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Monday, August 31, 2015

Miosis "Caripito"


Country: Sweden
Genre(s)Alternative Progressive Metal / Rock
Formatdigital
Release dateAugust 31, 2015
Tracklist
1. Inferno (7:59)
2. Scotoma (10:17)
3. The Moth (4:57)
4. Zwe[ii] (10:51)

Total Time 34:04

Line-up
Mattias Axelsson
Fabian Ericson
Mikael Mangs Edwardsson
Michael Andersson
Erik Skoglund

Description/Reviews
All in all Miosis plays soft and relaxing progressive rock, with some elements which remind one of Deftones or Karnivool. The songs are different but they match together and there are no big experiments in them. There are some outstanding parts of clean, ambient sections, such can be found on “Zwe[ii]”, which also builds up as “The moth”.
Caripito feels very similar to the current album of Riverside. Their kind of climaxes in the songs is built up in the same way. Instead of breaking out, they are growing and fading. You can clearly hear an intense flow within every song and between the songs. “Inferno” profits from this fact and proves a lot of potential to be kept in mind. This album is not heavy on any side, but it is very groovy and rocky in every song and even sometimes it gets psychedelic.
 Read the full review by Rodney Fuchs at itdjents.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Asleep In The Stars "Stasis"


Country: USA
Genre(s)Instrumental Progressive Metal
Formatdigital
Release dateAugust 31, 2015
Tracklist
1. Gliese (5:37)
2. Jet Setting (5:45)
3. Day Night Cycles (6:09)
4. Solar Sails (6:38)
5. Complications With Deceleration (2:56)
6. Contested Transmissions (4:56)
7. Chariots (4:19)
8. Energy Harvesting (4:12)
9. Stasis (3:29)

Total time 44:01

Line-up
Phil Kalas: 8 String Guitar, 5 String Bass
Jim Benton: Electronic Drums
Brian Peters: Synths, Programming:

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Planet Epiphany "Won't You Come In?"


Country: UK
Genre(s)Progressive Metal/Rock
Formatdigital
Release dateAugust 31, 2015
Tracklist
1. Won't You Come In? (5:38)
2. Choke (5:40)
3. Cursed Land (5:20)
4. One Life (3:08)
5. Sit Down Stay Down (4:31)
6. Wish I Could Sleep (4:46)
7. Just Me (3:19)
8. You're Like Flies (5:20)
9. F.U.F (4:28)
10. Demon Maul (4:28)
11. One Moment Of Violence (inst. Bonus Track) (3:21)

Total time 49:59

Line-up
Mattos Maul - All instruments, Vocals

Description/Reviews
While dwelling in the realms of progressive metal (in a lighter, slower sence) and artful rock with some dark weight upon it, courtesy of the heavily distorted guitar, Mattos really shows off his talent by imposing a diverse, compelling and highly emotional musical trip.
One of the first things that stand out in this concept album, that portrays a tumultuous section of the musician's existence, is the way the vocals are addressed. In fact, the vox factor is one that pushes this record ahead of its genre counterparts, as the emotions revealed, the way the artist is able to consistently match the singing style with the feelings and emotions that populate the lyrics, the thoughtful vocal games and the sometimes odd tone signature provided, all adds to one of the outmost winning points of the album. But then there is also the great bass playing, the clinical guitar riffs (heavy, surgical, many times cold and dark), the real prog rock keys...everything combining to create a surprising tight record. One that has the capacity to keep surprising. Yes!, the other great winning factor of this release is that the listener is always kept in the dark on what is coming next right around the corner. The music here is never linear, never déjà-vu!
 Read the full review by Nuno at proggnosis.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Haamoja "Natural Evolution"


Country: Taiwan
Genre(s): Instrumental Progressive Jazz Rock/Metal, Fusion
FormatCD, digital
Release dateAugust 31, 2015 (digital)
Tracklist
1. Return To Zero (3:11) 
2. Light Up (3:10) 
3. Sweet Bubbles (3:10) 
4. Take Me To The Future (3:12) 
5. Deep Blue (feat. Plini) (3:24) 
6. The Guiding Stars (3:43) 
7. Woah! (feat. Matt Harnett) (4:01) 
8. Adrift (2:41) 
9. Feel It All Around (feat. Anund Vikingstad) (3:03) 
10. Thanks A Ton (3:17) 
11. The Dust Of Time (4:18) 
12. Creativity (3:15) 

Line-up
Yao Ting Lee - Guitars, Programming
    With
Plini - Guitar Solo (5)
Matt Harnett (Kardia)  - Guitar Solo (7)
Anund Vikingstad (Umpfel)  - Guitar Solo (9)

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Saturday, August 29, 2015

Shadowkiller "Until The War Is Won"


