Old Rock City Orchestra "Ipsilon"

Country: Italy
Genre(s): Progressive Rock
Label: M.P. & Records - MPRCD104
Format: CD
Release date: March 15, 2023
Tracklist

1. Y (3:30) 

2. The Warning (2:23) 

3. Gypsy’s Prediction (4:35) 

4. Take My Hand (3:37) 

5. Preacher (3:26) 

6. No Way (4:11) 

7. Daimon (3:12) 

8. The Magic Pathways (2:48) 

9. Stranger (4:09) 

10. Fly Away (3:01) 

11. We’ll Be One (4:18) 

Total Time 39:10

Credits

Cinzia Catalucci - Vocals, Keyboards

Raffaele Spanetta - Guitars, Bass, Vocals, Keyboards

Mike Capriolo - Drums

Graphic by OndemediE

Produced by Vannuccio Zanella and Old Rock City Orchestra

Media/Samples
Sampler

Links:
Web page
Facebook
Progarchives
Proggnosis

Now all the news are published at a new non-public blog. Here I will only publish the news concerning new albums that are sent to me by musicians, labels or PR agencies (if they fit the theme of the blog) and update previously published posts.

The information concerning access to the new blog is published on the 'Subscription' page.

P.S. Some people may have missed my posts about the situation which I published during March and April and are still wondering why the access to the blog has become paid:

There is war in my country and the situation with jobs and salaries is such that I can't afford spending time needed for this blog without at least some compensation. I offer different levels of participation, so that anybody who is able to pay, could continue to get the information about new albums.

Neil Howell "The Wasteland"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Eclectic Progressive Metal/Rock
Format: digital
Release date: April 14, 2023
Tracklist

1 Welcome to the Desert

2 The Cruellest Month

3 Handful of Dust

4 Clairvoyant

5 Winter Dawn

6 Nothing

7 Hurry Up

8 Unreal City

9 Entering the Whirlpool

10 With Like Patience

11 Falling Towers

12 Upon the Shore

13 The Fisher King

Credits
Neil Howell

Description/Reviews:

Set to release his eighth studio album since 2020, his works have covered styles ranging from full- on stadium rock, 1970s prog, eviscerating death metal, and acoustic folk, often in the same song.  Nothing has changed his approach on The Wasteland. If anything, he has doubled down on his eclecticism. The range can be jolting. One moment he’s lost in the melancholic doom of The Cruellest Month, only to be followed moments later by the quiet solitude of A Handful of Dust. Falling Towers is a song made of molten lava and pummeling guitar riffs, but is bookended by two much softer songs, the plaintive With Like Patience and the ethereal Upon the Shore. It is an album for the artistically minded, but accessible enough for any rock or metal fan.

Media/Samples
The Cruellest Month

Links:
Web page
Facebook

2022 page has been restored and updated 

https://newprogreleases.blogspot.com/p/2020.html

M-opus "At The Mercy Of Manannán"

Country: Ireland
Genre(s): Progressive Rock
Format: CD, digital
Release date: April 3, 2023
Tracklist

1. Setting Off

2. Riverflow

3. Whirlpool

4. To The Other Side

5. Na Bruídaí 

6. Valley Of Elah

7. Scaling Novas

8. Carnivale

Credits
Mark Grist - drums

PJ O'Connell - guitars

Colin Sullivan - guitars

Jonathan Casey (David Cross Band) - vocals, keys, bass

Produced and mixed by Jonathan Casey

Recorded at the W5, Drum Shed and Chop Shop, Cooliska.

Cover illustration by Indira May.

Description/Reviews:

As with all their albums, this hypothetically 'comes from' a year in rock history, 1972, with the sound and production that implies. From lush, symphonic rock, to blazing, virtuosic instrumentals and lavish melodic tracks, the album aims to be nothing less than a 'new classic'. 

