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{{UseShort description|British Englishprogressive rock/metal band}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name = Aeon Zen
| image = Aeon Zen in Tilburg, NL in 2011.jpg
| image_size = 250
| backgroundorigin = group_or_band[[Cambridge]], England
| origin genre = [[Cambridge]],Progressive [[Englandmetal]]
| years_active = 2008-present2008–present▼
| genre = [[Progressive metal]]
| label = [[Time Divide Records]], [[Nightmare Records]]▼
▲| years_active = 2008-present
| past_member_of = Timefall
▲| label = [[Time Divide Records]], [[Nightmare Records]]
| current_members = [[RichardRich Hinks ]]Gray<br>[[Andi Kravljaca]]<br>Alistair Bell<br>Steve Burton<br>Tom Green
| past_members = Lloyd Musto<br>Shaz<br>Tom Green
| associated_acts = [[Above Symmetry]], [[Annihilator (band)|Annihilator]], [[Atle Pettersen]], [[Circus Maximus (Norwegian band)|Circus Maximus]], [[DragonForce]], [[Eumeria]], [[Frost*]], [[Lost in Thought]], [[Myrath]], [[Pagan's Mind]], [[Seventh Wonder]], [[Silent Call]], [[Spock's Beard]]
}}
 
'''Aeon Zen''' are aan English [[progressive metal]] band formed in 2008, led by founding member [[Rich Gray (formerly Hinks]]).<ref name=official>{{cite web|url=http://www.aeonzen.com/band|accessdate=20142020-06-0128|title=Official Aeon Zen site|website=Aeonzen.com}}</ref> To date, theyThey have been praised and heavily featured in the international music press,<ref name="iopages">{{Cite journal|title=IO Pages Magazine|journal=Io Pages: Tijdschrift over Progressieve Rockmuziek |date=June 2009|issn=1385-3589|postscript=<!--None-->}}</ref><ref name="powerplay">{{Cite journal|title = Powerplay Magazine: Short Cuts| journal=Powerplay: Rock and Metal Magazine |date = August 2009|issue = 112|issn = 1474-287X|postscript = <!--None-->}}</ref> labelled by ''Classic Rock Magazine'' as 'a strong contender for best newcomer at the very, very least'<ref name=classicrockpresentsprog>{{Cite news|title=Aeon Zen, A Mind's Portrait|newspaper=Classic Rock Presents... Prog|publisher=Future Publishing|date=July 2009|issn=1753-9404|postscript=<!--None-->}}</ref> and, additionally, as ''Progression Magazine''’s selection for "debut album of the year".<ref name=progressionmagazine>{{Cite news|title=Aeon Zen, A Mind's Portrait|newspaper=Progression Magazine|url=http://www.progressionmag.com/|date=Spring–Summer 2009|issn=1087-2744|postscript=<!--None-->}}</ref>
 
To date, the band has released foursix studio albums, and have assembled a line-up for live performances. Their first and second albums, entitled ''A Mind's Portrait'' and ''The Face of the Unknown'' respectively, were released through Time Divide Records on 1 May 2009 and 12 October 2010.<ref name=official/> These were followed by ''Enigma'', released through Nightmare Records on 22 January 2013, and "''Ephemera"'', released on 1 September 2014, ''Inveritas'', released on 10 May 2019, and ''Transversal'', released on 24 September 2021.
 
==History==
 
===''Origins'' and ''A Mind's Portrait'' (2008–2010)===
Aeon Zen was founded in 2008 when Rich HinksGray and Lloyd Musto decided to form a new studio project. Unlike their previous bands, such as Timefall, which had a one-to-one correlation of members and instruments, Aeon Zen consisted of just the two members, with Musto playing drums and HinksGray on all other instruments and production. Vocal duties were, on their debut album, shared amongst guests. According to the band, the name ''Aeon Zen'' was chosen to portray an "eternal state of bliss and enlightenment", although the use of [[Aeon]] as an [[adjective]] is a non-standard construction.<ref name=rockarea>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockarea.eu/articles.php?article_id=987|accessdate=2009-09-17|title=Rock Area information on A Mind's Portrait|website=Rockarea.eu|archive-date=20 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720172221/http://www.rockarea.eu/articles.php?article_id=987|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
Writing and recording for their first album started in late 2008 and took roughly 2two months to complete, with both writing and recording occurring simultaneously. Several of the songs on ''A Mind's Portrait'' were written several weeks before the album was released, with HinksGray composing the majority of the material.<ref name=rockarea />
 
