OUTLYING

track-list:
The Raven Is Gone
Stigma
Snow
Streets Of Rats And Vultures
Pitch-Black Serum
November
Sentinel
Impaired
Dreamless Nights Part I:
A Lullaby For The Insomniac
Dreamless Nights Part II:
From Velvet Skies
Dreamless Nights Part III:
Walking Out Of Eden’s Ashes

all songs performed, written and produced by Fred A. Dubeau and Martin Reithler
mixed and mastered by Fred A. Dubeau

album recording lineup:
Fred A. Dubeau – guitar, bass, all vocals
Martin Reithler – drums
guest musicians for the album:
Steph from ‘Exotoxic‘ – auxiliary percussions
Marilyn from ‘Chained By Illness‘ – female vocals
Sim from ‘Lancaster‘ – guest guitar solo
Hardcore Band ‘Northwalk’ – gang vocals

Outlying are:
Fred A. Dubeau – guitar, vocals
Charles Alex Bilodeau – bass, back vocals
Martin Reithler – drums

discography:

MetalUniverse.net:
“Outlying offers a solid Swedish-style melodic death metal sound with their own personal touch…With a biting energy and a relentless intensity, ‘Pitch-Black Serum’ hits with an uncommon ferocity while keeping a dynamic, melodic and catchy structure.”
Ammo-underground.at:
“I had never heard of this band before, so I was all the more amazed by the high level of performance the band had already achieved in 2012 (‘Scars Of Daylight’ album). They are reminiscent of Scandinavian melodic death metal bands of the late 1990s…The three gentlemen serve us finely spun melodies; the musicians tie everything together into a flowing, detailed unity. A bit of clean vocals are sprinkled in here and there, and so a lot happens in this largely whipping smasher. A few threatening vibes and thrashy, straight-ahead tactics are also effectively employed, as is polyphonic vocals – everything just fits! Raising fists, enjoying details, headbanging – it’s a mystery to me why these all-rounders are still so unknown!”

Canadian melodic death metal band Outlying is in the final stages of completing their new full-length album, ‘Oblivisci‘, while continuing to drop singles such as ‘November‘ and ‘Pitch Black Serum‘.
The album’s title, ‘Oblivisci‘ – Latin for ‘to forget‘ – was chosen to reflect a state of withdrawal from reality, symbolizing the urge to detach from society and existence itself.
The record delves deep into feelings of trauma, alienation, grief, and loneliness, culminating in a powerful three-part suite inspired by frontman Fred A. Dubeau’s personal struggles with addiction.
Despite featuring only one guitarist, the music remains richly melodic and emotionally charged.
The compositions are designed to keep adrenaline levels high – with fast, heavy passages balanced by moments of introspection and emotion.
“Complexity has never been our focus,”
says Dubeau.
“We don’t believe in self-indulgent playing. Sometimes there are trickier parts, but only when the music demands that kind of intensity.”
Clean vocals and layered guitar effects occasionally appear, adding depth and dynamics to the band’s intense soundscape.
Fred A. Dubeau on ‘Oblivisci‘:
“We hope listeners will feel the dark thoughts and experiences that shaped both the lyrics and the music. Our goal was to create a true ‘no skipped tracks’ album – where every song matters and nothing feels like filler.”
‘The Raven Is Gone’:
“Fast, heavy, and epic – a song about escaping chaos and searching for refuge.”
‘Stigma’:
“Old-school melodic death metal with powerful choruses. It explores overcoming judgment for living outside societal norms – whether through subculture, lifestyle, or personal choices.”
‘Snow’:
“A haunting, story-driven track featuring female vocals, telling the tragic tale of a young girl abused by her father.”
‘Streets of Rats and Vulture’:
“A raw, thrashy punk-inspired song about trust and betrayal – a warning to watch your back.”
‘Pitch-Black Serum’:
“Dark, creepy, and melodic – portraying those who surrender to apathy, numbing themselves with easy pleasures while giving up on society.”
‘November’:
“An epic and melodic track about obsessive infatuation – for someone who may not even exist.”
‘Sentinel’:
“The album’s power ballad, following the tradition of ‘The Last Time’ (Scars of Daylight) and ‘Alicia’s Tales’ (Frameworks for Repression). Slower and emotional, it explores grief and how lost loved ones remain as sentinels in one’s memory.”
‘Impaired’:
“Dark, aggressive, and melancholic – reflecting despair, social rejection, and suicidal thoughts.”
‘Dreamless Nights’ Trilogy:
A three-part journey through addiction, inspired by Fred’s real-life battle with alcohol.
The title refers to the dreamless, shallow sleep of intoxication, symbolizing the endless cycle of dependency.
‘Part I: A Lullaby for the Insomniac’:
“Fast and heavy, describing powerlessness in the face of chaos and the desperate search for escape.”
‘Part II: From Velvet Skies’:
“Builds from a Tool-esque intro into atmospheric black metal and epic climaxes. It captures the illusion of bliss while drifting in a synthetic paradise.”
‘Part III: Walking Out of Eden’s Ashes’:
“Kicks in with brutal death metal energy, representing the ‘day after’ – the crash, the realization that the escape was a lie. The album concludes on an epic, melodic note, with layered instrumentation and a haunting bass line.”
Founded in 2007 by vocalist, guitarist, producer, and songwriter Fred A. Dubeau, Outlying hails from an old industrial city in Quebec, Canada.
In its early days, Fred struggled financially and resorted to using pirated software to produce his own recordings – a decision that unexpectedly ignited his passion for audio production and graphic design.
He continues to handle both for Outlying and other local acts.
The band released their debut EP, ‘Within the Jail of the Unfortunate‘, in 2008, followed by the full-length ‘Scars of Daylight‘ in 2012.
That same year, bassist JD Poirier and French drummer Martin ‘Frenchy‘ Reithler joined the lineup.
Their 2016 album, ‘Frameworks for Repression‘, cemented their presence in the Quebec metal scene.
In 2024, after years of writing and rebuilding, the band welcomed Charles Alex Bilodeau as their new bassist – a connection made entirely by coincidence.
Fred met Charles through a mutual acquaintance who needed to borrow a soldering iron to fix a bass guitar.
Weeks later, when the band needed a new bassist, Fred remembered the encounter – and Outlying’s current lineup was complete.
The band’s small-world connections continue across the Trois-Rivières metal community:
founding drummer Guy Provencher now plays bass in Strigampire and guitar in Hopeless Nation;
Steve, vocalist for Strigampire and drummer for Hopeless Nation, also played drums for Outlying’s ‘Scars of Daylight‘ album and live shows when Frenchy returned to France temporarily.
Outlying continues to evolve – melodic yet brutal, emotional yet uncompromising – channeling their struggles, memories, and resilience into ‘Oblivisci‘, a record meant to be felt as much as it’s heard.