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Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Mancunian Candidate "Mancunian Candidate"


Country: UK/USA
Genre(s): Progressive Rock/Pop
Format: CD, digital
Release date: January 2017
Tracklist
1. Garden Party (2:36)
2. Secret Of A Saint (2:37)
3. The Water's Cold (3:53)
4. Listing Towards Starboard (Operation Bright Star) (3:10)
5. Anikusdominuscrappedonfactor (Operation Bright Star) (3:42)
6. Return To The Sun (Operation Bright Star) (3:12)
7. Circle Lies Unbroken (6:47)
8. Mongers Among Us (3:50)
9. Access Denied (Waltz 57) (2:48)
10. The Phoenix (Waltz 57) (4:53)
11. The Air Has Changed (Too Much To Lose) (5:59)
12. His Story Won't Be Told (Too Much To Lose) (3:55)
13. Fanfare For The Damned (Too Much To Lose) (4:27)
14. Leslie's Friends (Garden Party Reprise) (5:47)

Total Time 57:36

Line-up
Matthew Swindells (Moth Vellum): Drums, Vocals, Keys & Acoustic Guitars
  With
Matthew Charles Heulitt (Moetar): Guitars
Johnny Heyes: Guitars
Andy Shepley: Bass
Neil Fairclough (Queen & Adam Lambert): Bass
Ollie Collins (Alan Parsons): Bass
Jon Evans (Tori Amos, Sarah Mclauchlan): Bass
Matt Bissonette (Elton John, David Lee Roth, Joe Satriani): Bass
Jasper Wilkinson: Mandolin

Description/Reviews
The album Mancunian Candidate has a relatively short song format. The first half of the album sounds as if pop band The Police had gone progressive. The vocal style and part of the song structures are definitely closer to pop, but the arrangements and instrumental sections are totally different. In those parts, Mancunian Candidate delivers highly-skilled, masterfully crafted and climactic symphonic progressive rock, inspired by the great masters like Genesis and Yes.
Read the full review by Angel Romero at progressiverockcentral.com

Media/Samples 
4 tracks
Progstreaming

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Peridoni "Jade"


Country: USA
Genre(s): Progressive Rock
Format: digital
Release date: January 31, 2017
Tracklist
1. Fission (4:26)
2. Follow Thru (6:52)
3. Pendulum (9:00)
4. Jade (7:27)
5. Prisma Color (5:15)
6. Shimmer (4:35)
7. Are You There (5:09)
8. Static Array (5:44)

Total Time 48:28

Line-up
Cory Donnini
Kaleb Perrin
Ben Steinkamp
Kevin Harris
Jamebo Corsini-Lights

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (name your price)

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King Of Agogik "Morning Star"


Country: Germany
Genre(s): Instrumental Progressive Rock
LabelsAUsTARK records (CDKOA06)
FormatCD
Release date: January 31, 2017
Tracklist
  1.     Veils Open
  2.     The unavoidable wayfare...
  3.     ...to the place of origin
  4.     Mother of Depth
  5.     Nyade
  6.     The Art of Make-Up
  7.     Suprema Lex
  8.     Ignes Fatui
  9.     A visit to the Mouse Barber
  10.     The End of Dithyramb
  11.     Curtain Call
Line-up
Hans Jörg Schmitz: Drums, Keys, Guitar, Bass
    With:
Dago Wilms: Guitar and Bass
Gary Farmer : Bass Guitar
Steve Unruh (Resistor, The Samurei of Prog): Flute and Violin
Pantelis Petrakakis: Bass Guitar
Peter Simon: Woodwinds
Chip Gremillion: Keyboard
Andrew Marshall (Willowglass): Spanish Guitar
Erik Vaxjö: Mellotron
Philipp Schmitz: Keyboard
Scott Taylor: Ulliann Pipe
Kathrin Daniel: Voice
Viktoria Papen: Voice

Media/Samples 
Trailer
Trailer 2 

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Sula Bassana "Organ Accumulator"


Country: Germany
Genre(s): Instrumental Krautrock, Electronica, Space Rock
Label: Deep Distance Records (vinyl), Sulatron Records (CD)
Format: CD, vinyl, digital
Release date: January 31, 2017 (vinyl), March 1, 2017 (CD, digital)

Tracklist
1. Lichtbundel (7:48)
2. Morgentau (4:47)
3. The Frogs (5:55)
4. Organ Accumulator (7:04)
5. Grashamster (4:40)
6. Nebelschwaden (9:47)

Total time 40:01

CD comes with bonus EP  "Disappear"
1. Disappear  (10:36)
2. Grong (5:06)
3. Smoof (6:00)

