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Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Mike Florio "Reconcile"


Country: USA
Genre(s)Progressive Rock
FormatCD, digital
Release dateSeptember 30, 2014
Tracklist
  1. Seeds of the Earth - 6:50
  2. Reconcile - 7:41
  3. Letter from Babylon - 4:40
  4. The Wise Man - 4:49
  5. I Promise - 5:54
  6. Only One Way  - 5:24
  7. How Will You Know? - 7:39
  8. Seeds of the Earth II  - 6:22
Line-up
Mike Florio - vocals and keyboards
   With
Bill Thomas - guitars
Clyde 'Dave' Bailey - bass
Steve Golden - drums

Media/Samples 
Teaser
The Wise Man

Links:
Web page
Proggnosis

Vestascension "Breaching the Sound"


Country: USA
Sub GenreArt Rock, Progressive Rock
Formatdigital
Release dateSeptember 30, 2014
Tracklist
  1. Evolutory - 06:05
  2. Lifoliage - 06:30
  3. An Endless Voyage - 07:38
  4. A Source Of Reflection - 05:46
  5. L'Arrivee - 05:17
  6. Wishes In Awakenings - 05:09
  7. The Farewell Fixture - 05:01
  8. Our Midnight Canvas - 04:37
  9. Until We See The Ocean - 05:21
  10. Burn Your Garden Down - 06:48
  11. Of One's Passing - 04:02
  12. The Heart Machine - 06:23
Line-up
Brian Wade
Josh Clark
Nathan Heavel
Andy Stark
Justin Gosnell
   With
Jake Bowen & Mark Holcomb - Guitar Solo's on "Lifoliage"
John Wesley - additional guitar on "Burn Your Garden Down"
Jeordie White - bass guitar on "Of One's Passing"

Description/Reviews
The music as a whole is, in a word, ethereal. Blending aspects from progressive bands like Dream Theater and the more radio friendly styles of Coldplay, Vestascension create a dynamic sound that is accessible yet deep; there’s no overload on wank or much in the way of pretension, and the interplay between the two vocalists, the guitar, and the delicate keyboards creates the ideal ‘dream rock’ sound without ever sounding boring or diluted. The drums and bass are serviceable, but they often feel lacking in the mix – although the drums can be active and engaging from time to time, and even the highlight of a few songs like “Lifoliage” or “Wishes in Awakenings“.
 Read the full review at themonolith.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (Free Download)

Links:
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Jonathan Badger "Verse"


Country: USA
Sub GenreAmbient, Post Rock
LabelCuneiform Records
FormatCD, digital
Release date September 30, 2014
Tracklist
  1. St Lucy’s Day
  2. Dotter
  3. It came down from the night and stood on the porch until I invited it in for tea
  4. The Bear
  5. Nimbus 
  6. The Valley of the Shadow
  7. Limbec
  8. Bouge
  9. Erbarmen
  10. Sickle’s Compass Come
Line-up
Jonathan Badger - Electric and acoustic guitars, banjo, piano, computer, sundry percussion
   With
Ruby Fulton - Flugelhorn
Patrick McMinn - Trumpet
Tiffany DeFoe - Tenor and baritone saxophones
Shodekeh - Human beatbox
Alexandra and Victoria, the Sisters Wick - Mezzo sopranos
Michael Gates - Violin
Sasha Keen - Cello

Media/Samples 
Nimbus

Links:
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Panza "Panza"


Country: Argentina
Sub GenreProgressive Rock
FormatCD
Release date: September  2014
Tracklist
  1. Furia
  2. Inyección de Adrenalina
  3. Desembarco
  4. Caida Libre
  5. La herida
  6. La imaginación al poder 
  7. Exilio
  8. Pasajera fantasma
  9. Basura
  10. El ataque de la mujer de 50 pies
  11. Partículas elementales
  12. El vals del infierno
Line-up
Mariana Bianchini: Vocals
Sergio Alvarez: Guitars, loops and keyboards
Franco Fontanarrosa: Bass
Augusto Urbini: Drums

Thematic "The Endless Light"


Country: USA
Sub GenreProgressive Metal
Formatdigital
Release dateSeptember 30, 2014
Tracklist
  1. Precipice 01:32
  2. Epoch 06:56
  3. Tempest 06:10
  4. Evoke 05:17
  5. Absolution 01:48
  6. Redemption 05:36
  7. RE:M 04:29
  8. Awakening 06:02
  9. Return To 00:49
  10. The Moment 03:56
  11. Obsidian 07:13
  12. The Beating Heart 07:14
  13. Deep Field 02:43
Line-up
Max Monzon: Vocals
Kevin Samuel: Lead Guitar
Nate Buesching: Rhythm Guitar/Vocals
John Walther: Drums

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

Links:
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Corvus Stone "Corvus Stone II"


