Refuge, Reflection, and Progressive Rock: Derev’s Tides of Time

Hailing from Toronto, Derev are a five-piece progressive rock act with a rather unique backstory. The band's drummer, Michel Karakach, was forced to flee the war that engulfed his home in Syria and found refuge in Canada, where he reunited with friend and guitarist Armando Bablanian. They slowly pieced together what is now Derev, a collection of highly gifted musicians who blend technical prowess with raw storytelling to craft something truly magical.

Tides of Time is the outfit's brand new single, and it was written by Michel as a way to describe cognitive immobility. "Leaving my hometown, after having built so many friendships, memories, and experiences - it was a struggle I never knew I'd have to deal with," says the drummer. "Reminiscing over and over, I was inspired to write as a form of therapy. I never knew this was an actual mental diagnosis until I did some research on it".

Sonically, Tides of Time is an intricate and haunting piece of expansive progressive rock brilliance. Filled with rhythmic complexities and a pulsing 4/4 backbeat, it's a mesmerizing journey that ebbs and flows with gripping intensity. Truthfully, I've fallen completely in love with it, so it's now time to take a deep dive into Derev's discography!

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