Total time 21:42

Line-up
Dave Schmidt aka Sula Bassana (Zone Six) - portable keyboards and organs, synthesizers, drumboxes, e-piano, effect pedals, guitar, bass, drums, mellotron and vocals
Komet Lulu (Zone Six) - vocals (7)

Description/Reviews
Time has come – once more: Sula Bassana walks on electronic trails again and produces an album in the attitude of electronic krautrock! After the successful forerunner «Shipwrecked» (2016), which was built mostly on electronic instruments, the sound is a bit more relaxed on this album. «Organ Accumulator» accured on the application of portable keyboards and little organs, also synthesizers, drumboxes, etc...
The track «Lichtbuendel», for example, was recorded almost only on a Casiotone 403, played via the fat effect board and guitar amp. «The Frogs» almost sounds like a John Carpenter soundtrack, whilst the title track is the by far most spacerocky track. «Grashamster» is the most krauty one, with loads of Farfisa Syntorchestra and Roland Vocoder Plus, which (together with a Yamaha PS 30) also builds the sound-footing of «Nebelschwaden», a slighty Vangelis influenced song.
Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Rob Scallon "The Scene is Dead"


Country: USA
Genre(s): Instrumental Progressive Metal
Format: digital
Release date: January 30, 2017
Tracklist
1. Gas Mask Catalogue (3:31)
2. Envy (3:07)
3. Gateways (3:08)
4. And Ever (3:49)
5. Chronosil (3:07)
6. Jerome (1:45)
7. JekylnHyde (3:53)
8. The Dial (3:34)
9. Inferis Exterra (3:48)
10. The Obscurity (3:02)
11. Rogue (3:24)

Total time 36:08

Line-up
Rob Scallon
   With
Nick Pierce - drums programming
Pete Cottrell - guitar solo (1)
Jeff Loomis - guitar solo (3, 11)
Rabea Massaad - guitar solo (6)
Sarah Longfield - guitar solo (10)
Ola Englund, Garrett Peters, Leah Woodward - guitar solo (11)

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Silegrail "Silegrail"


Country: Czechia
Genre(s): Progressive Metal
Format: digital
Release date: January 30, 2017
Tracklist
1. Introducing Silegrail (0:59)
2. The Raven (6:45)
3. Smell Of Suicide (3:06)
4. Goodbye Mrs. Jane (5:07)
5. Look Into The Past (6:33)
6. Rivers Of Fears (14:08)
7. Disturbed (5:23)
8. New Dimension (5:49)
9. Symphony Of Progress (14:32)

Total time 62:22

Line-up
Michal Worek - Keyboards
Patrik Sas - Drums
Lukas Cunta - Bass
Jakub Tirco- Guitars
   With
Jakub Sedlák - Vocals (3)
Antonín Burda - Violin (4)
Anna Vaňková - Violin (4)
Zuzana Peřinová - Viola (4)
Petr Malíšek - Cello (4)
Michal Feber - Vocals (6)
South Czech Filharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Petr Louženský (9)

Description/Reviews
Their self-titled debut features some amazing instrumental playing (“New Dimension”), longer epic tracks (“Rivers of Fears” which goes everywhere) some vocalized, song oriented tracks (“Smell of Suicide” which doesn’t work for me) and even ends with a damn symphony (the aptly titled “Symphony of Progress”).
Read the full review by Rob Pociluk at progressivemusicplanet.com

Media/Samples 
Stream

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Monday, January 30, 2017

Ekos "Otra Dimensión"


Country: Mexico
Genre(s): Progressive Rock
Format: CD, digital
Release date: January 30, 2017 (digital), February 9, 2017 (CD)
Tracklist
1. Merkaba (5:08)
2. Gravedad (4:01)
3. Avatar Pt. I (5:33)
4. Sublimatio (3:01)
5. Astralis (3:20)
6. Avatar Pt. II (3:18)
7. Orillas Del Tiempo Pt. I (4:01)
8. Invocación (4:44)
9. Espejo (5:38)
10. Orillas Del Tiempo Pt. II (5:58)
11. Otra Dimensión (2:01)

Total Time 47:00

Line-up
Ana Camelo - Keyboards and vocals
Jesus Torres - Guitars and vocals
Víctor Juárez - Bass guitar
Carlos Clériga - Drums and percussion

Media/Samples 
Stream

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Medulla "Remnant"


Country: USA
Genre(s): Progressive/Experimental Rock
Label:  R.A.I.G.
Format: CD, digital
Release date: January 29, 2017
Tracklist
1. The Broken Machines (7:56)
2. Remnant (5:47)
3. The Maw (6:43)
4. Aria (7:36)
5. Innervat (8:41)
     Bonus Tracks:
6. The Auchtioneer (6:01)
7. Nadir (6:38)

