Dark Radio "Oakwind"

Country: Portugal
Sub Genre: Alternative, Progressive Rock, Post Rock
Release date: October 31, 2012
Tracklist: 
1. Cosmic Blunder 05:00
2. Yearning 03:56
3. Hands Full of Dust 04:51
4. Inner Glimpse 04:27
5. Oakwind 03:43
6. Amber Soul 05:28
7. Lives On 03:37
8. State of Play 04:29
9. Trace 04:07
10. Northern Lights 02:34

Line-up: 
Flávio Silva - voice, words, guitar
Diogo Ferreira - drums, guitar, piano, hammond, synth, voice, sound design
Ricardo Drumond - bass

Description/Reviews: 

Catchy melodic radiophony meets dark melancholia in a progressive rock concept.

The two words that make up the band name perfectly define the music and the sound contrast present in its art. The word “Radio” is associated with the mainstream, the music is clearly tonal, melodic, and harmonically designed to be accessible, however, the melancholy of the shadowy word “Dark” is constantly present in our music and in our personalities. 

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

Links:
Web page
Facebook

Mugstar "Axis"

Country: UK
Sub Genre: Instrumental, Krautrock, Psychedelic, Space Rock
Label: Agitated Records
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release date: October 2012
Tracklist: 

1. Black Fountain 06:58
2. Hollow Ox 03:03
3. Tangerina 05:11
4. In Earth 04:37
5. Axis Modulator 05:29
6. Upturnsidedown 05:01
7. Vehicles of Spain 05:39

Line-up: 
Pete Smyth - guitar, keyboards
Neil Murphy - guitar
Jason Stoll - bass
Steve Ashton - drums

Description/Reviews: 

As evidenced by Axis – the band's fifth album – Mugstar are less inclined to stretch out their grooves over extended periods of time and space as they are to offer more compact bursts of kaleidoscopic noise without sacrificing any notions of melody. Crucially, for an instrumental band, Mugstar retain the ability to maintain interest throughout thanks to a succession of hard-hitting riffs, insistent beats and a constant sense of drama that allows the listener to form a series of personalised images as viewed through the mind's eye.

 Read the full review by Julian Marszalek at thequietus.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

Links:
Web page
Facebook
ProgArchives

Ekos "Luz Interna"

Country: Mexico
Sub Genre: Space Rock
Release date: October  2012
Tracklist: 

1. Obscuridad
2. Luz interna
3. Mutación
4. Rostro Oculto
5. La huida del infierno
6. Apocalipsis

Line-up: 
Ana Camelo - vocals and keyboards
Jesus Torres - vocals and guitar
Victor Juarez - bass
Ricardo Castro - drums

Description/Reviews: 

This is the debut by a Mexican quartet who are obviously influenced by mid period Pink Floyd. There are some vocals, but the emphasis is on the lengthy, spacey, flowing material. Like Floyd, the lineup is guitar, keyboards, bass and drums, with the guitarist and the keyboardist contributing vocals, albeit the keyboardist is much more out front than Rick Wright ever let himself go. Highly recommended to 1970-1973 era Floyd fans. 

Media/Samples 
Entire album online

Links:
Web page
Facebook
Progarchives

Thumpermonkey "Sleep Furiously"

Country: UK
Sub Genre: Art Rock, Avant Prog
Label: Believer's Roast
Release date: October 31, 2012
Tracklist: 
1.When Scouts Go Bad 03:20
2.Direct 06:55
3.Wheezyboy 04:34
4.Defecit 06:28
5.The Rhetorician 03:13
6.Pigheart 03:40
7.Sleeve 05:26
8.Own 03:57
9.Toxcatl 04:40
10.Blackout 05:25
11.Quiet Earth 02:02

Line-up: 
- Michael Woodman / Vocals, Guitars
- Ben Wren / Drums
- Rael Jones / Guitars
- Sam Warren / Bass

Description/Reviews: 

From those humble musical foundations the band craft a complex blend of punkish prog - think Cardiacs, Crimson and The Pixies playing tag - that bounces out of the speakers like a chimps' tea party and comes right at ya from the off with When Scouts Go Bad, a furiously paced ditty, odd time signatures to the fore and attitude aplenty, but lightened by a rich vein of pop sensibility. 

Read the full review by Roger Trenwith at  dprp.net

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

Links:
Web page
Facebook
ProgArchives

[bleu] "Clara Altantsegtseg"

Country: Switzerland/France
Sub Genre: Symphonic, Ambient, Post Rock
Release date: October, 2012
Tracklist: 
1. ...ainsi les sublimes soirs complexes 08:07
2. Cédant leur masse faite de chaleur humaine 07:53
3. Perdureraient, 05:14
4. Maintenant l'horizon se meut en petites particules sémaphoriques 10:46
5. Et ma peau se détériore, éclatante de douleur, 01:08
6. Attendant sagement 03:53
7. L'apparition de courbes aurorales 06:29
8. Qu'il aurait fallu étouffer au coït... 18:02

Line-up: 
Gilles Grimaitre & Emmanuel Vion-Dury
    With
Emmanuelle Auchlin – saxophones
Adrien Rabbiosi – guitar
Gaël Rabbiosi – bass
Kendalph Vornëar – dununs, ethnic flutes
Mélanie Uelli - vocals
Santiago Lascano – guitar
Domitille Coppey – cello
Alicja Pilarczyk – violon
Cédric Jeanneret - vibraphone
Grégoire Schneeberger – clarinet
Valentina Strucelj - bass clarinet
Nicolas Krischer – oboe
Florent Lepetit – horn
Christoph Siegrist – classical guitar
Jacques Tchamkerten – ondes Martenots
Dorine Herigny – texture

string quartet:
Daniel Minten, Noémie Chatelanat, Lisa Hagemann, Timothée Botbol

recitation:
Ezko Kikoutchi, Dina Kehl, Sibill Urweider, Alicja Pilarczyk, Emmanuelle Auchlin, Sylvia Zanaboni

choir:
Carole Rey, Léonie Renaud, Alejandra Piegaia, Domitille Coppey, Noémie Brun, Claudia Schaffner, Tomasz Siegrist, Antoine Fachard, Christoph Siegrist, Adrien Rabbiosi

