Lion Shepherd "III"

Country: Poland
Genre(s): Progressive Rock
Label: Universal Music Polska
Format: CD, digital
Release date: March 29, 2019
Tracklist: 
1. Uninvited (7:41)
2. Good Old Days (6:01)
3. What Went Wrong (5:14)
4. Vulnerable (8:06)
5. World On Fire (4:11)
6. Fallen Tree (6:50)
7. Toxic (5:11)
8. The Kids Are Not All Right (5:03)
9. Nobody (4:40)
10. May You All Live In Fascinating Times (6:31)

Total Time 59:28

Line-up: 
Kamil Haidar - vocals
Mateusz Owczarek - guitars
Maciej Gołyźniak - drums
   With
Atom String Quartet
Robert Szydło - bass
Łukasz Damrych - keyboards


Media/Samples 
Stream
Deezer 

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Ostura "The Room"

Country: Lebanon
Genre(s): Symphonic Progressive Metal
Label: Universal Music
Format: CD, digital
Release date: February 23, 2018
Tracklist: 
1. The Room (4:53)
2. Escape (6:05)
3. Beyond (The New World) (5:25)
4. Let There Be (4:55)
5. Erosion (7:04)
6. Only One (6:53)
7. Mourning Light (3:08)
8. Deathless (6:30)
9. Darker Shade Of Black (9:11)
10. The Surge (6:07)
11. Duality (12:08)
12. Exit The Room (2:03)

Total Time 74:22

Line-up: 
Elia Monsef (Amadeus Awad's Eon) - vocals (as Erosion), charango, additional  acoustic guitar
Danny Bou-Maroun - keyboards, piano, programming,  orchestration
Youmna Jreissati - vocals (as The Girl)
Alain Ibrahim - acoustic & rhythm guitars
Alexander Abi Chaker - additional percussions (1, 2, 4, 5, 8)
   With
Arjen Anthony Lucassen (Ayreon, Guilt Machine, Stream of Passion, The Gentle Storm) - guitar (9)
Michael Mills (Toehider, Ayreon) - vocals (as Utopia)
Thomas Lang - drums
Dan Veall - bass
Marco Sfogli (James LaBrie, Creation's End, IceFish) - guitar (1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 11)
Özgür Abbak - guitar (6)
Yamane Al Hage - violin (3, 8, 9)
Jokine Solban - violin (2)
Nobuko Miyazaki - flute (9, 11)
Mohannad Nassar - oud (5, 10)
Roger Smith - cello (1, 10, 12)
The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
The Lebanese Filmscoring Ensemble

Description/Reviews: 

The musical style is progressive metal, but there is so much more going on here.  While the almighty riff is present and very well composed, the album is not just a collection of riffs thrown together.  No, “The Room” is a cinematic journey of emotional gravity and grand vision, and it could almost be called just as much “classical” as it can be called “metal”.  The album includes huge orchestrations that might even dwarf the heavy guitars in their weight, and these orchestrations are prevalent in every single song. 

Read the full review at theprogmind.com

Media/Samples 
Only One
Deathless
Deezer

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Ostura "The Room"

Country: Lebanon
Genre(s): Symphonic Progressive Metal
Label: Universal Music
Format: CD, digital
Release date: February 23, 2018
Tracklist: 
1. The Room (4:53)
2. Escape (6:05)
3. Beyond (The New World) (5:25)
4. Let There Be (4:55)
5. Erosion (7:04)
6. Only One (6:53)
7. Mourning Light (3:08)
8. Deathless (6:30)
9. Darker Shade Of Black (9:11)
10. The Surge (6:07)
11. Duality (12:08)
12. Exit The Room (2:03)

Total Time 74:22

Line-up: 
Elia Monsef (Amadeus Awad's Eon) - vocals (as Erosion), charango, additional  acoustic guitar
Danny Bou-Maroun - keyboards, piano, programming,  orchestration
Youmna Jreissati - vocals (as The Girl)
Alain Ibrahim - acoustic & rhythm guitars
Alexander Abi Chaker - additional percussions (1, 2, 4, 5, 8)
   With
Arjen Anthony Lucassen (Ayreon, Guilt Machine, Stream of Passion, The Gentle Storm) - guitar (9)
Michael Mills (Toehider, Ayreon) - vocals (as Utopia)
Thomas Lang - drums
Dan Veall - bass
Marco Sfogli (James LaBrie, Creation's End, IceFish) - guitar (1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 11)
Özgür Abbak - guitar (6)
Yamane Al Hage - violin (3, 8, 9)
Jokine Solban - violin (2)
Nobuko Miyazaki - flute (9, 11)
Mohannad Nassar - oud (5, 10)
Roger Smith - cello (1, 10, 12)
The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
The Lebanese Filmscoring Ensemble

