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Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Julian Julien "Terre II"


Country: France
Genre(s): Jazz, Fusion, Soundtrack, Classical, Chamber
Label: A Bout de Son
Format: CD, digital
Release date: June 2015
Tracklist
01. Prélude (2:55)
02. Terre II (3:31)
03. Iris I (1:38)
04. Ailleurs (4:34)
05. Iris II (1:55)
06. Iris III (2:48)
07. Une attente (4:18)
08. Iris IV (3:06)
09. Doudou (3:22)
10. Iris V (3:07)
11. Non-Sens (7:56)
12. Iris VI (1:14)
13. Mr John Barry (4:41)

Total time: 45:03

Line-up
Julian Julien, percussion (4, 7, 11, 13), programming
Hélène Argo, song (7)
Guillaume Billaux, guitar (11)
Siegfried Canto, flute (1, 4)
Médéric Collignon, horn and voice (6, 8, 11, 13)
Rémi Dumoulin, bass clarinet (1, 2)
Michaël Havard, saxophone soprano, ténor and baryton (2, 4, 13)
Adeline Lecce, cello (2, 7, 10, 11)

Description/Reviews
Julian’s classical background mixes with his jazz sensibilities to produce an intriguing blend of the two musical styles, exemplified by the lilting opener Prélude, a piece that combines a flute-led madrigal with slinky jazz bass to great effect....
It is interesting to note that the jazz and classical influences of the first part of the album are now seemingly left behind, as space debris floats through the cosmic drift of Non-Sens, only for those tropes to return for the main part of the tune, a gorgeous otherworldly piece of jazz-chamber rock that slowly becomes ever more confident, with some great cornet blowing from Médéric Collignon.
 Read the full review by Roger Trenwith at theprogressiveaspect.net

Media/Samples 
5 tracks

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Baphobia "Taos Hum"


Country: Chile
Genre(s) Instrumental Post Rock
Formatdigital
Release dateJune 30, 2015
Tracklist
  1. Taos Hum (intro) 02:35
  2. Espectro 04:46
  3. La Tumba del Inmortal 04:03
  4. Baphobia 04:03
  5. Amphora 06:02
  6. Codex Gigas 04:43
  7. De Cierto 04:16
  8. Demoledemonio 03:36
  9. Dante 04:59
  10. El Escapista 04:45
Line-up
Pablo Díaz: Guitar
David Araya: Guitar
Roberto Vargas: Bass
Edinson Rodríguez: Drums

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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KoMaRa "KoMaRa"


Country: Multinational
Genre(s)Industrial, Jazz, Progressive Rock
Label: Hevhetia
FormatCD, digital, vinyl
Release date: June 30, 2015
Tracklist
01. Dirty Smelly (4:11)
02. 37 Forms (8:11)
03. A Collision Of Finger Prings (5:03)
04. She Sat In Black Silt (5:13)
05. 2CFAC (3:33)
06. God Has Left This Place (5:35)
07. Pasquinade (6:11)
08. Abraso (0:17)
09. Afterbirth (6:45)
10. Inciting Incidents (1:17)

Line-up
David Kollar - guitar, bass, electronic textures
Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson) - acoustic and electric drums and percussion
Paolo Raineri - trumpet, vocals and audio mangling
       With:
Leashya Munyon -  vocals
Bill Munyon -  vocals

Description/Reviews
KoMaRa with their heavy vibe could be a twisted psycho version of Bruford Levin Upper Extremities as the bar band in a nightmare of gut churning proportions. As the Bandcamp page has it, this album is the mostly instrumental soundtrack to a “dark, deviant and explicit detective story” about “abduction and the ultimate demise of the abductee”. This music lurches from the terrifying to the eerie, never once lessening its grip on the horrified but transfixed listener.
 Read the full review by Roger Trenwith at theprogressiveaspect.net

Media/Samples 
Dirty Smelly

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Agrabah "Entering the Flesh Again"


Country: Argentina
Genre(s)Progessive Rock
FormatCD, digital
Release dateJune 29, 2015
Tracklist
01. Kings of All Species - 06:05
02. Amid - 03:54
03. Reconciliation - 04:08
04. Muster - 04:19
05. Another Life - 15:43

Line-up
Francisco Marcos – Vocals, Guitars, Lyrics
Marko Vrljičak – Guitars, Synths
Joaquín Cross – Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Gonzalo Martínez Oríz – Drums, Backing Vocals

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp  (name your price)

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Marco Masoni "Tributes"


Country: Italy
Genre(s)Progressive Rock
LabelMellow Records
Formatdigital
Release dateJune 29, 2015
Tracklist
  1. Inner garden I and II/KING CRIMSON - 06:02
  2. Show me/YES - 04:45
  3. Meurglys III, the songwriter's guild/VDGG - 08:33
  4. Radio gnome invisible/GONG - 06:13
  5. The knife/GENESIS - 07:25
  6. Out and in/MOODY BLUES - 03:56
  7. Nothing at all/GENTLE GIANT - 06:14
  8. Afraid of sunrise/MARILLION - 05:23
  9. Doctor Diamond/KING CRIMSON - 05:32
  10. Master of time/ANTHONY PHILLIPS - 06:26
  11. Ride/CARAVAN - 07:09
  12. Areknames-​Fenomenologia​-​Plancton-​Tao-​Meccanica/FRANCO BATTIATO - 07:46
Line-up
Marco Masoni (Germinale) - voice, bass, acoustic guitars, keyboards
   With
Massimo Necchi
Salvo Lazzara
Edoardo Magoni
Giulio Collavoli
Andrea Moretti
Allesandro Toniolo
David Vecchioni
Simone Piccarducci
Alessio Mosti
Gabriele Guidi
Daniele Caputo
Saverio Grasselli
Clelia Verde
Ernesto Fontanella
Carlo Masoni
Riccardo Comparini
Bimba Chary

