| Friday August 07
Australian progressive guitar visionary, James Norbert Ivanyi, returns with new album
‘The Phantasm Cozenage‘ on August 19
For more than a decade, Sydney guitarist and composer James Ivanyi has quietly built one of the most respected catalogues in Australia’s instrumental music scene. While much of the modern progressive world has chased technicality for technicality’s sake, Ivanyi has carved out his own lane, blending progressive metal, psych-rock, cinematic textures and old-school guitar hero experimentation into an incredible body of work that now spans nine full-length albums.
The impending release of ‘The Phantasm Cozenage’, sees James evolve from underground cult favourite to one of Australia’s most recognised independent instrumental artists.
Today, James released the first single from the album, Hex Mesmorism
Watch James along with bassist, Liam Horgan and drummer, Liam Weedall perform the track, which was filmed at Rancom Street Studios in Sydney, Australia.
https://youtu.be/XSeGhFev-ek
The new album sees Ivanyi step completely outside his established sound. In 2022 he surprised fans with the acoustic ‘Sigil‘ and the keyboard driven ‘The Sine Intimation‘, proving that his reputation extends far beyond progressive metal and technical guitar performance. ‘The Phantasm Cozenage’ brings some of those elements back and across ten tracks, the album continues to blur the lines between progressive metal precision, trippy atmosphere and vast, cinematic storytelling, delivering his most ambitious album yet!
The release also follows a milestone year for the guitarist. As of January 2026, James has three signature signature model guitars with Suhr Guitars & JST Technologies! Long recognised by guitar players worldwide for his distinctive style and tone, Ivanyi’s growing relationship with one of the world’s most respected guitar manufacturers further cements his standing within the international guitar community.
Despite multiple international performances including annual appearances at NAMM, signature instruments, educational releases through Jam Track Central and a discography that continues to attract critical acclaim, Ivanyi remains fiercely independent. Every album, tour and creative decision has been built on his own terms, earning a dedicated global audience along the way.
Over the years he has shared stages with artists including Haken, Katatonia, Soilwork, Caligula’s Horse and I Built The Sky, performed at events including Progfest, UK Tech-Fest and The Melbourne Guitar Show, and established himself as one of Australia’s leading instrumental exports.
With ‘The Phantasm Cozenage’, Ivanyi continues to demonstrate that instrumental music can be every bit as compelling, adventurous and emotionally engaging as any vocal-driven release.
‘The Phantasm Cozenage’ is released on August 19.
Pre orders are available from Friday Aug 7 from 5.00pm AEDT
https://jamesnorbertivanyi.bandcamp.com/album/the-phantasm-cozenage
For fans of:
Plini, I Built The Sky, Animals As Leaders, Steve Vai, Porcupine Tree and Opeth.
Praise for James
“a semi-psychedelic haze to what is a precise and calculated assault on your aural palate” – IPHYB
“Ivanyi is one of the finest one-man instrumentalists out there” HEAVY BLOG IS HEAVY
” an Aussie, proggier Steve Vai” – GEAR GODS |
