(77:00; Layered Reality Productions) Scottish band Ramage Inc are out with the album "Humanity Has Failed", and progressive metal is the style explored on this production. It is an intriguing case of a band blending old familiar elements with a more contemporary approach and execution for the form and the style we get on this production. Many of the songs come with associations towards the grand old masters Dream Theater, at least a more reigned in variety of the style that band pioneered, but in this case with some nifty contemporary expansions such as some djent details added here or a little bit of extreme metal intensity or bombastic attitude there. Ramage Inc. are fond of high impact majestic surges produced by instruments and vocal arrangements alike, but they are just as fond of exploring the gentler side to the art of making music. In this case by a liberal inclusion of world music elements and occasional interludes, and with the album title and current ...

(101:00; Humus Records) Swiss band Trounce are out with the album "The Seven Crowns", and progressive metal is the style explored on this production. This is a case of a contemporary band that draw in a liberal amount of impulses from the extreme metal tradition, and due to that we get a high amount of passages throughout that are high in pace as well as intensity. The progressive aspect comes into play with the band's tendency to explore intricate landscapes that probably are as challenging to perform as they sound, plenty of quirky and off kilter features, as well as many songs being dynamic in nature and alternating between those more challenging escapades and more straight forward blasting sections, and occasionally with dips into more atmospheric laden territories and even some tranquil interludes coming into play. The use of distorted instrument sounds and noise effects is a part of that picture and the expressive use of the vocals is another element ...

(33:25; Weird Beard / We Here & Now / Worst Bassist / Ramble Records) US band Volume released the album "Requesting Permission To Land" way back in 2002, with a vinyl edition of the album reissued this fall, and this is an album that might be of interest also for fans of progressive rock and progressive metal. Not that the music explored here can be described as progressive as such, but due to certain elements that tend to intrigue some people with a more dedicated interest in progressive music too. The songs themselves, at a core level, come with associations to a wide variety of bands, with The Who, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath all being easily noticeable as possible and likely points of reference. What Volume adds to that widespread palette is a liberal amount of psychedelic details, at times dripping vast amounts of acid through the loudspeakers with wah wah effects, distorted guitar sounds and guitar solo runs that would feel satisfying to most fans of ...

(53;13; Conquest Records) UK band The Book of Revelations released the album "The Plumes of Enceladus" back in the spring of 2023, and progressive rock is the style explored on this production. This is an album that comes across as something of a homage to classic era progressive rock in general and the classic era albums by Genesis in particular. From the spoken like vocals to the very nature of the songs. We get our mellow, pastoral sections here just as much as we get dramatic and expressive keyboard driven excursions. Atmospheric laden passages where the Mellotron is king is just as natural an ingredient as tight and darker toned guitar dominated side steps, with keyboard and guitar interplay just as integral as the flowing and floating crying style emotional laden guitar solo sections. That the album concludes with an almost 19 minute long epic with several distinct sections will, for the right audience, be the cherry on top and the icing on the cake here. ...

(50:03; Azafran Media) Chilean band Asceta released the album "Erebus. La Suite De Las Sombras" back in the spring of 2023, and progressive rock is the style explored on this production. This all instrumental album is clearly written and performed by musicians with a knowledge and interest in classical symphonic music and chamber music, as this is material that easily could be performed by a classical symphonic orchestra or by a chamber quartet, depending on arrangement choices. They have expanded the compositions here though, with plain rock elements coming into play on some occasions, a more flowing jazz arrangement is added on other, and jazzrock is an expression that pops up here and there too. They also make use of some older style folk music elements, although this latter aspect may well be accidental as this is of course also an element that is a part of the classic music legacy and tradition. Those with an interest in what is sometimes called chamber roc...

