2026
A Mythmaker's Demise
Twenty years after Oniric Metal, the project comes full circle: legacy, brotherhood and raw musicianship.
The record
To mark the twentieth anniversary, Vivien reunites with the voice that started it all: Martin LeMar (Mekong Delta, Nachtgeschrei), whose lyrics and performance reconnect the present with the origins of the project. Also returning is Simon Phillips (Toto, Protocol), the first musician ever to record Lalu material.
Continuing the momentum of The Fish Who Wanted To Be King, the album was co-written with Joop Wolters, who also delivers guitars and bass. No overproduction, no artifice: every track is built from the ground up and captured as a performance.
Jens Johansson (Stratovarius, Yngwie Malmsteen) guests with explosive solos across three tracks, closing a loop of his own: he was one of Vivien's earliest influences and a contributor to both Atomic Ark and Paint The Sky.
The title stands as a dark metaphor for the erosion of human creativity in the age of artificial intelligence. The artwork by Mattias Norén shows a writer lifeless at his desk while the creations of his imagination struggle to escape into a world that no longer needs them.
Tracklist
- Tears Of The Muse
- EKO
- I Am The One
- Mayacama Instrumental
- Prince With The Swift Warning
- Learning To Fly
- A Drop Of Water Instrumental
- Fhloston Paradise
- Cordal Weaves
- Midnight Ink
Line-up
- Martin LeMar - Vocals
- Vivien Lalu - Keyboards
- Simon Phillips - Drums
- Joop Wolters - Guitars, bass
Guests
- Jens Johansson - keyboard solos on tracks 4, 5 and 6
Sleeve notes
Vivien Lalu"Twenty years ago this year, the release of Oniric Metal was the spark that lit the fire. To celebrate that legacy, I invited the original voice of the project, Martin LeMar, to return and mark this milestone with us."
"Even when Damian Wilson took over vocals during the pandemic era, Martin and I always remained close. We have shared a strong friendship and mutual respect for over two decades now."
"This record also brought back another important figure from the origin story: Simon Phillips, the first drummer who played on Paint The Sky. Having him onboard again was not just symbolic, it was essential. There is something timeless in his touch that cannot be replicated."
"In the spirit of that early fire, Joop Wolters and I continued the collaborative writing approach we began on the previous opus. We pushed each other forward, crafting songs that live and breathe like a real band. No artificial polish, no shortcuts."
"We wanted this album to feel organic, alive. No drum samples. Next to no EQ. Just clean performances captured in their natural state, mixed almost untouched to preserve that live, breathing energy."
Joop Wolters"Thrilled about this new album, where we could create a new excellent journey together with our friends from the past. Twenty years went by like a breeze with this project, where creativity and respect still work hand in hand. We always created an environment that is more about giving than receiving, which has created many great memories and friendships."
"So I am very thankful for these twenty years of sharing music, friendship and real love in this brotherhood, together with such incredible talents and personalities, through good times and bad. To make it work for twenty years, it is all about trust and recognition in each other's true talent, and embracing that."
"For this album it was again a very natural writing and production process between Viv and myself. There has always been undeniable musical synergy between us since we met twenty years ago. Locking in with the real, unedited live drums by the great Simon Phillips in the final stages was, once again, the icing on the cake. Real band feel, just like back in the good ol' days."
Credits
- Drums recorded and engineered by Simon Phillips at Phantom Recordings, California
- Guitars and bass recorded and engineered by Joop Wolters, The Netherlands
- Vocals recorded and engineered by Phil Hillen at SU2 Studio, Germany
- Mixed by Vivien Lalu, France
- Produced by Vivien Lalu and Joop Wolters
- Logo and art by Mattias Norén, progart.com
More than an anniversary release, A Mythmaker's Demise is a statement: a tribute to two decades of artistic integrity, and a reminder that human expression still carries something no machine can replace.