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Vorbid – A Swan by the Edge of Mandala Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on October 27, 2022 in Reviews, Progressive Metal, Thrash Metal, 27 comments

“A swan at the edge of what? A fucking mandala? You know, those monk-assembled sand drawings that they sweep away as a meditation. A Swan by the Edge of Mandala (henceforth ASbtEoM) is hands down the most egregiously prog-endowed album name I’ve heard all year. And what’s that, Vorbid appears to be leaning on another definition of mandala? A dream symbol that represents a person’s quest for self-unity? So it’s a concept album too, as if we didn’t need more confirmation that Vorbid plans to spill forth a bounty of instrumental gymnastics, introspective lyrics, and formibably lengthened runtimes.” Vorbid tales.

Wobbler – Dwellers of the Deep Review

By Huck N Roll on October 22, 2020 in 2020, Reviews, Progressive Rock, 48 comments

“Those of you who insist we review nothing but the purest and most extreme metal, step away from the computer. The next five paragraphs will upset and irritate you, causing you to lob hit pieces at the Huckster down in the comment section. For there is nothing remotely metal about today’s band of choice, Wobbler. This is music to prance to, not music to bang one’s head to. In fact, one has to be an El Cuervo-like old soul to truly want to dive into this band’s immaculate take on 70’s progressive rock.” Hit pieces go wobbly.

Pale Divine – Consequence of Time Review

By Steel Druhm on June 23, 2020 in Reviews, Doom Metal, 57 comments

“Generally speaking, bands don’t wait until their 25th year in existence to hit their peak. Don’t tell that to Pale Divine though. Pennsylvania’s best kept secret has been quietly churning out beefy classic doom albums since the turn of the century, basing their sound around Trouble, Black Sabbath and Pentagram, with a gritty biker rock edge making everything feel sturdy and muscular.” Time has been good to some of us.

Thoughts Factory – Elements Review

By GardensTale on January 25, 2020 in 2020, German Metal, Melodic Revolution Records, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, 9 comments

“So when I pulled my head from the murk of the most grimy, gritty, and distorted music metal has to offer to review the clean, keyboard-laden progressive metal of Thoughts Factory, my initial reaction was that of a belligerent child forced to take a shower after playing in the mud: I don’t like it this clean! Make it more filthy! But does that knee-jerk reaction hold on repeat listens?” Clean thoughts.

Rose Tint: El Cuervo’s Discoveries of 2019

By El Cuervo on December 23, 2019 in American Metal, Blog Posts, Danish Metal, Dutch Metal, English Metal, French Metal, Heavy Metal, Non-Metal Metal Things, NWOBHM, Progressive Rock, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 56 comments

“Following my last couple of year-end lists, it should now not come as a shock that I spent more time fleshing out my historical knowledge of music than my contemporary knowledge. In honor of my abject failure in keeping my eye on the present, I have received approval to document my ever-deeper plundering of previous decades in an article detailing my favorite older records which I first heard in 2019.” Old things, young ears.

Southern Empire – Civilisation Review

By GardensTale on August 1, 2018 in 2018, Australian Metal, Giant Electric Pea, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Progressive Rock, 145 comments

“Let’s be real here: are bands truly progressive when the longest song between them is but a measly fifteen minutes? Adelaide’s Southern Empire say “Not so!” as they drop the massive platter that is Civilisation. The four-track album clocks in at a mind-numbing seventy minutes! Can they justify the enormous time investment required to fully appreciate a record of such hefty girth?” An album with big bones.

The Golden Grass – Absolutely Review

By El Cuervo on April 2, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Hard Rock, Listenable Records, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, Hard Rock, Psychedelic Rock, 21 comments

“I love that title. Absolutely. It’s so charming. So affirmative. The Golden Grass, too, which sounds like a chip off the old rural-prog block made famous by the likes of Jethro Tull (though with a more obvious weed connotation). But despite strong ’60s and ’70s rock influences, Tull this is not. Hailing from Brooklyn, Absolutely represents the third full-length release by these chaps. Is it good? Absolu… well, partly.” Grass or pass?

Yer Prog Is Olde! Camel – Rain Dances

By El Cuervo on December 17, 2017 in Blog Posts, English Metal, Non-Metal Metal Things, Progressive Rock, Yer Prog Is Olde, Progressive Rock, 36 comments

“You know Genesis right? And Yes? And Pink Floyd? And King Crimson? The big names of the English progressive rock scene which is more or less the best ‘scene’ to have ever existed (in music or otherwise). One name which flew relatively close to the ground during this era is Camel. It was only in retrospect that they began to enjoy their utterly deserved praise, thanks, in no small part, to the adoration of one Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth.” Camels!

Wobbler – From Silence to Somewhere Review

By Huck N Roll on October 30, 2017 in 2017, Karisma Records, Norwegian Metal, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Progressive Rock, 57 comments

“I have a confession: I’ve always wanted to listen to progressive rockers Wobbler, but haven’t. Their 2011 album Rites at Dawn has been sitting in my iTunes wish list folder for six years now, but life/time/priorities kept me from ever clicking on “Buy.” So naturally when I saw them pop up on our feed as having a new album coming out, I grabbed it. And then I had to go back and listen to their older stuff as well. All of which is a good thing if you’re into 70s prog rock done right.” Wobbler at the gates of dawn.

Dreadnought – A Wake in Sacred Waves Review

By El Cuervo on October 3, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Sailor Records, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Progressive Rock, 28 comments

“The music playback software I use on my phone has a useful function where it will recommence tracks of over 10 minutes from the point at which the song was paused and the software closed. This is great if I reach the 20-minute mark on Crimson or over halfway through Close to the Edge. It’s less great if the track is only narrowly longer than 10 minutes and immediately crashes into the climax while otherwise relistening to the album as a whole. Denver’s Dreadnought is particularly affected by this problem as their third record, A Wake in Sacred Seas, comprises three tracks between 10 and 12 minutes with a 17-minute fourth.” Long in the tooth is a lifestyle choice.