Total Time 49:22

Line-up
Matthew Kennon - Vocals, Synths, Guitar, Sax
Kevin Mullin
 - Lead Guitar
Matthew Bartholomew - Bass
Brian Mullin - Drums

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp
Broken Machines

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Cynity "Who Am I"


Country: Germany
Genre(s): Progressive Rock
Format: digital
Release date: January 29, 2017
Tracklist
1. Prog Will Eat Itself (8:23)
2. Blacklisted (6:19)
3. Lizard Man (4:46)
4. BloodSnowMurder (4:38)
5. Lion's Cage (5:39)
6. On The Ground (4:09)
7. The Mighty Thundermoose (3:55)
8. Haunting Melody (4:05)
9. The Secret Of Rusty Things (4:53)
10. Mechanical Dolphin (7:22)

Total time 54:09

Line-up
Chris Grundmann: Everything
    Exept:
Karsten Frohn: Lyrics and Vocals (2)
Robert Lutz: Lyrics and Vocals (4, 8)
Andreas Grundmann: Lyrics and Vocals (5)
Markus Schley: Lyrics and Vocals (10)
Sebastian Busacker: Lead Guitars (5, 8)
Robert Polikarpow: Lead Guitar (9)
Christian "Eule" Eulig: Lead Guitar (10)

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Saturday, January 28, 2017

Northern Lines "The Fearmonger"


Country: Italy
Genre(s): Instrumental Progressive Rock
Format: digital
Release date: January 28, 2017
Tracklist
1. Mast Cell Disorder (6:07)
2. Session 1 (0:42)
3. Shockwave (3:26)
4. Nightwalk (5:38)
5. Session 2 (0:21)
6. Machine Man (3:44)
7. Meteor (8:12)
8. Jukurrpa (4:19)
9. Towards The End (4:28)
10. Apathy Fields (5:51)
11. Most People Are Dead (5:25)

Total time 48:13

Line-up
Alberto Lo Bascio - Guitar
Stefano Silvestri - Bass Guitar, Synth
Cristiano Schirò - Drums
   With
Andrea Mammarella (2, 10)

Media/Samples 
Stream
Meteor

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Nora Prentiss "They Made Mistakes Too"


Country: Italy
Genre(s): Jazz-Rock
Label: Lizard Records (LIZARD CD 0125)
Format: CD
Release date: January 28, 2017
Tracklist
1) The List of Adrian Messenger
2) Lee's Summit  
3) Idioteque  
4) Bloodflood  
5) Hat And Beard  
6) The Swan  
7) Room n. 4  
8) Green is That Time of The Year
9) Green was The Light in Your Eyes

Line-up
Pietro Guarracino: guitar
Yuri Romboli: sax
Alessandro Cianferoni: bass
Emanuele Bonechi: drums

Media/Samples 
Progstreaming
Teaser
Idioteque

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Yonder Pond "Pondering Aloud"


Country: Switzerland
Genre(s) Canterbury Progressive Rock/Pop 
Format: vinyl, digital
Release date: January 27, 2017
Tracklist
1. Time Flies (5:17)
2. Rabbit (5:40)
3. Off The Balloon (3:10)
4. Aviary Lament (2:55)
5. Eggs Of Power (2:55)
6. The Mope (4:23)
7. Label Boss (5:06)
8. The Suffering Artist (5:40)
9. Who Do They Think They Are? (4:48)
10. Everyone Is Banging The Drums (10:26)

Total Time 50:20

Line-up
Emyr Taurelis: vocals
Rembrandt Van der Straal: keyboards
Remily Layne: drums
     With:
Pascal Grünenfelder: bass
Stef Strittmatter: guitar
Markus Stauss: flute
Remy Sträuli: coffee boy

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Friday, January 27, 2017

Once & Future Band "Once & Future Band"


Country: USA
Genre(s): Retro Progressive Rock/Pop
Label: Castle Face Records
Format: CD, vinyl, digital
Release date: January 27, 2017
Tracklist
1. How Does It Make You Feel? (5:57)
2. I'll Be Fine (6:28)
3. Hide & Seek (6:18)
4. Rolando (4:39)
5. Tell Me Those Are Tears Of Joy (5:19)
6. Magnetic Memory (4:41)
7. Standing In The Wake Of Violence (5:17)

Total time 38:39

Line-up
Joel Robinow - Vocals, keyboards, guitar, bass
Eli Eckert - Bass, guitar, vocals, keyboards
Raj Ojha - Drums, percussion
   With
Josh Smith & Raze Regal - Additional guitars
Danny T. Levin - Horns
Yea-Ming Chen & Anna Hillburg - Additional backup vocals