Media/Samples
Bandcamp

Na Bruídaí (Radio Edit) 

Valley Of Elah

Links:
Web page
Facebook
Progarchives
Proggnosis

Echo Us "Inland Empire"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Progressive Rock, Ambient
Label: Absolute Probability Recordings
Format: CD, digital
Release date: March 7, 2023
Tracklist

1. Across The Star (3:49) 

2. Echo Us (9:37) 

3. Dark Shock (8:35) 

4. It's Time For Winter (3:43) 

5. Inland Empire (7:43) 

6. Nest Egg (2:11) 

7. From The Furthest Memory (1:14) 

8. Far Above The Sky (5:19) 

9. Solarium (6:33) 

10. Singing With You (10:45) 

Total Time 59:29

Credits
Ethan Matthews - lead vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, synthesizers, programming, percussion, glockenspiel

    With:

Aaron Bell - bass (2)

Media/Samples
Bandcamp

It's Time For Winter

Links:
Web page
Facebook
Progarchives
Proggnosis

Kong "Traders Of Truth"

Country: Netherlands
Genre(s): Instrumental Progressive Rock/Metal
Label: Kongenial Records
Format: CD, digital
Release date:  March 3, 2023
Tracklist

1. Radiance (4:38) 

2. Hit That Red (3:27) 

3. Fringing (4:31) 

4. Rök (5:01) 

5. Mirrorizon (5:25) 

6. Glasslands (4:31) 

7. Ripper (4:36) 

8. Chaos As Law (4:35) 

9. Stray Marks (4:34) 

10. Flat Earth Sobriety (3:57) 

11. Destressed & Unrestrained (6:11) 

Total Time 51:26

Credits

Oscar Alblas - drums

David Kox - guitar, samples

Tijs Keverkamp - guitar

Mark Drillich - bass, samples, guitar

   With

Jan Akkerman (Focus, Brainbox) - Guitar solo (8)

Mixed & mastered by Dag Erik Nygaard at Bergen Lydstudio, Norway

Produced by KONG

Media/Samples
Bandcamp

Links:
Web page
Facebook
Progarchives
Proggnosis

Abel Sequera "Soundscapes"

Country: Spain
Genre(s): Progressive Metal
Label: Scarified Records
Format: CD, digital 
Release date: March 3, 2023
Tracklist

1. The Beginning Of The End - The Departure (6:31) 

2. Beyond Known Frontiers - Traveller Companion (7:51) 

3. In The Steps Of Pioneers - Old Paths To Discovery (5:57) 

4. Wreck Of Souls - The Storm (6:03) 

5. Saghillie Illahie - The Island (8:18) 

6. Above The Summit - The Rapture (6:37) 

7. Maat - Cosmic Order (5:46) 

8. Tabula Rasa - A Place Called Home (13:05) 

Total Time 60:08 

Credits

Abel Sequera - Drums

   With

Roland Grapow, Magnus Henriksson, Pete Lesperance, Mats Haugen (Circus Maximus), Jeff Kollman (Alan Parsons), Simone Mularoni (DGM), Bill Hudson, Tony Hernando, Marcelo Barbosa, Mike Abdow, Benjamin Ellis, Brendt Allman, Daniel Palmqvist, Max Ostro, Michael Harris, Richard Hallebeek, Chris Brooks, Marcel Coenen, Milan Polak, Markus Sigfridsson, Ponch Satrio, Robert Rodrigo, Blake Scopino, Alberto Barrero, Eddy Gary, Antonio Maties, Mario Jović, Albert Florenza and Carles Salse - Guitars

Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater), Diego Tejeida (Haken), Gary Wehrkamp (Shadow Gallery), Mikael Blanc, Mistheria, Sergey Boykov, Ariel Perchuk, Kyke Serrano, Eduardo Gongora and Rio Ricardo - Keyboards 

Mike Lepond (Symphony X), Philip Bynoe (Steve Vai), Randy George (Neal Morse), Andreas Blomqvist (Seventh Wonder), Miguel Pereira, Jonas Kuhlberg, Joan Vigo and Alex Romeu - Bass