Media/Samples 

Bandcamp

Links:
Web page

Tom Brislin "Hurry Up and Smell the Roses"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Art Rock
Release date: October 30, 2012
Tracklist: 
1 Hurry Up and Smell the Roses 4:39
2 Your Favorite Day 4:08
3 When You Told Me Not to Go 3:52
4 Stuff You Would Understand 3:19
5 Industry in the Distance 7:28
6 Predawn 0:51
7 Liftoff 4:33
8 The Outskirts 3:28
9 I Hold a Candle 7:32
10 Visitor 3:24
11 Microphone 6:02

Line-up: 
Tom Brislin - all instruments and vocals
guest contributions by guitarist Clint Lagerberg, vocalist Annie Haslam of Renaissance, and Theremin synthesist Shueh-li Ong.

Description/Reviews: 

Keyboardist/singer Tom Brislin should be well-known to prog fans by now, after stints with Yes, Camel, and Renaissance, not to mention The Syn and Francis Dunnery. Brislin is a tremendous keyboardist and apparently a quick study. Hurry Up and Smell the Roses is, apart from the final track, different than what Brislin was doing with his former band Spiraling, and to our ears a big step forward, more emotive, heartfelt and intimate. Brislin put this album out there with the intention of calling it ‘cinematic pop’, but the prog community embraced it and for good reason. The songs are centered on Brislin’s soothing vocals, piano and symphonic keyboards, while drums are used sparingly but to great effect. There is sometimes a similarity to Peter Gabriel’s piano-based songs. Annie Haslam sings backing vocals on one track that features a great hook, then evolves into an instrumental that sounds like Happy the Man in a majestic mood. Hurry Up and Smell the Roses is an exquisite work full of memorable melodies that hooked us immediately, best for after-dark listening in more introspective moments. (kinesis)

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

Links:
Web page
Facebook

Crowned In Earth "A Vortex of Earthly Chimes"

Country: UK
Sub Genre: Psychedelic, Space Rock, Doom, Retro Prog
Label: Black Widow Records
Release date: October, 2012
Tracklist: 
1. Ride the Storm 12:20
2. Watch the Waves 11:30
3. World Spins Out of Key 5:51
4. Winter Slumber 6:10
5. Given Time 11:26

Line-up: 
Kevin Lawry – Vocals, guitars, bass & keyboards
Darin McCloskey – Drums
Brian J Anthony – Mellotron

Description/Reviews: 

The epic new songs retain Crowned In Earth’s trademark low end groove but have now been textured with innovative arrangements and melodic instrumental passages, familiar of Camel, Pink Floyd and Atomic Rooster. ‘A Vortex of Earthly Chimes’ will take you back to the wonderful days of the early 70’s Decca and Charisma Record labels releases, fused with a blend of sterling psychedelic Doom inspired rock. Thus creating Crowned In Earth a distinct sound of their own. For (not only) fans of Black Sabbath, Camel, Cathedral, Electric Wizard, Genesis, Pentagram and Van Der Graaf Generator.

Media/Samples 
World Spins Out Of Key
Ride The Storm (Edit)

Links:
Facebook

Tim Brown "Pleasure Strike"

Country: UK
Sub Genre: Instrumental Progressive Rock
Label: Self-released
Release date: October 29, 2012
Tracklist: 
01 Pleasure Strike
02 Free-Fall
03 Sparks Of Life
04 Drifting With Spirits
05 Mysterious Obelisk
06 Drawn to Sleep
07 Eyers Of Memory
08 Reaching The Surface
09 Ghost Army
10 Liquidity

Line-up: 
Tim Brown - all instruments
Christian Schmider - guitar on 'Drifting with Spirits'

Description/Reviews: 

Keyboard solo albums tend to come in a couple of different styles. There are those that are a group of songs where the keyboardist plays as many different keyboards as possible in as many styles as possible. Then there are those that are spacey Tangerine Dream affairs. In either case it’s sometimes hard to hear a specific style. That’s not the case with Tim Brown’s solo keyboard work. Having worked in bands through the 80’s and early 90’s, Pleasure Strike is his second solo effort and it displays a very unique and specific keyboard style. Not that he doesn’t do what I’ve described earlier; it’s just that his musical approach revolves more around his technique, which is quite admirable.

The ten instrumental tracks on Pleasure Strike are anywhere from three to six minutes in length with most hovering around the four minute mark. They’re mostly up-tempo each displaying a distinctive vibe. Even though each of the songs is its own composition, Brown’s approach with his keyboards is to maintain a similar lead keyboard sound while employing lots of supporting sounds. That support could be strings, choirs, or just processed synth sounds. The songs, while relatively straight forward structure wise, do meander about allowing for some rather interesting twists and turns. I really like Brown’s approach to his craft. There is a certain cinematic feel to many of these tunes especially on the slower tracks like “Drifting with Spirits” [4:27] or “Mysterious Obelisk” [6:25] where he uses a lot of lower register synth sounds to establish a very dramatic mood and then employs all manner of buzzing saw-tooth lead lines to balance it out. More than anything what I like about Brown’s approach is his restrained production and arrangements. His compositions aren’t overly busy or layered allowing for his playing and specific sound approach to rise to the surface.