Country: USA
Genre(s)Progressive Power Metal
LabelPure Steel Records
FormatCD
Release dateAugust 28, 2015
Tracklist
1 Flames Of War
2 Generation Strong
3 Legacy
4 A Price For Freedom
5 Staring Into Oblivion
6 Survival
7 The Blood Of Many
8 Until The War Is Won
9 We Stand Unbroken

Line-up
Joe Liszt - Guitar, Vocals
Marc Petak - Guitar
Dan Lynch - Bass
Gary Neff - Drums

Description/Reviews
Cutting to the chase, at the foundation of Shadowkiller's sound is traditional heavy metal, the American side of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. Toss in some speed and gallop, and Shadowkiller ventures into classic power metal. These suggest certain elements, all present in their sound. Twin guitar harmony, something natural to the genre. I would even suggest that this album is a very guitar-forward, from the abundance of riffs to the powerful sizzling leads. Also, the tight rhythm section that doesn't merely keep the beat, but keeps things charging along.
 Read the full review by Craig Hartranft at dangerdog.com

Media/Samples 
Survival
Teaser

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Punaisen Kuningattaren Periaate "Kaksi suuntaa"


Country: Finland
Genre(s)Progressive Rock
LabelSvart Records
FormatCD, vinyl, digital
Release dateAugust 28, 2015
Tracklist
1. Elisabeth (4:33)
2. Vuoristoratoja (5:44)
3. White Noise (4:27)
4. Kaksi Suuntaa (7:07)
5. Punainen lanka (4:45)
6. Nälkä (4:26)
7. Musta koira (4:37)
8. Laboratorio (5:33)

Line-up
Petri Miettinen
Lauri Vehkala
Jaakko Niemelä
Matias Topi
Mokka Laitinen
Jallu Junnilainen
Ville Tuohimaa

Description/Reviews
PKP’s sound is diverse. There’s progressive rock with a jazzy feel. There are influences from old British and Finnish progressive rock that are brought up to date with a contemporary feel. From 60’s pop psychedelia to 80’s and 90’s American Alternative Rock, PKP’s music is rich with subtle flavors.
The songs are sung in rich, poetic Finnish. Lead singer Mokka Laitinen’s voice is edgy and unique. The bands songs are diverse, as are the lyrics, which tell tales of the subconscious, as well as the troubles of this worlds misfits.Read the full review by at

Media/Samples 
Musta koira
Stream

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Hills "Frid"


Country: Sweden
Genre(s)Psychedelic
LabelRocket Recordings
FormatCD, vinyl, digital
Release dateAugust 28, 2015
Tracklist
1. Kollektiv (4:43)
2. National Drone (7:47)
3. Anukthal Is Here (5:53)
4. Milarepa (3:01)
5. Och Solen Sänkte Sig Röd (10:46)
6. Death Will Find A Way (4:45)

Line-up
Pelle - guitar, vocals
Hanna - drums
Bob - bass
Kalle - guitar
Tore - organ, vocals

Description/Reviews
... opening track ‘Kollektiv’ zaps you into an alternate reality constructed upon layers and layers of reverberating instrumentation. While not overwhelming, the psychedelic sound is immersive and has a grand sense of scale. The stereo pan of the guitar on ‘Kollektiv’ makes you feel like you may well be orbiting it – such is the power of Hills’ aural LSD.
 Read the full review by Matt Watts at gigsoup.co.uk

Media/Samples 
Kollektiv
Milarepa
Bandcamp

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Friday, August 28, 2015

Samuel Hällkvist "Variety of Live"


Country: Denmark
Genre(s)Jazz, Jazz-Rock, Fusion
LabelBoogiePost Recordings
Formatdigital
Release dateAugust 28, 2015
Tracklist
  1. Greyer Melange
  2. Chord: Horror Vacui
  3. Mirror Garden
  4. Klopotec
  5. Heru Ra-ha / Road
  6. Music For The Maraca Triplet
  7. In Transfer
  8. Spooky Country
  9. Cluck Old Hen
  10. In girum imus nocte ecce et consumimur igni
Line-up
Samuel Hällkvist - guitars, devices, MIDI programming
Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson) - traps & buttons
Qarin Wikström - voice & keys
Guy Pratt (Pink Floyd, Icehouse) - bass
Stefan Pasborg - drums
    With:
Richard Barbieri (Porcupine Tree, David Sylvian, Japan, No-Man) - keyboards, synthesizers, programming.
Mocca 木歌 - voice
Yazz Ahmed - trumpet
Denys Baptiste - sax
Yukiko Taniguchi - voice

Description/Reviews
In 2014, following his 2012 studio release Variety of Loud, Swedish guitarist Samuel Hällkvist made the decision to tour Denmark and Sweden ...
It was, however, almost a year later that Hällkvist decided on his preferred artistic route for the recordings of the gigs. Rather than put out a straightforward live album, he would use these performance accounts as a basis for a fusion with studio creativity, inviting a number of guest contributions. The result is a powerful, immersive experience of rock, prog, jazz, funk and electronica, suggesting the busy, instrumental sound worlds of  - amongst others - King Crimson, Peter Gabriel and Nik Bärtsch.
 Read the full review by Adrian Pallant at londonjazznews.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Simulacrum "Sky Divided"


