Aurora Lunare "Aurora Lunare"

Country: Italy
Sub Genre: Symphonic
Label: Lizard Records
Release date: December, 2013
Tracklist: 
1) Evasione di un'idea   7'56
2) Eroi invincibili... son solo i pensieri  9'17
3) Mondo Fantasmatico  8'51
4) Riflessi indicativi  6'42
5) Corsa senza meta  5'19
6) Secondo dubbio  5'58
7) Interlunio  1'51
8) Sfera Onirica  3'54
9) All'infuori del Tempo / Ritorno al Nulla  7'40  (from "Felona e Sorona" Le Orme)

Line-up: 
Mauro Pini: vocals, keyboards
Luciano Tonetti: bass
Marco Santinelli: drums
Stefano Onorati: piano, keyboards, electric guitar
        With:
Tolo Marton  (ex-Le Orme): guitar on "Ritorno al nulla"
Gianluca Milanese: flute
Alessandro Corvaglia (La Maschera di Cera): guitars, voice
Corrado Pezzini: synth-vocals
Graziano Di Sacco: vocals effects
Nicola Santinelli: classic guitar
Greta Merli: voice
Valentina Cantini: violin

Description/Reviews: 

An album that wants to revive the original tracks of ‘70s, with the same spirit and creative emphasis, able to combine symphonicity, experiment, poetry and beautiful melodies, recorded today thanks to a miraculous lunarreunion, with additional expressive power, with notable guests like Tolo Marton (a precious contribution in the reinterpretation of "Ritorno al nulla’”from "Felona e Sorona"), Gianluca Milanese (now one of the mostpopular flautists in the field of prog and jazz), Alessandro Corvaglia (unique, great voice of La Maschera di Cera )
The poignant beauty of "Eroi Invincibili" (a potential seventies classic, where the voice of Mauro Pini duets with that of Corvaglia), the mysterious vintage symphonicity of "Evasioni di un’ idea" , the touching lyricism of"Riflessi Indicativi", the progression and the different atmospheres of "Mondo Fantasmatico" and "Secondo Dubbio”,  the experimental feature of "Corsa senza meta" and "Interlunio",  the hard-sinfo instrumental epicity of "Sfera onirica."
Then, the grand finale with "All’infuori del tempo” and “Ritorno alnulla" with special guest Tolo Marton, a tribute to one of the mostbeautiful pages of the Italian Prog, particularly appreciated by the Aurora Lunare themselves.

Media/Samples:
Progstreaming

Links:
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Air Canda "Air Canda"

Country: Russia
Sub Genre: Fusion, Jazz-Rock
Label: R.A.I.G.
Format: CD, digital
Release date: December 30, 2013 (digital), September 9, 2014 (CD)
Tracklist: 

1. Signature 07:01
2. Five Worms 06:02
3. Magnetic Doorway 06:06
4. Fata Morgana 05:50
5. Chronoclasm 07:07
6. Rainy Man 07:54
7. Ritual 08:55
8. 222 04:39

Line-up: 
Andrei Belka (bass, fx)
Stepan Zhzhyonov (guitar, fx)
Alexander Belousov (tenor saxophone)
Roman Oboskalov (drums)

Description/Reviews: 

The debut album by instrumental fusion-rock band Air Canda from Saint-Petersburg. The band drew inspiration from the 70’s British jazz-rock and prog-rock, avant-garde jazz, classical music, modern American experimental rock, and Japanese math-rock to create intricate, dynamic, and elastic instrumental music of their own.

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

Links:
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Limpid Green "The Bush Willie"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Progressive Rock
Release date: December 27, 2013
Tracklist: 

1. The Owl and the Pussycat 04:20
2. Lady Button Eyes Pt. 1 00:40
3. Rockabye Lady From Hushabye Street 04:42
4. The Shut-Eye Train 04:19
5. It's Not Going to Happen Again 01:50
6. Lady Button Eyes Pt. 2 00:30
7. Eight Day Clock 02:47
8. The Dinkybird 04:55
9. The Peeper 04:49
10. The Amfalula Tree 02:43
11. A Man in Our Town 02:10
12. Lady Button Eyes Pt. 3 02:46
13. Blackbird Pie Lullabye 06:22
14. Amen 03:49

Line-up: 
Greg Mathieson - guitars, synths, bass, electronics
Bernard Olson - drums, percussives, synths, electronics
    With
Adrian Praetzellis
Squid Varilekova
Allyson Hester
Ruth Golding
Graham Redman
Laurie Anne Walden

Description/Reviews: 

In the spirit of Syd Barret's Pink Floyd, and his songs such as Mathilda Mother, Flaming and The Scarecrow, and his "Irregular head", Limpid Green presents "The Bush Willie". A colorful collection of fairy stories, nursery rhymes and lullabyes. We bring familiar and unfamiliar nursery rhymes and other poems of old to life, not necessarily as they were intended. 

