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Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Phaedra "Beyond the Storm"


Country: Italy
Sub GenreSymphonic
LabelRaffinerie Musicali
Release dateJuly, 2013
Tracklist
  1. The Storm: A Beginning
  2. No Crime
  3. Sketches of Childhood
  4. Phaedra
  5. Beyond the Storm
  6. Journey To The Edge Of Nothing
  7. Freezin' Breeze On The People At Ease (Live version)
  8. The Lovers
  9. The Storm: An End
Line-up
Claudio Bonvecchio – bass, vocals, bass pedals
Stefano Gasperetti – keyboards
Massimo Armellini – guitars
Paolo Garbari - drums
   With
Davide Tabarelli – Theremin ( track 1), Mellotron (track  9)
Stefano Dalcanale – drums ( track 4 & 9)
Gerardo Gambin – drums ( track 7)

Description/Reviews
This long - awaited CD is a follow-up to Ptah, the first work by Phaedra. Most of the tracks have been recorded in the Nineties by the classic Phaedraline up. There are lots of differences between Ptah and Beyond the Storm: the lyrics, written and sung by Bonvecchio, are in English. Every song tells a single story unlike the previous concept album Ptah. BTS has more of a refined classic prog approach with Yes and Genesis influences. Going into details, the album features the title track which was the very first song composed by the band, the suite Phaedra  regularly performed since 1995 but never officially released until now. 
Media/Samples 
Beyond the Storm
Phaedra

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La Tulipe Noire "Matricide"


Country: Greece
Sub GenreNeo-Prog
Label: Musea
Release dateJuly 31, 2013
Tracklist
 1. A Letter from Patmos - 4:34
  2. The Death Chamber - 6:18
  3. In God We Trust ? - 4:47
  4. Midas Touch - 4:10
  5. Post Scriptum, Pt. 1 - 1:55
  6. Sinking Sun - 5:16
  7. Radio Days - 4:39
  8. Nemesis - 4:44
  9. Poseidon's Wrath - 6:23
10. Post Scriptum, Pt.2 - 1:41
11. No Ark - 4:37
12. Funeral Pyre - 5:48
13. Epimythion - 4:21

Line-up
Hyde - Keyboards
Alix - Piano, Organ, Synthesizers
Julie Massino - Vocals
Marios Mourmouras - Guitars
Gavin Scott - Bass
Michael Osborn - Drums, Percussion

Description/Reviews
The album is about the destruction of Earth by mankind. Human beings are considered
children of Earth so what they are doing to this planet can be called Matricide. It is an album referring to pollution, war, exploitation and whatever activities hurt the planet. Earth is envisioned as a respected mother-queen who is slowly poisoned by her treacherous advisers (Capito, Autorio, Exploito) while her subjects (her children) just watch and pray for their mother’s health, but they are doing nothing to stop the killing.

Media/Samples 
A Letter from Patmos
Death Chamber

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Census Of Hallucinations "Spirit of Yellow"


Country: UK
Sub GenreProg Folk, Psychedelic
LabelStone Premonitions
Release date: July, 2013
Tracklist
1) Forest
2) More Than Ashes
3) Church
4) Riding The War
5) Infra Red Parts 1 & 2
6) Ephemeral Fire
7) Mountain Climbing
8) Lie Again
9) Sara Jane
10) Hieronymus
11) Blood On My Shoes
12) Free Yourself
13) Orion

Line-up
Tim Jones
Terri~B
David Hendry (Ohead)
John Simms (Clear Blue Sky)
Kevin Hodge
Maxine Marten
Mark Craney

Description/Reviews
Imagine a cross between Strawbs & a bit of early Cat Stevens, then add some psychedelia and 60 ´vibe, then your almost there, in addition you get the superb guitars from John Simms of Clear Blue Sky fame. It is quite fresh in sound and attitude, a strange (in a good way) blend of old and new all merged perfectly together! After quite a few spins you realize there are no boring moments on this album... 
Read the full review by Tonny Larsen at progplanet.com

Media/Samples 
Forest
Hieronymus

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Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Fromuz "Sodom & Gomorrah"


Country: Uzbekistan
Sub GenreEclectic, Soundtrack
Label10t Records
Release date: July 30, 2013 (10t), September 17, 2013 (retail)
Tracklist
  1. Intro
  2. Prologue
  3. City
  4. Lot
  5. The Capture
  6. Black Feast I
  7. The Orgy
  8. Folly of Mob
  9. The Blindness/Wife’s Prayer
  10. Black Wedding
  11. Black Feast II
  12. Procession of Dead Stars
  13. The Escape
  14. To the Flames
Line-up
Vitaly Popeloff - guitars
Albert Khalmurzaev - keyboards, guitars, vocals, harmonica
Vladimir Badirov - drums
Andrey Mara-Novik - bass
Evgeniy Popelov - keyboards, vocals

