Canadian cellist and musical chameleon Raphael Weinroth-Browne returns with ‘Ophidian’, the gripping third single from his upcoming solo album Lifeblood, out 3rd October. A visceral homage to the early 2000s vampire aesthetic, complete with nods to the Queen of the Damned soundtrack, the track entwines Middle Eastern melodies, black metal bowing and nu-metal riffing into a serpentine composition that slithers between the sensual and the savage.
Filmed in Poland’s haunting Temple of Art and Light by visual masterminds Grupa13 (Behemoth, Leprous), the accompanying video captures an inner battle between order and chaos, tradition and rebellion, mirroring Raphael’s own musical transformation as he embraces the unorthodox and the otherworldly.
Stream ‘Ophidian’ here.
Raphael comments on the new single: “Over the past four years, my Middle Eastern cello videos on social media have consistently elicited comparisons to the vampire Lestat’s violin solos in the movie Queen of the Damned (2002).
“‘Ophidian’ pays musical homage to this cult classic – particularly its iconic soundtrack – and evokes feelings of nostalgia for early 2000s aesthetics and the vampire genre. Here, Middle Eastern melodies, nu-metal inspired riffs, and black metal tremolo bowing converge in a piece that juxtaposes sensuality and brutality, steeped in the scent of exoticism and otherworldliness.
“A far cry from the traditional cello repertoire, ‘Ophidian’ is a celebration of all that is dark and unholy, hence the title, which refers to the reptilian order of serpents. Unlike the previous video for ‘Possession’, where my audience is the adversary, here I am locked in a duel with myself. My idea was to depict an inner war between the voices telling me to follow a traditional, “acceptable” path, and the dark side that wants to rebel against the status quo and take a more unorthodox direction in life, the road less travelled. In a sense it’s the dilemma of choosing between the angel and the devil on one’s shoulder and ultimately embracing the “devil” and one’s inner chaos as an authentic manifestation of self, instead of trying to suppress it. On a musical level, I interpret this as abandoning one’s classical background and taking an alternative artistic direction.”
Pre-order the album Lifeblood here.
Lifeblood is Raphael Weinroth-Browne’s most daring and fully formed solo statement yet, a strikingly personal work that channels both the euphoria of creative flow and the relentless drive of ambition. Fusing the heft of progressive metal with Middle Eastern scales, modern classical finesse and enveloping electronic textures, it captures the raw tension and release at the heart of his musical identity.
Commenting on the album, he adds, “I consider this album to be my most autobiographical work to date. As a metalhead turned full-time professional cellist making original music outside the classical realm, I have taken the road less travelled, nurturing my artistic vision and trusting my intuition even on an unorthodox path. I have forged a unique career and identity around my musical voice and the way it manifests itself through the cello. The defiant, audacious energy of this music represents my inexorable drive to continue pursuing my dream in spite of all obstacles.”
Lifeblood was engineered and co-mixed by Darren McGill at Union Sound Company in Toronto, with a final mix by acclaimed producer Adam Noble (Leprous, Katatonia). The album was then mastered by Robin Schmidt (Placebo, Ben Howard). Adding a visual dimension to the album’s immersive sound, the captivating cover artwork was created by Maldivian artist Maahy, celebrated for her ethereal, nature-inspired aesthetic.
Known for his emotionally charged performances and boundary pushing vision, Raphael Weinroth-Browne has become one of the most innovative cellists of his generation. Merging his roots in progressive metal with a passion for Middle Eastern music, he has forged a singular artistic voice that defies traditional expectations. His cello work can be heard on over 200 studio albums, including Woods of Ypres’ Juno Award-winning W5: Grey Skies & Electric Light and in major film and TV soundtracks. Viral cello covers of Opeth, Katatonia and Steven Wilson have earned praise from the artists themselves, while his genre-spanning studio and stage career continues to attract international attention.
Since joining Norwegian progressive rock icons Leprous in 2016, Weinroth-Browne has played over 200 shows worldwide with the band and helped shape the sound of three studio albums. He has shared stages with Evanescence, Apocalyptica, Devin Townsend and performed in front of 40,000 at Hellfest, as well as at prestigious venues such as London’s Royal Albert Hall. As a solo artist, he has opened for artists ranging from Polish neoclassical pianist Hania Rani to Nordic folk ensemble SKÁLD and UK legends Soft Machine.
In recent years, Weinroth-Browne has pushed further into experimental performance and contemporary dance. His solo debut Worlds Within (2020), a 40-minute composition built entirely from layered cello, earned critical acclaim for its emotional depth and innovative form. In 2023, he performed the album live with Ottawa Dance Directive to a sold-out audience at Canada’s National Arts Centre. In 2024, he was commissioned by the UK’s James Wilton Dance to compose BACH Reimagined, an 80-minute score that toured leading venues across the UK and Germany in spring 2025. Following this, his recent single ‘Speed of Light‘ continued the forward momentum, merging baroque motifs with crushing distortion and polyrhythmic intensity, earning acclaim for its fearless fusion of past and future. As his creative output grows increasingly multidisciplinary, Weinroth-Browne continues to defy genre boundaries and redefine what the cello can be in the 21st century.
With more on the horizon later this year, Lifeblood stands as a defining chapter in Weinroth-Browne’s uncompromising artistic path, an album that distills passion, pain, discipline and defiance into a sound that feels both timeless and urgent, intellectually rich yet emotionally visceral.
Watch the videos for previous singles ‘Lifeblood‘ and ‘Possession‘.
Lifeblood Tracklist:
1. Lifeblood
2. Possession
3. Ophidian
4. Pyre
5. Labyrinthine
6. Nethereal
7. Winterlight
8. The Glimmering
Catch Raphael live on the following dates:
- Aug 28 – Ottawa, Canada – Solo performance at Speakeasy Tapas Lounge
- September 11 – Montreal, Canada – Le Studio TD – Solo supporting VOLA and Daedric
- October 24 – Ottawa, Canada – Carleton Dominion Chalmers Centre – Lifeblood Album Release show
- October 28 – Winnipeg, Canada – International Cello Festival of Canada – Original duo works with cellist Matthias Bartholomey
- October 30 – Winnipeg, Canada – International Cello Festival of Canada – Excerpts from Lifeblood with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra
- Dec 5-6 – Halifax, Canada – Performing Worlds Within w/ Ottawa Dance Directive at Live Art Dance
Raphael Weinroth-Browne online: Official Website || Facebook | Instagram || Youtube || X || Bandcamp || Tik Tok
