Giant Squid "Minoans"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Post Metal
Label: Translation Loss Records
Format: CD
Release date: October 28, 2014
Tracklist: 

1. Minoans - 08:27  
2. Thera - 05:14  
3. Sir Arthur Evans - 05:43  
4. Palace of Knossos - 04:05  
5. Sixty Foot Waves - 05:32  
6. Mycenaeans - 05:37  
7. The Pearl and the Parthenon - 04:50  
8. Phaistos Disc - 03:52

Line-up: 
Aaron John Gregory - guitar, vocals
Bryan Beeson - bass
Jackie Perez Gratz - cello, vocals
Andrew Southard - keyboards, vocals
Zack Farwell - drums

Description/Reviews: 

For the many permutations ‘post-metal’ tends to wind up with, progressive oddly isn’t that high on the list. Maybe it’s the post-metal staples of lumbering pace or the need to express darker moods. Whatever the cause, it makes Minoans all the more surprising in how well it’s executed the way it is. While embodying the best elements of the post-metal tag (minus the aimless suck, for aside from the opener most of these songs wrap up in 5 minutes), and meshing it with progressive exaltations. All in all it’s not terribly dissimilar from Ancestors, though again with an extreme focus on economy within each song.

 Read the full review by Matthew Bowling at deadrhetoric.com

Media/Samples 
Mycenaeans

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OutFunked "The Blue Wire"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Jazz, Fusion, Funk
Format: digital
Release date: October 2014
Tracklist: 

1. Equinox 04:11
2. Where's Miles 07:45
3. Bitches Brew 06:30
4. Blue Wire 03:29
5. The Edge 07:18
6. In Which a Witch Wishes for a Dish 06:07
7. Centaurus 11:11
8. Eeeeee 11:46

Line-up: 
Vance Provey: Trumpet, Conceptualizing
Robert Rabinowitz: Bass, Flute, Anti-Conceptualizing
Martin Ear: Guitars: Percussion, Noise, De-Conceptualizing
Jeff Cedrone: Electric guitar, Electronics De-Constructing
Matt Spencer: Drums, De-Drummer

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Stephan Forte "Enigma Opera Black"

Country: France
Sub Genre: Instrumental Progressive Metal
Label: Zeta Nemesis Records
Format: CD
Release date: October 28, 2014
Tracklist: 
1. Short Virtuosity Etude - 01:30
2. Enigma Opera Black - 05:18
3. Zeta Nemesis - 06:48
4. Sector A: UNDEAD - 07:05
5. Pure - 04:57
6. Entering Sigma Scorpii - 05:54
7. Praying Lord Bhairava at the Foot of Mount Kailash - 05:13
8. Suspended Tears Into Space - 07:35
9. Peace - 01:38

Line-up: 
Stéphan Forté (Adagio) - Guitar
Franck Hermanny - Bass
Kevin Codfert - Keyboards
Morgan Berthet - Drums
   With
Andy James - Guitar solo (2)
Marty Friedman - Guitar solo (3)
Paul Wardingham - Guitar solo (4)
Marco Sfogli (James LaBrie, Creation's End) - Guitar solo (8)

Description/Reviews: 

The ultimate distinction between Enigma Opera Black and its predecessor can be boiled down to a single word: atmosphere. Whereas The Shadows Compendium tended to play out as a more direct, less ornamented exercise of Stéphan’s instrumental prowess, here the music has taken a turn towards a far darker, at times somewhat oppressive nature that proves quite palpable in its execution. Immensely haunting even in comparison to previous Adagio work, a more apt comparison would likely be to that of Beyond Twilight’s material, or other such acts sporting similar degrees of unsettling ambiance. In fact, all Forté would have had to do was write some vocal lines for Kelly to sing, and you’d have little difficulty convincing me this was the latest release from the twisted imagination of Finn Zierler. It’s obviously no coincidence the release of this album comes so close to Halloween, as the eerie nature of Forté’s leads combined with increased keyboard presence do well to conjure images of ghoulish faces and agonizing treks down a long dark hallway all too easily.