Description/Reviews
Sodom & Gomorrah was originally composed by multiinstrumentalist Albert Khalmurzaev as the soundtrack for a theatrical musical production of the same name. Reinterpreting the Biblical tale of Sodom and Gomorrah as a conceptual foundation, it tells the story of our modern world, ravaged by global addictions and harmful vices that can only be remedied through a change from within the very heart of the human condition.
Media/Samples
Entire album online

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Terminal Degree "The Middle Of Nowhen"


Country: USA
Sub GenreInstrumental Progressive Metal/Fusion
Label: Self-released
Release dateJuly 30, 2013
Tracklist
1. Resisting a Rest 5:12
2. Deep Phreeze 5:18
3. Fool to a King 5:08
4. Onward and Inward 7:23
5. Firebow 6:16
6. Whimsicle 6:24
7. Gut Feeling 6:33
8. Crosshairs 5:01
9. Psychodomy 7:29

Line-up
Stanley Chepaitis, acoustic and 5-string electric violins
Nathan Santos, 6-string bass
Mike Barnett, drums

Description/Reviews
This project came about through Mike's desire to write a metal record using electric violins instead of guitars. Stanley brought his jazz and classical sensibilities to the mix and the band has created a kind of fusion that they think is totally original.

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Ashes Of Chaos "Eye"


Country: Italy
Sub GenreProgressive Metal
Label logic(il)logic Records
Release dateJuly 30, 2013
Tracklist
01. Ashes Of Chaos (6:07)
02. Falling (5:38)
03. Doom (2:20)
04. Mechanical Rage (5:41)
05. Atmosfear, Pt. 1: Abyss Of Consciousness (7:51)
06. Parallels (10:36)
07. Novilunio (5:27)
08. Atmosfear, Pt. 2: Circle Of Madness (4:03)
09. Awake (10:05)
10. Rinascita (7:08)

Line-up
Alexios Ciancio – Vocals
Mike Crinella – Guitars, backing vocals
Stefano Galassi – Bass
Francesco Gabrielli – Drums, backing vocals
Giorgio Gori – Keyboards

Description/Reviews
Eye is a concept album without a real protagonist, everyone who listens to the music can be him. Leaving blank paper to the listeners' interpretation, the protagonist will fight against the problems of a single man included in the society of a pre-apocalyptic ambience. After the massive destruction of the entire humanity, he's now alone and ready to fight against his own mind, to preserve his mental clarity and hope for a new future. The listener will be accompanied by several music styles and intricate harmonic structures. He is integrated in the music, sharing feelings and experiences with the protagonist. Is the existence doomed to eternally run in the Circle of Madness, or there will be an unexpected awakening? The choice is up to the maker of our own destiny.

Media/Samples 
Trailer

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The Reign of Kindo "Play With Fire"


Country: USA
Sub GenreJazz-Pop/Rock
LabelCandy Rat
Release dateJuly 30, 2013
Tracklist
  1. The Hero, The Saint, The Tyrant, & The Terrorist 4:49
  2. Help It 4:07
  3. Sing When No One's Around 3:57
  4. Dust 4:11
  5. Impossible World 5:14
  6. Don't Haze Me 3:55
  7. Feeling in the Night 5:25
  8. Make a Sound 3:58
  9. Sunshine 4:25
10. Romancing a Stranger 4:38
11. I Hate Music 5:12
12. The Man, The Wood & The Stone 3:52

Line-up
Joseph Secchiaroli - Vocals, Guitar
Steven Padin - Drums, Vocals
Michael Carroll - Guitar, Percussion
Jeffery Jarvis - Bass, Vocals
Danny Pizarro Jr. - Piano

Description/Reviews
The record starts out with "The Hero, The Saint, The Tyrant, and The Terrorist a song that screams "The Reign of Kindo" and would be a fit on any thier first two records. "Help It" has a killer bass line and sounds like every band member is having a musical conversation with one another, a perfectly in sync and melodic conversation. "Sing When No Ones Around" is more guitar driven than past records and the percussion kills when it comes in. "Dust" is a brilliant tune pulsing with rythym and slide guitar licks.
Rare is it to find modern music that pinpoints the middle ground between a respect for past greats and a boldness to pave tomorrow. This is, quite modestly, the definition of The Reign of Kindo. Citing influences from Dave Brubeck to Ben Folds to Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto to John Mayer, there's not a degree of pomposity in this sound, just an honesty in the group's craft to blend such diverse influences into an identity.