Following the completion of the album, the band was signed to the record label Time Divide Records Ltd. in November 2008. This signing, and subsequent likelihood of an album release, helped in the conscription of the necessary guest vocalists such as Nils K. Rue of [[Pagan's Mind]] and [[Andi Kravljaca]] of Silent Call (ex [[Seventh Wonder]]), among others.<ref name="official" /> The album was finally released on 1 May 2009.<ref name=official /> Artwork for the album was designed by Mattias Norén, who had previously undertaken work for groups such as [[Outworld]], [[Evergrey]] and [[Into Eternity (band)|Into Eternity]], among others.<ref name=MattiasNoren>{{cite web|url=http://www.progart.com/index4.htm|title=Mattias Norén Portfolio|website=Progart.com|accessdate=2009-09-17}}</ref>
 
Shortly after the album release, Lloyd Musto left the band to pursue other projects.<ref name=metalarchives>{{cite web|url=http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=3540282333|title=Metal Archives' information on Aeon Zen|website=Metal-archives.com|accessdate=2009-09-17}}</ref> As of 2009, Rich was working on a 2nd album, as well as putting together a live band and rehearsing with session musicians to tour and play shows.<ref name=officialmainpage>{{cite web|url=http://www.aeonzen.com/news.cfm|title=Aeon Zen Official Site: Live Band & Gigs Announcement|website=Aeonzen.com|accessdate=2009-12-17}}</ref>
 
===''The Face of the Unknown'' and Live Band (2010–2013)===
In July 2010 the band played their first live gig at the Luminaire in London, a performance that was praised for its high fidelity sound but critiqued for the undersized venue.<ref name=classicrockpresentsprogjuly2010>{{Cite news|title=Aeon Zen: The Lumninaire, London|newspaper=Classic Rock Presents... Prog|publisher=Future Publishing|date=July 2010|issn=1753-9404|postscript=<!--None-->}}</ref> During this time, HinksGray had been working on a follow-up album and, on 5 August 2010, he announced that ''[[The Face of the Unknown]]'' would be released on 12 October of the same year under the Time Divide label. Guest vocalists announced included Michael Eriksen ([[Circus Maximus (Norwegian band)|Circus Maximus]]), Andi Kravljaca ([[Silent Call]]), Nick D'Virgilio ([[Spock's Beard]]), [[Jem Godfrey]] ([[Frost*]]) and Jonny Tatum ([[Eumeria]]). Artwork for the album was, once again, designed by Mattias Norén.<ref name=official />
 
In early 2011 the band announced that they were embarking on a 23-date European tour with The [[Devin Townsend]] Project, spanning the UK, Germany, Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands, among others.
 
===''Enigma'', ''Inveritas'', ''Transversal'' and disbandment (2013–2021)===
===Enigma (2013–present)===
After a delay as the band switched labels to Nightmare Records, their third album, ''[[Enigma (Aeon Zen album)|Enigma]]'', was released on 22 January 2013.
 
On 20 September 2013, it was announced on Facebook that Shaz left the band.
 
In 2019, they released ''Inveritas''.<ref name="progtrans">{{cite web |last1=Ewing |first1=Jerry |title=Aeon Zen call time on career with final album |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/aeon-zen-call-time-on-career-with-final-album |website=[[Prog (magazine)|Prog]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |access-date=3 February 2022 |date=3 July 2021}}</ref>
==Musical style and Critical Response==▼
Aeon Zen's music has been described as transcending stylistic and generic boundaries, moving from soft to heavy and defying categorization as purely metal, rock, progressive or even classical. A fusion of "many stylistic elements", Aeon Zen's music, as exhibited on [[A Mind's Portrait]], includes "catchy melodies", "a diverse mix of songs and styles", and "progressive time changes"<ref name=progarchives>{{cite web|url=http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=4447|title=Prog Archives' review of A Mind's Portrait|accessdate=2009-09-17}}</ref> which "run through the gamut of emotions".<ref name=perfectprog>{{cite web|url=http://www.perfectprog.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2631&Itemid=110|title=Perfect Prog review of A Mind's Portrait|accessdate=2009-09-17}}</ref>▼
 