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Monday, June 29, 2015

Metallic Taste of Blood "Doctoring the Dead"


Country: Multinational
Genre(s): Instrumental Eclectic, Math Rock, Fusion, Electronica, Avant Prog
LabelRare Noise Records
FormatCD, vinyl, digital
Release dateJune 2015
Tracklist
  1. Ipsissimus (4:54)
  2. Pashupati (5:54)
  3. Synthetic Tongue (6:17)
  4. Doctoring the Dead (7:18)
  5. Blind Voyeaur (6:31)
  6. Day of Bones (6:24)
  7. Murder Burger (6:03)
  8. The Death of Pan (6:28)
Line-up
Eraldo Bernocchi – Guitars & Electronics
Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree) – Bass Guitar & Ebow
Ted Parsons (Swans, Prong, Buckethead, Godflesh and Killing Joke) – Drums & Percussion
Roy Powell – Keyboards & Electronics (1, 5 & 6)

Description/Reviews
The vigour and inventiveness which characterized Metallic Taste Of Blood’s first release still sits centre stage, a natural outflow of the band founder members’ very wide palette of musical experiences/collaborations and individual talents, spanning an incredibly rich vocabulary which extends from ambient and electronica, to progressive rock and avant-jazz, to noise and industrial electronics, all firmly anchored by the deep and precise dub beats laid out by Ted Parsons, sparkled, on select tracks, by the surprising keyboard inventions of Powell.
This variety of influences and musical idioms manifests itself in a very specific kind of sound, one that is now characteristic of the band, one which is predicated and thrives on the very notion and practice of the contraposition of opposites. The music of Metallic Taste Of Blood is both incredibly brutal and delicate, distorted, but incredibly clear, boiling hot and yet suddenly very cool, sweet yet suddenly brackish, that very peculiar unity in contradiction to which the band’s own name refers to.
Read more at theprogressiveaspect.net

Also read the review by Kevin Heckeler at dprp.net

Media/Samples 
Teaser
Ipsissimus
Doctoring The Dead

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Tiger Moth Tales "Story Tellers - Part One"


Country: UK
Genre(s)Symphonic
LabelWhite Knight Records
FormatCD, digital
Release date: June 29, 2015
Tracklist
  1. Beauty Falls
  2. Story Tellers
  3. Beauty Sleeps
  4. A Kids Tale
  5. The Quest For Beauty 
  6. The Ripper
  7. Beauty Aweakes
Line-up
Peter Jones - Vocals, Keyboards, Drum Programming, Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Percussion and Whistles

Description/Reviews
After seeing an internet challenge to conceive and record an album in the month of February, Pete Jones was inspired to get back into the studio. To record an album in 28 days was quite the challenge but armed with a vivid imagination and his childhood memories, Pete has written seven songs based on some of the classic children stories he listened to as a young boy. He has put his unique twist to such classic tales as Sleeping Beauty, The Pied Piper of Hamelin and The Three Billy Goats Gruff, and for those of you who like fantastic instrumentation and stunning vocal performances, look no further.
Media/Samples 
Beauty Falls / Beauty Sleeps (bandcamp)
The Quest For Beauty

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Trembling Bells "The Sovereign Self"


Country: UK
Genre(s)Experimental Psychedelic Prog Folk
LabelTin Angel Records
FormatCD, digital, vinyl
Release dateJune 29, 2015
Tracklist
  1. 'Tween the Womb and the Tomb 08:06
  2. O, Where is Saint George? 05:48
  3. Killing Time in London Fields 05:52
  4. Sweet Death Polka 06:00
  5. Bells of Burford 07:23
  6. The Singing Blood 05:01
  7. (Perched Like a Drunk on a) Miserichord 04:05
  8. I is Someone Else 06:07
Line-up
Lavinia Blackwall - vocals, organ, piano, electric guitar, glockenspiel
Mike Hastings - electric guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals
Alasdair C Mitchell - electric guitar, organ, glockenspiel, vocals
Alex Neilson - drums, percussion, whistle, vocals
Simon Shaw - bass, vocals
   With
Sybren Renema - baritone saxophone
Luigi Pasquini - vocals
Sophie Sexon - vocals, flute
John Wilson - violin, mandolin

Description/Reviews
The Sovereign Self, Trembling Bells' fifth album, finds them at something of a creative crossroads. With an extra guitarist and an increased focus on riffs n' grooves, they sound more conventionally progadelic than they've ever done before. It's out with the tear-jerking Salvation Army brass, in with the silicon fuzz pedals. On the whole the songs are less immediate, the melodies less robust and the structures more diffuse than on previous albums. Yet it seems to me that this might not be such a bad thing, especially since this shift seems largely intentional. Take the album opener, 'Tween The Womb And The Tomb', for example. A disorienting dirge of interlocking guitar themes and discordant organ with singer Lavinia Blackwell's impressive improvisations laced throughout, its themes of existential confusion are perfectly suited to the accompaniment, heralding an album of diminished certainty and increased emotional fractiousness. Likewise the Beefheartian freakbeat of 'Killing Time In London Fields' and the hectic 5/4 acid rock of 'Bells of Burford' contribute to the album's sense of psychological disquiet, an unsettling postscript to the boozy, triumphant emotiveness seen on previous records.
 Read the full review by Danny Riley at thefourohfive.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Carlton Melton "Out To Sea"