To my ears Pleasure Strike is easily one of the better solo keyboard efforts I’ve heard. I liked it’s consistency for one thing, but perhaps more than that I liked the way Brown incorporated some rather pleasing keyboard synth pads and settings in some very melodic compositions. Keyboard fans will find much to enjoy. Well worth checking out. (Jerry Lucky)

Media/Samples 
Taster

Links:
Web page
Facebook

Medina Azahara "La Memoria Perdida"

Country: Spain
Sub Genre: Symphonic, Prog Folk
Release date: October 29, 2012
Tracklist: 
01. Sevilla (Con Fondo Flamenco)
02. Un Nuevo Sol
03. Corazon Herido
04. La Ultima Batalla (Con David De Maria)
05. Libertad Y Luz
06. Al Despertar
07. Mil Colores En Tu Corazon)
08. Busco
09. Quiereme O Dejame
10. Algo Cambio
11. Rumor
12. Al Pie De La Alhambra
13. La Ultima Batalla (V.O)
14. Sevilla (V.O)

Line-up: 
Manuel Martinez - vocals
Paco Ventura - guitars
Manuel Ibáñez - keyboards
Nacho Rivera - drums
Juanjo Corbacho - bass

Description/Reviews: 

These Andalusian rock veterans seem unwilling to slow down. Now they come with a new album trying to recapture the essence of their early works. Musically the album is more symphonic, progressive and aflamencado than their last releases, more melodic and less close to heavy metal.

Media/Samples 
Sevilla

Links:
Web page
Facebook
ProgArchives
Proggnosis

Flora "Sei"

Country: Italy
Sub Genre: Post Rock, Art Rock, Jazz-Rock/Fusion
Label: Lizard Records
Release date: October 27, 2012
Tracklist: 
 1.Caleidoscopio
 2.Nodi
 3.Camaleonte
 4.Artaruga
 5.Dove Sei?
 6.Insalata n°6
 7.Non mi ricordo
 8.Cosimo post-moderno
 9.Signor Psiche
10.Tokio

Line-up: 
Claudia Nicastro - voice, glockenspiel
Paolo Nicastro - bass, voice
Fabrizio Lusitani - guitar
Michele Tizzoni - drums
Pietro Beltrami - keyboards, virus
Pina Muresu - saxophones

Description/Reviews: 

Yet another jewel from Flora, named "Sei" because it's their sixth studio album. With this record Flora confirm furthermore the rare merit to create a sound stylistically so personal as to become difficult, even inapproriate, to attempt to define them in a specific music genre.
We take a chance to describe their music trough that magic mix of post-rock and art-pop-jazz-rock with Canterburian shades or close to the softer Tortoise, that already have marked the excellent (brilliant) "Traiettorie di volano", fruit of sensibility and knowledgeable writing.
A poetic dimension of disenchanted beauty, that taste of small things, everyday life, bouncing on a dimmed jazz ambience (even this time there is no lack of valuable instrumental moments with "Tartaruga", "Insalata  numero 6" and the melancholic ending drop-scene of "Tokio"), with the gorgeus twists of bass-guitar-drums, then the sax, keyboards and glockenspiel to paint light colours but decisive, and the original vocal contribution of Claudia Nicastro. (Lizard)

Media/Samples 
Camaleonte
Progstreaming

Links:
Facebook

Kebnekajse "Aventure"

Country: Sweden
Sub Genre: Prog Folk
Label: Subliminal Sounds
Release date: October 26, 2012
Tracklist: 
1. Snickar-Anders (Carpenter-Anders) (4:54)
2. Vallåt efter Britta Jansson (3:11)
3. Spelmannen (5:23)
4. Aventure (8:15)
5.Svarbergstrollen (4:03)
6. Vallåt efter Måns Olsson (4:02)
7. Midsommarnattsdröm (4:06)
8. Tikli Ja Tiira (4:09)
9. Battery (6:20)

Line-up: 
- Kenny Håkansson / guitars, vocals
- Mats Glenngåd / violins, electric violin, guitars, vocals
- Göran Lagerberg / bass
- Thomas Netzler / bass
- Pelle Ekman / drums
- Hassan Bah / timbales, djembe, percussion

Description/Reviews: 

Cult band Kebnekaise - known for their electrified folk music - refuse to play on nostalgia. Nine new songs that build on the passion and joy of folk music, from the airy happiness and steady rhythm to the melodic melancholy, conjured by psychedelic folk rock. Aventure is Kebnekajses ninth album since their debut in 1971 and the third since returning in 2001. The album contains five new discoveries from the Swedish folk music treasure and four new self-written. Kebnekajses distinctive and pioneering folk rock sound is as secure as the mountain itself. As in the initial Snickar-Anders (Carpenter-Anders)  where heavy drums, percussion and double basses proud and challenging urge on distorted guitars and violin to purposefully play tag with an elusive Swedish folk melody. But the music is also allowed to take new and unexpected twists. A mandolin gives oriental pensive tone to Vallåt efter Britta Jansson (Grazing-ground Song after Britta Jansson). A Wild West guitar is accompanied by the now hilarious mandolin in Svartbergstrollen (Black Mountain Trolls), who effortlessly bounces between major and minor. The dreamy Vallåt efter  Måns Olsson (Grazing-ground Song After Måns Olsson) where the guitar folk loops hovers over a distinct African thumb piano. ‘Aventure’ offers more African elements - and three songs with vocals. On the title track Aventure Hassan Bah tells the tale of how he as a 15 years old left his home country of Guinea and eventually more or less accidentally arrived in Sweden ("... now I'm sitting on top of the mountain and looking out over Sweden"). And in concluding Battery where Hassan comments on his recent trip to Africa, in the Zuzu-language and over a high powered psychedelic afrobeat. With ‘Aventure’ Kebnekajse  add new pieces to their musical mosaic - Swedish folk rock with psychedelic overtones - now with more African undertones.

