Steve Bonino "Peace Rocks"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Progressive Rock, Psychedelic, Prog-pop
Release date: December 21, 2012 (digital), January 31, 2013 (CD)
Tracklist: 
1. Peace March 1:28
2. Wake Up Call 2:52
3. Godsexmoney 3:17
4. Construction 4:39
5. Personal Revolution 4:37
6. Dyin for Love 3:26
7. Rose Colored Glasses 1:12
8. Big Brother 3:26
9. True North 3:45
10. Will the World Mourn? 2:55
11. Paradise Lost 2:24
12. Peace, Love, Truth and Understanding 3:19

Line-up: 
Steve Bonino: Vocals (all), Bass (all except 1), Electric and Acoustic Guitars (all), Keyboards (2,4,5,10,12), Drum Programming (12)
Pascale Elia: Vocals (5,6)
Greg Hilfman: Keyboards and piano solo (4)
Jimmy Keegan:  Drums (1,2,5,6,8,9,11), Vocals (1,5,6,11), Keyboards (1,8)
Mike Lewis:   Drums (3,4,10)
Dave Meros:   Bass (1)
Ryo Okumoto:  Keyboards and Keyboard Solo (5)
Matt Waldrum: Electric Guitar (8)

Description/Reviews: 

Steve Bonino's debut album is an edgy prog rock, psychedelic pop tour de force. Featuring contributions by Jimmy Keegan, Dave Meros and Ryo Okumoto of Spock's Beard, this is a thinking man's ode to peace.

Media/Samples 
Peace March/ Wake Up Call

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Sphin'x "Sphin'x"

Country: France
Sub Genre: Eclectic, Electronica, Progressive Rock
Label: Musea
Release date: January, 2013
Tracklist: 
1 - Sphin'X In The Haze - (5'11)
2 - What Is My Sin ? - (4'10)
3 - Gone Away - (6'32)
4 - Old John And The Young Black Lady - (5'53)
5 - Feel My Soul - (5'22)
6 - Feel My Surrender - (1'14)
7 - No Surrender - (4'28)
8 - Guitar Heroes, Where Have You Gone ? - (5'27)
9 - Mother And Child - (5'14)
10 - Bubbles - (6'35)

Line-up: 
Roland Gassin : lead vocals, harmonizer, guitars, talkbox, guitar loops, effects, programmation
Simon Mourard : keyboards, effects
Romuald Laur  : bass
Daniel Corticchiato : drums

Description/Reviews: 

After a first album ("Electrode") published by Great Winds label / Musea in the year 2008, the singer-guitarist Roland Gassin comes with the project Sphin'x. The band offers music on the border of rock, pop, electro and progressive rock and navigates well between vintage and modern sound. It draws its musical influences in the past four decades, with bands like Pink Floyd, The Who, Tears For Fears, Simple Minds, Porcupine Tree and Phoenix ... It is also necessary to add a "fifth element" - electro programming, present both in studio and concert. The titles are sung in English, they address various topics, such as human relations, underworld, disillusionment, or finding out what have happened to "guitar heroes": an important issue ... Isn't it?

Media/Samples 
Gone Away

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Samuel Andreyev "The Tubular West"

Country: France
Sub Genre: Art Rock, Avant Prog
Label: Torpor Vigil Records
Release date: January 31, 2013
Tracklist: 
1.Shoebox Shuffle A 00:35
2.Pluto's Matches 03:28
3.Songs Take Splitting 1 01:43
4.Mind the Bend 05:01
5.Shoebox Shuffle B 00:30
6.The Tubular West 02:51
7.Half-Dream 03:39
8.Songs Take Splitting 2 01:08
9.Over By the Mantle 04:56
10.Shoebox Shuffle C 00:38
11.Salesmen Without Pictures 05:58
12.Winter in Århus 02:47
13.Bendings 03:55
14.Shoebox Shuffle D 00:22
15.Onwards and Upwards 05:52
16.Songs Take Splitting 3 01:24
17.Rose Window 05:30
18.Morning Flexion 01:46

Line-up: 
Samuel Andreyev
Ayako Okubo
Olivier Maurel
Léo Maurel
     with
Chris Swithinbank, Winnie Huang, Joshua Hyde, Andrea Agostini and Nicolas Dufournet

Description/Reviews: 

Samuel Andreyev’s new album The Tubular West is the culmination of eighteen years of “musical adventure”—a description given by Van Dyke Parks to Andreyev’s 2000 recording Swollows, but which could suitably apply to his entire output, from inventive solo song cycles recorded in living rooms and garages, to avant-garde modern classical compositions commissioned and performed by some of Europe’s most acclaimed ensembles. With The Tubular West, Andreyev reasserts his unique pop sensibility without compromising any of the qualities that have established him as one of the world’s most significant young composers. In fact, this distinctive new recording lies at the intersection of the two main paths of his musical career. 