(51:37; PeacockSunrise Records) Track list: 1. Viewer Discretion Advised 3:53 2. The Many Moods of Morgan 4:53 3. Via Valencia 3:46 4. It’s All San Andreas’ Fault 4:15 5. TransPacific Highway 3:11 6. Splitting Hairs 4:42 7. Maximum Connection 3:34 8. Three Parsecs from Tucson 3:55 9. Maria’s Lakeside Drive 3:20 10. Guitar City 4:36 11. Sons of Sebastien 3:05 12. Bueno Sanga 2:59 13. 1960 Ocean Front Walk 5:28 Line-up: Gayle Ellett - guitars, minimoog, Rhodes, Hammond, Mellotron Mark Cook - bass Craig Khan - drums with: Ted Prise - Hammond Brian Chapman - guitars Alfonso Rodenas - guitars, Rhodes, bass Marc Ceccotti - guitars, synthesizer Joee Corso - guitars Issei Takami - guitars Shin Ichikawa - bass Dudley Taft - guitars Thierry Payssan - synthesizers Bill Polits - guitars Aquiles Magana - guitars Carl Weingarten - guitars Walter Whitney - synthesizers, percussion David Udell - guitars Barry Cleveland - guitars Paul Richards - guitars Lucio Calegari - guitars German Vergara - guitars...

(67:03; Glass Castle Recordings) Track list: 1. Sold the Peace 4:15 2. The Light of Ancient Mistakes 6:40 3. Avrana Kern Is Made of Ants 3:29 4. The Anxiety Machine Part 1 2:10 5. Sixteen Hugless Years 3:52 6. The Requisitioner and the Wonder 6:36 7. The Glamour Boys 4:37 8. Gothi and Gethli 3:37 9. imtiredandeverythinghurts 2:43 10. The Anxiety Machine Part 2 2:48 11. Walking to Aldebaran 8:55 12. Goodbye Cassini 4:40 13. The Anxiety Machine Part 3 1:41 14. The Man Who Japed 5:10 15. Burn the World 5:50 Line-up: Malcolm Galloway - vocals, guitars, keyboards, synthesizers, programming, percussion, drums Mark Gatland - bass, guitars, keyboards, synthesizers, Chapman Stick, vocals, percussion, drums Kathryn Thomas - flute Prolusion. UK band Hats Off Gentlemen It's Adequate has been a feature in the English progressive rock scene for a number of years by now, with their debut album appearing back in 2012 and with a steady stream of new material released in the following years. This is...

(43:17; Overdub Recordings) Track list: 1. Echo Chamber 2:33 2. Radiance 4:09 3. Thin Air 4:15 4. Grey Halo 2:38 5. Pressure 4:29 6. A Gasp of Wind 5:06 7. A Yellow Tear in a Blue-Dyed Sky 2:58 8. Moving Away 4:36 9. The Shores of Bolinas 2:58 10. Crimson Fondant 5:02 11. This Bubble I'm Floating In 4:33 Line-up: Andrea Serino - Fender Rhodes, keyboards Andrea Ferrari - guitars Andrea Grumelli - bass, Chapman Stick Matteo Ravelli - drums, electronics Prolusion. Italian band Aether is a fairly recent addition to the Italian music scene, with the band forming back in 2021 and working at developing material since then. At the start of 2023 this creative process was finalized with the release of their debut album "Aether" through Italian label Overdub Recordings. Analysis. Aether is a band that aims to combine aspects and elements from three different forms of music, namely jazz, post-rock and ambient music. And with this aim in mind, I'd say that their debut album is a s...

(67:44; Dandelion Charm) Track list: 1. Stronghold of Oblivion 5:32 2. Shouting at the Sea 5:12 3. Find a Way 3:17 4. Visions and Prophecies 6:17 5. Ruth Rose 4:35 6. The Engineering of Consent 8:06 7. Daydreaming in the Undertow 4:57 8. Because 5:15 9. Warriors of the Morning 4:20 10. The Cure 5:46 11. Today 4:59 12. The Benefit of Experience 5:09 13. What Alchemy? 4:19 Line-up: Clare Fowler - vocals John Fowler - vocals, guitars, drums, bass, keyboards Prolusion. UK twosome Dandelion Charm has been an active band since 2015 or thereabouts. with Clare and John Fowler being an active presence on the live circuit as well as in the studio from 2016 and onward. This year they are out with their fourth album "Scream Inside the Tear", which was self released in the fall of 2023. Analysis. Dandelion Charm isn't the kind of band you will seek out if you cherish the kinds of bands that exist at the more progressive borders inside of the progressive rock universe, and in quite a f...