 Read the full review at metal-archives.com

Media/Samples 
Enigma Opera Black
Zeta Nemesis

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Gravmaskin ”Volym 1”

Country: Sweden
Sub Genre: Instrumental Space Rock, Psychedelic
Label: Electric Assault (USA), Sound of Cobra (Europe), De:nihil (Scandinavia)
Format: vinyl, digital
Release date: October 28, 2014
Tracklist: 

1. Sultans of Speed
2. Roadkill or Carpet
3. Locomotion
4. Fake Blood
5. Ghosts in a Gas Tank
6. Only Corpses and Fumes

Line-up: 
Sofia Rydahl: Keys
Lukas Häger: Guitar
Mikal Styrke: Drums

Description/Reviews: 

”Grave”, ”machine” and ”excavator” - Gravmaskin is a play on the Swedish translations for these three words, and when listening to the trio's instrumental rock its moniker makes perfect sense. The music paints a picture of a ”grave machine” - a mechanical entity fueled by driving beats and haunting melodies, digging tombs in the airy forest, next to a roaring motorway. Something cold and mechanical married to nature and her cycles of life and death. Because at first glance, Gravmaskin's music might pull instant associations to classic Italian horror soundscapes and dreamy German psychedelia (the band cite Goblin, NEU! and Tangerine Dream as three of their main influences, alongside smoke, freeways and the Swedish nature reserve Hågadalen). But when looking further, descending over it is a funeral mist of something undeniably Scandinavian – that soul stripping melancholia present in Bathory and Bo Hansson alike – and a raw, jangly punk execution giving it groove, nerve and a speed-paced pulse.

Media/Samples 
Sultans of speed
Roadkill or carpet

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She Was The Universe "Else And Where"

Country: Russia
Sub Genre: Progressive Math Metal, Post-Hardcore
Format: digital
Release date: October 28, 2014
Tracklist: 

1. Three Of Eleven 04:45
2. Progeny Of Panthalassa 04:49
3. The Universe Is Unfolding 03:26
4. Bloop 03:54
5. Oceans Are Me 05:57
6. Aquarium Experiment 00:38
7. Mother Tree 05:03
8. And Everything After 05:36
9. Commercial Smash 01:18
10. The Amber Road 04:12
11. Tidal Flats 04:53

Line-up: 
Aleksey - vocals
Sasha - guitars
Ivan - guitars
Maksim- bass
Lesha - drums
   With
Max Sit - vocals (2)

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Nero Di Marte "Derivae"

Country: Italy
Sub Genre: Progressive Metal
Label: Prosthetic Records
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release date: October 28, 2014
Tracklist: 
1. L'Eclisse (08:13)
2. Clouded Allure (06:05)
3. Pulsar (08:30)
4. Dite (6:31)
5. Simulacra (08:20)
6. Il Diluvio (09:00)
7. Those Who Leave (10:15)

Line-up: 
Andrea Burgio - Bass
Marco Bolognini - Drums
Francesco D'Adamo - Guitars
Sean Worrell - Guitars, Vocals

Description/Reviews: 

The album's title, taken from the Italian phrase "andare alla Deriva" ("to go adrift"), correlates with its lyrical themes, which vocalist Sean Worrell describes as "tragically searching for something that maybe isn't there...letting yourself go and becoming swayed by the unknown."

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (2 tracks)

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Nick Karch "Retrieve the Keys"

Country: Canada
Sub Genre: Alternative, Progressive Rock
Format: digital
Release date: October 28, 2014
Tracklist: 

1. Parallel Path - 5:27
2. Sidewalk Blocks - 4:47
3. Figures - 4:31
4. Approve the Pretender - 4:23
5. Wasted Summer - 5:02
6. Landing Light - 4:56
7. Forest Meadow - 5:02
8. Animation Cel - 4:34
9. Left to Right - 5:22
10. On the Lookout - 4:27
11. Retrieve the Keys - 5:10

Line-up: 
Nick Karch (Bolus) - vocals and all instruments

Description/Reviews: 

The debut album by “Bolus” front-man, Nick Karch. Fans of Bolus will notice an extension of the band’s signature sound, mixed with a additional exploration into more straight-forward, yet unique and unexpected musical territory.