Country: Finland
Genre(s)Progressive Metal
LabelInverse Records
FormatCD
Release dateAugust 28, 2015
Tracklist
  1. Timelapse (02:50)
  2. Behind The Belt Of Orion (05:32)
  3. Broken (05:51)
  4. Embrace The Animal Within (05:00)
  5. Deep In The Trenches (05:25)
  6. The Abomination (10:57)
  7. Sky Divided (05:50)
  8. Enter Hyperion (06:01)
  9. A New Beginning (14:19) 
Line-up
Niklas Broman  - Vocals
Christian “Chrism” Pulkkinen - Keyboards
Nicholas “Solomon” Pulkkinen - Guitars
Petri Mäkilä - Guitars
Olli Hakala - Bass, Chapman Stick
Henri Kallio - Drums

Description/Reviews
Through and through Sky Divided is a sci-fi album meant to tell a story and it does just that. Never slowing down for too long, Simulacrum keep the head banging edge of metal and find a way to combine and find a happy medium between the metal and the symphonic components that make up the album. Sci-fi metal and being as progressive as possible is the very ethos of this band, and after their last release this is a good transformation. 
 Read the full review at cadavergarden.wordpress.com

Media/Samples 
Deep in the Trenches
Sky Divided

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Emerald Mind "Civilization"


Country: Russia
Genre(s)Progressive Symphonic Power Metal
FormatCD, digital
Release dateAugust 28, 2015
Tracklist
  1. Another Life 05:43
  2. Secrets 04:35
  3. Astronaut In Her Space 05:07
  4. Theater 05:29
  5. Civilization 04:37
  6. Save Me For The Moon 06:01
  7. When Storm Clouds Talk 05:26
  8. Early Morning 05:49
  9. Neverend 06:49
Line-up
Svetlana Vysotskaya - vocals
Alexey Vaulin - guitars, keyboard programming
   With:
Artem Zhibar - drums
Ivan Gritskevitch - bass guitars
Konstantin Stukov - trumpet (8)

Description/Reviews
The second album of power/progressive metal band Emerald Mind with beautiful academic vocal of Svetlana Vysotskaya. This album contains our thoughts about nature and our home Earth. About our role in life. It contains our experiences about growing up and loss of magic that surrounds us. These are our dreams about other worlds. This is our thoughts about potential that hidden in us. The fact that our dreams and fantasies are real as far as we believe in it.
Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Tad Morose "St. Demonius"


Country: Sweden
Genre(s)Progressive Metal, Power Metal
LabelDespotz Records
FormatCD
Release dateAugust 28, 2015
Tracklist
01. Bow To The Reaper's Blade
02. Forlorn
03. Where Ignorance Reigns
04. Remain
05. Black Fire Rising
06. Day Of Reckoning
07. The Shadows Play
08. Darkness Prevail
09. Fear Subside
10. Dream Of Memories
11. The World Is Growing Old
12. Your Own Demise

Line-up
Christer 'Krunt' Andersson - Guitars
Peter Morén - Drums
Ronny Hemlin - Vocals
Tommi Karpanen - Bass
Kenneth Jonsson - Guitars

Media/Samples 
Forlorn
Your Own Demise

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Dw. Dunphy "Test Test Test"


Country: USA
Genre(s) Instrumental Progressive Rock
Formatdigital
Release dateAugust 28, 2015
Tracklist
  1. That Never Works 04:59
  2. Shootout At The Spaghetti Factory (or, Do Breadsticks Come With That, Hombre?) 04:19
  3. Tsuburaya 05:17
  4. Polymorph 04:25
  5. Two Empty Rooms 09:10
  6. Hacienda 01:31
  7. Mr. Burning Suit (Instrumental Version) 05:45
  8. Blue Wire Green Wire 06:27
  9. The Radial Night (Instrumental Version) 04:54
Line-up
Dw. Dunphy - everything

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (name your price)

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Nemo "Coma"


Country: France
Genre(s)Progressive Rock
LabelQuadrifonic
FormatCD, digital, vinyl
Release dateAugust 28, 2015
Tracklist
1. Le Coma des Mortels (11.55)
2. Train Fantôme (9.08)
3. Comaïne (6.04)
4. St Guy (8.25)
5. Tu n'es pas Seul (7.56)
6. Coma (12.40)

Line-up
Jean Pierre Louveton - guitar, vocals
Guillaume Fontaine - keyboards, vocals
Ollivier Long - bass
Jean Baptiste Itier - drums

Media/Samples 
Sampler
Comaïne

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Maurizio di Tollo "Memorie Di Uno Sparring Partner"