(54:53; Raske Plader) Track list: 1. Remember 4:35 2. Be Here 4:26 3. Now 2:46 4. Trust 6:57 5. b b b O d d d 4:48 6. Let Go 4:26 7. Be Open 4:59 8. The Way Out 4:48 9. d d d O b b b 4:16 10. Is In 4:29 11. Surrender 4:08 12. To Love 4:15 Line-up: Jens Berents Christiansen - piano, synthesizers with: Selma Trier  - harp Maria Jagd  - violin Line Felding  - cello Julius Ditlevsen  - flute Disa  - vocals Stine Grön  - vocals Emil de Waal  - drums Anders Stig Møller  - bass Kristian Hoffman - Lap steel Bilal Irshed  - oud Serkan Yildirim  - duduk Fanny Brandt  - frame drum   Prolusion. Danish venture Rumpistol is the creative vehicle of composer and musician Jens Berents Christiansen, and for the past two decades he has released material in a number of different styles and conventions. While initially starting out exploring the IDM universe, he has since moved onto other parts of the musical landscape and has also been the provide...

(30:35; Bonobo's Ark Records) Track list: 1. Orlyonok 5:23 2. Once Around the Earth 3:30 3. Fragment Eines Klavierstück (Piano Fragment 'U41') 0:51 4. Hibernal 1. Climbing up the Frozen Waterfall 1:30 5. Hibernal 2. The Light of the Distant Sun 2:15 6. Hibernal 3. Frost 2:00 7. The Wedding 4:45 8. Groove Study Giga Mix 9:42 9. Slice 0:39 Line-up: Yumi Hara - vocals, piano, organ, clavichord, synthesizer, harp, violin, percussion with: Chris Cutler - drums, percussion Toshiaki Sudoh - bass, drums Tatsuya Yoshida - drums Tim Hodgkinson - clarinets Prolusion. UK based composer and musician Yumi Hara has been a feature in the European music scene for a good number of years by now, and is perhaps best known for her participation in a number of collaborations and band projects with musicians with a name and reputation in the more avant-oriented parts of the progressive rock scene. All of these projects have left her with little time to record her own solo material, and until this...

(57:21; M&O Music) Track list: 1. Genese 1:17 2. Fireball 6:31 3. Internal Violence 5:03 4. Caged Tiger 7:03 5. Vampire's Masquerade 5:59 6. Chant A La Lune 3:31 7. Talking with Wolves 5:30 8. Castle of Sand 5:50 9. A Nos Portes 5:30 10. Per Sempre 5:05 11. Tragedy 6:02 Line-up: Guillaume Baeyens - guitars Stephane Cleret - keyboards Karen Hau - vocals Eric Tabourier - drums Manuel A. Ramos Castillo - bass Prolusion. French band Octavus Lupus was formed back in 2013 when the founding members decided to leave another band and form their own instead. Over the last decade they have worked at finalizing a stable line-up, and have released a demo and a couple of singles along the way. In the fall of 2023 they released their debut album "Octavus Lupus" through French label M&O Music. Analysis. This album has been marketed towards an audience with an interest in bands such as Dream Theater and Stream of Passion, and the band's chosen self-description as far as style ...

(40:41; Infected Minds) Greek band Infected Minds released the album "Reanimated" back at the start of 2022, and this is an album that may be of interest also for fans of progressive rock. While I would generally describe this album inside of a hard rock tradition, with many of the songs exploring the use of contrasting gentle and harder edged passages, the band does mix it up a bit throughout too. Some folk music elements are brought in here, some orchestral details makes occasional appearences, and a little bit of an influx from the world of jazz is a part of the experience too. These impulses are mainly of a secondary nature though, and the songs as such are perhaps a bit too straight forward in general nature to be accepted as progressive rock by avid fans, but there is a creative expression and progressive spirit that is a defining trait of this album. A production to seek out by those fascinated by elegant hard rock explored with a little bit of a progress...

