Progressive metal band Apotheus announce sci-fi concept album 'The Complex Permutation' and share first single • GRIMM Gent

The mission continues as Portuguese progressive metal band Apotheus will release their fourth studio album The Complex Permutation (out 20th November 2026) based on an intriguing Sci-Fi story, that will be released separately in text and audio format.

Alongside the album announcement, the first single ‘Boundaries’ is released featuring guest vocals by Björn Strid (Soilwork, The Night Flight Orchestra). The song illustrates how boundaries of perception begin to collapse and humanity confronts an incomprehensible force beyond its control. ‘Boundaries’ is the first chapter of The Complex Permutation showcasing the whole range of Apotheus’ versatile sound. After a short atmospheric prelude the song jumps directly into towering walls of sound while vocalist Miguel Andrade presents his impressive abilities from clean vocals to visceral growls. The track lures with ever-changing rhythms and immersive atmospheric parts consisting of electronic and symphonic elements, that take their listeners on a journey through space.

Apotheus comment on the new single:

“There’s a moment when everything you know stops being useful. ‘Boundaries’ lives in that moment: when time, space and certainty begin to disappear, but something inside you still refuses to surrender.”

Apotheus, known as a rising force of the European prog scene, played notable festivals like ProgPower Europe, Al Metal Fest, Comendatio Music Fest, River Stone and Laurus Nobilis Music Fest, where they’ve shared stages with the most respected names of the scene like Katatonia, Caligula’s Horse, Omnium Gatherum, Saor and many more. Furthermore they’ve opened stages for notable acts like Pain of Salvation and Gaerea in December 2025 and played their own European headliner tour in 2025.

Their newest opus is more than an album as it withholds a conceptual science fiction story written by the band, which will be released separately in text and audio format. Set deep into outer space the unified entity GODS confronts the ancient being VOID, which seeks to eradicate all life in order to end suffering. What follows is a cosmic conflict revolving around topics like individuality, free will, hope and life itself. Combining captivating progressive metal with a science fiction story has become the trademark of Apotheus’ musical work as with their earlier albums The Far Star and Ergo Atlas also are based on science fiction stories.

Pre-Order The Complex Permutation here

Tracklist:
1. Boundaries
2. V.O.I.D.
3. Fracture
4. Key Keeper
5. 5th Dimension
6. Ascension
7. The Wait
8. The Complex Permutation
9. A New Beginning II
10. Epilogue

With The Complex Permutation the quartet from Portugal elevate time and space and open new dimensions of progressive metal. Top-tier songwriting combined with technical precision, driving rhythms, cinematic story telling and space-like atmospheres keep the listener captivated through the album showcasing an impressive variety inviting listeners to lose themselves in its expansive soundscapes. The Complex Permutation was recorded and mixed by Jorge Lopes at Redboxstudio, while Tesseract’s mastermind Acle Khaney was responsible for the mastering.

Apotheus are about to release a mesmerizing album full of emotion, atmosphere and virtuosic musicianship proving they are just about to ascend in the higher ranks of the progressive metal scene.