Country: Multinational
Sub GenreProgressive Rock
LabelMelodic Revolution Records
Release date: September 30, 2014
Tracklist
  1. The simple life
  2. Early Morning Call
  3. Boots For Hire
  4. Sneaky Entrance In To Lisa
  5. Purple Stone
  6. A Stoned Crow Meets The Rusty Wolff Rat
  7. Lisa Has A Cigar
  8. Mr. Cha Cha
  9. Dark Tower
  10. Scandinavians in Mexico
  11. Mystery Man
  12. Camelus Bactrianus
  13. Uncle Schunkle
  14. Eternal Universe
  15. Moaning Lisa
  16. Campfire
Line-up
Colin Tench - Guitars 
Petri Lemmy Lindström - Bass 
Pasi - keyboards 
Robert Wolff - Drums & Percussion 
Sonia Mota - All art and video work 
    With 
Blake Carpenter (The Minstrel's Ghost, Voice of the Enslaved) - Vocals 
Sean Filkins (Big Big Train) - Vocals 
Phil Naro (Drackfarben) - Vocals 
German Vergara (Aisles) - Vocals 
Victor Tassone - Percussion 
Andres Guazzelli - Vocals

Camori "Ethereal"


Country: USA
Sub GenreProgressive Rock/Metal
Formatdigital
Release dateSeptember 30, 2014
Tracklist
  1. Awake From The Dream 06:16
  2. Assimilation 03:15
  3. Coriolis Effect 05:09
  4. Relic 05:56
  5. Ethereal I: Basilica 02:05
  6. Voltaic 04:20
  7. Ethereal II: Blackest Night 03:56
  8. Holograms 03:53
  9. Ethereal III: Dusk 04:41
  10. Echelon 04:26
  11. Oculus 08:01
Line-up
Corey Tossas - Lead Vocals
Daniel Ghent - Guitars/Background Vocals
Ray Bacallao - Bass
Neal Brewer - Drums

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Progeland "Gate To Fulfilled Fantasies"


Country: Finland
Sub GenreHard Rock, Progressive Rock
LabelMelodic Revolution Records
FormatCD
Release dateSeptember 30, 2014
Tracklist
  1. The New Era - 2:10
  2. Dead Calm Waters - 4:24
  3. Solar Boat - 8:16
  4. Ocean - 0:52
  5. One Day I Will Be Your King - 6:07
  6. Under The Ancient Sky - 7:48
  7. So Silently - 3:42
  8. Angel - 5:12
Line-up
Tomi Murtomäki: Vocals
Petri Lindström (Corvus Stone): Bass & Various Instruments
Juha Kaski: Keyboards
Matias Kangasniemi: Guitars
Pasi Manninen: Drums

Description/Reviews
Gate To Fulfilled Fantasies is a concept album, yet each track can be enjoyed as individual song. The inspiration of the lyrics can be found in the mythology of the ancient Egypt, but the lyrics aren’t based on any specific story or myth.

Media/Samples 
Stream

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Proggnosis

Enchant "The Great Divide"


Country: USA
Sub GenreProgressive Rock
Label: InsideOut
Release date: September 29, 2014 (EU) and September 30, 2014 (USA)
Tracklist
  1. Circles
  2. Within an Inch
  3. The Great Divide
  4. All Mixed Up
  5. Transparent Man
  6. Life in a Shadow
  7. Deserve to Feel
  8. Here and Now
  9. Prognosticator
Line-up
Ted Leonard  (Spock’s Beard, Thought Chamber) - Lead vocals
Douglas Ott - Guitars and backing vocals
Ed Platt - Bass guitar, backing vocals and bass pedals
Bill Jenkins (Sound Of Contact, Thought Chamber) - Keyboards
Sean Flanegan (Cynthesis) - Drums

Jerzy Antczak "Ego, Georgius"


Country: Poland
Sub GenreProgressive Rock
LabelLynx Music
Format: CD
Release date: September 29, 2014
Tracklist
  1. Naive - 5:58
  2. Bloody George - 3:03
  3. Escape from... - 1:10
  4. Heaven - 4:04
  5. Nebayilhaye - 5:38
  6. Don't need you - 6:38
  7. Bottom of my soul - 0:38
  8. The Gods of our planet - 9:40
  9. Mermaids' song - 7:09
  10. Big deal - 1:52
  11. Humid tube - 2:56
  12. Waltz - 7:10
Line-up
Jerzy Antczak (Albion) - guitars, keyboards, sequencers, vocals
   With
Anna Batko (ex-Albion, Hipgnosis) - vocals
Karolina Leszko - backing vocals
Krzysztof Wyrwa (Millenium) - bass
Rafal Paszcz - (ex-Albion) - drums, percussion
Waldemar Nowak - guitar
Aisha - a mysterious voice " from Heaven "

Description/Reviews
The music on the disc is a mixture of exotic sounds, cosmic themes, effects and guitar solos combined in lasting over 55 minutes suite. The author says: The first notes of the album were born in my head two years ago. My intention was to compose the music for some movie but the more I worked on it the more it took the form of "songs" merging into one cohesive theme I could release as the CD. This is a very personal album. The expression of my escapism. I am running away from people, religion, politics, ideologies, hypocrisy and hatred. I run away into myself into the world of tones sounding in my soul. 