Media/Samples 
Feeling in the Night
Sunshine

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Ben Monder "Hydra"


Country: USA
Sub GenreJazz, Avant Prog
LabelSunnyside Records
Release date July 30, 2013
Tracklist
1 Elysium (4:49)
2 Hydra (24:17)
3 Aplysia (8:48)
4 39 (11:13)
5 Yugen (7:29)
6 Tredecadrome (15:13)
7 Postlude (2:34)
8 Charlotte's Song (3:58)

Line-up
Ben Monder - Bass, Guitar
Theo Bleckmann - Vocals
Martha Cluver - Vocals
Gian Slater - Vocals
Skúli Sverrisson - Bass
John Patitucci - Bass
Ted Poor - Drums

Description/Reviews
The guitar chops are present and accounted for on this by one of the most in-demand jazz guitarists out there today. But there’s also a clear musical vision, unusual harmonic structures, vivid melodies and wordless vocals bolstering those melodies. ...
As alluded to earlier, Monder uses vocals, but he uses them primarily without lyrics. Instead, they roughly take the place of where a keyboard might go, to enhance the melodic lines.
Read the full review by S. Victor Aaron at somethingelsereviews.com

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Caricature "The Sound Of One Man's World Collapsing"


Country: USA
Sub GenreProgressive Metal
Release date July 30, 2013
Tracklist
1. Intro 00:47
2. Monuments (Album Version) 03:46
3. A Long Term Illness 04:46
4. Birth By Sleep (Album Version) 04:09
5. Burning Damnation Down 05:56
6. Saviors (Album Version) 05:54
7. Letter To H 04:17
8. Colorless Sky 04:31
9. Saviors II (Album Version) 03:38
10. refrain 01:27
11. Crimson 05:22
12. Bleeding 08:10

Line-up
Joseph Spiller - Guitars, All Vocals, Piano, Keyboards, Samples, Studio bass
Dave Cohen - Lead Guitar on tracks 4,5,6, 8,11
Bret Boland - Drums
   With
Greg Macklin - Guest Solo on "Monuments"

Description/Reviews
The album is based on well built ambiance, supported by a mainly melodic approach on modern progressive metal. The melodies are enforced by incredibly energetic and creative guitar work delivered by the band's mastermind Joseph Spiller, who wrote and produced all of the songs, performed guitars, all vocals, piano, keyboards and studio bass, mastered and engineered most of the album and even designed the cover artwork.
Read the full review at thecirclepit.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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James Van Cleaf "Energy" EP


Country: USA
Sub Genre: Instrumental Progressive Metal
Release dateJuly 30, 2013
Tracklist
1. Energy - Movement I: Potential 01:53
2. Energy - Movement II: Reaction 03:46
3. Energy - Movement III: Thermal 08:51

Line-up
James Van Cleaf
   With
Abhi Nayar - 1st guest solo on Thermal (0:46)
Alex Campbell - 2nd guest solo on Thermal (5:00)

Description/Reviews
This is no crackly, half-assed demo tape. James surely knows what he’s doing production-wise. The EP’s production sounds crisp and clear to a point of even rivaling many signed bands with access to fully functioning recording studios and James certainly has to be commended for this. However, production means nothing without great music to back it up. Thankfully, James does not falter in this area. The EP is comprised of three tracks which come together as a single musical piece, but, in a classical fashion, are divided into three movements, with each movement having its own distinct identity in the piece.
Read the full review at randomrealityshifts.wordpress.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (name your price)

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Violent Silence "A Broken Truce"


Country: Sweden
Sub GenreSymphonic
LabelProgress Records
Release date: July 29, 2013
Tracklist
1. Prism Path
2. Rim Of Clouds
3. The Kingdom Below
4. A Broken Truce

Line-up
Martin Ahlquist - Vocals
Johan Hedman - Drums/Keyboards
Anders Lindskog - Bass
Hannes Ljunghall - Keyboards
Björn Westén - Keyboards

Description/Reviews
The new Violent Silence album is called A Broken Truce and will be the most epic thing they've done so far song-wise. It will consist of four elaborate, complex and dynamic tracks that all stretch past the 10-minute mark. All tracks have a different feel to them. Compared to earlier albums, A Broken Truce is slightly more melodic, and not quite as fast and heavy as some of their earlier material. Although the heavy element is still there, it's just less pronounced this time around, just to make things a bit more interesting for everybody. 
Media/Samples:
Prism Path (single edition)
Progstreaming

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Jump "The Black Pilgrim"


Country: UK
Sub GenreProgressive Rock, AOR
Release date: July 29, 2013
Tracklist
1. Lockout
2. My Lady of the Fairground
3. The Eagle Has Landed
4. The Black Pilgrim
5. Let the West Wind Blow
6. Your Madness
7. Princes of Anger
8. Hell or High Water
9. The Ballad of the Queen of the Morning

