The Orphaned Bee "Thinking Without Language" EP

Country: Australia
Genre(s): Progressive Rock, Electronica
Label: Bird's Robe Records
Format: CD,digital
Release date: February 28, 2025
Tracklist

1. Rain (4:05) 

2. Water (3:43) 

3. Sanctuary (4:31) 

4. Fire (5:05) 

5. Ascendance (5:50) 

Total Time 23:14

Credits

Music by Brett Tollis

Lyrics by Brett Tollis and Laura Boettcher

Drums by Alex O'Toole

Additional piano by Ron Pollard

Mixed by Ron Pollard at Studio Sleepwalker's Dread

Drums recorded by Tim Carr at Rancom St Studios

Mastered by Tim Carr at Gnomelabs

Description/Reviews:

The Orphaned Bee’s EP is a 23-minute sonic journey through elemental themes, blending synth-driven soundscapes with atmospheric depth. Opening with “Rain,” the EP immediately sets a cinematic, almost sci-fi tone, while “Water” introduces a heavier, battle-like intensity with distorted vocal effects. “Sanctuary” slows things down, evoking solitude and calm after a storm, while “Fire” explores rhythmic flickers of sound, mirroring a dancing flame. The EP concludes with “Ascendance,” a return to its sci-fi roots, closing the experience in a sweeping, experimental synth finale. It is a soundtrack for a sci-fi movie as yet unmade.

Read the full review by Benny (the Ball) Benson at rockthejointmagazine.com

Media/Samples
Bandcamp

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Darkness Is My Canvas "The End Of Times"

Country: Finland
Genre(s): Progressive Alternative Rock
Label: Rockshots Records
Format: CD,digital
Release date: August 1, 2025
Tracklist

1. Wash (3:10) 

2. Rejected (3:59) 

3. Bleed (5:13) 

4. Ink In The Water (2:40) 

5. The Maze (8:52) 

6. The End Of Times (7:03) 

7. Day Zero (6:32) 

8. Subliminal (1:05) 

9. These Times (3:00) 

10. Skin & Bones (4:47) 

11. Day Zero (Radio Edit) (3:59) 

12. The Maze (Instrumetal) (8:50) 

Total Time 59:10

Credits

Pete - Lead Vocals

Panu - Guitars

Fellu - Bass

Guitar Juza - Drums

Description/Reviews:

"The End Of Times" is the debut full-length album from Finnish band Darkness Is My Canvas — a bold and emotional journey through melody, introspection, and modern rock expression. Blending progressive elements, cinematic atmospheres, and sharp alternative energy, the album explores the collapse and rebirth of meaning in a chaotic world. With intricate arrangements, thought-provoking lyrics, and powerful hooks, "The End Of Times" is a record that invites repeated listens, each time revealing new layers and deeper resonance.

Media/Samples
Ink In The Water
Day Zero

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Doracor "Unexpected Intersections"

Country: Italy
Genre(s): Symphonic
Label: AMS
Format: CD, digital
Release date: July 18, 2025
Tracklist

1. Journey (01:32)

2. Remnants Of Memories (10:21)

3. After Waking (04:42)

4. Il Coraggio di Essere (05:38)

5. Distant Lights (You Can't Forget) (05:11)

6. Quel Folle Volo (04:56

7. That Silent Tear - Intro (00:59)

8. That Silent Tear (05:16

9. And I Miss You… (02:37)

10. Simply You (06:19)

11. Stella D'Agosto (02:00)

12. Laurie (04:01)

13. Esegesi Di Una Fiaba Inenarrata (02:57)

14. Unexpected Intersections (15:33)

    a. Playing With Fears (choir intro) (00:59)

    b. The Forest Of Fear (01:04)

    c. Can You Listen To My Voice? (02:08)

    d. Ethereal Waves (00:46)

    e. LaurieCaurie (choirs) (00:34)

    f. Our Better World (03:11)

    g. Voices (01:11)

    h. The Purple Nose (01:23)

    i. Us Again (03:13)

    j. Our Better World (bagpipes theme) (00:54)

15. Di Quei Giorni Infiniti (01:45)

Credits

Corrado Sardella - keyboards

   With

Lorena Cossu - vocals

John Jowitt (IQ, Arena) - bass

Mirko De Maio (The Flower Kings) - drums

Simona Malandrino - guitar

Kostas Milonas (Sunburst and Paradox) - drums

Paul Manners 

Elisa Montaldo (Il Tempio delle Clessidre)

Alexandra Zerner

Cristiano Micalizzi

Bashir Dahrieh

Paolo Rosso

Riccardo Mastantuono

Stefano Sangermano

Maurizio Testani

Stefano Naclerio

Ivano D'Ortenzi
Gianluigi Giorgino
Sara Colagrossi

Description/Reviews:

Doracor's keyboards dominate entirely his tenth album: nearly 75 minutes of music alternate between intense and emotional moments, with numerous extended electric guitar and saxophone solos, and quiet and introspective ones, straddling neo-progressive and fusion sounds.