Media/Samples 
Progstreaming
Waltz
Humid Tube
Don't need you
Heaven
Mermaids' Song

Links:
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Millenium "In Search Of The Perfect Melody"


Country: Poland
Sub GenreNeo-Prog
LabelLynx Music
Release date: September 29, 2014
Tracklist
1. In search of the perfect melody - 19:50
2. Girl from a glass sphere - 7:09
3. The mirror of memories - 7:00
4. Blood on the rain - 4:21
5. Over & over - 5:40
6. In the world of fantasy ? - 12:27

Line-up
Łukasz Gall - vocals
Piotr Płonka - guitars
Krzysztof Wyrwa - bass, Warr guitar
Tomasz Paśko - drums
Ryszard Kramarski - keybords
   with
Marek Juza (Metus) - vocals
Piotr Bylica - cello
Karolina Leszko - backing vocals
Dariusz Rybka - saxophone

Media/Samples
Over & Over
Girl from a glass sphere
Progstreaming

Links:
Web page
Facebook
ProgArchives
Proggnosis

Snovi "Ciklus"


Country: Croatia
Sub GenrePsychedelic
Formatdigital
Release dateSeptember 29, 2014
Tracklist
1. Kava Kava 02:52
2. Emanacija 05:42
3. Ishtar 08:28
4. Dan San 04:49
5. Proton 03:45
6. Sapat 04:59
7. Sento de Autuno 05:17
8. Trauma 05:58
9. Pust 06:16

Line-up
Marino Buršić (guitars, synths, bass)
Branko Crnogorčić (drums, guitars, synths)
Marko Kalčić (bass, frame drums, didgeridoo, djembe, vocals)
   With
Branko Radić (orchestration on Ishtar, Sento de Autuno)
Samanta Stell (flute solo on Sento de Autuno)
Edi Premate (synth violin solo on Ishtar)
Srđa Radulović (mridanga and karatals on Ishtar)
Tatiana Giorgi (vocals on Trauma)
Sandro Peročević (contrabass on Šapat)
Ivan Uravić (kaval and djembe on Dan San)
Leon Brenko (synth organ solo on Proton)
Svetlana Radosavljević (gongs on Pust)
Petra Pletikos (cover drawing)
Roberta Paljar (cover design)
      Vocal samples:
From the album Children Dreams (Mana, 2003):
Suntrai an Fhiolair (Ireland, traditional) on Kava Kava
Lullaby (Iran, traditional) on Šapat
From the album Murmurs Of Earth (Random House, 1977):
Greetings From The Secretary General Of The UN
From Youtube:
Goddess Ishtar Prayers (Nineveh Shadrach)

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

Links:
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Progarchives

Monday, September 29, 2014

Tin Spirits "Scorch"


Country: UK
Sub GenreProgressive Rock
LabelEsoteric Antenna
Release dateSeptember 29, 2014
Tracklist
  1. Carnivore
  2. Summer Now
  3. Old Hands
  4. Binary Man
  5. Little Eyes
  6. Wrapped And Tied
  7. She Moves Among Us
  8. Garden State
Line-up
Dave Gregory (XTC) - guitar
Daniel Steinhardt - guitar, vocals
Mark Kilminster - bass, vocals
Doug Mussard - drums, vocals

Links:
Web page
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Proggnosis

Hidden Lands "Lycksalighetens Ö"


Country: Sweden
Subgenre: Symphonic
Label: Progress Records
Format: CD, digital
Release date September 29, 2014
Tracklist
1. Corsican Daydream (12:49)
2. Dakkar (10:37)
3. In the Wind (4:40)
4. Over Again (5:34)
5. Pi (3:09)
6. Hidden Lands (19:07)

Line-up
Hannes Ljunghall (Violent Silence) - keyboards, guitars 
Bruno Edling (Violent Silence) - vocals  
Phillip Bastin - bass  
Gustav Nyber - drums

The Bad Mexican “Due”


Country: Italy
Sub GenreJazz-Rock, Psychedelic
LabelLizard Records
FormatCD, digital
Release date: September 29, 2014
Tracklist
  1. Uno - 3:07
  2. Due - 3:14
  3. Tre - 3:38
  4. Quattro - 6:56
  5. Cinque - 3:15
  6. Sei - 5:49
  7. Sette - 4:15
  8. Otto - 3:05
  9. Nove - 3:46
Line-up
Filippo Ferrari: bass, vocal, electronics
Tommaso Dringoli: guitar, vocal, electronics
Matteo Salutari: drums, electronics
Davide Vannuccini: saxophone, electronics, vocal, percussion