Michael Vescera, Marco Basile, Marina LaTorraca, Roger Batlle, Johny Giner and Deo Boko - Vocals 

Nelson Rangell - Sax

Paul Logue, Luke DeMain - Voice-overs

Produced and written by Abel Sequera and Carles Salse

Mixed and mastered by Sebastian Sendon

Artwork by Fernando Navajo

Media/Samples
Deezer

Teaser

Above the Summit

Links:
Web page 

Facebook

Lunar "The Illusionist"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Progressive Metal
Label: Saibot Reign Records
Format:  CD, digital, vinyl, cassette
Release date: March 3, 2023
Tracklist

1. Prestidigitation - 6:16

2. The Illusionist - 10:04

3. Showtime - 3:45

4. Worship The Sun - 5:23

5. Turn Off The World - 7:14

6. Disassembled - 5:53

7. Juggling Chainsaws - 7:30

8. For My Next Trick - 3:57

9 . Now You See Me - 8:39

Album Length: 58:46

Credits

Alex Bosson - Drums & Percussion

Balmore Lemus - Guitars

Ryan Price - Bass 

Alex Nasla - Keyboards & Synthesizers

Chandler Mogel - Lead Vocals

Brian Lewis - Growl Vocals

   With

Gleb Kanasevich - Clarinet (1)

Patrick Corona - Saxophone (2)

Jørgen Munkeby (Shining) - Flute & Saxophone (6)

Ben Karas - Violin & Viola (9)

Andy Gillion - Additional Guitar Solo (2)

Taylor Washington - Additional Guitar Solo (3)

Sam Vallen (Caligula's Horse) - Additional Guitar Solo (5)

Christian Münzner (Obscura) - Additional Guitar Solo (7)

Music by Alex Bosson (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8,9), Balmore Lemus (4), Ryan Price (8)

Lyrics by Alex Bosson (2, 3, 5, 6,9), Balmore Lemus (4,7)

Produced by: Alex Bosson

Mixed by: Linus Coreliusson

Mastered by: Jens Bogren

Artwork by: Travis Smith

Album layout / design by: Brian Lewis

Description/Reviews:

Proggy and crazy, the Dream Theater and Haken influences are evident in this song. As for the album, is it a concept album that tells the story of a magician that questions his entire life’s work. He’s spent his entire life devoting himself to his craft and now he questions if it was worth it. Musically the album goes through many stages as the character does on this journey of himself. There are songs that are angry, songs that are confused, songs that are depressed, and everywhere in between.

Media/Samples
Bandcamp

Links:
Facebook
Progarchives
Proggnosis

Matt Dorsey "Let Go"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Progressive Pop Rock
Format: CD,digital
Release date: April 7, 2023
Tracklist

1. Castles Made of Sand

2. Compromise

3. Waiting for the Fall

4. Man

5. Impossible Friends

6. Echo

7. Let Go

8. Dangerous

Credits

Matt Dorsey (Sound Of Contact, Dave Kerzner, In Continuum): Vocals, guitars, bass, keys, drums, percussion

    With

Dave Kerzner (Sound Of Contact, In Continuum): Keyboard solo (3)

Marco Minnemann (The Aristocrats, Steven Wilson, Mike Keneally): Drums (3,4,7)

Jonathan Mover (GTR, Stuart Hamm): Drums (1,5,6)

All music and lyrics written by Matt Dorsey, except keyboard solo in "Waiting For The Fall" written by Dave Kerzner

Mixed by Matt Dorsey

Mastered by Andy VanDette

Artwork by Ed Unitsky

Description/Reviews:

“Let Go” is a new collection of songs written and recorded by multi-instrumentalist Matt Dorsey. Stylistically it stands as a blend of all the artists and bands that influenced him including, Rush, Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd, XTC, The Police, Peter Gabriel, Steely Dan and more. It can be described as progressive-pop-rock. 

Media/Samples
Bandcamp

Links:
Web page
Facebook