In the ever-turning wheel of existence, where past, present, and future blur into a singular, cyclical motion, GEMINI SYNDROME unveils their latest offering, “Carousel”—a haunting meditation on the cycles we trap ourselves in and the courage it takes to break free.
“I am my own worst enemy.”
A confession. A revelation. A truth buried beneath layers of pretense. We sabotage ourselves in the shadows, hiding behind the illusion of control. The turmoil within is relentless, unseen yet omnipresent. “Carousel” rips the mask away, exposing this eternal conflict—the conscious self at war with the unconscious. The driver and the passenger. The master and the captive.
“We can often be our own worst enemies,” says drummer Brian Steele Medina. “There’s this illusion of control, like we’re holding the reins, but sometimes we don’t realize we’re just along for the ride. ‘Carousel’ captures that duality—the war between who we are and who we want to be.”
To break the cycle requires an act of will—but true will is more than defiance; it is surrender. The courage to let go of the illusions that bind us. How can we evolve if we refuse to release the weight of our past? How can we ascend if we remain tethered to a wheel that never stops spinning?
“How can we become better than our present selves, when we live our lives like we’re on a carousel?”
The question lingers like an incantation, a challenge to all who dare to listen. “Carousel” is not just a song—it is a rite of passage, a moment of reckoning for those willing to look into the mirror and confront the storm behind their own eyes.
“At some point, you have to face the mirror,” vocalist Aaron Nordstrom adds. “The song is about that reckoning—when you finally admit that you’re the architect of your own suffering. But acknowledgment is the first step to change.”
With towering riffs, hypnotic rhythms, and a chorus that lingers like a whispered truth, “Carousel” embodies the struggle between stagnation and self-awareness.
This is the journey of Origin: From Nothingness to Everything—the transmutation of the self through trial and tribulation. The endless fight to wake up, break free, and become more than the sum of our past mistakes.
The ride is not over. But the choice is yours: remain in endless repetition, or shatter the cycle and step beyond.
As Gemini Syndrome continues their journey of musical and philosophical alchemy, “Carousel” stands as a call to arms for those willing to step off the loop and forge a new path.
LA alternative metal band GEMINI SYNDROME just released their highly anticipated new studio album “3rd Degree – The Raising”. Special album configurations along with special merchandise are available via the band’s official website: www.GeminiSyndrome.com
In celebration of the album’s release, a brand new video and single “Absolution” were released. Click here for “Absolution”:
The album release also comes mere weeks before the band heads out on their “Initiation” US Tour.
“3rd Degree – The Raising” is the long awaited, mind bending final chapter of GEMINI SYNDROME’s debut trilogy of albums; the first being 2013’s “Lux”, and the second being 2016’s “Memento Mori” (which hit #1 on US Billboard Heatseakers Album Chart and spawned five singles). Wherein “Lux”, meaning “Light”, was concerned with birth; and “Memento Mori”, meaning “Remember That We Must Die”, dealt with the finite nature of life, “3rd Degree – The Raising” celebrates the extreme rituals of rebirth.
Produced by Matt Good (Asking Alexandria, Memphis May Fire, Hollywood Undead) and featuring the singles “Die With Me”, “IDK”, “Abandoned”, “Broken Reflection”, “Absolution”, and “Reintegration”; “3rd Degree – The Raising” is undeniably the heaviest, and darkest album of the band’s career.
“The album is about death and rebirth. Finding your true self and fostering its growth so as to help build the world better than we inherited it.” says GEMINI SYNDROME vocalist Aaron Nordstrom. “In the process of this record I made some major life choices. Mainly to stop killing myself slowly with alcohol. Two years without a drink, and a couple near death experiences later, I think I have ample experience to talk about a subject as elusive as death.”
Drummer Brian Steele Medina adds, “The twist to the 3rd and “final” degree, is that it’s not the end at all. Rather, it’s a rebirth contingent upon our growth and lessons learned from the suffering of our past mistakes. A spiritual growth that can only be attained through baptism by fire. A metaphorical, yet very real resurrection — THE RAISING.”