Description/Reviews
A stunning and original trip with different atmospheres. A kind of psych-jazz-rock sound, from the ecleticism of Mas Volta and Diablo Swing Orchestra and hypnotic disgressions to Morricone's cinematic tensions. 
Media/Samples 
Uno

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Ave Tierra "El Hombre Nuevo"


Country: Argentina
Sub GenreProgressive Rock
FormatCD, digital
Release dateSeptember 29, 2014
Tracklist
  1. Viento muerto 05:12
  2. El hambre de los sin nombre 03:05
  3. Primer vuelo 04:17
  4. El agua sangra 05:01
  5. Bandoneón 03:42
  6. En la luz y en la oscuridad 07:28
  7. Oxido vegetal 05:56
  8. Por las noches, nada más 04:58
Line-up
Eduardo Mauro: Guitars, vocals
Guillermo Mauro: Drums
Diego Denapole: Bass
   With
Leito Aguilera: Vocals on track 2
Federico Terranova: Violins on track 6
Fernán Mareque: Theremin and classic guitar on track 8
Luis Campodonico: Guitars on track 8

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (name your price)

Links:
Web Page
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Schnauser "Protein for Everyone"


Country: UK
Sub GenrePsychedelic, Pop, Canterbury
Label: Esoteric Antenna
Release dateSeptember 29, 2014
Tracklist
  1. Grey or blue
  2. Protein for everyone
  3. National grid
  4. The reason they're alive
  5. Split
  6. Buon Natalie
  7. Disposable outcomes
Line-up
Alan Strawbridge - Guitar, Vocals
Duncan Gammon - Keyboards, Vocals
Holly McIntosh - Bass, Vocals
Jasper Williams - Drums

Description/Reviews
"Protein for Everyone” caustically details the nagging neuroses bubbling under the surface of everyday life and imagines a brave new world where you can sell parts of your anatomy to be processed into cheap tasty meat for easy cash. Occasionally melancholic and blackly humorous lyrics are wrapped in a musical blanket of odd time signatures; fizzing with lively energetic progressive arrangements that have a pop sensibility, luring you in with three part harmonies and earworm melodies before wigging out on an inappropriate glockenspiel and fuzz bass solo in 10/8. 
The album includes the epic, eccentric and wonderful lengthy track ‘Dipsosable Outcomes’. With influences such as early Soft Machine, Supersister, White Denim, The Mothers of Invention, Stephen Malkmus and the Canterbury scene, "Protein for Everyone” is one of the most original and striking releases in Progressive music of 2014.

Media/Samples 
Trailer

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Walfad "An Unsung Hero, Salty Rains & Him"


Country: Poland
Sub GenreProgressive Rock
LabelLynx Music
Format: CD
Release date: September 29, 2014
Tracklist
1. Smutna Pani - Sullen Lady
2. Liście - Leaves
   a) Na imię mu Liść - And His Name is Leaf
   b) To dla nas kwitły Kasztany - It's for Us that Chestnut Trees Blossomed
   c) Piorunów sto zakorzenionych w krajobrazie - A Hundred Lightnings
   d) Zatrzymac Liści bieg - To Stop the Whirl of Leaves
3. Chocholi Taniec - The Dance of a Straw-Man
4 .Cztery palce jednej ręki - Four Fingers
5. Łzy Szatana - Satan's Tears

Line-up
Wojciech Ciuraj - vocals, guitars
Daniel Rodzoń - keyboards
Maciej Kucharski - bass
Kacper Kucharski - drums, percussion

Media/Samples
Progstreaming

Links:
Web page
Facebook
Proggnosis

Modest Midget "Crysis"


Country: Netherlands
Sub GenreProgressive Rock
Label: Multi-Polar Music
Release date: September 28, 2014
Tracklist
1. The Grand Gate Opening (1:53)
2. A Centurion's Itchy Belly (4:34)
3. Rocky Valleys of Dawn (3:53)
4. Praise the Day (2:50)
5. Now That We're Here (3:42)
6. Periscope Down (3:52)
7. (Oh)Pretty Woman (2:25)
8. Flight of the Cockroach (2:39)
9. Secret Lies (6:19)
10. Gone Is (3:49)
11. Crisis (Awake of the Sheep) (7:10)
12. Birth (5:23)

Line-up
Lonny Ziblat - vocals, keyboards, piano, guitars, percussion, programming
Willem Smid - drums
Maarten Bakker - bass, keyboards
    With:
Dimitar Bodurov - accordion
Yael Shachar - violin, viola
Tristan Hupe - keyboards
Jurriaan Berger - keyboards, programming
Eduardo Olloqui - oboe
Emiel de Jong - sax
Sanne Vos - recorders
Anna Zeijlemaker - flutes