Country: Italy
Genre(s)Art Rock
LabelAMS
FormatCD, digital
Release dateAugust 28, 2015 (digital), September 15, 2015 (CD)
Tracklist
  1. Sempronio - 5:42
  2. Io e le cose - 5:48
  3. Il cielo e' un uomo solo - 5:06
  4. La vita buona - 6:33
  5. I padroni del vapore - 4:20
  6. Se questo e' l'amore - 4:37
  7. Il poeta - 5:54
  8. Amore mio, hai ragione - 4:28
  9. A occhi chiusi - 3:10
  10. La paura - 7:26
Line-up
Maurizio di Tollo (Distillerie di Malto, Fabio Zuffanti, Höstsonaten, La Maschera Di Cera, Moongarden): Vocals, Piano, Synth, Moog, Programming
  With
Christian Marras (Luca Scherani, Arena Di Tollo Marras): Bass
Eros Cristiani (Mauro Pagani): Piano, Synth, Programming
Andrea Pica: Guitar
Ged Lynch (David Rhodes, Peter Gabriel, Random Hold, David Sylvian): Drums, Percussion
David Rhodes (Peter Gabriel, Random Hold, Talk Talk): Guitar
Roberto Gualdi (PFM, Alessandro Farinella, Voodoo Hill): Drums
Nicola Oliva: Guitar
Andrea Cavalieri (Luca Olivieri): Contrabass
Ernesto Nobili: Classic & Acoustic Guitars
Nico Casu: Trumpet
Giux Mura: Back Vocals
Fabrizio Barale (Luca Olivieri): Guitar

Media/Samples 
Io E Le Cose

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Barracuda Bomb "Mind Of Construction, Hands Of Destruction"


Country: USA
Genre(s)Instrumental Progressive Metal
Formatdigital
Release dateAugust 28, 2015
Tracklist
1. Oneironaut (5:22)
2. Paths Explored (4:16)
3. Soaring Above The Trees (4:46)
4. Mind Of Construction (6:33)
5. Hands Of Destruction (6:21)
6. Buried Beneath The Soil (4:24)
7. Visiting Memories (4:10)
8. Architect (9:06)

Total time 44:58

Line-up
Austin Bridge

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp ( name your price)

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Dweezil Zappa "Via Zammata"


Country: USA
Genre(s)Eclectic Progressive Rock
FormatCD, digital
Release date: August 28, 2015 (Pledgers), October 2015
Tracklist
1. Funky 15
2. Rat Race
3. Dragon Master
4. Malkovich
5. On Fire
6. Nothing
7. Hummin'
8. Truth
9. What If
10. Jaws Of Life
11. Just The Way She Is
12. Billionaire's Son

Line-up
Dweezil Zappa - guitars, vocals, glissentar, oud, banjo
   With
Kurt Morgan - bass, background vocals (4)
Ryan Brown - drums, percussion, background vocals (4)
Sheila Gonzalez - saxophones, flute, background vocals
Chris Norton - keyboards, background vocals
Ben Thomas - background vocals
Shawn Albro - vocals (3)
John Malkovich - vocals (4)
Kendal Cuneo - trumpet (1, 6, 12)
Sioned Eleri - clarinet (1, 12)
Jason Camelio - trombone (1)
Songbirds (Gabbi Moreno, Danielle DeAndrea, Erica Canales) - harmony vocals (2, 7, 12)
Megan Zappa, Zola Zappa, Ceylon Zappa, Mia Marsicano, Mathilda Zappa Doucette - harmony vocals (5)
Danielle DeAndrea - background vocals (5, 10)
Emily Elbert - background vocals (10)

Media/Samples 
Trailer

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Humus Fuga "Lanieka"


Country: Guatemala
Genre(s): Instrumental Progressive Rock
Formatdigital
Release dateAugust 28, 2015
Tracklist
1. Manipulador de fuego (3:45)
2. La Rapsodia de Maxwell (8:28)
3. Fosfenos (4:49)
4. Neblina (5:56)
5. Dadástruccion (7:52)
6. Petricor (5:18)
7. Funky Rocks (8:18)

Total Time : 43:06

Line-up
César Roulet - Guitar
Johan Regalado - Bass
Darwin Cabrera - Drums
   With
Tono Díaz - Guitar (5)

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Cavern "Outsiders"


Country: USA
Genre(s): Instrumental Stoner, Post Rock/Metal
LabelGrimoire Records
FormatCD, cassette, digital
Release dateAugust 25, 2015
Tracklist
  1. Garrett 05:58
  2. Lotus Eater 03:45
  3. Outsiders 06:04
  4. Hawkeye 05:01
  5. Ithican 04:52
  6. Braddock 04:55
  7. The Crook and the Flail 03:15
  8. Cloud Chaser 05:59
  9. Elevator Karma 01:55
Line-up
Nick Harkins - Bass
Stephen Schrock - Drums
Zach Harkins - Guitar