Nordstrom continues, “Our hope is that through sharing our experiences, lessons learned, and battles overcome, that we can help others to examine their own consciousness. Their role in the world in its almost infinite capacity, and to help remind each other that we are ALL in this together. We are a family, and when we are United in our commonality, we can achieve things worthy of the attention of the GODS. If you want to change the world, quietly go to work on yourself.”
When asked about the process of initiation, and how it relates to GEMINI SYNDROME’s music, band drummer Medina reveals: “There’s something deeper under the surface of our music, and it’ s designed to allow the listener to resonate and wake up to their potential. See, when an initiation is done properly, who the person was before, and who they are after the initiation, are two different people. Essentially being Raised to a higher degree of consciousness. So when you listen and actually attend to our music, and understand the intention, the same principle applies. Who the listener was before they hear the album, and who they are after, are different. They become a changed person. They’ve transmuted to a new state of being, and the lyrics that they carry with them after the fact become a mantra, which allows them to sustain that new state of being. Looking back, I recognize that music has always sustained me. It’ s been a constant and transformative alchemical force, and it continues to save my life, even today.”
Vocalist Nordstrom explains how the incorporation of symbols further illuminate an additional layer of insight: “I see the use of symbolism as a way to make people think in ways they are not accustomed to or even aware of. Symbols communicate to our subconscious and collective unconscious minds, and can invoke changes in our thoughts not only in a conscious fashion, but also on a subtler, deeper level. This album is more than a collection of songs, it’ s a representation of our final initiation. First, birth by the Waters of the One Current; next, life by the Breath of Our Collective Soul; and finally, resurrection through Baptism by Fire. This trilogy is a testimony and a first hand account of the twists and turns of Chapel Perilous, thus it’s proof that it’s possible to find our way Home — no matter how lost we might find ourselves.”
GEMINI SYNDROME spent the better part of 2018-2019 writing “3rd Degree – The Raising”, the final installment of their long planned three album trilogy. They retreated to drummer Brian Steele Medina’s Las Vegas home studio, where they meticulously crafted song after song, relentlessly reworking and rearranging the musical arrangements until they were fully satisfied. After an exhaustive writing process, GEMINI SYNDROME relocated to Good Sounds Studio in Tempe AZ, where producer Matt Good would help realize the collection of songs. Medina recalls, “We absolutely loved working with Matt and he completely understood where we wanted to take this album creatively and what it was going to take to bring the third chapter of this trilogy to light. Our actual collective blood, sweat and tears went into its creation.”
“It was a long, treacherous road to get here.” continues Nordstrom. “First working out an insane amount of songs before arriving in Arizona to record with Matt Good, and then writing a slew more while in the actual recording process, we approached this album with high intentions to evolve musically and internally as people. But then, once we had finally finished everything, and were ready to start releasing new music… everything was put on hold due to the global pandemic.”
Medina adds, “These past few years have definitely been an exercise in patience and acceptance. We had everything mixed and mastered and ready to go in early 2020 before everything shut down. We’re just stoked to FINALLY put this album out and get this post plague show on the road.”
3rd Degree – The Raising is the first album to feature guitarist “Meegs” Rascón (formerly of Coal Chamber).
On the brand new single “Absolution”, Nordstrom says, “Absolution is the formal release from punishment, obligation, or guilt. This song is a reminder that the present moment matters more than all others because it is shaped by what we have done and shapes what will be because of the decisions and actions we make now. On a cosmic level, we’re saying, “Act right. Otherwise there won’t be another opportunity to act at all.”
To date, six singles have been released from “3rd Degree – The Raising”: “Abandoned”, “Reintegration”, “IDK”, “Broken Reflection”, “Absolution” and the Active Rock Radio hit “Die With Me”” Currently five of the six singles – including the newly released “Absolution” feature visually stunning videos created by director Brian Cox (Bring Me The Horizon, The Struts, Starset).
