Tag Archives: Mike Portnoy

Album review: AFTER LAPSE – Face The Storm

Posted on December 15, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date : 09.12.22] Debut album from Prog Rock classicists, After Lapse. As any aficionado will tell you, Progrock bands need more time than others to tell their story. Credit to After Lapse for holding track lengths to around … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged After Lapse, album, Face The Storm, Frontiers, Mike Portnoy, power metal, progrock, review, Spain | Leave a comment

Album review: TRANSATLANTIC – The Absolute Universe

Posted on May 26, 2021 by alanjones

Inside Out [Release date: 05.02.21] Supergroups – don’t you just love them? Remember, back in the day, when England used to play various sporting matches against “The Rest Of The World”? England always won because they all knew each other’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile) | Tagged Dream Theater, Flower Kings, Marillion, Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse, Pete Trewavas, Progressive Rock, review, Roine Stolt, Spock's Beard, The Absolute Universe, Transatlantic, Winery Dogs | Leave a comment

Album review: NEAL MORSE – Sola Gratia

Posted on September 6, 2020 by jason

Inside Out [Release date 11.09.20] Neal Morse hardly seems to be out of the studio, with a covers collection released in the summer under the Morse Portnoy George handle, and last year he released the ambitious double album ‘Jesus Christ: … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Inside Out, melodic, Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse, Neal Morse Band, prog rock, progressive, review, rock, Sola Gratia, theatrical | Leave a comment

Album review: FLYING COLORS – Third Stage Live In London

Posted on August 15, 2020 by jason

Music Theories Recordings [Release date 07.08.20] Filmed during Flying Colors’ 2019 US and European tour on the 14 December at Shepherd’s Bush Empire on the final night of that tour. They had only played nine shows on the tour, which … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Flying Colors, melodic rock, Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse, prog rock, review, Steve Morse, Third Stage Live In London | Leave a comment

Book review: On track…DREAM THEATER (Every album, every song) – Jordan Blum

Posted on August 12, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 17.07.20] This volume reveals the strengths and weaknesses of the series’ premise. Jordan Blum’s careful expose of all the albums reveals how indebted he is to other writers, websites and magazines. And, let’s be honest, Wikipedia. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, Dream Theater, Every Album, Every Song, James LaBrie, John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess, Mike Portnoy, On Track, progressive metal, review | Leave a comment

Album review: MORSE, PORTNOY, GEORGE – Cov3r To Cov3r

Posted on August 1, 2020 by jason

Inside Out [Release date 24.07.20] Neal Morse, Mike Portnoy and Randy George. Three titans of modern prog locked together to fight the elements and stride forth on their third covers album, each one bringing their ‘A Game’ as they join … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Cov3r To Cov3r, Covers, Dream Theater, Inside Out, Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse, pop, progressive, Randy George, review, Ringo Starr, rock, Spock's Beard, Tom Petty, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: SONS OF APOLLO – MMXX

Posted on January 29, 2020 by jason

Inside Out [Release date 17.01.20] Second studio outing from the prog metal supergroup Sons Of Apollo who consist of vocalist Jeff Scott Soto, bassist Billy Sheenan, guitarist Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal, drummer Mike Portnoy and on keyboards Derek Sherinian. Sons Of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Billy Sheenan, Bumblefoot, Derek Sherinian, Dream Theater, Guns 'N' Roses, Jeff Scott Soto, Journey, melodic metal, metal, Mike Portnoy, MMXX, prog metal, progressive, review, Sons Of Apollo | Leave a comment

Album review: SONS OF APOLLO – Psychotic Symphony

Posted on October 12, 2017 by jason

Inside Out [Release date 20.10.17] Sons Of Apollo only formed earlier this year and come labelled with the ‘supergroup’ tag, which can be a blessing or a curse – luckily a blessing in Sons Of Apollo case. The Sons Of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, The Best of 2017 | Tagged album, Billy Sheehan, Derek Sherinian, Dream Theater, Jeff Scott Soto, metal, Mike Portnoy, progressive, Psychotic Symphony, review, rock, Ron Bumblefoot Thal, Sons Of Apollo | Leave a comment