Description/Reviews
In the vapor trail of “How Does It Make You Feel” you can smell the burnt ozone of a seventies-full-orchestra-nebula-pop-odyssey, the flakes floating down and landing on you like snow and giving you the grave-chills…the ash of a masterpiece pop song. The very mid 70s vibe at work here surpasses pastiche, and crests that lovely anachronistic conceptual peak: a fully realized and meticulously arranged psych record, meant to be listened to from top to bottom, with the lights down low and in a comfy chair perhaps, or while gazing out the window of your life pod. A Dark Side of the Moon feel, with shades of early Yes’s technicality, a dash of Steely Dan’s vocal prowess and effortless sheen, and some seriously outsized hooks that call to mind the mighty ELO, Le Orme and yes, even the unsinkable Queen powered on Brian May’s tape echo jet fuel and sequined power cells…this is a head record in the classic sense but we swear to The Dark One that you will be trapped and infected by the pop-parasite. 
Media/Samples 
Stream
Bandcamp

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Djam Karet "Sonic Celluloid"


Country: USA
Genre(s): Instrumental Progressive Rock
Label: HC PRoductions
Format: CD, digital
Release date: January 27, 2017
Tracklist
1. Saul Says So (6:07)
2. Forced Perspective (4:29)
3. Long Shot (4:13)
4. No Narration Needed (5:53)
5. Numerous Mechanical Circles (4:02)
6. Oceanside Exterior (4:31)
7. Au Revoir Au Rêve (4:16)
8. Flashback (3:40)
9. Lower (2:58)
10. The Denouement Device (4:40)

Total time 44:49

Line-up
Gayle Ellett - Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Greek Bouzouki, Moog, Mellotron, Hammond & Rhodes
Chuck Oken, Jr. - Drums, Analog & Digital Keyboard Sequencing and Soundscapes
Henry J. Osborne - Bass (1,2,3,4,7,10)
Mike Henderson - Guitar Feedback (4,9)
Mike Murray - Guitar Atmospheres (7,9) Piano (9)
Aaron Kenyon - Bass Effects (9)

Description/Reviews
On Sonic Celluloid the group focused in on the idea of "sound as cinema", and these 10 instrumental tracks demonstrate the group's ability to create "mini-movies in your mind". Filled with more melodies and acoustic instruments, and more minimoogs and mellotrons then on any previous album, Sonic Celluloid is their best produced and best sounding album to date. 
Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (from the release date)
Samples

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Jordsjø "Jord"


Country: Norway
Genre(s): Symphonic, Prog Folk
Label: Karisma Records (2018)
Format: CD, digital, cassette
Release date: January 27, 2017 (digital, cassette), March 9, 2018 (CD)
Tracklist
1. Over Vidda (1:48)
2. Abstraksjoner Fra Et Dunkelt Kammer (6:50)
3. Finske Skoger (2:56)
4. Jord I (6:24)
5. Jord II (8:27)
6. La Meg Forsvinne! (6:38)
7. Postludium (4:42)

Total time 37:45

Line-up
Håkon Oftung - Vocals, flute, guitars & keys
Kristian Frøland - Drums, percussion
Robert William Dall Frøseth - Bass (3)

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Making Minds "Obertura del Universo"


Country: Mexico
Genre(s): Instrumental Progressive Rock/Metal
Format: digital
Release date: January 25, 2017
Tracklist
1. Elipisis (4:48)
2. Dehiscencia (4:15)
3. Disposición (2:54)
4. Destrucción (6:20)
5. Densidad (7:18)
6. Alud (3:27)
7. Vestigio (5:30)
8. Efervescencia (1:58)
9. Espiral (5:16)

Total time 41:46

Line-up
Hugo Eduardo Casas: Guitar, Keyboards
Juan Pablo Rodríguez: Guitar
José Pichardo: Bass
Miguel Ángel Pech: Drums

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Opale "Immensité"


Country: France
Genre(s): Progressive Rock
LabelQuadrifonic
Format: CD, digital
Release dateJanuary 24, 2017
Tracklist
1. Immensité partie 1 (4:11)
2. Immensité partie 2 (6:26)
3. Sans foi ni loi (7:41)
4. Dans la poussière (8:54)
5. Le vide (6:50)

Total Time 34:02

Line-up
David Zmyslowski (Element V, Nemo) - vocals, guitars, keyboards and bass (1)
Luke Rivet - guitars
Victor Souilhat - drums
Camille Desmartin - bass
    With
Jean Pierre Louveton (Nemo) - vocals (4)
Guillaume Fontaine (Nemo) - keyboards (4)