Line-up
John Dexter Jones - Lead Vocals
Steve Rundle (Ronnie Rundle) - Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Vocals
Steve Hayes - Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals
Phil Mayhew - Bass
Mo - Keyboards
Andy Baker - Drums

Monday, July 29, 2013

Maschine "Rubidium"


Country: UK
Sub GenreProgressive Rock
LabelInsideOut
Release dateJuly 29, 2013
Tracklist
1. The Fallen
2. Rubidium
3. Cubixstro
4. Invincible
5. Venga
6. Eyes Pt.1
7. Eyes Pt.2

Line-up
Luke Machin (ex-The Tangent) – guitar/vocals
Elliott Fuller – guitar
Daniel Mash (ex-The Tangent) – bass
James Stewart – drums
Georgia Lewis – keyboards/vocals

Media/Samples
The Fallen (edit)

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James Labrie “Impermanent Resonance”


Country: Canada
Sub GenreProgressive Metal
Label Inside Out
Release dateJuly 29, 2013(Europe), August 6, 2013(North America)
Tracklist
1. Agony
2. Undertow
3. Slight Of Hand
4. Back On The Ground
5. I Got You
6. Holding On
7. Lost In The Fire
8. Letting Go
9. Destined To Burn
10. Say You're Still Mine
11. Amnesia
12. I Will Not Break

Line-up
James LaBrie - Lead Vocals
Matt Guillory - Keyboards, Background Vocals
Marco Sfogli - Guitars
Ray Riendeau - Bass
Peter Wildoer - Drums, Screams

Witherscape "The Inheritance"


Country: Sweden
Sub GenreProgressive Metal
LabelCentury Media
Release date: July 29, 2013 (Europe), August 6, 2013 (North America)
Tracklist
  1. Mother of the Soul - 5:40
  2. Astrid Falls - 6:56
  3. Dead for a Day - 4:37
  4. Dying for the Sun - 6:14
  5. To the Calling of Blood and Dreams - 4:37
  6. The Math of the Myth 3:52
  7. Crawling from Validity - 4:13
  8. The Wedlock Observation - 6:13
  9. The Inheritance - 1:15

Line-up
Dan Swanö (Edge Of Sanity, Nightingale and Bloodbath) - Vocals, Drums and Keyboards
Ragnar Widerberg - Guitars and Bass

Description/Reviews
A concept album about a gothic insane asylum and evil goings on. Musically, it’s a stunning mash-up of [Edge of Sanity‘s] Crimson, Damnation-era Opeth, Omnium Gatherum, Mercyful Fate and even King Crimson. There’s some ominous and deadly death here, but interspersed with a lot of 70′s prog, gothic touches and traditional metal, with Swano showcasing his massive death roar and clean singing voice equally and to great effect. What makes The Inheritance truly shine is how well crafted the songs are. Instead of sounding confusing or patched together due to the disparate influences and ideas, the songs flow wonderfully, the transitions from death to prog feel smooth and seemless and each song is loaded with interesting ideas and great playing.  
Read the full review by at angrymetalguy.com

Media/Samples 
Astrid Falls

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Sunday, July 28, 2013

I Know You Well Miss Clara "Chapter One"


Country: Indonesia
Sub GenreJazz-Rock, Fusion
LabelMoonjune Records
Release date: July 28, 2013
Tracklist
1. Open The Door, See The Ground (10:17)
2. Conversation (8:02)
3. Pop Sick Love Carousel (6:16)
4. Reverie #2 (14:51)
5. Love Letter From Canada (4:26)
6. Dangerous Kitchen (9:04)
7. A Dancing Girl From Planet Marsavishnu Named After The Love (10:48)

Line-up


Reza Ryan - guitar
Adi Wijaya - keyboards
Enriko Gultom - bass
Algiah Akbar - drums
   With
Nicholas Combe - sax

Description/Reviews
I Know You Well Miss Clara is an experimental propgressive jazz-rock quartet, formed in the summer of 2010. With such wide-ranging influences as Soft Machine, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Ornette Coleman, Matching Mole, and many more, the group continues to break new ground as it discovers and defines its musical identity. The result of their visionary attitude and determined work ethic is a music that touches places where precious little progressive music has recently traversed. It is a bold, adventurous music more committed to being sensitive to the moment than following any formulas or set paths. There is a kindred spirit to that which defined the best of progressive jazz through much of the seventies and early '80's. It is expressed in a vibrant, urgent manner that, while paying homage to a host of stellar, profound influences, is none-the-less completely their own.
Dark and foreboding; mysterious, suspenseful and unpredictable: "Chapter One" are a breath of fresh air for a genre clamoring desperately for such sincerity.

