Contact: doubleedgedchord@gmail.com

Pre-release Reviewer Link (Soundcloud Private Page)

Double-Edged Chord weaves red-blooded tales of fantasy pulp adventure.

PRESS RELEASE (download pdf)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Blood, Despair, and Polyphonic Harmonies: a Sword-and-Sorcery Fantasy Epic in a new Progressive Rock Concept Album

CHEVERLY, MD – January 6, 2026. Prog Rock band Double-Edged Chord announces its debut album, Stimbal the Weeper and the Lords of Phraille, which releases on January 9th, 2026.

Told by a variety of narrators over nine tracks, the concept album weaves an epic story of loss, destruction, and redemption in an ancient world, as a battle-weary gladiator struggles to recover the family he lost, and later to free a child from a supernatural prison. Along the way, he’ll encounter ruined cities, flaming ghosts, ancient evil kings, and a very sarcastic nine-year-old.

While Stimbal the Weeper and the Lords of Phraille is inspired by the classic concept albums of the 1970s like Pink Floyd’s The Wall and Rush’s 2112, the album leans away from complex philosophy to focus on action-packed storytelling, subtle humor, and emotional punch. The music is played almost exclusively on Chapman Stick and keyboard, with layered harmonies. Almost all vocals are performed by creator Toby Mulford, who relies on vocal acrobatics to embody his narrative characters, and to intone the Greek-chorus style lamentations of people scarred by generations of conflict.

The album is inspired by progressive rock (King Crimson, Rush) and modern vintage metal (Elder, Pallbearer). It began as an earworm in the composer’s head while driving a bus for summer camps in Northern Virginia, merged with a character concept for a roleplaying game, and morphed into a full-length concept album after four years of frenzied basement experimentation.

Created, performed, and recorded by Toby Mulford
Guest vocals by Kathryn Zoerb
Cover art by Mika Koskensalmi
Mixed by Paris Parasidis
Mastered by Mat Keselman

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For more information, email doubleedgedchord@gmail.com

Full EPK available at https://drdourandpeach.com/epk-double-edged-chord/

ARTIST BIO (download pdf)

Double-Edged Chord is the solo project of veteran Washington, DC theater artist Toby Mulford, best known for his alter ego Dr. Dour.

As half of the duo Dr. Dour & Peach, Mulford has created albums (The Monster Songs), video series (Dr. Dour & Peach: The Webseries), and live performances (Love & Other Lures, The Monster Songs). Their mix of clever songwriting, slapstick clowning, and monster movie fandom has charmed audiences from Fringe Festivals in Cincinnati to Burlesque Shows in Asheville, as well as in their hometown of DC.

Double-Edged Chord allows Mulford to explore the harder side of his musical tastes, paying homage to the progressive rock he grew up listening to.

Before turning to music, Mulford was primarily a stage performer specializing in mask work and physical theater. He holds an MFA from the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre. He once played Sweeney Todd in high school.