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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John Zorn "Filmworks XXV - City Of Slaughter/Schmatta/Beyond The Infinite"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Jazz-Rock/Fusion, Experimental, Avant Prog
Label: Tzadik
Release date: January, 2013
Tracklist: 
1. The End of Tradition
2. The Oath
3. Modernity
4. Island/Ghetto
5. New Choices
6. Revolution
7. New Currents
8. Loss
9. Hopes and Dreams
10. The Bund
11. City of Slaughter
12. Anti-Semitism/Pogrom
13. Pale of Settlement
14. Requiem
15. Schmatta
16. Pins And Needles
17. Collapse
18. Hanging by aThread
Bonus Track
19. Beyond the Infinite

Line-up: 
Rob Burger: Piano
John Zorn: Piano
Omri Mor: Piano

Description/Reviews: 

The first FilmWorks CD in almost three years (and perhaps the very last in the series) features three radically different musics for solo piano. Commissioned to create music for video installations in Moscow’s Museum of Jewish History, Zorn has responded with a poignant Jewish-tinged score performed here by the virtuosic Israeli pianist Omri Mor. Also included is Rob Burger’s beautiful solo piano performance of Zorn’s landmark composition Beyond the Infinite (from The Goddess) and four rare film cues improvised by Zorn himself for Marc Levin’s documentary Schmatta. An intimate and varied collection of music for solo piano.

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Midryasi "Black, Blue and Violet"

Country: Italy
Sub Genre: Psychedelic, Hard Rock, Doom
Label: My Graveyard Productions
Release date: January 31, 2013
Tracklist: 

1. The Counterflow
2. Diagonal
3. Behind my Eyes
4. Back in the Maze
5. Black, Blue & Violet
6. The Nuclear Dog
7. Hole of the Saturday Night

Line-up: 
Convulsion (Throat)
Paul P. (Guitars)
Umberto (Keys)
Sappah (Drums)

Description/Reviews: 

One of the most appreciated underground bands of the Italian psych-stoner-doom scene, is about to release their new album, the third one. Black Sabbath, Hawkwind, Celtic Frost, Pentagram... Midryasi's most amazing feature is the skill to sound like all of these bands and none of them at the same time and to mix doomy, psychedelic and extreme influences without any fall of coherence nor personality.

In a time when so many bands are rediscovering the sounds and atmosphere of the 70′s heavy and rock vibes, creating an authentic revival of the genre, Midryasi turn over on themselves to produce an album that – while making full use of their handful of influences – is (if possible!) even more varied and personal than the previous ones.
Heavy and dark, psychotic and soft, Black, Blue and Violet is like a sombre and glossy brick left in the hands of the listener. The colors evoked by the seven songs that make up the album are black, blue and violet. Black, as night and the visions evoked by Hole of the Saturday Night; Blue, as the violent fluid feelings of The Counterflow and violet, as the reflections and flares captured by Diagonal.
Once again Midryasi give birth to an album that draws heavily on their Sabbath sources of inspiration, but at the same time does not sound exactly like any of them, giving rise to a new multicolored creature of the crazy saga begun 10 years ago.

Media/Samples 
Diagonal

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Maurizio Guarini "Creatures from a Drawer"

Country: Italy
Sub Genre: Eclectic
Release date: January 31, 2013
Tracklist: 
1 - Dialogue (5:50)
2 - Gentle Robbery (6:15)
3 - Solar Channel (5:02)
4 - Aniens Comma 21 (5:06)
5 - So Dark (2:05)
6 - Black Dog (4:55)
7 - Beside the Cathedral (4:37)
8 - Looking Around (7:08)
9 - Magic Tunnel (4:53)
10 - Lost my Camera (4:14)

Line-up: 
Maurizio Guarini - keybords, bass (1,3,8), percussion (1,8,10), melodica (7)
Great Bob Scott - drums (4,6,10)
Cinzia Cavalieri - vocals (6,10)
Marcello Cuirleo  - drums (2)
Matt Campbell - guitar (2,6,10)
Chris Gartner - bass (6)
Brandi Disterheft - acoustic bass (4,10)
Bryant Didier - bass, vocals (2)

Description/Reviews: 

Maurizio is mostly known to be part of Goblin, Italian band renowned over the world mainly for their film scores that are a reference for Progressive Rock genre.
Maurizio's sound is a unique mark in legendary film score production, like 70ies and 80ies most acclaimed horror movies, where he performed leaving his unmistakable signature.
The album includes several "flavours", prog, jazz and electronic. Influences from bands like Gentle Giant and Weather Report are clearly recognizable, and compositions are often dressed with a bit of math.

Media/Samples 
Samples at album's web page

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Pomegranate Tiger "Entities"

Country: Canada
Sub Genre: Instrumental Experimental Progressive Metal
Release date: January 31, 2013
Tracklist: 
1. Gift of Tongues - 1:25
2. Maxims - 5:06
3. Stars - 5:19
4. Drifting - 2:45
5. New Breed - 10:40
6. Mountains in the Sky - 6:25
7. Not to See the Sun - 6:27
8. Ocean - I. White Ship - 2:31
9. Ocean - II. Maelstrom - 4:07
10. Ocean - III. The Golden Portal - 5:12
11. Sign of Ruin -11:32
12. Regenesis - 4:42

Line-up: 
Martin Andres - Lead Guitar
Matt Shaheen - Guitar
Keith Wilkinson - Bass
Phil Gatti - Drums

Description/Reviews: 

Pomegranate Tiger are a Canadian progressive metal band with a very unique name. With their debut album Entities they have carved a similarly unique place in a genre currently dominated by djent, a scene some time accused of being saturated and full of clones that, despite being in a supposed sub-genre of progressive metal, lack progressiveness. Speculation and controversy aside, there is no doubt in my mind that this album represents an already very mature band with their own sound. A sound which, for starters, lacks the modern musical clichés of progressive metal and djent in particular.

