(40:34; Three In One Records) Track list: 1. Sequenced Fairy Tales 10.12 - When It All Comes to Pass: 2. Introduction 3:24 3. The Word 3:35 4. The Warning 1:47 5. Sanctified 5:40 6. Reiteration 1:59 7. It Seemd Like a Good Idea at the Time 3:11 8. The Veil 6:53 9. If Not for Grace 3:53 Line-up: Doug Bowers - vocals, keyboards, guitars, bass, programming with: Frank Williams - guitars Brian Workman - guitars John Eargle - guitars, effects Chuck Tidwell - guitars Prolusion. US project KDB3 is the creative vehicle of composer and musician Doug BOWERS, who has been releasing music under that moniker since 2009, with a total of 4 studio albums and a string of singles and EPs issued so far. "When It All Comes to Pass" is the most recent of the full length albums, and was released at the start of 2021 through the label Three In One Records. Analysis. While the stated inspiration for the lyrical content of this production is a modern one, this being one of a plethora of productions d...

(72:37; Bornkamp Records) Track list: 01. Hoch Auf Dem Gelben Wagen 1:44 02. Evil 2:46 03. Neon Nights 6:50 04. How Many Tears 7:07 05. Frame of Mind 7:21 06. When the Rainbow Meets the Eye 4:35 07. Crazy 3:38 08. Ragin' Water 4:56 09. Dreamer 6:03 10. Save Yourself 5:56 11. Trisomie XXI 5:52 12. We'll Burn the Sky 7:50 13. Behind the Mask 3:55 14. Chains and Leather 4:04 Line-up: Frank Badenhop - guitars Hanno Kerstan - drums Mirko Gätje - bass with: Becky Gaber - vocals Jimmy Waldo - keyboards Ally Storch - violin Dethy Borchardt - guitars Giulia Marta Vallar - guitars Raphael Mendes - vocals Juan M. Varona - guitars Gabi Weihmayer - vocals Alex Häbell - guitars Ronnie Romero - vocals Tamas Petro - guitars Michele Dr. Viossy - guitars Iago Pedrosos - guitars Britta Helm - vocals Andreas Kowalzik - guitars Graham Bonnet - vocals Liv Jagrell - vocals Eric Scheufele - guitars Uschi Hertzberg - vocals Eric Wirsing - guitars Tim Ripper Owens - vocals Andres Nunez - guitars Brian M...

(76:38; Progressive Promotion Records) Track list: 1. Ortni 5:31 2. Black Ashes and Black Boxes 6:18 3. The Unknown Wise Advice 9:43 4. Another Light 3:40 5. Manley 5:16 6. Location and Destination 7:52 7. Crossing 10:00 8. The March 7:21 9. Contacto 10:44 10. Dredging to the Higher Plane 10:13 Line-up: Alfonso Vidales - keyboards Claudio Cordero - guitars Roberto Izzo - violin Carlos Humaran - bass, backing vocals Antonio Bringas - drums, percussion Bobby Vidales - vocals Lupita Acuna - vocals Prolusion. Mexican progressive rock band was formed way back in 1978, and since they started to release material in the 1990's they have developed into a quality provider of progressive rock. "Vigesimus" is their 20th studio album, and was released in the spring of 2021 through German label Progressive Promotion Records. Analysis. In my humble and subjective opinion, Mexican band Cast have possibly outdone themselves on this latest studio album of their. This is an album where my i...

(43:38; Lizard Records) Track list: 1. Singer of an Empty Day 2:17 2. Earthly Paradise 3:54    3. Lady of the Canyon 4:34 4. Thorsmörk 5:12 5. Anandi 2:18 6. Electric Troubadour 4:45 7. Pilgrims of Hope 3:12 8. Satori in Paris 5:46 9. Syd 3:26 10. Iktsuarpok 4:16 11. Colette the Witch 3:58 Line-up: Adrien Legendre - cello Audrey Moreau - flute Michele Moschini - vocals, guitars, synthesizers, organ, recorder, tin whistle, drums, percussion Stella Ramsden - violin, vocals Pascal Vernin - bass with: Yohav Oremiatzki - guitars Prolusion. ANANDAMMIDE was formed back in 2017 in Italy, but from what I understand they are currently based in France. Following a few years of development and what looks like a few initial line-up changes, the band was signed to Italian label Lizard Records, who released their debut album "Earthly Paradise" last year. Analysis. Anandammide is one of those bands that are very much on the border of what progressive rock is, and I suspect many would reg...

