Classic progressive fusion metal band Mindcage originally released their critically acclaimed debut, a Dystopian-themed concept album entitled Our Own Devices, in September 2013. The release has caused quite a stir with its classic heavy metal sound, originally established by artists like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Rush, but reinvented with Steampunk flair and layered and engaging storyline.

Recently, the band announced plans to expand on Our Own Devices with a Special Edition, once again under the helm of triple-platinum and legendary producer Michael Wagener (Ozzy Osbourne, Accept, Megadeth, Alice Cooper, Helloween). Wagener is set to begin producing, recording and mixing in new songs in his WireWorld Studio just outside of Nashville beginning the second week in June. The original version of Our Own Devices was self-produced by the band and engineered by Wagener.

So, imagine our heroes in the midst of early preproduction, and then suddenly, disaster strikes the Mindcage studio headquarters and rehearsal sanctuary. The band soon learns that the storm has also heavily damaged their headquarters, production studio and rehearsal facility. In terms of the preproduction project, the A/V suite they’ve been working on concert footage audio in, as well as the song projects, were utterly destroyed. Gear is still being salvaged and evaluated but suddenly, Mindcage could no longer work on music together at their headquarters.

Mindcage founder and guitarist Dietrick Hardwick, who has converted his home studio into the hub of operations for the band, speaks out on the peril with an optimistic progress report and solution-driven strategy for overcoming the unforeseen setbacks, “What can you do? I think the answer is, first you turn your attention towards helping others, and then the solutions will present themselves for your own challenges. This is nothing new as Florida is a disaster prone area, but we never expected to wake up to the aftermath of what are typically just April showers marking the beginning of Spring, and a lot of weed-pulling! So, even after the incessant Flash Flood alerts all night on my iPhone, I still wasn't prepared. Torrential rains and major flooding had not just blocked off my street with 6' of water, we were hearing news of entire communities flooded out, collapsed streets, deaths - the kind of thing you'd expect after a hurricane. All we could do was watch the news, get out there and help others where we were able, and pray. It was a week of hell, and we are still reeling and recovering."

Mindcage aren’t slowing down, however, with Hardwick overseeing pre-production. He adds, "It's been a very intense month, we've had to change some of our workflow and keep the creative vibe happening. We like to write organically, and we have had limited access to get together and actually catch lightning in a bottle. We have had to adapt and work in what would typically be a rather disconnected way – on our own computer workstations, sending the files back and forth. I don't like doing things this way when I have the band of brothers right here. It's that alchemy and chemistry of playing together than can create the real magic. In this capacity the yielded result of the sum being greater than the parts is a feeling beyond all measure. And sharing that experience creates lasting bonds and the necessary humility we artists need to work with each other."

Dietrick in his home studio, pre-storm.

A lake, a.k.a the MINDCAGE studio floor after the flood…

Aftermath of damage once the water had been absorbed – fans running and water damage visible.

Damaged equipment beyond repair…

A slick floor from drying flood waters in the studio.

Rest assured – neither rain nor snow nor gloom of night can stay these metal messengers about their duty!

The special edition of Our Own Devices will include exclusive, never-before-released live footage from the band’s headlining performance at this year’s Florida-based Comic Con event, Pensacon. Our Own Devices also includes the band’s new single "The One Constant", which can be streamed via the lyric video below. The track is available via iTunes now.

Our Own Devices is inspired by the fiction of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne and takes musical creativity and imagination to another level, introducing the world to the character of Arabella Vash, a young woman who uses the power of her dreams to transform the dystopian world she inhabits.

It’s a combination that is grabbing the attention of conceptual music lovers everywhere. Mindcage utilizes grand storytelling to add dynamic to the music. Fans can follow a bit of the story in the band’s music video for the track "The Human Race" (watch below ) – the video portrays Arabella following her dreams, getting metal messages that inspire her to awaken and realize that the system is corrupt. She discovers her calling, which is to monitor this system. She realizes she has to get out of the city to begin her work in exposing this corruption.

Forged in 1996, Florida-natives Mindcage began as the brainchild of founder and lead guitarist Dietrick Hardwick. Mindcage’s core sound revolves around Hardwick’s guitar style which draws influences from icons of 80?s metal like Michael Schenker (Scorpions, UFO), Uli Roth (Scorpions, Electric Sun) and Wolf Hoffmann (Accept). Hardwick has reunited with founding members Brian Howell (bass) and Craig Nudo (drums) whose roots lie in love for prog giants like Yes, Rush, and Iron Maiden. Stir in newcomer Jeff Hignite’s powerful vocals and Mindcage is a musical brew unlike any you’ve ever encountered.