Read the whole review by Nick Povey at itdjents.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Zletovsko "Zletovsko"

Country: Japan
Sub Genre: Avant Prog, Zeuhl
Label: Zelot
Release date: January 30, 2013
Tracklist: 
1. Thrush  3:49
2. Rat & Dragon  6:04
3. Gepek 3:52
4. Improv: Prelude 8:00
5. The Golden Apples of the Sun, Pt. 1 5:00
6. Improv:Interlude  6:27
7. The Golden Apples of the Sun, Pt. 2 5:28
8. Zelot  4:03
9. Bikuni  6:55
10. Camel Clutch 3:13

Line-up: 
Isao Horikoshi - Keyboards, Voice
Shigekazu Kuwahara (Pochakaite Malko, Koenji Hyakkei) - Bass, Voice
Tatsuya Yoshida (Ruins) - Drums, Voice
Kei Fushimi - Guitar

Description/Reviews: 

Long awaited, Zletovsko's first album is based on live recording, added a lot of over dubbing and editing like a Frank Zappa's style. As a result, there is a lot of groove, high-energy music but also sophisticated arrange. Zletovsko’s music style are influenced by classic progressive rock group, such as "This Heat", "U.K.", "Frank Zappa", "Camel", "Gentle Giant", and "Magma". It also has an element of Zeuhl, sophisticated improvisations, and spirits of Rock. There are a lot of irregular time structures and moog sounds, but also their music composed by Horikoshi and Kuwahara are catchy and unique. 

 Also read the review by Dave Lynch at allmusic.com

Media/Samples 
Preview

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AnnaMy "Woodpecker"

Country: Sweden
Sub Genre: Psychedelic, Prog Folk
Label: Subliminal Sounds
Release date: January 30, 2013
Tracklist: 
1. Snowflakes 03:50
2. Care            04:36
3. Stegen         05:15
4. Woodpecker 06:32
5. Dig My Grave 03:14
6. Come and Sit 04:27
7. Lovely Words 04:47
8. Too Fast Too Far Too Fun 05:21

Line-up: 
Lead vocals and acoustic guitar: Anna Myrsten
Backing vocals: Caisa Ami Saxerbo Sjöberg
Percussion and backing vocals: Mattias Gustavsson
Cello: Simon Hedelin
Flute: Erik Lundin
Electric guitar: Reine Fiske
Piano, organ and drums: David Svedmyr
Bass: Alexis Benson

Description/Reviews: 

Spellbinding debut album of Swedish femme psych-folk-rock delight. Top notch song writing and stellar musicianship in a style reminiscent of the masters of the early 1970s; (like Fairport Convention, Pentangle, Mellow Candle, Trees, Comus, Vasthi Bunyan, CSN, Linda Perhacs and others). But yet AnnaMy performs in an unmistakable style all of her own that is both fully rooted in the now and timeless, and ultimately leaves any comparison futile. Full electric band setting with guitars, bass, organ, flute, cello, drums and percussion with Annas crystalline and heartfelt voice soaring on top. Electric guitar duties handled by the grand wizard of the craft; Reine Fiske. The AnnaMy band also consist of musicians from The Amazing, Dungen, Life on Earth!, Lisa o Piu, Anna Järvinen and many more. Every song on her debut album ‘Woodpecker’ came to Anna when she listened to her deepest feelings and each song has its own story. What kind of feelings they might be are up to listeners to feel for themselves.

Media/Samples 
Stegen

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Plastic Violins Of Darkness "Plastic Violins Of Darkness"

Country: Germany
Sub Genre: Instrumental Space Rock
Release date: January 30, 2013
Tracklist: 
1.Oculus non vidit, nec auris audivit 13:50
2.Triskaidekaphobia 13:22
3.Götterspeisedämmerung 12:17
4.Eigenwelt 21:18

Line-up: 
Marc-André Mahn - guitar and programming

Description/Reviews: 

Plastic Violins of Darkness is a one-man army from Leipzig with a self-released debut of atmospheric, stoner infused space rock that, though dark and heavy, escapes gravity and any hints of oppressiveness with a wide-open vista of sounds. Taking leads from 90s electronic ambient and post-industrial music, PVOD also tips its hat to metal without relying on the repetitive riff. Cuts like the cascading Triskaidekaphobia offer up the requisite grind, but going for the patient slow-burn gives PVOD a good dose of enigmatic expanse that keeps it free-floating without taking away from the heft. Full of texture and ‘unavoidable artificial aspects,’ PVOD keeps the journey moving forward and swinging wide without meandering into mopey formlessness. With flight times between 12 and 20+ minutes, it would be easy to veer off into the void and lose your way—and there is much in PVOD to make you feel unanchored and untethered—but our pilot keeps purpose in mind as the tracts of space go by. All build and elongate, some slowly whiplashing back into themselves with a rubbery and fat thickness that gives the listener maximum chewing satisfaction. (mratavist.wordpress.com)

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (Free Download)

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Miserium "Return To Grace"

Country: Hungary
Sub Genre: Progressive Metal
Release date: January 30, 2013
Tracklist: 
01. The Veiled Tale
02. Outer Space System Sequencer (Industrial Intermezzo)
03. All Lights Out (in Celestial Spheres)
04. Star Curtain
05. Imagination Destroyed
06. Cobalt Clouds Approaching
07. Insubordinate (Golden Ashes)
08. Music Box
09. Out of Reach
10. Nebula Helix (dedicated to Daniel Gildenlöw)
11. The Wanderer
     bonus tracks:
12. Dreamtide
13. Wayfaring Stranger
X. Insubordinate

Line-up: 
Iványi Álmos - guitar, vocals, samplers
Renge Zsolt - bass
Tóth Péter - drums
Tari Szabolcs - vocals, guitar

Description/Reviews: 

They are playing progressive metal with hint of dark atmosphere, a touch of Gothenburg death metal riffing, some tainted with hard rock, funky, baroque and reggae influences - all there to create a diverse, unique musical landscape and strong support of their lyrics.