Media/Samples
Bandcamp

Links:
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Green Carnation "A Dark Poem, Part I: The Shores of Melancholia"

Country: Norway
Genre(s): Progressive Rock/Metal
Label: Season of Mist
Format: CD, digital,vinyl
Release date: September 5, 2025
Tracklist

1. As Silence Took You (7:12)

2. In Your Paradise (7:04)

3. Me My Enemy (7:17)

4. The Slave That You Are (6:16)

5. The Shores of Melancholia (5:38)

6. Too Close to the Flame (9:16)

Full runtime: 42:44

Credits

Kjetil Nordhus - Vocals

Tchort - Guitar

Bjørn Harstad - Guitar

Stein Roger Sordal - Bass

Kenneth Silden - Keyboards

Jonathan Alejandro Perez – Drums

   With

Ingrid Ose - Flute on “In Your Paradise” & “Me My Enemy”.

Grutle Kjellson (Enslaved) – Harsh Vocals on “The Slave That You Are”.

Henning Seldal – Percussion on “Too Close to the Flame”.

Produced by Endre Kirkesola, Stein Roger Sordal & Kjetil Nordhus.

Sound Engineering by Endre Kirkesola.

Mixed by Endre Kirkesola at DUB Studio, Kristiansand, Norway.

Mastered by Lawrence Mackrory at DUB Studio, Kristiansand, Norway.

Cover Art by Niklas Sundin (https://www.nsundin.com/)

Description/Reviews:

A Dark Poem, Part I: The Shores of Melancholia is Green Carnation’s latest album, the first in a trilogy that is sure to please longtime fans of the band’s epic, landmark release, Light of Day, Day of Darkness. The Shores of Melancholia feels of two worlds; a level of immediacy combined with this insistent feeling that, yes, something substantial is indeed brewing within Green Carnation’s creative minds.

The album opens up with two back-to-back bangers that incorporate the catchy rock arrangements that helped define the band’s Blessing in Disguise era. “As Silence Took You” and “In Your Paradise” are melodic, with strong hooks and choruses that welcome listeners to Green Carnation’s newfound heaviness.

“Me My Enemy” starts out slow, anchoring a spacey, almost jazz fusion groove from drummer Jonathan Alejandro Perez with a bass line from Roger that’s impossible to deny. This song features some of the album’s most notably memorable lyrics, as well, as Nordhus delivers what’s perhaps the album’s definitive vocal performance. This song’s dark melancholy is juxtaposed against “The Slave That You Are,” an aggressive throwback to Green Carnation’s underground past that features guests vocals from Enslaved’s Grutle Kjellson.  

Elsewhere, the album’s title track feels mysterious and moody, a song with a vibe that matches the evocative cover art from former Dark Tranquility guitarist Niklas Sundin. “The Shores of Melancholia” retains a chorus that’s striking and dynamic, thanks to the subtle keyboard playing of Kenneth Silden. Finally, “Too Close to the Flame” brings the album to a fittingly grand finale, clocking in at nearly 10 minutes, with some of the album’s most progressive arrangements. At the same time, however, the song breezes by with a natural sense of song craft that’s sure to make Green Carnation fans want to replay their journey to The Shores of Melancholia from the very beginning.  

Media/Samples
Stream & buy
In Your Paradise
 
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Rimmar "Raises"

Country: Italy
Genre(s): Classic/Progressive/Industrial Metal
Label: Rockshots Records
Format: CD,digital
Release date: July 4, 2025
Tracklist

1. Unreal (4:08) 

2. Mighty Messenger (3:58) 

3. These Ruins (3:50) 

4. 8th Sin (4:59) 

5. Planet Mars (4:08) 

6. Vortex (3:30) 

7. Queen Of The Gold (4:29) 

8. Cruel Summer (3:44) 

9. Raises (4:55) 

Total Time 37:41

Credits

Marco “Rimmar” Rinaldi: Guitars, Programming and Vocals

Antonio Inserillo: Bass Guitars and Programming

   With

Mattia Fagiolo (1,5)

Fabio Lione (Rhapsody of Fire, Angra) (2,6)

Marco Biuller (3, 7)

Marco Andreotti (4)

Kyo (8)

Elisa Proietti (8)

Produced by Antonio Inserillo
Recorded at MHS Studio
Mixed and Mastered by Aldo Lonobile at Truck Me Hard, Alessandria (Italy).