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Ian Gordon "Retrobution"


Country: UK
Sub GenreProgressive Rock/Pop
Release dateJuly 28, 2013
Tracklist
1. Faith 06:36
2. Aerial 04:41
3. Zanzibar 02:27
4. Basic 03:32
5. Frames 02:29
6. Dixi 03:55
7. Frankincense 05:47
8. No Smoke Without Fire 07:08
9. Long Live The New Flesh 06:41
10. I'm Not Your Lover 02:40
11. Stars Over Lebanon 05:03
12. The Substitute 04:47

Line-up
Ian Gordon - all instruments and vocals

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Saturday, July 27, 2013

The Reformation "Fatal Expectation"


Country: USA
Sub GenrePsychedelic, Fusion, Funk
Release dateJuly 27, 2013 (digital), October 14, 2013 (CD)
Tracklist
1. Fatal Expectation
2. A Grave Path
3. Fell and Forgotten
4. Lady in Red
5. Change
6. Immortal Bliss
7. Face of Stone
8. Fell and Forgotten (Reprise)

Line-up
Matt Penco - Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Keyboards, Vocals
Caroline Schneider - Vocals, Violin, Percussion
Kyle Brower- Drums, Percussion, Vocals
Dan Miller - Electric Bass Guitars, Double Bass, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Role of the Observer "Quantum State"


Country: USA
Sub GenreProgressive Rock/Metal
Release dateJuly 27, 2013
Tracklist
1. Singularity 04:26
2. Stephen Hawking 06:56
3. Mass 01:18
4. Remnant 09:00
5. Ragnarok 06:27
6. The Viral Effect 06:26
7. Flying Dutchman 07:51
8. Bat Country 02:15
9. My Blood is Too Thick for Nevada 06:46
10. Pluto's Jealous 02:47
11. The Journey to S2 03:45
12. Event Horizon 06:40
13. Bhavana 05:13

Line-up
Nick Leach
Matt Beane
Tyler Rhodes
Nate Epperson

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Conundrum In Deed "Gentlemen"


Country: UK
Sub GenreProg Folk
Release dateJuly 27, 2013
Tracklist
1. Falling Leaves - 7:21
2. Strangers in Sympathy - 5:48
3. Love in the Age of Technology - 3:55
4. The Flashing of Lights - 3:38
5. Holy Flowers - 5:20
6. One Man’s Opinion of Moonlight - 1:04
7. Laughing Man - 4:24
8. Rise/Church Bells - 5:06
9. Cindy - 2:47
10. Gentlemen - 6:33

Line-up
Greg Shields - Guitar, Lead Vocals
Michael Sadler - Piano, Keyboards
John Davidson - Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Tom Sibly - Drums

Description/Reviews
Conundrum In Deed's debut album draws on diverse influences including 70's progressive rock, jazz, folk, and psychedelia. Piano-driven melodies and epic guitar lines accompany lyrics rich in mystery and metaphor, creating a journey through a surreal musical universe. There are hints of Bowie, Pink Floyd, Jefferson Airplane, Cream, and Nick Drake, appealing to a wide range of audiences. The production style is at once organic and vintage, retaining a live dynamic despite high production values.
Media/Samples 
Strangers In Sympathy
Laughing Man

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Hot Karate "Finger Food"


Country: USA
Sub GenreProgressive Rock
Release dateJuly 27, 2013
Tracklist
1. Supermoon - 08:07
2. Baby Police - 04:11
3. Beefy Boof - 03:20
4. Bolillos - 04:26
5. Japan - 01:42
6. Blood Sausage - 02:55
7. Diluwar - 06:00

Line-up
Rob Krauss - guitar
Adam Subhas - drums
Cyrus Ghahremani - bass, vocals

Description/Reviews
Their  hard rock music combines 80’s inspired lead vocals with heavily distorted guitars, almost as distorted bass and hard hitting drums. There are a couple things to note about their album, Finger Food. The first thing is that Hot Karate likes to jam out on their respective instruments kind of like the band Rush or Yes. Ghahremani often has bass solos that are technically proficient as well as fun to rock to. These songs are fun, unpretentious songs that sound much bigger than three guys. Take for instance the first track on the album entitled “Supermoon.”  This epic song is a bit deceiving in that it starts with nothing but airy synths, which have you thinking this may be an ambient album. You realize this is not the case when out of nowhere you hear thunderous toms and distorted guitars. The song literally goes from spacey atmospheres to sounding like Rush in the first two minutes. The song changes a lot in its eight-plus minutes making great music for ADD intensive listeners like myself.
Read the full review by Matt Jensen at theequalground.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Osirys "Sinoe Rah"