Media/Samples 
Svartbergstrollen

Links:
Web page
Facebook
ProgArchives
Proggnosis

Flower Flesh "Duck in the Box"

Country: Italy
Sub Genre: Psychedelic, Symphonic
Label: Black Widow Records
Release date: October 26, 2012
Tracklist: 
1.Falling in another dimension
2.My gladness after the sadness
3.It will be the end
4.God is evil (like the Devil)
5.The race of my life
- Warm up
- First in the race
- Stop'n'go
- Tra il fuoco e il vento
- First in the race again
6.Antarctica
7.Scream and die

Line-up: 
Daniel Elvstrom: lead vocals
Andrea Fazio. Drums
Ivan Giribone: Bass guitar
Marco Olivieri: Guitars
Andrea Sgarlato: Synthesizers

Description/Reviews: 

With a dosage of Symphonic Music, ‘80s Neo-Prog, and Story-Telling boundaries, up-and-coming Italian Prog band, Flower Flesh give a huge amount of energy in their debut album, Duck in the Box that is a tribute to their heroes including; Yes, Marillion, PFM, and Dream Theater in their hearts and soul.

Read the whole review at zacharynathanson.blogspot.com 

Media/Samples 
entire album at progstreaming.com

Links:
myspace

Gizmo "Gizmo"

Country: UK
Sub Genre: Canterbury
Label: Canterbury Records
Release date: October 26, 2012
Tracklist: 

1. The Promise
2. ICU Juicy Me
3. Almost Starlight
4. Suddenly
5. Little Man
6. Sailing On A Dream
7. Just A Dream
8. The Little Man That Sang
9. The Promise
10. Starlight
11. Sailing On a Dream (reprise)
12. A House With No Door (bonus track)

Line-up: 
Dave Radford - LeadVocals/Guitar
Martin Reed - Guitar/Vocals
Alex Powley - Bass Guitar
Tony Rico - Sax and flute
Grant Matcham - Keyboards/Vocals
Ian Harris-Drums/Percussion

Description/Reviews: 

Gizmo have been together now for the best part of 40 years. Based around founder-member, Dave Radford, the band are still very much an interesting, evolving and active unit. Moreover, this latest eponymous album, their 4th to date, is so much more than the musings of a semi-professional unit, obliged to record their current output for posterity. Indeed, their new album, simply entitled 'Gizmo', is a powerful and emotional collection of 'intelligent rock' tracks to rival the likes of Porcupine Tree, or even Pink Floyd.

Read the whole track-by-track review by Paul Crampton and other  reviews at Band's page

Media/Samples 
Samples  at band's web page

Links:
Web page
Facebook
Proggnosis

Cats On The Roof "Pros and Cons of Solitude"

Country: Ukraine
Sub Genre: Instrumental, Psychedelic, Space Rock, Jazz-Rock/Fusion
Label: Lizard Records
Release date: October 25, 2012
Tracklist: 

1. Leaves (4:39)
2. Breakdance (Signals) (6:02)
3. Family Business (6:48)
4. Pros And Cons Of Solitude (4:37)
5. The Voice Of Makhdee (4:30)
6. Dune (6:12)
7. A February Whores (4:50)
8. Firefly (3:44)
9. Cosmos Eve (7:40)

Line-up: 

Max Rudensky - guitars, sax, keyboards
Alexander Yegorov - bass
Yuri Sinitsky - drums

Description/Reviews: 

Nine instrumental tracks inspired by strange mood and noir memories. A gentle mix of fusion, space rock and psychedely from Eastern Europe.

Media/Samples 
entire album online at jamendo.com

Links:
Web page
ProgArchives

Vanished from Earth "Vanished from Earth"

Country: Argentina
Sub Genre: Progressive Rock
Release date: October, 2012
Tracklist: 
1. Vanished from Earth (2:33)
2. Hydra (7:24)
3. Fight the Power (4:42)
4. Daenerys (7:19)
5. The Girl in the Mirror (12:00)
6. Pandora (4:36)
7. Grey Matter Absence (25:42)

Line-up: 
Mike Buenaventura Lima: Drums and percussion
Ignacio Gulich: Bass-guitar, backing vocals
Fernando Refay: Keyboards and Piano, backing vocals
Rodrigo San Martín: guitars, backing vocals
     with

Charlie Giardina: Lead and Backing Vocals

Description/Reviews: 

Vanished from Earth’s music is generally complex, usually exploring long multi-themed compositions with lots of key, tempo and time signature changes.

Media/Samples 
Entire album online

Links:
Web page (free download of the album)
Facebook
ProgArchives

Elias Nardi Quartet "The Tarot Album"

Country: Italy
Sub Genre: Instrumental Jazz-Rock, Prog Folk
Label: Zone di Musica / Believe Digital
Release date: October 25, 2012
Tracklist: 
01 The Lovers 3:58
02 The Magician, the High Priestess and the Wheel of Fortune 7:55
03 The Hierophant 2:26
04 The Emperor 4:45
05 The Chariot 2:41
06 Justice 2:56
07 The Hermit 1:26
08 The Strength 5:10
09 The Hanged Man 4:14
10 Death 2:42
11 The Empress and the Judgement 6:08
12 The Temperance 2:20
13 The Devil 2:50
14 The Tower 4:19
15 The Star 1:45
16 The Moon 4:30
17 The Sun 3:37
18 The World 5:18

Line-up: 
Elias Nardi - Oud
Carlo La Manna - Fretless Bass
Roberto Segato - Keyboards, Piano, Synthesizer
Zachary J Baker - Drumkit, Cymbals
   With:
Emanuele Le Pera: Percussions
Dania Tosi: Soprano
Savino Pantone: Viola
Andrea Vezzoli: Baritone Sax, Bass Clarinet

Description/Reviews: 

"The Tarot Album" is a Concept Album based on the 22 Tarot of the Major Arcana and freely inspired by the astonishing "Tarot Garden" of late French artist Niki de Saint Phalle, in Tuscany.
The album explores the world of Tarot through different grounds of inspiration.
From their playful traits to the deepest of meaning along with the more recent esoteric dimension, from historical and ancestral roots to modern imagery of the "Triumphs".
All of these aspects come together in this Album giving birth to a unique, intense and emotional
musical experience, with no concern for genre.