(63:40; Mijaces Records) Track list: 1. Chasing the Dragon 5:50 2. I'm Down 4:33 3. Rhythmic Inception 1:43 4. The Nihilist 5:02 5. Euphellum 8:42 6. "Americaust" - A. (The Realization) 3:03 7. "Americaust" - B. (Combing the Land) 1:15 8. "Americaust" C. (Fate) 1:42 9. "Americaust" D. (The Life Ever After) 1:42 10. Heed the Warning 4:12 11. Prosody 1:55 12. Sunday Faces 4:41 13. Secret Identity 4:04 14. In the Midst of Chaos 3:00 15. Serenity 1:24 16. Evanescent 5:15 17. The Remnant 5:37 Line-up: Mike Botello - vocals, drums, percussion, bass, keyboards, programming, guitars Tony Smith - guitars Jason Barrett - guitars Mike Soliz - backing vocals Prolusion. US composer and musician Mike BOTELLO has been active in the music scene for more than 30 years. Mainly as a band member I understand, but from 2006 and onward he has been a recording solo artist as well. "Indigenous" is his third and most recent solo album, and was released thro...

(43:40; Snow Wolf) US band CHEST ROCKWELL have maintained and explored their very own variety of off-kilter progressive rock in the state of Kentucky since 2004 or thereabouts, with a grand total of 8 studio albums to their name so far if In have managed to count them all. Their latest one is called "The Existentialist", and was released through band leader Josh Hines own label Snow Wolf in the spring of 2021. This is the second album where the Chest Rockwell name has been used to release what essentially is a Josh Hines solo album, where this is a one man album rather than the result of a proper band venture. If the creative process is all that much different I do not know, but what I can hear is that the spirit of Chest Rockwell is changing this time around. The alternative and off kilter approach from earlier Chest Rockwell albums has been left behind this time around, replaced by quirky instrument details and the occasional odd development. Still a bit outside of the norm...

(42:48; Tonzonen) German duo SOUNDS OF NEW SOMA have been purveyors of progressive electronic music for seven years or thereabouts, releasing new material at a steady pace. Their most recent foray into electronic landscapes is called "Trip", and was released through German label Tonzonen records in the spring of 2021. There are two main types of progressive electronic music out there, bluntly speaking, and of the two main varieties out there Sounds of New Soma belongs to the category that crafts music that is more challenging to listen to rather than the one that is more listener friendly. So for those with an interest but not extensive existing interest in this particular field, this may be worth noting. In this case we are presented with an album consisting of a single song, clocking in at just over the 40 minute mark. This creation can, roughly speaking, be divided into three distinctly separate parts. Hence this isn't an easy listen as such, the running time in itself...

(17:02; Melodic Revolution Records) It has been an incredible last four years for Martin Springett, who could never have thought the 2017 reissuing of his (it must be said) obscure 1983 album. ‘The Gardening Club’, would herald such a reawakening of his musical beast. His revived partnership and collaboration with Norm MacPherson has seen them release new albums, with this long-form version of “The Owl’ being made available on the same day as the limited-edition extended ‘The Time Trilogy’ EP (which is by A Gardening Club project, with very different sounds and personnel). “The Owl” was originally released as the B-side of “Strange Kingdom” last year, where it was a mere four minutes long, but it has now been extended and morphed into a suite which is more than 17 minutes in length and is worth every second. I have long been thinking of Martin’s music as a combination between Camel and Roy Harper, and while that is still the case, here that is a base for a much richer palette. Norm...