Album review: THE NEAL MORSE BAND – Alive Again

Posted on July 14, 2016 by jason

Radiant Records/Metal Blade [Release date 05.08/16] This is a slightly more modest release – 2CD/DVD – after last year’s impressive ‘Morsefest 2014’ box set. This live show was recorded near the end of the ‘Alive Again’ world tour in Holland. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alive Again, Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse, pop, prog, Progressive Rock, review, rock, Spock's Beard, the Neal Morse Band | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE WINERY DOGS/ Inglorious – Bristol O2 Academy, 2 February 2016

Posted on February 5, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

THE WINERY DOGS - Bristol O2 Academy, 2 February 2016

Mike Portnoy announces to the crowd that The Winery Dogs don’t often play outside of the main cities of London/Manchester, so the Bristol fans wasted no opportunity to sign up for something special and – although not a sell out … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Billy Sheehan, classic rock, Dream Theater, gig, Inglorious, Mike Portnoy, Mr Big, Poison, review, Richie Kotzen, rock, The Winery Dogs | Leave a comment

Album review: FLYING COLORS – Second Flight: Live at the Z7

Posted on October 28, 2015 by jason

Music Theories Recordings/Mascot Label Group [Release date 13.11.15] This new live package comes in a plethora of formats – takes a deep breath – 4K UltraHD, Blu-ray, DVD, LP + MP3, double CD/DVD, iTunes, Headphone Surround and Pono. Right now … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged album, CD, DVD, Flying Colors, live, Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse, prog, review, rock, Second Flight Live at the Z7, Steve Morse | 1 Comment

Album review: NEAL MORSE – Morsefest!

Posted on September 3, 2015 by jason

www.nealmorse.com [Release date 21.08.15] This is a massive box set, which you can get either as 2 disc Blu-Ray or a 4 CD/2 DVD set. Obviously aimed at the fans, as Neal Morse performs two of his keynote solo albums, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alan Morse, album, boxed set, Dream Theater, DVD, Mike Portnoy, Morsefest!, Neal Morse, prog, progressive, review, rock, Spock's Beard | Leave a comment

Album review: NEXT TO NONE – A Light In The Dark

Posted on July 7, 2015 by jason

Inside Out [Release date 29.06.15] When I was about 14 years old, I got beaten up by the meanest, toughest, most fearless kid in school – and he was only 10…not my finest hour. Now, at the ripe old age … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged A Light In The Dark, album, Dream Theater, Inside Out, Max Portnoy, metal, Mike Portnoy, Next To None, prog, review | Leave a comment

News: URIAH HEEP, CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL, THE FACES – 12 February 2015

Posted on February 12, 2015 by jason

Uriah Heep, Giants Of Rock - 9 February 2014

URIAH HEEP Sat April 25 HOLMFIRTH Picturedrome Sun April 26 LEAMINGTON SPA Assembly Tue April 28 YORK Fibbers Wed April 29 NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE Riverside Tue May 05 BRISTOL Marble Factory Wed May 06 SOUTHAMPTON Engine Rooms Fri May 08 … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, Re-issues/special editions | Tagged Cambridge Folk Festival, Carsten Schulz, classic, folk, Joan Baez, Mike Portnoy, news, rock, Ron Wood, Sirenia, The Faces, The Rolling Stones, Uriah Heep | Leave a comment

Album review: THE NEAL MORSE BAND – The Grand Experiment

Posted on January 31, 2015 by jason

Inside Out www.insideout.de [Released 16.02.15] Does Neal Morse ever sleep? Not content with his rather good 1970′s West Coast flavoured solo album ‘Songs From November’ and the excellent second Flying Colors album, both released last year, he is back again! … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Inside Out, Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse, prog, review, rock, the Grand Experiment, the Neal Morse Band | Leave a comment

DVD review: TRANSATLANTIC – KaLiveoscope

Posted on October 23, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Inside Out [Release date: 28.10.14] I’m maybe the wrong person to review this DVD. Or perhaps the best. Because while I’m familiar with the name and the fact the band’s a side project ‘supergroup’ I couldn’t previously have told you … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged Bluray, Deep Purple, Dream Theater, DVD, Enchant, Flying Colors, KaLiveoscope, Marillion, Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse, Pete Trewavas, prog, progressive, review, Spock's Beard, Steve Morse, Ted Leonard, Transatlantic | Leave a comment