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (name your price)

Links:
Web page
ProgArchives

Proggnosis

Supay "Señales"

Country: Peru
Sub Genre: Symphonic, Fusion, Prog Folk
Format: CD
Release date: December 2013
Tracklist: 
1. Un Día Vuelve A Empezar (6:28)
2. La Fortaleza De Piedra (5:08)
3. Ancestral (4:00)
4. Alma [nueva versión] (7:09)
5. Señales (8:41)
6. Visión De Eternidad (5:46)
7. Señales (Parte II) (2:44)
8. En El Viento [nueva versión] (5:17)

Line-up: 
Giomar Camino - wind instruments
Luis Medina - bass
Alberto Benites - drums
Luis Proaño - guitars
Gustavo Valverde - keyboards

Media/Samples 
Señales

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Chameleon "Rising"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Progressive Rock
Label: ShroomAngel Records
Release date: December 27, 2013
Tracklist: 
1. Texas Cyclone 9:41
2. Paradise Lost 3:57
3. Pilot Thoughts 7:24
4. Brave New Way  4:08
5. Drool Away  4:36
6. Pass Through the Columbian Mountains 6:43
7. Everyday Everyway 5:56
8. Mirkwood Forest  6:53
9. In the Heart  5:26
10. Saturate 4:49
11. Midnight Matinee 5:29
12. Life Positions 9:26
13. In My Own Way 3:14

Line-up: 
Spencer Clark - Guitars, Lead and Backing Vocals
Craig Gysler - Keyboards, Lead and Backing Vocals
Rick Huey - Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Marty Naul - Drums and Backing Vocals
Mike Huey - Drums

Description/Reviews: 

Beginning in the early 1970’s and continuing until 1980, this relatively unknown band from Houston managed to record a stunning collection of songs that are the musical expression of the word Chameleon. The original recordings from 1972-1979 have been remixed/remastered, transferred to CD and produced by ShroomAngel Records as pure 70's era music. Twisting and turning, changing colors, leaping out of your speakers at times with unbridled ferocity- this band will hold your attention throughout the 70+ minutes contained on this disc. The listener may hear elements of early Genesis, a bit of Camel or Yes, and maybe even some Eloy or Nektar. 

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Entity "Il Falso Centro"

Country: Italy
Sub Genre: Symphonic
Label: Lizard Records/Locanda del Vento
Release date: December 27, 2013
Tracklist: 
1) Davanti allo specchio 4'45
2) Il Desiderio  16'37
3) Il Tempo  8'41
4) Il Trip dell'ego  5'26
5) "ANT"  9'27
6) L'armatura  12'42
7) La Notte oscura dell'anima  5'59

Line-up: 
Sergio Calafiura - vocals
Marco Panzino - drums
Marcello Mulas -guitars
Gigi Longu - bass
Mauro Mulas - keyboards

Description/Reviews: 

Entity is a band from Sardinia, formed in 1994. Now they come back with the masterpiece concept album "Il Falso Centro", the first official CD with a symphonic progressive sound in the vein of EL&P.
7 long tracks ("Il Desiderio" is the longest one with over 16 minutes) for over an hour of dynamic and adventurous (also bombastic) symphonic prog-rock.  A great sarabande of vintage keyboards (Hammond, moog, piano, vintage synths at their best) in excellent prog-rock project.

Media/Samples 
Progstreaming
Promo

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Amphetamin "At The Dawn of Twilight"

Country: France
Sub Genre: Progressive Rock, Post Rock
Release date: December 27, 2013
Tracklist: 
01. Lunae Lumen (5:27)
02. E-rased (5:55)
03. Pain(t)ful Memories (6:42)
04. Wish & Fall (4:52)
05. At The Dawn Of Twilight (13:36)
06. Autumn III (5:26)
07. A Shadow On Me (3:29)

Line-up: 
Sebastian : Vocals, guitar, keyboards & piano
Morgan : Bass
J.B : Drums

Description/Reviews: 

A progressive rock band with a post rock touch.

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (name your price)

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Chordewa "Recast Gear for the Mindcraft Course"

Country: Moldova
Sub Genre: Tech/Extreme, Progressive Metal
Label: Self-released
Release date: December 27, 2013
Tracklist: 
01. Psyche in the Shell
02. Mindcraft Course
03. The Spiral
04. TransScope
05. My Abstract Kinetic
06. Agonist

Line-up: 
Alex «Traumer» — vocals
Denis «Kinzyr» — guitars
Olga «Norreh» — keyboards & piano
Oleg «Tudin» — bass
Constantin «K.D.M.3» — drums

Media/Samples 
Entire album online

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Reaction "Kill The Parasite"

