Epic Metal Project WHEEL OF TIME Unleashes Their Ambitious Debut Album 'Asymmetry'

WHEEL OF TIME, the brainchild of Beijing-based multi-instrumentalist and composer Jimmie Hong, has now unleashed their debut full-length album, Asymmetry. Named after one of Hong's favorite fantasy novels, WHEEL OF TIME blends the technical precision of progressive metal with melodic power metal, symphonic grandeur, and subtle Eastern melodic elements. The album was composed entirely by Hong, produced and engineered by Tom MacLean (ex-HAKEN), and recorded in collaboration with an international lineup of musicians.

Hong launched the project in 2022 while participating in the mentorship program of ex-MEGADETH guitarist Kiko Loureiro. Inspired by the collaborative spirit of projects like TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, Hong envisioned a progressive power metal project that would bring together top musicians from around the world, working remotely across continents and time zones. The band draws from influences such as METALLICA, DREAM THEATER, STRATOVARIUS, PINK FLOYD, LED ZEPPELIN, LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT, OPETH, and SYMPHONY X, while forging a sound uniquely its own.

Throughout the process, Hong was guided by a philosophy of narrative-driven songwriting, using technical mastery and emotional depth to explore themes of time, destiny, and the self. He titled the album Asymmetry because life, music, and creation are rarely symmetrical; and that is where their beauty lies. Hong worked with musicians across five continents and more than ten time zones, while independently writing, arranging, and producing the entire album from his home studio in Beijing. Notably, WHEEL OF TIME will be used as a case study at the Institute of Popular Music at the University of Liverpool in 2025, highlighting new models of high-quality independent album production.

With Asymmetry, WHEEL OF TIME delivers one of the year's most ambitious and emotionally resonant progressive metal releases. This is a sonic journey that transcends borders, genres, and expectations.

Watch the lyric video for "Blind Sight" Below.

Listen to Asymmetry HERE: https://ditto.fm/asymmetry_8c85bdcb

About WHEEL OF TIME:

WHEEL OF TIME is a progressive power metal project founded by Beijing-based composer and multi-instrumentalist Jimmie Hong. Blending the technical precision of progressive metal with the melodic strength of power metal and symphonic elements, WHEEL OF TIME creates expansive, narrative-driven music that crosses genres and borders. The project features collaborations with world-renowned musicians including Derek Sherinian, Tony MacAlpine, Michele Luppi, and Timo Tolkki. With a truly international lineup and a sound that integrates subtle Eastern melodic influences, WHEEL OF TIME explores themes of time, destiny, and self-discovery. The debut full-length album Asymmetry releases November 12, 2025.

Ancient Chinese Poetry Meets Symphonic Metal in WHEEL OF TIME’s "China Moon"

Progressive power metal project WHEEL OF TIME is set to release its latest single “China Moon”, a sweeping fusion of East and West that channels the grandeur of symphonic metal with the elegance of traditional Chinese poetics.
 

Encouraged by mentor and ex-MEGADETH guitarist Kiko Loureiro to emphasize national characteristics, Hong originally wrote “China Moon” in Chinese, in the style of Song Dynasty lyric poetry (Song Ci, 宋词), one of China’s most celebrated literary forms. The imagery recalls a poet of old, drifting half-dreaming on a moonlit river, contemplating fate and the fleeting nature of life.

Inspired in part by the 2023 Chinese animated film 30,000 Miles from Chang’an, Hong reimagined the song for an international audience, rewriting the lyrics while preserving its Chinese essence.

The single features a remarkable cast of collaborators: opera and stage vocalist Eszter Vegvari, whose dramatic delivery gives the song its emotional center; orchestrator Marcos Barilari, collaborating with WHEEL OF TIME for the second time and elevating the track with lush symphonic textures; and Ariel Tsao on the traditional Chinese Guzheng, weaving an authentic timbre into the arrangement. Together, they bring to life Hong’s vision of a cross-cultural musical journey that is both intimate and expansive.

The project’s debut full-length album Asymmetry is slated for release on November 12, 2025, promising a grand showcase of WHEEL OF TIME’s progressive, power, and symphonic fusion.

About WHEEL OF TIME:

WHEEL OF TIME is a progressive power metal project founded by Beijing-based composer and multi-instrumentalist Jimmie Hong. Blending the technical precision of progressive metal with the melodic strength of power metal and symphonic elements, WHEEL OF TIME creates expansive, narrative-driven music that crosses genres and borders. The project features collaborations with world-renowned musicians including Derek Sherinian, Tony MacAlpine, Michele Luppi, and Timo Tolkki. With a truly international lineup and a sound that integrates subtle Eastern melodic influences, WHEEL OF TIME explores themes of time, destiny, and self-discovery. The debut full-length album Asymmetry releases November 12, 2025.

WHEEL OF TIME Unveils "2063" ft. Tony MacAlpine (PLANET X)

WHEEL OF TIME lifts off into outer space with the next single "2063". WHEEL OF TIME, the progressive power metal project led by Beijing-based composer and multi-instrumentalist Jimmie Hong, has set November 12, 2025 as the release date for its debut full-length album Asymmetry.