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Monday, January 23, 2017

Anxtron "Jellyfish"


Country: Brazil
Genre(s): Instrumental Progressive Rock, Fusion
Format: digital
Release date: January 23, 2017
Tracklist
1. The Oasis (4:59)
2. Toca Do Lagarto (4:07)
3. Armadillo Inc. (7:24)
4. Pororoca (5:41)
5. Igloo (5:16)
6. Talking Toy (4:05)
7. Furry Creatures From Alpha Centauri (8:04)

Total time 39:36

Line-up
Eduardo Marcolino - Guitar
Rafael Marcolino - Drums
Gabriel Souza ("GG") - Bass
Gabriel Aquino - Keyboards
    With
Nili Brosh - Guitar solo (6)

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Morver "Staying in the Abyss"


Country: Chile
Genre(s): Progressive Metal
Format: digital
Release date: January 2017
Tracklist
1. Sempiterno (1:30)
2. Encrypted (5:53)
3. Nompuehuenu (6:48)
4. Alumine (6:18)
5. Never Forever (5:40)
6. Staying In The Abyss (5:56)
7. Admongelen (8:35)
8. Evolve (2:18)

Total time 42:58

Line-up
Carlos González - Lead Vocals
Marcelo Fuenzalida - Guitar
Alejandro Morales - Guitar & Backing Vocals
David Hernández - Bass
Christian Cruz - Keyboards
Gustavo Martínez - Drums

Media/Samples 
Stream

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Orchestre Celesti "The Big Carrot (and misuse of it...)" EP


Country: Italy
Genre(s): Instrumental Progressive Rock 
Format: digital
Release date: January 22, 2017
Tracklist
1. Bluff (5:18)
2. The Storyboard of Dreams (5:09)
3. Tired Catamaran (6:06)
4. King Of Sand Dunes (5:41)
5. The Big Carrot (7:38)

Total Time 29:52

Line-up
Federico Fantacone

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Alpha Omega "Dark Tales of the Shroom"


Country: Australia
Genre(s): Psychedelic, Space Rock
Format: digital
Release date: January 22, 2017
Tracklist
1. Tales Of The Shroom (4:50)
2. Pre-Programming The Chaotic Mind (2:54)
3. Waiting For Flight (5:46)
4. Strange Pleasure (4:49)
5. Hacking In (1:35)
6. Reprogramming The Chaotic Mind (6:21)
7. ICU There (7:25)
8. Dysfunctional Reality (6:39)

Total time 40:19

Line-up
Paul Power - vocals, guitar, synthesizer
Stuart Hodgson - drums, vocals
Dave Smith - bass, vocals
Maxx Volume - bass (3)

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Saturday, January 21, 2017

Ten Jinn "Sisyphus"


Country: USA
Genre(s): Classical, Progressive Rock
Label: ATTITUDE Recordings
Format: digital, vinyl
Release date: January 20, 2017 (digital)
Tracklist
1. Sisyphus - 26:03
2. Sisyphus (instrumental) - 26:03

Total Length: 52:06

Line-up
John Paul Strauss - Lead and backing vocals, keyboards
Mark Wickliffe - Drums, bass, backing vocals
Ken Skoglund - Guitars, backing vocals
Mike Matier - Guitars
   With
Stefan Kramer
Helena Skoglund
Evelyn Haddad

Description/Reviews
Classical music meets Progressive rock in this unique epos.
Media/Samples 
Teaser
Stream

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Reflections in Cosmo "Reflections in Cosmo"


Country: Norway
Genre(s): Instrumental Avant Garde Jazz-Rock
Label: RareNoise Records (RNR073 / RNR073LP)
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release date: January 20, 2017
Tracklist
1. Cosmosis (4:16)
2. Ironhorse (7:17)
3. Cosmic Hymn (5:01)
4. Balklava (4:15)
5. Perpetuum Immobile (7:05)
6. Fuzzstew (6:13)
7. Reflections In Cosmo (6:36)

Total time 40:43

Line-up
Ståle Storløkken (Motorpsycho) - Keyboards
Kjetil Møster - Saxophones
Hans Magnus Ryan (Motorpsycho) - Guitar
Thomas Stronen - Drums

Media/Samples 
Stream
2 tracks

Riviẽre "Heal"


Country: France
Genre(s): Progressive/Post Metal
Label: Basick Records
Format: CD, digital
Release date: January 20, 2017
Tracklist
1. New Cancer (8:31)
2. Golden Wounds (6:41)
3. Symbol (8:54)
4. Satin Night (9:45)
5. Cobalt (2:58)
6. Binary Love (5:48)
7. Yosemite (9:49)

