Crown Lands

Canadian Heavy Progressive Rock, Indigenous Advocacy & Epic Duo Virtuosity

Biography

Hailing from Oshawa, Ontario, Crown Lands is a Canadian progressive rock powerhouse formed in 2015 by multi-instrumentalist Kevin Comeau (guitars, bass pedals, analog synthesizers) and vocalist/drummer Cody Bowles (vocals, drums, percussion, flute). The duo took their moniker as a direct critique of "crown land"—government-held land appropriated from Indigenous peoples—channeling themes of First Nations heritage, anti-colonial resistance, and expansive sci-fi cosmology into their songwriting.

Despite performing strictly as a two-piece, Crown Lands conjure a massive, arena-sized wall of sound reminiscent of 1970s progressive rock giants. After winning the 2021 JUNO Award for Breakthrough Group of the Year, the band teamed up with legendary Rush producers David Bottrill, Nick Raskulinecz, and Terry Brown to record expansive, multi-part progressive epics, cementing their place as the modern standard-bearers of vintage Canadian heavy prog.

Selected Discography

Studio Albums

Crown Lands (2020 | Universal Music Canada)
Produced by Dave Cobb; a blues-heavy hard rock debut featuring punchy, riff-centric anthems like "Leadfoot" and "End of the Road".
Fearless (2023 | Spinefarm / Universal)
A triumphant leap into full-scale progressive rock, recorded at 80 Hertz Studios in England and produced by David Bottrill. Anchored by the sprawling 18-minute sci-fi opus "Starlifter: Fearless, Pt. II" and "Lady of the Lake".
Apocalypse (2026 | InsideOut Music)
A tour de force concept record deepening their heavy prog arrangements, complex meters, and cinematic analog synth textures.

EPs & Live Releases

Mantra (2016) & Rise Over Run (2017) – Raw, early independent blues-rock EPs.
White Buffalo (2021) – Exploratory conceptual EP featuring "The Oracle" and "White Buffalo".
Odyssey, Vol. 1 (2021) – Live acoustic and electric showcase recorded in studio.

Guitar Style & Instrumental Approach

Kevin Comeau’s playing style is anchored by a high-wire, multi-instrumental performance approach that evokes Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee simultaneously:

Double-Neck Mastery: Frequently deploys Gibson EDS-1275 and custom double-neck guitars (pairing 12-string chime with a 6-string electric, or guitar and bass combinations) to shift seamlessly between lush acoustic-style arpeggios and crushing heavy riffing.
Simultaneous Bass Pedal Work: Powers the duo's colossal low end live by triggering Moog Taurus bass synth pedals and Roland MIDI foot controllers with his feet while navigating intricate guitar passages on his hands.
Rush & Page Influenced Voicings: Heavy use of open string drone chords, ringing suspended fourths, and F# minor/Lydian voicings across high-tempo shifts, marrying Led Zeppelin's blues-riff swagger with Rush's harmonic complexity.
Analog Synth Layering: Weaves modular synthesizers, Mellotron strings, and vintage Minimoog filters directly into lead guitar sections, creating dense, symphonic walls of sound without prerecorded backing tracks.
Dynamic Lead Phrasing: Lead solos balance singing, wide pentatonic bends and blues-rock grit with lightning-fast alternate-picked runs and delay-drenched spacey modulations.

CROWN LANDS – Through The Looking Glass (OFFICIAL VIDEO) Taken from the album ‘Apocalypse’ out 15th May 2026 via InsideOutMusic. https://crownlandsmusic.lnk.to/Apocalypse-AlbumID

CROWN LANDS - Through The Looking Glass (Official Video)