The Wring (Canada) - Heavy Prog?

The question mark in the topic subject is there because this band's music does tend to approach metal territory on a fairly regular basis, and thus might be considered by some to be a more appropriate fit in Prog Metal than Heavy Prog. However, an evaluation is already underway in Heavy Prog, and we have one 'yes' vote from that team thus far.

The Wring started off as a solo project of Canadian guitarist Dan Dewulf in 2015. Don gathered together some other players from the area around his home in Sudbury, northern Ontario, and in 2017 he released what he describes as 'a solid hard rock album with some adventurous experimentation' as the band's self-titled debut. Don's main influences are stated as Rush, early Megadeth, Opeth and Tool, with honourable mentions to Porcupine Tree and King Crimson.

The band at that time consisted of Don Dewulf on guitar, Jason Henrie on bass, Rob Straughan on drums and Dan MacDonald on vocals. Despite living in a mining area with no decent live venues nearby, they managed to play numerous live shows in support of the album, opening for bands such as Diamond Head, Anvil, Crone of War, Dead Daisies and Sven Gali. They also played the Budweiser New Music festival, opening for Finger Eleven and Glorious Sons. During 2018, Moss Beckman joined the band on bass for the live shows.

In late 2018, the other members decided to move on, but Don felt it was time for another recording project, and over the next few months he recruited Dan MacDonald on vox, Craig Giles on bass and Cory Kottick on drums from the local talent pool. With this line up The Wring released the single '48 oz' in March 2019, which drummer Cory Kottick also co-produced.

When Covid struck in early 2020, Don had a number of songs already written and demoed, and he really wanted to get them recorded. He asked the previous bass player Jason Henrie if he wanted to do a recording project, and the answer was 'yes'. Since leaving The Wring in 2018, Jason had been doing session work with Jason Sadites and Marco Minneman, and had built up some contacts in the world of pro musicians, one of whom was International session drummer Thomas Lang, who in turn introduced Don to vocalist and guitarist Marc Bonilla (Keith Emerson, Ronnie Montrose, Glenn Hughes, Edgar Winter, David Coverdale, Asia).

Jason Henrie had originally intended to track all the bass parts for the sophomore album, but life commitments precluded that, and instead he connected Don with Bryan Beller (Joe Satriani, The Aristocrats, Dethklok, Steve Vai) as a more than capable stand in to finish off the bass parts. The 'Project Cipher' album was released in May 2021, and with the promotional support of Jon Asher at Asher Media Relations it  reached all corners of the world. The album also caught the attention of Italian record label Wormholedeath Records, who signed it up to a distribution deal.

For the third album 'Spectra', Jason Henrie was unavailable to play bass, but he managed to connect Don with drummer Marco Minnemann (Steven Wilson, The Aristocrats, Necrophagist, The Mute Gods, The Sea Within etc). The rest of the line up was sourced via SoundBetter after some extensive searching, and included Reggie Hache on bass, Chandler Mogel on vocals and Isamu McGregor on keys. The album was mixed by Francis Perron at Radicart Studios, and was released in December 2022 on Wormholedeath Records.

The fourth album 'Nemesis' again featured bassist Reggie Hache, this time also taking on the vocal duties. Drums were performed by Kyle Brian Abbott, and Francis Perron returned to mix the album, which was released worldwide on Wormholedeath Records on September 27, 2024.

Since the first incarnation of The Wring broke up as a band in 2018, there has never really been another 'band' in the true sense of the word, with all subsequent releases essentially being collaborative projects involving internationally renowned session musicians. However, Don is constantly on the lookout for like-minded musicians with whom he might one day be able to form another 'proper' band capable of embarking on live performances once again.

1. The Wring (5:15) 

2. Sticks & Stones (5:18) 

3. Rain (5:35) 

4. Victims (4:07) 

5. Moment Critique (1:01) 

6. Thrall (4:29) 

7. Third Base (5:19) 

8. Down (4:57) 

9. Eclipse (5:31) 

Total Time 41:32

- Don Dewulf / guitars

- Jason Henrie / bass

- Rob Straughan / drums

- Dan MacDonald / vocals

Music & lyrics by Don Dewulf, except 'Victims' by The Wring

Mixed & mastered by MetalWorks

Cover design by Alec MacDonald

CD self-released February 1 2017

Digital album

1. The Light (4:10) 

2. Sorceress (4:43) 

3. Cipher (4:29) 

4. Steelier (4:25) 

5. Dissension (4:08) 

6. Dose (3:27) 

7. Touch (4:29) 

Total Time 29:51

- Don Dewulf / guitars

- Marc Bonilla / vocals

- Thomas Lang / drums

- Bryan Beller / bass(2,4,5)

- Jason Henrie / bass (1,3,6,7)

- Jason Sadites / guitar solo (5)

Music by Don Dewulf

Lyrics by Don Dewulf with Marc Bonilla (except 'Sorceress' by Steve Kraus with Don Dewulf & Marc Bonilla)

Mixed & mastered by Forrester Savell

Cover art by Melissa Friesen

CD Wormholedeath Records - whd275 May 28 2021

Digital album

1. Stiletto (4:42) 

2. Stones & Bones (5:01) 

3. The Prince (3:58) 

4. The Wolf (5:03) 

5. Tin Man (5:28) 

6. From Mars (4:46) 

7. SINS (4:46) 

8. Fallen (5:08) 

Total Time 38:52

- Don Dewulf / guitars

- Reggie Hache / bass

- Marco Minnemann / drums

- Chandler Mogel / vocals

- Isamu McGregor / keys

All music & lyrics by Don Dewulf

Mixed by Francis Perron at Radicart Studios

Cover design by Gord Woolley

CD Wormholedeath Records - whd389 December 16 2022

Digital album

1. Badlands (5:13) 

2. The Nail (5:28) 

3. Blur (4:17) 

4. The Sword (5:37) 

5. Before I Disappear (4:39) 

6. Welshrats (5:18) 

7. Dark Passenger (5:20) 

8. Nemesis (4:47) 

Total Time 40:39

- Don Dewulf / guitars

- Reggie Hache / bass, vocals

- Kyle Brian Abbott / drums

Music by Don Dewulf & Reggie Hache

Lyrics by Don Dewulf

Mixed by Francis Perron at Radicart Studios

Mastered by Alex Sergerie at SLAM Audio

CD Wormholedeath Records September 27 2024

Digital album

https://thewring2.bandcamp.com/album/nemesis.

https://thewring.ca/.

https://www.facebook.com/thewringband.

https://www.youtube.com/@thewringband/videos.

https://awesomeprog.com/artists/18524.