Country: Italy
Sub Genre: Thrash/Progressive Metal, Hard Rock, AOR
Release date: December 25, 2013
Tracklist: 
1. Intro 01:54
2. Behind Your Mask 06:14
3. Betray the Time 05:05
4. Lost 07:14
5. Criminal Pride 05:45
6. Your Flaws 05:26
7. Cage of Freedom 06:43
8. Resistance 03:20
9. Human Race 04:55
10. Kill the Parasite 05:14

Line-up: 
Marco Vicari: Voice & Guitars
Enrico Rusconi: Bass & Second Voice
Jvan Tagliabue: Drums & Percussions

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Divinity Destroyed "Nova"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Progressive Metal
Release date: December 24, 2013
Tracklist: 
1. I Found the Sky - 04:11
2. White Shadows - 03:45
3. Even Heroes Fall - 05:27
4. For Those Left Behind - 04:15
5. Final Stand - 04:22
6. Righteous Fury - 03:38
7. The Sculptor - 04:11
8. The Fear - 04:05
9. It'll All Fall into Place - 03:13
10. Whisper - 05:06

Line-up: 
Mark Ward - Vocals, keys
Tom Ward - Guitar, vocals
Rick Flanegan - Guitar, vocals
Jim Cowen - Bass, vocals
Dan Leonard - Drums

Media/Samples 
Teaser

Links:
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Luis Colucci "Secuencia"

Country: Argentina
Sub Genre: Instrumental Progressive Rock
Label: Viajero Inmovil Records
Release date: December 24, 2013
Tracklist: 
01 - Secuencia 1 - 4:12
02 - Secuencia 2 - 3:38
03 - Secuencia 3 - 4:11
04 - Secuencia 4 - 3:42
05 - Secuencia 5 - 4:40
06 - Secuencia 6 - 4:02
07 - Secuencia 7 - 4:05
08 - Secuencia 8 - 4:03
09 - Secuencia 9 - 4:16
10 - Secuencia 10 - 4:17

Line-up: 
Luis Colucci: Bass, guitars, synths, loops, samples, secuencer and drums programming

Description/Reviews: 

The leader of the renowned Argentine band Tanger has decided to go adventuring on his own with this, his very first solo outing ever and which was conceived and produced entirely in his own home studio. Faithfully and loyally sticking to his own musical motivational guns, he once again submerges himself into the Crimsonian sub-world, albeit without the contribution of the flute this time around. It is now replaced by the sonic presence of additional guitars and keyboards.

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (two tracks online)

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By Sunlight "Penumbra"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Atmospheric, Progressive Pop/Rock
Release date: December 24, 2013
Tracklist: 

1. Prufrock 04:23
2. Chandelier 04:44
3. Apple Tree 03:52
4. Bastion 06:00
5. Gnash & Chime 11:30
6. Isis 03:49
7. Crescent 04:58
8. Penumbra 03:36
9. July 05:08
10. Diamonds 07:42

Line-up: 
Jack Clemens - bass guitar, synthesizer
John O'Connell - drums
Evan Ferro - vocals, guitar, keyboard
Mike Sparks Jr. - vocals, guitar, keyboard
Robert Cheek - guitar, keyboard

   With
Melody Mundy -  Viola, string and horn arrangements
Allison Sharkey -  Cello
Kristen Arnold - Violin
Reylnn Goessling - Violin
Daniel Block - Trombone
Steve Bingen - French Horn
Colin Matthewson - Trumpet

Description/Reviews: 

By Sunlight plays moody, dynamic music made of equal parts shimmer and punch. With chiming guitars, melodic vocals, layered textures, and unconventional rhythms, the band creates music that sounds only like itself.

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Back To R'lyeh "The Awakening/ Last fight of the Primordial"

Country: Spain
Sub Genre: Progressive Metal, Avant Prog, Sludge
Release date: December 23, 2013
Tracklist: 

1. Basil Abscond 06:17
2. Warnings 06:36
3. Massacre & Escape 06:32
4. The Awakening 09:01
5. Ghosts & Vengeance 05:09
6. Erase 03:50
7. Verticalus 00:37
8. Last Fight of the Primordial 05:28
9. The Doorway 04:29
10. Nuclear Warhead 05:51
11. The Triumph of men 03:38

Line-up: 
Adrián Hernández Puente: Guitars
Manuel Novoa Rial: Guitars
Pedro Pérez Andrés: Bass
H. Beckert: Vocals
Ramón Nissen: Drums

Description/Reviews: 

Manically aggressive and wild experimental group. All over the place stylistically from thrash, dark atmospheres and a very sophisticated, intricate and rather quirky progressive style. Great for fans of Mr. Bungle, Katatonia and Mastodon. (progmetalzone.com) 

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (name your price)

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Elegy of Madness "Brave Dreams"