GEMINI SYNDROME “Initiation“ USA Fall 2021 tour dates Tickets, and VIP Packages are available at: http://www.GeminiSyndrome.com
10/28 – Chippewa Falls, WI – Joel’s 4Corners * 10/29 – Green Bay, WI – EPIC Event Center * 10/30 – Racine, WI – Rt 20 (WIIL Rock Halloween Bash) * 10/31 – Battle Creek, MI – The Music Factory * 11/02 – Lakewood, OH – The Winchester Music Tavern * 11/04 – Flint, MI – The Machine Shop * 11/05 – Buffalo, NY – Buffalo Iron Works * 11/06 – Liverpool, NY – Sharkey’s * 11/07 – Poughkeepsie, NY – The Chance * 11/08 – New York City, NY – Mercury Lounge **** 11/09 – Albany, NY – Empire Underground * 11/10 – Reading, PA – Reverb * 11/12 – Johnson City, TN – Capones * 11/13 – Greensboro, NC – The Blind Tiger * 11/14 – Huntsville, AL – Sidetracks *** 11/16 – San Antonio, TX – The Rock Box ** 11/17 – Dallas, TX – Gas Monkey ** 11/18 – Baton Rouge – Basin Music Hall ** 11/20 – Houston, TX – Scout Bar ** 11/22 – El Paso, TX – Rockhouse ** 11/23 – Scottsdale, AZ – Pub Rock ** 11/24 – West Hollywood, CA – Whiskey a Go Go ** 11/26 – Las Vegas, NV – Backstage Bar ** 11/27 – Reno, NV – Reno Brewhouse ** *Direct support is Ovtlier **Direct support is Oh! The Horror ***Show with Smile Empty Soul, Ovtlier, Sunflower Dead, Pushing V, Tommy Gibbons ****GEMINI SYNDROME and Ovtlier only
Georgia based hard rock / metal band THEM DAMN KINGS have announced that they have been added as support on LA alternative metal band GEMINI SYNDROME’s upcoming US tour. The first leg of the tour will feature direct support from Ovtlier, and on the second leg from Oh! The Horror. Also joining the tour are punk upstarts Pushing Veronica. All tour dates are listed below.
“We are so F@#!’n ready to hit the road with Gemini Syndrome, it’s been far too long since we’ve been able to bring you guys pure unadulterated rock n fk’n roll!” says vocalist / guitarist Jef Rhodes. “No more pandemivision! No more BS! See all of you down the road!”
THEM DAMN KINGS will be road testing songs from their as-of-yet unreleased debut album Rise Up. The album features the tracks ‘Throw It Away’ and ‘Yesterday’ which were released to US metal radio late last year, and saw the band conquer the national Metal Contraband radio charts. As a special bonus for fans, the band will be selling a limited number of advance CDs of the Rise Up album online, and at all shows while on the tour. CDs will be available online at the band’s merch store: https://them-damn-kings-.ecwid.com
Rhodes adds, “After almost two damn years I’m excited and proud to finally announce our album Rise Up is available for your listening displeasure. I’m beyond excited for you guys to hear the record and even more excited to be bringing you a taste of the album to the stage!”
THEM DAMN KINGS is the hard rock wrecking machine created by guitarist / multi-instrumentalist / vocalist Jef Rhodes. Jef is a long time professional Front Of House engineer, and backline tech who has over two decades of international touring experience with such bands as: Opeth, Cradle of Filth, Highly Suspect, Lacuna Coil, Watain, Mayhem, and others.
By enlisting former Lacuna Coil drummer Ryan Folden, the pair have recorded RISE UP, a monster of a debut album that sounds both new and exciting – while simultaneously reminding listeners of that golden age of the early ‘90s when Hard Rock, Metal, and Grunge ruled the late night rock clubs of the world.
A debut single “Throw It Away” was released in October 2020. “It was the first song written for the record. It makes me wanna get on a motorcycle and ride even though the song has nothing to do with that.” says Jef. “It’s about tossing away your fears in an abstract sort of way.” The track was quickly followed by anthemic ‘Yesterday’ which garnered the band their first international radio play, and media support.
