Tag Archives: prog

Album review: THE ALAN PARSONS SYMPHONIC PROJECT – Live In Colombia

Posted on May 5, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

earMUSIC [Release date 27.05.16] 2-CD/DVD/Bluray/Vinyl “Damned If I Do” may have described a personal dilemma in March 2015 as I toyed with the idea of making the pilgrimage to a rare Alan Parsons date in London. Inevitably, an early look … Continue reading →

News: STEVE HACKETT Charisma Years vinyl box set and deluxe editions May 2016

Posted on May 1, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

STEVE HACKETT - The Lowry, Salford, 25 October 2015

Following the success of ‘Premonitions’, the CD box set releasd in 2015, May 2016 sees the reissue of Steve Hackett’s first six Charisma albums on vinyl. “The Charisma Years (1975-1983)’ features 8LPs & 12″ EP and is due out on … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, NEWS, Re-issues/special editions | Tagged box set, CD, Defector, deluxe edition, guitar, guitarist, Please Don't Touch, prog, progressive, rock, Spectral Mornings, Steve Hackett, The Charisma Years 1975-1983, Vinyl | Leave a comment

Interview: JON POOLE – THE DOWLING POOLE

Posted on April 26, 2016 by jason

The Dowling Poole have released their second album, ‘One Hyde Park’, another glorious collection of pop gems recalling greats such as XTC, the Kinks, ELO and the band’s own unique twist. After catching up recently with Willie Dowling, we posed … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged Dave Gregory, Dowling Poole, interview, Jon Poole, Lifesigns, One Hyde Park, pop, prog, psychedelic, quirky, rock, Tin Spirits, Wildhearts, XTC | Leave a comment

Album review: KANSAS – Always Never The Same

Posted on April 20, 2016 by jason

Store For Music www.storeformusic.com An album overlooked in the Kansas catalogue being originally released back in 1998, three years after their last studio album ‘Freaks Of Nature’. I remember reading an interview back at that time where drummer Phil Ehart … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Always Never The Same, classic, Kansas, orchestral, Phil Ehart, prog, re-issue, review, rock, Steve Walsh, the Store For Music | Leave a comment

Gig review: HRH PROG – Pwllheli, Wales, 17-19 March 2016

Posted on April 9, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

Arthur Brown - HRH Prog - Pwllheli, Wales, 17-20 March 2016

I remember the first time I attended the HRH Prog festival which was held at the ice cold Magna Centre in Rotherham; boy was it cold, even the artists had coats on whilst they performed! But it looks like we … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged 17-19 March 2016, Arthur Brown, Caravan, festival, Focus, gig, HRH Prog, Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull, prog, progressive, Purson, Pwllheli, review, rock, sci-fi weekend, The Enid, Wales | Leave a comment

Album review: CIRCUS MAXIMUS – Havok

Posted on April 4, 2016 by jason

Frontiers www.frontiers.it [Release date 18.03.16] Circus Maximus have been around since 2000 and this is album number four from them. Previously they have been more into straight ahead prog metal recalling bands like Kamelot and Symphony X, this time though … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Circus Maximus, Havok, melodic, metal, prog, progressive metal, review, rock | Leave a comment

Quick plays: ALMANAC, MOULETTES, BREAK THE SENSES

Posted on March 29, 2016 by jason

ALMANAC Tsar Nuclear Blast [Release date 18.03.16] Rage had a major line-up change last year, one of which saw guitarist Victor Smolski leave the band and he wasted little time in assembling Almanac. This album is a concept piece based … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Almanac, Break The Senses, David Readman, folk, metal, Moulettes, Perfect Nature, Pink Cream 69, power metal, Preternatural, prog, Rage, review, Tsar, Victor Smolski | Leave a comment

Album review: ADRIAN WEISS – Easy Game

Posted on March 29, 2016 by petefeenstra

CD Baby [Release date 06.07.14] Just in case you dozed off listening to too much AOR, or you’ve have been concussed by too much metal, you may have missed the emergence of a whole new school of prog-metal instrumentalists including … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Adrian Weiss, album, Christian Muenzner, Demian Heuke, Easy Game, Forces At Work, fusion, Gloryful, guitar, instrumental, Jason Becker, Jeff Beck, Joe Satriani, Lars Zehner, Manuel Korsakow, Marcel Willnat, metal, Paul Gilbert, prog, review, rock, Steve Vai, Thought Sphere, Tony McAlpine, Vinnie Moore, Yngwie Malmsteen | Leave a comment