Media/Samples 
Entire album online

Links:
Web page (album is offered as free download for 2 weeks)
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James Van Cleaf "The Soul Imprisoned"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Instrumental Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal
Release date: January 11, 2013
Tracklist: 
1.The Soul Imprisoned 02:11
2.In The Zone 01:59
3.Momentary Freedom 03:14
4.Maniac 04:40
5.Delusions Of Grandeur 06:18
6.Neurosis 03:07
7.Manhattan 03:33
8.Interlude 02:42
9.Candle 03:19
10.Irretrievable 03:33
11.Liberation (pt. I) 03:25
12.Liberation (pt. II) 04:27

Line-up: 
James Van Cleaf - all instruments

Description/Reviews: 

Symphonic in nature, this is an instrumental prog album first and a metal album second. With plenty of synth, warm and clean guitar tones and some middle-eastern themes, it’s difficult to believe that this was written by a minor and not someone’s reclusive uncle.

Read the whole review at copasetix.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Semantic Saturation "Solipsistic"

Country: Canada
Sub Genre: Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock
Release date: January 21, 2013
Tracklist: 
1.Ambivalence 06:33
2.Make Believe 05:06
3.Lost and Found: Insanity 05:26
4.Stardust 06:49
5.Blessing in Disguise 04:48
6.Armchair Activist 04:10
7.Point of Singularity 03:50
8.Time is an Illusion 05:43
9.What if We All Stop 08:44

Line-up: 
Shant Hagopian (guitars)
     featuring:
Virgil Donati (ex-Planet X - drums)
Ric Fierabracci (bass)
     special guests:
Derek Sherinian (ex-Dream Theater, Planet X - keyboards)
Andy Kuntz (Vanden Plas - vocals)

Description/Reviews: 

...The solipsistic universe can be divided into two parts: the part controlled by our conscious mind and the part controlled by our unconscious mind. Shant Hagopian is able to combine these two parts dangerously; he understands and respects the fact that music is art, and as art, it should be fun and catchy, many instrumental progressive bands have overlooked this for many years, focusing on technique and speed. Music is not a competition about who is the fastest, my friends; music is emotion, and that’s something that overflows in this album. A definitive must have for those who love instrumental prog metal, perfectly digestible food for not lovers.

Read the whole review by Rocio Flores Bedoya at  ladyobscure.com/

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Il Sogno del Marinaio "La Busta Gialla"

Country: Multinational
Sub Genre: Jazz-Rock/Fusion
Label: Clenchedwrench
Release date: January 29, 2013
Tracklist: 
  1. zoom 8:12
  2. partisan song 3:19
  3. the tiger princess 5:00
  4. funanori jig 5:52
  5. il guardiano del faro 5:01
  6. joyfuzz 2:59
  7. messed-up machine 7:05
  8. punkinhead ahoy! 3:33

Line-up: 
Mike Watt - bass, spiel (3)
Stefano Pilia - guitars
Andrea Belfi - drums, voice (1,6), harmonica (1), keyboards (1), percussion (4), glockenspiel (6), piano (6)
     with
Claudio Rocchetti: electronics (7)
Massimo Carozzi: synthesizer (7)
Andrea Caprara: tenor sax (2,6)
Jacopo Andreini: alto sax (2,6)
Manuel Giannini: voice (5)
Giuliano "Giuss" Cobelli: trumpet (2)

Description/Reviews: 

...La Busta Gialla makes for a rickety listen, teetering, as it does, between tautly composed prog and loosely formed grooves that seem to fall apart as they totter along... 

Read the whole review by Paul Thompson at pitchfork.com

Media/Samples 
Partisan Song/Funanori Jig/Punkinhed Ahoy!

Links:
Mike Watt's web page
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Oblivion Sun "The High Places"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Symphonic
Label: Prophase Music
Release date: January 29, 2012
Tracklist: 
1) Deckard (6.35)
2) March Of The Mushroom Men (3.38)
3) Everything (2.39)
4) Dead Sea Squirrels (6.35)
5) The High Places (22.22)
a) My Eyes
b) Awakening
c) Flowers
d) The Rules
e) The Cage
f) Our Eyes

Line-up: 
Stanley Whitaker / vocals, guitars
Frank Wyatt / keyboards, saxophones
David Hughes / bass guitar
Bill B Brasso / drums

Description/Reviews: 

Oblivion Sun proudly presents the much anticipated release of “The High Places”, featuring founding members of progressive rock’s legendary Happy the Man. The band’s second offering is loaded with complex and daring musical twists, along with lush symphonic dimensions and tightly crafted vocals. 

Media/Samples:
Progstreaming.com

Links:
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My Soliloquy "The Interpreter"

Country: UK
Sub Genre: Progressive Metal
Label: Sensory Records
Release date: January 29, 2013
Tracklist: 

1. Ascension Pending
2. Flash Point
3. Corrosive De-Emphasis
4. Fractured
5. Six Seconds Grace
6. Dream In Extremis
7. Inner Circles
8. Star

Line-up: 
Pete Morten (guitarist of Threshold) - vocals and all instruments except drums

Damon Roots - drums

Description/Reviews: 

“The essence of My Soliloquy is pure forward-thinking metal – symphonic keyboards, shredding guitar leads, soaring vocals – all finely woven together through a blend of intricacy and melody into a powerful force fans of Threshold, Dream Theater and Curcus Maximus will flock to.