Media/Samples 
Progstreaming.com

Links:
Web page
Elias Nardi's Facebook

Yacobs "Clouds"

Country: Germany
Sub Genre: Neo-Prog
Label: Musea
Release date: October 24, 2012
Tracklist: 
1. Dawn
2. Cinderella
3. Twilight Sun
4. Indian Clouds
5. Turn Off the Sun
6. All You Have Is Now
7. My Very First Day
8. Hot Summer in Transylvania
9. A Heavenly Sound
10. Lift Off
11. Clouds
12. Dusk


Line-up: 
- Ulf Jacobs / all instruments
With:
- Thomas Klarmann / bass
- Àkos Bogati Bokor / guitars

Description/Reviews: 

The second album by Ulf Jacobs (Argos) feat. Thomas Klarmann (Argos) on Bass & Àkos Bogati Bokor (Yesterdays) on Guitar.

Media/Samples 
Cinderella
Twilight Sun

Links:
Web page
Facebook
ProgArchives
Proggnosis

La Fin du Monde "Embers"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Instrumental Progressive Rock/Metal
Release date: October 24, 2012
Tracklist: 
1. Master Quarter Horse 08:13
2. Saint of Killers 06:02
3. Barbata 09:36
4. Accidentally About Sharks 04:17
5. Buckhorn Short Shank 09:29
6. Speedboat Ron 07:03
7. A Murder of Crows 06:23
8. Grey Skies Shade Bombs 12:45

Line-up: 
Mike Crew: Bass
Dan Elsen: Drums
Joshua Kinsey: Bass
Chris Roberts: Guitar
Adam Scarborough: Guitar

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

Links:
Facebook

SoulenginE "Mind Colours"

Country: Italy
Sub Genre: Eclectic Progressive Rock
Label: Ma.Ra.Cash Records, MCR030
Release date: October 23, 2012
Tracklist: 
01 Polheim
02 Third In Line
03 Rain Flower
04 On The Other Side
05 Down The Street
06 No Way Out
07 No Rewarding
08 Asleep
09 Challenge To An End

Line-up: 
Ettore Salati - electric, acoustic, 12-strings and doubleneck guitars, bass pedals, dulcimer
Fabio Mancini - hammond, piano, mellotron, wurlitzer, rhodes, moog
Nando de Luca - electric, acoustic, fretless bass, acoustic guitars
Giacomo Pacini - drums, percussions

Description/Reviews:

First album for the Italian band formed by ex-The Watch Ettore Salati and Fabio Mancini. The music is new and unique even if it draws from the 70's with veins of Progressive Jazz, classical music, psychedelia. An album full of melodic virtuosity and arrangements that bring out the talent of the individual elements of the band. Everything in "Mind Colours" is enriched by gorgeous arrangements and virtuosisim, and melody is the leit motiv for the whole album.

Media/Samples 
entire album online

Links:
Web page
Proggnosis

Listing Ships "The Hayling Island Sessions"

Country: UK
Sub Genre: instrumental Krautrock, Post Rock, Art Rock
Label: Idle Fret Records (vinyl)
Release date: October 23, 2012 (digital), May 27, 2013  (vinyl)
Tracklist: 
1. Alba Adriatica (5:44)
2. Baychimo (3:47)
3. American Steam Company (5:14)
4. Then Venice Sank (5:00)
5. The 100 Gun Ship (4:26)
6. Equus Ager (4:40)
7. Nutcracker Six (1:27)
8. 100 Tonne (Rackham remix) (04:49)
9. 100 Gun Ship (Karhide Bass Bass remix) (03:30)

Line-up: 
Mike Bingham - guitars, keyboards
Stuart Fowkes - bass, keyboards
Jim Hey - guitars
James Pamphlion - drums

Description/Reviews: 

Listing Ships are an Oxford-based, nautically-inspired instrumental post-krautrock band. Everything about their songs reflects the band’s obsession with ships and the sea, from the titles and samples collected everywhere from Venice to Blackpool, right down to the songs’ very construction, based upon and often built around tales of the sea.
Musically, Listing Ships take inspiration from classic krautrock like Can, Harmonia, Neu!, Ash Ra Tempel; sample-heavy, intricate electronica like Boards of Canada, Amon Tobin, Seefeel; expansive, exploratory guitar music like Tarentel,The Alps, Collections of Colonies of Bees; kings of the soundtrack world like Clint Mansell and Krzysztof Penderecki.

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

Links:
Web page
Facebook
ProgArchives

Earthcry "Where the road leads"

Country: Italy
Sub Genre: Progressive Metal, Power Metal
Label: Revalve Records
Release date: October 22, 2012
Tracklist: 
01. Sailing On 01:59
02. New Fading Sun 06:46
03. Hospitality 07:07
04. Recall 06:48
05. Into The Asylum 05:35
06. Landscapes 08:21
07. Stranger 06:18
08. Uncharted 05:34
09. The Temple 05:28
10. Inside 08:23

Line-up: 
Oliver Hartmann (At Vance, Avantasia, Iron Mask) - Vocals
Mark Basile (DGM) - Vocals
Zak Stevens (Circle II Circle - Vocals)
Marco Sandron (Eden's Curse) - Vocals
Damian Wilson (Threshold, Headspace, DWB) - Vocals
Roberto Tiranti (Labyrinth) - Vocals
Diego Reali (Evidence) - Guitars
Simone Mularoni (DGM) - Guitars
Bruno Di Giorgi - Guitars
Leone Villani Conti (Trick Or Treat) - Bass
Tommi Delfino - Keyboards
Enrico Sidoti - Drums

Description/Reviews: 

Based on prog and power metal influences (Ayreon, Dream Theater, Angra, Symphony X), cinematic soundtracks and electronic music (Vangelis, Jean-Michel Jarre, Mike Oldfield), it melts these different styles to create something very solid and modern on Where The Road Leads. This album is the first chapter of a bombastic prog metal sci-fi opera featuring 10 tracks of intense and powerful sound.

