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Saturday, April 25, 2015

Circuline “Return”


Country: USA
Genre(s): Progressive Rock
Label: Inner Nova
Format: CD, digital
Release date: April 24, 2015
Tracklist: 
  1. Return
  2. Nebulae
  3. Stereotypes
  4. Soleil Noir 
  5. One Wish 
  6. Imperfect
  7. Fallout Shelter
  8. Silence Revealed
Line-up: 
Andrew Colyer – keyboards, vocals
Bill Shannon – lead guitars, vocals
Billy Spillane – lead vocals
Darin Brannon – drums, percussion
Natalie Brown – lead vocals
   With
Matt Dorsey (Sound of Contact) - bass
Randy McStine(Lo­Fi Resistance) - vocals (1)
Joe Deninzon (Stratospheerius) - electric violin

Description/Reviews: 
Expect a lot of great guitar and keyboard riffs. Okay, so where does “ordo ab chao”[out of chaos comes order] come into it? Track one ‘ the title track, ‘Return’ doesn’t give you much of a clue as it’s a straightforward melody with some great hooks in it, and one I think a number of radio stations will add this one to their playlists for high rotation. It’s a good song to start off with and imagine it works well performed on stage. Track two ‘Nebulae’ is where “ordo ab chao” seriously starts earning its money with an interesting dissonant beginning by Andrew on keys which we soon find out in this relatively short instrumental, out of random chaos we get order. In fact, most of the following tracks have a similar disjointed beginning that turns inside itself into something melodic throughout the rest of each piece. As you’ll see below, I asked Andrew about their writing and how they came about balancing the consonant and dissonant elements within most of these tracks.So in a nutshell – this is a very tight and solid debut album which you’ll soon discover has so much going on within it. Not a second wasted and yet, not rushed or too busy. I think it’s too early to pigeon-hole them just yet. Certainly there are jazz fusion elements in some of these pieces but not enough to point them in that direction for certain. Vocals are very strong as is the bass playing, and you’re in for a treat right at the end with a high-energy violin solo, shades of Kansas to these ears. I like that they’ve evenly spread the vocal tracks with the instrumental pieces showcasing what a fine bunch of musicians each of them are.
 Paul Watson at progarchy.com

Media/Samples 
7 tracks

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Cryptex "Madeleine Effect"


Country: Germany
Genre(s): Progressive Folk Rock
Label: CMM / Saol
Format: CD, digital
Release date: April 24, 2015
Tracklist: 
01. The Knowledge of Being 4:23
02. Ribbon Tied Swing 4:07
03. When the Flood Begins 3:24
04. Romper Stomper 1:45
05. Stroking Leather 4:00
06. Release My Body 4:40
07. Madame De Salm 3:59
08. Orange Blossom City Girl 3:45
09. Melvins Coolercoup 6:25
10. A Quarter Dozen in Ounces 4:23
11. New York Foxy 4:48
12. Anthem of Glory 4:43

Line-up: 
Simon Moskon - lead vocals, keys, bass, string, brass and choir arrangements
Marc Andrejkovits - guitars, backing vocals, accordion on „Stroking Leather“
  With
Kristof Hinz - drums & percussions
Martin Schnella - mandolin on „Melvins Coolercoup“
Anca Graterol, Andy Longolius, Simone Jackson - the ladies on „New York Foxy“

Media/Samples 
Samples
Preview

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Friday, April 24, 2015

Dark Quarterer "Ithaca"


Country: Italy
Genre(s): Progressive Metal
Label: Metal On Metal Records
Format: CD, digital
Release date: April 24, 2015
Tracklist: 
1. The Path of Life
2. Night Song
3. Mind Torture
4. Escape
5. Nostalgia
6. Rage of Gods
7. Last Fight

Line-up: 
Gianni Nepi
Paolo Ninci
Francesco Sozzi
Francesco Longhi

Description/Reviews: 
Their style could be best described as an amalgam of '80s epic heavy metal with '70s progressive rock, and some elements of doom. Masterful musicianship and songwriting is a guarantee with this band, and this shows in the instantly memorable songs that reveal more sublime details with every spin of the album. Their music is very warm, full of various emotions and moods, much thanks to the impressive vocal use, ranging from mystical and fragile sounding sotto voce, through more eccentric singing and falsettos, to full-on powerful metal delivery. Lyrically, it's a concept album inspired by the poem "Ithaca" by Constantine P. Cavafy, in which Odysseus' travel back home from the Trojan War is seen as a metaphor for life, where the goal is not important, but the journey itself. And the album itself is a fascinating journey through sound and words. Spellbinding, unconventional, quirky... A unique and monumental work of art which could be also described with just one word: EPIC.