Description/Reviews
This album, their first fully instrumental effort, sees them moving in a more progressive direction than last year’s grittier Tales of Ruin without losing any of the heaviness. Tracks like “Hawkeye” and “Cloud Chaser” are on par with Red-era Baroness, with heavy influences from Mastodon and Russian Circles coming into play throughout. Without vocals to hide behind, the music opens up, revealing more innovative and mature songwriting. Since 2013’s self-titled debut these boys have grown, and they’ve brought their sound with them. (Kelsey Chapstick at metalsucks.net)

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Mladen Dragovic "Skylights"


Country: Serbia
Genre(s) Instrumental, Jazz-Rock, Fusion
Formatdigital
Release dateAugust 25, 2015
Tracklist
1. Skylights (6:42)
2. Limitless (6:13)
3. Element (5:21)
4. Hero (6:48)
5. All (8:39)

Total time 33:43

Line-up
Mladen Dragović - composing, arranging, programming, drums
   With
Adi Imeri - guitar solo on "Skylights"
Milena Dragović - vocal solo on "Skylights"
Sloba Dragović - piano solo on "Limitless"
Srđan Tanasković - keys solo on "Element"
Damir Imeri - keys solo on "Hero"
Dino Imeri - piano on "All"

Description/Reviews
"Skylights" was guided by power, popular culture, emotional connection and melancholic happiness, trying to portrait the unity and the musical beauty of the Universe and display order in chaos. Sounding modern and vintage at the same time, it could be described as a blend of synth, jazz fusion, rock, gospel and, in times, ambient music.

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Tacoma Narrows Bridge Disaster "Wires/Dream\Wires"


Country: UK
Genre(s)Instrumental Post Metal / Rock
FormatCD, digital
Release dateAugust 24, 2015
Tracklist
01. Oko 10:12
02. Consume 06:38
03. Orogenic 07:33
04. Wires/Dream\Wires 07:31
05. Antirazor 02:00
06. Murasame 05:33
07. Nexus 06:28
08. Disposable 07:09
09. Passing 09:03

Line-up
Drew Vernon - Guitars, Vocals (9)
Adam Paul - Guitars
Tom Granica - Bass
Alex Rainbow - Drums

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Monday, August 24, 2015

Bearded Youth Quest "Yatta!"


Country: UK
Genre(s): Instrumental Math Rock
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release dateAugust 24, 2015 (digital, vinyl)
Tracklist
01. Sports Bread 03:38
02. Stuck In the Mud 03:58
03. Banana Flip Flop 03:04
04. Percy 03:25
05. Cardboard Armour 03:03
06. Bjork Scratchings 03:58
07. Quantumplation 03:47
08. U=Nobody 03:29
09. Stone Hench 04:39
10. Dad Kisser 03:52

Line-up
Sam Marsh - Guitars
Perry Sears - Guitars
James Hollins - Guitars
Jolyon Veitch - Bass
Andy Baker - Drums

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Saturday, August 22, 2015

Ghost "Meliora"



Country: Sweden
Genre(s)Hard Rock, Prog Related
LabelLoma Vista
FormatCD, digital, vinyl
Release dateAugust 21, 2015
Tracklist
  1. Spirit 05:15
  2. From the Pinnacle to the Pit 04:02
  3. Cirice 06:02
  4. Spöksonat 00:56
  5. He Is 04:13
  6. Mummy Dust 04:07
  7. Majesty 05:24
  8. Devil Church 01:06
  9. Absolution 04:50
  10. Deus in Absentia 05:37
Line-up
Nameless Ghoul Bass
Nameless Ghoul Drums
Nameless Ghoul Guitars (lead)
Nameless Ghoul Guitars (rhythm)
Nameless Ghoul Keyboards
Papa Emeritus III Vocals

Description/Reviews
Unlike the previous two Ghost records, Meliora doesn't take its time to kick in. After 30 seconds of a pulsating organ, distant choir, theremin and glockenspiel playing what sounds like the intro passage to a 1980's horror flick, the band comes in full force with a headbanger of a riff and Papa Emeritus III's familiarly eerie voice.
One thing that's immediately noticeable about "Spirit" is the strong keyboard presence and heavily layered vocals in the chorus. It's a song that grows in instrumentation as it goes on, yet keeps all the different components of it easily discernible. It's worth noting that Ghost kept its promise of making this record heavier as well, as "Spirit" errs much more on the side of Opus Eponymous than it does Infestissumam. Think of this song as appreciating the Satanic empire Papa Emeritus III has come to reign over as a whole. Now, to enter the church…
 Read the full track-by-track review by Greg Kennelty at metalinjection.net

Media/Samples 
Stream

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Quicksilver Night "Reliquary"