Also read the review by Drew Tyler at sputnikmusic.com

Media/Samples 
Uncharted

Links:
Facebook

High Spy "Ignition"

Country: UK
Sub Genre: Neo-Prog
Release date: October 22, 2012
Tracklist: 
1. On The Breeze
2. Move The Earth
3. Cappuccino
4. The Eyes Of The World  
5. Arrival  
6. Skinny Man
7. Mirror Man  
8. Drowning

Line-up: 
Mark Price - keyboards
Adrian Peddie - vocals, guitars
Lee Steinberg-Weston - bass
Mark Stokes - guitars
    With
Rick Maper - drums

Description/Reviews: 

The eight track album works on different levels, mainly
dealing with that fact at some point, some time, every second of everyday there is an action which causes a reaction, which causes a chain reaction, and so forth - caused by one incident an "Ignition" of that point in time, and all experiences in life and history can be traced back to that one second.

Media/Samples 
Promo Video

Links:
Web page
Facebook
ProgArchives
Proggnosis

Salim Ghazi Saeedi "namoWoman"

Country: Iran
Sub Genre: Progressive Metal, Art Rock, Avant Prog
Release date: October 20, 2012
Tracklist: 
1. namoW
2. nam
3. amo
4. moW
5. oWo
6. Wom
7. oma
8. man
9. Woman

Line-up: 
Salim Ghazi Saeedi / all instruments

Description/Reviews: 

An instrumental avant-prog and prog metal album, namoWoman hires microtonal Persian music influences while introducing a newly constructed language (conlang) named "l3abEl" (pronounced Babel) in which the album's booklet is written.
Salim is the man of extremities while always seeks reconciliation and harmonization among the most remotely contradictory elements. So developing as a rock/metal artist in a rock alien environment in his hometown or expressing himself by personalized mediums like a conlang of his own, all comes natural to his lifestyle. In his 2012 album, Salim has hired an expressionist microtonal approach toward art rock/metal that he describes himself as "empty spaces filled with occasional wild electric guitars and expressive melodies while having oriental dance elements undercover".
About the concepts behind namoWoman composition, Salim says "I have always found the assumption of impossibility, an important trick against my mind - a human mind that usually prefers patterned and inductional methods of cognition." Salim adds: "As an artist, creating and experimenting yet unexplored mental realms has always fascinated me and in order to trick my mind into pushing toward new possibilities, I like experimenting around fundamental concepts like human sexuality. Ideas like considering human sexuality beyond its dualistic nature let me to enter a new mindset and fascinations about worlds of non-Carbon based life, gradually fed my creativity for namoWoman. Maybe I can say this mindset forced my mind to respond on vital levels and challenged its own existence..."
Here, Persian music quarter tones are coming in between western music intervals. While quarter tones harmonize namoWoman album's musical language, the l3abEl conlang accompanying its booklet tries to establish the harmony in realm of words.

Also read the review by Rok Podgrajšek at therocktologist.com

Media/Samples 
man

Links:
Web page
Facebook
ProgArchives
Proggnosis

Torga Ostera "Queda Ascendente"

Country: Portugal
Sub Genre: Psychedelic, Space Rock
Release date: October 18, 2012 (CD), June 17, 2012 (Digital)
Tracklist: 
1. Quase Nós (6:48)
2. Balada Ao Ensandecer (7:15)
3. Rosa Dos Ventos (5:22)
4. Apicultor De Homens (11:14)
5. Saber Porque Não (4:07)
6. Não Vi Nenhum Tentar (6:07)
7. Sol Da Noite Acordada (5:30)
8. Quase Nós II (4:02)

Line-up: 
João Francisco (Vocals and the main guitar)
Eurico Moleirinho (Bass)
Renato Dias (Drums)
João Faustino (Guitar)
Jorge Marinheiro (Keys)

Description/Reviews: 

Their debut album ''Queda Ascendente'' was recorded in Portugal but mastered in the UK by producer Jon Astley who has worked with a host of famous artists but is probably best known for his work with The Who. The result of this undertaking is a collection of laid-back guitar proposals containing lengthy instrumental passages. The keyboard work of Otez is never obtrusive and blends in nicely with the twin electric guitars in similar manner to that of Rick Wright. When you factor in the female backing vocals and slide guitars the take on Pink Floyd is strengthened, although lead vocalist Francisco sings in his mother tongue (the lyrics apparently deal with philosophical issues and the Portuguese rhythm of life) which gives the music that unique Portuguese feel. 

Media/Samples 
Sol Da Noite Acordada

Links:
Facebook
ProgArchives

Watershed Drag "The Smoking Mirror"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Neo-Prog, Art Rock
Release date: October 18, 2012
Tracklist: 

1.Introduction to... 00:32
2.Transmissions from the Yaak 04:22
3.Pronouns 03:08
4.Corona 04:43
5.Tesseract 03:59
6.Polyrhythm 05:02
7.The One with the Mud 04:19
8.The Name 04:51
9.Transmissions from the Yaak (Pt. 2) 07:00
10.History 04:33


Line-up: 

Amy Fehrenbach - Nylon String Acoustic Guitar, Banjo, Flute, Trombone, Upright Bass, Vocals
Cam Ferranti - Keyboards, Programming, Upright & Electric Bass, Stratocaster, Steel & Nylon String Guitar, Vocals

Description/Reviews: 

The music is a mix of slightly grungy art rock and neo prog. The music has a lot of similarities with Mostly Autumn and in particular Touchstones. The guitars are dirty. The vocals is a lot more ethereal than straight forward female vocals we knows from the English scene. The music a lot more eclectic than neo prog'ish. There is also a lot of folk rock in their music.

