Fresh off crushing the stage in celebration of the 10th anniversary of their first JUNO Award winning album, Voice of the Void, the Canadian progressive metal band Anciients are polishing off one of their heaviest songs ahead of their first tour of Europe and the United Kingdom in more than a decade.

Today, Anciients are releasing a re-recorded version of “Humanist”. Originally recorded for the band’s debut EP, Snakebeard, in 2011, “Humanist” was later included as a bonus track on their beloved first full-length, 2013’s Heart of Oak. The 2026 re-recording features their current lineup, who won a JUNO Award in 2025 for their latest album, Beyond the Reach of the Sun, as well as backing vocals from former member Chris Dyck, who appeared on the original recording. More than a decade later, the song’s heavy, heady and heartfelt performance proves once more why Anciients are one of progressive metal’s must-watch bands.

“Humanist’ was the first song we recorded as a band”, recalls Anciients’ vocalist and guitarist Kenny Cook. “After hearing the sonic improvements that came with re-recording ‘Built to Die’ last year, we wanted to give ‘Humanist’ the same treatment”.

“The song represents a wild dream”, Cook continues. “Musically, ‘Humanist’ is one of our heaviest, though we chuck a little bit of everything into the composition”.

Listen to the re-recorded version of “Humanist” below:

Catch Anciients this month on their European and UK headline tour.

Anciients 2026 Ascent of the Fallen Ones Headline European/UK Tour

September 26 - Leeuwarden, NL @ Into the Void [TICKETS]
September 27 - Cologne, DE @ Euroblast [TICKETS]
September 29 - Copenhagen, DK @ Stengade [TICKETS]
October 1 - London, UK @ The Black Heart [TICKETS]
October 2 - Nottingham, UK @ The Mist Rolling Inn [TICKETS]
October 3 - Manchester, UK @ The Lodge [TICKETS]
October 4 - Bristol, UK @ The Croft [TICKETS]
October 6 - Southampton, UK @ Joiners [TICKETS]
October 7 - Brighton, UK @ Dust [TICKETS]
October 10 - Nijmegen, NL @ Soulcrusher [TICKETS]

October 12 - Toulouse, FR @ Le Rex [TICKETS]
October 13 - Barcelona, ES @ Razzmatazz 3 [TICKETS]
October 14 - Madrid, ES @ Rockville [TICKETS]
October 15 - Bragança, PT @ JP Rock Cafe [TICKETS]

October 17 - Porto, PT @ Auditório CCOP

Anciients’ award-winning discography is available now on Season of Mist.

Order & Stream
https://orcd.co/anciientsbeyondthereachofthesun

With all being said and done, Anciients have returned! They stand ready to ascend the prog metal ladder and get back to doing what they do best with a weighty and dense, but wholly accessible, album. It’s a collection of ten songs that possesses the ability to have those furiously banging heads also tapping into their power of self-reflection and contemplation to ponder the finality of existence, the value of life and their place in the universe.

“Totally! We’re going to take as many of the opportunities that come to us. The hiatus is over and I think with the new members and everyone being on the same page we’re ready to get out there as soon as possible. We missed out on a huge block after the last record, so we’ve got to make up for lost time. Now that everyone is happy and healthy, we plan to hit it hard.”

Lineup
Kenny Cook (vocals, guitar)
Mike Hannay (drums)
Brock MacInnes (rhythm guitar)
Rory O'Brien (bass)

Guest musicians on “Humanist” (Re-Recorded)
Chris Dyck - Backing vocals

Recording studio
Rain City Recorders

Producer and sound engineer
Jesse Gander

Mastering engineer and studio
Stu McKillop @ Rain City Mastering

Mixing engineer and studio
Jesse Gander @ Rain City Recorders

Bio
Kevin Stewart-Panko

Order & Stream: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/anciientsallitems

Follow Anciients
Bandcamp: https://anciientriffs.bandcamp.com/album/beyond-the-reach-of-the-sun
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ANCIIENTSRIFFS
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anciients/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ANCIIENTS
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ANCIIENTS
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/anciients/603538280
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/artist/3YQOcYukzO6U1MjFcavDUE?si=4QWahfZxQjOmAI7nYrav6g&nd=1&dlsi=0142e5e62ae54105