Dystopia A.D. is a progressive death metal band founded in 2017featuring lead guitarist Aki Shishido (Strains of Bellum, Ash & Elm) and guitarist/bassist/vocalist Chris Whitby (Hellbore, Black Negative Domination). Their brand of extreme metal features blistering shred guitar solos and a variety of vocal styles. Their latest album, Rise of the Merciless, was released in July 2020 to critical acclaim: "Rise of the Merciless is an album of tonal and textural shifts. Blastbeasts fight shoulder to shoulder with sun-scorched melodies. Layered croons ascend skyward while Whitby’s growl anchors the album in the mud and blood. Down to the delicate piano of “Grave Pact,” the album balances red-hot aggression with melodic pursuits." - Decibel "...the breadth of music on display is staggering. There’s blackened assaults, MENA scales , morose gothic doom interludes, at least 4 distinct vocal styles all done by Whitby, and a host of fantastic guitar work from Whitby and Shishido." - Angry Metal Guy "Feast your ears on this brilliant, melodic, death, thrash, heavy, and progressive metal amalgamation of sound from DYSTOPIA A.D. I get so excited to discover a band that can hit so many levels of satisfaction. The album literally touches on everything that makes metal awesome and somehow comprises that range in each distinct track. This is a MUST listen, you’ll be wondering why you didn’t before." - Blessed Altar Zine