Steve Roach / Kelly David "The Long Night"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Electronica, Ambient
Label: Projekt
Release date: January 21, 2014
Tracklist: 

1. Last Light - 10:52
2. Season of Nights - 10:16
3. The Deep Hours - 12:25
4. Calm World - 13:06
5. The Long Night - 14:09

Line-up: 
Steve Roach
Kelly David

Description/Reviews: 

The Long Night is a deep-breathing sigh of the eternal nocturnal: gossamer atmospheres for the still hours of the night. Focusing on non-rhythmic, textural-harmonic electronic soundscapes, this collaboration unfurls like slow-moving, moonlit clouds. Although The Long Night leaves the lighted world behind, its midnight path leads to a state of gleaming serenity and calmness. This music is contemplative, though not brooding: a meditative environment filled with open spaces and tendrils of sound composed of shifting subtle moods and gleaming electronic passages.

The collaboration began during several late night sessions at Kelly David’s Denver studio, where the two artists carved-out the basic tracks using only analog modular instruments. The sonic palette expanded when the recording moved to Steve’s Arizona Timeroom studio, bringing in a deeper textural quality utilizing processed acoustic sounds and an expanded collection of analog and digital synthesizers, plus subtle outboard processing. The final mix by Steve further uncovers a dimensional depth, delivering on the subtle and intricate tones of David’s and Roach’s years of journeying the ambient night skies through the long nights.

The Long Night is a sixty-one minute mental excursion into unforeseen creative possibilities when the night becomes a special time beyond sleep, a contemplative zen noir of minimal radiant ambience.

Media/Samples 
2 tracks online

Links:
Web page (Steve Roach)
ProgArchives (Steve Roach)
Proggnosis 

Web page (Kelly David)

First Reign "Harvest Of Shame"

Country: Canada
Sub Genre: Progressive Death Metal
Release date: January 21, 2014
Tracklist: 

1. The Reaping 01:24
2. Death With Regret 03:31
3. Severed Inception 03:58
4. Lore 04:51
5. In Time 02:07
6. The Summoning 00:57
7. Serpent Of Old 05:16
8. Forged By Fire 06:27
9. Firstborn Of The Dead 04:38
10. Famine 02:40
11. A Will Into A Way 04:59
12. Harvest Of Shame 04:42

Line-up: 
Russ O'Shea - Bass
Sean Lang - Drums
Chris Holtz - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Ryan Macdonald - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Dallas Erickson - Lead Vocals

Description/Reviews: 

First Reign are a Canadian band who I believe are at the head of the class of what they do. I’ve covered them before, reviewing their debut EP, but with the band’s debut album, Harvest of Shame, they’ve undergone a transformation. They are more technical, more progressive, and with a much darker tonality.

Read the full review at nocleansinging.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

Links:
Web page
Facebook

Sayer "Sounds Of Atoms"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Electronica
Label: New Territory Records
Release date: January 21, 2014
Tracklist: 
1. Sounds Of Atoms (10:34)
2. Subatomic Particles (7:40)
3. Kinetic Energies (6:00)
4. Cyclotron (11:42)
5. Oscillating Fields (8:07)
6. Retrospection (6:14)
7. Cosmic Rays (5:27)
8. Angular Momentum (8:30)
9. Particle Beams (5:18)
10. Atomic Age (8:08)

Line-up: 
Sayer Seely - synthesizers

Description/Reviews: 

Sounds of Atoms - was specifically written to be the title track of Sounds of Atoms and set the tone for the release.
Subatomic Particles - is all about the sequences... hopefully with a little Tangerine Dream influence.
Kinetic Energies - is best thought of as a bonus track. It started as some noodling with a couple of sequences and within a short amount of time I liked it enough to squeeze it into this release. Simple and fun.
Cyclotron - the first track written for Sounds of Atoms and it is intended to be one of the stand-out tracks. Over time it evolved quite a lot from the initial takes and has the most time and effort invested of all tracks on this release.
Oscillating Fields - offers a catchy sequence as the driving force, along with some nice supporting sounds.
Retrospection - reflects back to some of the music I was making prior to 1st Encounter. Originally, it was not planned for this release, thus the break from the Atoms theme, but I liked how it offers a change in feel and pace and decided to include it.
Cosmic Rays - time to add some grit to the sequences and toss in some nice sound effects.
Angular Momentum - There always seems to be one track on each release that proves to be a real challenge for me to get everything sounding "right", and Angular Momentum is the one. The goal was to have a whimsical feel, while still having layers of sequences.
Particle Beams - actually was started while I was working on Random Access Melodies, but very little work had been done. After some more attention and effort, it found its way onto Sounds of Atoms.
Atomic Age - was from the start intended to be the final track on Sounds of Atoms. The idea was to bring down the intensity a bit and end the release with a more relaxed feeling.

