Davide Ronfetto "Enlightening Nights, Darkening Days"

Country: Italy
Genre(s): Progressive Rock
Label: Luminol Records
Format: digital
Release date: January 27, 2022
Tracklist

1. Night City Lights (5:06) 

2. Absent (6:17) 

3. Under The Rain (5:49) 

4. Four Notes Of Shame (10:03) 

5. Love Moan (7:34) 

6. The Thin Man (5:28) 

7. Witch (6:05) 

8. Hidden Glade (6:42) 

Total Time 53:04 

Credits

Davide Ronfetto - Vocals and bass guitar

   With

Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree, ORK) - Bass (3)

Heather Findlay (Ayreon, Odin Dragonfly) - Vocals (8)

Elisa Montaldo (Tempio Delle Clessidre) - Keyboards, Hammond, Synths and Mellotron

Edmondo Romano (Motus Laevus, PFM, New Trolls) - Sax (4)

Gabriele Tiezzi - Guitars

Omar Maiorano - Drums 

Music and lyrics: Davide Ronfetto

Instruments recordings: Stefano Angaramo and Simone Pollino

Vocal recordings, Mix and master: David Fulk at DSS Recording Studio

Artwork: Herwig Clayes

Description/Reviews:

This is a take on the form that does come with some similarities in style, mood and atmosphere to the ones explored by legendary band Porcupine Tree some 15 years back, with liberal amounts gentler atmospheric laden passages and some careful off kilter indie moments of the kind a band like Radiohead might take a deep dive into combined with driving, hard and occasionally aggressive guitar riff displays. Cosmic tangents and Mellotron-flavored landscapes and the occasional jazz-tinged undercurrent as much a part of the totality here as a fiery guitar presence. While this is an album that could be described in a lot of different manners, the easiest one and probably also the best one is to simply say that if you miss Porcupine Tree as they were just prior to 2010, this is an album that should fill a bit of that void in a good manner. (Olav M. Bjornsen at progressor.net's facebook)

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Initial Mass "Alluvium"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Progressive Hard Rock/Metal
Label: Luminol Records
Format: digital
Release date: January 13, 2023
Tracklist

1. Hadean's Fall (6:04) 

2. Trails Behind (2:42) 

3. Out Of The Mold (3:12) 

4. Horizon (3:54) 

5. Wake (6:27) 

6. Calm Wind (3:30) 

7. Believers (3:33) 

8. Memory Fade (4:02) 

9. Drifting (4:26) 

10. The Calling (3:54) 

11. A Crow In The Dark (5:26) 

12. Vacant Throne (5:07) 

13. In Stone Liz Granite (7:28) 

Total Time 59:45

Credits

Mark Baldwin: vocals, guitar 

Kevin Robertson: drums

Scott Smith: bass

   With

Liz Granite: vocals (2, 5, 13)

Produced by Initial Mass and Ron Sandoval 

Recorded and mixed by Ron Sandoval at Rev Studios

Mastering by Andrew Alekel

Description/Reviews:

Los Angeles-based heavy prog rock trio Initial Mass release their new album Alluvium with the Italian post-progressive label Luminol Records. 

The band’s fourth LP consists of 13 songs that explore strikingly diverse sonic territories across an evolving conceptual soundscape. Simply put, this is Initial Mass doing what they do best. The follow-up to 2019’s anthemic alt-rocker, Bending Light, manifests as some of the most intricate, calculated and cohesive compositions from the group thus far. 

Alluvium is a concept album, portraying the life of one individual as a metaphor for the rise and fall of humankind. The main character starts his journey, young and ambitious, excited for his chance to make his mark. Quickly, he becomes more intent on his desire to take what he wants from the world. As he grows more powerful, he refutes the warnings of nature’s conscience. Leaving a trail of destruction in his wake, he finds himself isolated in world that can no longer sustain life.

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Quiet Observer "Space honey" EP

Country: Ukraine
Genre(s): Instrumental Progressive Metal/Rock
Format: digital
Release date: January 5, 2023
Tracklist

1. Space Honey (4:34) 

2. Koi 3010.01 (3:22) 

3. Makemake сruise (4:28) 

4. To Bottle A Star (2:31) 

5. Kitchen Astronaut (3:30) 

6. Accent Problems (3:15) 

7. Lunar Mongols (4:41) 

Total Time 26:21

Credits

Dennis Fursov - playing,composing,mixing and everything else

Composed and recorded during 2022, at home, drums recorded at Quiet studio.