Country: USA
Genre(s)Progressive Rock
LabelQuicksilver Night Productions
FormatCD, digital
Release dateAugust 21, 2015
Tracklist
01. Ultima Forsan 02:50
02. Harlequin Domino 03:57
03. Sojourner 05:04
04. Exegesis 04:18
05. Nihil Tactum 04:13
06. Legerdemain 04:32
07. Chrysalis 06:19
08. Leviathan 05:18
09. The Juggernaut Caprice 04:46

Line-up
Meagan Finning (née Smith) – Vocals (2, 3, 4, 7, 8)
Al “Lavaman” Murdoch – Lead & Solo Guitars (3, 5, 6, 7), additional bass guitar (3)
Chelsie Owens – Vocals (1)
Christopher Lawrence – Flute (3)
DeVé Sherielle – Vocals (5)
Farzad Golpayegani – Lead & Solo Guitars (9)
Warren Russell – Guitars, everything else

Description/Reviews
With heavily interwoven melodies and lyrics that address topics that don’t usually surface in popular music, “Reliquary” is an eclectic album of songs with a lot of the hallmarks of progressive rock – such as exotic modalities and composite meters – but it is music that eschews extended song structures in favor of a more concise compositional approach. 

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Big Hogg "Big Hogg"


Country: UK
Genre(s): Eclectic, Canterbury, Psychedelic 
Format: vinyl, CD, digital
Release date: August 21, 2015
Tracklist
1. When We Were Young (4:10)
2. Dog People (5:31)
3. Turn To Prayer (5:50)
4. Rabbit Plateau (3:53)
5. Duke Of Shakespeare Street (3:59)
6. Bad Salad Boogie (4:06)
7. Lucky And Bobby (2:53)
8. Remember Handsome Tony? (4:57)
9. The Executioner (6:05)
10. For R.W. (6:11)

Total time 47:35

Line-up
Justin Lumsden - Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Vocals
Richard Merchant - Trumpet, Cornet and Tenor Horn
Ross McCrae - Trombone
Sophie Sexon - Flute and Vocals
Alasdair C Mitchell - Bass Guitar and Vocals
Nick Gaughan - Drums and Percussion
    With
Ian Sexon - Spoken Word (Track 2)
Sybren Renema - Skronk Baritone (Tracks 2, 3, 6 & 9)
Lynsey Payne - Alto Sax (Tracks 2, 3, 8 & 9)
Stephen Mulhearn - Hammond Organ and Fender Rhodes Piano (Tracks 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 & 9)

Description/Reviews
Hailing from Glasgow, Big Hogg are a six-piece whose eponymous debut displays a truly eclectic attitude. With no need for 15-minute epics, the band’s music combines folk, jazz, chamber music, psychedelic and Canterbury influences (the album’s closing song is dedicated to Robert Wyatt) in an exciting blend that never sounds derivative. A special mention is also deserved by Julia Jeffery’s striking, Gothic-themed artwork. (Raffaella Berry at weekendprog.blogspot.com)

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Friday, August 21, 2015

Elephant9 with Reine Fiske "Silver Mountain"


Country: Norway
Genre(s) Jazz-Rock, Psychedelic, Fusion
LabelRune Grammofon
FormatCD, vinyl
Release date: August 21, 2015
Tracklist
  1. Occidentali
  2. You Are The Sunshine Of My Life
  3. Abhartach
  4. Kungsten
  5. The Above Ground Sound
Line-up
Ståle Storløkken
Nicolai Hængsle Eilertsen
Torstein Lofthus
Reine Fiske (Mororpsycho)

Description/Reviews
Elephant9 is not your ordinary jazz band, often being named as Norway´s best live band - surely quite rare for an instrumental band - they are equally popular in jazz and rock circles. On this, their fourth studio album, Elephant9 once again join forces with Reine Fiske - the quite excellent Swedish guitarist from Dungen and The Amazing - for an epic slice of mindblowing modern rock´n´jazz prog psychedelia. "Silver Mountain" is their finest album so far, where all the parts fall into place. The core trio is still Ståle Storløkken, Nikolai Hængsle Eilertsen and Torstein Lofthus, three of Norway´s finest musicians. Guest Reine Fiske brings another dimension to the band and is now so integrated that he might as well be considered a permanent member. "Silver Mountain" is an epic double album containing five tracks between 10 and 22 minutes, four tracks being originals in addition to the most spaced out version of "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" you´re likely to encounter.