Country: Italy
Sub Genre: Symphonic/Gothic/Progressive Metal
Release date: December 22, 2013
Tracklist: 
1. Suad 05:27
2. Sinner 04:33
3. For You 05:18
4. Run Away 04:13
5. Brave Dreams 04:45
6. Red Dust 04:49
7. Into the Tale 01:42
8. The Sacred Wiillow 05:15
9. Holding Your Hand 04:54
10. 21st March 05:30
11. Uomo 04:06

Line-up: 
Anja Irullo : Voice
Tony Tomasicchio : Guitars and Backing Vocals
Luca Basile : Keyboards , cello and orchestra
Alex Martina : Bass
Lorenzo Chiafele : Drums

Description/Reviews: 

I don't get to do a lot of good female fronted symphonic metal bands these days. That's why when I get an exciting young band like Elegy of Madness I get pretty excited. Their new record Brave Dreams is a powerful and promising record that shows a band filled with energy and potential. With fresh ideas and mighty guitar parts that fill Elegy of Madness with a glorious and triumphant Iron Maiden style of bombast. The band know how to craft tracks that reach out and touch the soul with their unrepentant and crushing heavy metal magic.

Read the full review by at twoguysmetalreviews.com

Media/Samples 
Sinner

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Being "Anthropocene"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Progressive Metal
Release date: December 21, 2013
Tracklist: 
01. Cosmonaut (Misha Mansoor - Periphery) (05:00)
02. DNA (05:20)
03. Mindflay (Brian Wade & Josh Clark - Vestascension) (03:23)
04. Story For A Muse (04:24)
05. A Part, Apart (Brian Kohlhoff - An Obscure Signal) (04:39)
06. Perpetual Groove (07:08)
07. Arcane Academic (Gabriel Riccio - The Gabriel Construct; Travis Orbin; Justin Gosnell - Vestascension) (07:42)
08. Escape (Patrick Purves - Life On Repeat; I.V. & Royal - The Fresh Republic) (06:23)
09. Sorrow (Andy Gruhin) (05:04)
10. Air Atlantic (Spencer Sotelo - Periphery) (04:11)
11. The Singularity - Terrans I (05:54)
12. The Singularity - Cosmists II (Kento Watanabe) (12:27)

Line-up: 
David Furrevig - Guitar, Synth & Programming
Jason Novalis - Drums & Programming
Casprin Haruna - Vocals, Lyrics, Piano & Synth
Will Donnelly (Villains Like You) - Bass

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (tracks 1-3 online)
Air Atlantic (Spencer Sotelo - Periphery)

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Caravan "Paradise Filter"

Country: UK
Sub Genre: Canterbury
Release date: December 21, 2013
Tracklist: 
1. All This Could Be Yours (4:30)
2. I'm On My Way (4:27)
3. Fingers In The Till (4:45)
4. This Is What We Are (4:11)
5. Dead Man Walking (5:59)
6. Farewell My Old Friend (4:07)
7. Pain In The Arse (4:30)
8. Trust Me I Am A Doctor (4:28)
9. I'll Be There For You (6:14)
10. The Paradise Filter (6:42)

Line-up: 
Pye Hastings - Vocals, guitars
Mark Walker - Drums
Jan Schelhaas - Keyboards, backing vocals
Doug Boyle - Lead guitar
Geoffrey Richardson - Viola, banjo,acoustic guitar, backing vocals
Jim Leverton - Bass, backing vocals

Media/Samples
Progstreaming

Links:
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Proggnosis

Superdensecrushloadfactor "One in the Flood"

Country: Australia
Sub Genre: Art Rock, Jazz, Fusion, Pop, Avant Prog
Release date: December 21, 2013
Tracklist: 
1. Stakes (3:28)
2. Inured (5:13)
3. Rituals (3:49)
4. I Feel Happy For My Watch (2:32)
5. To Let it Slide (3:38)
6. Had to Do (4:21)
7. Closed Doors in the Cold (2:53)
8. Falls to Earth (4:11)
9. Tongue Twisted (6:30)
10. Taught What My Name Was (6:10)

Line-up: 
Gabe Buller - guitars, bass, drums and percussion, vocals, mandolin, keyboard

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (name your price)

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Accolade "Legends"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Gothic, Prog Folk
Release date: December 21, 2013
Tracklist: 
1. Gelfling Song - 1:58
2. Elf King - 5:22
3. Hymn to the Moon Goddess - 2:24
4. The Journey - 11:54
5. The Lady of Shalott - 20:55

Line-up: 
Stefanie Reneé: vocals, recorder, tambourine
Aaron Goldstein: organ, keyboards, guitars, mandolin
Cade Burkhammer: drums, percussion

   With
Mark Glisez: trumpet (2,5) , flugelhorn (2)
Nathan Wetter: backing vocals (4)

Description/Reviews: 

Combining the genres of; Gothic, Medieval and Progressive music, it is really a wonderful mixture of the three combined into one from an upcoming band from San Francisco that just completely took me by surprise. Accolade is a trio that launched seven years ago and their music is mysterious, haunting, and hypnotic. Their new album, Legends, released last year, was inspired by their visit to the Chalice Well, also known as Avalon, which is at the foot of the Glastonbury Tor in the countryside of Somerset, England.