Description/Reviews: 

The musical style is progressive metal, but there is so much more going on here.  While the almighty riff is present and very well composed, the album is not just a collection of riffs thrown together.  No, “The Room” is a cinematic journey of emotional gravity and grand vision, and it could almost be called just as much “classical” as it can be called “metal”.  The album includes huge orchestrations that might even dwarf the heavy guitars in their weight, and these orchestrations are prevalent in every single song. 

Read the full review at theprogmind.com

Media/Samples 
Only One
Deathless
Deezer

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Diablo Swing Orchestra "Pacifisticuffs"

Country: Sweden
Genre(s): Eclectic Progressive Metal/Rock
Label: Spinefarm/Universal
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release date: December 8, 2017
Tracklist: 
1. Knucklehugs (Arm Yourself With Love) (2:26)
2. The Age Of Vulture Culture (5:00)
3. Superhero Jagganath (5:41)
4. Vision Of The Purblind (1:01)
5. Lady Clandestine Chainbreaker (4:50)
6. Jigsaw Hustle (4:52)
7. Pulse Of The Incipient (0:34)
8. Ode To The Innocent (3:49)
9. Interruption (5:21)
10. Cul-De-Sac Semantics (1:09)
11. Karma Bonfire (4:14)
12. Climbing The Eyewall (4:40)
13. Porch Of Perception (0:44)

Total Time 44:21

Line-up: 
Kristin Evegård - lead vocals, piano
Daniel Håkansson - lead vocals, guitar
Pontus Mantefors - guitar, synthesizer, FX, vocals
Anders Johansson  - bass
Johannes Bergion - cello, backing vocals
Martin Isaksson - trumpet, backing vocals
Daniel Hedin - trombone, backing vocals
Johan Norbäck - drums

Media/Samples 
Knucklehugs (Arm Yourself With Love)
Jigsaw Hustle (single version)

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Days Of Confusion "Yin & Out"

Country: Romania
Genre(s): Progressive Metal
Label: Universal Music
Format: CD, digital
Release date: March 1, 2017
Tracklist: 
1. Yin: Confession (1:13)
2. War (5:49)
3. Killing You Is Killing Me (6:24)
4. The Guest (5:21)
5. Bloodstream (5:44)
6. Eternal Summer (5:34)
7. Kagemusha (5:06)
8. Abis (3:10)
9. Turning Point (5:38)
10. Dharkata (6:06)
11. Above The Waves (6:22)
12. Memories From My Future Lives (4:28)
13. Out: The Question Is The Answer (3:38)
14. The Day We Die (Hidden Track) (4:56)

Total Time 69:29

Line-up: 
Cosmin Lupu - Vocals, Guitars
Cezar Popescu - Guitars
Alecu - Guitars, Bass
Andrei Zamfir - Bass
Mihai Ardelean - Keyboards, Ambient, Guitars
Alex Halmagean - Drums

Media/Samples 
War
Killing You Is Killing Me
Above The Waves 
Memories From My Future Lives 
deezer

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Trans-Siberian Orchestra "Letters From The Labyrinth"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Symphonic, Neo-Classical, Prog Related, Rock
Label: Universal Music
Format: CD, digital
Release date: November 13, 2015
Tracklist: 
1. Time & Distance (The Dash) (3:44)
2. Madness Of Men (4:11)
3. Prometheus (3:39)
4. Mountain Labyrinth (3:15)
5. King Rurik (3:11)
6. Prince Igor (3:04)
7. The Night Conceives (3:38)
8. Forget About The Blame (Sun Version) (4:15)
9. Not Dead Yet (3:28)
10. Past Tomorrow (3:22)
11. Stay (2:58)
12. Not The Same (3:41)
13. Who I Am (2:49)
14. Lullaby Night (2:44)
15. Forget About The Blame (Moon Version (Bonus Track)) [feat. Lzzy Hale] (4:16)
16. A Mad Russian's Christmas (Live) (3:58)