Total Time 52:26

Line-up
Alexandre Berenguer - Guitar
Arnaud Laffont - Bass, Vocals
Nicolas Saravia - Guitar
Tommy Hercher - Drums

Description/Reviews
Aiming as cross genre as they dare on a debut album is an ambitious enough template; the post rock/prog metal core getting  tweaked into alternative areas of metal and hardcore, even blending in some eighties electro. The result of two years work and mastered by Karnivool knob twiddler Forrester Savell, the seven songs on the debut ‘Heal’  sound clear, crisp  and upfront. 
Read the full review by Mike Ainscoe at louderthanwar.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Nem-Q "Fault Lines"


Country: Netherlands
Genre(s): Progressive Rock/Metal
Label: RVPrecords (RVP17044)
Format: CD, digital
Release date: January 20, 2017
Tracklist
1. Inner Struggle (6:22)
2. Shooting Stars (4:58)
3. Vanity (7:03)
4. Desaturate (2:27)
5. Perpetual Motion (4:41)
6. Bipolar (5:02)
7. Confusion (7:29)
8. Misguided (4:36)
9. Fault Lines (4:07)

Total time 46:45

Line-up
Paul Sieben - vocals, guitar
Mark Reijven - guitar
Maarten Meeuws - bass
Dennis Renders - keyboards, backing vocals
Twan Bakker - drums, percussion

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (4 tracks)

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Gorilla Mask "Iron Lung"


Country: Germany
Genre(s): Avant Garde, Experimental, Jazz-Rock
Label: Clean Feed Records (CF402CD, CF402LP)
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release date: January 20, 2017
Tracklist
1. Hammerhead (3:02)
2. Before I Die (7:01)
3. THUMP! (3:50)
4. Crooked (5:58)
5. Blood Stain (6:33)
6. Steam Roller (4:20)
7. Lullaby For A Dead Man (3:31)
8. Iron Lung (4:26)
9. Chained (bonus Track) (4:42)

Total time 43:23

Line-up
Peter Van Huffel – alto sax
Roland Fidezius – electric bass, effects
Rudi Fischerlehner – drums

Description/Reviews
'Hammerhead' combines the sleekness of truncated rhythms mixed with freer jazz interludes which rarely gives your ears time to get a grasp of which direction they are heading in. This is followed up with 'Before I Die', which Fidezius’ bass sets the tone and becomes the foundation of the track as it pounds through the tune. It starts with a fist shaped pick and slowly evolves into a reggae grove with some harmonic effects added for good measure.
Read the full review by Philip Coombs at freejazzblog.org

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Vipassi "Śūnyatā"


Country: Australia
Genre(s): Instrumental Atmospheric Technical Progressive Metal
Label: Season of Mist
Format: CD, vinyl, digital
Release date: January 20, 2017
Tracklist
1. Gaia (4:30)
2. Benzaiten (3:20)
3. Jove (4:01)
4. Sum (5:14)
5. Elpis (4:47)
6. Paradise (2:33)
7. Samsara (5:55)

Total time 30:20

Line-up
Ben Boyle (Hadal Maw, A Million Dead Birds Laughing) - Guitars, Additional Vocals (5)
Dan Presland (Ne Obliviscaris, A Million Dead Birds Laughing) - Drums
Brendan Brown (Ne Obliviscaris) - Bass
Benjamin Baret (Ne Obliviscaris) - Lead Guitar
   With
Chantelle Clancy - Vocal layers

Description/Reviews
We begin by answering the first question likely to spring to mind: given the makeup of the band, is this simply Ne Obliviscaris 2.0? The answer: no it’s not. In fact, it was the brilliant Ben Boyle who wrote the vast majority of the music here, just as he does for Hadal Maw and AMDBL; however, it’s important to note that Śūnyatā doesn’t exactly sound like one of those projects either. Sure, every now and then there will be a riff here, or a drum fill there which will remind listeners of NeO, Hadal Maw or AMDBL, but for the most part these four have created a beast all unto its own, an instrumental offering best described as a mixture of Fallujah and Beyond Creation. Atmosphere is the name of the game here, and Śūnyatā delivers it in spades. The title itself is a buddhist concept loosely translating to emptiness, voidness or spaciousness, and so it’s no surprise that these themes engulf the music itself.
Read the full review by Karlo Doroc at heavyblogisheavy.com

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Friday, January 20, 2017

Napier's Bones "Alpha​-​Omega Man"


Country: UK
Genre(s)Progressive Rock
Formatdigital
Release date: January 20, 2017
Tracklist
1. Awakening (13:30)
2. The Messengers (1:57)
3. Citizen (4:39)
4. HypnoSapiens (6:00)
5. Without Sentiment (2:56)
6. Psychic Driving (11:14)
7. Sleep Well (1:32)
8. Free At Last (11:00)

