Progressive Rock

Opeth – In Cauda Venenum Review

By Angry Metal Guy on September 27, 2019 in 2019, Moderbolaget, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Progressive Rock, 213 comments

Thirteen albums in, I’m still excited about new Opeth records. While I am, indeed, an Angry Metal Guy, I appear to have taken the band’s merger into progressive rock better than other metalheads having loved Pale Communion and enjoyed Sorceress. And being Angry Metal Guy, the responsibility for (and privilege of covering) such a huge event like a new Opeth album falls to me. The problem, of course, with being the guy who has to review the new Opeth record is simple; I am the guy who has to review the new Opeth record. And reviewing In Cauda Venenum is a major endeavor. As the next step in Opeth’s journey, In Cauda Venenum is a fascinating, complicated album. And In Cauda Venenum is not a journey that everyone is going to love taking.” More-peth!

Yer Prog Is Olde: King Crimson – In the Court of the Crimson King

By Huck N Roll on August 4, 2019 in 2019, Progressive Rock, Yer Prog Is Olde, Progressive Rock, 36 comments

“What do you do when it’s the middle of summer, the promo sump is at an all-time low, and what’s in it has been greedily snapped up by the hordes of n00bs who are running rampant in the halls? Well, you write about an album that’s older than all of these n00bs, and better than anything coming out this summer. You write about an album that is a mere ten days older than Yours Truly.[1. And for the Cheeseheads here, is exactly the same age as the massage-loving Brett Favre.] You write about an album that has had more of an impact on progressive rock than most people’s parents have had on them. Yes, my friends, you write about King Crimson’s debut album, In the Court of the Crimson King.” Hail to the King.

Angry Metal Primer – King Crimson

By Dr. Wvrm on August 4, 2019 in 2019, Angry Metal Playlist, Angry Metal Primer, British Metal, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Progressive Rock, 47 comments

“Heavy lies the meathead that wears the crown.”

Dead Frog – Burning Bridges Review

By Dear Hollow on July 29, 2019 in 2019, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Serbian Metal, Sliptrick Records, Uncategorized, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, 17 comments

With its (albeit impressive) focus on sprawling song structures and meandering songwriting, progressive metal just never tickled me pink in a way that’s really stuck. Serbian five-piece Dead Frog, who I can only assume repeatedly lost at Frogger, offers their own contribution, channeling in equal measure the progressive metal giants, the alternative rock of Linkin Park, the classic heavy metal feel of Iron Maiden.” Splat.

Nad Sylvan – The Regal Bastard Review

By El Cuervo on July 12, 2019 in 2019, InsideOut, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Progressive Rock, 30 comments

“Having ensnared my heart in 2015 (Courting the Widow) and delivered a solid follow-up in 2017 (The Bride Said No), Nad Sylvan and his merry band of prog musicians have returned in 2019 to conclude the so-called ‘Vampire Trilogy’ of linked albums. The Regal Bastard spins a typically perverse tale and represents a not insignificant musical step forwards from Bride. Widow is one of the best progressive rock releases in the past 5 years while Bride was somewhat less ostentatious and stuck with me far less. Bastard draws from both of these experiences in forging a surprisingly fresh release in what can be a particularly stuffy genre. Prog nerds, read on.” Triple the Nads.

Pattern-Seeking Animals – Pattern-Seeking Animals Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on July 8, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, InsideOut, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, 10 comments

“While everyone knows that many of the other writers here, including AMG Himself, are big prog heads, ol’ Grier is not. Sure, I’m a fan of prog rock pioneers like Pink Floyd and, a decade back, found a soft spot for bands like Dream Theater, but prog rock/metal ain’t my thing. Unless, oddly enough, you are talking about Spock’s Beard.” Bearded animals.

Sacri Monti – Waiting Room for the Magic Hour

By El Cuervo on July 2, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Progressive Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, Tee Pee Records, Progressive Rock, Psychedelic Rock, 23 comments

“July of 2015 was a good time in my life. I had recently discovered Wilderun, I was getting my first real taste of the work which would become my profession and I was spreading my wings in the capital of my great nation. It concluded with a decent self-titled record by Sacri Monti, a Californian psychedelic rock band paying tribute to the 60s and 70s. The passage of 4 years has seen little new material until now, with the release of the rather excellently-entitled new album, Waiting Room for the Magic Hour. Will it bode the beginning of a strong July of 2019?” Boys of Summer.

Thenighttimeproject – Pale Season Review

By Grymm on June 24, 2019 in 2019, Debemur Morti, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Progressive Rock, 24 comments

“It’s been a hot minute since I even remotely touched anything Katatonia-related. That’s not out of complete and utter disownership of a great band, mind you. I’ve just been bombarded with so much doom and black metal that keeping up with them can be a bit difficult. So when word that former members the Brothers Norrman had not only put out a new October Tide album, but also the second full-length album from their prog-rock outfit Thenighttimeproject, I figured a reacquainting/discovery mission was in order.” Night shift.

Lykantropi – Spirituosa Review

By Carcharodon on June 8, 2019 in 2019, Folk, Lightning Records, Progressive Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Blues, Folk, Progressive Rock, Psychedelic Rock, 26 comments

“There are many threats facing our world today. Some are man-made (climate change, for example), while other dangers manifest as actual men and women. But is there any threat less talked about than that facing Sweden today? The time vortex seemingly whirling across that Scandinavian country, spitting out 70s alt-rock bands left, right and center? From Witchcraft, Horisont, and Graveyard to my subject today, Lykantropi, and, let’s be honest, recent Opeth too, there is a significant number of them around.” A plague of the past.

Morass of Molasses – The Ties That Bind Review

By GardensTale on June 7, 2019 in 2019, British Metal, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Sludge Metal, Stoner Metal, Wasted State Records, Progressive Rock, Sludge Metal, Stoner Metal, 24 comments

“What does it mean for an album to be memorable? Usually we consider it a good thing, as a good hook that sticks with you can prolong the enjoyability of a record, sticking with you even beyond your listening sessions. But shitty third-tier pop music often keeps inadvertently muscling its way into your brain, especially for those who are forced to listen to the tripe during work hours (trust me, I’ve been there.) Conversely, some powerful music may not have a high memorability, particularly when it’s of the atonal or atmospheric proclivity. The latter is decidedly not what Morass of Molasses are attempting, though.” Attach the Stone of Sludge Fuzz!