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Strawbs "Prognostic"

Country: UK
Sub Genre: Prog Folk
Label: Witchwood Media
Format: CD
Release date: October 27, 2014
Tracklist: 

1. Heartbreak Hill
2. Through Aphrodite's Eyes
3. Something For Nothing
4. Starting Over
5. Deep In The Darkest Night 
6. The River/Down By The Sea (previously unreleased)
7. Blue Angel (remastered)
8. Tomorrow (remastered)
9. Lay A Little Light On Me/Hero's Theme/Round And Round (remastered)

Line-up: 
Dave Cousins – vocals, guitars
Chas Cronk – bass (1, 3, 4, 9), vocals (1, 3, 4), programming (2)
Andy Richards – keyboards (1, 3, 4)
Tony Fernandez – drums (1, 3, 4, 9)
Dave Lambert – lead guitar (2, 3, 9)
John Hawken – keyboards (2)
Rod Coombes – drums (2)
Rick Wakeman (ex-Yes) – grand piano (5), piano, organ (7)
Conny Conrad – guitar, programming (5)
Tony Hooper – acoustic guitar (6, 8)
Brian Willoughby – lead guitar (6)
Chris Parren – keyboards (6)
Rod Demick – bass (6)
Richard Hudson – drums (6, 8)
Miller Anderson – lead guitars (7)
Roger Glover (Deep Purple) – bass (7)
Jon Hiseman– drums (7)
Blue Weaver – keyboards (8)
John Ford – bass (8)
Jo Partridge – lead guitar (1, 4)

Description/Reviews: 

"Prognostic" is the album that defines Strawbs once and for all as a prog rock force to be reckoned with. The music is powerful, yet melodic. The lyrics are biting, yet sensitive.

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Holotropic "Permeate"

Country: Slovakia
Genre(s): Tech/Extreme Progressive Metal
Format: CD, digital
Release date: October 27, 2014
Tracklist: 

1. Judge 02:23
2. Scintillate 04:40
3. Rupture 04:45
4. Wysinati 03:20
5. Traveller 07:25
6. Tantrums 04:56
7. Filters 04:01
8. Hunch 01:04
9. Integral 11:22

Line-up: 
Matej “Vein” Ferenčík
Janko Hutka
Rasťo Molnár
Tomáš Švantner
Kamil Adamík
   With
Miloslav Kollár - sitar in “Judge” & “Traveller”
Lukáš Minařík - keyboards in “Rupture”
Martin Schuster - guitar leads in “Filters”
Milan Malík - samples in “Integral”

Description/Reviews: 

45 minutes of modern and original extreme metal crossing many genre boundaries, including influences from progressive and technical metal. The spectrum of Holotropic stretches from fast, technical, insane-sounding riffs, through hard hitting heavy parts to slower, more atmospheric, melodic and even oriental moments. "Permeate" is a concept record, musically and lyrically, drawing from the nature of change, broadening of horizons, psychonautics as well as scientific theories from psychology, behavioral science and psychiatry. 

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Fish on Friday "Godspeed"

Country: Belgium
Sub Genre: Progressive Rock/Pop
Label: Esoteric Antenna
Format: CD, digital
Release date: October 27, 2014
Tracklist: 

1. Godspeed - 10:15
2. Just a nightmare - 5:35
3. She colours the rainbow - 3:42
4. Callin' planet home - 5:23
5. Ghost song - 6:14
6. Radio - 4:20
7. Sanctuary - 8:10
8. Stay - 6:50
9. Don't love me to death - 4:30
10. Tick-tock - 4:05
11. My dog - 1:17

Line-up: 
William Beckers: keyboards, percussion
Frank Van Bogaert: keyboards, vocals, backing vocals, additional guitars
   With
Nick Beggs: bass, Chapman stick, backing vocals

Marcus Weymaere: drums, percussion
Marty Townsend: guitars
Theo Travis

Links:
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