Country: USA
Genre(s)Psychedelic
LabelAgitated Records
FormatCD, digital, vinyl
Release date: June 2015
Tracklist
1. Peaking Duck (7:41)
2. Wheel And Deal (3:43)
3. Diamond In The Rough (7:08)
4. Out To Sea (7:28)
5. Amfmpm (3:30)
6. Too Close To Home (8:32)
7. Similarities (11:19)
8. It's Been Summer All Winter (8:09)
9. The Barrier (10:19)
10. Perdiddle (2:24)
11. Realms (5:15)


Line-up
Andy Duvall - Guitar, Drums
Clint Golden - Bass Guitar, Drums
Rich Millman - Guitar, Synth

Description/Reviews
The band still stay true to the core of what they do: heavy, heavy psych-rock with a deep dark underbelly. However, they seem to have been swimming in Mogwai’s pool just a tad too much. A couple of the tracks, ‘Wheel and Deal’ and ‘Too Close to Home’, both have a distinct post-rock feel about them, and stack up the layers simultaneously like the Scottish quintet do with such ease and grace. 
  Read the full review by Steve Reynolds at soundblab.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Next To None "A Light in the Dark"


Country: USA
Genre(s)Progressive Metal
LabelInsideOut (EU), Radiant Records (US)
FormatCD, digital
Release date June 29, 2015 (EU), June 30, 2015 (US)
Tracklist
1. The Edge Of Sanity (9:39)
2. You Are Not Me (4:55)
3. Runaway (4:58)
4. A Lonely Walk (5:31)
5. Control (9:58)
6. Lost (6:12)
7. Social Anxiety (3:44)
8. Legacy (3:56)
9. Blood On My Hands (8:14)

Line-up
Thomas Cuce – Vocals and Keys
Max Portnoy – Drums
Ryland Holland – Guitars
Kris Rank – Bass
   With
Neal Morse (Spock's Beard, Transatlantic) - Mellotron
Bumblefoot (Guns ‘n’ Roses) - Guitar solo

Description/Reviews
 The band certainly channel their inner Dream Theater, although they do manage to put their own twist on it by incorporating their more metal influences for a much more aggressive sound.  While the songwriting does hint at them being young and new at this, the kids can indeed play and this makes their potential all that more exciting.
The album’s opener, “The Edge of Sanity” has hints of Dream Theater’s “The Mirror” and “Dark Eternal Night.”  Max’s drumming in stellar while the production is raw and heavy.  The middle section of the song is straight up trash metal with the band showing off their chops each one at a time.  If you want something to bang your head to, this is it.
The second track and lead single “You Are Not Me” is as metal as you can get through the verses, but also has the album’s most memorable chorus and hook. “A Lonely Walk”, the ballad on the disc, is easlily one of the album highlights featuring both Neal Morse (Mellotron) and Bumblefoot, with a killer guitar solo.
 Read the full review at progreport.com

Media/Samples 
Blood On My Hands
You Are Not Me
Stream

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Ecstatic Vision "Sonic Praise"


Country: USA
Genre(s)Psychedelic, Space Rock
LabelRelapse Records
FormatCD, vinyl, digital
Release date June 29, 2015
Tracklist
1. Journey (5:11)
2. Astral Plane (12:38)
3. Don't Kill The Vibe (5:00)
4. Sonic Praise (5:24)
5. Cross The Divide (9:43)

Line-up
Doug Sabolik - guitars, vocals
Michael Field Connor - bass
Jordan Crouse - drums, percussion
Muffinman - percussion

Description/Reviews
Aesthetics aside, Sabolick and co. play really driving space rock. With an energy that fans of Clutch will appreciate, the music barrels forward and upward, often using repetitive riffs in a manner befitting the nature of stoners alike. Each track really feels like it’s own unique beast, regardless of the repetitive nature of a lot of the guitar and bass riffs. Not afraid to draw back and let the psychedelic sounds take over, each refrain is worth it’s weight in gold when a big, rolling riff comes back around. Ecstatic Vision fill these eclectic moments with ethnic percussion and rhythms befitting those instruments, finding time to throw in some other wordly sax soloing too. “Astral Plane” and “Cross The Divide”, the longest of the five tracks, are given the chance to spread their metaphysical wings and take flight, thanks to these prolonged sections of noodling. This might lose the attention of some, as for all of it’s glory, their is very little maneuvering in terms of tempo. Along side the minimalist nature of the rhythm section, it would be quite easy to lose track of what is going on.
 Read the full review by Matt MacLennan at heavyblogisheavy.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Sunday, June 28, 2015

The Antoni Tashev Project "The Antoni Tashev Project"


