Immortal Guardian "Unite and Conquer"

Country: Multinational
Genre(s): Progressive Power Metal
Label: M-Theory Audio (NA), Massacre Records (EU), WARD Records (Asia)
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release date: October 27, 2023 (NA,Asia), December 1, 2023 (EU)
Tracklist

1. Ozona (4:43) 

2. Echoes (4:49) 

3. Roots Run Deep (5:20) 

4. Perfect Person (4:06) 

5. Divided We Fall (6:16) 

6. Lost In The Darkness (4:37) 

7. Southern Rain (3:57) 

8. Unite And Conquer (6:03) 

9. Un Dia A La Vez (2:39) 

10. Rise Of The Phoenix (5:51) 

Total Time 48:21

Credits

Gabriel Guardian - guitars, keyboards

Carlos Zema - vocals

Justin Piedimonte - drums

Joshua Lopez - bass

    With
Ralph Scheepers (Primal Fear, Gamma Ray) - vocals (3)
Vicky Psarakis (The Agonist, Sicksense) - vocals (6)

Mixed by Joshua Lopez at Widowmaker Studios

Description/Reviews:

US band Immortal Guardian are out with the album "Unite and Conquer", and progressive metal is the style explored on this production. Or to be more precise, this is a band that have mastered the art of combining progressive metal and power metal in just about an equal measure. Energetic surges into power metal landscapes is a recurring element throughout here, explored in longer sections as well as used as energetic impact moments. The progressive metal aesthetics are most commonly used by way of quirky and challenging instrument movements of a challenging and virtuous nature, but the band also makes good use of the more atmospheric laden aspects of the progressive metal tradition alongside occasional dips into more majestic builds and a little bit of theatrical flair. If done right this is a combination that works really well, and that is very much the case for this latest studio album by Immortal Guardian. Energy and virtuosity flavored with atmospheric laden tendencies is what we get here, and if you tend to enjoy bands that mix power metal and progressive metal in a controlled and tasteful manner then you should be the perfect audience for this production. (Olav Martin Bjornsen at progressor.net's facebook)

Also read the review at theprogressivesubway.com

Media/Samples
Bandcamp

Links:
Web page
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Residuos Mentales "A Temporary State of Bliss"

Country: Greece
Genre(s): Instrumental Progressive Rock
Label: OOB Records
Format: CD, digital
Release date: October 27, 2023
Tracklist

1. The Stuff Of Dreams (17:03) 

2. The Missing Part (5:36) 

3. A Series Of Self-Correcting Errors (12:04) 

4. Impending Catastrophe (9:12) 

Total Time 43:55

Credits

Stratos Morianos (Verbal Delirium): Keyboards

Alexandros Mantas: Guitars, bass, flute

    With

Dimitris Radis: Guitars and bass

Yiannis Iliakis: Drums and percussion

George Karaiannis: 2nd guitar solo (3)

Leonidas Sarantopoulos: Sax and flute (3)

Vaggelis Katsarelis: Trumpet (2)

Maria Tseva: Vocals (1)

Recorded by Dimitris Radis

Mixed by Dimitris Radis and Vangelis Sapanakakis

Produced by Dimitris Radis and Vangelis Sapanakakis

Mastered by Apostolos Siopis

Sleeve design by Alexandra Kipourgos

Description/Reviews:

A Temporary State of Bliss has a penchant for the traditional progressive rock like Camel, King Crimson, Genesis, but this time the duo has added many other elements (ranging from progressive to metal to funk) to keep their interest intact and the music fresh. In true old-school prog rock fashion, the tracks push the boundaries of time and space. The four compositions, make up forty-four minutes of music. This sophomoric achievement is still exploring the instrumental possibilities of progressive rock, only this time Residuos Mentales have upped the tension with an even more adventurous album.

Media/Samples
Bandcamp

Links:
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Velcrocranes "What If I Die"

Country: Russia
Genre(s): Progressive Rock
Format: CD, digital
Release date: October 27, 2023
Tracklist

1. Step Aside (7:12) 

2. When I Was One And Twenty (1:25) 

3. Hold Your Breath (6:02) 

4. Afterlife Pt. 1 (8:37) 

5. Afterlife Pt. 2 (5:00) 

6. If It Keeps On Rainin’ (0:58) 

7. Four (5:54) 

8. Mountains (6:45) 

9. A Fleeting Glimpse (3:38) 

10. Step Aside (Acoustic Version) (4:14) - bonus track

Total Time 49:45

Credits

Efim Kolitinov – vocals

Liza Kotova – guitars, backing vocals (8)

Alexander Papsuev – guitars, keyboards (9)