Country: France
Sub GenreSymphonic
Release date July 26, 2013
Tracklist
  1. Sorcha la fabuleuse - 5:37
  2. La voix des animaux, Pt. 1 - 4:53
  3. Melior la guerrière - 18:59
  4. La voix des animaux, Pt. 2 - 4:07
  5. Opalia la rêveuse - 4:14
  6. Aril la magicienne 5:47
  7. La voix des animaux, Pt. 5 - 4:29
  8. Selkie la chasseresse - 4:06
  9. Urgania la fantasque - 3:35
10. Apsara la belle - 1:25
11. Le peuple debout - 3:25

Line-up
Jean Pierre Prudent - all instruments

Media/Samples 
Entire album online

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Friday, July 26, 2013

North by Northwest "Mirrors To Remind Ourselves Who We Are"


Country: Italy
Sub GenrePost Progressive, Post Rock, Post Metal
Release dateJuly 26, 2013
Tracklist
1. A Manifesto of Creativity 09:36
2. Still Waiting 04:09
3. An Unmerciful Dialogue 09:17
4. Slint 10:15
5. The Long Goodbye 06:03
6. The Seeds of Doubt 10:35
7. Me, Myself and I 07:38

Line-up
Andrea Carletti: vocals, guitars
Federico Forleo: guitars, vocals, keyboards, glockenspiel, samples
Federico Giorgi: bass
Fabio Luppi: drums

Description/Reviews
North by Northwest reveals itself in long compositions, sophisticated vocal and guitar harmonies, epic melodies, refined chord sequences, violent outbursts and calm atmospheres. It owes these virtues to the most elegant progressive rock, to post-rock and post-metal, to grunge and various forms of alternative rock.Read the full review by at

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (name your price)

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SupreMa "Traumatic Scenes"


Country: Brazil
Sub Genre: Progressive Metal, Power Metal
LabelPower Prog, Nightmare Records
Release dateJuly 26, 2013
Tracklist
  1. Mark of Time - 1:04
  2. Dark Journey - 4:49
  3. Rising from the Ashes - 5:47
  4. Fury and Rage - 4:00
  5. Visions from the Other Side - 6:43
  6. Burning My Soul - 5:46
  7. Memories - 4:54
  8. Before the End - 4:43
  9. Nightmare - 5:43
10. Iced Heart -3:57
11. Traumatic Scenes - 5:22

Line-up
Douglas Jen - Guitars, Keyboards, Effects
Pedro Nascimento - Vocals
Gabriel Conti - Bass
Fernando Castanha - Drums
   With
Gisele Garof - Lyrical Voices
Fil - Baritone Voice
Victor Prospero - Thrash Voice
Guto Viegas - Keyboards
Tarsis Marim - Narration on "Marks of Time"

Description/Reviews
Traumatic Scenes easily ventures into both territories of progressive and power metal, possibly leaning more to the latter. Nearly every song offers a galloping pace with some thrash nuances giving them a heavier sound. 
Read the full review by Craig Hartranft at dangerdog.com

Media/Samples 
Nightmare

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Illusion Suite "The Iron Cemetery"


Country: Norway
Sub GenreProgressive Metal
LabelPower Prog
Release dateJuly 26, 2013 (Europe) and August 5, 2013 (North America)
Tracklist
01. Intro (instrumental) (00:55)
02. Orpheus Quest (05:03)
03. Uni-Twins (05:03)
04. The Iron Cemetery (05:35)
05. When love fails  (04:58)
06. Nero (04:10)
07. Nostradamus first prophecy (04:23)
08. The Ugly Duckling  (03:35)
09. Premonition (05:06)

Line-up
Bill Makatowicz - Vocals
Dag Erik "Deck" Johnsen - Bass
Roger Bjørge - Drums, Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Kim Jacobsen - Guitar

The Flying Eyes "Lowlands"


Country: USA
Sub GenrePsychedelic
LabelNoisolution
Release dateJuly 26, 2013
Tracklist
01 Long Gone - 4:22
02 Under Iron Feet - 3:21
03 Rolling Thunder - 4:50
04 Smile - 6:30
05 Alive In Time - 4:21
06 Lowlands - 4:47
07 Eye Of The Storm - 3:56
08 Comfort Machine - 6:38
09 Surrender - 5:52

Line-up
Adam Bufano - Guitar
Mac Hewitt - Bass
Will Kelly - Vocals and Guitar
Elias Mays Schutzman- Drums

Description/Reviews
Clearly the late 60s and early 70s shine through and an actual continuation of these sounds.
Obviously a dedicated band's sound is already found. The rear view mirrors are adjusted, but the view facing front. Not surprising that "Lowlands", the third album, has once again taken a sound change and is a little more focused, more heavy and more homogeneous than ever before.

