Tag Archives: progressive metal

Album review: TERRA ODIUM – Ne Plus Ultra

Posted on June 6, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers Records [Release date 11.06.21] In its more expansive moments, Norwegian band Terra Odium’s album resonates with the sci-fi dissonance of tech metal. The kind that Brad Fiedel and Wendy Carlos wielded on “The Terminator” and “The Shining” film scores. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Brad Fiedel, Dream Theater, Frontiers Records, Ne Plus Ultra, Pagan's Mind, progressive metal, Progressive Rock, review, Transatlantic, Wendy Carlos | Leave a comment

Album review: BEN RANDALL – Before The Rain

Posted on March 26, 2021 by alanjones

Thoroughbred Music [Release date: 02.04.21] www.benrandallguitar.com For me, it’s always been about the guitar. Back in the day, from the moment I heard Paul Kossoff’s wailing Les Paul on the early Free albums, I was hooked. Koss, Blackmore, Iommi, … Continue reading →

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Album review: SECRET SPHERE – Lifeblood

Posted on March 21, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers Records [Release date 12.03.21] If Italy’s Secret Sphere aren’t the EU’s Power Metal poster boys, then they should be. They are a relatively unsung band who’ve battled through multiple line up changes, and come up smelling of roses every … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album review, Aldo Lenobile, Frontiers Records, Lifeblood, power metal, progressive metal, Roberto Messina, Secret Sphere, symphonic metal | Leave a comment

Album review: TURBULENCE – Frontal

Posted on March 13, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers Records [Release date 12.03.21] Lebanese Progressive Rock/Metal band, Turbulence, are crossing a few boundaries with their provocatively titled Frontiers debut, Frontal. It is a defiantly bold attempt to incorporate the music of the wider world into their work. Something … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged Dream Theater, Frontal, Frontiers Records, Lebanon, progressive metal, progrock, Turbulence | Leave a comment

Album review: ORDEN OGAN – Final Days

Posted on March 7, 2021 by brianmc

AFM Records [Release date 12.03.21] Orden Ogan might not be the band on everyone’s lips when Progressive or Power Metal is the subject of conversation. But they should be. And if their last album, Gunmen, didn’t put them there, Final … Continue reading →

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Feature: Albums that time forgot…JAMES LABRIE – Elements Of Persuasion

Posted on October 10, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

InsideOut (2005) For many band members, the band becomes all consuming. It means, as a result of the constant cycle of touring, writing and recording, they can’t deliver their own solo album. There are 15 years between John Petrucci’s first … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums that time forgot, ALL POSTS, FEATURES | Tagged album, Dream Theater, Elements Of Persuasion, feature, heavy metal, James LaBrie, Marco Sfogli, Matt Guillory, Mike Mangini, nu-metal, progressive metal, review | 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: HAKEN – Virus

Posted on July 30, 2020 by jason

Inside Out [Release date 24.07.20] Following the release of their fifth studio album “Vektor” back in October 2018, the members of the British Progressive Metal sextet Haken have rightfully been in the receiving end of various rewards and accolades. For … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Dream Theater, Haken, melodic, metal, progressive, progressive metal, review, virus | Leave a comment

Album review: SHINING BLACK

Posted on July 13, 2020 by jason

Frontiers Records [Release date 10.07.20] For afficionados, these are instantly recognisable protagonists. Shining Black matches up Mark Boals, a gun for hire vocalist, with the perhaps lesser known Olaf Thorsen, guitarist with Labyrinth and Vision Divine. It plays out along … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Frontiers, Labyrinth, Mark Boals, melodic metal, Olaf Thorsen, progressive metal, review, Shining Black, Vision Divine, Yngwie Malmsteen | Leave a comment

Feature: Albums that time forgot – DOMINICI – O3 A Trilogy (Part 3)

Posted on April 25, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Inside Out [2008] Charlie Dominici may merit a mere footnote in the history of Dream Theater, the band’s original singer who was in the formative Majesty before making the band’s first album. Then in 2005 he produced the first of … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums that time forgot, ALL POSTS, FEATURES | Tagged album, Brian Maillard, Charlie Dominici, Dominici, Dream Theater, interview, O3 A Trilogy, Part 3, progressive metal, review | Leave a comment

Album review: ARCHON ANGEL – Fallen

Posted on March 1, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 14.02.20] Archon Angel is a new project born from a meeting between producer/guitarist Aldo Lonobile (Secret Sphere) and former Savatage and Circle II Circle vocalist Zak Stevens during the making of Timo Tolkki’s Avalon’s Return To Eden … Continue reading →

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Album review: BLIND EGO – Preaching To The Choir

Posted on January 17, 2020 by alanjones

Gentle Art Of Music - [Release date: 14.02.20] German progressive rock titans RPWL have been ridiculously busy lately, both collectively and individually. Their ‘Tales From Outer Space’ album from early 2019 was deservedly five starred, as was their double live … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: ATOM WORKS, YES

Posted on September 27, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

YES Live At Glastonbury 2003 The Store For Music [Release date 04.10.19] There is not even an inlay for this double album lifted from the soundtrack to the “Director’s Cut” DVD released in 2008. Roger Dean’s iconic logo is the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged Alan White, album, Atom Works, Chris Squire, classic rock, Finland, Jon Anderson, Live At Glastonbury 2003, prog metal, prog rock, progressive metal, Progressive Rock, review, Rick Wakeman, Steve Howe, The Life Of Spice, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: MIND KEY – Aliens In Wonderland

