PRISONER RELEASES SECOND SINGLE “STRESS FRACTURE”
Following the explosive debut of their first single, “Lost in Control”, Prisoner returns with “Stress Fracture”—the hard-hitting second release from their upcoming album Kill the King.Â
Ever heard thrash-inspired anthemic heavy metal? Look no further, as “Stress Fracture” changes lives with its massive chorus’ intense harmony, guitar solos, and heart-stopping bass. “Stress Fracture” comments on the idea of how society uses medicine, pharmaceutical or not, to address immune responses rather than fix the root cause of a problem. This also comments on the human condition as we tend to follow patterns that may be used as a way to ignore the deeper issue, rather than take accountability.
Singer and Writer Murray Emery comments:
“My personal favourite track on the album, “Stress Fracture” reels you in with its catchy riffs, tight grooves and big chorus’. This song has a moment for everyone in the band to have a spotlight and pushed me to use a large variety of my “vocal toolbox” to deliver a passionate performance that puts the listener deep into the music.”
Their latest album, Kill The King, marks a defining moment in the band’s evolution. Drawing inspiration from current events, personal struggles, and a deep desire to uncover life’s meaning, the album is a bold and unapologetic statement about questioning the world around you and striving for personal growth. The title itself reflects the band’s raw, no-holds-barred approach to rock music, delivering a sound that’s direct, powerful, and visceral.
Murray Emery shares,
“This album is especially different for us as this is a full band production from start to finish in a very short time. (5 months to write and record the album) Everything released previously (apart from singles) was the works of myself as a teenager still learning my instrument and craft. This is a direct representation of who we are as a band in 2025 and sets the baseline for what Prisoner is and where we will be headed in the future.”Â
The album was recorded by Murray Emery and Cody Anstey (Osyron) at Crooks Hollow Studio in Calgary Alberta, mixed by Cody Anstey at Clarity Recording Studio, mastered by Tyler Corbett (Red Cain, Osyron, Doxian) at Sole Audio and produced by Cody Anstey, Reed Alton (In Vertigo), & Murray Emery.Â
Pre-order Kill The King here.
First off, care to introduce PRISONER to our readers?
Murray Emery: Prisoner is your all-around hard rock/metal band from Calgary, AB. We bring the nostalgia of your classic and traditional rock and metal bands, all while being influenced by modern metal to create a fresh take on metal music without being a carbon copy of legacy acts. We push the mould of a traditional band and write music that fits under the scope of Prisoner, without limiting ourselves to a specific subgenre of rock or metal. We are currently traveling across Canada on our “Kill The King Tour” supporting our sophomore record.
Let’s talk about the title—Kill the King is bold. What does it represent to you on both a personal and societal level?
Murray Emery: Kill The King is exactly what it’s meant to be. Abrasive, unapologetic, and to the point. To me, this is a direct representation of what Prisoner is and is going to be moving forward. The title itself brings a feeling of power, success, and triumph through our musical journey as a band. On a societal level, the world is constantly changing for better and for worse, and each could be easily argued. Yet I think when you put the imagery of a being who is in power, losing the thing that makes us all equal, is quite a powerful statement. It speaks on change, growth, and development, revealing the true evils of the world around this idea of a “ruler” and the choices they make while in power. Commenting on anyone with a level of status or influence, from a close friend to an international political power.
Your single “Lost In Control” captures themes of desperation and self-reflection. Was that track a starting point for the album, or did it emerge later in the process?
Murray Emery: The instrumentation was one of the first songs to be written and completed by the band in pre-production. The theme of the album fits around the musical theme being of the more median style songs in terms of heaviness. Regarding lyrical content, the ideas came last as it was the last song finished lyrically. Karl and I put a lot of thought behind how the lyrics fit with the rest of the album, as it sits directly in the middle. This was one of the band’s favourite songs as it quickly became one of those pieces you don’t really have a structure for completing. It gets done when it wants to be finished, and the creative process becomes very organic.
Can you walk us through the production process—working with Cody Anstey, Reed Alton, and Tyler Corbett? What did each of them bring to the table?