Nikita Sarukhanov – drums, percussion

Bogdan Defo – bass

    With

Adam Holzman (Steven Wilson, Miles Davis) – hammond organ, rhodes piano, harpischord, modular synths, mini moog, upright piano, additional keyboards

Dmitriy Maximov – bass on 1, 3-9

Evgeniya Morgunova – cello on 2, 4, 9

Dmitriy Krasnikov – viola on 2, 4, 9

Roman Vikulov – violin on 2, 9

Daria Rudenko – grand piano on 2

All songs written by Liza Kotova

Arranged by Alexander Papsuev, Nikita Sarukhanov, Liza Kotova (1, 3-5, 7-8, 10), Efim Kolitinov (1, 3-5, 7-8, 10), Bogdan Defo (7)

Produced by Nikita Sarukhanov, Alexander Papsuev

Recorded by Vladimir Vorontsov, Ivan Muravskiy (drums on 1-9), Vladimir Boytsov (vocals on 8)

Mixed by Junichi Murakawa

Mastered by Steve Kitch 

Artwork by Carl Glover

Description/Reviews:

Started out as a small jazz ensemble created originally for practice, it wasn’t until they discovered the music of Porcupine Tree and the malleable world of progressive rock that their true sound came into focus. This new, expansive direction was the future of Velcrocranes.

 On their long-awaited debut full-length, ‘What If I Die’, Velcrocranes remain true to the foundation that they’ve carefully laid in recent years - while showing little restraint for reaching into the bag of tricks to delight their listeners. 

Media/Samples
Step Aside
Trailer

Links:
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Colouratura "WTF Was That​?​!"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Progressive Rock, Art Rock
Label: Melodic Revolution Records
Format: CD, digital
Release date: October 23, 2023
Tracklist

1. WTF Was That?!

2. Toy Soldiers

3. Flim-Flam Man

4. Side Hustle

5. Lousy Smarch Weather

6. Away

7. Palace of Blood

8. SIMR

9. Sleeping Giant

10. The LSD No-No

11. Mothman

Credits

Ian Beabout - production, editing, backing vocals, microKorg synth, flute, field recordings (3) theremini (5), lead vocals (10)

Nathan James - bass, lead vocals, backing vocals, keyboard and synths (2, 11), acoustic guitar (6)

Derek Pavlic - guitars, viola (6,7) mellotron and synths (7, 9), glockenspiel (7, 9, 10), vocoder (11)

    With

Derek Ferguson - drums (except 1, 6), keyboards and percussion (4)

Dave Trik - drums (1)

Chris Boros - mellotron (2)

Mitch Lawrence - saxophone solo (11)

Jacopo Muneratti - moth swat (11)

RECORDED AT VARIOUS HOME STUDIOS (2021-2023) including ShedSounds WV, the REC. Room OH, Evening Star Productions, Nonpareil Studios IL, and more

Produced and arranged by Colouratura

Edited, assembled, mixed and mastered by Ian Beabout 2022-2023 at ShedSounds Studio and the REC. Room

Front cover painting by Amelia Daffodilya

Based on a concept by Ian Beabout and Derek Pavlic

Inside photos by Ian Beabout and Nathan James

Inside Painting and CD art by S. Bahl

Graphic Deisgn and layout by Eric Kearns, Phinbot Graphics

Media/Samples
Bandcamp (Mothman)
The LSD No​-​No
Flim-Flam Man
Lousy Smarch Weather
Toy Soldiers / SIMR

Links:
Facebook
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Proud Peasant "Communion"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Instrumental Progressive Rock
Label: Basement Avatar Records
Format: CD, digital
Release date: October 20, 2023
Tracklist

1. An Embarrassment Of Riches (8:36) 

2. A Thousand Cuts (6:59) 

3. A Web Of Shadow (5:55) 

4. A Storm Of Swords (5:15) 

5. Shibboleth (5:30) 

6. The Fall (19:06) 

Total Time 51:21

Credits

David Hobizal - drums
David Houghton - electric guitar, classical guitar, lead and backing vocals,

Millicent Hughes - keyboards, backing vocals
Mark Poitras - keyboards, vibraphone, piano, toy piano, percussion,

Xander Rapstine - electric guitar, electric tenor guitar, acoustic guitar, tenor ukulele, mandolin, mandola, mandocello, keyboards, piano, vibraphone, percussion, lead and backing vocals
Clif Warren - bass

    With:

Josh Denslow - drums (5)
Dave Irish - drums (1)
Kyle Robarge - bass (5)

Shelby Avants - bassoon (2)
Jennifer Bernard - English horn, oboe (2)
Ramdass Bhaiya - clarinet (2), klarnet (1),