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

Links:
Web page
Facebook
ProgArchives

In.finity "Illusive Actuality"

Country: Germany
Sub Genre: Progressive Rock/Metal
Release date: January 21, 2014
Tracklist: 

1. Parasomnia 05:13
2. Stigmatized 09:07
3. Machine Down 05:56
4. Rain 04:48
5. Sound Of Life pt. I - III 11:43
6. Sound Of Life pt. IV - VI 10:22

Line-up: 
Patrick Keßler - Keyboard, Piano,  Back vocals
Siegfried Spirek - Guitar, Back vocals
Lukas Grünwald - Drums, Back vocals
Michael Habicht - Vocals

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

Links:
Facebook

Pantokrator "Incarnate"

Country: Sweden
Sub Genre: Progressive Melodic Death Metal
Label: Rottweiler Records (USA and Canada)
Release date: January 21, 2014 (USA and Canada), January 27, 2014 (Europe and Australia)
Tracklist: 
01. Incarnate
02. Cast Down
03. Revolution
04. Amidst The Wolves
05. Seraphim Wings
06. Icarus Burning
07. Sammath Naur
08. Milennium In Chains
09. Ökenvandring

Line-up: 
Mattias Johansson - guitar
Karl Walfridsson - vocals
Rickard Gustafsson - drums
Jonas Wallinder - bass
Jonathan Jansson - guitar

Description/Reviews: 

The album's title track kicks things off with a bang, immediately thrusting the listener into the world of Pantokrator; a headbanger's paradise of old school Swedish death metal filled with heavy, catchy riffs, a powerfully thundering rhythm section, and the guttural, throaty snarls of vocalist Karl Baltazar.
As heavy as the album is though, Pantokrator do a really good job incorporating a decent amount of melody into the songs, which as a fan of their past work, I found a bit surprising - but it works really well. As the album progresses the energy and heaviness seems to build as well, and around the middle of the disc songs like "Sammath Naur" and "Millennium In Chains" really kick you in the teeth and get your neck snapping. After being aurally assaulted for eight straight tracks, the disc ends with "Kenvandring," a heavy, slow burning tune that closes things out in perfect fashion. (Bruce Moore at puregrainaudio.com)

Media/Samples 
Revolution

Links:
Web page
Facebook

Alio Die & Sylvi Alli "Amidst the Circling Spires"

Country: Italy/USA
Sub Genre: Electronica, Ambient
Label: Projekt Records
Release date: January 21, 2014
Tracklist: 
1.The inner sea (silver sea) 05:33
2.Dreaming tree 09:05
3.Crepuscular birds 10:25
4.La grotta delle Naiadi 11:42
5.Numinous veins 09:11
6.Across a splendid vista 08:07
7.Revenir 04:28

Line-up: 
Sylvi Alli: Voice, percusion and electronics on 7
Alio Die: Drones and loops, zither, rattles and seeds
    with:
Lingua Fungi: zither and effects on 3
Lorenzo Montanà: electronics on 4

Description/Reviews: 

Amidst the Circling Spires is a captivating electro-ambient journey into an interior space, weaving visions of strong emotional impact. Sylvi’s heavenly voice drifts within the highly processed acoustic sounds created by Alio Die: a hybrid between – sonorous soundscapes and acoustic mysticism. The treated tones are an essential magma – organic and animated – luring the listener in like an ancestral call or an ancient saga. The loops, played with carillon, kalimba, zither, different objects and field recordings, blend into finely-detailed layered and treated.
Sylvi’s voice is intense and moving, evanescent and precise – each song a mantra exploring a unique soundworld. Her vocals interact deeply with the melodies and atmosphere of Alio Die as they weave together like dark roots underground.
The ecstatic and ritualistic landscapes that these artists offer shine with a magic all their own – giving rise to a multiple array of meditations perfectly mixed with unique pathos and abstraction.

Media/Samples 
2 tracks online

Links:
Web page (Alio Die)
Facebook (Sylvi Alli)
ProgArchives (Alio Die)

Hail Spirit Noir "Oi Magoi"

Country: Greece
Sub Genre: Black Metal, Progressive Metal, Psychedelic
Label: Code666 Records
Release date: January 20, 2014
Tracklist: 
1. Blood Guru (6:17)
2. Demon for a Day (6:00)
3. Satan Is Time (7:03)
4. Satyriko Orgio (Satyrs' Orgy) (6:32)
5. The Mermaid (11:28)
6. Hunters (6:44)
7. Oi Magoi (5:18)

Line-up: 
Haris: synths
Theoharis: guitars, vocals
Dim: bass, acoustic guitars
        With
Ioannis Giahoudis: drums
Dimitris Dimitrakopoulos: additional vocals

Description/Reviews: 

This album can move all those who love listening to psychoprog/folk/black albums, which can be described by on word: Artistic. It’s not just the atmospheres behind the black metal marks on guitars, on vocals, on drumming that remind of Darkthrone in the age of “Panzerfaust” or Enslaved. It’s also the successful painting of the ’70s sound, just as it begun with “Pneuma” and in “Oi Magoi” goes on, touching the top.

