toto for nearly two decades, and in recent years he’s been leading his own Grammy-nominated jazz fusion outfit, Protocol. Goodness knows that’s just scratching the surface.
Next up is singer and co-writer Matt Bissonette. He’s worked with everyone from Elton John and Ringo Starr to Joe Satriani and Leon Russell, usually on bass. His vocal pipes are majestic and magical things, and when he opens up that golden throat, he doesn’t just sing – he lets you in on a world of feeling. Then there’s the virtuoso sensation Mohini Dey. Born and raised in Mumbai, Dey has the kind of explosive talent that makes people like Steve Vai and Narada Michael Walden take notice. In DarWin, Dey helps drive the music in ways that are powerful and hypnotic, seismic and thrilling. The team is joined by veritable guitar monster Greg Howe – a six-string force of nature who, in addition to his own albums, has worked with a diverse group of artists that includes Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake and T. Pain. And a generous helping of rapturous keyboard work comes from Derek Sherinian, from Dream Theater, Sons of Apollo and Black Country Communion.
The band takes the name of guitarist, songwriter and all-around creative driver DarWin, an absurdly gifted musical visionary who wants the focus to stay on the delight of the listeners and fans, and definitely not about himself. Additional veteran players have lent their talents to DarWin including keyboardist Julian Pollack (J3PO), singer and multi-instrumentalist Jesse Seibenberg, legendary guitarist Andy Timmons, singers Chariya Bissonette and Andrew Freeman, and percussionist Lenny Castro.
DarWin Discography
Five Steps On The Sun (2024)
DarWin 3: Unplugged (2021)
DarWin 2: A Frozen War (2020)
Origin of Species (2018)
Watch and listen to more of DarWin HERE.