Review: ANUBIS GATE – “Horizons”

 

Tracklist

1. Destined to Remember
2. Never Like This (A Dream)
3. Hear My Call!
4. Airways
5. Revolution Come Undone
6. Breach of Faith
7. Mindlessness
8. Horizons
9. A Dream within A Dream
10. Erasure

Release Date 15 April 2014 – Nightmare Records

Melodies, leads, hooks, vocal harmonies, songwriting. Have you ever wondered if out there exists a band which can combine all these characteristics? Well, you can put that research behind you, since Denmark has kindly provided us with an answer…Ladies and Gentlemen, Anubis Gate! I don’t know how the heck this band managed to get over my music radar for so long since they have been active for more than a decade. Anyway, here they are. A Danish band which plays progressive metal aggressively, with humility and talent. Even though they are HUGE players, they put their talent to the service of Songwriting.

Listening to the album (“Horizons”) I was able to discover a new galaxy of inspirational music. Even though the band has experienced various changes in the line up throughout their 10 years of existence, they managed to keep an inimitable level of musicianship. Their main characteristics are expressive, unmistakable melodies from the screaming guitars in grasping your neck and not letting you relax even for a moment, but also changes in the rhythms that are both imaginative and unpredictable that you think you are in a parallel universe where Dream Theater never fell victim of their own musical trends and continued to produce adventurous music! At the highest level, also,  the Yes-like voice harmonies, capable of providing a serious case of goose bumps, with inspiring interpretations traveling hand in hand with the wonderful and soulful lyrics. Everything in the proper dose, without a trace of arrogance and elitism , with each note that makes you look forward to the next.

By starting the record we encounter the first triple blast, “Destined To Remember”, “Never Like This (A Dream)” and “Hear My Call”, from which I’m still trying to recover. Beautifully arranged, they could easily be part of a three-piece suite. “Airways” creates a combination of musical landscapes with a fluidity of structure hard to find elsewhere nowadays. Sublime.  With the starting riff of “Revolution Come Undone” I am already part of their tortuous journey and not really caring to go back. “Breach Of Faith” has a chorus hard to forget, but It’s not just the chorus. It’s the culmination of an anthemic labyrinth. Worth listening to, again and again and again. “Mindlessness” (what a song title!) and “Horizons” are multi-coloured paintings that fit perfectly with what is an extraordinary album.

And then…. Then comes “Dream Within A Dream”. A Journey into the Dream, a Dream straight to the Journey in which Anubis Gate, as a brand new Theseus, unfold the secrets of the composition like a new Ariadne’s thread , with an excess of mastery and the confidence of a winner! The album finishes with “Erasure”, a track that evokes various emotions and memories that everyone can relate to. Stunning finish.

I could write for hours about this album, but I do not want to over-analyze it, for there is likely to lose some the magic it beholds, so I stop here. It’s not an album strictly for the progressive fans…It’s for everyone who loves MUSIC! Last year was particularly successful for the progressive music and such albums like this make me think that 2014 can follow the tendency of its predecessor. Listen and believe!

9,5/10

Review by Anarchy Divine

Review: TUNGSTEN – “The Reservoir”

Tracklisting

1. Water over Stone
2. Contamination
3. Atmos (Masto) Stoma
4. Night Wanders by
5. Coda
6. El Dolor
7. The Opera House
8. The Reservoir

Release Date: 14 January 2014 – Self Released

“A Sunrise with Clouds”

Tungsten are another occasion in progressive where the american bands confess their love for the European sound. Needless to say that apart from the various bands you can hear, you can also see the will for things that may concern us more in the near future. Yet, “The Reservoir” is just a debut with good and disinterested moments.

The biggest advantage of the band is that the members think more of being progressive in mind and less being direct to act. The constitutions of the songs are really nice, with preludes on keys that look straight to Rush, Opeth and Camel and then tones of heavy riffs that this excellent production help them to be the basic stigma of the album. The work of Ben and Jeff is fruitful and without exaggerations getting into solos feels like the sound of great English heavy bands. You can check “Contamination”, “Water over Stone” or “The Reservoir”. Even the arresting moment of “Coda” functions positively.