Description/Reviews:

"Raises" is a genre-defying record that fuses classic, progressive and industrial metal with elements of synthwave and electronic music creating a modern and hybrid sound that speaks equally to fans of metal, prog and experimental music.

At the heart of "Raises" lies a conceptual journey built around themes of rebirth, transcendence and emotional elevation. The album’s symbolic core is the image of a volume knob in constant ascent—an allegory for the need to rise above indifference, superficiality and disconnection. Melodic yet heavy, nostalgic yet futuristic, "Raises" blends the epic attitude of ‘80s metal with the intellectual daring of ‘90s prog and the slick textures of modern synths.

Media/Samples
Unreal
Mighty Messenger
Planet Mars
Streams

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Baro prog "Prog-jet IV: Aionverse"

Country: Italy
Genre(s): Progressive Rock Opera
Label: Andromeda Relix
Format: CD, digital
Release date: May 22, 2025 (CD), May 30, 2025 (digital)
Tracklist

1. Creator's Farewell (7:10)

2. Flow of Life (12:54)

3. Biz-R World (6:36)

4. Crossing Pathways Part. a (0:51)

5. Mom and D(e)ad (9:03)

6. Crossing Pathways Part. b,c (4:25)

7. Crossing Pathways Part. d,f,g (13:02)

8. Crossing Pathways Part. h (1:25)

Credits

Alberto Molesini aka Baro (Marygold) - lead and backing vocals, bass, guitars, keyboards

Gigi Murari - drums & percussions

Elena Cipriani - backing vocals 

   With:

Iacopo Meille (Tygers of Pan Tang...) - vocals as Larry

Heather Findlay (Mostly Autumn, Ayreon) - vocals as Mom 

Titta Donato - vocals as the Elder

Andrea Damato - vocals as the Bug

Meghi Moschino (Quanah Parker) - vocals as Life

Nicola Rotta, Baxnug, Max Basaglia - guitars

Andrea Vilardo (Moto Armonico, Blind Golem) - vocals as Creator 

Paolo Zanella - piano 

Giacomo “Jack” Molesini - jambé

Gabriel Bellorti - violin

Description/Reviews:

A rock opera with 8 characters conceived and directed by Alberto Molesini, aka Baro, with ample space left for 14 guests including performing singers and musicians. Mature progressive rock with jazz, techno and world music contaminations, extensive use of vocal polyphonies with the aim of making complex compositional and sound architectures usable and fluent. 

Media/Samples
Bandcamp
Trailer SIDE A 
Trailer SIDE B
Creator's Farewell

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Darrel Treece-Birch's Atlantea "Life!"

Country: UK
Genre(s): Progressive Rock
Label: Lion Music
Format: digital
Release date: August 15, 2025
Tracklist

1.Millennium 

2.Round And Round 

3.Light In The Darkness 

4.BeRer Way 

5.Laniakea 

6.Life 

7.Three Lights 

8.The Robins That Flew Away 

Credits
Darrel Treece-Birch (TEN, Nth Ascension): Drums (1-8), Bass (1, 3, 4, 7,, Electric Guitars (1-8), Guitar Solos (3, 7), Acoustic Guitars (3, 5, 7), Mandolin ( 7), Keyboards (1-8), Vocals (3), Backing Vocals (2, 3, 4)

Stephane Honde: Vocals (4)

Lars Eric Mattsson: Guitar Solo (7 part 4)

Tony Mitchell: Vocals & BV’s (7)

Eoin de Paor: Vocals & BV’s (2, 5, 6), Bass Guitar (2, 5, 6), Additional Guitars & Solo’s ( 2 & 5)

David Reed-Watson: Vocals & BV’s (2, 6, 11)

Dann Rosingana: Guitar Solos (1 & 2)

Alexandre Santos: Guitars & Solo (6)

Kayleigh Treece-Birch: Vocals (3) Backing Vocals ( 3 & 6)

Martin Walker: Additional Guitars (2)

Media/Samples
Millennium

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People Of The Sun "People Of The Sun"

Country: New Zealand
Genre(s): Psychedelic, Progressive Rock
Format: digital
Release date: June 27, 2025
Tracklist

1. The Call

2. Lisurgen

3. The Seed

4. Elders

5. 10,000 Things

6. Sky 

7. Last Song (Keep Burning)

Credits
Joseph Anderson
Djordje Nikolic
Tom Scrase

Mixed by Lee Prebble at The Surgery in Pōneke

Art by Kyoko Shirai

Descriprion/Reviews

This powerhouse trio melds rock, soul, jazz, and indigenous sounds into a fierce and evocative new form. 