Media/Samples 
Trailer

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Curtis Hasselbring "Number Stations"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Jazz-Rock/Fusion
Label: Cuneiform Records
Release date: January 29, 2013
Tracklist: 
1 - First Bus To Bismarck
2 - Tux Is Traitor
3 - Make Anchor Babies
4 - Green Dress, Maryland Welcome Center, 95 NB
5 - It's Not A Bunny
6 - Stereo Jack's Bluegrass J's
7 - Avoid Sprinter
8 - 37В° 56' 39'' by 111В° 32

Line-up: 
Curtis Hasselbring (trombone, guitar)
Chris Speed (tenor saxophone and clarinet)
Trevor Dunn (basses)
Ches Smith (drums)
Mary Halvorson (guitar)
Matt Moran (vibraphone)
Satoshi Takeishi (drums, persucssion)

Description/Reviews: 

Curtis Hasselbring’s new album, Number Stations, is inspired by mysterious shortwave radio stations that seem to exist for the purpose of providing foreign agents from a variety of countries coded information.  In a similar way, Hasselbring’s music provides the musicians in this all-star ensemble information regarding their alliances, covert missions and espionage activities via composed music and improvisational stratagems. Fueled by the dual drumming of Ches Smith and Satoshi Takeishi, Hasselbring’s music is highly propulsive while at the same time maintaining elements of dark humor, ambient spaciousness and highly choreographed ensemble playing.

Media/Samples 
Green Dress, Maryland Welcome Center, 95 NB

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Thieves' Kitchen "One For Sorrow, Two For Joy"

Country: UK/Sweden
Sub Genre: Symphonic, Canterbury, Eclectic
Label: Self-released
Release date: January 29, 2013
Tracklist: 

1. One for Sorrow, Two for Joy (0:16)
2. Deor (7:51)
3. Hypatia (8:56)
4. A Fool’s Journey (8:19)
5. Germander Speedwell (14:32)
6. The Weaver (4:33)
7. Of Sparks and Spires (12:49)

Line-up: 
Amy Darby (Vocals)
Phil Mercy (Guitars)
Thomas Johnson (Keyboards, ex-Anglagard)

guests:
Paul Mallyon (Drums, Sanguine Hum)
Brad Waissman (Bass, Sanguine Hum)
Anna Holmgren (Flute, Anglagard)

Description/Reviews: 

The fifth and latest album. Whilst retaining the melancholic textures and dynamics of The Water Road, the album expands compositionally with intricacy, melody, and emotion to the fore.

Media/Samples
Bandcamp

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The Residents "Mush-Room: Music from the Need Company Performance"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Experimental, Avant Prog
Release date: January 29, 2013
Tracklist: 
1 Mush Room 10:43
2 Musical Chairs in 3/4 02:37
3 Sticks and Logs 03:13
4 Dung Beetles at Work 04:19
5 Broken Brake 02:27
6 Yellow Marrow 03:11
7 When the Wealthy Were Wise 03:55
8 Song for Grace 03:19
9 Between a Rock and a Hard Space 05:06
10 The Birth of Mush Room 05:34
11 The Dream I Almost Remember 02:31
12 Only Room for One More Mush 05:12

Line-up: 
The Residents
Charles Bobuck

Description/Reviews: 

In this latest production  we find ourselves in a forest full of mushrooms. These mushrooms unite and rise in rebellion...

Media/Samples 
Mush-Room
Sticks and Logs

Links:
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Guapo "History of the Visitation"

Country: UK
Sub Genre: Avant Prog, Zeuhl
Label: Cuneiform Records
Release date: January 29, 2013
Tracklist: 
1. The Pilman Radiant
2. Complex #7
3. Tremors From The Future

Line-up: 
Dave Smith - drums, percussion
Emmett Elvin - keybords
Kavus Torabi - guitars
James Sedwards - bass

Description/Reviews: 

Prepare yourself for an experience that’s simultaneously otherworldly and assaultive. On paper, the music of Guapo reads like a riddle – the British quartet’s sound is based around ideas like controlled chaos, atonal harmony, uplifting darkness, and beautiful destruction. Nothing about the band or their work seems to adhere to even the most open-minded set of preconceptions about the meaning of umbrella terms like “rock,” or “progressive,” or even “experimental.” But when you abandon the need to reconcile any of these concepts with each other, and simply let their latest album, History of the Visitation, speak for itself, everything becomes radiantly clear.
History of the Visitation is the ninth album from the forward-looking foursome. The band’s return to Cuneiform finds them following through on the kind of epic constructions that sprung forth from the aforementioned albums. The record is dominated by the 26-minute tour de force “The Pilman Radiant,” offset only by the 11-minute journey “Tremors from the Future” and the considerably more compact sonic sculpture known as “Complex #7.”
In addition to the new studio album, both the CD and LP versions include a live DVD of the group from their 2006 and 2007 USA and European tours. This is the only live footage of the band available to the public and features former member Daniel O'Sullivan.

