Internationally acclaimed Canadian cellist and composer Raphael Weinroth-Browne has unveiled 'Possession', the second single from his forthcoming solo album Lifeblood, due out 3rd October. An electrifying artistic statement, 'Possession' fuses Arabic-inspired melodies and heavy rhythmic grooves with the gothic melancholy of Opeth and the icy, otherworldly dissonance of Meshuggah.
As with the video for previous single 'Lifeblood', 'Possession' was filmed in Poland, this time in a decaying yet grand old theatre. Directed by the acclaimed Grupa13 (Behemoth, Leprous), the video explores the psychological landscape of a performer on stage, turning an ordinary audience into a menacing, masked presence. Drawing visual inspiration from the masked ball in Eyes Wide Shut, the clip reflects themes of performance anxiety, self-doubt, and the disorienting distortion of perception.
Watch the video: https://youtu.be/3CTTdmhKO8I
Stream 'Possession' here.
Raphael comments on the new single: "With 'Possession' I wanted to combine Arabic-inspired melodies and heavy grooves with the haunting, gothic atmosphere of Opeth and the cold, almost alien atonality of Meshuggah. This track originated as an improvised jam in maqam Saba, a scale associated with sadness and lamentation that appears in both Turkish and Arabic music. This early incarnation of the piece became a viral reel on Instagram before I decided to turn it into a fully-fledged composition. I feel that 'Possession' encapsulates my diverse influences and remains one of my most succinct and direct musical statements."
A deeply personal body of work, Lifeblood captures the raw duality at the core of Weinroth-Browne’s expression: the transcendence of creative flow alongside the consuming intensity of ambition. Blending the weight of progressive metal with Middle Eastern modalities, modern classical precision and immersive electronic textures, Lifeblood marks his most audacious and fully realised solo work to date.
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 to come later this year, Lifeblood marks a major milestone in Weinroth-Browne’s uncompromising creative journey, an album that channels passion, pain, discipline and defiance into a work that feels at once ancient and immediate, cerebral and gut-wrenching.
Catch Raphael live on the following dates:
Jul 17 - Ottawa, Canada - Solo performance at Rainbow Bistro supporting PAKT
Jul 25 - Suffolk, UK - Performing with James Wilton Dance at Latitude Festival
Aug 28 - Ottawa, Canada - Solo performance at Speakeasy Tapas Lounge
Raphael Weinroth-Browne online:
Official Website || Facebook | Instagram || Youtube || X || Bandcamp || Tik Tok