Total time 56:13

Line-up: 
Paul O'Neill - Guitars
Jon Oliva - Keyboards, Guitar, Bass
Al Pitrelli - Lead, RhythmGuitars
Luci Butler - Keyboards
Chris Caffery - Guitars
Roddy Chong - Violin
Angus Clark - Guitars
Joe Hoekstra - Guitars
Mee Eun Kim - Keyboards
Vitalij Kuprij - Keyboards
Jane Mangini - Keyboards
Asha Mevlana - Violin
John Lee Middleton - Bass
John O. Reilly - Drums
Jeff Plate - Drums
Derek Wieland - Keyboards
David Zablidowsky - Bass
Dave Wittmann - Drum, Guitar and Bass inserts

Jeff Scott Soto - Vocals (3)
Adrienne Warren  - Vocals (11), Background Vocals (1)
Jenifer Cella - Vocals (10)
Kayla Reeves - Vocals (7, 12), Background Vocals (1)
Robin Borneman - Vocals (15)
Russell Allen - Vocals (9)
Lzzy Hale - Vocals (15)

Lucille Jacobs, Minni W. Leonard, Keith Jacobs - Background Vocals (8)
Danielle Sample, Erika Jerry, Chloe Lowery, Dari Mahnic, Bart Shatto, Andrew Ross, John Brink, Natalya Piette, Jodi Katz, James Lewis, Georgia Napolitano, Tim Hockenberry  - Background Vocals (13)
Danielle Sample, Chloe Lowery, Ava Davis, Andrew Ross, Chris Pinella, Rob Evan, Parker Cipes, Phillip Brandon, Dustin Brayley, April Berry, Autumn Guzzardi - Background Vocals (1)

Roddy Chong, Lowel Adams, Asha Mevlana, Nancy Chang, Lei Lui - Strings
Jon Tucker, Kenneth Brentley, Jay Coble, Ashby Wilkins - Horns

Description/Reviews: 

'Labyrinth' is TSO's first album of individual, unconnected songs, the 14-track set is knit together by the serious underpinning of the songs, whether it's the sweeping overview of humanity on 'Time & Distance', the concerns of world banking irregularities on 'Not Dead Yet', the anti-bullying message of 'Not The Same' (which O'Neill co-wrote with his daughter) or the learn-from-the-past studies of 'Prince Igor and 'King Rurik'. In some ways it's a straight ahead album, and in some ways it's not. It's blatantly out of the box more music-driven as opposed to story- and music-driven. The world is a mess right now, so 'Letters From the Labyrinth' examines some of the problems we're facing now. You can enjoy them as songs, but they're there to make you think.

Media/Samples 
Forget About The Blame (Moon Version) [feat. Lzzy Hale]
Samples

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Battiato / Pinaxa "Joe Patti's Experimental Group"

Country: Italy
Sub Genre: Experimental, Electronica
Label: Universal Music
Format: CD, digital
Release date: September 16, 2014
Tracklist: 
1. Leoncavallo - 5:41
2. Le voci si faranno presenze - 2:11
3. Klavier - 2:10
4. Omaggio a Giordano Bruno - 2:34
5. Come un branco di lupi - 6:20
6. The implicate order - 4:59
7. Nel Cosmo - 0:55
8. CERN - 4:50
9. Nuba - 1:24
10. L'isola Elefante - 4:53
11. Proprietà proibita - 4:08

Line-up: 
Franco Battiato: vocals, synth, piano
Pino "Pinaxa" Pischetola: live electronics
Carlo Guaitoli: piano, keyboards

Media/Samples 
Trailer

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Faun "Luna"

Country: Germany
Sub Genre: Prog Folk
Label: We Love Music (Universal Music)
Format: CD, digital
Release date: September 5, 2014
Tracklist: 

1. Luna Prolog - 1:25
2. Walpurgisnacht - 3:49
3. Buntes Volk - 4:16
4. Menuett - 4:56
5. Hekate - 4:15
6. Blaue Stunde - 4:35
7. Cuncti Simus - 3:56
8. Hörst du die Trommeln - 3:23
9. Die wilde Jagd - 3:28
10. Frau Erde - 4:28
11. Hymne der Nacht - 5:00
12. Abschied - 3:27
13. Wind und Geige XIV - 4:04
14. Die Lieder werden bleiben - 3:18
15. Era Escuro - 3:32

