Dream Theater

Redemption – Long Night’s Journey into Day Review

By Steel Druhm on July 27, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Metal Blade, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Progressive Metal, 108 comments

“Once upon a time I went all in for the larger than life prog bombast of Fates Warning and later, Dream Theater. I admired the cerebral nature of both their works and the mind-blowing level of technical proficiency with which they delivered it. Over the years, Dream Theater lost their way and the ability to deliver memorable material, but Fates Warning modified and ultimately streamlined their sound to remain a reliable, engaging act 30-plus years into their career arc. Redemption, a sort of prog super group helmed by Fates Warning’s Ray Alder and some Fates expats, has managed a successful run of albums by following Fates’ blueprint and delivering songs first, with wankery added in a relatively unobtrusive way.” A long noodle’s journey.

Between the Buried and Me – Automata II Review

By Huck N Roll on July 13, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Sumerian Records, Progressive Metal, 103 comments

“July is “Part Two” month for me, and first up is the second half of Between the Buried and Me’s double album, Automata. Take a moment, if you will, to reacquaint yourself with the first half of this opus. Too lazy to click: Well, to summarize, BTBAM wrote their usual long album, but new record label Sumerian suggested they split it in half and stagger the release. That allows those folks who can’t stomach an hour of music to take it in smaller bursts.” A band of many parts.

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.

Grayceon – IV Review

By Treble Yell on June 3, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Djent, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Translation Loss, Djent, Progressive Metal, 31 comments

“Upon seeing that the new album by Grayceon was available, a band made up from former members of Giant Squid, Amber Asylum and Squalus, I decided to dip my toes back into neglected waters. Time to discover if good things come to those who wait.” Several more shades of Gray.

Angra – ØMNI Review

By Angry Metal Guy on March 12, 2018 in 2018, Brazilian Metal, EarMusic records, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, 79 comments

“Angra’s Secret Garden was a surprise for me. It captured my heart by being extraordinary in its execution, not its novelty. The record was a solid group of songs that were well-written, well-performed, and fun to listen to. But let’s not kid ourselves, aside from having a spunky new 23 year-old drummer and slightly used 41 year-old singer, Angra wasn’t really doing anything unexpected. The record was graced by Jens Bogren’s Industry Standard Power Metal Production™, a guest appearance by scene matron Doro Pesch, and it was a straight forward affair. Secret Garden’s directness was charming in its lack of pretense, and I’ve come back to it a lot since then. So, three years later, 2018 starts off with Angra’s newest record entitled ØMNI. And this time, they’ve gone and written an orchestral, progressive metal concept album about the future. So, how’d that work out for them?” AMG and Angra together again.

Novareign – Legends Review

By Dr. Wvrm on February 15, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, M-Theory Audio, Power Metal, Power Metal, 0 comments

“Risking sideways looks around the break room, I harbor an innate soft spot for DragonForce. You can say what you want about their incessant need to beat their frets to death, but it still resulted in some damn catchy songs. Plus, I was that kid who was way better at Guitar Hero than everyone else. DragonForce couldn’t repel more girls if they wore orthodontic headgear with a d20 strapped to it, so naturally Teenage Mutant Metal Wvrm loved them. Novareign clearly feel the same way.” Welcome to Wankville.

Deathless Legacy – Rituals of Black Magic Review

By Treble Yell on January 22, 2018 in 2018, Italian Metal, Reviews, Scarlet Records, Symphonic Metal, Symphonic Metal, 19 comments

“A Christmas tree shorn of spectacle is just a skeleton pining for its casket. Deathless Legacy are loud, boisterous and with their untrammeled Italian bombast are hoping to capture hearts and minds with Rituals of Black Magic, but they’ll have to prove they harbor substance beyond their sparkling facade.” Of bare trees and Italian cheese.

Mistheria – Gemini Review

By GardensTale on December 15, 2017 in 2017, Italian Metal, Neo-Classical Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Rockshots Records, Progressive Metal, 36 comments

“If only it were that simple. Completely instrumental albums are more difficult to write, I think because we are automatically drawn to voices. Without a vocalist, the tracks must be carefully composed to guide the listener’s attention and keep a sense of structural flow and integrity. Gemini is not carefully composed. Gemini doesn’t have flow and barely any structure. Rather, Gemini is a group of very talented musicians wanking onto a biscuit and hoping you’ll eat it.” Don’t eat the buttermilked biscuits.

Yer Prog Is Olde! Pink Floyd – Animals

By El Cuervo on November 12, 2017 in English Metal, Non-Metal Metal Things, Progressive Rock, Yer Prog Is Olde, Progressive Rock, Psychedelic Rock, 83 comments

“I hear Pink Floyd in so much of the music that I love. They’re a profoundly important and influential band generally but for me personally too. Their capacity to develop and retain quality through styles and songwriters is virtually unparalleled, one example of which is the subject of this post: Animals, which turns 40 this year.” Prog before swine.

Serious Black – Magic Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on August 22, 2017 in 2017, AFM Records, International Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, 53 comments

“Their catchy-as-fuck 2015 debut, As Daylight Breaks, was the first. Then, last year’s “meh” Mirrorworld. And, now, Magic. Math ain’t my strong-point, but that should make three albums in three years. Sure, Vardan releases a baker’s dozen on an annual basis, but groups like Serious Black? I didn’t think it was possible—nor should it be. But, by god, here it is. Unfortunately, the intense schedule for releasing full-length albums on a yearly basis is starting to show. Since the debut, quantity over quality has been the name of the game for Urban Breed and co. Which results in a Serious Black bummer. ” The strings are showing.