While there are nice stuff in songs that can keep you there, one thing makes me forget everything. Titi’s voice really makes me stay away from the album. In order not to be misunderstood, I have nothing against her. But her vocals to my ears do not fit this music style. Even when she tries to catch the growls of Akerfeldt in the heaviest parts of the album, it’s too much for me to sit it out.

I see that they try to do something different, but if that material was instrumental would be more evocative to me. I don’t know if Titi can change her way of singing, but always the best for a band is to do what satisfy them more and if Titi’s voice is the right one, then my point of view is the last that someone should check.

5/10

Review by Dr.Feelgood

Review: PROTEST THE HERO – “Volition”

Tracklist

1. Clarity
2. Drumhead Trial
3. Tilting Against Windmills
4. Without Prejudice
5. Yellow Teeth
6. Plato’s Tripartite
7. A Life Embossed
8. Mist
9. Underbite
10. Animal Bones
11. Skies

Release Date: 29 October 2013 – Razor & Tie

“And Spring Came Unexpectedly”

For almost a decade prog/tech metal has given us albums full of pleasant moments, intricate compositions and may some surprises, but few. The one thing missing was madness; the madness of thousand riffs being played upon lead parts that could make the human brain be exploded. Today, after all those years Protest the Hero like Deus ex machina serve us “Volition”, the best and why not most extremely technical metal album.

Forget the term “djent” or anything else around -core. Protest the Hero have moved steps beyond from what they used to be in their early beginnings. Endless riffing, drumming and if you try to count them in the end you may forget your name and who you are. The first listening of the album is just a groggy “ok”, the second lets the roots of the songs electrify your rays and in the next followings you start learning the songs. The old followers of the genre should know that the “monster mind” Ron Jarzombek states present in “Drumhead Trial”. Yeah, the one who through Watchtower made many of us face problems with our nerves. Also, think of the fact that the only albums sounding like this one in the past were “Ink Compatible” from Spastic Ink of Ron and “Sophisticated” from Sieges Even. Whoever have listened to the german release of 1994 will find many common moments into “Volition”.

“Without Prejudice”, “Yellow Teeth”, Plato’s Tripartite” and “Skies” are just some of the songs that can make you hung from any lamp in your house and start whirling on the speed of the songs. Technicality in the highest level. Beautiful vocal lines and melodies from Rody Walker and the guest appearance of Jadea Kelly can be regarded as the most successful while her sweet voice “switches off” ideally the songs. And when those moments are not enough to designate the greatness of the album, nor the brief bridges of riffing, listen to “Mist”. Enjoy it and stick at once to its grand finale. Enough said…

Do a gift to yourself and listen to the album. Forget anything you have heard about those guys, that have no relationship with the predominant prog/tech sound and feel like other years from the past, or just face the fact that Protest the Hero are the present and the future. Grab yourself and leave him in the middle of a meadow where any reaction through the listening of “Volition” will be forbidden. Attention: DO NOT DRIVE AND LISTEN TO IT!

9/10

Review by Dr.Feelgood

Review: FATES WARNING – “Darkness in A Different Light”

Tracklist

1. One Thousand Fires
2. Firefly
3. Desire
4. Falling
5. I Am
6. Lighthouse
7. Into the Black
8. Kneel and Obey
9. O Cloroform
10. And yet It Moves

Release Date: 30 October 2013 – InsideOut Music

“Life Cycles”

A life without music would be poor, with no sense and thanks God there are musicians out there whose music is not only the right company for the right moments, but also it works and as a mental cure. This is happening with the music of Fates Warning, they are not just a common progressive metal band, they are a personal experience for the most of us who follow and keep their music inside us. A new album of them is always a sign of new roads in our thoughts.

So, “FWX” was the last album, but the excellent “Sympathetic Resonance” was the precursor of what the next step would be. With the return of Frank Aresti the bell chimed for two things; the reappearance of leads and solos and the return of the metal character. This doesn’t mean that the previous albums weren’t prog metal, they worked more as atmospheric and in the new one you can feel the heaviness of the songs. “One Thousand Fires”, “I Am” and the magnum opus “And yet It Moves” bring memories of the “Perfect Symmetry” era and apart from that, your brain can play with the riffs and thinking on your own what they remind you of. Jim spreads prog riffing and not clear progressive, you know the difference and if not, do not think of it because the main point is not that. And the new guy Bobby is the “beast” needed for that material, gnarly and infallible.

