Hey Crannk readers! Jai That Aussie Metal Guy here, and today I’m diving into the expansive, otherworldly realm of Canadian progressive blackened death outfit Symbiotic Growth. The band recently unleashed their powerful and emotionally resonant sophomore album “Beyond The Sleepless Aether” this past March — a conceptual journey through the multiverse that tackles themes of loneliness, existential dread, and the ever-persistent search for meaning. A sonically experimental and darker evolution from their 2020 self-titled debut, this new offering blends crushing technicality with ethereal synth passages and a thick melancholic atmosphere.
And now, in exciting news for collectors and physical format die-hards, Symbiotic Growth have teamed up with Bolverk Records for a limited CD release of the album, which released May 2nd, 2025. Fans can check out the CD promo video and order their copy here.
Join me as I chat with the band about their origins, musical evolution, conceptual storytelling, and what lies beyond the sleepless aether.
1.First off, cheers for taking the time to chat with myself Jai That Aussie Metal Guy & Crannk! Can you take us back to the origins of Symbiotic Growth — how did the band form and what was the vision in those early days?
Cheers to you guys as well! It started after Wolven Ancestry disbanded. Dan started a project called “Skies of Bolide” with Dev and another guitarist back in 2015. Dev ended up departing the project soon after and brought Aaron in as a replacement, who meshed with the other members instantly. Later on, the other guitarist unfortunately had to move out of town, but Dev was reintroduced to the project. Wanting to start a fresh chapter, we changed the name to “Symbiotic Growth” and started trying to create music with a darker and more progressive atmosphere.
2. How did your backgrounds in other projects like Fractal Generator and Wolven Ancestry influence the sound and direction of Symbiotic Growth?
Wolven Ancestry and Fractal Generator are projects Dan was in with his older brother Darren. Darren, being the main creator of these projects as well as running a recording studio back in the day, plays a major role in influencing what we’ve created up to now. This enabled Dan to gather much experience in music at a young age. Learning instruments, learning how to create and run a project, having access to things like promoters and a recording studio, and having an already supportive local metal community. Shout out to Darren. Other members in Fractal and Wolven also have major influence as well as we are all friends in the same town. Shout out to Justin Reingette, Guy Demers, Mark Howitt, and Greg Mars!
3. For those unfamiliar, how would you describe the musical evolution from your 2020 self-titled debut to this new album, “Beyond The Sleepless Aether”?
We would say the evolution comes with experience and being on the same brain wave as the rest of your members. If you all want the same thing, it’s much easier to inspire each other and push further. As you go through the processes, you start to learn more and more aspects of being in a musical project. Your instrument, your writing, your recording processes. This is just the result of doing exactly that.
4. The new record is incredibly dynamic — darker, more experimental, and emotionally intense. What inspired this shift in sound?
Well, we went right into COVID and all those lockdowns right as soon as we released our first album, and so with not being able to play any shows to support it, we went directly into writing. So there was some time there when we were all stuck at home not being able to work and so we spent quite a bit of time screwing around with the songs and trying different things.
5. Lyrically, the album is steeped in concepts about the multiverse, personal struggle, and existential themes. How did that concept come together, and what was the initial spark for it?
The initial spark actually came from a dream I had involving the multiverse, and as I started writing the lyrics, some of my own feelings started to show themselves through the writing.
6. Aaron, you mentioned the idea was loosely inspired by a dream. Can you talk more about that experience and how it shaped the narrative of the album?
Yeah well the dream i had was of myself standing in my home just looking out the window of my bedroom enjoying the scenery and then suddenly struck a giant flash of light that blinded me and when my vision came back I was standing in totally different house and in a totally different place entirely but as i looked around i knew the place as if i had lived there for years, i knew where every room was, where every closet was, and what was in every drawer. As I walked through the house, I knew that it was mine, but in another life, another universe. It was a very cathartic experience and left a lasting impression on me.
7. Each track has its own distinct sonic environment — forests, deserts, cosmic voids. How do you approach writing songs that feel so cinematic and immersive?