Total time 52:48

Line-up
Gordon Midgley : Vocals, instruments
Nathan Jon Tillett : Vocals
   With
Selena Jay : Vocal samples (1, 4 & 8)

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Mike Oldfield "Return To Ommadawn"


Country: UK
Genre(s): Progressive Rock
LabelVirgin EMI
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release date: January 20, 2017
Tracklist
1. Return To Ommadawn (Pt.1) (21:10)
2. Return To Ommadawn (Pt.2) (20:57)

Total Time 42:07

Line-up
Mike Oldfield - acoustic, classical, 12-string & electric guitars, acoustic & electric basses, mandolin, harp, bouzouki, banjo, grand piano, spinet, Farfisa organ, ARP 2600 & Solina synths, bodhran, glockenspiel, accordion (6), assorted percussions (marimba, gong, tubular bells)

Media/Samples 
Teaser

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Kshettra "Five Mothers"


Country: Russia
Genre(s): Instrumental Experimental, Avant Garde, Post Rock, Psychedelic, Fusion
Format: CD, digital
Release date: January 20, 2017
Tracklist
1. Conception (2:01)
2. Garura Lila (3:55)
3. Cikada (5:43)
4. Godzindra (9:53)
5. Walk Under The Moon (13:19)
6. Umbra (6:32)
7. Mechanoya (12:00)
8. Crossing (1:08)

Total time 54:31

Line-up
Boris Ghas - bass, poem (5), samples (4)
Viktor Tikhonov - drums, Oxoma synth (1,5,6,7), samples (3,4,7)
  With
Ramille Mulikov - sax, trumpet, trombone
Nikolai Samarin - synth (4,5), double bass (1), mandolin (4,7), sitar (8)
Eugeniy Mikhalchenko - voice (5)

Description/Reviews
Kshettra’s music could be described as a crossover of jazz fusion, avant-garde and experimental with heavy rock and punky touches. This all goes to help construct some great progressive, complex, challenging and original music.
Read the full review by Mel Allen at  theprogressiveaspect.net

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Knekklectric "For Mange Melodia"


Country: Norway
Genre(s): Progressive Rock
Label: Tik Records (digital, vinyl), Apollon Records (CD)
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release date: January 20, 2017 (digital, vinyl), June 2, 2017 (CD)
Tracklist
1. Vi E Mindre (5:16)
2. Hanska På (3:40)
3. Prokrastinera Igjen (6:09)
4. Stolpekontroll (4:14)
5. Vestkyst (3:53)
6. Ski No (7:35)

Total Time 30:47

Line-up
Johannes Maaseide - guitar, vocals
Edvard Brøther - guitar
Erlend Alm Lerstad - bass
Jon Bolstad - drums, cymbals
Hogne Aarflot - synth, keyboards

Media/Samples 
Progstreaming

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Psychic Equalizer "The Lonely Traveller"


Country: Spain/Denmark
Genre(s): Jazz-Rock, Fusion, Progressive Rock, Classical
Format: CD, digital
Release date: January 20, 2017
Tracklist
1. Mezuz (6:18)
2. An Ocean Of Changes (I-IV) (6:33)
3. The Lonely Traveller (0:53)
4. Lágrimas (3:37)
5. Adrift (2:39)
6. Peña Labra (2:35)
7. Flying Over The Caucasus (3:34)
8. Lovers Meet (6:44)
9. A Collection Of Marbles (3:53)
10. An Ocean Of Changes (V-VI) (2:20)
11. A Visit To Adelaide (5:11)
12. Nørrebro (2:48)

Total Time 47:05

Line-up
Hugo Selles - piano, keyboards, and synths
   With
Quico Duret - guitar and effects
Morten Skøtt - drums
Carlos Barragán - classical guitar and voices
Nikolai Petersen - vibraphone and percussion
Katerina Anganostidou - celesta
Jan Irlind - balalaika
India Hooi - voices and hulusi
Joaquin Páli Palomares - first violin
Khalida De Ridder - second violin
Johanna Baarlink - viola
Adriana Isaku - cello and voices

Description/Reviews
The music is a fusion of jazz, progressive rock, and classical music that at times reminds me of Fripp and Eno’s collaborations or Jade Warrior. Many of the tracks are quite contemplative and moody, and when the ensemble rocks, the music remains an enjoyable listening experience.
Read the full review by Henry Schneider at expose.org

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Ashenspire "Speak Not of the Laudanum Quandary"