THEM DAMN KINGS Supporting GEMINI SYNDROME Fall 2021 tour dates 10/28 – Chippewa Falls, WI – Joel’s 4Corners * 10/29 – Green Bay, WI – EPIC Event Center * 10/30 – Racine, WI – Rt 20 (WIIL Rock Halloween Bash) * 10/31 – Battle Creek, MI – The Music Factory * 11/02 – Lakewood, OH – The Winchester Music Tavern * 11/04 – Flint, MI – The Machine Shop * 11/05 – Buffalo, NY – Buffalo Iron Works * 11/06 – Liverpool, NY – Sharkey’s * 11/07 – Poughkeepsie, NY – The Chance * 11/09 – Albany, NY – Empire Underground * 11/10 – Reading, PA – Reverb * 11/12 – Johnson City, TN – Capones * 11/13 – Greensboro, NC – The Blind Tiger * 11/14 – Huntsville, AL – Sidetracks * 11/16 – San Antonio, TX – The Rock Box 11/17 – Dallas, TX – Gas Monkey 11/18 – Baton Rouge – Basin Music Hall 11/20 – Houston, TX – Scout Bar 11/22 – El Paso, TX – Rockhouse 11/23 – Scottsdale, AZ – Pub Rock 11/24 – West Hollywood, CA – Whiskey a Go Go 11/26 – Las Vegas, NV – Backstage Bar 11/27 – Reno, NV – Reno Brewhouse
*Direct support is Ovtlier Direct support is Oh! The Horror
LA alternative metal band GEMINI SYNDROME have just released their new digital single “Broken Reflection” today. The song is taken is from their recently announced new studio album 3rd Degree – The Raising which will be released worldwide on October 15, 2021 via Century Media.
“‘Broken Reflection’ focuses on the concept of Indra’s net. Basically saying that every consciousness is a crystal in a net or web and they all reflect the reflections from all the other crystals,” states GEMINI SYNDROME vocalist Aaron Nordstrom. “The thing about mirrors is, they don’t always reflect the image back exactly the way it appears. Sometimes the mirror can alter what you’re experiencing versus what’s actually there. ‘Broken Reflection’ is a state of being in a sense. We are all trying to show the best versions of ourselves, but we need to master those versions inside before we can present the perfect image and not have it be confused for something illusory.”
“Generation after generation we build an ever growing structure higher and higher upon itself. Are we building it on a solid foundation or not is the question. Are we building towards something better? Or are we slowly building a faulty structure that is doomed to collapse?” adds drummer Brian Steele Medina on “Broken Reflection”’s deeper meaning. “It’s the idea that we can take everything given to us in this world: Education, Tradition, Religion, Politics, the entire structure of society, and we can do it all right down to the smallest detail, and yet, still not be fulfilled. It’s the idea that ultimately, the only way to live a life of purpose, is to follow our internal compass and forge our own way.”
GEMINI SYNDROME recently announced that their new studio album 3rd Degree – The Raising will be released worldwide on October 15, 2021 via Century Media. Special pre-order album configurations (limited edition vinyl, deluxe CD sets, etc) along with special merchandise are available now via the band’s official website: www.GeminiSyndrome.com Save, or pre-order the album digitally HERE.
3rd Degree – The Raising is the long awaited, mind bending final chapter of GEMINI SYNDROME’s debut trilogy of albums; the first being 2013’s Lux, and the second being 2016’s Memento Mori (which hit #1 on Billboard Heatseakers Album Chart and spawned five singles). But whereas those first two albums dealt with the painful struggles of life and death, 3rd Degree – The Raising celebrates the extreme rituals of rebirth. Produced by Matt Good (Asking Alexandria, Memphis May Fire, Hollywood Undead) this is undeniably the heaviest, and darkest album of the band’s career; featuring the singles “Die With Me,” “IDK,” “Abandoned,” “Broken Reflection” and “Reintegration.”
“The album is about death and rebirth. Finding your true self and fostering its growth so as to help build the world better than we inherited it,” says Nordstrom. “In the process of this record I made some major life choices. Mainly to stop killing myself slowly with alcohol. Two years without a drink, and a couple near death experiences later, I think I have ample experience to talk about a subject as elusive as death.”
Drummer Brian Steele Medina adds, “The twist to the 3rd and ‘final’ degree, is that it’s not the end at all. Rather, it’s a rebirth contingent upon our growth and lessons learned from the suffering of our past mistakes. A spiritual growth that can only be attained through baptism by fire. A metaphorical, yet very real resurrection — THE RAISING.”
Nordstrom continues, “Our hope is that through sharing our experiences, lessons learned, and battles overcome, that we can help others to examine their own consciousness. Their role in the world in its almost infinite capacity, and to help remind each other that we are ALL in this together. We are a family, and when we are United in our commonality, we can achieve things worthy of the attention of the GODS. If you want to change the world, quietly go to work on yourself.”