Brooke Brockman - lead vocals (6)
Charlie Campbell - backing vocals (1, 5, 6), piano (6)
Kullen Fuchs - trumpet (1, 2, 3),

Eddy Hobizal - keyboards, piano (6)
Chico Jones - piano (6), percussion (2, 6), backing vocals (6)
Aaron Lack - timpani (1)

Nate Miller - erhu (1)
Melanie Morgan Gomez - flute (6)
Wayne Myers - trombone (2, 6)
Josh Peters - percussion (1),

Josh Robins - additional bass (1)
Joseph Serrato - tenor sax (2)
Mike St. Clair - tuba (6)
Jenni Wieland - French horn (2)

All songs written by Rapstine.

Recorded, engineered, & mixed by Chico Jones

With additional recording of vocals on The Fall by Max Lorenzen

Mastered by Sarah Register

Produced by Xander Rapstine

Cover art by Chris Pana tier. See more of his work at panatier.com

Back cover art by Nathan Beach. See more of his work at nathanbeach.com

Album design by Emil Rapstine

Description/Reviews:

Communion continues the sonic and stylistic shifts from previous albums, but brings a heavier, more modern sensibility, and adds vocals to the mix. Featuring an eclectic mix of six songs, the album culminates in the final track, The Fall, a 19-minute epic exploration of genre, mood, and sound.

Media/Samples
Bandcamp

Links:
Web page
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Progarchives
Proggnosis

Ozric Tentacles "Lotus Unfolding"

Country: UK
Genre(s): Instrumental Psychedelic, Space Rock
Label: Kscope
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release date: October 20, 2023
Tracklist

1. Storm in a Teacup [9:30]

2. Deep Blue Shade [5:08]

3. Lotus Unfolding [8:10]

4. Crumplepenny [9:54]

5. Green Incantation [7:35]

6. Burundi Spaceport [5:02]

Credits

Ed Wynne - Guitars, Synth and Bass

Silas Wynne - Modular Synth and Keyboards

Brandi Wynne - Bass Guitar

   With

Saskia Maxwell - Flute

Tim Wallander - Drums

Paul Hankin - Percussion

 

The album was recorded, written and produced during 2022 and 2023 by Ed Wynne with help from Silas at their own Blue Bubble studio in Fife

Media/Samples
Buy & Stream (from the release date)
Lotus Unfolding

Deep Blue Shade

Links:
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Facebook
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Proggnosis

Acqua Fragile "Moving Fragments"

Country: Italy
Genre(s): Progressive Rock
Label: Ma.Ra.Cash Records
Format: CD,vinyl,digital
Release date: October 13, 2023 (CD,vinyl), October 20, 2023 (digital)
Tracklist

1. Her Shadlows Torture (5:52) 

2. White Horse On Dope (4:08) 

3. Moving Fragments (3:03) 

4. Malo Bravo (4:50) 

5. IA - Intelligenza Artificiale (4:07) 

6. Black Drone (3:52) 

7. DD Danz (4:16) 

8. Il Suono Della Voce (5:05) 

9. Limerence Ethereal (5:58) 

Total Time 41:11

Credits
Piero Canavera - drums, percussion and vocals
Franz Dondi - bass
Bernardo Lanzetti (PFM, Mangala Vallis) - lead vocals, guitar and Glovox
Stefano Pantaleoni - keyboards
Claudio Tuma - guitars
Rossella Volta - vocals 
   With
Gigi Cavalli Cocchi (Mangala Vallis) - drums (1,6)
Stef Burns - electric guitar (2)
Brian Belloni - guitar (4)
Sergio Ponti - drums (4,9)
Davide Piombino - 7 string guitar (5)
David Jackson (Van Der Graaf Generator) - sax & flute (6)

Written by B.Lanzetti (2,3,4,6,8,9), S.Pantaleoni/B.Lanzetti (1,5), S.Pantaleoni (7)
Produced by Dario Mazzoli
Cover by Gigi Cavalli Cocchi

Media/Samples

Bandcamp

Links:
Progarchives
Proggnosis

35 Tapes "Fabric of Time"

Country: Norway
Genre(s): Symphonic
Label: Apollon Records
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release date: October 13, 2023
Tracklist

1. Whistle For The Wind (8:30) 

2. Crawling (6:49) 

3. Art Of Falling (7:37) 

4. The Biggest Lie (6:28) 

5. The Fabric Of Time (13:28) 

Total Time 42:52

Credits
Morten Lund 

Jarle Wangen

Jo Wang

Andreas Eriksen

Kai Lundewall

Media/Samples
Whistling For The Wind

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