Now, beyond the procedural themes of the album, the liturgical factor is that the songs are being one with you, they are you. One soul I know is used to saying; the importance in the new Fates album is the minore be offered by the songs. Once you hear them you can never take them out of your brain. Emotional bonding with “Firefly”, “Desire” and “Falling”. No one can run away from those lyrics, no one can hide. Even the contribution of Kevin Moore in “O Cloroform” can make you dive into the sea of words and breathe free without the fear of drown. Can you stand on your knees and confess to yourself the exactly words of “Into the Black”…?

This is the Fates Warning album, another personal experience that through its music we decide to become better than we are now. Melodies, choruses that could be slogans on walls of a city and the prog metal seal that will never leave you. All these under the deep performance of Ray Alder; not able to scream anymore, but the material is done according to his vocal lines, which can intoxicate you. This band always goes on one step beyond, just like life.

9/10

Review by Dr.Feelgood

Review: VICINITY – “Awakening”

 

Tracklist

1. Mass Delusion
2. Opportunities Lost
3. Across the River
4. Walk All the Way
5. The Time for Change
6. Awakening

Release Date: 20 September 2013 – Pug – Nose Records

“When Dreams And Reality Unite”

It’s not a secret anymore that Norway in the last 5 – 7 years has managed to be among the well – known countries playing progressive metal. This is not happening because of the abundant bands, but mainly because of the quality of the albums that are being produced by the musicians. Vicinity are one of those bands that through their debut want to relate the love of the music that has been heard by the members and an ambition vision which is not unreachable.

In the press release I noticed that the band has received great comments for their EP “Diffusion of Innovation”. Although I haven’t listened to it yet, judging by their debut “Awakening” I can realize the reason for all those positive comments and even more to justify them. Vicinity having the ignorance of danger with them as young musicians, manage to convert their influences to vicarious. And I like that they gathered things strictly from the Dream theater’s period of “Images & Words” and from Symphony X “The Divine Wings of Tragedy”. You can also find small and hidden keys from Shadow Gallery or Rush.

The magic key of the band in all of its songs is lyricism. I can hear it in the guitars, in the melodies and harmonies and in the voice of  Alexander who does excellent work, as his voice is unique. As for the songs you will be surprised even in the third listening. “Mass Delusion” has a straight heavy rhythm section that entices every ear with it and in the second half of it everything changes. If a song of 5 minutes can do this, then any kind of description for the three “epic” and intricate songs “Opportunities Lost”, “Walk All the Way” and “Awakening” by me will be totally poor. Some may find those songs somewhere being tiresome as the unite of successful “radio” parts with an ambitious constant is not the easiest thing to carry through. At least this is up to everyone’s mood.

I’m really curious how Vicinity will go on with their next recordings. It is usual to say that the third album in the discography is the determinant one to further the sound, but we mustn’t forget that the second album sometimes may show more about the personal vision. So, search for the album and choose if it can be regarded as one of the tops of the year in its genre.

8/10

Review by Dr.Feelgood

Review: SCALE THE SUMMIT – “The Migration”

 

Tracklist

1. Odyssey
2. Atlas Novus
3. The Olive Tree
4. Narrow Salient
5. Oracle
6. Evergreen
7. The Dark Horse
8. Willow
9. Sabrosa
10. The Traveler

Release Date: 11 June 2013 – Prosthetic Records

“Speechless Words”

Looking back at the year of 1969 no one could realize what an album like “In the Court of the Crimson King” could create. A sound that through the years has been evolved reaching new horizons and thus the word progressive represents that sound in every dimension of it. Being in today fresh brains pass by the danger zone of playing the music of some other bands and the approach of a modern sound (or if you like to contain in the type “djent”) seems as attractive as it used to be the prog sound yesterday.