Album review: LYRIAN – The Jester’s Quest In The City Of Glass

Posted on March 26, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

Medieval Records [Release date 01.04.16] Here’s a prog concept album that doesn’t take itself too seriously, judging by the lighter touch in the accompanying press release. There is no doubt that a lot of effort and enterprise has gone into … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, concept, Lyrian, prog, Progressive Rock, review, The Jester's Quest In The City Of Glass | Leave a comment

Album review: THE RAPTOR TRAIL – New World

Posted on March 26, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

MBM Entertainment [Release date 11.03.16] It’s great when a new band takes its cue from anything other than early seventies blues rock. The Raptor Trail major on well constructed songs, great playing and a definite – even if subconscious – … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Jupiter Coyote, New World, prog, Progressive Rock, review, rock, southern rock, The Raptor Trail | Leave a comment

News: RENAISSANCE & CURVED AIR – Pioneers of Symphonic/Art Prog tour together in April 2016

Posted on January 30, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

ANNIE HASLAM of RENAISSANCE (59:15) David Randall chats to Annie about prog rockers Renaissance Also available in several parts here Symphonic rock icons Renaissance featuring legendary singer Annie Haslam will be performing in the US & UK in support of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS | Tagged Annie Haslam, April 2016, art rock, Curved Air, fusion, Live At the Union Chapel, prog, progressive, Renaissance, rock, Sonja Kristina, symphonic prog, Tour, uk | Leave a comment

Album review: THE GALACTIC COWBOY ORCHESTRA – Earth Lift

Posted on January 12, 2016 by petefeenstra

Loud Folk [Release date 22.09.15] Minneapolis art rockers The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra take us back to the experimental and adventurous days of early 70’s prog rock and fusion, when bands like King Crimson, Jethro Tull and later the Mahavishnu Orchestra … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alec Tackmann, Billy Thommes, Dan Neale, Earth Lift, Frank Zappa, fusion, Gong, jazz, Jethro Tull, John Wright, King Crimson, Lisi Wright, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Michael Urbaniak, prog, review, rock, Rush, Sandy Denny, The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra | Leave a comment

Album review: DOCKER’S GUILD – The Heisenberg Diaries Book A: Sounds of Future Past

Posted on January 11, 2016 by jason

Lion Music www.lionmusic.com [Release date 21.01.16, digital only] This is the second album from the Docker’s Guild, the brainchild of Douglas R. Docker. This album is part of a series of 4 transitional albums placed between the 5 main “seasons” … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Book A: Sounds of Future Past, Docker’s Guild, instrumental, prog, review, rock, sci fi, The Heisenberg Diaries, theme tunes | 2 Comments

Quick plays: THE WINTER TREE, BRYAN ADAMS, JOE EGAN

Posted on January 5, 2016 by jason

THE WINTER TREE Earth Below www.thewintertreeband.com Andrew Laitres is the main force behind this band, who also feature Mattias Olsson (Anglagard/White Willow/Necromonkey) on drums and percussion, Jacob Holm-Lupo (White Willow/Opium Cartel) who mixed the album plus played some guitar/synths, as … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Angel Air, Bryan Adams, Earth Below, ELO, Get Up, Jeff Lynne, Jim Vallance, Joe Egan, Out Of Nowhere, prog, review, rock, Stealers Wheel, the Winter Tree | Leave a comment

Album review: OLLOCS – Outer Edge

Posted on January 2, 2016 by alanjones

Self released [Release date: 24.10.15] Okay, let’s get the issue of the name out of the way first. Ollocs. What were they thinking of? Ollocs, whilst lending itself to a myriad of infantile jokes (I was thinking of giving it … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Ollocs, Outer Edge, prog, Progressive Rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: THE MUTE GODS – Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me

Posted on December 30, 2015 by jason

Inside Out [Release date 22.01.16] The Mute Gods are centred around Nick Beggs, who has worked and toured with Steve Hackett and Steven Wilson among others. He is joined by respected drummer Marco Minnemann (who also plays guitar) and Roger … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me, Marco Minnemann, Nick Beggs, pop, prog, progressive, review, rock, Roger King, Steve Hackett, the Mute Gods | Leave a comment

Quick plays: BRAD SCHECTER, ATOMIC SYMPHONY

Posted on December 22, 2015 by jason

BRAD SCHECTER – Live Your Dreams www.bradschecter.com This is Brad Schecter’s debut album (he has fronted a couple of metal bands according to his bio) and the songs on here represent 22 years of songs he has been working on. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Atomic Symphon, Brad Schecter, Lazy Bonez, Live Your Dreams, melodic, metal, prog, review, rock | Leave a comment