Posted on July 17, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Frontiers [Release date 12.07.19] Nearly a decade since Mind Key’s last offering ‘Pulse For A Graveheart’ the Italian prog/power metallers return. For those who like lots of great orchestration (Dario De Cicco), lots of melody and strong vocals throughout (Aurello … Continue reading →

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Album review: MIDNIGHT SUN – Dark Tide Rising

Posted on July 3, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond [Release date 28.06.19] New Stroud-based prog rock/metal band Midnight Sun claim to be ‘an original rock band’. Well, for a kick off, the name’s not original, having been ‘pre-owned’ by Danish prog rockers between 1971 and 1974 (whose main … Continue reading →

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Album review: RHAPSODY OF FIRE – The Eighth Mountain

Posted on January 23, 2019 by jason

AFM Records [Release date 22.02.19] Italian power metal band return with their latest album, cementing the new/current line-up. Formed in the mid 90 as Rhapsody, RoF made the genre of symphonic power metal their own. Founder members keyboard player Alex … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged AFM Records, album, Alex Staropoli, metal, power metal, progressive metal, review, RHAPSODY OF FIRE, The Eighth Mountain | Leave a comment

Gig review: VOIVOD – Magasin 4, Brussels, 9 October 2018

Posted on October 24, 2018 by Yiannis

Voivod – Magasin 4, Brussels, 9th October 2018

There was a time in my young adult life where the prospect of attending a Voivod show felt less of a possibility to manning a mission for the purpose of exploring the environs of planet Mars, so it is indeed … Continue reading →

Posted in GIG REVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Gig reviews | Tagged 9 October 2018, Bio Cancer, gig, Magasin 4 in Brussel, progressive metal, review, thrash metal, Voivod | Leave a comment

Gig review: SONS OF APOLLO – Manchester Academy, 1 October 2018

Posted on October 2, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

It always amazes me how a less than mainstream band (even though heavyweights in their own right) can attract a sizeable crowd on a Monday night. It’s highly unlikely there were many students at this gig, although within rolling out … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 1 October 2018, Billy Sheehan, Bumblefoot, Derek Sherinian, gig, Jeff Scott Soto, Manchester Academy, progressive metal, review, Ron Thal, Sons Of Apollo | Leave a comment

Album review: HAKEN – L-1ve

Posted on July 10, 2018 by Yiannis

Inside Out [Release date 20.06.18] UK prog metalers Haken have the world at their feet these days. Top ranking album reviews and in depth interviews adorn the pages of some of the most high profile music magazines such as … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Haken, Inside Out, L-1ve, live album, meldoic, melodic, metal, progressive metal, review | Leave a comment

Gig review: G3 2018 – JOE SATRIANI, JOHN PETRUCCI, ULI JON ROTH – Manchester Apollo, 27 April 2018

Posted on April 28, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

There was a moment in this latest iteration of the global guitar circus that it all fell into place. Two-and-a-half hours in, during a stellar version of ‘Super Funky Badass’ Joe Satriani underlined why we worship our guitar heroes. The … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 27 April 2018, classic metal, Dream Theater, G3 2018, gig, guitar, guitarist, hard rock, Joe Satriani, John Petrucci, Manchester Apollo, progressive metal, review, Scorpions, Uli Jon Roth | Leave a comment

Album review: BOREALIS – The Offering

Posted on February 23, 2018 by jason

AFM Records [Release date 23.03.18] Borealis started out in 2005 as a female fronted symphonic metal band before guitarist Matt Marinelli took over vocal duties in 2007. They have changed bassists since their last album with Trevor McBride replacing original … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Borealis, melodic metal, metal, progressive metal, review, the Offering | Leave a comment

Gig review: OPERATION: MINDCRIME (Geoff Tate) – Muni Arts Centre, Pontypridd, 14 January 2018

Posted on January 20, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

OPERATION: MINDCRIME - Muni Arts Centre, Pontypridd, 14 January 2018

I won’t bore you with the details of the acrimonious Queensryche break up and fall out that followed, but in summary after a court case in 2012/14 Geoff Tate is the only person that can perform the classic Operation Mindcrime … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 14 January 2018, GEOFF TATE, gig, hard rock, Muni Arts Centre, Operation: Mindcrime, Pontypridd, progressive metal, Queensryche, review | Leave a comment

Album review: THRESHOLD – Legends Of The Shires

Posted on September 7, 2017 by jason

Nuclear Blast [Release date 08.09.17] Threshold have been in the metal news a lot recently after vocalist Damian Wilson left the band in March and they announced former vocalist Glynn Morgan was returning to the band – he left them back … 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, Damian Wilson, Glynn Morgan, Karl Groom, Legends Of The Shires, metal, Nuclear Blast, prog metal, progressive metal, review, Richard West, Threshold | Leave a comment

Album review: EXIST – So True, So Bound

Posted on June 25, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Prosthetic Records [Release date 09.06.17] I’ve made it no secret my undying love for all things Chuck Schuldiner (Death, Control Denied…not so much Voodookult) and even the band Cynic formed by former members of Death ranks as some of my … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Exist, metal, progressive metal, review, So Bound, So True | Leave a comment

Gig review: DELAIN, Evergrey – O2 Ritz, Manchester, 12 November 2016

Posted on November 13, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

DELAIN - O2 Ritz, Manchester, 12 November 2016

In May 2013, David Randall chatted to Charlotte Wessels at the time of the release of their first mini-album for Napalm Records, ‘Interlude’. Their chat includes references to the early development of the band, the split from the Roadrunner label, … Continue reading →