(56:27; Progressive Promotion Records) Back with their first album in five years, Swiss band Metamorphosis had another change in line-up. As always, the band is based around multi-instrumentalist Jean-Pierre Schenk who here provides vocals and keyboards, while he is joined again by guitarist Olivier Guenat (who has been involved since the second album), this time also providing bass, plus drummer Alain Widmer who was there for 2016’s ‘The Turning Point’ when for a while they became a full band. I must admit it was only when looking at PA that I realized I had reviewed them previously, 2009’s ‘Dark’, which shows just much of an impression they made on me last time, and here we are in a similar situation. That they have been influenced by Porcupine Tree and IQ is never in doubt, with possibly some elements of Citizen Cain and the likes of Collage, but this sounds all very much on the surface. There is no real depth to the music so while listening one starts to wonder how much longer ther...

(38:37; Norske Albumklassikere [2021 Edition] ) Munch were an experimental outfit who released this their second ‘proper’ album (in between this and the debut they released a limited run of improvisations) in 1990. The album and band have gained a huge status since they broke up in 1991 and this 2021 release has been taken from a vinyl copy and then remastered, all financed by fans who wanted to have this readily available (although it is still a limited edition). When Munch started in 1986, they had little in terms of standard musical expertise, but that was not important and was even thought of as being an asset as they never knew where the music was going to take them. Listening to it more than 30 years after it was recorded one can very much hear influences of the time (notably Talking Heads), but there are also elements of Art Zoyd, Can, Public Image Limited plus Canterbury style prog. The vocals are atonal and at odds with the accompaniment, which often contains repeated motifs, ...

(77:05; Snowdonia) NichelOdeon came together from a series of compositions at the end of the Nineties by composer, singer and performer Claudio Milano, with a group taking shape some time later with their debut album released in 2010. Another two followed in fairly quick succession but then there was an extensive gap until this was released in 2021. This album is probably best described by the cover art where we find Claudio in different positions and moods, as this album contains performances by four different musical entities, namely NichelOdeon, Not Me, InSonar and This Order, all of which have Claudio at their heart. In the small booklet he details what each group attempts to achieve, and interestingly he refers to each one of them as a project as opposed to a band, and there is definitely the feeling that this is music which has a huge visual content as opposed to just aural. The music is progressive, eclectic, RIO, avant-garde, chaotic yet controlled and always with the understan...

(47:30; Fermez la Bouche Records) One of the side benefits of being around the progressive scene for so long is that every so often I will be contacted by someone who has been given my details by another musician, and that is what happened here when Chicago-based Refestramus sent me an email after speaking to musician Jerry King. What I didn’t realise at the time was that Refestramus is basically a solo project of Derek Ferguson with many guests, but that Jerry and Ian Beabout (Colouartura) were key players. Derek had been keyboard player in bands in Chicago in the early 90’s, but when the venues started closing many bands also stopped and he had not played for some time. During Covid he was reminded of a song he had written called “Another Country” nearly 30 years earlier, so why not buy some new keyboards and see what it would sound like now? Conversations with Ian, who he knew from his radio show, led to Jerry who immediately agreed to working on the album, which was news to Derek w...

(44:55; Resistor) It will come as no surprise to anyone to realise this is the fifth album from the American crossover progressive rock band who comprise Steve Unruh (guitars, vocals, violin, flute), Rob Winslow (bass), Barry Farrands (drums, vocals) and Fran Turner (guitars, backing vocals). All songs are credited to all four members apart from “Cricket Season”, which features just Unruh and Turner. It starts off gently with flute and acoustic guitars and is somewhat reminiscent of early Genesis before Steve lets his Anderson influences go and some of the tonguing techniques are certainly quite Tull in nature. When many people see a flute in a prog band they immediately think of Jethro Tull, while a violin will often lead them towards Kansas, but apart from the aforementioned short instrumental (less than two minutes) this is a group are very much standing on their own, with just a few similarities here and there. There are times when I was reminded somewhat of Mike Oldfield, but for ...

(44:02; Ma.Ra.Cash Records / Manticore Records) I must be honest and say I wasn’t sure that Manticore Records were still going after more than 50 years, but here they are with the latest release from Turin-based prog band Syndone. The band have been around since 1989, led by Nik Comoglio (Hammond, Moog, Juno dist., Mellotron, keyboards), and this is their eighth studio album. - Riccardo Ruggeri (vocals), Marta Caldara (vibraphone, timpani) and Gigi Rivetti (piano, Wurlitzer, Rhodes, Hammond, clavinet) have all returned from 2018’s ‘Mysoginia’ but there is a new rhythm section in Simone Rubinato (bass, fretless, Taurus bass) and Eddy Franco (drums & percussion). I enjoyed their last album a great deal, and there is also plenty in this one to cause interest. They are indicated as being RPI on PA, and as I have not heard their earlier albums I cannot comment if that is correct for those but certainly is not right for what they are currently performing which is far more eclectic in so ...