Country: Bulgaria
Genre(s)Instrumental Progressive Rock
LabelOverlook Hotel Records
Formatdigital
Release dateJune 28, 2015
Tracklist
  1. Nightfall In Atlantis 05:50
  2. Morbid Existence 05:25
  3. Star 06:02
  4. Rebirth In Hollow 06:12
  5. Babylon On Fire 06:39
  6. Servant and the Master 06:11
Line-up
Antoni Tashev - Electric and acoustic guitars, Tambura
Kevin Hartnell (Trinity & Triage) - Drums, percussion, keys, bass guitar (track 5)
Rob Glass - Bass guitar (tracks 1-4, 6)

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (Free Download)

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Eduardo Aguillar "Plano Sequencia"


Country: Brazil
Genre(s): Instrumental Symphonic
LabelLaboratorio Pedra Branca
Formatdigital
Release dateJune 28, 2015
Tracklist
  1. Coliseo 07:02
  2. Perto Do Fim 05:04
  3. Plano Sequencia 08:06
  4. Um Pedaco Do Tempo 03:36
  5. Antigos Caminhos 06:15
Line-up
Eduardo Aguillar - everything

Description/Reviews
Plano Sequencia is officially released after 23 years of his recording (1992) and marks the debut of the Laboratorio Pedra Branca in producing independent artists.

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Saturday, June 27, 2015

Koen Herfst "Back To Balance"


Country: Netherlands
Genre(s): Progressive Metal
Format: CD, digital
Release date: June 27, 2015
Tracklist
CD 1
1. Here I Am (4:31)
2. Erase Or Rewind (4:30)
3. The Kramer (4:16)
4. I Don’t Need To Tell You (5:43)
5. Total Hate (3:40)
6. Back To Balance (3:48)
7. Begone (5:17)

CD 2
1. 1916 (2:21)
2. Social Junkie (4:29)
3. Ghetto Cornetto (3:36)
4. Now Is The Time (4:24)
5. Siamese Support (3:43)
6. Never Been So Wrong (6:37)
7. Attitude Of An Astronaut (5:41)

Total time 62:36

Line-up
Koen Herfst - Drums
   With
Mats Leven (Krux, Therion, Yngwie Malmsteen) - Vocals
Daniel De Jongh (Textures) - Vocals
Valerio Recenti (My Propane) - Vocals
Marcela Bovio (Stream Of Passion) - Vocals
Tai Stamph (Splendid) - Vocals
Rodney Blaze (Ex-Xenobia) - Vocals
Claudia Soumeru (Bagga Bownz) - Vocals
Ward Palmen (Gunz N’ Rozes) - Vocals
Eva Kathryn - Vocals
Marcel Singor (Perhaps) - Guitars
Marvin Vriesde (Dew-Scented) - Guitars
Eef Van Riet (Ex-My Favorite Scar) - Guitars
Daan Janzing (Ex-My Favorite Scar) - Guitars
Eller Van Buuren (Bagga Bownz) - Guitars
Mendel Bij De Leij (Aborted) - Guitars
Remko Van Der Spek (Ex-Orphanage, Ex-Cilice) - Guitars
Leif De Leeuw - Guitars
Wim Den Herder (Another Dutch Guitarhero) - Guitars
Joost Van Den Broek (Ex-After Forever, The Gentle Storm) - Keyboards
Coen Janssen (Epica) - Keyboards
Judith Van Der Klip (Ex-Blaudzun) - Violin
Michiel Eilbracht (Bagga Bownz) - Bass
Joost van der Graaf (I CHAOS, Dew-Scented) - Bass
Johan van Stratum (Stream Of Passion) - Bass
Robin Zielhorst (Exivious, ex- Cynic) - Bass

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (CD1)

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Renaissance Of Fools "Spring"


Country: Sweden
Genre(s)Progressive Rock, Alternative
LabelMetalville
FormatCD, digital
Release dateJune 26, 2015 (EU), August 21, 2015 (US)
Tracklist
  1. Counting Down - 8:05
  2. Internal Carousel - 5:04
  3. Scars - 6:03
  4. Prelude - 1:29
  5. On Your Knees - 4:35
  6. State of Oppression - 8:16
  7. Revolution - 7:30
  8. A New Dawn - 8:11
Line-up
Daniel Magdic (ex-Pain Of Salvation) – Guitar, Vocals
Magnus Karlsson (Thalamus) - Drums
Linus Carlsson - Bass
David Engström – Lead Vocals
   With
Kristoffer Gildenlöw (ex-Pain Of Salvation)

Description/Reviews
"Spring" is the second album from Renaissance Of Fools, the band formed by ex-Pain Of Salvation guitarist and composer Daniel Magdic, and Magnus Karlsson from Thalamus. Influences include Black Sabbath, King's X, Rush, Mars Volta, King Crimson, Tool, Porcupine Tree and others. The theme is about the Arab Spring revolution that began in 2010 in Tunisia and spread to Egypt and other Arab and Northern Africa nations. The tracks deal with different perspectives of the conflict.
Media/Samples 
Samples

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Abnormal Thought Patterns "Altered States Of Consciousness"


Country: USA
Genre(s)Progressive Technical Metal
LabelLifeforce Records
FormatCD, digital
Release dateJune 26, 2015
Tracklist
  1. Distortions of Perception - 4:33
  2. Nocturnal Haven - 9:52
  3. Blindsight - 4:06
  4. Synesthesia - 6:03
  5. Delusions - 4:38
  6. Nocturnal Haven (Instrumental Version) - 10:19
  7. Subliminal Perception - 3:28
Line-up
Troy Tipton (Zero Hour, Cynthesis) - bass
Mike Guy (Zero Hour) - drums
Jasun Tipton (Zero Hour, Cynthesis) - guitars, keyboards
Jason Montero - guitars
   With
Tim Roth (Into Eternity)
Jeff Loomis (Nevermore) (2)
John Onder (4)
Michael Manring - fretless bass (4)
Tommy Rogers (Between the Buried and Me) - vocals (2)