And this album is a dedication to the legends of not just King Arthur, but dedicated to the painting of the Lady of Shallot and the poetry by Alfred Lord Tennyson. The history of the place in which they have gathered for tourists to find peace, healing, and inspiration in which the album has a lot of the storytelling in their music based on the medieval tales that is straight out of the 12th century as they go back in time to tell it as short stories that two of the tracks clock in at 11 and 20-minutes almost as if it’s a medieval prog-folk opera that is well structured.

Read the full review by Zachary Nathanson 

Media/Samples 
Elf King
The Lady of Shalott: Part the Second (radio edit)

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Qirsh "Sola Andata"

Country: Italy
Sub Genre: Progressive Rock
Label: Lizard Records
Release date: December 20, 2013
Tracklist: 

1. Artico
2. Mercato Ghardaia
3. Mayflower
4. Figli Del Piccolo Padre
5. 5a, Finestrino
6. Rianimazione
7. Malaria
8. Vento Delle Isole
9. La Nebbia

Line-up: 
Leonardo Digilio - keyboards
Pasquale Aricò - keyboards and vocals
Michele Torello - guitars
Daniele Olia - guitars and vocals

Marco Fazio - drums
Andrea Torello - bass and vocals

Description/Reviews: 

Although each of the 9 pieces has its own style and its own atmosphere , the album has a common thread : the journey.  Trips of exploration (such as " Artic " , dedicated to the mission of zeppelin 'Italy' to the North Pole in 1928 ), real travels made by some members of the group (" Market Ghardaia " tells the story of the old city in the Algerian desert, " Malaria" was inspired by a trip to Indonesia , " Mayflower " gathers American influences , "Wind of the islands " is in the Mediterranean theme and sounds), travels in the history of last decades (the story of the monster of Rostov, who terrorized  Russia in the 80s ), but also trips into the mind and into own fears ( "Reanimation" is a hectic ride in an ambulance , " The mist " is a long wait at the airport .. ) . 

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Thaurorod "Anteinferno"

Country: Finland
Sub Genre: Symphonic/Power/Progressive Metal
Label: Noise Art Records
Release date: December 20, 2013
Tracklist: 
1. Planet X (4:34)
2. Heart Of The Lion (3:31)
3. Overboard (3:55)
4. Far From Home (3:56)
5. Victor (3:39)
6. Marked For Diablo (4:08)
7. For The Rose To The Grave (4:02)
8. Anteinferno (10:04)
9. Path (4:17)
10. Riders Of The Shires (4:59)

Line-up: 
Andi Kravljaca (Aeon Zen, Silent Call) - Vocals
Emil Pohjalainen - Lead guitars
Lasse Nyman - Guitars
Harri Koskela - Keyboards & Piano
Pasi Tanskanen - Bass
Joonas Pykälä-aho - Drums

Description/Reviews: 

Finding the thin line amongst inflammable catchiness within the tunes and an attempt of perfectionist stargazing musicianship, Thaurorod found themselves in a gold mine to nail themselves to, as it shows on their songwriting. The material is insanely melodic, unsurprisingly with a feel of a victorious soul, hefty produced vocal section packed with wonders applying with flashy choruses, moody keyboards, crisp guitar riffery clinging hard on that amazing Euro Metal superiority but leaving behind some of the obviousness that the this direction into a certain extent of instrumental cleverness, and of course a rhythm section that is explosive with talent. 

Read the full review by Lior "Steinmetal" Stein at metal-temple.com

Media/Samples 
Overboard
Heart Of The Lion

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Jason Stallworth "Apocalyptic Dreams"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Instrumental Progressive Metal
Release date: December 18, 2013
Tracklist: 

1. Redemption 3:08
2. End of Days 3:26
3. Facing the Guillotine 4:29
4. Apocalyptic Dreams 3:23
5. Out There 3:38
6. Dark Forces Shall Bow 2:01
7. Mission: Terminate 3:14
8. Legion of the Underworld 3:47
9. As Iron Sharpens Iron 3:59
10. Fire and Ice 3:32
11. The Healing 4:03
12. The Epicist 3:27

Line-up: 
Jason Stallworth - all instruments

Description/Reviews: 

Apocalyptic Dreams is a melodic metal instrumental album with a mix of heavy riffs, fast guitar solos, and melodic rhythms and leads. 