Description/Reviews
Crysis features twelve compositions displaying an incredible musical variety. For example we start off with “The Grand Gate Opening” [1:53] a rather straight forward symphonic synthesizer solo that builds hauntingly and dramatically proposing something grand and panoramic only to switch gears with track two, “A Centurion’s Itchy Belly” [4:34] which starts out like something off a Split Enz album and then proceeds to go through more stylistic permutations than you can imagine all presented in a jaunty, up-tempo happy go lucky, cartoonish feel. Next up is “Rocky Valleys of Dawn”, the album’s first vocal track and it again displays a Split Enz, New Wave feel, up-tempo and rocking without the heavy crunching guitar. There’s even a Ska version of the Roy Orbison 60’s classic “Pretty Woman” [2:25]! There’s no question all of Ziblat’s musical schooling in those other genres finds a welcome home in his unique approach to contemporary pop music. It’s all very hooky, all very catchy and hummable and yet full of intricate instrumental virtuosity and complex compositional craft.
Modest Midget have taken a noticeable step forward following up on their first release, delivering a great set of tunes that will appeal to fans of Arty music full of proggy influences and embellishments. There are so many great moments on this disc and so much more the reason to recommend it. If you’ve never listened to Modest Midget I urge you to check’em out.(Jerry Lucky
Media/Samples
Bandcamp
Crisis (Awake of the Sheep)
Birth

Links:
Web page
Facebook
ProgArchives
Proggnosis

Ysma "Fourth Wall"


Country: Germany
Sub GenreInstrumental Progressive Rock/Metal
FormatCD, digital
Release dateSeptember 28, 2014
Tracklist
1. Limelight (2:36)
2. Four Seconds West (8:36)
3. Thelema (8:43)
4. Sun, Part 1: Aurora (7:52)
5. A Beaver's Tale (4:05)
6. Jester (8:30)
7. Sun, Part II: Eve (5:42)
8. Pseudopolis (9:07)

Line-up
Fabian Schroer - Guitar
Daniel Kluger - Guitar
Arne Timm - Keys
Alex Schenk - Bass
Jens Milo - Drums

Description/Reviews
The quintet combines atmospheric elements and progressive rock/metal influences, always focussing on the ambience of a song as well as unconventional rhythms and parts out of the ordinary. 

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

Links:
Web page
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ProgArchives

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Eighth Whale "Eighth Whale"


Country: USA
Sub Genre Instrumental, Progressive Rock, Fusion
Formatdigital
Release dateSeptember 28, 2014
Tracklist
  1. A Year on the Moon 04:04
  2. Twenty One Four 04:34
  3. Metrospective 06:00
  4. Road to Mulveria 05:33
  5. Peanut Butter Surprise and Jelly Jams 07:29
  6. Bailout on AstroTurf 04:05
Line-up
Allison Kacmar- Bass
DJ Zaccari- Drums
Jesse Spillane- Keyboards
Trevor Richards- Guitar

Description/Reviews
Eighth Whale makes instrumental music with elements of progressive, fusion, and post-rock.

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (name your price)

Links:
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Bahal "Shahat"


Country: Italy
Sub GenreProgressive Black/Death Metal
FormatCD, digital
Release dateSeptember 28, 2014
Tracklist
1. Ombre 09:09
2. Megiddo 03:34
3. Io Leggo Il Cosmo 04:55
4. Vanitas 04:52
5. La Città Silenziosa 07:06
6. Canto dell'Abisso 05:24
7. Metamorfosi 05:27
8. Shahat 16:36

Line-up
Lord Bahal - Lead Guitars, Vocals, Bass, Programming
Tafe - Drums
Sidhe - Bass, Harp
Dario - Vocals
Andrea Fumagalli - Guitars

Media/Samples 
Teaser
La Città Silenziosa

Links:
Web Page
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Habu "To the Stars"


Country: UK
Sub GenreProgressive Rock/Metal, Hard Rock
FormatCD
Release dateSeptember 27, 2014
Tracklist
  1. SR-71 07:20
  2. It's Time 04:05
  3. Silent Scream 05:12
  4. Contact Light 05:56
  5. The Vigil 04:51
  6. Harvest 03:27
  7. Android Warriors 04:42
  8. To The Stars 07:18
Line-up
Andy Clarke - Vocals, guitar
Alex Body - Vocals, bass guitar, keyboards
Alex Dunbar - Drums

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

Links:
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Saturday, September 27, 2014

Daydream XI "The Grand Disguise"


Country: Brazil
Sub GenreProgressive Power Metal
LabelPower Prog
Formatdigital
Release dateSeptember 27, 2014
Tracklist
  1. Keeping The Dream Alive - 05:55
  2. Like Darkness Rules The Night - 05:11
  3. Watch Me Rise - 05:37 
  4. The Guts Of Hell - 04:33
  5. The Age Of Sadness - 05:12
  6. Wings Of Destruction - 04:56
  7. About Life And Its Ending - 05:00
  8. Phoenix - 07:07
  9. Zero Days - 05:14
  10. Alone - 04:49
  11. The Grand Disguise - 23:40
Line-up
Tiago Masseti – Vocals, Guitars
Marcelo Pereira – Guitars
Tomás Gonzaga – Bass
Bruno Giordano – Drums