"2063"'s title is inspired by Star Trek and the Beginning of Interstellar Travel. In the Star Trek universe, the year 2063 sees the first successful warp flight occur and humanity's first contact with an alien species. Tony MacAlpine (PLANET X) guests on "2063" providing an enticing and compelling guitar solo. Composer Hong wanted a guest "who can handle both the metal music and jazz fusion music". This track leans into the cinematic with a narrative voiceover simulating a conversation between astronauts amidst the progressive melodies and instrumental textures that sonically represent the cosmos. 

About WHEEL OF TIME:

WHEEL OF TIME is a progressive power metal project founded by Beijing-based composer and multi-instrumentalist Jimmie Hong. Blending the technical precision of progressive metal with the melodic strength of power metal and symphonic elements, WHEEL OF TIME creates expansive, narrative-driven music that crosses genres and borders. The project features collaborations with world-renowned musicians including Derek Sherinian, Tony MacAlpine, Michele Luppi, and Timo Tolkki. With a truly international lineup and a sound that integrates subtle Eastern melodic influences, WHEEL OF TIME explores themes of time, destiny, and self-discovery. The debut full-length album Asymmetry releases November 12, 2025.

Wheel Of Time - Asymmetry OUT November 12, 2025

WHEEL OF TIME is the brainchild of Beijing-based multi-instrumentalist and composer Jimmie Hong, who launched the project in 2022 while participating in the mentorship program of ex-MEGADETH guitarist Kiko Loureiro. Inspired by the collaborative spirit of projects like TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, Jimmie envisioned a progressive power metal project that would bring together top musicians from around the world, working remotely across continents and time zones.

Named after one of his favorite fantasy novels, WHEEL OF TIME blends the technical precision of progressive metal with the melodic sweep of power metal, symphonic grandeur, and subtle Eastern melodic elements. The band draws from influences such as METALLICA, DREAM THEATER, STRATOVARIUS, PINK FLOYD, LED ZEPPELIN, LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT, OPETH, and SYMPHONY X, while forging a sound uniquely its own.

After releasing the single "Grand Cosmos" in 2023 and the EP The Enlightenment later that year, WHEEL OF TIME now unveils its debut full-length album Asymmetry on November 12, 2025. The album was composed entirely by Jimmie Hong, produced and engineered by Tom MacLean (ex-HAKEN), and recorded in collaboration with an international lineup of musicians.

Asymmetry Credits:

  • Executive Producer: Jimmie Hong

  • Producer: Tom MacLean

  • Recording Studio: Twelve-tone Studio

  • Engineer: Tom MacLean

  • Mixing: Tom MacLean

  • Mastering: Tom MacLean

  • Album Cover Artist: Aleh

  • Orchestration Composer: Marcos Barilari


Connect with WHEEL OF TIME:

WHEEL OF TIME Announces Debut Full Length Album Asymmetry and Unveils First Single "Grand Cosmos"

WHEEL OF TIME, the progressive power metal project led by Beijing-based composer and multi-instrumentalist Jimmie Hong, has set November 12, 2025 as the release date for its debut full-length album Asymmetry. The first single, "Freedom Day", is out now, offering an electrifying preview of the album’s sweeping sound and bold creative vision. Asymmetry is about embracing imperfection, both in life and in music. It is a personal and spiritual journey, shaped by both progressive and power metal traditions, with influences from across the world.

"Freedom Day" captures that spirit with an explosive performance from Michele Luppi (WHITE SNAKE) on vocals and Derek Sherinian (ex-DREAM THEATER, ex-SONS OF APOLLO, PLANET X) on keyboards. The track balances intricate rhythmic tension with soaring melodic release, embodying both the technical mastery and emotional depth that define WHEEL OF TIME’s sound. 

The album Asymmetry features an international lineup of world-class musicians, including Tony MacAlpine, Timo Tolkki, Alexandre Aposan, Farhad Hossain, Ignacio Rodríguez, and more. Produced and engineered by Tom MacLean (ex-HAKEN), the album fuses progressive ambition with melodic power, Eastern and Western influences, and narrative-driven songwriting.

Listen Below:

About WHEEL OF TIME

WHEEL OF TIME is a progressive power metal project founded by Beijing-based composer and multi-instrumentalist Jimmie Hong. Blending the technical precision of progressive metal with the melodic strength of power metal and symphonic elements, WHEEL OF TIME creates expansive, narrative-driven music that crosses genres and borders. The project features collaborations with world-renowned musicians including Derek Sherinian, Tony MacAlpine, Michele Luppi, and Timo Tolkki. With a truly international lineup and a sound that integrates subtle Eastern melodic influences, WHEEL OF TIME explores themes of time, destiny, and self-discovery. The debut full-length album Asymmetry releases November 12, 2025.

Connect with WHEEL OF TIME: