Cult of Luna "The Long Road North"

Country: Sweden
Genre(s): Progressive/Post Metal
Label: Metal Blade Records
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release date: February 11, 2022
Tracklist

1. Cold Burn (9:41) 

2. The Silver Arc (7:37) 

3. Beyond I (3:07) 

4. An Offering To The Wild (12:43) 

5. Into The Night (6:58) 

6. Full Moon (3:06) 

7. The Long Road North (10:04) 

8. Blood Upon Stone (11:39) 

9. Beyond II (4:06) 

Total Time 69:01

Line-up

Johannes Persson: Guitars, Vocals

Andreas Johansson: Bass

Thomas Hedlund: Drums & Percussion

Fredrik Kihlberg: Guitars, Vocals

Kristian Karlsson: Keyboards, Vocals

   With
Mariam Wallentin: Vocals (3)

Colin Stetson: Saxophones & Flute (4, 9)

Christian Mazzalai and Laurent Brancowitz (Phoenix): Guitars (8)

Description/Reviews:

As soon as listeners hit play, they are in familiar yet refreshingly new Cult Of Luna territory, the pulsating rhythms of "Cold Burn" pummeling, and Persson's savage roar tearing through the layers of guitar. As is the case with every album from the band in recent years, there is a lot of shifting of dynamics and sonic density, and perhaps more so than usual on "The Long Road North".

Media/Samples
Bandcamp

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Rivers of Nihil "The Work"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Progressive Metal, Death Metal
Label: Metal Blade Records
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release date: September 24, 2021
Tracklist

1. The Tower (Theme From "The Work") (4:30) 

2. Dreaming Black Clockwork (6:39) 

3. Wait (4:05) 

4. Focus (4:54) 

5. Clean (6:08) 

6. The Void From Which No Sound Escapes (6:43) 

7. MORE? (3:25) 

8. Tower 2 (1:58) 

9. Episode (7:29) 

10. Maybe One Day (7:03) 

11. Terrestria IV: Work (11:29) 

Total Time 64:23

Line-up

Jake Dieffenbach: Vocals

Brody Uttley: Guitar

Jon Topore: Guitar

Adam Biggs: Bass, Vocals

Jared Klein: Drums

Description/Reviews:

Like many modern extreme metal bands, Pennsylvanian ensemble Rivers of Nihil have been steadily integrating more progressive elements and clean singing into their habitually vicious formula. 2018’s Where Owls Know My Name was an excellent example of that, and unsurprisingly, follow-up The Work goes even further in terms of balancing heavy and light elements amidst its laudable conceptual scope and emphasis on reprised motifs.

Read the full review by Jordan Blum at metalinjection.net

Media/Samples
Bandcamp

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DVNE "Etemen Ænka"

Country: UK
Genre(s): Progressive Metal
Label: Metal Blade Records
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release date: March 19, 2021
Tracklist

1. Enûma Eliš

2. Towers  

3. Court of the Matriarch

4. Weighing of the Heart

5. Omega Severer

6. Adræden

7. Sì-XIV 

8. Mleccha

9. Asphodel

10. Satuya

Line-up

Victor Vicart – guitar, vocals, keys

Dudley Tait – drums

Daniel Barter – guitar, vocals

Greg Armstrong – bass

Evelyn May Hedges – keys

Description/Reviews:

Dvne are a band of great contrasts, weaving titanic heaviness and intricate gentleness together, complex lyrical ideas with engaging storylines, and this has only been expanded upon and concentrated on second album 'Etemen Ænka'. Exploring everything in greater depth in every way, it is a profound step forward from 2017's 'Asheran', starting an exciting new chapter in the existence of one of the most thrilling and imaginative metal bands active today.

Media/Samples
Bandcamp

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IOTUNN "Access All Worlds"

Country: Denmark
Genre(s): Progressive Metal
Label: Metal Blade Records
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release date: February 26, 2021
Tracklist

1. Voyage Of The Garganey I (7:25) 

2. Access All Worlds (11:36) 

3. Laihem's Golden Pits (4:40) 

4. Waves Below (10:10) 

5. The Tower Of Cosmic Nihility (7:30) 

6. The Weaver System (6:33) 

7. Safe Across The Endless Night (13:47) 

Total Time 61:41

Line-up

Jón Aldará – vocals

Jens Nicolai Gräs – guitars

Jesper Gräs – guitars

Eskil Rask – bass

Bjørn Wind Andersen – drums

Description/Reviews:

Access All Worlds is seven songs driven by creative curiosity and artistic honesty, that also initiate feelings and reflections. An epic, cosmic and contemplative journey of energetic beauty and ferocity, Access All Worlds reflects on human existence, set in a storyline following daring space travelers. The music is grounded in roaring, colorful drumming and crushing bass, while the sonic horizon is painted with a vast spectrum of guitar-driven expression, all overarched by narration through diverse vocals.

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Bandcamp

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Fates Warning "Long Day Good Night"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Progressive Metal
Label: Metal Blade Records
Format: CD, vinyl, digital
Release date: November 6, 2020
Tracklist: 
01. The Destination Onward
02. Shuttered World
03. Alone We Walk
04. Now Comes the Rain
05. The Way Home
06. Under the Sun
07. Scars
08. Begin Again
09. When Snow Falls
10. Liar
11. Glass Houses
12. The Longest Shadow of the Day
13. The Last Song

Total running time 72:22

Line-up: 
Ray Alder - vocals
Jim Matheos - guitar
Joey Vera - bass
Bobby Jarzombek - drums
Frank Aresti - guitar
   With
Mike Abdow - guitar solos
Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree/The Pineapple Thief) - drums (6, 9)

Description/Reviews: 

From opener "The Destination Onward", which is a dynamic romp that covers a lot of ground, to the warmer, more contemplative strains of "The Way Home" or the 11+ minutes of "The Longest Shadow Of The Day" that pushes in a number of directions without losing focus, they don't repeat themselves, always delivering the goods with heart.

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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The Ocean "Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic | Cenozoic"

Country: Germany
Genre(s): Progressive Metal
Label: Metal Blade Records (CD, digital), Pelagic Records (vinyl)
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release date: September 25, 2020
Tracklist: 
1. Triassic
2. Jurassic | Cretaceous
3. Palaeocene
4. Eocene
5. Oligocene
6. Miocene | Pliocene
7. Pleistocene
8. Holocene

Line-up: 
Robin Staps - Guitars
Loïc Rossetti - Vocals
Paul Seidel - Drums
Mattias Hägerstrand - Bass
Peter Voigtmann - Keyboards
David Ramis Åhfeldt - Guitars
   With
Jonas Renkse (Katatonia) - Vocals

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Intronaut "Fluid Existential Inversions"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Progressive Metal
Label: Metal Blade Records
Format: CD, digital, vinyl 
Release date: February 28, 2020
Tracklist: 
1. Procurement of the Victuals
2. Cubensis
3. The Cull
4. Contrapasso
5. Speaking of Orbs
6. Tripolar
7. Check Your Misfortune
8. Pangloss
9. Sour Everythings

Line-up: 
Sacha Dunable - guitar, vocals
Joe Lester - bass
Dave Timnick - guitar, vocals, percussion

   With

Alex Rudinger (The Faceless, Whitechapel) - drums
Ben Sharp aka Cloudkicker –  guitar (3, 9)

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Arch / Matheos "Winter Ethereal"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Progressive Metal
Label: Metal Blade
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release date: May 10, 2019
Tracklist: 
1. Vermilion Moons
2. Wanderlust
3. Solitary Man
4. Wrath of the Universe
5. Tethered
6. Straight and Narrow
7. Pitch Black Prism
8. Never in Your Hands
9. Kindred Spirits

Line-up: 
John Arch (Fates Warning) - vocals
Jim Matheos (Fates Warning, OSI) - guitars
Joey Vera (Fates Warning, Chroma Key) - bass
Bobby Jarzombek (Fates Warning, Spastic Ink) - drums
Frank Aresti (Fates Warning) - guitars
   With
Sean Malone (Cynic) - bass
Matt Lynch (Trioscapes) - drums
Thomas Lang (John Wetton, StOrk, Paul Gilbert, Eric Gillette)- drums

Media/Samples 
Straight and Narrow
Bandcamp

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The Neal Morse Band "The Great Adventure"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Progressive Rock Opera
Label: Metal Blade Records, Radiant Records
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release date: January 25, 2019
Tracklist: 
Act I:

    Chapter 1 (12:50)
1. Overture
2. The Dream Isn’t Over

    Chapter 2 (23:48)
3. Welcome To The World
4. A Momentary Change
5. Dark Melody
6. I Got To Run
7. To The River

      Chapter 3 (17:59)
8.   The Great Adventure
9.   Venture In Black
10. Hey Ho Let’s Go
11. Beyond The Borders

Act II:

    Chapter 4 (18:13)
1. Overture 2
2. Long Ago
3. The Dream Continues
4. Fighting With Destiny
5. Vanity Fair

      Chapter 5 (30:57)
6.   Welcome To The World 2
7.   The Element Of Fear
8.   Child Of Wonder
9.   The Great Despair
10. Freedom Calling
11. A Love That Never Dies

Line-up: 
Neal Morse: Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards
Mike Portnoy: Drums, Vocals
Randy George: Bass
Eric Gillette: Guitar, Vocals
Bill Hubauer: Keyboards, Vocals

Media/Samples 
Welcome To The World
The Great Adventure
Welcome To The World 2
Vanity Fair 

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The Ocean "Phanerozoic I: Palaeozoic"

Country: Germany
Genre(s): Progressive Metal
Label: Metal Blade Records (CD, digital), Pelagic Records (vinyl), Wild Thing Records (AUS & NZ)
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release date: November 2, 2018
Tracklist: 
1. The Cambrian Explosion (1:54)
2. Cambrian II: Eternal Recurrence (7:51)
3. Ordovicium: The Glaciation Of Gondwana (4:49)
4. Silurian: Age Of Sea Scorpions (9:36)
5. Devonian: Nascent (11:05)
6. The Carboniferous Rainforest Collapse (3:08)
7. Permian: The Great Dying (9:22)

Total Time 47:45

Line-up: 
Robin Staps - Guitars
Loïc Rossetti - Vocals
Paul Seidel - Drums
Mattias Hagerstrand - Bass
Peter Voigtmann
   With
Vincent Membrez - Piano
Dalai Theofilopoulou - Cello
Jonas Renkse (Katatonia) - Vocals (5)

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Redemption "Long Night's Journey into Day"

Country:  USA
Genre(s): Progressive Metal
Label: Metal Blade Records
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release date: July 27, 2018
Tracklist: 
1. Eyes You Dare Not Meet in Dreams
2. Someone Else's Problem
3. The Echo Chamber
4. Impermanent
5. Indulge in Color
6. Little Men
7. And Yet
8. The Last of Me
9. New Year's Day
10. Long Night's Journey into Day
11. Noonday Devil

Line-up: 
Nick Van Dyk - Guitars, Keyboards
Chris Quirarte - Drums
Sean Andrews - Bass
Tom Englund (Evergrey) - Vocals
Vikram Shankar - Keyboards
   With
Chris Poland (Megadeth, OHM) - Guitars
Simone Mularoni (DGM) - Guitars

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Rivers of Nihil "Where Owls Know My Name"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Progressive Death Metal
Label: Metal Blade Records
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release date: March 16, 2018
Tracklist: 
1. Cancer / Moonspeak (1:44)
2. The Silent Life (6:34)
3. A Home (5:19)
4. Old Nothing (4:44)
5. Subtle Change (Including The Forest Of Transition And Dissatisfaction Dance) (8:34)
6. Terrestria III: Wither (3:49)
7. Hollow (5:13)
8. Death Is Real (6:09)
9. Where Owls Know My Name (6:42)
10. Capricorn / Agoratopia (7:50)

Total Time 56:38

Line-up: 
Jake Dieffenbach: Vocals
Brody Uttley: Guitar
Jon Topore: Guitar
Adam Biggs: Bass, Vocals
Jared Klein: Drums

Description/Reviews: 

Speaking from a neutral perspective, death metal and its various sub styles are often guilty of one thing: the positing of a conceivably indigestible approach, consisting of blisteringly fast pace and unparalleled aggression. Whilst many take great pleasure in this, RIVERS OF NIHIL continually prove their consummate ability to distance themselves from it by striking a rare balance in their sound. The very get go of Where Owls Know My Name displays no less than a tasteful continuation of this principle, with introductory track Cancer/Moonspeak serving to take a reserved, melodic, and atmospheric stance. 

Read the full review by Sam Alberti at distortedsoundmag.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Rivers of Nihil "Where Owls Know My Name"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Progressive Death Metal
Label: Metal Blade Records
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release date: March 16, 2018
Tracklist: 
1. Cancer / Moonspeak (1:44)
2. The Silent Life (6:34)
3. A Home (5:19)
4. Old Nothing (4:44)
5. Subtle Change (Including The Forest Of Transition And Dissatisfaction Dance) (8:34)
6. Terrestria III: Wither (3:49)
7. Hollow (5:13)
8. Death Is Real (6:09)
9. Where Owls Know My Name (6:42)
10. Capricorn / Agoratopia (7:50)

Total Time 56:38

Line-up: 
Jake Dieffenbach: Vocals
Brody Uttley: Guitar
Jon Topore: Guitar
Adam Biggs: Bass, Vocals
Jared Klein: Drums

Description/Reviews: 

Speaking from a neutral perspective, death metal and its various sub styles are often guilty of one thing: the positing of a conceivably indigestible approach, consisting of blisteringly fast pace and unparalleled aggression. Whilst many take great pleasure in this, RIVERS OF NIHIL continually prove their consummate ability to distance themselves from it by striking a rare balance in their sound. The very get go of Where Owls Know My Name displays no less than a tasteful continuation of this principle, with introductory track Cancer/Moonspeak serving to take a reserved, melodic, and atmospheric stance. 

Read the full review by Sam Alberti at distortedsoundmag.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Good Tiger "We Will All Be Gone"

Country: UK
Genre(s): Alternative Progressive Rock /Metal
Label: Metal Blade Records
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release date: February 9, 2018
Tracklist: 
1. The Devil Thinks I'm Sinking (4:05)
2. Float On (3:35)
3. Such A Kind Stranger (4:11)
4. Blueshift (3:49)
5. Salt Of The Earth (3:59)
6. TGrip Shoes (3:40)
7. Just Shy (3:51)
8. Nineteen Grams (3:29)
9. Cherry Lemon (1:49)
10. I'll Finish This Book Later (3:59)

Total Time 36:27

Line-up: 
Elliot Coleman - vocals
Derya "Dez" Nagle (The Safety Fire) - guitar
Joaquin Ardiles (The Safety Fire) - guitar
Morgan Sinclair - bass
Alex Rudinger - drums

Description/Reviews: 

“The Devil Thinks I’m Sinking” is a banger of an opening track. The vocals and groove work are super tight and straight up mad. This is a peaceful track more or less. The album begins getting heavier with “Float On” with some tasty riff work and sweet bass and drums. The harmonies on this track is colourful with some darker sections. By now there’s a well established theme and feel going around the album. Simply speaking, it has a very heavy riff rich ambient super groovy feel. It sounds a little strange on paper but it doesn’t sound like disappointment so far.

Read the full review by Roshan Machayya at metalwani.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Good Tiger "We Will All Be Gone"

Country: UK
Genre(s): Alternative Progressive Rock /Metal
Label: Metal Blade Records
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release date: February 9, 2018
Tracklist: 
1. The Devil Thinks I'm Sinking (4:05)
2. Float On (3:35)
3. Such A Kind Stranger (4:11)
4. Blueshift (3:49)
5. Salt Of The Earth (3:59)
6. TGrip Shoes (3:40)
7. Just Shy (3:51)
8. Nineteen Grams (3:29)
9. Cherry Lemon (1:49)
10. I'll Finish This Book Later (3:59)

Total Time 36:27

Line-up: 
Elliot Coleman - vocals
Derya "Dez" Nagle (The Safety Fire) - guitar
Joaquin Ardiles (The Safety Fire) - guitar
Morgan Sinclair - bass
Alex Rudinger - drums

Description/Reviews: 

“The Devil Thinks I’m Sinking” is a banger of an opening track. The vocals and groove work are super tight and straight up mad. This is a peaceful track more or less. The album begins getting heavier with “Float On” with some tasty riff work and sweet bass and drums. The harmonies on this track is colourful with some darker sections. By now there’s a well established theme and feel going around the album. Simply speaking, it has a very heavy riff rich ambient super groovy feel. It sounds a little strange on paper but it doesn’t sound like disappointment so far.

Read the full review by Roshan Machayya at metalwani.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Byzantine "The Cicada Tree"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Progressive Metal
Label: Metal Blade Records
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release date: July 28, 2017
Tracklist: 
1. New Ways to Bear Witness
2. Vile Maxim
3. Map of the Creator
4. Dead as Autumn Leaves
5. Trapjaw
6. The Subjugated
7. Incremental
8. The Cicada Tree
9. Verses of Violence
10. Moving in Stereo (The Cars)
11. Servitude (Fishbone)

Line-up: 
Chris Ojeda - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
Brian Henderson - Lead Guitar, Vocals
Sean Sydnor - Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Matt Bowles - Drums

Description/Reviews: 

“Dead as Autumn Leaves” is a very melodic, progressive track that might not be as “apeshit” as what comes before it, yet it’s still heavy and it showcases the band’s range and song writing talents. Along the same lines, the title track was one that made my jaw drop. There’s a level of depth to that track that most band’s can’t even approach. But then things actually get even BETTER with the NEXT track, the epic 9 minute “Verses of Violence.”

Read the full review by Rob Pociluk at progressivemusicplanet.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp    

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Nova Collective "The Further Side"

Country: UK/USA
Genre(s): Instrumental Fusion
Label: Metal Blade
Format: CD, digital
Release date: March 10, 2017
Tracklist: 
1. Dancing Machines (9:46)
2. Cascades (6:54)
3. Air (6:51)
4. State Of Flux (9:40)
5. Ripped Apart And Reassembled (5:42)
6. The Further Side (8:59)

Total time 47:52

Line-up: 
Richard Henshall (Haken): Guitar
Dan Briggs (Between the Buried and Me, Trioscapes): Bass
Pete Jones (ex-Haken): Keyboards
Matt Lynch (Trioscapes, Cynic): Drums

Description/Reviews: 

Nova Collective's music can be described as fusion, weaving progressive rock influences with world music, jazz and classical. Songs like "Dancing Machines", along with the accompanying video, display the band's dizzying prowess and ability to beautifully weave multiple influences into something entirely new and it is simply pure aural candy for fans with prog/jazz leanings.

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp  

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The Neal Morse Band "The Similitude of a Dream"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Symphonic
Label: Metal Blade Records, Radiant Records
Format: CD, vinyl
Release date: November 11, 2016
Tracklist: 
Disc 1
1.    Long Day  
2.    Overture  
3.    The Dream  
4.    City Of Destruction  
5.    We Have Got To Go  
6.    Makes No Sense  
7.    Draw The Line  
8.    The Slough  
9.    Back To The City  
10.  The Ways Of A Fool  
11.   So Far Gone
12.   Breath Of Angels            

TOTAL CD 1 TIME: 51:59

Disc 2
1.   Slave To Your Mind            
2.   Shortcut To Salvation        
3.   The Man In The Iron Cage        
4.   The Road Called Home            
5.   Sloth                                          
6.   Freedom Song                          
7.   I'm Running                                
8.   The Mask                                    
9.   Confrontation                              
10. The Battle                                    
11. Broken Sky/Long Day Reprise    

TOTAL CD 2 TIME: 54:36

Line-up: 
Neal Morse: Vocals, Guitar and Keyboards
Mike Portnoy: Drums
Randy George: Bass
Eric Gillette: Guitar and Vocals
Bill Hubauer: Keyboards and Vocals

Media/Samples 
Long Day/Overture
City of Destruction

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If These Trees Could Talk "The Bones of a Dying World"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Instrumental Post Rock/Metal
Label: Metal Blade Records
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release date: June 3, 2016
Tracklist: 
1. Solstice (7:49)
2. Swallowing Teeth (4:27)
3. Earth Crawler (6:38)
4. After The Smoke Clears (6:18)
5. The Here And Hereafter (2:33)
6. Iron Glacier (8:25)
7. The Giving Tree (6:03)
8. Berlin (4:44)
9. One Sky Above Us (7:34)

Total time 54:31

Line-up: 
Zack Kelly: Drums
Tom Fihe: Bass
Jeff Kalal: Guitar
Cody Kelly: Guitar
Michael Socrates: Guitar

Description/Reviews: 

Instrumental post metal might be a beleaguered genre (one which we keep besieging, because we are slightly masochists) but this album proves that it is still able to cry far and wide. At the basis of this strength lies the hallmark style that always empowered If These Trees Could Talk; the trio of guitarists once again enables them to explore places and ideas that other bands, limited to age old structures of lead and rhythm, are unable to reach.

Read the full review by Eden Kupermintz at heavyblogisheavy.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Redemption "The Art Of Loss"

Country:  USA
Genre(s): Progressive Metal
Label: Metal Blade Records
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release date: February 26, 2016
Tracklist: 
1. The Art of Loss
2. Slouching Towards Bethlehem
3. Damaged
4. Hope Dies Last
5. That Golden Light
6. Thirty Silver
7. The Center of the Fire
8. Love Reign o'er Me (The Who cover)
9. At Day's End

Line-up: 
Nick Van Dyk - Guitars, Keyboards
Chris Quirarte - Drums
Ray Alder (Fates Warning, Engine) - Vocals
Sean Andrews - Bass
Bernie Versailles - Guitars
   With
Chris Poland - Guitars (1, 2, 4,6-9)
Marty Friedman - Guitars (3, 6)
Chris Broderick - Guitars (6)
Simone Mularoni - Guitars (1, 2, 9)
John Bush  - Vocals (8)

Description/Reviews: 

Musically, The Art of Loss follows its predecessor, insofar as Redemption continue to expertly play melody against aggression, without losing sight of what a good song needs: hooks and dynamics. But their newest work finds composition, musicianship and production taken up another notch, with an array of songs ranging from hard-hitting melodic metal to the 23-minute epic "At Day's End".

Media/Samples 
Damaged

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