Media/Samples 
Occidentali

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Royal Hunt "Devil’s Dozen"


Country: Denmark
Genre(s)Progressive Metal
LabelFrontiers Music
FormatCD, digital
Release dateAugust 21, 2015
Tracklist
  1. So Right So Wrong
  2. May You Never (Walk Alone)
  3. Heart On A Platter
  4. A Tear In The Rain
  5. Until The Day
  6. Riches To Rags
  7. Way Too Late
  8. How Do You Know (bonus track)
Line-up
DC Cooper: vocals
Andre Andersen: keyboards
Andreas Passmark: bass
Jonas Larsen: guitars
Andreas Habo Johansson: drums

Description/Reviews
As anyone remotely familiar with the band will know their music is heavy on dramatics and bulging with symphonic mayhem.  Opening tracks So Right, So Wrong and May You Never (Walk Alone) far from disappoint in that department.  All the groups classic elements are there, majestic choruses twined with rambunctious power.  Although Andersen’s larger than life keyboards dominate most of the songs, Jonas Larsen’s killer guitar solo on Heart On A Platter more than holds it’s own.  Deceptively starting with a blues/jazzy vibe, it all predictably erupts with big handsome vocals and melodic exuberance.
 Read the full review by Brian Boyle at myglobalmind.com

Media/Samples 
Until The Day

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Spock's Beard "The Oblivion Particle"


Country: USA
Genre(s)Symphonic
Label: Inside Out
FormatCD, digital, vinyl
Release dateAugust 21, 2015
Tracklist
1. Tides of Time (7:45)
2. Minion (6:53)
3. Hell's Not Enough (6:23)
4. Bennett Built a Time Machine (6:52)
5. Get Out While You Can (4:55)
6. A Better Way to Fly (8:57)
7. The Center Line (7:05)
8. To Be Free Again (10:24)
9. Disappear (6:36)

Line-up
Alan Morse - guitar, vocals, autoharp, banjolele, electric sitar, mandolin
Dave Meros - bass, vocals
Ryo Okumoto - keyboard, vocals
Ted Leonard - lead vocal
Jimmy Keegan - drums, lead vocal (4)
    with:
David Ragsdale (Kansas) - violin (9)

Media/Samples 
Minion
Tides of Time

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Amadeus Awad "Death Is just a Feeling"


Country: Lebanon
Genre(s)Progressive Rock
LabelMelodic Revolution Records
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release dateAugust 20, 2015
Tracklist
  1. Opia
  2. Sleep Paralysis
  3. Monday Morning
  4. Tomorrow Lies
  5. Lonesome Clown
  6. Temporary
Line-up
Amadeus Awad: Acoustic, Electric & Bass Guitars, Keyboards and Orchestration
Anneke Van Giersbergen (The Gathering, Ayreon, The Gentle Storm): Vocals
Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon, Guilt Machine, Stream of Passion, The Gentle Storm): Vocals
Elia Monsef: Vocals
Marco Minnemann (Joe Satriani, Steven Wilson, The Aristocrats): Drums ( 2, 3, 5 & 6)
James Keegan (Spocks Beard, John Waite, Santana): Drums (4)
Nareg Nashanikian: Cello
Rafi Nashanikian: Clarinet
Dan Harper: Narration

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Thursday, August 20, 2015

The Purifiction "Unquiet"


Country: Finland
Genre(s)Progressive Metal
LabelSymbolic Records
Formatdigital
Release date: August 20, 2015
Tracklist
01. Realm of Ghosts
02. I Killed Lenore
03. Stardust
04. Apophis
05. Atrocity
06. Doom
07. Do Not Die on Me
08. Storm
09. The Catalyst
10. Plastic Sky

Line-up
Olli Lehvonen - Drums
Teppo Tirkkonen - Vocals
Pasi Toukola - Bass
Junnu Vuorela
Topi Vuorela - Guitars

Media/Samples 
Apophis

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Estratagema "Canciones Muertas"


Country: Argentina
Genre(s): Instrumental Progressive Rock
Format CD, digital
Release dateAugust 20, 2015 (digital)
Tracklist
  1. Tres Hexágonos 06:09
  2. Estratagema 05:25
  3. Presagio 06:19
  4. Deuda 05:04
  5. Relato de una Muerte Temprana 07:53
  6. Canciones muertas 07:32
  7. Granizo (Pal' ferneaux) 08:16
  8. Los Billetes de la odalisca 07:35
  9. Fugaz 04:23
Line-up
Marcos Castillo: Guitars, Vocals
Leo Besso Pianetto: Keyboards, Fx
Facundo Cerutti: Bass
Santiago Rodriguez: Drums

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Slivovitz "All You Can Eat"


Country: Italy
Genre(s)Jazz-Rock
LabelMoonjune Records
FormatCD, digital
Release dateAugust 20, 2015
Tracklist
1. Persian Night (7:25)
2. Mani In Faccia (5:14)
3. Yahtzee (7:05)
4. Passannante (4:16)
5. Barotrauma (5:41)
6. Hangover (5:28)
7. Currywuster (5:12)
8. Oblio (7:08)

Line-up:
Pietro Santangelo - tenor & alto sax
Marcello Giannini - electric & acoustic guitars
Riccardo Villari - acoustic and electric violin
Ciro Riccardi - trumpet
Derek Di Perri - harmonica
Vincenzo Lamagna - bass guitar
Salvatore Rainone - drums

Description/Reviews
As its title might indicate, the musicians, both individually, and collectively, push proceedings well into the realm of excess -- cooking up a diverse palette of brilliantly-conceived examples of the finest in Italian sonic cuisine, and performed with a commensurate level of excellence. Hurdling complex arrangements and dramatic compositional shifts and transitions with deft skill and grace, the group displays an unparalleled level of polish, inventiveness and unity throughout this eight-course feast for the ears.

