VERSA Announce A Voyage / A Destination – Round Trip Special Edition 20th Anniversary Double CD & Digital Release Out March 6, 2026.
- Rock Metal Machine
- 16 minutes ago
- 3 min read
West Coast Canadian progressive rock collective Versa mark their 20th anniversary in 2026 with the definitive presentation of their landmark double-album project, A Voyage / A Destination – Round Trip Special Edition, available digitally and as a deluxe double CD on March 6, 2026.
Originally conceived during the COVID pandemic, A Voyage / A Destination evolved into an ambitious double album that the band ultimately released in two installments: Part 1 (September 9, 2022) and Part 2 (October 4, 2024). Both chapters were met with strong critical praise across the international progressive community.
Part 2 was featured on several year-end “Best Of” lists by respected progressive commentators including Scot Lade (The Prog Corner), Iain Hunter (Rhyme Signatures), and Nathan Waitman (Nathan on Shuffle). In early 2025, Part 1 was named among The 11 Best Prog Rock Albums of the 2020s (So Far) by Loudwire, further solidifying Versa’s growing reputation within modern progressive rock.
Now, for the first time, the complete body of work is presented as originally intended — a unified listening experience. Round Trip Special Edition compiles both albums together and includes exclusive bonus material:
Alternate vocal takes of “Pool of the Naiads,” “Flew the Coop,” and “Artemis,” featuring Matthew Dolmage’s original lead vocals
The previously unreleased experimental score “The Witch of Edmonton,” composed and recorded by Matthew Dolmage and Hollas Longton for director Alistair Newton’s 2022 production, available publicly for the first time
The anniversary release also coincides with a fully animated music video for the progressive epic “Artemis,” created by Vancouver-based visual artist Amy Winter. Developed over more than a year, the video draws inspiration from early-’90s point-and-click PC adventure games, adding a visually immersive dimension to Versa’s expansive sonic landscape.
An International Progressive Collaboration
Versa — featuring multi-instrumentalist and composer Matthew Dolmage, violinist and composer Hollas Longton, drummer and multi-instrumentalist Jesse Bell, and keyboardist/guitarist Janelle Wrona — have become known for blending progressive rock ambition with post-rock atmospherics and indie sensibilities.
The A Voyage / A Destination albums feature an impressive roster of guest musicians from across the global progressive scene, including:
Jim Grey and Sam Vallen of Caligula's Horse
Nick D'Virgilio of Big Big Train
Marjana Semkina of iamthemorning
Eric Gillette (Neal Morse Band, Temic)
Ross Jennings of Haken
Lars Fredrik Frøislie of Wobbler
Kelly Nordstrom (eMolecule, Sound of Contact)
Michael Trew of Moon Letters
Reflecting on the creative spark behind the project, Dolmage shares:
“I’d discovered the music of Neal Morse. I had been a fan of classic prog, particularly Jethro Tull and Genesis, for most of my life; however, it was only then that I started exploring modern progressive music more. I was also highly influenced by Morse's personal story of being a struggling musician who couldn't catch a break in his 20s, pivoted to progressive music, and finally found success in his mid-30s. I was listening to a lot of Ninja Sex Party at the time, too, and they have a similar kind of backstory.”
Versa - Flew the Coop, ft. Ross Jennings (Official Music Video): https://youtu.be/lChMsb-S848
Versa - Artemis Teaser (from A Voyage A Destination - Special Edition): https://youtu.be/j-iwSTBdztg
A Landmark Anniversary Year
The Special Edition release and “Artemis” video mark the beginning of a packed 20th anniversary year for Versa. Plans for 2026 also include:
A covers album arriving in May
Anniversary concerts in June
A new music video for “Bury Me at Sea” featuring collaborator Claire Coupland
A remastered edition of the band’s second LP, The Decline & Fall Of…, alongside a new music video for post-rock staple “We Are Not What We Say We Are”
Work commencing on Versa’s sixth full-length studio album, scheduled for release in 2027
With A Voyage / A Destination – Round Trip Special Edition, Versa complete the journey they began in isolation — now fully realized as the expansive, cohesive statement it was always meant to be.
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