Photo by Vanessa Valadez
Chicago instrumental trio previews its upcoming full-length ahead of an August release and hometown record release performance.
Chicago instrumental power trio COYOTE MAN has announced that its next full-length album, Prosthetic Memories, is scheduled for release on August 14. Alongside the announcement, the band has introduced the album’s first single, “War Hatchet,” while opening preorders for the forthcoming record.
Comprised of guitarist and keyboardist Augie Portugal, bassist Rene Rodriguez, and drummer and percussionist Ian Wheeler, COYOTE MAN officially formed in 2015 after its members had spent years performing together throughout the Chicago music scene. Since then, the trio has built a sound rooted in heavy, atmospheric instrumentation that blends crushing riffs with expansive, cinematic songwriting.
According to the band, Prosthetic Memories represents its most ambitious work to date. Rather than relying on vocals to guide listeners, the album unfolds through instrumental compositions intended to evoke themes of hope, struggle, reflection, and perseverance. The project is structured as a narrative journey, using dynamic shifts in intensity and mood to tell its story.
The album’s title centers on the concept of “prosthetic memories”—experiences that were never personally lived but nevertheless feel emotionally real. The band describes these memories as fragments of history, imagination, and shared emotion that become intertwined with one’s own identity. That idea serves as the thematic foundation throughout the record, with each composition exploring the relationship between memory, perception, and personal experience.
Speaking about the creative direction behind the project, the band explained:
“Our aim is to make the listener more susceptible to the complexities of their own feelings and breathe new life into the established paradigms of metal music.”
Leading the album campaign is “War Hatchet,” an instrumental track built around driving grooves, heavy rhythmic passages, and evolving musical dynamics. Although the song contains no lyrics, the band said it was written to communicate a specific emotional narrative through its instrumentation.
Discussing the inspiration behind the single, COYOTE MAN said:
“The title ‘War Hatchet’ serves as a metaphor for revived hostility and unresolved conflict, themes that connect directly to the band’s forthcoming album, Prosthetic Memories. Together, the single and album explore the lingering impact of the past and the emotional remnants that continue to shape the present, delivering a powerful and immersive listening experience.”
Production for Prosthetic Memories took place during June and July 2025 at Iron Hand Audio in Chicago. The album was mixed and mastered by Dan Klein and features a guest vocal appearance from Chris Pacific on the track “Faith In A Burning Room,” marking the lone vocal performance on the otherwise instrumental release.
The album will be available on CD, vinyl, and digital formats, with preorders currently available through the band’s Bandcamp page.
To celebrate the release, COYOTE MAN has also scheduled a hometown record release show in Chicago one week after the album arrives, giving fans an opportunity to hear the new material performed live.
For listeners drawn to expansive instrumental heavy music, COYOTE MAN’s approach combines progressive songwriting with post-metal atmosphere while emphasizing mood and storytelling over traditional song structures.
Tour Dates
August 21, 2026 – Chicago, IL – Liars Club (Prosthetic Memories Record Release Show)
Album Information
Album: Prosthetic Memories
Artist: COYOTE MAN
Release Date: August 14, 2026
Formats: CD, LP, Digital
Track Listing
Coping Mechanism
War Hatchet
Zealotry
Interpreting Dreams
Holographic Heirloom
Inadequate
Faith In A Burning Room (Feat. Chris Pacific)
Band Lineup
Augie Portugal – guitar, keys
Rene Rodriguez – bass
Ian Wheeler – drums, percussion
Production Credits
Recorded at Iron Hand Audio, Chicago (June–July 2025)
Mixed and mastered by Dan Klein
Guest vocals by Chris Pacific on “Faith In A Burning Room”
Pre-Order Information
Prosthetic Memories is available for preorder through COYOTE MAN’s Bandcamp page.
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