Description/Reviews
The first track with a bombastic opening sets the tone and the Symphony X influences  and singing style are recognized. The typical rhytmn in the second track (with some 70's keyboard parts) make me think of (who still knows that fabulous band) Maraya in their 'No Hope For Humanity' period. "Watch Me Rise"is a faster more chaotic starting track with a nice drive, sometimes slowed down by melodic singing parts. "The Age of Sadness" is a slower more melodic track with Angra references. "Wings of Destruction" sets off like a track from the first Dream Theater album with very tight drumming and the same kind of atmosphere, "Phoenix" is one of the most straight forward tracks with a nice riff, a contagious melody and a nice almost AOR sounding refrain. Songs with a title "Alone" need most of the times no comment on what kind of style they are and indeed you guessed it. Every good album needs a ballad and with this track they fill that need.
 Read the full review by Reinier de Vries at powerofmetal.dk

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Friday, September 26, 2014

Antonio Ramírez & Marco Serrato / Borja Díaz "Arconte"


Country: Spain
Sub GenreExperimental, Avant Prog
LabelSentencia Records
FormatCD, digital, CD+book
Release dateSeptember 29, 2014
Tracklist
  1. Arconte
  2. El Enemigo
  3. El cumpleaños del Mago
  4. Revelación Nocturna
  5. La Ciudadela I - A las puertas
  6. La Ciudadela II - Ante el líder
  7. La Ciudadela III - El Sacrificio
  8. Los Hermanos
  9. Planeta Salvaje
  10. Psiconauta
Line-up
Antonio Ramírez: illustrations
Marco Serrato: double bass
Borja Díaz (Orthodox, Hidden Forces Trio, Sputnik Trio): drums, percussion

Description/Reviews
Serrato and Diaz  improvise from the subconscious and automatic Ramirez illustrations creating an austere but evocative soundtrack to guide the excellent visual work of "Arconte". 
Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (2 tracks)

Links:
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Father Figure "Heavy Meddlers"


Country: USA
Genre(s): Instrumental Jazz-Rock, Fusion
Formatdigital
Release dateSeptember 26, 2014
Tracklist
1. March of the Rare Bird. 4:53
2. The Fault Line. 5:02
3. Bolt from the Blue. 6:43
4. Schizophrenzy. 5:25
5. Undercover Magister. 6:06
6. Ascension. 6:50
7. Malingerer. 3:06
8. Constructal Law. 4:21

Line-up
Mike Osso - Guitar
Eric Horowitz - Keys, Guitar
Taka Aochi - Violin
Gerard De Carlo - Bass
Steve Osso - Drums
   With
Connor Reese - Pedal steel guitar on "Ascension"

Description/Reviews
Father Figure are a 5-piece instrumental jazz-rock fusion band from New York. On their second full-length album, everything is made in-house (the band is mostly audio engineers). Here, the completely DIY approach yields an expansive sound. This album introduces the group's violinist Taka Aochi, entering them into an entirely new dimension of songwriting. Heavy Meddlers is rich in composition and arrangement, and possesses a level of depth that begs for repeat listens. With beautiful art by photographer Sean Mack, the album becomes an evocative and astonishing expression of spirit.

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Evergrey "Hymns For The Broken"


Country: Sweden
Sub GenreProgressive Metal
LabelAFM Records
Release dateSeptember 26, 2014
Tracklist
01. King Of Errors
02. A New Dawn
03. Wake A Change
04. Archaic Rage
05. Barricades
06. Black Undertow
07. The Fire
08. Hymns For The Broken
09. Missing You
10. The Grand Collapse
11. The Aftermath

Line-up
Tom S. Englund - Vocals, Guitar
Henrik Danhage - Guitar
Johan Niemann - Bass
Jonas Ekdahl - Drums
Rikard Zander - Keyboards

Greensleeves "Inertial Frames"


Country: Brazil
Sub GenreProgressive Metal
FormatCD, digital
Release dateSeptember 26, 2014
Tracklist
01. Fireflies 05:50
02. Unsolved 06:58
03. Construct 07:49
04. Dyschromatopsia 06:23
05. Decoding Love 04:14
06. Broken 06:42
07. Fading Heroes 07:53
08. Seed of Ego 04:15
09. Lich Bride 05:11
10. Fixed 03:42
11. Inertial Frames of Reference 10:29
12. The Little Things 02:37

Line-up
Gui Nogueira - Vocals
Victor Schmidlin - Guitars
Cicero Baggio - Guitars
João Koerner - Bass
Luis Requião - Drums