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp ( 2 tracks)

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Vivid Illusion "Circumnavigation | A"


Country: USA
Genre(s): Atmospheric Post Metal
Format: digital
Release date: April 24, 2015
Tracklist: 
  1. Comfort 00:52
  2. Liquid Walker 08:28
  3. Plans 03:57
  4. Faint Existence 07:56
  5. A Rift 06:48
  6. Arrival 06:46
Line-up: 
Anthony Taboada - Guitars, Pedals
Maxwell Molander - Lead guitars
Connor McCullough - Rhythm guitars
Mike Gardell - Bass
Jackson Firlik - Drums

Description/Reviews: 
Starting off with a track that lives up to its title, ‘Comfort’ sets the foundation for the whole record really well, but gives only a vague idea of what to expect.  Following up is ‘Liquid Walker’, starting off with dreamy landscapes, and then breaking into an explosive section of some sort of ambi-sludge.  With great lyrics, beautiful theatrics and sludgy hooks, this song is the total package.
The rest of the record edges on Alcest/Isis worship along with sludgy riffs. While it hints at post-metal at times, the songs tend to get heavier as the album progresses. The fourth track ‘Faint Existence’ clearly marks the start of heavier passages with growls.
 Read the full review by Nehal Shastri at itdjents.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Entransient "Entransient"


Country: USA
Genre(s): Progressive Rock, AOR
Format: digital
Release date: April 24, 2015
Tracklist: 
1. Promises End 06:05
2. Fell Into Place 04:28
3. Silk Tongue 04:42
4. The Horizon 05:32
5. The Lost Ones (Part 1) 05:19
6. The Lost Ones (Part 2) 04:47
7. Absent Hope 03:59
8. Entransient 04:19
9. Take What's Left 04:39

Line-up: 
Scott Martin – Lead Vocals, Keyboards, Acoustic Guitar
Nick Hagen – Guitars, Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Ryan Cunningham – Guitars, Backing Vocals
Matt Schrauben – Bass, Upright Bass
Jeremy Hyde – Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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In Each Hand a Cutlass "The Kraken"


Country: Singapore
Genre(s): Instrumental Progressive Rock/Metal, Post Rock/Metal
Format: CD, digital
Release date: April 24, 2015
Tracklist: 
  1. The Deep - 03:53
  2. Overture - 07:25
  3. Satori 101 - 05:48
  4. Combing Through The Waves - 01:16
  5. Seagull 1751 - 09:00
  6. The Kraken Pt. 1: Manifest - 06:47
  7. The Kraken Pt. 2: Melee - 06:39
  8. The Kraken: An Intermission - 00:54
  9. The Kraken Pt. 3: Monument - 05:52
  10. Heracleion - 06:28
  11. All Or Nothing - 01:18
  12. Ouroboros - 08:57
Line-up: 
Daniel Sassoon – Guitars
Amanda Ling – Keyboards & programming
Nelson Tan – Bass
Sujin Thomas – Guitars
Jordan Cheng – Drums & percussion
   With
Josh Wei – violins on tracks 2, 5, 6, 7 and 9
Hsiao Shan Loh – cello on track 12
Altered Statesmen – dubstep on track 11

Description/Reviews: 
The Kraken is a 12 tracks gargantuan journey through the fusion of post-rock soundscapes, classical music undertones, and an enviable knack of progressiveness. The mightiest of them all, namely the title track which is separated into 3 parts, and clocks in nearly at 20 minutes in length. Even what seems to be such a flawless formula that can be all that alluring, has been dealt with a stronger enemy. Yes, a taste of it’s own medicine. Time.
 Read the full review by Stephen Lua at offkey.sg

