Artok - Above Ground

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Formed in early 1983 by Rob Taylor and Robi Banerji, Artok emerged from the thriving Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario music scene with a clear vision: to create and perform original material that fused the technical power of progressive rock with the emotional drive of heavy metal. The pair entered Elora Sound Studios in January 1983 with producer Bill Mather to record their self-titled three-song EP, released privately on Kanvas Records (JM 8359) in a limited run of 1,000 copies. The record captured the band’s dynamic interplay—Taylor’s precision drumming and commanding vocals matched by Banerji’s inventive guitar, bass-pedal synthesizer, and keyboard arrangements. Decades later, the EP remains a sought-after artifact among collectors of early Canadian progressive and metal recordings.

Following the release, Artok expanded to include keyboardist Berlin Beddessee, whose addition enriched the group’s live performances. In 1984, they filmed a full concert on VHS featuring ten original compositions along with covers of Rush, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin. Their rendition of Rush’s “Subdivisions,” notable for its guitar-driven recreation of the synth parts, later resurfaced online and earned praise from progressive rock communities—including a feature on RushIsABand.com highlighting its bold reinterpretation and intricate harmonies.

By 1985, Banerji relocated to Toronto to pursue a burgeoning career in recording engineering—a field in which he would go on to earn extensive credits across Canadian and international projects. Beddessee departed soon after, and Taylor began reshaping the band’s direction. In 1986, he joined forces with bassist and vocalist Al Affeldt, touring across Canada and co-writing new material over the next decade. Their partnership was tragically cut short in August 1998 when Affeldt was killed in a car accident near Hamilton, Ontario—a devastating loss that effectively ended Artok’s original era.

That same winter, Banerji—then living in Los Angeles—reconnected with Taylor. The call reignited their creative partnership, and Taylor soon relocated to California. Together they re-formed Artok, enlisting bassist Chris Tristram and guitarist Mark Jacobi. The revitalized lineup recorded Above Ground, a CD/DVD released in late 2010 on Kanvas Media Productions. The album showcased both power and maturity, combining the melodic sense of their early work with contemporary production and performance. Their moving rendition of “Subdivisions” appeared once again, this time on video, underscoring their enduring connection to the music that first inspired them.

The release of Above Ground also revealed Taylor’s extraordinary personal resilience. Having lost his right lower leg in a car crash at age 17, he turned drumming itself into therapy—using the bass drum as a means of physical and emotional recovery. “I became more determined than ever to have a career in music,” he recalled, a testament to the strength that carried him through decades of creative work.

In the years that followed, Artok continued to evolve. A 2016 feature in the Waterloo Region Record by Coral Andrews found the band—now based in Los Angeles—sharing a bill with fellow Canadian artists at Cork Hall. The article revealed new connections: Taylor and Banerji’s earlier collaboration in the project Seeds of Eden, and the addition of veteran bassist Louie Pfeifer (Nasty Nasty) to the live lineup. “When I first came into the music scene right out of high school,” recalled musician Hills, “one of the bands I kept trying to sneak into the Coronet to see before I was 19 was Artok.” The piece reaffirmed Artok’s lasting influence on the Kitchener-Waterloo music community and its continued presence decades after its inception.

Musically, Artok remains rooted in the expansive sensibility of Canadian progressive rock—combining the weight and intricacy of Rush, the atmospheric reach of Pink Floyd, and the emotional storytelling of the Alan Parsons Project. From their early recordings at Elora Sound to their rebirth in Los Angeles, Artok’s journey reflects an unbroken thread of creativity, friendship, and determination. Among the first lineup of bands featured at the Museum of Canadian Music launch for Canada Day 2010, Artok’s legacy continues to bridge generations.
-Robert Williston

Rob Taylor: drums, vocals
Robi Banerji: guitar, vocals
Mark Jacobi: guitar
Chris Tristram: bass, vocals
Al Affeldt: bass

Produced by Rob Taylor and Eric Duerrstein
Mixed by Chris Tristram at Ctsoundcraft
Engineered by Chris Tristram, David Piribaur, Eric Duerrstein, Robi Banerji, and Wolfgang Sebastian
Recorded at DSP Studios, Mint Studios, Ctsoundcraft, and The Bungalow
Mastered by Mark Chalecki at Little Red Book Mastering
Executive producer: Mark Maxted

Cover art by Brian Apthorp
Photography by Kaveth

Manufactured by Disc Makers (MUK6363)
Copyright © Kanvas Media Productions

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