Gig review: FLYING COLORS – Islington Assembly Hall, London,13 October 2014

Posted on October 14, 2014 by jason

Due to the queuing system for the gig (they really need to have more than one person manning the ticket desk) I missed most of the support set from guitarist John Wesley (he’s worked with Porcupine Tree, Fish and more … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 13 October 2014, Casey McPherson, Deep Purple, Dixie Dregs, Dream Theater, Flying Colors, Islington Assembly Hall, John Wesley, London, Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse, Spock's Beard, Steve Morse | Leave a comment

Album review: FLYING COLORS – Second Nature

Posted on September 30, 2014 by jason

Music Theories Recordings/Mascot [Release date 06.10.14] Flying Colors, the prog rock supergroup, are back with their second album just two years after their exceptionally strong debut release. Can they match that high standard? You bet they can! If anything this … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Casey McPherson, Dave LaRue, Deep Purple, Dixie Dregs, Dream Theater, Flying Colors, Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Second Nature, Spock's Beard, Steve Morse, Winery Dogs | Leave a comment

Album review: PAUL GILBERT – Stone Pushing Uphill Man

Posted on August 18, 2014 by petefeenstra

Music Theories Recordings [Released 15.09.14] Former Racer X and Mr. Big Guitarist Paul Gilbert has always had a refreshing and thoughtful approach to his instrumental work. On the Sisyphusian concept of ‘Stone Pushing Uphill Man’ his 13th solo album, he … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Aerosmith, album, Elton John, Eric Carmen, guitar, James Brown, Jeff Beck, k.d lange, Kenny Aronoff, Loverboy, Mike Portnoy, Mr Big, Paul Gilbert, Paul McCartney, Peter Green, Racer X, review, Sting, Stone Pushing Uphill Man, The Beatles, the Police | Leave a comment

Gig review: TRANSATLANTIC – London The Forum, 12 March 2014

Posted on March 14, 2014 by Yiannis

Review by Yiannis (John) Stefanis Photos by Yiannis (John) Stefanis Wednesday the 12th of March was in my calendar for quite some time; this was the day when Progressive super group Transatlantic were to be in London for a highly … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Gig reviews | Tagged Daniel Gildenlow, gig, London, Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse, Pete Trewavas, prog, progressive, review, rock, Roine Stolt, The Forum, Transatlantic | Leave a comment

Album review: FLYING COLORS – Live In Europe

Posted on September 22, 2013 by jason

Mascot 2CD+DVD+BluRay+vinyl ltd edition [Release date 14.10.13] Flying Colors are (whisper it quietly) a supergroup consisting of Neal Morse, Mike Portnoy, Steve Morse, Dave LaRue (Dixie Dregs) and Casey McPherson (Endochine/Alpha Rev). They released a superbly enjoyable debut album last … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album review, Casey McPherson, Dave LaRue, Deep Purple, Dixie Dregs, Dream Theater, Flying Colors, Live In Europe, Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse, Spock's Beard, Steve Morse, Transatlantic | Leave a comment

Album review: NEAL MORSE – Live Momentum

Posted on February 11, 2013 by jason

Inside Out (2DVD/3CD & BluRay) [Release date: 18.02.13] This is a real treat for fans of Neal Morse’s work and I am sure the inlay booklets/packaging will be suitably splendid as I only have promo copies of the two DVD … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged Dream Theater, Inside Out, Live Momentum, Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse, prog rock, Spock's Beard | Leave a comment

NEAL MORSE – releases “LIVE Momentum” DVD Box Set & launches live video

Posted on January 31, 2013 by jason

Nashville, TN — When progressive rock icon Neal Morse was preparing to tour his highly acclaimed 2012 studio release, “Momentum,” he turned to YouTube to audition touring players to support his faithful duo of Mike Portnoy (drums) and Randy George … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged box set, live DVD, Mike Portnoy, Momentum, Neal Morse, Randy George | Leave a comment

FLYING COLORS Shepherd’s Bush Empire, Friday 21st September 2012

Posted on September 22, 2012 by jason

A very decent turn out and a fair few of the audience were Beardfish fans who had a 45 minute support slot. They were touring in support of their new album ‘The Void’, which sees the band take a more … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Flying Colors, Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse, Shepherd's Bush Empire, Steve Morse | Leave a comment

NEAL MORSE – Momentum

Posted on September 3, 2012 by jason

Inside Out (Released 11th September) www.nealmorse.com Neal Morse is a very busy man and with his new solo album he will be competing with Flying Colors, the other band he has been involved in, for many people’s best of lists … Continue reading →