HILLWARD
From Quebec, Canada
Hillward is a progressive rock and metal band from Quebec City, formed from the ashes of the beloved Quebec prog-metal group Southern Cross. Carrying forward that legacy with a renewed artistic direction, the band quickly established its identity through a blend of melodic heaviness, atmospheric textures and cinematic arrangements.
Their debut Flies in Amber Stones (2015) introduced a sound rooted in heavy progressive rock, acoustic colors and rich ambient layers. Hillward soon brought this material to major stages, including Festival d’Été de Québec in 2016, and shared the stage with internationally renowned bands such as Symphony X and Uriah Heep.
In 2018, they returned with System, an album where folk-tinged acoustics meet crushing riffs, expansive vocal harmonies, electronic elements and expressive guitar work. The record explores the chaos of modern life, balancing themes of suffering, illusion and hope.
Their latest release, Alternate Timelines (2021), takes their music into a more atmospheric and synth-driven direction. The album focuses on mood, texture and introspection, offering songs that feel spacious, melodic and reflective without losing the band’s progressive foundation.