Progressive Rock

Sleep of Monsters – Poison Garden Review

Sleep of Monsters – Poison Garden Review

By Jean-Luc Ricard on May 28, 2016 in 2016, Finnish Metal, Gothic Metal, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Svart Records, Gothic Metal, 17 comments

“Despite picking up plenty of positive press for their debut Produces Reason a couple of years ago (including a glowing review from yours truly), Sleep of Monsters don’t seem to have penetrated far into the metal public’s collective consciousness. Comprising former members of underrated Finnish goth rockers Babylon Whores, overrated Finnish goth rockers HIM, and a host of other decorated musicians, Sleep of Monsters go beyond the narrow confines inhabited by the aforementioned acts, incorporating all manner of different musical ideas into their remarkably coherent overall sound.” Don’t sleep on these monsters.

Haken – Affinity Review

Haken – Affinity Review

By El Cuervo on April 28, 2016 in 2016, English Metal, InsideOut, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, 108 comments

“Haken have rapidly become one of my favorite bands in the world. Since my introduction with 2013’s The Mountain I’ve retraced their steps back through Visions and Aquarius – both slightly uneven stylistically and in terms of quality but with truly exemplary moments – and eagerly devoured their revised versions of older tracks on their 2014 EP, Restoration. I’ve seen them live twice and would be seeing them again in a month but for some pesky exams which will impact my future. It was therefore with great enthusiasm that I sat down with their fourth album Affinity.” Warning: fanboys may drool uncontrollably.

Yer Metal Is Olde: Amorphis – Elegy

Yer Metal Is Olde: Amorphis – Elegy

By Grymm on April 28, 2016 in Death Metal, Finnish Metal, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Relapse, Yer Metal Is Olde, 56 comments

“Amorphis has a special place in the hearts of everyone involved with Angry Metal Guy. In fact, it was the review of 2009’s awesome Skyforger by AMG Himself that got the ball rolling for your favorite group of opinionated miscreants. As for myself, the Finns had a profound personal effect on me as well.” And now their older stuff is OLDE!

Oceans of Slumber – Winter Review

Oceans of Slumber – Winter Review

By Angry Metal Guy on March 7, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Century Media, Death Metal, Hard Rock, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, 84 comments

Oceans of Slumber is walking a very unique path. A combination of melodic death, doom and black metal influenced by the Century Black roster from about 1998, Winter blends that with a sadboy metal and alternative rock base. The album is beautiful, mysterious, and oddly chaotic. It’s also really good.

Obsidian Kingdom – A Year with No Summer Review

Obsidian Kingdom – A Year with No Summer Review

By Kronos on March 4, 2016 in 2016, Progressive Rock, Releases, Reviews, Season of Mist, Spanish Metal, Progressive Rock, 15 comments

“Catalonian prog-rock quintet Obsidian Kingdom caught my ear with Mantiis, an ambitious and cinematic debut that I’ve come back to often since its 2012 release. The album bordered many genres, but its kaleidoscopic diversity was more than a gimmick; Mantiis felt like a truly complete experience, complete with groovy death riffs, Floydian ambience, acidic snarls, and heartfelt synth-piano ballads. As the band like to say, it’s “hard-to-classify,” and just when I got my hopes up for more of the same, A Year with No Summer comes along to cleverly sidestep them.” The summer wind came blowing in from across Catalonia.

Headspace – All that You Fear Is Gone Review

Headspace – All that You Fear Is Gone Review

By El Cuervo on February 22, 2016 in 2016, English Metal, InsideOut, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, 22 comments

“As you may have noticed, we’re prog wusses at AMG. We look favorably on innovation, strong atmosphere and where progressive isn’t a synonym for purely technical. Enter Headspace. Comprising high profile musicians such as vocalist Damian Wilson of Threshold, keyboardist Adam Wakeman of Ozzy’s band (and son of the Yes legend) and Lee Pomeroy, of note for his work with almost everyone ever (including Steve Hackett), the line-up is experienced and successful. ‘Supergroups’ are, however, plagued as strong personalities pull the music in various directions, often devolving into vain wankfests.” The curse of the supergroup continues.

Hexvessel – When We Are Death Review

Hexvessel – When We Are Death Review

By Steel Druhm on January 22, 2016 in 2016, Century Media, Finnish Metal, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Progressive Rock, 33 comments

“Hexvessel came into my life in 2012 and filled a void in my soul I didn’t even know existed. You see, I didn’t have any Finnish psychedelic forest folk in what passed for my miserable existence, and only when I tasted of its rich goodness did I realize how much I always subconsciously hungered for it.” And the fire still burns.

Steven Wilson – 4½ Review

Steven Wilson – 4½ Review

By Angry Metal Guy on January 14, 2016 in 2016, Kscope, Not Metal, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Progressive Rock, 51 comments

“Steven Wilson is one of music’s best producers and, as I ranted and raved last year, quickly becoming one of progressive music’s best songwriters, as well. Hand. Cannot. Erase. was, as I’ve just recently written again, a triumph. However, like all triumphs—yes, all of them—part of honing in on the “triumphant” is knowing when to edit. That doesn’t always mean that what was cut was bad, of course, and 4½ is Steven Wilson and his trusty (and ridiculously talented) backing band knocking out 37 minutes of excellent leftovers.” Yeah, I guess you should probably just expect a lovefest.