Once I decided that I wanted to write about the multiverse, I kind of listened to how the songs were turning out and let them inspire me. They all felt different in their own unique way, and so I wanted the lyrics to reflect that. I wanted every song to be set in a different place, their own unique landscape, and I tried my best to paint a picture of those landscapes through my writing, all whilst adding little tidbits of my own personal struggles that I’ve gone through in life.
8 . There’s a fascinating psychological and emotional thread running through this album. Were there any personal experiences or reflections that made their way into the lyrics?
Yeah, absolutely, usually when I write lyrics, they tend to just start writing themselves at a certain point, and my own personal feelings of loneliness and depression started to show themselves. Most of these were ones that came up during COVID and the lockdowns.
9. What was it like working with Tom Maclean (Twelve Tone Studio, Haken, Athemon) for the mixing and mastering process? How did his touch help elevate the final sound?
Tom was an amazing mixer. Very kind, patient, willing to work around our schedules, and did a fantastic job finding the sound we were looking for. Cheers to Tom for taking on this project for us, and we hope to have him work with us again in the future.
10. The artwork is stunning and eerie — a figure standing at the foot of what you call Azathoth. How important is visual storytelling to the band, and what does this image represent to you?
Fractal Generator used Erskine Designs, and we are all fans of his artwork. We knew right away we wanted to use his style, and we happened to find an image that fit perfectly with the album we were creating. It always helps to feel the music more intensely with the perfect image and colors. This image represents exactly that, a protagonist looking out into his dimensions, which in a whole is an entity destined for your destruction.
12. You’ve just announced a partnership with Bolverk Records for a limited CD release. How did that collaboration come about, and why was it important to have a physical release in 2025?
We reached out to a few labels in the hope of a deal, but what came about was an offer to us from Bolverk Records. They were great off the get-go go so we took the opportunity to work with them. We didn’t get a chance to create a physical release of our first album, and we had planned to do it ourselves for this one, but Bolverk came in heavy and offered to print some off for us (very appreciated!). It’s nice to hold a physical copy of the music you’ve created, it feels more accomplished. As well as being able to offer it to collectors.
13. With the new album’s themes touching on self-hatred, suicide, and mental health, what message do you hope listeners take away from the experience?
The album doesn’t really offer an overall message for people to take away from. It’s simply just a story that ends in tragedy. That being said, we are huge believers in getting the proper help and getting the right support group for yourself when you find yourself struggling with all life’s ups and downs.
14. How was the recording process handled, given the distance between band members, especially with parts being tracked separately? Did that isolation shape the tone of the album in any way?
I don’t think it really shaped the tone of the album in any sort of way. It turned out just the way we’re hoping it would. As for the recording process, Devin would make the drive all the way out to Aaron’s home studio, where we recorded all guitars, bass, keys, and vocals. All while Dan took care of his drum tracks in his home studio, and we would send each other our tracks as we went along
15. Symbiotic Growth has shared the stage with bands like Beyond Creation, Wolfheart, and Fractal Generator. What have been some standout moments or lessons from sharing bills with these acts?
Outside of getting the chance to play alongside bands that we loved, we got some pretty cool words of encouragement from Tuomas of Wolfheart when we played with them, which was actually our very first show.
16. Looking ahead, now that the album’s out and the CD release is dropping soon, what are your plans for the rest of 2025? Any touring, videos, or future material in the works?
Yeah there some stuff in the work a possible playthrough video and we’re hoping to gather a few other members and get out to play some shows to support the album a bit.
17. Last Words, Shoutouts, and anything else you would like to add in And thank you so much for taking the time to go through these for our reader,s your fans, and myself cheers
Yeah, shout-out to everyone who’s supported us along the way, whether it be by buying our music or by simply enjoying our music and sharing it with others. We appreciate all of you! Thanks for asking some great questions!
Cheers!
Album Band Line Up
Aaron Barriault – Vocals, Guitar, Bass
Devin McQueen – Vocals, Guitar
Dan Favot – Drums
Live Band Line Up
Aaron Barriault – Vocals, Guitar
Dan Favot – Drums
For more info: Facebook.com/SymbioticGrowth | Instagram.com/symbioticgrowth | Bandcamp
