[Release date 08.12.17]

Hailing from Stoke-on-Trent, Goya are a bit like a progressive/stoner Stoke City – fans that love them, love them but a lot won’t like the stuff they play.

That said, and with all the usual trepidation of approaching an instrumental progressive rock E.P., you know something – this ain’t bad at all. If your bag is contemplative, Rush-style intensity with all the associated tempo changes and feedback-smudged, crashing riffology, this four track EP checks in at a rousing 32 minutes – which is as much as you get from a full album by some these days.

But, not in prog – oh no, siree – the highlight is the 12-plus minute masterpiece “Venenatus” – an absolute colossus of a track kicked off by its faux-scary, nursery rhyme intro which literally slams like a car crash into its gloom-mongering, thundering backbone riff and then dissipates into a slow Floyd-type few breather bars.

Then, with that feeling like you’re winding up to the top of a roller-coaster and the inevitable decent, the track (not even half way through yet) launches again into that crushing riff before getting all space-jammy and out there and then peacefully winds its way to a masterful acoustic coda. Heineken has never bothered looking Bohemian Rhapsody’s instrumental prog equivalent, but if they did…..what a track this is….strap in tight!!

Opening track “Collider” is the four minute baby track (hey, maybe even the single!) but a furious tour-de-force with a simple and infectious, mesmerizing, riff. Industrial post-prog as a category, anyone?

“Asohka” is a complete lock-in of all that is good in meandering mood metal – part-Maiden midde-eight, part QOTSA frantic thrash-off – builds like an orgasm, this one, with a predictably messy and glorious conclusion. Brilliant stuff.

“Kathmandu”, as the title might suggest, opens with a haunting, eastern vibe, slow-burning into a prog-fest of meaty chords – the perfect soundtrack to an apocalyptic movie.

Apparently, the band don’t think they’re pretentious but have coined the phrase “Absolute Music” for this very effective mish-mash of styles and….they ‘speak through their instruments” ……bit redundant that, since they don’t have a singer. But these guys do literally paint musical landscapes which are as dramatic as they are unpredictable. This debut offering never dropped my attention once and I never yearned for vocals at any point.

If this is the future of progressive rock, I could certainly be turned… ****

Review by Mark “Mad Dog” Shaw

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 2 March 2025.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast on 4 March 2025

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen live or listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 24 March 2025

HARRI LARKIN Too Close To The Sun (Robot Distro)
SANDNESS Not Your Dog (Rockshots Records)
DOCTOR BLACK Drag Me Down (indie)
COHEED AND CAMBRIA Goodbye Sunshine (Virgin Music Group)
LEONI JANE KENNEDY Closer (indie)
SMALL TOWN POLITICS Red Lights (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 24 March 2025

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Singer Songwriter)

Our occasional Newsletter signposts latest additions to the website(s). We also include a selection of recent top albums, based on GRTR! reviewer ratings. The newsletter is sent out a few times a year.

If you’d like to register to receive this occasional mailing please complete the form:

If using a smartphone/tablet please tap here or re-orientate your device

(Note that this registration is separate from site registration which allows you to leave comments and receive daily emails about new content. If you wish to register for this – in addition or separately – please click or tap here – for more information – the form is at the foot of each page. Please read our privacy policy when opting-in to receive emails.