 Read the whole review at The sound of fighting cats

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (free download)

Links:
Facebook

Materya "Case"

Country: Italy
Sub Genre: Symphonic, Neo-Prog
Label: White Knight Records
Release date: October 15, 2012
Tracklist: 

1. Hide from an angry heart - 4:30
2. The deed is done - 4:44
3. Braccialetti di diamanti - 2:47
4. Across the light - 3:14
5. Alberi e foglie - 5:07
6. Domenica - 6:42
7. Case nella bassa - 6:57
8. Stella splendens - 6:16
9. Emozioni ad uso personale - 3:11
10. Dormi sola - 4:58
11. Flowers and lies - 5:51
12. Uomo - 5:52

Line-up: 
Andrea Stagni (piano/keyboards, guitars, bass, percussions and vocals)
Betty Copeta (vocals)
Claudio Trotta, Marcello Bellina (drums)

Description/Reviews: 

Materya is a project by two members of the well - known Italian progressive band AltaVia.
The music has many influences ranging from Mike Oldfield to It Bites. Classic intelligent progressive rock.

Media/Samples 
Hide from an angry heart
Stella splendens
Across the light

Links:
Web page
Facebook
Proggnosis

Absoluuttinen Nollapiste "Pisara ja Lammas 1"

Country: Finland
Sub Genre: Prog Related
Label: Diu Dau Records
Release date: October 12, 2012
Tracklist: 
1. Alkusoitto (3:08)
2. Planeetta Hyvä (4:03)
3. Juhlija (3:30)
4. Nainen lentää (5:08)
5. Kohtaaminen (3:29)
6. Pisara (4:07)
7. Paimenen uni (4:34)
8. Lampolan aamu (2:30)
9. Lammas näkee naisen (2:09)
10. Lampaan etsintä (5:54)
11. Lammas saa vainun (2:51)

Line-up: 
Aki Lääkkölä / guitars, synthesizers
Aake Otsala / bass, synthesizers, sound design
Tomi Krutsin / drums, percussion
Erkki Seppänen (The Ram)
Olavi Uusivirta (The Shepherd)
Paula Vesala (The Woman)
Tommi Liimatta (Narrator)
Emilia Norppa, Lotta Savolainen and Teemu Eskelinen (Choir)

Description/Reviews: 

The Droplet and The Ram 1 (orig. Pisara ja lammas 1) is the first part of a conceptual double album by the Finnish progressive rock band Absolute Zero (orig. Absoluuttinen Nollapiste). This chronologically proceeding science fiction epic takes place in the near future. A droplet of pure evil is sent onwards from Planet Benign. It sweeps across the universe towards Earth and then...

Media/Samples 
Kohtaaminen
Planeetta Hyvä (video)

Links:
Web page
Facebook
ProgArchives
Proggnosis

Special Others "Have a Nice Day"

Country: Japan
Sub Genre: Jazz Rock/Fusion, Post Rock
Label: Speedstar Records
Release date: October 10, 2012
Tracklist: 
1. Root
2. Orion
3. Raindrops
4. Beautiful World
5. Organ Bass
6. Hawaiian Secret Beat
7. Barrel
8. Dance Festival
9. Provence
10. Have a Nice Day

Line-up: 
- Ryota "Toyin" Miyahara / drums, vocals
- Yuya "Segun" Mitayoshi / bass
- Takeshi "Dayo" Yanagishita / guitar, vocals
- Yuma "Remi" Serizawa / keyboard, vocals

Description/Reviews: 

A Japanese jazz band, with strong characteristics of a jam band (musical improvisation over rhythmic grooves and chord patterns and long sets of music that cross genre boundaries) and post-rock. Although their songs are long, ranging all the time and are melodic, giving greater dynamism holding you until the final minutes.

Media/Samples 
Youtube

Links:
Web page
Facebook
ProgArchives

Yowie "Damning with Faint Praise"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Avant Prog
Label: Skin Graft Records
Release date: October 9, 2012
Tracklist: 
1 Slowly but Surly
2 Whippersnapper
3 I Could Care Less
4 Shriners Sure Do Cuss A Lot
5 Eternally Collapsing Object

Line-up: 
Jeremiah Wontsewitz: Guitar
Sr. (H), jb: Guitar
Defenestrator: Drums

Description/Reviews: 

"Damning with Faint Praise" is the second full length release from Yowie. This album surpasses the girth and intensity of their debut, "Cryptooology," an album that few have learned to decipher (or pronounce). "Damning with Faint Praise" moves through an array of multidimensional shifting structures, while inexplicably maintaining cohesion, and even, yes, grooves. 

Media/Samples 
Shriners Sure Do Cuss A Lot

Links:
Web page
Facebook
ProgArchives

Marchesi Scamorza "La Sposa del Tempo"

Country: Italy
Sub Genre: Symphonic
Label:  Flow Double H Records
Release date: October 2012
Tracklist: 

1. Intro - 1:03
2. Sentieri di carta - 6:42
3. Lo schiavo di babilonia - 7:25
4. L'uomo dall'ombra lunga - 4:52
5. Un passo ogni parola - 6:22
6. Quelle volte - 4:11
7. Il castello delle stagioni - 7:18
8. Nelle notti più lontane - 4:09
9. Autunno - 7:01 

Line-up: 
Enrico Bernardini - vocals, acoustic guitar
Lorenzo Romani - guitar
Enrico Cazzola - keyboards
Paolo Brini - bass
Alessandro Padovani - drums

Media/Samples 
Intro
Un passo ogni parola
Il castello delle stagioni
Nelle notti più lontane
Autunno

Links:
Web page
Facebook
Progarchives
Proggnosis

Lost Kite "Lost Kite"

Country: Sweden
Sub Genre: Instrumental Alternative, Progressive Rock
Release date: October 7, 2012
Tracklist: 

1. A Walk - 13:19
2. Sails Across The Sky - 9:32
3. The Hopoo's Call - 4:31
4. With Eyes Wide Open - 15:30

Line-up: 
David Carlsson - acoustic 12-string guitar, electric 12-string guitar (track 3), Spanish guitar, voice
Stefan Carlsson - acoustic and electric 6-string guitars, bass, guitar synthesizer, electronic drums

Description/Reviews: 