Media/Samples 
Under Iron Feet

Links:
Web page
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Proggnosis

R-Evolution Band "The Dark Side Of The Wall"


Country: Italy
Sub GenreAvant Prog
LabelWide Production
Release date: July 25, 2013
Tracklist
01. In The Flesh? (3:16)
02. The Thin Ice (3:47)
03. Another Brick In The Wall Pt. 1 (3:21)
04. The Baddest Days Of Your Life (0:57)
05. Another Brick In The Wall Pt. 2 (3:06)
06. Mother (5:29)
07. Goodbye Blue Sky (2:45)
09. Empty Space (0.58)
10. Young Lust (5:28)
11. One Of My Bad Days (1:49)
12. Requiem: Funeral Of Mary II/Don't Leave Me Now (1:50)
13. Cold As A Waltz (1:42)
14. Another Brick In The Wall Pt. 3 (1:04)
15. Hey You/Intermede (3:32)
16. Is Anybody Out There? (2:26)
17. Nobody (4:03)
18. We'll Meet Again (2:24)
19. Bring The Boys Back Home (0.41)
20. Comfortably Numb (2:32)
21. The Show Must Go Latin (1:26)
22. In The Flesh? (2:10)
23. Run Like Bells (2:55)
24. Another Rock In The Wall (1:12)
25. Waiting For The Worms (2:12)
26. The Trial (5:11)
27. The Dark Side Of The Wall (0.41)

Line-up
Vittorio Sabelli - clarinet, vocals, alto & baritone sax
Marcello Malatesta - keyboards, cpu programming
Graziano Brugani - doublebass, electric bass
Gabrieli Tardiolo”Svedonio” - guitar, bouzouki, lap steel guitar
Oreste Sbarra - drums
   With
Sonia Belini - spoken word
Ilaria Bucci - vocals
Angel C Malak - growl and screaming
Gianluca Peluso - growl and screaming
Claudio Mariani - guitar
Pasquale Farinacci - violin
Paolo Castellitto - viola
Antonio Iannetta - cello
Antonio Salvador Conte - percussion

Description/Reviews
With well over 24 Pink Floyd tribute albums (and counting) already on the market you have to ask yourself … do we really need another one?... My problem isn't the tribute album … but the anti-tribute album. The What?! Anti-tribute album!?
The anti-tribute album is one in which the artist dismantles the original compositions from the ground-up, re-imagining the recording into something it was were never intended to be … which is exactly what the Italian Avant-garde band R-Evolution Band did on their 2013 release “The Dark Side Of The Wall”.
Read the full review by Joseph Shingler at prognaut.com

Media/Samples 
Mother
In The Flesh?
Comfortably Numb
Another Brick In The Wall Pt.1
Young Lust

Links:
Web page
Facebook

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Gunnelpumpers "Montana Fix"


Country: USA
Sub Genreinstrumental Avant Prog
LabelSpiritlake
Release date: July 24, 2013
Tracklist
01. Bolander (2:46)
02. Naghra (4:27)
03. Floobah (1:43)
04. d'bass'd (3:01)
05. Hip Hip Beret (3:28)
06. Smokeblossom (7:31)
07. Bottley Functions (1:22)
08. Drunken Alley (5:47)
09. Buffalo Jump (2:43)
10. Sparkleboat (2:17)
11. Aurelius The Cinderbiter (6:24)
12. Montana Fix (10:29)
13. Bassacaglia (2:10)
14. Puzzle Dust (2:47)
15. Zaftundzwanzig (2:37)
16. Stwing Feowy (3:52)
17. Mundus (6:49)
18. Earthing (6:49)
19. Ouroboros (2:51)

Line-up
Doug Brush (percussion, Tama Talking Drum, carved wooden flute, metal recorder, Nakirs, Tabla, beer bottle, Congas, Djembe, finger cymbals, Bendir, bar chimes, bells, round bells, suspended cymbal, Rain Drum, Tar)
Randy Farr (percussion, Congas, finger cymbals, beer bottle, shakers)
Matthew Golombisky (Melodica, likeable noise, double bass, electric bass, Tiebetan Singing Bowl, beer bottle)
Michael Hovnanian (double bass, beer bottle)
Douglas Johnson (double bass, Clevinger Bass, beer bottle)
John Meyer (electric guitar, beer bottle)
Quinlan Kirchner (percussion, drum kit, bar chime, snare drum, suspended cymbal)