(38:39; Original Music Records) French band Oiapok released the album "OisoLün" back at the start of 2023, and progressive rock is the style explored on this production. It is a smooth and elegant variety of the form we get here, with the landscapes floating by like a calm and warm summer breeze. But while the motions are elegant and the music is flowing, there is also a lot of character to the landscapes explored here. While the opening song in particular highlight the use of pastoral elements and details pulled in from folk music, those with a passion for progressive rock featuring elements from jazz and jazzrock will get plenty to enjoy here, and this album is also a rare case of strict avant sensibilities being used and explored in a distinctly elegant and more broadly appealing manner. A production to seek out by those fascinated by avant-oriented progressive rock bands that explore that tradition with a higher than average focus on flow, motion and elegant...

(30:52; King Analog) US artist King Analog released the album "King Analog" back in 2022, and progressive rock is probably the best manner in which to categorize the landscapes explored on this production. This all instrumental album has the guitar as the clear dominating instrument, and the songs tends to alternate between loose and expressive passages on one hand and tight and energetic ones on the other. The former may move back and forth between a more psychedelic landscape and escapades with a bit more of a jazz approach and attitude, while the latter have a tendency to orient around similar landscapes like what King's X have explored over the years with a firm and occasionally beefy guitar presence. In both forms we also get a liberal array of guitar effects ranging from guitar solo details to reverbs and noise effects, which adds a disruptive and unpredictable element to the landscapes explored. A production to seek out by those with a taste and affec...

(35:47; Head With Wings) There have been some changes in the Heads With Wings camp since their last release, the excellent ‘Comfort In Illusion’, with Mike Short (drums), Brandon Cousino (guitar) and singer Joshua Corum the only people still there, and the album was recorded with the assistance of bassist Connor Oyster and keyboard player Vikram Shankar (who also produced this). I have been a fan of this band since I was first introduced to Joshua by Pat Sanders of Drifting Sun who had utilised his talents on ‘Planet Junkie’, and although I thoroughly enjoyed their last release, here we find them taking their sound to a new level. In some ways they concentrate on the vocals in the same manner as Marillion do with Hogarth, but the major difference is that their music never becomes boring or over sanitised, and there is a life and depth within it which at times is reminiscent of classic Muse, although Pineapple Thief have also made their influence felt. This never seems like an American ...

(56:47; Melodic Revolution Records) Kurt has been involved in the music scene for quite some years, even opening up for The Syn for some dates back in 2006 and recorded an album with the assistance of Billy Sherwood (Yes), his brother Michael Sherwood (Sammy Davis Jr, Monkees & Toto) and Tom Brislin (Yes, Meatloaf & Kansas). His band served as Denny Laine’s (Moody Blues/Paul McCartney & Wings) back-up band for several Chicago area shows in 2015-2017 and opened concerts for Carl Palmer, The Babys, Ike Willis (Frank Zappa) and Carl Verheyen (Supertramp). The recording sessions for ‘Stones From The Garden’ began in 2018 and once again include special guests Billy & Michael Sherwood, along with Amanda Lehmann (Steve Hackett), John Abbey (John Cale) and Dennis Johnson (Chase, Survivor & Dennis DeYoung). It comprises seven songs which range between 4:23 and 7:30 in length, and then he allows himself to stretch his wings with the closer “The Road Beyond” which is 17 minute...