In the field of neo prog next to bands like Protest the Hero and Leprous some guys from Texas, named Scale the Summit, decide to stand in the first positions through their fourth seal “The Migration”. What makes this band being special among the others is the instrumental face. Personally, this is something that I really like about them as they have the ability to build songs which apart from a high technique carry emotions that turn into feelings to you, even there are no lyrics. Sometimes the music without words is a whole world.

The songs do not last more than six minutes, a positive element, as in those minutes the band can do great things. The harmonies on guitars create on their turn melodies and the bass is so alive that stands in every second strong enough to span the guitar lines. You will enjoy “Odyssey”, “Oracle”, “Atlas Novus”, “Olive Tree” whose prelude is a modern Rush part. What I really admire in their music is that the band recognizes the contribution of Gojira in prog metal and I see that in their fury rhythm sections as it happens in the excellent “The Dark Horse”.

Without hesitation I’m telling you that we have to do with one of the best and excellent prog releases in 2013. All the progsters should check this album and if you are able to see Scale the Summit somewhere near by you do ti, because I’ve noticed that a live experience of them is something marvelous, as their album.

8/10

Review by Dr.Feelgood

FATES WARNING: Details of the new album

 

The prog pioneers Fates Warning will release their new album “Darkness in A Different Light” on September 30th in Europe and on October 1st in North America via InsideOut Music. The band needed 9 nine years to release a new album since “FWX” 2004 and now they have a full line – up: Ray Alder (vocals), Jim Matheos and Frank Aresti (guitars), Joey Vera (bass) and Bobby Jarzombek (drums).

Ray commented on the new album: “Darkness in a Different Light” is the result of almost two years of very hard work from everyone in the band. I believe that this line-up is the best that Fates has ever had, and I also think that it comes through in the music on this album. It’s been almost nine years since our last studio album and I couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve accomplished here. We are looking very much forward to playing some new songs for our fans who have stuck by us over all these years. We plan on touring as much as possible for “Darkness in a Different Light” and hopefully we’ll hit a few places we’ve never been…

“Darkness in A Different Light” tracklist:

CD1

1. One Thousand
2. Firefly
3. Desire
4. Falling
5. I Am
6. Lighthouse
7. Into the Black
8. Kneel and Obey
9. O Chloroform
10. And Yes It Moves

CD2

1. Firefly (Extended)
2. Falling Further
3. One (Live)
4. Life in Still Water (Live)

Review: STANDING OVATION – “The Antikythera Mechanism”

 

Tracklist

1. Scatter
2. Escapade
3. Travesty
4. Black Box
5. Hey Ho!
6. Hemorrhage
7. I Have Superhuman Powers
8. Break the News
9. The Antikythera Mechanism Pt. 1
10. The Antikythera Mechanism Pt. 2
11. The Antikythera Mechanism Pt. 3

Release Date: 2 November 2012 – Inverse Records

“Progressed and Confused”

What are the chances for a band from Finland to be turned into a great prog monster in the future? Many as a debut like “The Antikythera Mechanism” carries inside from ideal prog moments derived from the ’70s to parts from bands of today. This is only one side of a coin. The other one is that an ambitious plan has always and some drawbacks, which under great and hard work will be turned into the secret ace of the band.

I confess that Standing Ovation managed to mingle the identity of glorious bands in the cauldron of their music. The best of all is the use of Opeth music in “Travesty”, “Break the News” and “The Antikythera Mechanism I, II, III”. You can feel the brightness in the songs through the use of piano where a song can be evolved into something theatrical. You can also catch the slight stigma of Voivod in “Hemorrhage” or in “Escapade”. Yet, these are not enough for the album to be very good. There are avoid songs like “Hey Ho!” (this one doesn’t fit the prog attitude of the album) and “I Have Superhuman Powers” (a monotonous one with the absence of feeling obvious).

Generally the album lacks feelings in some parts and the vocals don’t help to boost the songs up. Jouni has a nice voice, but his “James Hetfield” vocal quality doesn’t offer the appropriate equilibrium. He needs to be more dynamic or just gently, but this cannot cover a whole album, while there are powerful songs. The lights are on, the will is within, the time is theirs. So, we wait until their next step.