Not unlike their namesake, the Neapolitan fun-loving high octane progressive jazz-rock combo becomes ever silkier and more delectable with age. All-You-Can-Eat is one sizzling, satisfying musical meal you won't stop craving ... one taste and you'll have to have another helping! For those who thought Bani Ahead was Slivovitz's magnum opus, perhaps you left the dining hall too soon: this chef-d'oeuvre is the pièce de résistance, packed with robust flavors and a zestful essence that will keep you coming back for more.
Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Doug Woods and Colin Powell "The Haunting Of Sally Caster"


Country: UK
Genre(s)Progressive Rock
Formatdigital
Release dateAugust 20, 2015
Tracklist
  1. The Haunting Of Sally Caster 04:29
  2. Rats In The Attic 05:12
  3. The Storyteller 03:34
  4. The Nightmare 03:34
  5. The Black Bridge 03:42
  6. The Haunted Carousel 05:52
  7. Up To No Good 05:17
  8. The Carnival Of Forgotten Darkness 04:52
  9. Sally At The Gates 04:19
  10. The Lament Requiem Musical Box 03:19
  11. The Mechanical Girl 04:18
  12. Sally Set Her Free 03:40
Line-up
Doug Woods
Colin Powell

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

Links:
Web page (Doug Woods)
Facebook (Doug Woods)
Facebook (Colin Powell)

Cranium Pie "The Mechanisms Tapes"


Country: UK
Genre(s)Psychedelic
Formatdigital
Release dateAugust 19, 2015
Tracklist
1. Tape One (44:52)
2. Tape Two (44:52)
3. Tape Three (44:52)
4. Tape Four (44:52)

Total time: 179:28

Line-up
Rob Appleton - keys, synths, vocals
Dan Herra - guitars
Julian Smith - drums, vocals, guitar
Tim Bray - vocals, effects, theremin, flute
Steve Meadows - bass

Description/Reviews
Three hours of improvisation, out-takes, intakes and late-night shed jams from Cranium Pie's secret baking research station.
Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

Links:
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Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Samuel Santos "Sonho Lúcido"


Country: Brazil
Genre(s)Instrumental Progressive Rock
FormatCD, digital
Release date: August 18, 2015
Tracklist
01 - A dor de não passar no vestibular (00:57)
02 - Olhe para as texturas do chão (04:43)
03 - Da vila para longe daqui (03:37)
04 - Só paraíso (03:59)
05 - Química (04:16)
06 - Amarelo (02:19)
07 - Medo (01:12)
08 - Infância (04:37)
09 - Delay Lama (06:54)
10 - Você ainda vai me conhecer em cidades cobertas de pontes no céu (04:14)
11 - O planeta de Edin (05:06)
12 - Apanhadora de Ilusão (03:15)
13 - Adeus Sr. Moog (03:27)

Line-up
Samuel Santos - synthesizer, mellotron, piano, drums, bass, guitar, flute, dilruba
   With
Thiago Mendes - vocalizations (11)

Media/Samples 
Stream

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Inepsys "The Chaos Engine"


Country: France
Genre(s)Progressive Metal
LabelBrennus Music (CD)
FormatCD, digital
Release dateAugust 18, 2015
Tracklist
  1. Prelude to chaos - 3'10 
  2. King of the hill - 5'25
  3. Wake up and shine - 7'58
  4. Virtual feelings - 5'03
  5. The eye of horus - 6'56 
  6. A void between us - 6'37
  7. Mother earth - 3'17 
  8. The die is cast - 30'02 
  9. Pull me under (Dream Theater Cover) - 8'13
Line-up
Romain Castel
Benoît Castel
Ludovic Mercier
Jérôme Rollat
Richard Carlon

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (2 tracks)

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Dara "The Red Tiger Nebula"


Country: USA
Genre(s)Progressive Rock
FormatCD, digital
Release dateAugust 18, 2015
Tracklist
01. Brilliant Beams - 01:42
02. Once Had It All - 03:30
03. Ants on the Hill - 03:22
04. March into Hell - 04:28
05. Falling Down - 04:44
06. Prelude - 01:18
07. The Storm - 04:01
08. An Ocean Away - 03:59
09. Waiting - 03:50
10. You Never Left Me - 04:37
11. Heights of Space - 04:21
12. Clouds - 04:10

Line-up
Benjamin Dara - Vocals, Guitar
Kevin Hutson - Bass, Guitar
Chris Stilling - Drums, Percussion

Media/Samples 
Stream

Links:
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