Read the full review by Dr.Feelgood at metalfields.wordpress.com

Media/Samples 
Satan is Time

Links:
Facebook
ProgArchives

Synaesthesia "Synaesthesia"

Country: UK
Sub Genre: Progressive Rock
Label: GEP
Release date: January 20, 2014
Tracklist: 
1. Time, Tension & Intervention (22.14)
   I. The Big Freeze
   II. An Excursion
   III. Past
   IV. Present
   V. Future
   VI. End
2. Sacrifice (5:30)
3. Noumenon (3.35)
4. Epiphany (7:00)
5. Good Riddance (3:35)
6. Technology Killed The Kids (3:02)
7. Life's What You Make Of It (7:29)

Line-up: 
Adam Warne - synths & lead vocals
Ollie Hannifan - guitars, vocals
Samuel Higgins - guitars, vocals
Peter Episcopo - bass, vocals
Robin Johnson - drums and percussion, vocals

Media/Samples 
Sampler
Life's What You Make Of It

Links:
Web page
Facebook
Proggnosis

Agora "Ichinen"

Country: Italy
Sub Genre: Jazz-Rock, Fusion
Label: Immaginifica
Release date: January 20, 2014
Tracklist: 

1. Serra San Quirico - 5:59
2. Ichinen - 5:28
3. Sensei - 5:23
4. Work in progress - 3:50
5. Starstrings - 6:00
6. Instante per instante - 4:15
7. Tre Maggio - 5:20
8. Oceano - 6:09
9. Wood of Guitar - 4:05
10. Progressive suite - 7:24
11. Costa dell'est - 8:22
12. Piramide di Domani/Cavalcate solara - 7:54

Line-up: 
Renato Gasparini: Guitars & Vocals
Ovidio Urbani: Soprano Sax
Lucio Cesari: Acoustic Bass
Gabriele Possenti: Guitars
Gianni Pieri: Cello
Massimo Manzi: Drums
   With
Maurizio Mercuri: Guitars
Giovanni Ceccarelli: Piano
Mauro Mencaroni: Drums
Alessandra Pacheco: Vocals
Karl Potter: Djambee & Congas
Roberto Bacchiocchi: Piano Rhodes
Robert Clark: Electric bass

Description/Reviews

Ichinen is the synthesis of the band's previous works. The tracklist is made up of historical songs , unreleased tracks of the second period of activity of the group and some rarities: never before released recordings of 1978 with Massimo Manzi on drums and Roberto Bacchiocchi at Rhodes piano. Within Ichinen coexist moments of the life of the band from the beginning to the present. The track " Serra San Quirico " placed at the beginning of the work and the final track " Pyramid of tomorrow / Solar Ride " represent the sound of the current lineup.
The Mediterranean atmosphere typical of the group are combined with ethnic and meditative tone that expands the sound structure of the entire album . What you can hear is an acoustic and refined sound , full of warm melodic themes and intense improvisations. The work is inspired by the reading of the Nichiren Buddhist principles ( monaco Buddhist founder of one of the major currents of Japanese Buddhism ) , that capture the confidence in " human revolution " individual as a means to create value in respect of the sacredness of life and ' environment .
"Ichinen" is an album that highlights the unique and intense musicality and sound of a innovative and creative band.

Media/Samples 
Progstreaming
Sensei

Links:
Web page
ProgArchives
Proggnosis

Eden Shadow "Phases"

Country: UK
Sub Genre: Neo-Prog
Label: White Knight Records
Release date: January 20, 2014 (digital), February 14, 2014 (CD)
Tracklist: 

1. First Phase 06:16
2. Restlessness 07:26
3. Hallucinogen 10:04
4. Hope You're Happy 05:57
5. Imagination (Feat. Nik Turner) 06:30
6. The Stars Unfold 08:28
7. Elgon 11:12
8. True Grace 04:19

Line-up: 
Ryan Elliott - Guitar, Lead Vocals, Keys
Alex Broben - Bass, Keys, Vocals
Tom Burgess - Drums, Percussion, Vocals, Moog
   With
Nik Turner - Flute Solo on 5

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

Links:
Web page
Facebook
ProgArchives
Proggnosis