6/10

Review by Dr.Feelgood

Review: THRESHOLD – “March of Progress”

Tracklist
1. Ashes
2. Return of the Thought Police
3. Staring at the Sun
4. Liberty Complacency Dependency
5. Colophon
6. The Hours
7. That’s Why We Came
8. Don’t Look Down
9. Coda
10. Rubicon

Release Date: 31 August 2012 – Nuclear Blast

READ THE REVIEW: Threshold – March of Progress

Review: ARJEN LUCASSEN – “Lost in the New Real”

DISC 1
1. The New Real
2. Pink Beatles in a Purple Zeppelin
3. Parental Procreation Permit
4. When I’m a Hundred Sixty-Four
5. E-Police
6. Don’t Switch Me Off
7. Dr Slumber’s Eternity Home
8. Yellowstone Memorial Day
9. Where Pigs Fly
10. Lost in the New Real

DISC 2
1. Our Imperfect Race
2. Welcome to the Machine (Pink Floyd Cover)
3. So Is There No God?
4. Veteran of the Psychic Wars (Blue Oyster Cult Cover)
5. The Social Recluse
6. Battle of Evermore (Led Zeppelin Cover)
7. The Space Hotel
8. Some Other Time (Alan Parsons Project Cover)
9. You Have Entered the Reality Zone
10. I’m the Slime (Frank Zappa Cover)

Release Date: 23 April 2012 – InsideOut Music

The maestro Arjen Anthony Lucassen offers his third solo album „Lost in the New Real“. Most of you know him from his first class rock operas Ayreon and Star One. This concept album shows what can happen if you let yourself conserving in liquid nitrogen short before dying and been reawaken 100 years later. In a time, that is complete different to the time you know and where the borders between reality and fiction are not defined clearly. For don’t getting mad with this a physiological consultant called Dr. Voight-Kampff helps him. Spoken from Rutger Hauer (Blade Runner)….a good choice. It is a question of censorship, birth control, religion and other actual themes in our times. All is done with a bit of humor cause this is a music album and not a political roundtable.

It starts with the song „The new Real“. A more quiet sound that remembers to the 70’s. What I like in Arjen songs are the well made tempo and style changes. The songs in between are interrupted from Dr. Voight-Kampff that brings you down a little bit to be prepared for the next songs.
And with „Pink bubbles in a purple zepellin“ we guess what bands inspired Arjen to this song. I like it a lot and is sounds really old school.
Typical Arjen style in „Parental Procreation Permit“. Every musician is doing his signature sound. This is the only rockin’ and harder track of the album.
With „E-Police“ we find a beautiful and rockin’ pop song. A funny song about the internet with a strong chorus line.
Also named here should be „ Dr. Slumber’s Eternity Home“….that remembers a bit to Queen and the Beatles. For the conditions of Arjen a real happy song.

Those who are awaiting a prog rock album in the tradition of Ayreon of Star One are wrong here. This is the most unusual album of Arjen. Not only that he hasn’t this time an amount of high quality guest singers….also the different musical facettes like rock, metal, pop, folk, industrial are changing all the time in unusual ways. Wilmer Waarbroek as background singer should be named here again.
He does a sensational work and leans some songs the vibes of past Queen choirs that are not forgotten til now. I am wondering where Arjen always gets those brilliant musicians from.
Also the second cd is sheer lunacy ! We find there songs that didn’t fit to the first cd and also some really good coverversions original done by Pink Floyd, Blue Öyster Cult, Led Zeppelin, Alan Parsons Project and Franz Zappa.

This unusual album will not satisfy everyone with the first listening….but the more you do the more you will get hooked on it. So…attention !! This album has addictive quality…you should be warned !

It is produced in Arjen’s familiar high musical quality and will enthuse every fan. Those who didn’t know Arjen Lucassen so far (are there really some ?) should better listen to Ayreon or Star One first.
Cause this one here is a different kind of taste.

Summary: This album shouldn’t be missed out, even if it is flashing with the second listen. The only thing to criticize is that the songs have not the usual lengths like ever…for me they are much too short.

Points: 9/10

Review by Angel