On 24 September 2021, Aeon Zen released their final studio album, ''Transversal'', consisting of one single 30-minute song split across 10 different tracks. The song was composed as a tribute to the band's whole career, with the artwork referencing all previous albums.<ref name="progtrans"/><ref name="progtransvideo">{{cite web |last1=Ewing |first1=Jerry |title=Aeon Zen release video for the first part of their epic concept album Transversal |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/aeon-zen-release-video-for-the-first-part-of-their-epic-concept-album-transversal |website=[[Prog (magazine)|Prog]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |access-date=3 February 2022 |date=25 August 2021}}</ref>
In terms of comparison, many reviewers have noted their affinity with others in the Progressive Metal field, notably [[Dream Theater]],<ref name=prognaut>{{cite web|url=http://www.prognaut.com/reviews/aeon-zen.html|title=Prog Naut's review of A Mind's Portrait|accessdate=2009-09-17}}</ref> [[Queensrÿche]]<ref name=progressionmagazine /> and [[Symphony X]].<ref name=progressiverockbr>{{cite web|url=http://www.progressiverockbr.com/previews2009.htm|title=Progressive Rock BR Previews 2009|accessdate=2009-09-19}}</ref> The main departure from these groups is in the montage of styles presented on the album. Some reviewers felt that the "multiplicity of ideas" could be too overbearing for listeners unfamiliar with a new group,<ref name=progressia>{{cite web|url=http://www.progressia.net/index.php4?rub=chroniques&idchronik=2025|title=Progressia: Review of Aeon Zen, A Mind's Portrait [in French]|accessdate=2009-09-19}}</ref> or even that such an overloading led to an overall "incoherence" on the album.<ref name=musicwaves>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicwaves.fr/frmChronique.aspx?PRO_ID=4599|title=Music Waves: Review of Aeon Zen, A Mind's Portrait|accessdate=2009-09-19}}</ref> Other reviewers felt that, rather than being a sign of weakness, it was a commendable feat to have enlisted the vocal services of so many prominent artists within the field.<ref name="iopages" />▼
 
▲==Musical style and Criticalcritical Responseresponse==
▲Aeon Zen's music has been described as transcending stylistic and generic boundaries, moving from soft to heavy and defying categorization as purely metal, rock, progressive or even classical. A fusion of "many stylistic elements", Aeon Zen's music, as exhibited on [[A Mind's Portrait]], includes "catchy melodies", "a diverse mix of songs and styles", and "progressive time changes"<ref name=progarchives>{{cite web|url=http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=4447|title=Prog Archives' review of A Mind's Portrait|website=Progarchives.com|accessdate=2009-09-17}}</ref> which "run through the gamut of emotions".<ref name=perfectprog>{{cite web|url=http://www.perfectprog.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2631&Itemid=110 |title=Perfect Prog review of A Mind's Portrait |accessdate=2009-09-17 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715064144/http://www.perfectprog.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2631&Itemid=110 |archivedate=15 July 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref>
 
▲In terms of comparison, many reviewers have noted their affinity with others in the Progressive Metal field, notably [[Dream Theater]],<ref name=prognaut>{{cite web|url=http://www.prognaut.com/reviews/aeon-zen.html |title=Prog Naut's review of A Mind's Portrait |accessdate=2009-09-17 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110322031921/http://www.prognaut.com/reviews/aeon-zen.html |archivedate=22 March 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref> [[Queensrÿche]]<ref name=progressionmagazine /> and [[Symphony X]].<ref name=progressiverockbr>{{cite web|url=http://www.progressiverockbr.com/previews2009.htm|title=Progressive Rock BR Previews 2009|website=Progressiverockbr.com|accessdate=2009-09-19}}</ref> The main departure from these groups is in the montage of styles presented on the album. Some reviewers felt that the "multiplicity of ideas" could be too overbearing for listeners unfamiliar with a new group,<ref name=progressia>{{cite web|url=http://www.progressia.net/index.php4?rub=chroniques&idchronik=2025|title=Progressia: Review of Aeon Zen, A Mind's Portrait [in French]|website=Progressia.net|accessdate=2009-09-19|archive-date=17 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090517021201/http://www.progressia.net/index.php4?rub=chroniques&idchronik=2025|url-status=dead}}</ref> or even that such an overloading led to an overall "incoherence" on the album.<ref name=musicwaves>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicwaves.fr/frmChronique.aspx?PRO_ID=4599|title=Music Waves: Review of Aeon Zen, A Mind's Portrait|website=Musicwaves.fr|accessdate=2009-09-19}}</ref> Other reviewers felt that, rather than being a sign of weakness, it was a commendable feat to have enlisted the vocal services of so many prominent artists within the field.<ref name="iopages" />
 