Media/Samples
Bandcamp
Streams

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Ujig "Delta"

Country: Italy
Genre(s): Instrumental Jazz, Jazz-Rock, Fusion
Label: Luminol Records
Format: vinyl,digital
Release date: June 6, 2025
Tracklist

1. Deedoo (7:03) 

2. Make Make (7:06) 

3. All The Things It Is (7:01) 

4. Maybe (5:01) 

5. Zorua (7:24) 

6. Sema Beyaz (5:46) 

7. Prospettive (5:02) 

8. Sema Beyaz (5:46) 

Total Time 50:09 

Credits

Konstantin Kräutler - drums

Edoardo Maggioni - keys

Marco Leo - guitars

Cesare Pizzetti - bass

    With

Lorenzo Cimino - trumpet (1) 

Fabrizio Bosso - trumpet (3,6) 

Paola Folli - voice (6) 

Description/Reviews:

Today more than ever, Ujig stand out for a unique fusion of progressive jazz, electronic contaminations and bold improvisations. Each song is a sound journey that reflects the group's philosophy: breaking the mold, exploring new dimensions and challenging conventions. And above all, valorizing differences, the band claims: «The Delta is the symbol of difference in mathematics. Difference is the uniqueness of every human being, Difference and one's uniqueness are a wealth and a treasure that must be preserved and defended in a world that tends more and more towards homologation».

Media/Samples
Spotify

Deedoo

Make Make   

All The Things It Is  

Zorua 

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Diego Petrini "La materia del suono"

Country: Italy
Genre(s): Instrumental Progressive Rock, Fusion
Label: AMS
Format: CD,digital
Release date: June 20, 2025
Tracklist

L’ARMONIA DELLA NATURA

1. Come  in mare le onde (8:23) 

2. Alla deriva (6:51) 

3. Macchia verde (2:36) 

4. Immagini al tramonto (5:55) 

5. Etere (7:38) 

6. Sangue Freddo (4:17) 

SULL’ARTIFICIO DELL’UOMO

7. Fragole di Cinabro (4:01) 

8. Antropomorfa (3:37) 

9. Sublimazione (3:23) 

10. Mimesi (5:00) 

11. La Plastica (7:52) 

12. Ciò che Trascende (5:44) 

Total Time 65:17

Credits
Diego Petrini (Il Bacio della Medusa) -  drums, keyboards

   With

Eva Morelli (Il Bacio della Medusa) - flute, saxophone 

Giorgio Panico - fretless bass

Andrea Morelli (Il Bacio della Medusa) - electric guitar

Claudio Ridolfi - accordion
Alvaro Fella (Jumbo) - vocals (12)

Description/Reviews:

With “La Materia del Suono” (The Matter of Sound), his first solo record, the multi-instrumentalist from Perugia allows his creativity to literally explode and flood into a mixture of music genres that is no other than the true spirit of progressive rock.

We are dealing with a cinematic concept album, the result of a compositional process that began years ago on the piano, an instrument that in fact dominates the stage from the first to the last note over a mainly jazz-rock and fusion rhythmic-melodic core. Countless contaminations are to be found throughout each track: classical, lyrical, ethnic, folk, and rock music, with several Moog and Mellotron performances that pay tribute to the Scandinavian prog, while flute and saxophone – played by Eva Morelli from Il Bacio della Medusa – frequently evoke jazz-rock and 1970s progressive music.

The album is fully instrumental, with the exception of the closing “Ciò che trascende” (What Transcends) whose lyrics are sung by the legendary Jumbo’s unmistakable vocalist Alvaro Fella, and explicitly invite the listeners to be always themselves and to constantly ask existential and philosophical questions in an increasingly materialistic and cold world.

With “La Materia del Suono” Diego Petrini eventually manages to make his few guest musicians sound like an orchestra, and proves himself to be a quite unique musical talent!

Media/Samples
Bandcamp
Teaser

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