(135:00; Skrymir) When a band goes to the effort of releasing an album which is more than two hours long in a nice double digipak sleeve with an informative booklet then one knows they mean business, and no-one is going to be in the alps singing gently. The core musicians are Tony Geballe (Electric Guitar, Rhythm Programming, Synths), Pietro Russino (Electric & Acoustic Guitar, Electric Violin, Rhythm Programming) and Richard Sylvarnes (Analog & Digital Synths, Kaoss Pads, Vocals, Electric Guitar & Bass, Rhythm Programming) and there is the feeling throughout that the album was an experiment in sonics as opposed to being an exercise in creating music which people would want to play. When looking through the booklet one realizes Markus Reuter was a guest and came up with the idea of using maths as a way of defining the chord structure for one song while the band agreed and then brought in a roulette wheel to make it a little more random. This is avant garde taken to a new ar...

(103:47; Bloodfish Music) On July 13th, 2019, a very special concert took place at Monforti Manor, when Steve Unruh (acoustic guitar), violin, flute, kimbala, foot pedals (percussion and effects), vocals), Phideaux Xavier (acoustic guitar, bass, electric piano, vocals) and Valerie Gracious (electric piano, vocals) came together. They had been practicing their parts individually, but not together, so when they arrived from their respective cities they went into two days of hard rehearsals. If that was not enough, it was decided to also record the gig, as why not? The night was deemed to be a wonderful success by all who were there, and the foresight of having it recorded was superb as now we can share in that experience. The idea was a simple one, Steve would perform the first set (starting on his own and then being joined by Phideaux and Valerie), while the second set would belong to Phideaux supported by Valerie and Steve. Unruh is one of those musicians who is not only a multi-instru...

(39:25; Progshine Records) ‘Cobra Sofia and Other Amazonian Legends’ is the third album by Rafael Senra's project Alfa Serenar, with all the lyrics related to various Amazonian myths and legends. Senra is a professor at Federal University of Amapá (Brazil), and I have heard both his previous releases as well. This release contains only four tracks, but one of them is more than 20 minutes long, with a total playing time of just under 40 minutes. As with the others, the real issue here is with the vocals, which are just not strong enough, but with this one there also appears to be some issues with the recording as there is not enough depth or structure in any of the arrangements.  Apart from Forlan Gomes (drums) and Betânia Hernandez (violins), Rafael undertook everything himself and the overarching feeling is of something which is quite weak in many aspects. It drifts along, never really capturing the imagination, and while I may appreciate it more if I could understand the language...

(133:00; Inside Out Music) It is strange to think that not only is this the first album from Lucassen’s Star One project in 12 years, it is actually only the third one ever. I can still remember when I heard the first back in 2001 and just how amazed I was at the time. Since then, Lucassen has been concentrating mostly on Ayreon, but now he has found time to get back to the more metallic side of his music and of course he has brought in loads of top musicians to help him out. The core of the band are Arjen Lucassen (guitars, bass, keyboards), Ed Warby (drums), Erik van Ittersum (Solina strings), Joost van den Broek (Hammond organ), Marcela Bovio (backing vocals) and Irene Jansen (backing vocals), and then we get a host of lead singers and guitarists providing solos on different songs as well as additional keyboard players. Lucassen has long worked with many musicians, preferring that to restricting himself to a set band when it comes to this style of music, and part of the fun when pla...

(76:00; Explore Rights Management [2021 Edition] ) Back in 1994 I was fortunate enough to come across a reissue of an album from 10 years earlier, and according to my review at the time I said it was very enjoyable (and I was right). Fast forward to 2022 and I was somewhat surprised to see it had been reissued again, here in an extended and definitive edition, but also very pleased as it gave me the excuse to really listen to it again properly. Craft are one of those bands who released an album then promptly disappeared, although some of those involved are still in the music industry. To understand their musical influences, style and where they came from, there is no need to look any further than the mighty The Enid, who had seen some significant success in the Seventies and were back then releasing a host of important albums. However, William Gilmour (keyboards) and Martin Russell (bass, keyboards) had both become disenchanted and left, soon to form Craft with drummer Grant McKay Gilm...

