Posts tagged as:

progressive metal

Beyond the Bridge - The Old Man and the SpiritHere’s a few words of first impression of Beyond the Bridge’s debut The Old Man and the Spirit: ambitious, grand, and sweeping. The work is a monolith, from concept to music, of progressive metal from this young German band. Be forewarned: several spins are required to grasp the scope of The Old Man and the Spirit. That’s not to say that this work is overly complex, but it is quite long and packed with great music.

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Persona Non Grata - Quantum Leap Possibly indicative of the album title, Greek progressives Persona Non Grata hoped to ‘up their game’ with their sophomore release, Quantum Leap. Released in December, this fine work of progressive metal could easily be added to the best of 2011, right along side their peers Symphony X and Dream Theater.

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Altered Symmetry PrologueAltered Symmetry is a promising young, but not inexperienced, progressive metal band from Bogota Columbia. Prior to this year’s full-length debut, Prologue, they cut three EPs, including a ‘cover’ album. This disc applied some prog nuances to the likes of Billy Idol (Rebel Yell), Aerosmith (Toys in the Attic), and Bon Jovi (Born to Be My Baby). This alone should spark some interest in their creativity.

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Guitarist Patrick Hemer debuts first solo album, More Than Meets the Eye

12 December 2011 Entertainment

Probably best known for his work with Horizon, guitarist Patrick Hemer steps out on his own with his first solo album More Than Meets the Eye. The album, like most of its kind, is an platform for Hemer’s rather impressive neo-classical guitar style in a tradition melodic heavy/power, sometimes, progressive metal context. In this sense, [...]

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Theocracy’s As the World Bleeds offers an exciting blend of Christianity and epic melodic heavy metal

23 November 2011 American Culture

Another three years has passed and so Atlanta’s Theocracy returns with their third album As the World Bleeds. Considering the strength of its predecessor, Mirror of Souls, this album was born with certain expectations already in place. Fret not fans as you will not be disappointed.

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A Moment in Chiros: Lance King’s solo debut a tour de force of melodic progressive power metal

30 October 2011 American Culture

Okay, so here’s the short review: Buy this album. If you dig well-composed and entertaining melodic progressive power metal with powerful and versatile vocals, then Lance King’s first solo project, A Moment in Chiros is simply primo material. So head on over to Nightmare Records and order the album; otherwise read on if you want [...]

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Knight Area’s Nine Paths: simply great melodic progressive rock!

10 October 2011 American Culture

Knight Area’s fourth release, Nine Paths, is simply a great sounding album of melodic progressive rock. Earlier works were likely gathered under the symphonic rock genre also. But Nine Paths seems to find Knight Area upping the rock ante just a bit. With that said, don’t think that founder, composer, and keyboardist Gerben Klazinga is [...]

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With Kingdom of Ruin, Vangough returns with another massive and entertaining opus of progressive metal

2 October 2011 American Culture

Unexpected and challenging are apt words to describe the latest project, Kingdom of Ruin, from Oklahoma’s Vangough. But that’s certainly ‘expected’ from this talented band. It’s nearly odd to say, but one might call Kingdom of Ruin ‘thinking man’s’ prog. It certainly offers a high degree of creativity and ingenuity, yet without sacrificing immense entertainment.

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Voyager’s Meaning of I: clever and intriguing, catchy and entertaining progressive rock

27 September 2011 American Culture

There’s something about Voyager’s sound on their fourth LP The Meaning of I that I can’t put my finger on, that I can’t quite describe. With their interesting polyrhythmic sensations, illustrative, sometimes quirky, keyboards, and Danny Estrin’s both consistent and mercurial vocals, this work sounds like a collision of 80′s electronic new wave with more [...]

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A Dramatic Turn of Events is classic Dream Theater, so forget the controversy of Portnoy leaving the band

11 September 2011 American Culture

One would think that the hype of drummer Mike Portnoy leaving Dream Theater would have subsided by now. But on the eve of the release of their eleventh album, A Dramatic Turn of Events, remaining members are still taking swipes at him. It’s a shame really as the title of this album declares this simple [...]

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