Murray Emery: The production process was very refreshing from start to finish. This is the first collaboration on a full-length album for the band. So, having Cody, Reed, and Tyler involved pushed us to explore ideas and limits we didn’t know we had. All three work together extensively on other projects, so their system for working with artists is very refined. I personally work closely with them on other projects as well as with my studio, so it felt very comfortable to have them in the room in the recording sessions, as well as mixing and mastering. Cody’s knowledge of drums, recording, and mixing helped create the vibe of the record with the drum recording in Crooks Hollow Studio. This allowed me the space to build our guitar and bass sound with Trevor and build off of the raw performance delivered by Karl. Reed went the extra mile and constantly pushed me vocally, throwing new ideas into the mix during each session, making each song that much better. Knowing Tyler as a great mix engineer, we knew that his mastering skills were needed for this production to give it the “Sole Audio” stamp. This album turned out the way it did due to the positive energy in collaboration, where we did not compromise on the quality in any way. Each person on the production team was open and realistic with the delivery of the album, and we couldn’t be happier with the result.
If this album had a visual component—a film, a graphic novel, a stage show—what would it look like?
Trevor MacDonald: Our current stage show for our “Kill The King Tour” consists of our own backdrops, outfits, and lighting show. We want to make each Prisoner show feel like a unique experience wherever we play. We take heavy inspiration from traditional metal styles with leather jackets, long hair, and combat boots. Our lighting tech, Kyle Yas, has programmed unique visuals for each song on our current setlist, and our lighting setup is equally adaptable to different setups.
What are some goals or dream collaborations the band hopes to achieve in the next year or two?
Trevor MacDonald: Being from Calgary, Alberta, we have a lot of rock/metal festivals that are happening around us each year, whether that’s in our hometown, or any of the surrounding towns/cities, our sights are currently set for more live shows. Specifically, we always have our eyes on the Loud As Hell festival in Drumheller Valley, as well as the Calgary Stampede, and its various shows happening.
Upcoming Shows;
06.06.25 Lethbridge, AB @ The Owl
06.13.25 Red Deer, AB @ The Vat
06.14.25 Edmonton, AB @ Dive Bar
08.08.25 Medicine Hat, AB @ Liquid Event Center
08.09.25 Brandon, MB @ The 40
08.12.25 Winnipeg, MB @ Handsome Daughter
08.13.25 Thunder Bay, ON @ Black Pirate Pub
08.15. 25 London, ON @ Palisade Socialbowl
08.16.25 Hamilton, ON @ Doors Pub                                       Â
08.17.25 Toronto, ON @ Bovine Sex Club
Connect with Prisoner:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
Prisoner to release new album, Kill The King (Interview)
PRISONER RELEASES SECOND SINGLE “STRESS FRACTURE”
Following the explosive debut of their first single, “Lost in Control”, Prisoner returns with “Stress Fracture”—the hard-hitting second release from their upcoming album Kill the King.Â
Ever heard thrash-inspired anthemic heavy metal? Look no further, as “Stress Fracture” changes lives with its massive chorus’ intense harmony, guitar solos, and heart-stopping bass. “Stress Fracture” comments on the idea of how society uses medicine, pharmaceutical or not, to address immune responses rather than fix the root cause of a problem. This also comments on the human condition as we tend to follow patterns that may be used as a way to ignore the deeper issue, rather than take accountability.
Singer and Writer Murray Emery comments:
Their latest album, Kill The King, marks a defining moment in the band’s evolution. Drawing inspiration from current events, personal struggles, and a deep desire to uncover life’s meaning, the album is a bold and unapologetic statement about questioning the world around you and striving for personal growth. The title itself reflects the band’s raw, no-holds-barred approach to rock music, delivering a sound that’s direct, powerful, and visceral.
Murray Emery shares,
The album was recorded by Murray Emery and Cody Anstey (Osyron) at Crooks Hollow Studio in Calgary Alberta, mixed by Cody Anstey at Clarity Recording Studio, mastered by Tyler Corbett (Red Cain, Osyron, Doxian) at Sole Audio and produced by Cody Anstey, Reed Alton (In Vertigo), & Murray Emery.Â
Pre-order Kill The King here.
First off, care to introduce PRISONER to our readers?
Murray Emery: Prisoner is your all-around hard rock/metal band from Calgary, AB. We bring the nostalgia of your classic and traditional rock and metal bands, all while being influenced by modern metal to create a fresh take on metal music without being a carbon copy of legacy acts. We push the mould of a traditional band and write music that fits under the scope of Prisoner, without limiting ourselves to a specific subgenre of rock or metal. We are currently traveling across Canada on our “Kill The King Tour” supporting our sophomore record.