GEMINI SYNDROME spent the better part of 2018-2019 writing 3rd Degree – The Raising, the final installment of their long planned three album trilogy. They retreated to Brian Steele Medina’s Las Vegas home studio, where they meticulously crafted song after song, relentlessly reworking and rearranging the musical arrangements until they were fully satisfied. After an exhaustive writing process, GEMINI SYNDROME relocated to Good Sounds Studio in Tempe, AZ, where producer Matt Good would help realize the collection of songs. Medina recalls, “We absolutely loved working with Matt and he completely understood where we wanted to take this album creatively and what it was going to take to bring the third chapter of this trilogy to light. Our actual collective blood, sweat and tears went into its creation.”
“It was a long, treacherous road to get here,” continues Nordstrom. “First working out an insane amount of songs before arriving in Arizona to record with Matt Good, and then writing a slew more while in the actual recording process, we approached this album with high intentions to evolve musically and internally as people. But then, once we had finally finished everything, and were ready to start releasing new music… everything was put on hold due to the global pandemic.”
Medina adds, “These past few years have definitely been an exercise in patience and acceptance. We had everything mixed and mastered and ready to go in early 2020 before everything shut down. We’re just stoked to FINALLY put this album out and get this post plague show on the road.”
3rd Degree – The Raising is the first album to feature guitarist “Meegs” Rascón (formerly of Coal Chamber).
To date, five singles have been released from 3rd Degree – The Raising: “Abandoned,” “Reintegration,” “IDK,” “Broken Reflection” and the currently Top 30 Active Rock Radio hit “Die With Me.” Currently four of the five singles feature visually stunning videos created by director Brian Cox (Bring Me The Horizon, The Struts, Starset).
GEMINI SYNDROME is Aaron Nordstrom (vocals, keyboards), Brian Steele Medina (drums, programming), Alessandro “AP” Paveri (bass), Meegs Rascón (guitar) and Nicholas Paul Arnold (touring guitar).
3rd Degree – The Raising track listing: Reintegration IDK Die With Me Baptized In Fire Children of the Sun Abandoned Broken Reflection Sum Quod Eris Best of Me Absolution Hold the Line Where We Started From Fiat Lux
Los Angeles’ alternative hard rockers GEMINI SYNDROME – currently on tour with Drowning Pool and 9ELECTRIC – have confirmed their next tour in support of STARSET, which will kick off January 21, 2017.
GEMINI SYNDROME w/ Drowning Pool & 9ELECTRIC
Dec 09 // Stafford Springs, CT // The Palace Theater
Dec 10 // Lawrence, MA // The Claddagh Pub
Dec 11 // Poughkeepsie, NY // The Chance Theater
Dec 14 // Clarence, NY // Nashvilles II
Dec 15 // Amityville, NY // Revolution
Dec 16 // Jacksonville, NC // Hooligan’s
Dec 17 // Raleigh, NC // The Maywood
Dec 18 // Leesburg, VA // Tally Ho Theatre
GEMINI SYNDROME w/ Starset
Jan 21 // Chicago, IL // Metro
Jan 23 // Denver, CO // Marquis
Jan 26 // Sookane, WA // Knitting Factory
Jan 28 // Reno, NV // Jub Jub’s
Jan 29 // Fresno, CA // Fulton 55
Jan 31 // Hollywood, CA // The Roxy Theatre
Feb 02 // Scottsdale, AZ // Pub Rock
Feb 03 // Tuscon, AZ // Club XS
Feb 06 // Dallas, TX // Trees
Feb 08 // Corpus Christi, TX // Brewsters
Feb 09 // Houston, TX // Scout Bar
Feb 10 // Baton Rouge, LA // The Varsity Theatre
Feb 11 // Madison, AL // 11th Frame
Feb 12 // Johnson City, TN // Capones
Feb 14 // Baltimore, MD // Soundstage
Feb 15 // Lancaster, PA // Chameleon Club
Feb 17 // Pittsburgh, PA // Rex Theatre, with Starset.
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Kimmo Kuusniemi's Ancient Streaming Assembly - 'Perpetuae Memoriae', ft. Tuomas Rounakari + Steve Di Giorgio - Click image to watch the video