Media/Samples
Bandcamp

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Peter Rand "Cheshire Ghosts"

Country: UK
Genre(s): Rock, Progressive Rock
Format: digital
Release date: January 1, 2023
Tracklist

1. Autumn In Downland (6:36) 

2. Time Lapse (3:54) 

3. Rest Of Our Lives (5:37) 

4. Cheshire Ghosts (6:18) 

5. Storeton Ridge (4:11) 

6. Song For The Forest (4:11) 

7. Himalaya (5:47) 

8. In Circles (3:31) 

9. Noah's Archive (5:12) 

10. The Killing Fields Of Eton (5:00) 

Total Time 50:17

Credits

Peter Rand (Imaginary Kings) - Keys, Guitar (1,2,6,7,9, 10)

   With

Ramlee Oak - Vocals (1,4,6,9), Bass (1,4), Drums (4)

Moe Howard - Piano / Drums (1)

Dave Budd - Vocals (2)

Tom Corea - Drums (2)

Mario Licata - Bass (2)

Richard Bradley - Guitar (2)

Alex Dowding - Vocals (3)

Brian Henry - Drums (3,6)

Philippe Pansard - Bass (3)

John Schilling - Guitar (5,8), Drums (8)

Steve Johnson - Bass (6,7,9), Drums (9)

Michael Ousey - Vocals (7)

Nick DeNardo (Imaginary Kings) - Drums (7)

Vijay Puri - Guitar (7)

Daniele Silvestri - Drums (10)

Chris Branch - Bass (10)

Music by Peter Rand 

Mixed by Moe Howard (1), Richard Bradley (2), Alex Dowding (3), Ramlee Oak (4,9), John Schilling (5,8), Brian Henry (6), Steve Johnson (7), Chris Branch (10)

Lyrics by Peter Rand (1), Dave Budd (2), Peter Rand & Alex Dowding (3), Ramlee Oak (4,6,9), Michael Ousey (7)

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Doom Salad "Jasshi Jusia Zon"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Instrumental Progressive/Math Rock, Fusion
Format: digital
Release date: December 23, 2022
Tracklist

1. Part I (2:37) 

2. Part II (2:38) 

3. Part III (3:32) 

4. Part IV (3:40) 

5. Part V (4:05) 

6. Part VI (2:50) 

7. Part VII (5:32) 

8. Part VIII (0:49) 

9. Part IX (4:38) 

10. Part X (2:15) 

Total Time 32:36

Credits

Lane Gardner - Guitar

Mathew Pelton - Drums

Gordon Wery - Synths

Engineered by Lane Gardner and Mathew Pelton.

Organized, edited, and mixed by Mathew Pelton.

Mastered by Bill Pelton and Mathew Pelton at Pine Mountain Productions.

Album art: AI generated by Mathew Pelton.

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Bandcamp

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The Wring "Spectra"

Country: Canada
Genre(s): Progressive Rock/Metal, Hard Rock
Label: Wormholedeath Records
Format: digital
Release date: December 16, 2022
Tracklist

1. Stiletto (4:40) 

2. Stones & Bones (4:58) 

3. The Prince (3:54) 

4. The Wolf (5:00) 

5. Tin Man (5:25) 

6. From Mars (4:43) 

7. Sins (4:43) 

8. Fallen (5:05) 

Total Time 38:28

Credits

Don Dewulf – Guitars

Marco Minnemann (Steven Wilson, The Aristocrats) – Drums

Chandler Mogel – Vocals

Reggie Hache – Bass & Keyboards

Isamu McGregor – Keyboards

Description/Reviews:

“Spectra” is a bit like a 1970’s King Crimson album, but without any ethereal soliloquies and certainly with a more significant hard rock/metal influence. It is a cauldron of hard rock, jazz, metal, classical, 80’s rock, 70’s rock, and probably a few other things.

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Teaser

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Crypto Knight "The Journey"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Progressive Rock
Format: digital
Release date: December 16, 2022
Tracklist

1. Ride On (4:47) 

2. Good Knights (3:45) 

3. Down To Earth (3:50) 

4. Castaway (3:18) 

5. The Inklings (4:48) 

6. Surfing The Ether (4:12) 

7. Cascades (4:00) 

8. Exodus Finalis (4:38) 

Total Time 33:18

Credits
Dave Johnson (The Forgotten Man) - Music, Vocals, Producer

Tim Malugin

Description/Reviews:

The duo's music demonstrates their unique and varied style which has been described as a mix of Neo Progressive, Indie and Electronic Rock.

Media/Samples
Bandcamp
Exodus Finalis

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Various Artists "ZZAJ: Jazz From the 23rd Century"

Country: Multinational
Genre(s): Jazz, Jazz-Rock, Fusion, Experimental
Label: Discus Music
Format: CD,digital
Release date: December 2, 2022
Tracklist/Performers

