Lux Terminus

Lux Terminus is the visionary project of keyboardist Vikram Shankar, a multifaceted musician known for his work with Pain of Salvation, Silent Skies, and Redemption, as well as his compositions for major video game scores like Space Marine II, Evil Dead: The Game, and the upcoming Jurassic Park: Survival. Formed in 2016, this instrumental trio, which also includes drummer Matthew Kerschner and bassist Brian Craft, challenges the conventions of progressive metal and rock by completely omitting electric guitars. Instead, they craft their sound with an intricate blend of pianos, analog and digital synthesizers, and orchestral arrangements. The result is a richly textured and emotionally compelling brand of modern prog—one that embraces the genre's technical complexity while never losing sight of melody, atmosphere, and emotional depth.

Their debut album, The Courage to Be (2018), set the stage for the band's unique sound, with its bold use of pianos and synths to replace the traditional guitar-driven framework of progressive music. The album's sweeping, 20-minute title track highlighted the group's orchestral influences, thanks in part to Shankar's background in film composition. The Courage to Be also featured notable guest contributions, including a guitar solo by Dutch virtuoso Timo Somers, cello from Raphael Weinroth-Browne, and stunning vocals on the album’s final track, Epilogue: Fly, by Anneke van Giersbergen.

After its release, the band took a brief hiatus as Shankar focused on his other projects, including three albums with Silent Skies, a studio album and live Blu-ray with Redemption, and extensive touring with Pain of Salvation. But now, Lux Terminus returns from hiatus, preparing to unveil their highly anticipated sophomore album, Cinder.