Media/Samples 
The Pilman Radiant (excerpt)
Trailer

Links:
Web page
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T "Psychoanorexia"

Country: Germany
Sub Genre: Art Rock, Ambient
Label: Progressive Promotion Records
Release date: January 29, 2013
Tracklist: 

1. The Aftermath of Silence (18:06)
2. Kryptonite Monologues (20:44)
3. The Irrelevant Lovesong (8:09)
4. Psychoanorexia (19:30)

Line-up: 
Thomas Thielen - vocals, all instruments

Description/Reviews: 

This is the time when ringtone applicability equals musical quality. This is the place where the greed of being a popstar has replaced the sublime experience of creativity. This is the era in which democracy means mass phenomena, not choices. When we have become too lazy even for subterfuges. And too busy to feel the loss.
This is the age when equality means mediocrity, fame defames excellence, education encourages despondency. We excel in conformity, we celebrate our empty hands. We may not burn books, but we skim them. We may not slaughter heretics, but we overshout them. We strive, long, hunger for nothing, thus nobody strive, long, hunger. Fascistic, yet aimless aposiopetic selves. Timetabled freedom. Death in Bologna. Psychoanorexia.

Media/Samples 
Samples at  Band's web page
Entire album at progstreaming.com

Links:
Web page
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Proggnosis

Zenit "The Chandrasekhar Limit"

Country: Switzerland
Sub Genre: Neo-Prog
Label: Galileo Records GR035
Release date: January 28, 2013
Tracklist: 

1. Awaken
2. Matrimandir
3. The Daydream Suite
4. Pulsar
5. Cub Lady
6. PiGreco

Line-up: 

- Lorenzo Sonognini / vocals & acoustic guitars
- Luigi Biamino / guitars & backing vocals
- Ivo Bernasconi / keyboards
- Andy Thommen / bass & backing vocals
- Gabriele Schira / drums & percussion

Guests:
- Stefano Zaccagni / saxophone
- Asia Thommen, Diana Bernasconi, Maria Scandella, Ilaria Widmer / backing vocals

Description/Reviews: 

On Zenit’s 3rd album „The Chandrasekhar Limit“ (69 minutes), Andy Thommen affixes a seal with his distinctive bass play right from the start of the first song (“Awaken”). Later, with the start of the guitar, you will somewhat be reminded of the Clepsydra sound: awesome guitar-bass team play! Here you start with what you expect to get from this brilliant album: quality. The marvelous long tracker “Matrimandir” (17 minutes), brings a breath of oriental sounds in a very subtle but delicate way without being brash, despite the Sanskrit lyrics now and then. One of the best long tracker of recent times clocking around 25 minutes, is “The Daydream Suite” that brings reminiscences of Pink Floyd and all the other stuff a prog suite should have: crazy keyboard solos, melodic guitar lines, cool bass parts and complex choirs, harmoniously in action. The rocking instrumental sound of “Pulsar”, the sweet and sinful ballad “Cub Lady” and the screaming-jazzy “PiGreco” song, jointly make up an impressive and progressive rock album of the 21st century.

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Lifesigns "Lifesigns"

Country: UK
Sub Genre: Progressive Rock
Label: Esoteric Antenna
Release date: January 28, 2013
Tracklist: 

1. Lighthouse
2. Telephone
3. Fridge Full Of Stars
4. At The End Of The World
5. Carousel

Line-up: 
John Young - keyboards, lead vocals
Nick Beggs - bass, stick and backing vocals
Frosty Beedle (Martin Beedle) - drums
     With:
Steve Hacket
Thijs Van Leer
Jakko Jakszyk
Robin Boult

Description/Reviews: 

Lifesigns is a tuneful, innovative and hugely impressive debut album certain to appeal to those who appreciate the finer aspects of modern Progressive Rock.

Media/Samples 
Preview

Links:
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Archangelica "Like a drug"

Country: Poland
Sub Genre: Art Rock
Label: Lynx Music
Release date: January 28, 2013
Tracklist: 
1. Into Unknown (instrumental)
2. Like a Drug
3. Confession
4. Night Passage
5. Midnight Train
6. Cathedral
7. The Journey
8. Let me stay with the Trees
9. When all is gone

Line-up: 
Maciej Engel - guitar
Piotr Brzezicki - drums
Krzysiek Sałapa - vocal
Arek Gawdzik - guitar
Jakub Kolada - bass guitar

Medi/Samples:
Progstreaming
Samples

Links:
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Sons of Cepheids "Mother of Masses"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Experimental, Math Rock, Psychedelic
Release date: January 28, 2013
Tracklist: 
1. Domisology (4:25)
2. Debates (3:56)
3. Semantic Satiation (6:06)
4. Dianetics (Interpathy) (4:18)
5. Earth (3:20)
6. Puzzle Pieces (3:44)
7. Sheep (3:29)
8. Abstractions (5:01)
9. Not Lost (10:36)

Line-up: 
Zachary Robert Kondak - all instruments

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (name your price)

Links:
ProgArchives

Helder Rock "Tammy Girl"

Country: UK
Sub Genre: Instrumental Progressive Rock, Ambient
Label: Home Maid Records
Release date: January 28, 2013
Tracklist: 
1.Rain or Shine 06:46
2.Somewhere in Ohio 08:51
3.Longing to Hold You 06:21
4.Night Flight to the U.S.A. 09:22
5.Tammy Girl 05:59
6.Saturday Night Out 06:44
7.Another Lonely Night 05:48
8.Cherokee 04:53
9.Peace at Last 05:54
10.Good Night (Peace Out) 02:45

Line-up: 
Helder Rock

Description/Reviews: 

Helder Rock is an English multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, working a style that blends progressive rock, folk, classical music, electronic music, New Age. The album is said to be based upon a real love story between two people who met and loved each other through Facebook.

