Progressive death metal project CHANGELING will release its self-titled debut album on April 25, 2025. Composed, produced, and mixed by Berlin-based guitarist and producer Tom “Fountainhead” Geldschläger, the album presents a 60-minute concept work written specifically for both stereo and Dolby Atmos, with the Atmos/Spatial-Audio version coming to streaming services on may 23rd.The album consists of ten tracks that collectively follow a narrative arc structured around a first-person psychedelic experience. Each composition corresponds to a distinct stage of the narrator’s psychological transformation—from initial sensory distortion to ego dissolution and eventual cognitive reintegration.
Musically, Changeling combines technical death metal with elements of classical orchestration, jazz/fusion, and world music. The arrangements feature fretless and fretted electric guitars, oud, fretless bass, drums, synthesizers, and a broad spectrum of acoustic instrumentation, performed by over 50 guest musicians. The album includes performances by multiple guest guitarists (from legendary bands like Death, Cynic & I Am Morbid), orchestral musicians, a choir, and players of non-western percussion instruments.
Key tracks include lead single “Abyss”, structured around quarter-tone modulations and layered choral textures, second single “Falling in Circles”, highlighting the band’s virtuoso performances and directly referencing Geldschläger’s earlier work on Obscura’s Akroasis – and the recently released title track “Changeling”, combining ritualistic vocal performances and atmospheric microtonal synth work with colossal death metal riffs.
The full album will stream live on the Season of Mist YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/G_LWBR0bhdY
Pre-order & Pre-save ‘Changeling’ here: https://orcd.co/changelingchangeling
In support of the album’s release, CHANGELING founder Tom “Fountainhead” Geldschläger will participate in a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) on the r/TechnicalDeathMetal subreddit.
In tandem with the album release, Tom “Fountainhead” Geldschläger is unveiling an ambitious series of Changeling transcription books—available now for pre-order. There will be three editions: Guitar Transcriptions, meticulously transcribed by Tom himself; Bass Transcriptions, crafted by Arran McSporran; and the expansive Complete Transcriptions, an all-encompassing collection featuring every single note performed on the album. This includes guitar, bass, drums (transcribed by Fenix Gayed), all orchestral arrangements, vocals, lyrics, and detailed liner notes written by Tom, offering rare insights into the compositional process.
The Guitar (approx. 500 pages) and Bass (approx. 75 pages) books will launch alongside the album on April 25th, while the Complete Transcriptions—a massive 800–1000 page volume—will follow on May 23rd, coinciding with the release of the Atmos Mix of the album. All editions will be available in physical format as well as digital (PDF and Guitar Pro), and every physical copy of the Complete Transcriptions will be personally signed. Each print version also includes a free download of its corresponding digital edition.
Pre-orders are available now: https://changelingmerch.bigcartel.com/
Tracklist:
1. Introject (1:56)
2. Instant Results (4:33)
3. Falling in Circles (3:47) [WATCH]
4. World? What World? (6:43)
5. Metanoia Interlude (00:57)
6. Changeling (6:57) [WATCH]
7. Abyss (8:06) [WATCH]
8. Cathexis Interlude (1:19)
9. Abdication (9:05)
10. Anathema (16:51)
Full runtime: 1:00:16
Country: Germany
Genre: Progressive Death Metal
FFO: Obscura, Steve Vai, Devin Townsend, Morbid Angel
Follow Fountainhead & Changeling:
Website: http://www.thefountainhead.de
Facebook: http://facebook.com/tomfountainheadgeldschlaeger
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/changeling.official
Bandcamp: https://changelingofficial.bandcamp.com/
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/fountainheadtv
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/artist/changeling/294821510
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4MbRUvwQcEBzryOhWMHkvV