Country: UK
Genre(s): Avant Garde Progressive Black Metal
Label: Code 666/Aural Music
Format: CD, digital
Release date: January 20, 2017
Tracklist
1. Restless Giants (9:21)
2. The Wretched Mills (8:47)
3. Mariners At Perdition's Lighthouse (7:44)
4. Grievous Bodily Harmonies (7:12)
5. A Beggar's Belief (2:56)
6. Fever Sheds (10:33)
7. Speak Not Of The Laudanum Quandary (12:45)

Total time 59:18

Line-up
Alasdair Dunn
Petri Simonen
Fraser Gordon
James Johnson

Description/Reviews
Musically, the album is definitely more avant-garde than it is black metal, which would make sense for a band that lists Dødheimsgard as an influence. In fact, more than anything they remind me of progressive metallers Ne Obliviscaris, particularly in the way that the violin is used to carry the melody in a lot of the songs. There’s also more than a little My Dying Bride in the way they incorporate piano into several of the songs. For the most part, the music acts as the scenery and tableau for Dunn’s vocal performance – it’s well-arranged and skillfully performed, giving the album as a whole the air of a Victorian drama. That’s not to say that there aren’t standout moments, though; the clean guitar and piano in the opening section of “Grievous Bodily Harmonies” are absolutely lovely, and the taut riffing of “The Wretched Mills” adds to the overall dramatic tension of the piece.
Read the full review at indymetalvault.com

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Avec Le Soleil Sortant De Sa Bouche "Pas Pire Pop,I Love You So Much"


Country: Canada
Genre(s): Krautrock, Psychedelic, Pop
Label: Constellation Records (CST121)
Format: vinyl, CD, digital
Release date: January 20, 2017
Tracklist
1. Trans-pop Express I (6:39)
2. Trans-pop Express II (2:55)
3. Alizé et Margaret D. Midi moins le quart. Sur la plage, un palmier ensanglanté I (3:23)
4. Alizé et Margaret D. Midi moins le quart. Sur la plage, un palmier ensanglanté II (5:20)
5. Alizé et Margaret D. Midi moins le quart. Sur la plage, un palmier ensanglanté III (4:08)
6. Tourner incessamment dans l’éclatement euphorique de soi – Road Painting Ahead I (3:34)
7. Tourner incessamment dans l’éclatement euphorique de soi – Road Painting Ahead II (5:14)
8. Tourner incessamment dans l’éclatement euphorique de soi – Road Painting Ahead III (5:06)
9. Tourner incessamment dans l’éclatement euphorique de soi – Road Painting Ahead IV (3:06)

Total time 39:25

Line-up
Sébastien Fournier: guitare, vocals
Éric Gingras: guitare, vocals
Samuel Bobony: drums
Jean-Sébastien Truchy: bass, electronics, synths, vocals

Description/Reviews
Comprising three distinct pieces that weave and charm their way through swirling psychedelic rock, skittish afro-beat and the mesmeric narcosis of kraut-rock repetition, the second album from Montreal’s forward-thinking prog-pop purveyors Avec Le Soleil Sortant De Sa Bouche moves like the shifting of a kaleidoscope. Pas Pire Pop's deceptively pleasing, but these long-form jams unfurl their nuanced secrets and reveal themselves as highly composed and skilfully rendered cosmic freak-outs, as intellectually rewarding and loudly enjoyable as anything on the Constellation roster.
Read the full review Timothy Archer by at thequietus.com

Media/Samples 
Stream 
Trans-pop Express II

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Encircled "The Monkey Jamboree"


Country: UK
Genre(s): Progressive Rock
Format: CD, digital
Release date: January 20, 2017 
Tracklist
1. The Monkey Jamboree (1:47)
2. Alphabetically Possibly (4:31)
3. Complexity (6:42)
4. Stereochrome (5:51)
5. Magic Hour (6:09)
6. Tomorrow... (6:07)
7. A Life Shy Of Perfection (6:41)
8. Chasing The Ghost (16:39)

Total Time 54:27

Line-up
Gareth Evans - Guitar
Scott Evans - Bass, Keyboards
Mark Busby Burrows - Voice, Guitar
Stuart Picken - Drums

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Collapse "The Sleep In Me"


Country: France
Genre(s): Instrumental Progressive/Post Rock
Format: CD, digital
Release date: January 20, 2017
Tracklist
1. Opening Wound (6:25)
2. Breathing Holes (9:27)
3. The Mental Room (7:29)
4. A Labyrinth In The Void (5:32)
5. Horla (2:32)
6. Closer To The End (6:01)
7. Sleep For Me (11:19)

Total time 48:45

Line-up
Vincent Coutellier - Keys
Erwann Massit - Bass
Anthony Barruel - Drums
Sébastien Pierron - Guitars

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