Terrified of the G7’s enhanced security, I ride through southern Alberta’s prairies with my eyes in the rearview. Hyper-aware, vigilant, paranoid, as one with as many anxiety disorder symptoms as myself often is. The G7 2025 occurrence in Kananaskis put me and everyone else with delusions into this state, and with good reason. The police presence in neighboring Calgary is visibly increased; roadways are closed just so the pigs can practice motorcades. Empty real estate no one can afford in Bowmont is suddenly filled with low-level bureaucrats and their security. Police increase patrols of the surrounding neighborhoods, but spring/summer petty crimes go up. They aren’t looking for your vandals and porch pirates; they’re keeping an eye on the pieces that don’t fit. Protests begin downtown. Increasingly advanced military helicopters put on an airshow for the paranoiac while they ensure a no-fly zone and an all-seeing eye for potential ne’er-do-wells. I hightail it out of the city. I’m not sure why I do this; it’s not like I am this important revolutionary person my delusions tell me I am, but for some reason, I flee. “I flee” down past the city limit, down south to Lethbridge, beyond the laws of man, beast, and god, to wait out the noise. I generate my own noise: a crisp instrumental written out of fear, with a bassline that doesn’t give a damn and an intense string section, a beautiful dichotomy born from fear.

Beyond The Mystic Lands