Progressive Rock

Corrective Measures: Angry Metal Guy’s Stack o’ Shame Edition

By Angry Metal Guy on July 6, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Blood Music, Death Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Industrial Metal, Italian Metal, Kscope, Melodic Death Metal, Napalm Records, Neo-Classical Metal, Norwegian Metal, Progressive Rock, Prosthetic Records, Reviews, chiptunes, 86 comments

“Like with video games or books, one’s “Stack o’ Shame” is the stuff one intends to do but has not been able to do for one reason or another. These reviews are all too late to write full 600-800 word reviews for. On the other hand, I am going to be way too busy this winter to be able to handle writing a bunch of TYMHM. So, I am invoking my right to rule through this (hopefully one-off) post that rounds up some stuff that I fully intended to review and didn’t. So by ways of an apology to both you, the readers, and the albums in my Stack o’ Shame, I bring you some angry, metal blurbs. Mea culpa.” Sometimes sorry is enough.

The Sea Within – The Sea Within Review

By Huck N Roll on June 28, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, German Metal, InsideOut, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Progressive Rock, 85 comments

“I’m as leery of self-proclaimed supergroups as the next guy. They almost never work out. Usually, though, they at least have some humility about themselves, and claim they are not in fact a supergroup, but rather just a bunch of chaps who happen to want to make music together. Not so with The Sea Within. In fact, guitarist Roine Stolt (Transatlantic, The Flower Kings) says “Call it a supergroup if you want – I think we can handle that.” Big words!” Super group, super attitude.

Spock’s Beard – Noise Floor Review

By Huck N Roll on June 5, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, InsideOut, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Progressive Rock, 74 comments

“That is the power of Spock’s Beard, a band known for musical prowess, superb vocal harmonies, counterpoints, and friendliness. It’s been fifteen years since founder Neal Morse left the band (on the friendliest of terms of course), and although the band hasn’t reached the heights of yore, they’ve soldiered on with the best of intentions. Will Noise Floor, their thirteenth album, return them to past glories? Beards and noddles special.

Black Book Lodge – Steeple and Spire Review

By GardensTale on May 24, 2018 in 2018, Danish Metal, Mighty Music, Post-metal, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Post-Metal, Progressive Metal, 98 comments

“Swansong albums are a difficult subject. Most artists don’t know they are recording their final piece when they’re in the studio, dissolving between albums because of creative differences or members quitting or passing away. But occasionally, a band will decide before release that the next album will be their last. Such seems to be the case for Danish progressive outfit Black Book Lodge.” Dying swans, tragic losses.

Poly-Math – House of Wisdom | We are the Devil Review

By Kronos on April 23, 2018 in 2018, British Metal, Lonely Voyage Records, Not Metal, Post-Rock, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Non-metal Metal Things, Progressive Rock, 36 comments

“With the recent reunion of At the Drive-In, hopes have never been higher for a rekindling of the fire under the asses of Omar Rodríguez-López and Cedric Bixler-Zavala – a fire which produced the best prog rock albums of the 2000s. And given the rate at which Rodríguez-López currently produces LPs (about one a month for the past two years), it might not be long before there’s a new The Mars Volta album collecting saliva on turntables everywhere. But that doesn’t mean substitutes aren’t welcome.” We take whats we can gets.

Kino – Radio Voltaire Review

By Huck N Roll on April 4, 2018 in 2018, English Metal, InsideOut, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Progressive Rock, 54 comments

“Prog rock pedigree? Check. Reputable prog rock label? Check. An obligatory thirteen-year gap in albums? Check. The latest album from English progressive rock trio Kino, Radio Voltaire, checks a lot of boxes.” Box radio?

Mile Marker Zero – The Fifth Row Review

By Eldritch Elitist on March 13, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Self-released, Progressive Rock, 34 comments

“My heart may belong to metal, but it was Coheed and Cambria that cemented my love for rock music. One of my favorite bands to this day, C&C’s influence on my musical tastes has resonated long into my twenties, with sonically similar acts like The Dear Hunter helping to keep me invested in their particular blend of modern alternative and progressive rock. It’s surprising to me then, as a fan of such a specific style, that I’d never encountered Connecticut’s Mile Marker Zero.” Prog is a highway, and you’re gonna ride it.

Sammal – Suuliekki Review

By Treble Yell on March 10, 2018 in 2018, Finnish Metal, Folk, Non-Metal Metal Things, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Svart Records, Folk, Non-metal Metal Things, 49 comments

“I have been covered in filth lately. Dragged through a mire of pestilence, I have sampled fruit irrigated by the grotesque and profane. Blast-beats that scorch the earth, inchoate riffs fat with torment and wretched vocals fit only for withering a pleasant disposition. Black metal, death metal, doom, grind and thrash. I’m a mess and I need to divest myself of the depravity that’s accumulated over the months. A panacea is in order, something that can wash away the silt and leave me lighter, fresher. To that end I have chosen to bathe in the antiseptic waters of Suuliekki, the new album by Finland’s Sammal.” Scrub-a-dub-dub.

Legend of the Seagullmen – Legend of the Seagullmen Review

By Roquentin on February 10, 2018 in 2018, Alt-Metal, American Metal, Dine Alone Records, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Rock, Alternative Metal, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, 0 comments

“What makes concept records ‘successful’? The expectations attached to them are never merely about the music alone. Much like musicals and operas, they transcend the genres they’re based on and approach the programmatic. But is it the originality and immersiveness of the concept, the quality of the accompanying music, or an intermedial dimension and interaction between the two that defines them the most?” Nautical tales and torn sails.

Tetrafusion – Dreaming of Sleep [Things You Might Have Missed 2017]

By Saunders on January 14, 2018 in 2017, American Metal, Post-metal, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Self-released, Things You MIght Have Missed 2017, Post-Metal, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, 22 comments

“I’m more of a modern prog dude. Not that I have anything against the classic ’70s era of progressive rock, but aside from a few notable bands, led by the obvious Pink Floyd, I simply haven’t been exposed to a lot of it, despite being a big fan of ’60s and ’70s music, in general. Yeah, I know, it’s something I need to rectify. Luckily, modern prog of the rock and metal variety offers an embarrassment of riches to indulge in.” Prog for the noggin.