(60:00; Inside Out Music) This project came about with Neal Morse writing some acoustic songs that he thought would be enhanced by strong vocal harmonies, so of course he turned to his old friend Nick D’Virgilio. One must remember that not only have they worked together in bands and on albums, but they have toured Europe together in this format (check out the excellent ‘Nick 'n Neal live in Europe - Two Separate Gorillas’ release from 2000). They have a relaxed camaraderie, and as soon as this commenced I was reminded of the feeling of Neal’s 2001 solo album ‘It’s Not Too Late’, not musically but just with the atmosphere. However, they decided it would be nice to bring in a third voice so they approached Haken's Ross Jennings and collectively pooled their resources, working on each other’s material. Incredibly this, like many albums from this period, was recorded individually as it really does sound as if all three are in the same studio bouncing off each other. The focus is ve...

(50:27; Matty Grooves) In 1970, Fairport Convention released their fifth studio album, and not for the first time they had been going through significant change. Both founder member Ashley Hutchings and singer Sandy Denny had left the band after recordings had been completed for the previous album, ‘Liege & Lief’, and the decision had been made not to bring in another female singer but instead rely on those already in the band, bringing in bassist Dave Pegg. The line-up was Dave Swarbrick (vocals, fiddle, viola, mandolin), Richard Thompson (vocals, electric guitar), Dave Pegg (vocals, bass guitar, mandolin), Dave Mattacks (drums, percussion, harmonium, bodhran) and Simon Nicol (vocals, electric & acoustic guitars, bass guitar, electric dulcimer) and were to only record this one album, with Thompson leaving the following year to pursue a solo career. This means that in 2020 it was the fiftieth anniversary of the album, so plans were made to celebrate it at the annual Cropredy Fe...

(36:44; Hout Records) Track list: 1. Wake Up Song 3:16 2. N192 3:50 3. Swing 4:58 4. Staphylococcus Aureus 5:38 5. Mess 3:41 6. The Coast 2:25 7. Sirens 4:55 8. Tuxedo 3:32 9. Suna Rosa 4:29 Line-up: Sebastian von Keler - saxophone Fabian Willmann - saxophone Kristinn Kristinsson - guitars Florian Keller - bass Luca Glausen - drums Prolusion. Multinational band Monoglot have been an active entity since 2014 or thereabouts, and from their base in Germany they have made and released 4 studio albums since they started out, in addition to playing live on more than 100 occasions. Their second album " Wrong Turns And Dead Ends" dates back to 2017, and was released through Swiss label Hout Records. Analysis. Monoglot is a band that mix and blend a few different types of styles and orientations on this production, and personally I think the description "eclectic progressive rock" is one that fits the premises of this album fairly well. While the music can be challenging I w...

(75:26; Fibonacci Sequence) Track list: 1. Tickets Please 2:06 2. Obeah 7:35 3. Psalm Before the Storm 1:27 4. Christopher's Plan 10:11 5. Repent 2:46 6. Repentless 9:36 7. Nightshade 3:34 8. Lobby Song 2:29 9. Take Your Seats 1:30 10. Deus Ex Machina 9:25 11. All Saints' Day 6:42 12. Incantesimo Di Vistani 13:00 13. Circumpunct 5:05 Line-up: Tom Ford – drums Jeffrey Schuelke – keyboards Chad Novell – bass Michael Butzen - guitars with: Mariah Schultz – violin Jake Gresk – cello Mark Krueger – voice Prolusion. US band Fibonacci Sequence have a history that goes all the way back to 2007, and it didn't take the band more than a couple of years before they were ready with their initial EP "We Three Kings", a production that was quickly followed by the full length album "Numerology" the following year. Since then band activities appear to have toned down a bit, but in 2017 they launched their second album "Cinema Finis". This self released second a...

(54:27; Seconds Before Landing) Track list: 1. Intro 0:39 2. 4 A.M. 5:47 3. You're Giving Me a Headache 4:27 4. Wandering Soul 4:44 5. Head Down Low 5:00 6. Things 4:30 7. Come Back to Me 5:08 8. Feels Good 5:04 9. Can I See You Now 5:08 10. Moment in Time 6:09 11. In the Name Of 6:08 12. Without Your Soul 1:43 Line-up: John Crispino - vocals, drums, percussion, synthesizers, effects Rick Witkowski - guitars J.D. Garrison - bass Jamie Peck - saxophone, piano Vanessa Campagna - vocals Carrie Jackson - vocals with: Eric Maldonado - guitars Steve Schuffert - guitars John Palumbo - ebow Prolusion. US project Seconds Before Landing is the creative vehicle of composer and musician John Crispino, and in 2011 he started to work on material corresponding with his specific take on progressive rock. This has resulted in four full length studio albums at the time of writing, of which the most recent one was released in 2020. The album "Now That I Have Your Attention" dates back to 20...