Gig review: LONELY ROBOT – The Scala, London, 20 December 2015

Posted on December 21, 2015 by jason

So onto the final gig for 2015 for me and one I have been looking forward to as it is Lonely Robot, aka John Mitchell (It Bites/Frost*/Arena), whose debut album ‘Please Come Home’ is one of my top 5 albums … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 20 December 2015, gig, HeKz, John Mitchell, London, Lonely Robot, pop, prog, Progressive Rock, review, rock, The Scala | Leave a comment

Album review: SIMULACRUM – Sky Divided

Posted on December 15, 2015 by david.wilson

Self Release [Release date 28.08.15] This is the second album from Finnish prog metallers Simulacrum and rather good it is too. The band are led by Niklas on vocals and Chrism on keyboards who take care of the lyrics and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS | Tagged album, CD, Fallout, Finland, Mad Max, metal, prog, review, rock, Simulacrum, Sky Divided | Leave a comment

Album review: GRAAL – Chapter 1V

Posted on December 15, 2015 by petefeenstra

Code 7 – Jolly Roger [Release date 25.05.15] It ten years since the Italian prog rock band Graal’s debuted with ‘Realm Of Fantasy’ and ‘Chapter 1v’ finds them honing their craft in a genre hopping mode while revelling in instrumental virtuosity. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andrea Ciccomartino, Chapter 1V, Danilo Petrelli, Deep Purple, Dougie White, Francesco Zagarese, Graal, guitar, interview, Jethro Tull, John Lord, keyboards, metal, Nick Mason, PFM, Pink Floyd, prog, Realm Of Fantasy, rock, Rory Gallagher | Leave a comment

Album review: FISCHER’S FLICKER – Fornever And Never

Posted on December 10, 2015 by petefeenstra

Lavender Kartydid Music [Release date 15.08.15] ‘Fornever And Never’ by Chicago Fisher’s Flicker is a bewildering musical journey that reflects its leader’s Scott Fischer’s eclectic musical background. Described by his PR as a ‘a vast musical amusement park’, Scott Fischer … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alice Cooper, David Bowie, Elvis Costello, Fischer's Flicker, Frank Zappa, Graham Parker, prog, R&B, review, rock, Scott Fischer, soul, Steely Dan, The Band, Todd Rundgren | Leave a comment

Quick plays: MY FAIR FIEND, ARI AND THE ALIBIS, LOCUST HONEY STRING BAND, EUREKA

Posted on December 10, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

MY FAIR FIEND Making Monsters ‘Quirky’ is an oft used description in the singer songwriter world, but it does describe the sophomore release from Utah-based My Fair Fiend a vehicle for the talents of singer songwriter Callie Crofts. Musically, the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, alternative, Ari And The Alibis, Dirty Little Secret, Eliza Carthy, Eureka, fusion, Gret Escapes, Jenny Hill, Locust Honey String Band, Making Monsters, My Fair Fiend, Never Let Me Cross Your Mind, prog, progressive, review, rock, roots, RPWL, songs of separation, Yogi Lang | Leave a comment

Album review: SPOCK’S BEARD – The First Twenty Years

Posted on December 7, 2015 by jason

Inside Out [Release date 20.11.15] This has been a busy year for Spock’s Beard with a new studio album, ‘The Oblivion Particle’ and subsequent tour and now this, the band’s first best of album. It covers all twelve studio albums … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alan Morse, album, Neal Morse, Nick D’Virgilio, prog, progressive, review, rock, Spock's Beard, Ted Leonard, the First Twenty Years | Leave a comment

Album review: THE ALAN PARSONS PROJECT – The Turn Of A Friendly Card

Posted on November 2, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Sony Music [Release date 06.11.15] Deluxe Anniversary Edition Looking for the definite version of Alan Parson’s classic 1980 release? Well, it gets the Deluxe Anniversary treatment in this expanded, re-mastered 2-CD edition. Back in the day, Alan Parsons and Eric … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Chris Rainbow, Deluxe Anniversary Edition, prog, progressive, review, rock, The Alan Parsons Project, The Turn Of A Friendly Card | Leave a comment

Album review: PANIC ROOM – Essence

Posted on November 2, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

www.panicroom.org Originally planned as an acoustic ‘retrospective’, the sessions for Panic Room’s fifth studio album metamorphosised with Dave Foster (Steve Rothery Band, Mr So & So) joining the band. An infectious spirit, it was never likely that he was going … Continue reading →