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Afenginn "Lux"

Country: Denmark
Sub Genre: Acoustic, Ambient, Classical, Prog Folk,Avant Prog
Label: Westpark Music
Release date: January 28, 2013
Tracklist: 

1. Lux - 3:28
2. Kostbar - 5:16
3. Höstvisa I - 2:41
4. Septem Turbido (Höstvisa II) - 5:50
5. Obscare - 4:34
6. Waldhotel Solitaire - 6:09
7. Paxima - 5:00
8. Comma - 2:38
9. Autumnus Elegia - 3:18
10. Missa Tripus - 7:00
11. Lumir - 9:08

Line-up: 
Rasmus Krøyer - clarinet, bass clarinet, contra bass clarinet
Niels Skovmand - violin
Kim Rafael Nyberg - mandolin
Erik Olevik - contrabass
Rune Kofoed - drums, percussion
    With:
Bent Clausen: marimba, vibraphone, waterphone, percussion
Mads Hyhne: trombone
Nikolaj Busk: grand piano on Autumnus Elegia

Description/Reviews: 

Where Afenginn used to have great flippancy, they’ve become more serious, but that’s not a bad thing when faced with something quite demanding. And it’s not all sailing on placid waters. Obscare edges into Stravinsky territory, with lurch rhythms and surprises, with beauty and a hefty stomp, melody and sharp dissonance, moving side by side to a resolution, coming as a stragen, disorienting interlude in the proceedings. Autumnus Elegia lives up to its title, melancholic minor-key piano work from guest Nikolaj Busk in a piece curiously reminiscent of Beethoven without the pomp, then adding gypsy violin, vibes and clarinet to the stew as it morphs into Missa Tripus. It’s an album to delight and astonish, and easily the best of their career, taking them further and further from any pigeonhole? Definitely not Danish, other than most of the musicians, not folk, not jazz, not quite classical. It’s Afenginn music

Read the full review by Chris Nickson at danskmusic.blogspot.co.uk

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

Links:
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The Green Violinist "More Thrill & Never Ending Blessing"

Country: Belgium
Sub Genre: Art Rock
Label: Galileo Records
Release date: January 28, 2012
Tracklist: 
1 The Great Scapegoat Seeking 6:24
2 Velvet Road 6:17
3 Shy People 4:55
4 Do Worry Be Sad 13:22
5 Human Connection 4:06
6 Any Words You Say Won't Be Enough 3:37
7 Bad Inheritance (A Song To Cure) 6:33

Line-up: 
Vincent Dufresne: Vocals, Acoutic Guitars & Keyboards
Rex P: Bass
Emilie laclais: Backing Vocals
Gabriel Peeters: Drums, Electronix Drums & Programming
Raphael Bresler: Guitars
Mathieu Vandermolen: Guitars

Description/Reviews: 

With one pass through the album, two impressions come to mind. First, as a vocalist, Dufresne sounds like a young Greg Lake. Second, the atmosphere of many of the songs, maybe across the entire recording, reminds of The Moody Blues. Much of this comes from the ethereal, airy, feel created by the combination of piano, synths and acoustic guitar. It also has the additional effect of making the album feel moody (no pun intended), melancholic, and sad.

Read the full review by Craig Hartranft at dangerdog.com

Media/Samples 


Links:
Label's web page

Method to Madness "Guilty As Sin"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Progressive Rock
Release date: January 26, 2013
Tracklist: 
 1. The Long Road Home 2:59
  2. Eyewitness Overture 3:36
  3. It's a Crime 5:50
  4. Yesterday 5:19
  5. Welcome to Paradise 4:41
  6. Within Without: The Visit, Pt. One 6:22
  7. Burning the Night 4:42
  8. Living Tomb 5:37
  9. Together Again: The Visit, Pt. Two 5:19
10. Pictures 5:14
11. Meltdown 4:30
12. The Masquerade 6:57
13. Dungeon 6:35
14. Dreaming of You: The Visit, Pt. Three 5:39
15. From the Ashes 5:25

Line-up: 
Mike Woodell - Bass Guitar & Vocals
Mike Rogers - Electric Guitars & Vocals
Kevin Griffin - Drums / Percussion & Vocals

Description/Reviews: 

Guilty as Sin is the sophomore effort by rock artists Method to Madness. The album chronicles the story of a policeman who finds himself on the wrong side of the law and faces serious life changes throughout the story. 79 minutes of prog-inspired music.

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Seconds Before Landing "The Great Deception"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Progressive Rock, Ambient
Release date: January 26, 2013 (digital)
Tracklist: 
1.What Could It Be ? 02:24
2."Welcome, To The Future" 05:55
3.Solitary Man 06:17
4.Instructions 04:18
5.Alice Springs 04:14
6.Innocent 06:02
7.They're All Around You 05:23
8.I'm All Alone 04:58
9.Elmendorf 06:15
10.Down On Me 06:13
11.Right Before Your Eyes 04:51
12.My Time To Go 05:18
13.Mikey Get Your Accordion 05:32
14.Message In A Field 00:40

Line-up: 
John Crispino - composer, drums, percussion, vocals, midi keys, effects
Trey Gunn - warr guitar
Tim Bogert - bass on "They're All Around You"
Maurice Witkowski - acoustic guitar, rhythm guitar & lead on "They're All Around You"
Steve Schuffert - lead guitar
J.D. Garrison - bass guitar
Guy Bar Tor - bass on "My Time To Go", "Alice Springs"
Asaf Rodeh - front end guitar on "Elmendorf"
Kati O'Toole - lead vocal on "My Time To Go"
Vanessa Campagna & Carrie Marie Jackson - female background vocals
Lior - trumpet solo on “Down On Me”
Jamie Peck - piano on "Alice Springs", various horns
Michele Cricco - lead and rhythm guitars on "Mikey Get Your Accordion"

Description/Reviews: 

The Great Deception follows the conceptual idea of a dystopian world, set not far into the future. Drawing on elements from science fiction, the album paints a story of a post-apocalyptic planet that has been torn and shaped by war, corruption and malevolence. Within this ravished world, a single man comes to terms with his surroundings, experiencing new emotions over the course of the album. With each passing song on this 14-track album comes a new message, delivered metaphorically through the struggles of this surviving man.