(60:23; Traces d'Illusions) Track list: 1. Apprendre 9:23 2. Phare Des Poulains 8:16 3. Absence De Vision 9:56 4. Apres La Colline 5:58 5. Un Monde Meilleur 8:58 6. Infinie Bienveillance 9:01 7. Premiere Neige 8:51 Line-up: Laurent Terrie - flutes, whistles, piano Alain Clodet - saxophone, ewi Nico Aneme - saxophones, clarinet Frederic Boivin - piano Stephane Coubray - keyboards Alex Breard - guitars Yann Lambotte - acoustic guitar, bass Stephane Lambotte - drums, percussion with: Emmanuelle Charbonnier - violin Marion Sombrun - piano Anne Raffard - harp Prolusion. French band Traces d'Illusions have been around probably since sometime prior to 2006, as it was in 2006 that they released their debut album "Traced d'Illusion". Following a lengthy spell of inactivity as a recording band they returned with their second album "Apres La Colline" in 2017, a production that was self released by the band. Analysis. The biography of Traces d'Illusion states th...

(57:59; Colonist) Track list: 1. Metropolis 7:01 2. Songs of the Machine 6:44 3. Seventh Wave 6:51 4. Helios (I Am the Sun) 7:34 5. Oblivion 6:20 6. Englassed 7:12 7. Crown of the Drowned King 6:55 8. Blacklight Domain 9:22 Line-up: Emil Kaukonen - vocals Jasper Karhunen - guitars, vocals Emil Lindqvist - guitars Jonas Holmström - bass Viktor Finnäs - drums, percussion Prolusion. Finnish band Colonist appears to have started out sometime around 2013, and they released their debut album "Mechanical" a year later. Four years down the line the band returned with their second album "Songs of the Machine", which is their most recent production to date. At the current stage the band appears to be on hiatus. Analysis. Colonist marketed themselves as a progressive metal band, but whether or not they will be accepted as such by all and sundry comes across as a bit of an open question for me. For my sake I'll say that they play around with the song structure a bit, and th...

(72:57; Soul Enema) Track list: 1. Omon Ra 7:02 2. Cannibalissimo Ltd. 5:59 3. Spymania 6:44 4. Breaking the Waves 5:17 5. The Age of Cosmic Baboon 4:33 6. In Bed With an Enemy 5:58 7. Last Days of Rome 4:22 8. Dear Bollock (Was a Sensitive Man) 3:10 9. Aral Sea I. Feeding Hand 8:47 10. Aral Sea II. Dustbin of History 5:30 11. Aral Sea III. Epilogue 6:25 12. Octopus Song 2:54 13. Eternal Child 5:35 14. Of Clans and Clones and Clowns 0:41 Line-up: Noa Gruman - vocals Yoel Genin - guitars Constantin Glantz - keyboards, programming, vocals, shamisen, percussion Michael Rosenfeld - bass, sitar, violin Dor Levin - drums with: Arjen Lucassen - guitars Yossi Sassi - bouzoukitara Sergey Kalugin - acoustic guitar Yuri Ruslanov - flute Vladimir Migutin – flute Gennady Birenberg – vocals Lior Ozeri – bass Michael Glantz - voice Prolusion. Israeli band Soul Enema started out back in 2001 or thereabouts, and is one of those bands that develop their craft in a slow and steady manner. They released t...

(43:12; Head in the Door Records) Track list: 1. Scanning the Dark Horizon 7:19 2. The Cloud Seeders 4:25 3. Solar Winds 5:37 4. Of Seas and Oceans 4:19 5. A Delicate Thread 2:42 6. Life Line 6:43 7. The Storm Chasers 4:22 8. A World on the Run 7:45 Line-up: John Irvine: Guitars, Keyboards & Bass Andrew Scott: Drums Prolusion. UK project The John Irvine Band came to life as a recording unit back in 2011 with the debut album "Wait & See", with Irvine already being a seasoned hand in the world of music at that time. New albums have appeared at regular intervals ever since, with a total of six studio albums available at the time of writing. The most recent album "Scanning the Dark Horizon" was released by Irvine's own label Head in the Door Records at the end of January 2023. Analysis. Instrumental progressive rock is what we are provided with on this album, and in this case with songs that cover a few different bases and orientations too. It should of cour...