CD1

1. Amanda Chaudhary - Donershtik (Meow Mix) (6:26) 

2. Amy Denio - UNTRAPT (3:19) 

3. Elliott Sharp - Baile De Sombras (1:58) 

4. Dereck Higgins - I Didn't Hear It On The Radio (1:29) 

5. Haco - Watercrown (5:03) 

6. Pete Prown & Jeff Gordon - Grifter (5:02) 

7. Alfred Harth - Czernowitz (4:53) 

8. Marmhelodic Rascals - The March (9:25) 

9. Jerry & Michele King - Avalon (3:03) 

10. Atsuko Kamura - Ginza Street Lights (4:06) 

11. Nick Didkovsky - The Curse Of Anubis (1:46) 

12. Nubdug Ensemble - Entrance (1:15) 

13. David Moss - It's The Galaxies (4:51) 

14. Shawn Persinger - The Real Book N-Z (Abridged) (1:10) 

15. Intige Taluure - Saskatoon (3:55) 

16. David Newhouse - Pluck Wind Bang (4:37) 

17. Anthony Coleman - Unfilled Hooks (3:14) 

CD2

18. Brian Woodbury - Mentally Ill (3:48) 

19. The Lunar Asylum - Zroidian Be Bop (6:45) 

20. Paul Sears - In Praise Of Folly (3:33) 

21. Henry Kaiser - Five Death Haiku (7:41) 

22. Forrest Fang & Joseph Bendola - Wrong Exit (5:30) 

23. Paul Morris - Diner On The Ship James (3:51) 

24. Frank Chickens - Looking For Me (2:45) 

25. Anthony Pirog - 23rd Century Pirog (1:43) 

26. 2-9 Compaxident 1 - Dead Ducks (8:02) 

27. Greg Segal - Daily (1:42) 

28. Fred Hodshon - Wordless Whisperer (3:24) 

29. Ron Anderson - Strangulation (2:44) 

30. Leandro Kalen - A Tale Of Southern Groove (2:28) 

31. Martin Archer - Song For John Gilmore (5:35) 

32. Tom Djll - The Black Bird Bossa (6:38) 

33. Killick Hinds - Arborial Futurity (3:08) 

34. Steve Beresford - Elastic Articles (2:03) 

Total Time 136:52

Compilation producers: Jerry King and Dave Newhouse

Mastering engineer: Ian Beabout

Front cover design: Eric Kearns

Other design and back cover art: Dan Sauer

Cover painting: Dave Newhouse

Landscape paintings: Pete Prown

Description/Reviews:

ZZAJ: Jazz from the 23rd Century, is a thrilling new collection of music featuring 34 new songs – all previously unreleased – from artists from all over the world. The brainchild of producers/multi-instrumentalists Jerry King (Cloud Over Jupiter, Moon X, John Shirley & Jerry King) and Dave Newhouse (The Muffins, Manna Mirage, Moon X), ZZAJ asked musicians to interpret jazz from various conceptual viewpoints, particularly avoiding traditional jazz sounds.

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Bandcamp

Opus Arise "The Network"

Country: Canada
Genre(s): Instrumental Symphonic Progressive Rock/Metal
Format: digital
Release date: December 2, 2022
Tracklist

1) Inner Skepticism – 5:50

2) Electric Jungle – 6:02

3) Antimatter – 3:22

4) Digital Soundscape – 4:38

5) Reminiscence – 5:21

6) Change – 5:23

7) Timeshift – 5:21

8) The Unanswered Question – 5:13

Album Length: 41:13

Credits

Shawn Hillman Guitar, Cello (4)

James Readman: Guitar

Daniel Carmago: Bass Guitar (1-3, 5-7)

Matthew Logan: Drums, Violin II

Matthew Hannah: Keyboards

Michelle Gao: Violin I

Ellen Smith: Viola

Darrell Bennett: Cello

Kyle Hagen: Contrabass, Bass Guitar (8)

Mixing by Ryan Shepard at Little Red Sounds Studio

Mastered by Maor Appelbaum

Artwork by Daniel Reyes

Music Videos by Jade Weekes

Compositions by Matthew Logan

Description/Reviews:

Opus Arise (ft. members of Svneatr, Thousand Arrows, Ysgaroth) is an orchestral metal ensemble that brings together classical strings and metal rhythms to create luscious soundscapes to dissonant chaos. They are about to drop their second album this winter, entitled “The Network”, which will send listeners headfirst into a cyberpunk world where frequencies and chord progressions are believed to be catalysts for time travel. Although there are no lyrics, the theme is easy to pick up on, as the tension, the relief, and the drama of the story are within. Compared to their previous album “Revelation” (2016), their compositions have become less metal driven and they have grown the string section from a trio to a quintet and are planning to incorporate more orchestral instruments.

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Bandcamp

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Collage "Over And Out"

Country: Poland
Genre(s): Progressive Rock
Label: Mystic Production
Format: CD, vinyl
Release date: December 2, 2022
Tracklist

1. Over And Out

2. What About The Pain

3. One Empty Hand

4. A Moment A Feeling

5. Man In The Middle 

Line-up

Bartosz Kossowicz (Quidam) - vocals

Michał Kirmuć - electric & acoustic guitars

Krzysztof Palczewski - synthesizers

Piotr Mintay Witkowski - bass

Wojtek Szadkowski (Satellite, Peter Pan, Strawberry Fields, Travellers) - drums & percussion

   With:

Steve Rothery (Marillion) - electric & acoustic guitars (5)

Media/Samples
One empty hand

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