Imagine if you will, a group of songs so lush in textures, that when you listen, one moment you may think  “Pink Floyd”, and the next you may think “Jeff Beck”.
Combined with those multi-layered sounds, is an unmistakable “groove” that occasionally shows up,  that is nothing less than infectious.
There is a texture in this music, a tone and a depth, that has not been heard in some time.
Is it Rock ?    Yes.
Is it Progressive ?   Of Course.
But it also has influences of jazz, funk, and at times, even a bit of metal and blues.  So you see, it is a bit hard to pigeon hole it into just one category.

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

Links:
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Taylor’s Universe "Worn Out"

Country: Denmark
Sub Genre: Instrumental Jazz-Rock, Fusion
Lable: Marvel of Beauty Records
Release date: January 25, 2013
Tracklist: 

1. Floating Rats
2. Munich
3. Imaginary Church
4. Cruelty in Words
5. Jens in Afghanistan
6. Sergeant Pepperoni

Line-up: 
Jakob Mygind (soprano & tenor sax)
Karsten Vogel (soprano & alto sax)
Hugh Steinmetz (trumpet & flugelhorn)
Jon Hemmersam (guitar - solos)
Klaus Thrane (drums)
Robin Taylor (guitars, basses, keyboards, percussion & allsorts)
Louise Nipper (voice on Munich)

Media/Samples:
Floathing Rats
Munich
Cruelty in Words

Links:
Web page
ProgArchives
Proggnosis

Dante "November Red"

Country: Germany
Sub Genre: Progressive Metal
Label: Massacre Records
Release date: January 25, 2013
Tracklist: 
1. Birds of Passage 10:03
2. The Lone and Level Sands 06:39
3. Beautifully Broken 04:33
4. The Day That Bled 11:54
5. Shores of Time 07:48
6. Allan 07:29
7. November Red 12:41

Line-up: 
Alexander Göhs (Vocals)
Markus Maichel (Keyboards / Piano)
Markus Berger (Guitar/ Bass)
Christian Eichlinger (Drums / Orchestration)
Markus A.Bader (Guitar)

Description/Reviews: 

German band, mixing melodic progmetal with traditional & modern progrock

Media/Samples 
The Lone And Level Sands

Links:
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Cult Of Luna "Vertikal"

Country: Sweden
Sub Genre: Progressive Metal, Post Metal
Label: Density Records, Indie Recordings
Release date: January 25 (Europe) and January 29 (U.S.), 2013
Tracklist: 
01. The One (02:16)
02. I: The Weapon (09:24)
03. Vicarious Redemption (18:51)
04. The Sweep (03:09)
05. Synchronicity (07:13)
06. Mute Departure (09:08)
07. Disharmonia 00:45)
08. In Awe Of (09:56)
09. Passing Through (06:03)
10. The Flow Reversed (limited-edition bonus track)

Line-up: 

Johannes Persson - Guitars and Vocals
Klas Rydberg - Vocals
Magnus Lindberg - Drums and Studio-Engineering
Erik Olofsson - Guitars
Andreas Johansson - Bass
Anders Teglund - Keyboards and Electronics
Fredrik Kihlberg - Guitars and Vocals
Thomas Hedlund - Drums and Percussion

Description/Reviews: 

...distilled throughout are themes of machinery, repetition and clear, linear structures honed to the visual imagery of Fritz Lang’s classic expressionist science-fiction film ‘Metropolis’...

Media/Samples 
I: The Weapon

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Circle II Circle "Seasons Will Fall"

Country: Germany
Sub Genre: Progressive Metal, Hard Rock
Label: earMusic
Release date: January 25, 2013
Tracklist: 
01. Diamond Blade
02. Without A Sound
03. Killing Death
04. Epiphany
05. End Of Emotion
06. Dreams That Never Die
07. Seasons Will Fall
08. Never Gonna Stop
09. Isolation
10. Sweet Despair
11. Downshot
12. Only Yesterday

Line-up: 
Zak Stevens - Vocals
Mitch Stewart - Bass/Keyboards
Bill Hudson - Guitars
Christian Wentz- Guitars
Henning Wanner - Keyboards
Adam Sagan - Drums

Description/Reviews: 

“Seasons Will Fall” is CIIC’s strongest album to date from both a musical and production standpoint. It blends Zak Stevens’ history and unique “Savatage style” with the fresh sounds he developed with CIIC.
A powerful fusion of metal mixed with hard rock, fueled by Zak Stevens’ passionate melodic rock vocals. From the howling guitar riffs on “Diamond Blade” and “Killing Death” to the energetic sound of “Never Gonna Stop”, the album contains everything you want from a heavy rock album.

Media/Samples 
Promo

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