Description/Reviews
Impeccable knowledge of genres from Jazz to Metal allow the band to cover vast ground. Opener “Distortions of Perception” shows this right off the bat: a well-nigh cacophony of Metal riffing, frantic drums, and aggressive high-tech guitar suddenly melts into levitating jazz fusion. But startling contrasts of genres and awe-inspiring virtuosity is just the method. Elaborate polyphony, complex time signatures, and high-tech chops serve a higher purpose — of taking you to a mysterious place where engrossing scenes unfold all around.
 Read the full review by Alissa Ordabai at hardrockhaven.net

Media/Samples 
Progstreaming
Stream

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Friday, June 26, 2015

Goblin Rebirth "Goblin Rebirth"


Country: Italy
Genre(s)Progressive Rock
LabelRelapse Records
FormatCD, vinyl, digital
Release dateJune 26, 2015 (GER/Benelux/FIN), June 29, 2015 (UK/EU/World), June 30, 2015 (NA)
Tracklist
  1. ReqRequiem For X 04:16
  2. Back In 74 04:23
  3. Book Of Skulls 06:07
  4. Mysterium 04:24
  5. Evil In The Machine 06:17
  6. Forest 06:26
  7. Dark Bolero 04:48
  8. Rebirth 07:36
Line-up
Fabio Pignatelli (Goblin) - Bass
Agostino Marangolo (Goblin) - Drums
Aidan Zammit - Keyboards
Danilo Cherni - Keyboards
Giacomo Anselmi - Guitars

Description/Reviews
Goblin Rebirth is the new band featuring the rhythm section from the original Goblin, Fabio Pignatelli and Agostino Marangolo!  Goblin Rebirth mix the classic horror soundtrack sounds of their former band with a chillingly exciting drive that will thrill prog-heads and score-fiends alike.  Goblin Rebirth is an instantly classic album that tells the tale of an imaginary film about the birth of an evil dwarf-like monster that sits confidently next to the classic Goblin scores like 'Suspiria', 'Profondo Rosso' and 'Tenebre'.
Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Eddie Mulder "Dreamcatcher"


Country: Netherlands
Genre(s)Progressive Rock
LabelOskar
FormatCD, digital
Release dateJune 26, 2015
Tracklist
1. Barren Lands
2. Symbiosis
3. Feeling Good
4. Forgotten Lines
5. Tenderly
6. Hurry Up!
7. Long Ago
8. Questions
9. Dreamcatcher
10. Go With The Flow
11. Waves
12. Sorrow
13. Humble Origin [other version from album Skylge’s Lair by Leap Day]
14. Wandering [other version from album Funfair Fantasy by Trion]

Line-up
Eddie Mulder (Leap Day, Trion, ex-Flamborough Head) – guitars, bass
   With
Gerd Van Engelenburg (Leap Day) – keyboards (2, 5)
Edo Spanninga (Trion, Flamborough Head) – keyboards (1, 7, 11)
Margriet Boomsma (Flamborough Head) – flute (1, 8)
Derk Evert Waalkens (Leap Day) – keyboards (13)

Description/Reviews
Eddie Mulder released his own first solo album. Melodic and melancholic music played with acoustic guitars, some electric guitars with the touch of symfonic keyboards and flute. 
Media/Samples 
Trailer
Progstreaming

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Angel Ontalva "Tierra Quemada"


Country: Spain
Genre(s): Instrumental Jazz, Fusion, Avant Prog
LabelOctoberXart
FormatCD, digital
Release dateJune 26, 2015 (digital), early September 2015 (CD)
Tracklist
1. Tarlaya Ektim Sogan (4:38)
2. No return (7:12)
3. Tierra quemada (3:59)
4. Ugetsu (6:57)
5. El Telele (3:48)
6. Comanche (3:40)
7. Bicycles were quite popular in the Forbidden City (2:31)
8. Cobra Trap (8:59)

Total Time 41:44

Line-up
Ángel Ontalva (October Equus) - guitar, bass
   With
Amanda Pazos Cosse (October Equus) - bass
Víctor Rodríguez (October Equus) - keyboard, melodica
Vasco Trilla (October Equus) - drums, percusions
Pablo Hernández - alto & soprano saxes
Luiz Rocha - clarinets
Marc Egea - hurdy gurdy, duduk
Pablo Ortega (October Equus) - cello

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (2 tracks)

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Thursday, June 25, 2015

KIYO - SEN "Duology"


Country: Japan
Genre(s)Jazz-Rock, Fusion
LabelVEGA Music Entertainment
FormatCD
Release date: June 24, 2015
Tracklist
1. Fundamental (4:19)
2. Supercell (4:12)
3. I Wanna Be (4:54)
4. Willful Cat (6:40)
5. Poriomania (4:54)
6. Hey Fever (4:58)
7. Beck (4:16)
8. 水晶花 (Suishōka)  (6:16)
9. Mood#1 (4:06)
Line-up
Kiyomi Ohtaka - Organ, Keyboards, Programming, Voice
Senri Kawaguchi - Drums, Percussion
   With
Koichi Yabori - Guitar