Let’s talk about the title—Kill the King is bold. What does it represent to you on both a personal and societal level?
Murray Emery: Kill The King is exactly what it’s meant to be. Abrasive, unapologetic, and to the point. To me, this is a direct representation of what Prisoner is and is going to be moving forward. The title itself brings a feeling of power, success, and triumph through our musical journey as a band. On a societal level, the world is constantly changing for better and for worse, and each could be easily argued. Yet I think when you put the imagery of a being who is in power, losing the thing that makes us all equal, is quite a powerful statement. It speaks on change, growth, and development, revealing the true evils of the world around this idea of a “ruler” and the choices they make while in power. Commenting on anyone with a level of status or influence, from a close friend to an international political power.
Your single “Lost In Control” captures themes of desperation and self-reflection. Was that track a starting point for the album, or did it emerge later in the process?
Murray Emery: The instrumentation was one of the first songs to be written and completed by the band in pre-production. The theme of the album fits around the musical theme being of the more median style songs in terms of heaviness. Regarding lyrical content, the ideas came last as it was the last song finished lyrically. Karl and I put a lot of thought behind how the lyrics fit with the rest of the album, as it sits directly in the middle. This was one of the band’s favourite songs as it quickly became one of those pieces you don’t really have a structure for completing. It gets done when it wants to be finished, and the creative process becomes very organic.
Can you walk us through the production process—working with Cody Anstey, Reed Alton, and Tyler Corbett? What did each of them bring to the table?
Murray Emery: The production process was very refreshing from start to finish. This is the first collaboration on a full-length album for the band. So, having Cody, Reed, and Tyler involved pushed us to explore ideas and limits we didn’t know we had. All three work together extensively on other projects, so their system for working with artists is very refined. I personally work closely with them on other projects as well as with my studio, so it felt very comfortable to have them in the room in the recording sessions, as well as mixing and mastering. Cody’s knowledge of drums, recording, and mixing helped create the vibe of the record with the drum recording in Crooks Hollow Studio. This allowed me the space to build our guitar and bass sound with Trevor and build off of the raw performance delivered by Karl. Reed went the extra mile and constantly pushed me vocally, throwing new ideas into the mix during each session, making each song that much better. Knowing Tyler as a great mix engineer, we knew that his mastering skills were needed for this production to give it the “Sole Audio” stamp. This album turned out the way it did due to the positive energy in collaboration, where we did not compromise on the quality in any way. Each person on the production team was open and realistic with the delivery of the album, and we couldn’t be happier with the result.
If this album had a visual component—a film, a graphic novel, a stage show—what would it look like?
Trevor MacDonald: Our current stage show for our “Kill The King Tour” consists of our own backdrops, outfits, and lighting show. We want to make each Prisoner show feel like a unique experience wherever we play. We take heavy inspiration from traditional metal styles with leather jackets, long hair, and combat boots. Our lighting tech, Kyle Yas, has programmed unique visuals for each song on our current setlist, and our lighting setup is equally adaptable to different setups.
What are some goals or dream collaborations the band hopes to achieve in the next year or two?
Trevor MacDonald: Being from Calgary, Alberta, we have a lot of rock/metal festivals that are happening around us each year, whether that’s in our hometown, or any of the surrounding towns/cities, our sights are currently set for more live shows. Specifically, we always have our eyes on the Loud As Hell festival in Drumheller Valley, as well as the Calgary Stampede, and its various shows happening.
Upcoming Shows;
06.06.25 Lethbridge, AB @ The Owl
06.13.25 Red Deer, AB @ The Vat
06.14.25 Edmonton, AB @ Dive Bar
08.08.25 Medicine Hat, AB @ Liquid Event Center
08.09.25 Brandon, MB @ The 40
08.12.25 Winnipeg, MB @ Handsome Daughter
08.13.25 Thunder Bay, ON @ Black Pirate Pub
08.15. 25 London, ON @ Palisade Socialbowl
08.16.25 Hamilton, ON @ Doors Pub                                       Â
08.17.25 Toronto, ON @ Bovine Sex Club
Connect with Prisoner:
Website
Facebook
Instagram