Media/Samples 
As Iron Sharpens Iron
The Epicist
Out There
Facing the Guillotine

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Moonlight Circus "Madness in Mask"

Country: Italy
Sub Genre: Progressive Metal
Label: IceWarrior Records
Release date: December 2013
Tracklist: 
1. Follia 01:24
2. The Duel (Back from the Edge of Time) 04:40
3. Moutains of Madness 05:56
4. Winter Masquerade 08:10
5. Lord of Sands 06:02
6. Twilight Sky (Children of the Rainbow) 05:38
7. Wind of Solitude 09:02
8. Gabriel 11:33

Line-up: 
Emanuele Cendron - Vocals
Paolo Viani - Guitars
Gianluca Tassi - Bass
Daniele Soravia "The Druid" - Keyboards
Salvatore Bonaccorso - Drums

Description/Reviews: 

 The sound of the new album is still clearly tagged by the 90’s Progressive Metal with some weird atmospheres, bombastic arrangements, harmonized choirs and a strong focus on the melodic hooks think HOUSE OF SPIRIT meets late SAVATAGE meets ROUGH SILK and updated with some subtle Neo-Classical influences that reminds me compatriots of ARACHNES.
The short opening track “Follia” and the subsequent cut right after are displaying a strong Romantic & Baroque feel before kicking into a Malmsteenian hi-speed riffage in the legendary RISING FORCE’s “Trilogy”/“Odyssey” fashion, this song is however the sole True Neo Classical tune but I love it , the remaining numbers are less typical, and way more complex or Proggy (“Twilight Sky” & “Wind Of Solitude” are utterly impressive too ). “Mountain Of Madness” brings something still very intense but more intriguing in the contemporary LABYRYNTH powerful way, with fast pace and haunted layers of vocals.
The playing level is really high and the creative ideas are numerous, unfortunately the production is a little in the sub standards of the sound quality of most of their contestants, but anyway the listening experience is still rich and entertaining, most of the time the vocals are very good, and quite a bit theatrical and the duality between the keys and lead shredding guitar parts are spectacular and dynamic. (metal-temple.com)

Media/Samples 
Lord Of Sands

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After the Burial "Wolves Within"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Progressive Metal
Label: Sumerian Records
Release date: December 17, 2013
Tracklist: 
01. Anti-Pattern
02. Of Fearful Men
03. Pennyweight
04. Disconnect
05. Nine Summers
06. Virga
07. Neo Seoul
08. Parise
09. A Wolf Amongst Ravens

Line-up: 
Justin Lowe - Guitar
Dan Carle - Drums
Anthony Notarmaso - Vocals
Lee Foral - Bass
Trent Hafdahl - Guitar

Description/Reviews: 

The genius of “Wolves Within” lies in the fact that After The Burial did little to make it a ground-breaking, genre-bending experience. “Wolves Within” is as good as a record, that is not following a strict context or concept, can get. There is a flow between the tracks, which simply refuses to follow the treaded path. Leaning heavily on the sound template created for “Rareform” ATB traverse down the play-time with a collection of 9 tracks that range from heavy, melodic, up-tempo with a side of minor complaints here and there.

Read the full review at thecirclepit.com

Media/Samples 
Entire album online

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Artús "Artús"

Country: France
Sub Genre: Avant-Prog
Label: Pagans
Release date: December 16, 2013
Tracklist: 
1. Intro (1:48)
2. Lo drac deu Retjons (5:25)
3. Los negats de Bròcars (3:57)
4. Lo sordat de Wellington (5:46)
5. Lo martoli (4:32)
6. La corona de las duas nòvias (4:10)
7. Lo calici de cristau (7:38)
8. L'avesque d'Argelosa (4:30)
9. Lo plumion negre (7:43)
10. Lo civalèir gascon (5:14)
11. Lo tuat de Labrit (4:40)

Line-up: 
Pairbon (Roman Colautti) : baritone guitar
Roman Baudoin : hurdy gurdy (sonsaina altò)
Matèu Baudoin : vocals, vriulon, tambourin
Tomàs Baudoin : vocals, bagpipes (boha), Dark Energy
Shape2 (Nicolas Godin) : drums
   With
Loubère & Isabelle Feuillebois : voice

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

Links:
Web page
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ProgArchives

Billy Bottle & The Multiple "Unrecorded Beam"

Country: UK
Sub Genre: Canterbury, Jazz, Folk
Label: Leo Records
Release date: December 16, 2013
Tracklist: 

1. Within The Circuit Of This Plodding Life 01:39
2. Winter Memories 05:56
3. The Vessel 10:34
4. Inward Morning 01:52
5. O Nature 05:45
6. Outward Morning 08:23
7. Fog 07:27
8. Mere Smoke Of Opinion 02:58
9. Men Say They Know Many Things 03:33

Line-up: 
Billy Bottle - keyboards, vocals
Martine Waltier - vocals, violin
Vivien Goodwin-Darke - flute
Angus Menter - trombone
Roz Harding - sax
Mike Outram - bass guitar
     With
Kate Westbrook
Jay Darlington (Kula Shaker) - organ
Markus Reuter - touch guitar