Media/Samples 
Sampler

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Cymbalic Encounters "Exploration Of The Southern Constellation"


Country: Multinational
Genre(s)Progressive Rock, Jazz-Rock
FormatCD, digital
Release date: June 24, 2015 (Japan)
Tracklist
1. Magnificent Works (6:11)
2. Fictional Works (5:47)
3. Sun In The Night (The Days Will Last Longer) (7:44)
4. Gravitational Pull Into Sunyata (5:28)
5. Falling Off The Map (5:46)
6. Exploration Of The Southern Constellation (4:30)
7. The Gate Of Winter's Past (8:34)
8. Trip To Alpha Syntauri (4:51)

Line-up
Mark Murdock- drums, Alpha Syntauri synthesizer and various synthesizers, percussion and backing vocals
John Goodsall (Brand X)- electric and acoustic guitars
Percy Jones (Brand X)- fretless bass
Hiroyuki Namba - synths and retro synths  (songs 4, 5, 7)
Preston Murdock- lead guitar (solo on songs 1, 2, 8)
Katsumi Yoneda- atmospheric guitar
Dave Juteau - lead vocal, rhythm guitar on bridge (song 7)
Junko Minobe- electric violin
Joe Berger- lead guitar (song 5)
Daniel Kubota- electric sitar (song 4)
Ed Clift- gongs
Mick Stevens- fretless bass (song 3)
Testuya Ueda - fretless bass (bridge on song 4)
Walter Roberts- cello (song 5)

Description/Reviews
 'Exploration of the Southern Constellation' offers some theme-based music with a jazz-rock to progressive rock attributes.

Media/Samples 
Trailer

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Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Telergy "Hypatia"


Country: USA
Genre(s)Progressive Metal/Rock
FormatCD, digital
Release date June 24, 2015 (digital), July 2015 (CD)
Tracklist
  1. Scene, No. 1 - 0:38
  2. Astronomer - 7:16
  3. Scene, No. 2 - 0:37
  4. Philosopher - 11:44
  5. Scene, No. 3 - 0:39
  6. Mathematician - 4:24
  7. Scene, No. 4 - 0:25
  8. Teacher - 6:57
  9. Scene, No. 5 - 0:29
  10. The Burning of the Library of Alexandria - 11:37
  11. Scene, No. 6 - 0:39
  12. Scapegoat - 2:55
  13. Scene, No. 7 - 1:05
  14. Murder - 9:30
  15. Scene, No. 8 - 1:04
  16. Martyr - 3:12
  17. Scene, No. 9 - 0:27
Line-up
Robert McClung: guitar, bass, violin, viola, mandolin, piano, organ, keyboards, flute, balalaika, ukulele, sitar, lap steel, bodhran, percussion, tenor and baritone vocals, mob vocals
    With
Durga McBroom-Hudson (Pink Floyd, Blue Pearl): Hypatia
Bryan Hicks (Trans-Siberian Orchestra): Theon
Corey Glover (Living Colour): Synesius
Blake Carpenter (The Minstrel’s Ghost, Corvus Stone): Cyril
Peter Kelley: Peter the Reader
Almus Kenter: The Professor
Chris Bonito: drums
Kyle Wybranowski: drums
Mike LePond (Symphony X, Silent Assasins): bass
Oliver Holzwarth (Rhapsody of Fire, Blind Guardian): bass
Kristen Miller: cello
Adam Nunes: cello
Tim Nunes: violin, viola
David Ragsdale (Kansas): violin
Anna Phoebe (Jethro Tull, Trans-Siberian Orchstra): violin
Parker Lundgren (Queensryche): guitar
Chris Caffery (Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra): guitar
Angus Clark (Kitaro, Trans-Siberian Orchestra): guitar
Connor Wybranowski: guitar
Oliver Wakeman (Yes): keyboards
Oliver Palotai (Kamelot): keyboards
Mattan Klein: flute
Scott Page (Pink Floyd, Toto, Supertramp): saxophone
Laura Sanscartier: soprano vocals
Tamara Mcshea: soprano vocals
Stephanie Slabon: soprano vocals
Angeliki Theoharris: mezzo vocals
Joshua Collier: tenor vocals
Jaimee Joroff: harp
Jennifer Lanter: French horn
John Halloran: clarinet
Barbara Lafitte: oboe
Mac Ritchey (Esthema): oud
Mike Dolan: mob vocals
Tim Clark: mob vocals
Gary Wheaton: mob vocals

Description/Reviews
Telergy is the brainchild of Robert McClung. He is the mastermind behind the concept and the music. And here on his third release, just as on the other two, he calls upon a stellar cast of musicians and singers to help him execute his musical vision. The who’s who is a long and illustrious list; I count sixty different individuals on the first page of his “The Players” pages. The album as mentioned is based on the story of Hypatia of Alexandria who was a great mathematician, astronomer, philosopher and teacher from ancient times who met a tragic demise in the year 415 AD. As such there are seventeen tracks on the disc, about sixty-three minutes of music. There are nine, what are called scenes where actors apply their voices to dramatize the key story plot points. The other musical tracks range in length from a short 2:45 to a more substantial 11:45. The music itself is all instrumental and tends to fall into the heavy symphonic style. It’s full of lush orchestration as times and heavy crunchy guitar at others. Think of artists such as Transiberian Orchestra or almost anything by Ayreon. These tend to be grand, epic compositions with huge swells of music, laid in at intersecting moments where the core music is rocking at a pretty good clip. At times the music gives off a very classical feel as it builds on the story’s emotional moments. Such is the case with a track like “Mathematician” [4:23] and then at other times a piece borrows more from bands like Emerson Lake and Palmer such as “Philosopher” [11:44] which features plenty of keyboard and guitar interplay. Like any album of this nature, much of your enjoyment will come from feeling some affinity for the story line, but setting that aside, there is some amazingly stirring and dramatic music on display that in many ways is classic orchestrated Progressive Rock. If that’s sounds like something up your alley I urge you to check out Telergy.  (Jerry Lucky)
 Also read track-by-track review by G. W. Hill at musicstreetjournal.com