Nevertheless, the band felt obliged to counter these assertions by stating that the intermixture of styles is exactly the effect that was intended:
 
{{cquote|I wanted to create something different to anything I had done before and I also wanted to achieve an effect with the album that was truly breathtaking and I was sure I had enough quality material to stand up on its own and be noticed.<ref name="stormbringer">{{cite web|title=Stormbringer: The Austrian Heavyzine: Interview with Rich HinksGray of Aeon Zen|website=Stormbringer.at|accessdate=2009-09-24|url=http://www.stormbringer.at/interviews.php?id=536&lang=en}}</ref>}}
 
Furthermore, in a video interview, Rich HinksGray stated that "[on A Mind's Portrait] you even have piano ballads, there's even an orchestral track (mixed in with heavier progressive rock and metal tracks). Vocally, there's everything ranging from operatic power metal style singing, all the way to death metal growling. Nothing is out of the question."<ref>{{cite video|url=httphttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUL8u1G4AJs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/ZUL8u1G4AJs |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|accessdate=2009-09-17|title=Aeon Zen official video diary|publisher=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> However, even those critics who believed the band were yet to find their "musical identity", praised the album as a bold statement of intent, particularly given the young age of the musicians.<ref name=musicwaves />
 
==Band members==
===Current members===▼
 
*[[Rich Gray (formerly Hinks]]) – vocals, guitars, bass guitars, keyboards, alto saxophone <small>(2008–present)</small>, drums <small>(2009–2012)</small>▼
▲===Current members===
▲*[[Rich Hinks]] – vocals, guitars, bass guitars, keyboards, alto saxophone<small>(2008–present)</small>, drums <small>(2009–2012)</small>
*[[Andi Kravljaca]] – vocals <small>(2012–present)</small>
*Alistair Bell – guitar <small>(2014–present)</small>▼
*Steve Burton – drums <small>(2012–present)</small>
*TomAlistair GreenBell – keyboardsguitars <small>(2014–present)</small>
 
===Former members===
;Studio
*Lloyd Musto – Drums, Vocals <small>(2008–2009)</small>
Line 67 ⟶ 68:
 
;Live
*[[Jamie Brooks (pianist)]] – Keyboards <small>(2010)</small>
*Cristian Van Schuerbeck – Keyboards <small>(2010)</small>
*Mike Lennon – Drums <small>(2010)</small>
Line 73 ⟶ 74:
*[[Vadim Pruzhanov]] ([[DragonForce]]) – Keyboards <small>(2011)</small>
*Matt Shepherd – Guitar <small>(2010-2013)</small>
▲*AlistairTom BellGreen – guitarkeyboards <small>(2014–present2014)</small>
 
==Discography==
Line 78 ⟶ 80:
* ''[[The Face of the Unknown]]'' (2010)
* ''[[Enigma (Aeon Zen album)|Enigma]]'' (2013)
* ''[[Ephemera (Aeon Zen album)|Ephemera]]'' (2014)
* ''Inveritas'' (2019)
* ''Transversal'' (2021)
 
===EPs/Singles and singles===
* ''Live In Tilburg'' (2011)
* ''Self Portrait'' (2013)
* ''Disconnected'' (2015)
 
==References==
{{reflist|2Reflist}}
 
{{Aeon Zen}}
 
<!-- Links to the same article in other languages—if the articles exist already. -->
<!--- see [[Help:Interlanguage links]] -->
 
{{Authority control}}
 
[[Category:English progressive metal musical groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 2008]]
[[Category:Progressive metal guitarists]]
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