Line-up: 
Oliver sa Tyr - vocals, nyckelharpa, bouzouki, celtic harp, guitar, saz, tar, bass harp
Fiona Rüggeberg - vocals, bagpipe, dombra, rebab, oud, flutes, chalumeaux, pommer & rhythm instruments
Sonia Drakulich - vocals, hammered dulcimer, percussion
Rüdiger Maul - darabuka, framedrums
Niel Mitra - computer, sampler and synthesizer
Ratja Moslehner - lead vocals

   With
Michael Rhein (3)

Description/Reviews: 

After the intro we get to dance with Walpurgisnacht ... The use of many vocal powers will always be the magical beauty of this band, just as those special instruments that give them an outstanding sound! It will be for sure another hit!
Buntes volk is a bit softer (the vocals are sure worth checking out), while we witness a very delicate side from them on Menuett.
Hekate is of course known as a goddess and in this version we hear a very soft sound, almost dreaming away. Be aware as this has nothing to do with Inkubus Sukkubus!
Blaue stunde is a beautiful track. Almost sacred sounds Cuncti Simus. Hörst du die trommeln is nicely lead by Oliver Sa Tyr, joined by other vocals. The flute is the second lead. I cherish the vocal harmony!

 Read the full review by Filip Van Muylem at peek-a-boo-magazine.be

Media/Samples 
Walpurgisnacht

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Yes "Heaven & Earth"

Country: UK
Sub Genre: Symphonic
Label: Frontiers Records (Universal)
Release date: July 21, 2014
Tracklist: 
1. Believe Again (8:02)
2. The Game (6:52)
3. Step Beyond (5:34)
4. To Ascend (4:44)
5. In A World Of Our Own (5:20)
6. Light Of The Ages (7:41)
7. It Was All We Knew (4:13)
8. Subway Walls (9:03)

Line-up: 
Steve Howe - Electric Guitar, Acoustic & Steel Guitars, Backing Vocals
Chris Squire - Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Alan White - Drums, Percussion
Geoff Downes - Keyboards, Computer Programming
Jon Davison - Lead & Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar on tracks 1, 4 & 6

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Demonic Resurrection "The Demon King"

Country:  India
Sub Genre: Progressive Death/Black Metal
Label: Universal Music/Candlelight Records
Release date: July 13, 2014
Tracklist: 

1. The Assassination - 5:34
2. Facing the Faceless - 6:32
3. The Promise of Never - 6:07
4. Death, Desolation and Despair - 5:49
5. The Demon King - 6:38
6. Architect of Destruction - 5:35
7. Trail of Devastation - 4:26
8. Shattered Equilibrium - 5:04
9. Even Gods Do Fall - 4:53
10. The End Paradox - 1:38

Line-up: 
Sahil The Demonstealer Makhija – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Mephisto– keyboards
Virendra "Viru" Kaith – drums
Ashwin Shriyan – bass guitar
Nishith Hegde – lead guitar

Description/Reviews: 

The new Demonic Resurrection album titled 'The Demon King' is definitely fit to be the release right after 'The Return to Darkness'. This being in terms of how the music has grown more mature, the amount of elements and obvious effort that has gone into making this album sound massive. It also has a more progressive slant, with a fair blend of groovy riffs mashed with pounding blasts, symphonic and scapey keyboard parts and powerful vocals. What's a bit more different with this album is the focus given to the concept, without which understanding the album would be futile, in my opinion.

 Read the full review by Pratika Prabhune at metalwani.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (4 tracks)

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Marty Friedman "Inferno"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Progressive Metal
Label: Universal Music (Japan) / Prosthetic Records
Release date: May 21, 2014 (Japan), May 23, 2014 (G/A/S), May 26, 2014 (UK/EU), May 27, 2014 (NA)
Tracklist: 

1. Inferno 5:42 
2. Resin 4:37 
3. Wicked Panacea 3:03 
4. Steroidhead 3:17 
5. I Can't Relax 3:15 
6. Meat Hook 3:36 
7. Hyper Doom 1:54 
8. Sociopaths 6:13 
9. Lycanthrope 4:03 
10. Undertow 4:21 
11. Horrors 6:49 
12. Inferno (Reprise) 1:56