Lost Kite gives us some very nice instrumental melodic and reflective Prog music, in a variety (but not too distant) of seventies inspired styles. For example, the first piece "A Walk" offers hints of Marillion (and also Gazpacho) but also of Tales From Topographic Oceans' era Yes. Yet, on With "Eyes Wide Open" I hear more of a Mike Oldfield influence, and so on. I must say that these references are all very subtle. Some listeners will notice others, and some won't aggree at all with what I perceive, because the music on Lost Kite is very original and creative, even though it does stay near some well travelled (and loved) roads. Lost Kite is a "father/son" project and I can only guess they consider it to be a labor of love. Still, I am very much impressed by the quality of this CD. Fans of melodic 70's inspired Prog music should certainly take a listen. Nice stuff indeed. (Marc Roy, Proggnosis.com)

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

Links:
Proggnosis

Continuum "From the Depths"

Country: France
Sub Genre: Progressive Metal
Label: Musea
Release date: October 6, 2012 (digital), March, 2013 (CD)
Tracklist: 

1. Contamination
2. Initiation of a New Eon
3. Astral Journey Through the Ether
4. Explorer of Distant Galaxies
5. The Light I'm Awaiting
6. The Loss and the End
7. Rising of R'Lyeh
8. From the Depths...
9. Dreams of Cyclopean Inferno
10. Vision from Afar - Another Representation
11. ... in the Depths
Bonustrack
12. In the Court of the Crimson King


Line-up: 

Franck Dibari - Keyboards
Aldebaran - Guitars
Phillipe Gabison - Guitars
Clement Marse - Vocals
Mickael Raverdino - Bass
Guillaume Morero - Drums

Media/Samples 
Vision from Afar - Another Representation

Links:
Web page
Facebook
ProgArchives
Proggnosis

Taika "Pulsate"

Country: Japan
Sub Genre: Canterbury, Jazz-Rock/Fusion
Label: Musea
Release date: October 4, 2012
Tracklist: 
1 - Beyond The Promise - (5'40)
2 - To The Farthest - (4'32)
3 - Mirage - (6'23)
4 - Deep Sea - (6'05)
5 - In A Different World - (5'48)
6 - Spiral Forest - (5'34)
7 - Moon And Solitude - (5'11)
8 - Awake - (7'11)
9 - Meteor - (6'58)

Line-up: 
Tae (ex-Ashada) on vocals and accordion
Dani (KBB) on bass
Zaiya Takahashi on piano
Tomoyoku Tanimoto on drums

Description/Reviews: 

Taika are an excellent Canterbury-ish Japanese prog band with female vocals (lyrics in Japanese). "Pulsate" delivers delicate vocals and sublime accordion sounding, while free and improvisational performances by other members illuminate their world. Their sound is both glittering and airy, inspired from images of flickering star and deep forest (The lyrics represent these images). With somewhat tranquil and oriental mood, their music will give you unique impression that can't be given by other singer-bands.

Media/Samples 
Track online

Links:
Web page
Proggnosis

Sleepers Awake "Transcension"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Progressive Metal
Release date: October 2, 2012
Tracklist: 
1.The Augur 05:16
2.Burdened 09:30
3.Apparitions 08:04
4.Slave Within 08:35
5.Heathen Verses 01:19
6.Saint Condemned 09:13
7.Circles Without Division 04:03
8.Throat of Winter 06:54
9.Wintertide 01:11
10.Equa Mortuorum 05:42
11.Under Hoof and Gavel 03:16
12.The Fulcrum 06:32

Line-up: 
Chris Thompson - Vocals, Guitar
Rob Bradley - Guitar
Chris "Ambrose" Burnsides - Drums
Kedar Hiremath - Bass

Description/Reviews: 

The names of the likes of Tool, Opeth, Mastodon, even Rush have been cast over the band leading up to the album release and at times it is easy to see why especially in regard to Tool but there is much more to their sound and immediately across the opening tracks we would add the likes of Life Of Agony for the depth of emotion and dramatic structures to the songs, and Poet Of The Fall for the more instantaneous melodic temptation offered. Do not mistake this as suggesting the album is an echo of such references or from the constant mention of its melodic heart that it is a mellow or restrained beast. The album stands apart from most with ease and has a snarl and aggression which leaves you exhausted. It offers a seamless merger of glowing sonic beauty and stern merciless shadows making for a sensational exploration.

Read the full review by at ringmasterreviewintroduces.wordpress.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

Links:
Facebook
ProgArchives

Wallpaper Poets "The Other Side of Maybe Suite"

Country: Belgium
Sub Genre: Jazz-Rock/Fusion
Release date: October 1, 2012
Tracklist: 
Prologue
1. Journey’s end
Part 1: The introduction
2. A Blueprint of Eden
3. The blind God
4. When the city sleeps
Part 2: A remarkable set of manners
5. I) Morning prayer
    II) The house of lies
6. III) Elegy for a dream
    IV) Tabula rasa
7. V) The house of lies (reprise)
Part 3: Life delights in freedom
8. Within focus out of reach
9. On the eve of a brand new day
10. The other side of maybe
11. Finale
Epilogue
12. Meet my eyes

Line-up: 
Jack van Poll - Electric Piano
Paul Van Laere - Woodwinds & Saxes
Bart Schram - Lead Vocals
Ping Ren - Vocals
Guy Cuyvers - Acoustic Guitar
Vladimir Gouskov - Electric Guitar
Chris Van Nauw - Electric Guitar
Pallieter Van Buggenhout - Acoustic & Electric Guitar
Peter Ridsdale - 11 string violin
Joris "BB" Liégeois - Backing Vocals
Gerd Willekens - Piano, Keyboards, Lead & Backing Vocals, Drums, Percussion, Bass Programming

Description/Reviews: 

Wallpaper poets is a project directed, and produced by composer Gerd Willekens. On the album “The other side of maybe” elements of progressive rock, jazz and world music are tastefully put together in a suite.

Media/Samples 
Progstreaming

Links:
Web page