(98:32; Lifesigns) As one may ascertain from the title, this is a live album which was recorded at De Boerderij, Zoetermeer on the tour for their third album, ‘Altitude’, in August 2022. By this time the line-up was definitely feeling much more like a band than a session set-up, with keyboard player and singer John Young (The Strawbs, John Wetton, Bonnie Tyler, The Scorpions, Fish, Uli Jon Roth) still working with his next door neighbour  Steve Rispin (sound) along with guitarist Dave Bainbridge (Iona, The Strawbs) and bassist Jon Poole (Cardiacs, The Wildhearts) plus newest recruit, drummer Zoltán Csörsz (The Flower Kings, Karamkanic, The Jan Lundgren Trio, Tomas Bodin etc.). Yes, this is a bona fide supergroup, with all the players bringing something special to proceedings. I have followed Bainbridge for some 30 years now, loving his touch and finesse, and in Young he has very much found a kindred spirit (although John used to be in The Strawbs, and David is a current member, the...

(60:00; Black Widow Records) Italian dark gothic progressive band Malombra were formed in the Nineties, but there was a five-year gap between their second and third albums, by which time only singer Mercy was still there with the rest of the band being a new line-up. I enjoyed that album, ‘The Dissolution Age’ (I reviewed it when it was released back in 2001), but after that there was no more. Imagine my surprise when I heard that Black Widow Records were releasing a new album by Malombra, which is actually an old album. The initial recordings used here took place between 1997 and 1998 (which was after the second album), but due to various reasons they were not used for the third, and the recording and mixing has now been completed by the current line-up. I actually cannot find details of the current line-up, so do not know who is involved these days, but they have been gigging so hopefully this means that there is a chance of more music on the horizon. Technically I guess this could b...

(50:08; Matt Goodluck) I was sent this album a few months ago to review, at which time it was easily available through Bandcamp, but sometimes things move quickly in the music world and Matt has since been signed to a brand new independent label in the US called OtherSide. The album has been remastered by Robert Rich and will be re-released in January, so Matt’s   original has now been removed from Bandcamp. I first came across Matt some years ago due to his connection with Clive Nolan, but most people will know him as singer with one of Australia’s premier cover bands, Echoes of Pink Floyd. Given he is a professional voiceover artist as well, one would expect this to be an album full of harmonies, but instead what we have is an instrumental electronic release which has been heavily influenced by both the Berlin School and Vangelis, while there are also a few Floydian touches in there as well. However, there is a lot going on here with plenty of flavours to tickle the palate, ...

(44:27; PsychoYogi) There has been an expansion in the ranks of PsychoYogi, with  Chris Ramsing (guitar, vocals), Justin Casey (drums & percussion), Izzy Stylish (bass) and Toby Nowell (alto & soprano saxophones, trumpet) now joined by Tim Smart (trombone) and Ben Woodbine-Craft (violin). This is their seventh studio album and the fourth for me since I came across them with 2018’s ‘Accident Prone’. Since then I have really enjoyed their releases which are well out in left field, so much so that at times it feels they are playing a different game altogether. It would be easy to say they are heavily influenced by the Canterbury scene, or that Zappa has also had a part to play, while their use of horns has more in common with Art Zoyd than much of the mainstream, but what about Noel Coward and the English theatrical tradition? There is no doubt that also has its part to play. Chris has a control of language and melody which could only be English to the core, and he has surroun...

(46:48; Melodic Revolution Records) After the release of ‘Noise Machine’ by Tony Romero’s Vortex, ideas were being sent through the internet, but it soon became apparent that what was being created was much more of a band piece instead of a Tony solo album with guests. Soon the decision was made to keep working in the same manner, but to conceive this as a totally new project and so Red32 came into being. It features Anthony Romero (keyboards, sequencer, spoken word), Steve Bonino (vocals, bass keyboards, guitar & drum programming), Robert Schindler (synth wizardry) and Eric Confer (guitars) along with drummer Mike Sherril who provides drums on “Slow Burn” and bassist Bill Allen who provides bass on “Mean”. It is a band album, but interestingly everyone recorded their parts in their own studio, and I guess only time will tell if Red32 ever gig. All songs apart from “Tribute” are co-credited with Romero and Bonino on all tracks and Confer or Schindler on some. It is described by Ste...