Following the release of his third solo album, Empyrean, on 11th September, acclaimed Canadian cellist and composer Raphael Weinroth-Browne unveils ‘Rift’, the first of three bonus tracks recorded during the album sessions.

Continuing Empyrean’s exploration of transformation, impermanence and the fragile boundaries between order and chaos, ‘Rift’ brings together the dark, intricate textures of Baroque music and the abrasive force of industrial-tinged electronics. Opening with a brooding, bowed arpeggio sequence that recalls J.S. Bach’s G Major Prelude for solo cello, alongside the austere atmospheres of David Darling’s Cello and Darkwood, the piece gradually builds through layered strings before splintering into jagged electronic textures and a crushing, pulsating beat.

Where the opening passages lean into Bach-inspired restraint, Weinroth-Browne gradually pushes the composition into darker, more turbulent territory, layering increasingly abrasive textures against the cello’s resonant tones. Like Empyrean track ‘Dissolution’, ‘Rift’ draws on the contrast between classical structure and sonic upheaval, reflecting the intellectual and philosophical shifts that challenged established worldviews during the Age of Enlightenment.

Listen to ‘Rift’ here.

Discover Empyrean album here: https://raphaelweinroth-browne.bandcamp.com/album/empyrean

Comments Raphael: “‘Rift’ encapsulates my dialogue with Bach throughout Empyrean, merging dark Baroque strings with almost industrial-sounding electronic elements. As with ‘Dissolution’, I wanted to explore the idea of a beautiful, harmonious whole fracturing into tiny particles, reflecting the rift between religion and science in Bach’s time and the Age of Enlightenment.”

The origins of new album Empyrean itself are as cinematic as the music it contains. In 2024, Weinroth-Browne was commissioned by James Wilton Dance to compose an 80-minute score inspired by the music and legacy of Johann Sebastian Bach. What emerged became BACH Reimagined: a touring multidisciplinary work exploring immortality, artistic transcendence and the pursuit of the sublime through creation.

Rather than simply reinterpret Bach, Weinroth-Browne entered into dialogue with him across centuries. The resulting compositions fuse the purity and mathematical elegance of Baroque counterpoint with distorted textures, electronic ambience and towering rhythmic weight. Tracks such as ‘Speed of Light’ and ‘Dissolution‘ plunge Bach-inspired motifs into vast storms of noise and metallic tension, while the meditative ‘Sanctum‘ evokes Sufi mysticism and devotional stillness.

“At its core,” Weinroth-Browne explains, “Empyrean is about the search for the sublime. As artists, we spend our lives trying to create something that transcends the everyday, if only for a split second, as if to glimpse eternity through a keyhole.”

Captured at Union Sound Company in Toronto immediately following the sessions for 2025’s critically acclaimed Lifeblood, Empyrean finds Weinroth-Browne operating at the peak of his creative powers. The album was recorded and engineered by Darren McGill (Rush, The Dirty Nil), mixed by Adam Noble (Leprous, Katatonia) and mastered by Robin Schmidt (Leprous), resulting in a sound both immense and intimate, every bow stroke preserved with almost tactile immediacy. Artwork comes from London-based printmaker and collage artist Cally Conway, discovered by Weinroth-Browne in Brighton during the BACH tour.

Watch the videos for previous singles ‘Speed of Light‘, ‘Reflection‘ and ‘Evocation‘, and discover Raphael’s breathtaking standalone interpretation of Sleep Token’s ‘Fall For Me’, showcasing yet another side of his remarkable artistry.

The release follows a run of widespread critical acclaim. His 2020 debut Worlds Within was praised as “masterful” and “a stunning example of less being more,” while 2025’s Lifeblood saw Raphael further expand his sound into rich cinematic territory, earning praise as “a triumph of vision and virtuosity” and “the most ambitious album of Weinroth-Browne‘s career.”

Empyrean Tracklist:

1. Speed of Light
2. Remnant
3. Evocation
4. Murmuration
5. Integration
6. Dissolution
7. Sanctum
8. Reflection
9. Empyrean

That same fearless boundary-pushing has made Weinroth-Browne an essential figure within modern progressive music. His cello work can be heard on hundreds of studio albums, including Woods of Ypres’ Juno Award-winning W5: Grey Skies & Electric Light and across many major film and TV soundtracks. Viral interpretations of Opeth, Katatonia and Steven Wilson have drawn direct praise from the artists themselves, further cementing his reputation as a boundaryless interpreter and composer.

Since joining Norwegian prog visionaries Leprous in 2016, he has performed over 200 shows worldwide and contributed to three of their studio albums, helping redefine the role of cello in progressive heavy music. Beyond Leprous, he has shared stages with Evanescence, Apocalyptica and Devin Townsend.

As a solo artist, Weinroth-Browne has become an ambassador for what the cello can be in the 21st century. He has made waves at prestigious festivals such as the Cello Biennale Amsterdam and the International Cello Festival of Canada and has opened for artists ranging from Polish neoclassical pianist Hania Rani to Nordic folk ensemble SKÁLD and Danish prog metal masters VOLA.With a busy year of live performances, including recent European tours with Earthside and more recently Einar Solberg, Raphael Weinroth-Browne continues to expand the possibilities of the cello. With Empyrean he further cements his reputation as one of the instrument’s most adventurous and distinctive modern voices.

Catch Raphael Weinroth-Browne live on the following dates:

October 29 – Toronto, ON – Burdock Music Hall
November 6 – Ottawa, ON – Carleton Dominion Chalmers Centre

Raphael Weinroth-Browne online: Official Website || Facebook | Instagram || Youtube || X || Bandcamp || Tik Tok