Montreal’s PARADISE Lay Down Fuzz Galore in “Queen of Mars” Music Video

Humans have been fascinated by Mars for millenia, but in recent decades the prospect of travelling to Mars have gone from cinema to reality with the landing of the Mars Rover. This has made many wonder whether we could open Mars up to human habitation, perhaps plant the “seeds” of a Second Earth. Even more intriguing is speculation as to whether Mars was once an Earth in its own right and we all relocated from that planet to this one.

As long as we’re speculating, if it were possible to power a rocket ship to Mars fueled by music, we would definitely want Montreal heavy rockers PARADISE along for the ride. The Canada scene has been fire in recent years, and it’s great to see the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll alive and kicking up there. Think about it: in this jaded era of fake music, here’s a group of five genuinely real, thinking, feeling humans who make music that you can also see live.

The vibes are infectious. They call it volcanic rock, and the band’s been at it in some form or another since 2002. After two initial releases in the early part of the century, Paradise returned to the recording studio in 2020 ready for a new beginning. Now following the release of Paradise, they’re bringing all the attitude, energy, riffing, and fuzz to bear in the brand single before us: “Queen of Mars.”

Beginning with a splash of pedal-mediated wah, the song picks up a groovy, heart-pounding pace, joined by grinding desert revving perfect for the visuals of the music video. Vocals tell the story in gritty and clean tones of “straying beyond the desert’s edge” and encountering the elusive Queen of Mars, depicted as “a gypsy spirit, wandering this ancient land.” Mysteries abound and you are invited to trip with the band into this strange, electrifying realm.

Paradise’s new single comes out on Tuesday, April 28th, so this is your chance to hear it first! You can get it here and here. Stick it on a playlist with Freedom Hawk, Sandveiss, Bone Church, Kal-El, and Blackwülf.

Give ear…

SOME BUZZ

After years of silence, speculation, and simmering creative energy, Montreal’s cult heavy‑rock outfit Paradise erupts back onto the scene with their first new music since their 2020 self‑titled album. The band announces their long‑awaited return with the upcoming single and music video “Queen of Mars,” marking the beginning of a bold new chapter in their cosmic, riff‑driven mythology.

Formed in 2002 during a lightning‑strike moment of inspiration, Paradise built their identity on what they call “volcanic rock”, a molten blend of heavy rock, classic metal, and stoner‑rock undertones. Their early albums “Rock Anthropologists on the Kon‑Tiki Voyage” (2002) and “Hotel” (2005) became underground favorites, fueled by wild creativity, tongue‑in‑cheek concept worlds, and collaborations with icons like Voivod’s Michel “Away” Langevin and the late Denis “Piggy” D’Amour.

Their 2020 self‑titled comeback album re-established the band with a harder, sharper edge. Now, in 2026, Paradise resurfaces once more, this time with a fully realized retro‑futuristic vision inspired by the sci‑fi imagery of the ’60s and ’70s.

The band’s new single, “Queen of Mars,” introduces listeners to a cinematic, hypnotic space‑rock sound that expands Paradise’s sonic universe while staying rooted in their heavy‑rock DNA.

The track paints a vivid portrait of a timeless, wandering figure, the Queen of Mars, who embodies freedom, resilience, and cosmic sovereignty. Moving through a desert of memory and isolation, she becomes a mythic symbol of transformation and inner power. Musically, the song blends atmospheric guitars, ritualistic rhythms, and poetic, controlled vocals, landing somewhere between Hawkwind’s cosmic rock, Dozer’s desert‑space textures, and the dramatic sweep of Muse.

“It’s been a while since we’ve put something out, so I know some fans have been waiting. We’re close to the sound of our last record, but there are surprises. We used ’60s and ’70s sci‑fi imagery to inspire us, sounds and moods from far beyond,” says guitarist Frank Kelly.

Kelly remains the band’s primary music writer, working closely with vocalist R.L. Black on lyrics and melodies. For this new material, they also brought in Luc Bourgeois (Sandveiss) to elevate the songwriting even further.

“We just let it go, whichever song was ready first. We’re doing this for fun and to keep the creativity going. We hope people get it, but honestly, we’re having a blast,” adds Kelly.

Paradise has 8–9 new songs in the pipeline, all shaped by their signature approach: naming tracks early in the writing process to set the tone and guide the lyrical world. This time, that world is drenched in analog futures, cosmic psychedelia, and B‑movie sci‑fi charm, a natural evolution of the band’s long‑standing love for heavy music, from Judas Priest and Dio to Kyuss and Fu Manchu.

Paradise’s live reputation remains intact: high‑energy, high‑intensity, and unapologetically fun. “We’re a party band. Just five guys having a blast. So many bands take this too seriously; it takes the fun out of it,” comments Kelly.

With their return, fans can expect a renewed sense of adventure, a deeper dive into their cosmic aesthetic, and a sound that continues to evolve without losing the volcanic spark that defined them from day one.