Line-up: 
Marty Friedman (ex-Megadeth) - guitars, vocals
   With
Tony Franklin - bass
Gregg Bissonette - drums
Jørgen Munkeby - sax and vocals on Meat Hook
Alexi Laiho - vocals on Lycanthrope
Danko Jones - vocals on Lycanthrope, I Can’t Relax
David Davidson - growling and clean vocals on Sociopaths
Rodrigo Sanchez (Rodrigo y Gabriela) - acoustic guitar on Wicked Panacea
Gabriela Quintero (Rodrigo y Gabriela) - acoustic guitar on Wicked Panacea
Keshav Dhar - bass on Steroidhead

Anup Sastry - drums on Steroidhead

Description/Reviews: 

Inferno is more than a scorching storm of guitar pyrotechnics or a cliche title. Ultimately, its intensity serves as a reminder that Marty Friedman isn’t done blowing minds yet, and the beautifully emotive feeling in his playing is alive and well here. Some modern updates such as Meshuggah groove influences find their way into a few tracks, but the leads and soloing over the top of those grooves put most all to shame.

 Read the full review by Austin Weber at nocleansinging.com

Media/Samples 
Inferno
Meat Hook
Steroidhead

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Elbow "The Take Off and Landing of Everything"

Country: UK
Sub Genre: Progressive Pop/Rock
Label: Fiction Records
Release date: March 10, 2014
Tracklist: 

1. This Blue World – 7:12
2. Charge – 5:17
3. Fly Boy Blue/Lunette – 6:22
4. New York Morning – 5:26
5. Real Life (Angel) – 6:46
6. Honey Sun – 4:44
7. My Sad Captains – 5:59
8. Colour Fields – 3:37
9. The Take Off and Landing of Everything – 7:14
10. The Blanket of Night – 4:14

Line-up: 
Guy Garvey
Craig Potter
Mark Potter
Pete Turner
Richard Jupp

Media/Samples 
Fly Boy Blue / Lunette
New York Morning

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Coshish "Firdous"

Country: India
Sub Genre: Progressive Rock, Alternative
Label: Universal Music India
Release date: September 2, 2013
Tracklist: 
01 - Firdous (6:31)
02 - Raastey (4:46)
03 - Coshish (5:04)
04 - Behti Boondein (5:41)
05 - Woh Kho Gaye (6:15)
06 - Hum Hai Yahin (5:18)
07 - Maya (6:18)
08 - Rehne Do (4:59)
09 - Bhula Do Unhey (4:44)
10 - Mukti (7:56)

Line-up: 
Mangesh Gandhi - Vocals, Rhythm Guitars, Mouth Organs
Shrikant Sreenivasan - Lead Guitars
Hamza Kazi - Drums, Xylophone
Anish Nair - Bass

Description/Reviews: 

The album is basically about a lost, young man seeking his path to the promised land, a place of perfect peace and bliss. The vocals are in Hindi, which shouldn't really be a put-off, for the listeners, unless you don't understand the language. The much awaited album begins with the title track, "Firdous". Right away, I could sense the influence of Porcupine Tree on their music. Everything from the endearing riffs to the vocals reminiscing that of Steven Wilson's, almost felt like a thumbs up being given to the legendary band. If I was high, I would frankly think it was Steven Wilson himself, singing in Hindi! The song creeps onto you in an ascending pattern, to break open its shackles and go all out, hard rock on us. 

Read the full review by Vishaal Gollerkeri at metalwani.com

Media/Samples 
Promo

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Shining "One One One"

Country: Norway
Sub Genre: Avant Prog, Jazz-Rock
Label: Universal/Prosthetic Records
Release date: April 8, 2013 (Norway) and May, 2013 (worldwide)
Tracklist: 
1. I Won't Forget (3:51)
2. The One Inside (4:03)
3. My Dying Drive (4:05)
4. Off The Hook (3:37)
5. Blackjazz Rebels (3:28)
6. How Your Story Ends (4:39)
7. The Hurting Game (4:08)
8. Walk Away (3:38)
9. Paint The Sky Black (4:19)

Line-up: 
Jørgen Munkeby - Sax, guitar, Akai EWI, vocals
Torstein Lofthus - Drums
Tor Egil Kreken - Bass
Bernt Moen - Keys
Håkon Sagen - Guitar

Media/Samples 
I Won't Forget

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