Description/Reviews
Sophomore album from this Brazilian band mining the melodic prog metal sound so beloved of their countrymen. Tons of crunch and great melodies really make these guys stand out. A great addition to the heavy melodic metal scene and definitely for fans of bands like Dream Theater, Symphony X and Pagan's Mind. (progmetalzone.com)

Media/Samples 
Stream

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Cartographer "A Sea of Sunshine"


Country: Netherlands
Sub Genre: Instrumental, Alternative, Post Rock, Progressive Rock
FormatCD, digital
Release dateSeptember 26, 2014
Tracklist
01. Intro - 03:07
02. Revision - -06:43
03. We've Come A Long Way - 07:00
04. [...] - 02:43
05. ...Here's To You - 09:07
06. Satao's Bane - 06:50
07. A Sea Of Sunshine, But None For You - 08:40
08. Built With Blood And Fears And Tears - 02:12
09. 17:14 - Now Yours, Not Ours, Not Mine - 09:15

Line-up
Milan Roerdink - Guitars
Marvin Roerdink - Guitars
Yoep De Ligt - Guitars
Desmond Kuijk - Bass
Bart Den Ouden - Drums

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

Links:
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Flying Colors "Second Nature"


Country: USA
Sub GenreProgressive Rock, Hard Rock
Release dateSeptember 26, 2014
Tracklist
  1. Open Up Your Eyes
  2. Mask Machine
  3. Bombs Away
  4. The Fury Of My Love
  5. A Place In Your World
  6. Lost Without You
  7. One Lost Forever
  8. Peaceful Harbor
  9. Cosmic Symphony
      I. Still Life Of The World
      II. Searching For The Air
      III. Pound For Pound

Line-up
Neal Morse - Keyboards, Vocals
Steve Morse - Guitar
Mike Portnoy - Drums, Percussion
Casey McPherson - Vocals, Guitar
Dave LaRue - Bass

Luz de Riada "Cuentos y Fábulas Vol. 2 (Recapitulación e Inventario)"


Country: Mexico
Genre(s)Jazz-Folk-Rock
Format: CD
Release date: September 2014
Tracklist
1. Intro
2. Vórtices
3. Doméstico de predador
4. Comparsa de cronopios
5. Ritual de fulanos
6. El advenimiento de las riadas
7. Por la puerta trasera
8. Parlamento saurio
9. El gato que no quería saber
10. La rata Maruca
11. Un llamado
12. Marxistas de costumbres exóticas
13. Mar afuera
14. La rana que olvidó al chango

Line-up
René Flores: Drums
Ramsés Luna: Wind instruments, voice
Hugo Santos: Stick, bass
Gustavo Jacob: Guitar
   With
Emilio Gordoa: Vibraphone
Alejandro Otaola: Synth guitar
Carlos Alegre: Violin
Ivan Bringa: Guitar (expandida)

Media/Samples 
Intro
5 tracks

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Eden Circus "Marula"


Country: Germany
Sub GenrePost Rock/Metal
LabelLifeforce Records
FormatCD, digital
Release dateSeptember 26, 2014
Tracklist
  1. Devoid of Purpose - 6:01
  2. Comfort - 8:40
  3. A Desert in Between - 3:58
  4. 101 - 8:07
  5. Arc - 4:45
  6. Summon a Ghost - 7:17
  7. A Shore Uncertainty - 6:51
  8. Her Lovely Hands Upon the Black Earth - 8:48
  9. Playing You - 8:54
Line-up
Siegmar Pohl – Vocals
Michael Reinke – Drums, vocals
Andreas Höfler – Guitar, vocals
Sebastian Scheewe – Bass
Nils Finkeisen – Guitar

Description/Reviews
The sound is reminiscent of Post Rock/Metal, as there are hints of Tool and definitely Isis in there, with hints of Progressive Metal and Shoegaze in there as well. “Devoid Of Purpose” gives the listener the first taste of the band’s layered, atmospheric approach. Siegmar Pohl’s airy vocal delivery and the alternation between clean and dense, distorted guitars create an engaging, yet enigmatic effect, sometimes light and spirited, at other times somewhat dark and brooding. If not for the sheer length of the song, I could definitely see it getting airtime on the radio, as the overall sound is catchy and very listenable despite its variety of components.
 Read the full review by Andrew Sifari at metal-temple.com

Media/Samples 
Teaser
Her lovely hands upon the black earth

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Synaptik "The Mechanisms of Consequence"