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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OH. "Synemotion"


Country: Greece
Genre(s): Progressive Rock/Metal
Format: vinyl, digital
Release date: April 24, 2015
Tracklist: 
1. Run Away (3:05)
2. Rumpus (3:18)
3. Subterfuge (3:54)
4. Elegy (4:01)
5. Deception (3:51)
6. Reception (4:21)
7. World of Warcraft (3:43)
8. Beckoning (3:33)
9. Synemotion (3:55)
10. Synemotion (Instrumental) (3:54)

Line-up: 
OH. (aka Olivia Hadjiioannou)  – guitars, bass, drums, keyboard, vocals

Media/Samples 
Run Away/Synemotion

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Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Fortyminusone "Out Of Entropy"


Country: USA
Genre(s): Progressive Rock
Format: CD, digital
Release date: April 22, 2015
Tracklist: 
1. Entropy (3:16)
2. Blue Houses (5:03)
3. In Between (3:31)
4. End Of The Road (5:17)
5. Not There (5:10)
6. Bluest Skies (3:09)
7. A Mystery (3:25)
8. The Invitation (3:36)
9. Pushed Then Shoved (5:18)
10. The Rain (5:19)
11. All Things New (2:09)
12. Freedom (4:37)

Total time 49:50

Line-up: 
Heather Gustafson Hunt: Vocals, Clapping
Craig R. Hunt: Guitars, Vocals , Electric Sitar, Tambourines, Vibraslap, Clapping
Todd Keating: Bass, Electric Organ, Background Vocals
Aaron York: Drums
   With
Eden String Quartet:
Violin: Megan Goff
Cello: Leah Sweeney
Viola: Therese Miller

Description/Reviews: 
Out of Entropy is a 12 track album, containing Progressive, Alternate, Pop, Rock and instrumentals,songs. This is fortyminusone's forth full length Album and they continue to mature and progress with their unique brand of hook-filled rock.
Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Tony MacAlpine "Concrete Gardens"


Country: USA
Genre(s): Progressive Metal/Rock
Format: CD, digital
Release date: April 21, 2015
Tracklist: 
1. Exhibitionist Blvd. - 4:28
2. The King’s Rhapsody - 4:45
3. Man In A Metal Cage - 4:20
4. Poison Cookies - 5:06
5. Epic - 5:00
6. Napoleon’s Puppet - 5:13
7. Sierra Morena - 4:52
8. Square Circles - 5:12
9. Red Giant - 5:10
10. Confessions of a Medieval Monument - 5:43
11. Concrete Gardens - 5:03
12. Maiden’s Wish - 4:19

Line-up: 
Tony MacAlpine – Guitar, Keyboards, Bass
   With
Aquiles Priester​ – Drums
Pete Griffin – Bass on 1, 4, 6, 7, 8
Jeff Loomis​ – Guitar solo on 8
Lucky Islam – Bass on 9
Sean Delson – Bass on 11

Media/Samples 
Concrete Gardens

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Proggnosis

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Celebrity Sex Scandal "Integral"



Country: USA
Genre(s): Avant-Garde Progressive Rock/Metal, Jazz-Rock
Format: CD, digital
Release date: April 21, 2015
Tracklist: 
  1. Introgalactic - 0:31
  2. Intergalactic Love Song - 3:47
  3. Trapped By the Speed of Light - 4:13
  4. In Passing - 5:56
  5. Drowning With My Friends - 5:29
  6. Christmyth - 4:40
  7. Crawl - 4:37
  8. The Bastard Sons of Forgotten Moons - 5:16
  9. 5 O'Clock - 5:27
  10. Lost Inside You - 4:54
Line-up: 
Justin Osburn - Vocals
Greg Combs - Guitar
Danny Nigro - Bass
John Katastrofe - Drums
Mike Chia - Trombone
Laith Fisk - Trumpet
Jeff Siegel - Keyboard

Media/Samples 
Stream

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