Media/Samples 
4 tracks

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Arti & Mestieri "Universi Paralleli"


Country: Italy
Genre(s)Progressive Rock
LabelKing Records (CD, Japan), Sony (Italy)
FormatCD, vinyl, digital
Release dateJune 24, 2015 (CD, Japan), September 18, 2015 (Italy)
Tracklist
1. Alter Ego - 6:31
2. Dune - 3:44
3. Pacha Mama - 3:00
4. L'ultimo imperatore - 6:57
5. Finisterre - 5:21
6. Johann - 2:05
7. Restare immobilo - 3:59
8. Borea - 4:42
9. Pandora - 3:40
10. Linea d'ombra - 4:22
11. Comunicazione primordiale - 2:37
12. La luce il fondo al tunnel - 6:05
13. La porta dal cielo (Japanese Bonus track) - 3:21

Line-up
Furio Chirico: Drums, Percussion
Gigi Venegoni: Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Keyboards
Marco Roagna: Acoustic and Electric Guitars
Roberto Puggioni: Fretless Bass and Bass
Iano Nicolo: Vocals
    With
Piero Mortara (Venegoni & Co.): Accordion, Piano, Keyboards
Lautaro Acosta: Violin
Arturo Vitale: Soprano Sax
Mel Collins (King Crimson): Soprano Sax and Flute

Media/Samples 
Alter Ego

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The Aristocrats "Tres Caballeros"


Country: Multinational
Genre(s): Instrumental Fusion
FormatCD, digital
Release dateJune 23, 2015
Tracklist
  1. Stupid 7
  2. Jack’s Back
  3. Texas Crazypants
  4. ZZ Top
  5. Pig’s Day Off
  6. Smuggler’s Corridor
  7. Pressure Relief
  8. The Kentucky Meat Shower
  9. Through The Flower
Line-up
Guthrie Govan - guitar
Bryan Beller - bass
Marco Minnemann - drums

Media/Samples 
Preview

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Kingcrow “Eidos”


Country: Italy
Genre(s)Progressive Metal/Rock
LabelSensory Records(Laser’s Edge)
FormatCD, digital
Release dateJune 23, 2015
Tracklist
01. The Moth
02. Adrift
03. Slow Down
04. Open Sky
05. Fading Out Pt. IV
06. The Deeper Divide
07. On The Barren Ground
08. At The Same Pace
09. Eidos
10. If Only

Line-up
Diego Marchesi - Lead & backing vocals
Diego Cafolla - Guitar & backing vocals
Ivan Nastasi - Guitar & backing vocals
Thundra Cafolla - Drums & Percussions
Cristian Della Polla - Keyboards & Synths
Francesco D'Errico - Bass

Description/Reviews
Opening up with the pre-release single The Moth, the album quickly shows its base sound, an eclectic mixture of prog and metal, but not quite prog metal in the traditional sense. By showing instrumental capability without showing it off with unnecessary wankery, Kingcrow falls right in that special middle zone occupied by the likes of Porcupine Tree and Riverside.Though they do experiment with sounds, like on the techno-muffled Slow Down, they never sound as if they’re experimenting, all the work comes across as polished and professional. As to the concept, Slow Down also delivers the heart of it, a typical scenario of us as a race being too absorbed in our technology and being pulled in deeper and deeper. The depth of the concept will take many more listens for me to fully absorb, as most of the best concept albums do. 
 Read the full review at ladyobscure.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp
The Moth
At The Same Pace

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Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Dylan Furr "Juxtaposition"


Country: USA
Genre(s)Progressive Metal
FormatCD, digital
Release dateJune 23, 2015
Tracklist
  1. Awakened - 5:35
  2. Possessed - 6:11
  3. Within the Depths - 6:03
  4. Convincingness - 6:09
  5. Manifest - 5:57
  6. Retention - 5:41
  7. Cold Sweat - 7:09
  8. Going the Distance - 2:08
  9. Hidden Motives - 5:37
  10. Unveil (Bonus Track) - 4:33
Line-up
Dylan Furr: Guitars, Fretless Bass, Solos, Vocals, Keys, Piano
   With
Max Lobetta: Drums & Percussion
Dave Reffett (9)
Miles Dimitri Baker: Guitar (10)

Media/Samples 
2 tracks (Bandcamp, name your price)
Stream

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Sleep Terror "Unihemispheria"