Country: Germany
Sub GenreProgressive Metal, Thrash
LabelRebel Tune Records
FormatCD, digital
Release dateSeptember 26, 2014
Tracklist
  1. Truths That Wake - 05:14
  2. A Man Dies - 05:31
  3. I Am The Ghost (Intro) - 01:01
  4. Your Cold Dead Trace - 05:10
  5. Irresistible Shade - 05:25
  6. Vacancy Of Mind - 04:30
  7. As I Am, As I Was - 07:22
  8. Utopia In Our Eyes - 05:32
  9. All Lies (Intro) - 01:28
  10. Allies - 05:24
  11. Your Cold Dead Trace (Bonus track)
Line-up
John Knight - Vocals
Ian Knight - Guitar
Kev Jackson - Bass
Jack Murton - Guitar
Pete Loades - Drums
   With
Alan Tecchio (ex Hades / Watchtower) - Vocals (11)

Description/Reviews
While listening to this “The Mechanisms of Consequence” (TMC) you get the impression that Synaptik have a universal passport that takes them from one musical territory to another without border control even batting an eyelid. At its core the music is an enjoyable Thrash Metal but there are also several hints of Death Metal, particularly with the style of drumming. Power Metal can be invoked in some melodies and if you listen carefully you might hear some riffs with the dark ambience of Black Metal. And of course, when you consider these genre affiliations as well as the numerous tempo breaks and mood swings, the Progressive genre is automatically added to the picture. Despite its multi-facetedness the album feels very homogenous.
 Read the full review by Chris Galea at  powerofmetal.dk

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Screaming Headless Torsos "Code Red"


Country: USA
Sub GenreFusion, Funk
FormatCD, digital
Release dateSeptember 26, 2014
Tracklist
1. Code Red (3:22)
2. Brooce Swayne (3:43)
3. Wizard of Woo  (3:41)
4. Field of Light (3:46)
5. With You (4:10)
6. Fried Tongue (5:25)
7. Sideways (Interlude) (1:54)
8. Running Black Water (7:16)
9. Almond Pear in Love (6:04)
10. Dead Christmas Trees (5:10)
11. My Reasons for Silence (7:30)

Line-up
David Fiuczynski - Guitar
Daniel Sadownick - Drums
Freedom Bremner - Vocals
   With
James Valentine (Maroon 5) (2)
Bernie Worrell (Parliament-Funkadelic) (3)
Casey Benjamin (Robert Glasper Experiement) (7)
Chris Fisher (7)

Media/Samples 
Teaser

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Thursday, September 25, 2014

Onevoice "To Mold This Morning's Clay"


Country: USA
Sub GenreProgressive Rock/Pop
Formatdigital
Release dateSeptember 24, 2014
Tracklist
  1. Aether 06:36
  2. October Snow 04:56
  3. People Watching 04:34
  4. Hibernation 07:20
  5. Mind Palace 06:08
  6. For Her 04:50
  7. A Seedling 05:20
  8. Hush of Lack 05:29
  9. Any Happier 04:36
  10. Graduation 01:16
Line-up
Dan Costello - Drums, Piano, Bass, Vocals
   With
Willie Horowitz - Guitar
Caroline Homer - Vocals on "Aether"
Phoebe Heretz - Vocals on "Mind Palace"
Jacob Spadaro - Flute on "A Seedling"

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (name your price)

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Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Aranis "Made in Belgium II"


Country: Belgium
Sub GenreChamber, Fusion, Art Rock
Format CD, digital
Release date: September 24, 2014 (digital), October 1, 2014 (CD)
Tracklist
  1. Skip XXI - 06:19
  2. Hit - 06:25
  3. Intermezzo 1 - 01:03
  4. Tolles pferd - 04:33
  5. DSK - 03:37
  6. Kablamo - 03:19
  7. Intermezzo II - 01:43
  8. Boki II - 06:06
  9. Chanoi - 02:56
  10. La vague - 04:32
  11. Intermezzo III - 01:15
  12. Cell stress - 09:50
  13. Funambul - 04:29
Line-up
Liesbeth Lambrecht: violin, viola
Marjolein Cools: accordion
Stijn Denys: guitar
Jana Arns: transverse flute, voice
Joris Vanvinckenroye: contrabass & composition

Description/Reviews
Aranis, year 2014: a Belgian band that brings something definitely off the beaten tracks! The second installment in their "Made in Belgium" series (aka MIB 2) is now on the road...and it's more captivating than a thriller! In it, a subtle blend of rejuvenated classical influences mix with (aming other things and with no specific order) a touch of drumless/ clarinetless Balkanic Klezmer- punk, a glimpse of 100% Brussels- deserts tango and a few improvised moments that manage to never really sound like "jazz"...No easy label comes to mind when it comes to describe Aranis' sound...and so its should be! A pretty unpredictable sextet...Classical? Jazz? Folk? Rock?...Well, a little bit of all this...That's what you'll taste in the Aranis pizza! So, why wouldn't you treat your ears and get a slice of it? With real chunks of Peter Vermeersch (FES), Koen Van Roy (Cro Magnon), Walter Hus (Maximalist!), Ananta Roosens (La sieste du dromadaire), Aurélie Dorzée (Aurélia) and many others...

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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