Detroit-area heavyweights team up to create new anthems in a self-produced debut of progressive rock with radio-friendly sensibilities, a combination that friends of Occlusion call “Pop-prog.”

After graduating from the University of Michigan, Ben Harmsen, guitarist of Detroit’s heavy metal horror show Halloween, joined forces with fellow graduates Nelson Gast (bass) and Marty Gray (vocals) to form a cover band. The three weren’t content simply playing covers and sought to push themselves musically by producing an original album. After recruiting their friend and drummer Anthony DeMartinis, they proceeded to write what would become Occlusion’s debut album.

With a collective decades of musical experience, the quartet hopes to fuse the sound of their joint love of prog bands such as Tool, Leprous, and Karnivool, with grunge acts such as Soundgarden and Alice In Chains, to pioneer a new blend of Progressive rock.

They released their first full-length album “Depth Toll” in January 2024.