Description/Reviews: 

Band leader, multi-instrumentalist and pianist for Mike Westbrook's Big Band, Billy blends a hint of Canterbury-scene with jazz and folk, bringing forth his new offering, Unrecorded Beam.
This mini-epic concept album, set to the poetry of American Transcendentalist, Henry David Thoreau, connotes nostalgia and whimsy, whilst pushing the experimental/free-improvisational boundaries; warranting its release with the longstanding avant-garde label, Leo Records. Produced by Lee Fletcher of Unsung Productions, Unrecorded Beam has been adorned with Fletcher's distinctive approach, creating an enchanting and ethereal soundscape - suitably complimenting Thoreau's evocative landscape. 

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

Links:
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Proggnosis

Chaos "Tecnica mista"

Country: Italy
Sub Genre: Jazz, Psychedelic, Ambient
Label: Lizard Records
Release date: December 16, 2013
Tracklist: 

1. I
2. II
3. III
4. IV
5. V
6. VI
7. VII
8. VIII
9. IX
10. X
11. XI

Line-up: 
Andrea Battaglion (electric guitar, e-bow)
Gabriele Bruzzolo (acoustic percussions, samples, laptop, electronics effects)
Paolo Lazazzara (percussions, duduk, navajo flute, selije flute, whistles, hulu-si, voice)
Andrea Oddone Martin (soprano sax, EWI)
Michele Palmieri (electric guitar, 5 strings electric bass)
Joachim Thomas (keyboards, I-Phone, effects)
Stefano Bruzzolo (live mixing, effects)

Description/Reviews: 

A visionary psych-jazz-ethno-ambient trip of 45 minutes.
The fourth records for Chaos, a collective from Treviso (near Venice), is a snapshot camera where music is like a ritual to accompany the paintings of Master Gianni Ambrogio, recorded in the performance of 29th October 2011.
Sounds close to the Fourth World of Jon Hassel, the ethno-jazz of Aktuala, to the ritualistic Embryo. to the mystical Third Ear Band, in a unique creative flow

Media/Samples
Progstreaming

Lunarmare "Lunarmare"

Country: Greece
Sub Genre: Psychedelic, Space Rock
Label: Self-released
Release date: December 16, 2013
Tracklist: 
01. Trans Lunar Injection (Part I) 02:47
02. Bullet 05:36
03. Trans Lunar Injection (Part II) 01:34
04. Rings Of Saturn 07:35
05. Forget & Forgive 06:14
06. Trans Lunar Injection (Part III) 01:12
07. Pale Blue Dot 07:31
08. Answer 05:58
09. Trans Lunar Injection (Part -) 02:01
10. Overthought 07:07

Line-up: 
Helium - Guitar
Trompetium - Drums
Stelorgium - Bass
Georgenousium - Keys

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

Links:
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AlanG "Around Us"

Country: France
Sub Genre: Progressive Rock
Label: Musea
Release date: December 16, 2013
Tracklist: 

1. Around Us - 4:44 
2. Salty and Very Tasty - 5:19 
3. Man With Hope - 4:03 
4. Vertigo - 2:55 
5. Barcelona - 4:40 
6. Indian Project - 6:51 
7. August 63 - 5:56 
8. The Flight of the Butterfly - 2:57 
9. Through Your Eyes - 5:14 
10. The Waiting Room - 4:56 
11. Your Smile Around the World - 5:03 
12. Back to Home - 6:03 

Line-up: 
Alain Grivel

Media/Samples 
Around Us
Progstreaming

Kauan "Pirut"

Country: Russia
Sub Genre: Post Rock, Doom
Label: Blood Music
Release date: December 15, 2013
Tracklist: 
1. Pirut

Line-up: 
Anton Belov - Guitars, Vocals, Keyboards, Programming
Alex Vynogradoff - Bass, Vocals (backing)
Anton Skrynnik - Drums
Alina Roberts - Keyboards, Vocals (backing)
Anatoly Gavrilov - Viola

Description/Reviews: 

"Pirut" [translating as "Devils"] showcases a single 39-minute long track, twisting the band's traditional melancholic post-rock beauty into something much more sinister and operatic. The funeral doom "opera" showcases a much angrier side to the band, as well as featuring the unit as a full five-piece collective, shedding its incarnation as a studio-only project.

 The band continues in its challenging tradition of singing exclusively in poetic Finnish, the only known non-native-speaking band outside of Finland to attempt lyrics in the unique Nordic language, one of the most complex in the world.