Description/Reviews
Gunnelpumpers perform some of the most extreme forms of darkly Gothic, chaotic, confrontational, and dissonant music this side of John Zorn, John Cage, King Crimson, Univers Zero, Henry Cow, Velvet Underground, Syd Barrett era Pink Floyd, Etron Fu Leloublan, and Samla Mammas Manna... The 19 instrumental tracks were recorded live in two days with minimal overdubbing. What you're hearing is seven creative musicians utilizing free improvisation in it's rawest form; combining baroque elements of Univers Zero's unsettling chamber music, early Krautrock, World music, nu jazz, highly experiment blocks of dissonant sound, and traditional contemporary classical music.
Read the full review by Joseph Shingler at prognaut.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

Links:
Web page
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Echoes Of Giants "At The End Of Myself"


Country: USA
Sub GenreProgressive Rock/Pop
Release dateJuly 23, 2013
Tracklist
1. At The End Of Myself (21:55) 
   i) Overture 
   ii) Stay In Line
   iii) Interlude One
   iv) Shadows
   v) Pushing Forward
   vi) Interlude Two
   vii) Finale
2. Walls I Build (8:39)
3. Alone (4:54)
4. Pushing You (4:35)
5. Let It Go (5:44)
6. My First Breath (15:24)
   i) My First Step
   ii) Wash Away
   iii) My First Breath
7. Epilogue (3:40)


Line-up

Wes Bolton: Guitars, Programming 
Tracy Thomas: Keys, Malletkat, Drums, Percussion, Programming 
Rick Kaufmann: Bass 
   With

Joey Myers: Guest Vocals

Description/Reviews
It would be fair to say that there are references to Spock’s Beard, Enchant, Rush and Salem Hill, along with less obvious hints to Coldplay and Radiohead. Oddly enough, I hear aesthetics of Genesis and Pink Floyd to some extent. On the other hand, Echoes Of Giants are far from copyists. These fellows have managed to create an elegant style full of colour and vibrant. The musical approach revolves around building a mid-tempo melancholy tension. It has a deep ‘up front’ impact that hits your senses immediately. The opener, lengthy title track is a pastiche uniting seven parts. This epic (21:55 min) is going through a variety of changes, maintaining a balance between soft atmospheric parts and more energetic sections. Never a dull moment! The rest of content has plenty to offer, sticking closely to the formula established on the title composition. Everything flows together smoothly. It’s not easy for me to pick out any highlight, as ‘At The End Of Myself’ is engrossing throughout. Lyrics complement the music inside well. This American band can bring a signature sound that’s familiar, but unmistakably - Echoes Of Giants. Their songwriting and vocal skills are astounding.  (Prog Head)

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

Links:

Web page
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ProgArchives
Proggnosis

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Liquorworks "Muscle Explosion"


Country: Finland
Sub GenreProgressive Metal
Release date: July 23, 2013
Tracklist
01 Catch69
02 Annoying Man
03 Decease From Above
04 Protagonist
05 Nunc est bibendum
06 Unnecessary Death
07 Braincell-Worker
08 Strap Games
09 Pedon Unet
10 Robotektor

Line-up
Panu Rauhala - keyboards, programming
Kosti Aho - guitars, programming
   With
Hakim Hietikko - vocals (3, 6)
Ukko Heinonen - saxophone (5)
Ville Suorsa - guitar solo (3)

Media/Samples 
Sampler

Links:
Facebook

Sanity Fair "Kundalini"


Country: Poland
Sub Genreinstrumental Progressive Rock/Metal
Release date July 23, 2013
Tracklist
1. Entry #0001 - 02:49
2. Supernova - 03:28
3. Unlimited Sense of the Observer - 05:11
4. Entry #1129 - 00:41
5. We're Closing In on the Horizon - 03:43
6. The Most Important Thing - 04:25
7. Wisp Of Hope - 04:05
8. Reptile's Dance - 04:10
9. Entry #2835 - 02:51
10. Kundalini - 09:41
11. EN_rY #@1@& - 00:48

Line-up
TBA

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (name your price)


Detlev Schmidtchen "Vanthasia"


Country: Germany
Sub GenreElectronica
LabelTorus
Release dateJuly 23, 2013
Tracklist
  1. Forbidden Dreams - 5:26
  2. Son Servera - 1:07
  3. Remember - 4:59
  4. Brainstorm - 3:09
  5. Summernight - 4:41
  6. Heaven On Earth - 5:06
  7. Greenland - 3:12
  8. The Touch - 4:08
  9. Beautiful Day - 3:21
10. Pulse - 6:10
11. Vanthasia - 9:30

Line-up
Detlev Schmidtchen (ex-Eloy) - all instruments
   With
Bastian Schmidtchen - bass on track 7

Media/Samples 
Pulse

Links:
Web page
Proggnosis