Country: USA
Genre(s)Instrumental Tech/Extreme Progressive Metal
FormatCD, digital
Release dateJune 23, 2015
Tracklist
  1. Unihemispheria 02:06
  2. Anabolic Salvation 03:22
  3. Idiopathic Psychogenesis 02:08
  4. Bruxist 02:24
  5. Dual Proprioception 02:01
  6. Somatoform Vortex 01:59
  7. Hypnogogic Qualm 01:28
  8. Diurnal Enuresis 01:31
  9. Probing Tranquility 02:38
  10. Dipsomaniacal Chronotherapy 02:56
  11. Hypersomnia Rationale 02:24
  12. Somnambulistic Pedophile 02:45
  13. Prodromal Nocturia 04:42
Line-up
Luke Jaeger - all instruments

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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My Refuge "A Matter Of Supremacy"


Country: Italy
Genre(s)Power Metal, Progressive Metal
LabelBakerteam Records
FormatCD, digital
Release dateJune 23, 2015 (digital), July 7, 2015 (CD)
Tracklist
1. A Storm Is Coming 04:52
2. The Cage 04:12
3. Calling of the Wind 04:43
4. Endless Night 05:37
5. Living in Anger 04:47
6. This Wall 04:46
7. The Raven 05:34
8. Empty Room 04:30
9. On Wings of Wax 05:05
10. Somewhere 04:17

Line-up
Salvatore Chimenti - Bass
Valerio Ferrari - Drums
Simone Dettore - Guitars
Mauro Paietta - Guitars
Moz - Vocals

Description/Reviews
The band works from the solid foundation of classic melodic heavy metal and throws in the speed of power metal at times. Their sound can seem dense, even epic at times, with combination of twin guitar harmony in the riffage. This in turn is given additional power by a bombastic rhythm section; the drums are quite present and assertive.
Also, whether by guitar synths or in studio embellishment, there seems a subtle attempt at orchestration underneath, but my ears could be playing tricks on me. Then there's an abundance of ripping and soaring guitar leads, many in the neo-classical tradition. Mostly, however, they err on the side of harmony and following the melody rather than some wonkery of Malsteem widdling. Then there's vocalist Moz, yeah, he has only one name, not as cool as Bono, but it does sound like the ring name for a professional wrestler. Moz sings clean, has good melody, but often seems like he's fighting to stay above the music. With these elements considered, fundamentally, most everything turns on the guitar lines.
 Read the full review by Craig Hartranft at dangerdog.com

Media/Samples 
A Storm Is Coming
The Cage
Living In Anger
The Raven

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Stalingrad "Polaris"


Country: Spain
Genre(s): Instrumental Post Metal, Black Metal
Formatdigital
Release dateJune 23, 2015
Tracklist
01. Aquí És On S'apaguen Les Llums (06:02)
02. Ursa Minor (05:57)
03. L'oceà En Silenci (09:09)
04. Cerambycidae (02:46)
05. Polaris (04:34)
06. Amagat Dels Colors Del Dia (02:57)
07. Mai Tornaràs A Veure Caure La Pluja (06:00)
08. Ursa Major (12:25)

Line-up
Stalingrad - everything

Description/Reviews
Following the path that was opened with the previous EP "Aforismes", this new full length explores depressive sounds that come close to black metal, mantaining the prog feeling that started Stalingrad five years ago.

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Sun Blood Stories "Twilight Midnight Morning"


Country: USA
Genre(s) Psychedelic, Space Rock
FormatCD, digital, cassette
Release dateJune 23, 2015
Tracklist
1. Palace Mountain Mirage - 5:27
2. West the Sun - 8:30
3. Found Reasons Found Out - 4:35
4. Witch Wind - 4:16
5. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Space - 1:40
6. Nightremor - 4:44
7. Time Like Smoke - 7:21
8. Moon Song (Waxing) - 3:32
9. Misery Is Nebulous - 6:56

Line-up
Amber Pollard: lap steel guitar, vocals
Ben Kirby: guitars
Nik Kososik: bass
John Füst: drums
Judah Claffey: viola

Description/Reviews
At the moment in Sun Blood Stories‘ second full-length where it seems most likely that you finally have the album figured out — that’s when it turns. Twilight Midnight Morning, as a title, might well describe the varied moods of the release’s 10 tracks/50 minutes, but the actual front-to-back listening experience, from the count of three that seems to signal a dip into hypnosis to the fading guitar echoes that close, is more complex than a linear progression of hours, and experimental flourish of effects-laden viola from Judah Claffey, slide guitar, ambient feedback, drones, swirls, keys — whatever it might be — is never far off. There are stretches of Twilight Midnight Morning where the Boise, Idaho, five-piece revel in flat-out gorgeous post-rock melody-wash, as on the brooding contemplation of “Found Reasons Found Out,” with swirling guitar, dual vocal croon and a wide-open structure that, like much of the record, takes nothing away from its memorability or lessens the impression made.
 Read the full review at theobelisk.net

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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District 97 "In Vaults"


Country: USA
Genre(s)Progressive Rock
LabelLaser's Edge
FormatCD, digital
Release dateJune 23, 2015
Tracklist
1. Snow Country
2. Death By A Thousand Cuts
3. Handlebars
4. A Lottery
5. All’s Well That Ends Well
6. Takeover
7. On Paper
8. Learn From Danny
9. Blinding Vision

Line-up
Leslie Hunt - Lead and Backing Vocals
Rob Clearfield - Keyboards, Guitar
Jim Tashjian - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Patrick Mulcahy - Bass
Jonathan Schang - Drums, Percussion

Media/Samples 
Trailer
Takeover

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