Media/Samples 
Pirut (part I)

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Proggnosis

The Winter Tree "Twilight of the Magicians"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Symphonic, Neo-Prog
Release date: December 15, 2013
Tracklist: 
1 The Lemurians - 2:32
2 Dolphin - 3:14
3 Twilight of the Magicians - 6:05
4 Angels and Demons - 5:04
5 Cosmic Sea - 7:34
6 The Last Morning - 2:38
7 Sinking Island! - 6:00
8 A New Atlantis - 3:25
9 Lightworker - 5:34

Line-up: 
Andrew Laitres

Description/Reviews: 

It is a mostly instrumental affair performed by Andrew Laitres with help from several guests artists. The nine songs on "Twilight of the Magicians" were inspired by the late Rudolf Steiner's writings about the lost continent of Atlantis and ist history. 

Links:
Web page
ProgArchives
Proggnosis

Valerinne "Arborescent"

Country: Romania
Sub Genre: Instrumental Post Rock/Metal, Math Rock
Release date: December 14, 2013
Tracklist: 

1. Golden Hour/Blue Hour 12:58
2. Étoile de Mer 11:31
3. The Only Ghost I Ever Saw 04:42
4. Hysterema 12:49
5. Atonement 12:04

Line-up: 
Alexandru Daș - Guitars, Soundscapes
Liviu Stoicescu - Bass
Mircea Smarandache - Drums

Description/Reviews: 

In this new release the band largely continues its original approach to Math Rock with multiple guitar layers, rendering a spacey but introspective sound. This time around the band takes some risks, experimenting with more diverse time signatures and more demanding moments to the listener. Still there is space to try a radio-friendly single for a first time, which coming from an instrumental band is unlikely the become a success, but it sounds quite good nontheless.

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Clad in Darkness "Decathect"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Black Metal, Post Rock/Metal
Release date: December 14, 2013
Tracklist: 

1. Foreword 09:18
2. Revelries & Silence 07:20
3. Nepenthe 13:14
4. Undulations 08:50
5. Deluge 08:01
6. Forestall 06:02
7. Unrest 16:38

Line-up: 
Brian Rendina - Drums & Guitar
Casey Hogan - Voice
Chris Shive - Bass
Coy Scottberg - Guitar, Voice & Lyrics
John Benter - Guitar
   With

Carter Page and Jon Rosenthal - Additional clean voice and guitar on Undulations

Description/Reviews: 

The album featured raw production and some of the standard black metal fare, but also included progressive passages that switched up to prettier moods. In a sense coming off as sort of “Emperor meets Opeth and Agalloch” sound with a hint of Kayo Dot to taste. Often throwing in dreamy, clean passages and bluesy solo work which kept things from ever feeling particularly monotonous.   In their full length Decathect, they continue and expand upon these ideas. Throwing in more wandering post rock and enhancing the entire package with cleaner production.

Read the full review by Oslo Redgrave at egmnow.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

Links:
Web page
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LodeStar Dynasty "A Djentle Christmas"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Progressive Rock/Metal
Release date: December 13, 2013
Tracklist: 

1. The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year 03:35
2. Djentle Bells 03:43
3. Dreaming 02:50
4. Our Finest Gifts 04:48
5. Sugar Plum Groove 04:07
6. Jingle Bell Djent 04:04
7. Have Yourself A Djenty Little Christmas 02:13
8. Santa Baby 02:19
9. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town 02:10
10. Silver Bells 03:57
11. Home for Christmas 02:55
12. Chestnuts Roasting 03:37
13. Rendezvous 01:23
14. Blurry Moon 05:03
15. Breaker 04:15
16. Abstract 03:41
17. Gateway Drug 04:18
18. Once 04:56
19. Element Of Treachery 02:44
20. Nomad 04:01
21. Tears & Mistakes 05:02
22. Navigation 05:02
23. Transient 05:21
24. Dream Again 03:47
25. Under The Sun 04:01

Line-up: 
Ryan Geoffrey Martin - all instruments, programming

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

Links:
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Theater of the Absurd "The Myth of Sisyphus"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Tech/Extreme, Progressive Metal, Avant Prog
Label: Graviton Music Services
Release date: December 13, 2013
Tracklist: 
  1. False Idols 6:11
  2. The Lesser Gods 8:35
  3. Trade Winds 8:15
  4. Rising Tides in Still Water 7:41
  5. For Nostalgia's Burden, Part I: Our Quiet Fears 7:07
  6. For Nostalgia's Burden, Part II: In My Time of Solace 6:43
  7. Black Wind from Mr. Takamine (Pat's Nap) 1:27
  8. Changing Direction 6:36

Line-up: 
Mike Neumeister: Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Bass
Patrick Curley: Drums, Extreme Vocals
Chandler Mogel: Vocals
Christopher Curley: Mellotron
   With
Tor Morten Kjosnes: Acoustic Grand Piano, Keyboards
Kjersti Kveli: Vocals

Media/Samples 
Trailer

Links:
Web page
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ProgArchives