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  • Limited Deluxe Collector's Box Set:Artbook180g 2 LP Gatefold Vinyl w/ Exclusive Artwork and Exclusive LP Color (White)Exclusive picture disc 7"60 cm x 60 cm poster10 art cardsSlipmatPatchPinHand-numbered certificate of authenticityTwo-time Grammy-nominated and millions-selling progressive music titans Dream Theater announce the forthcoming worldwide release of their 14th studio album, ‘Distance Over Time’ on 22nd February 2019. ‘Distance Over Time’ showcases a newfound creativity for Dream Theater while maintaining the elements that have garnered them devoted fans around the globe. The album also marks the first for the band’s new label InsideOutMusic / Sony Music. The artwork was created by long-time cover collaborator Hugh Syme (Rush, Iron Maiden, Stone Sour). ‘Distance Over Time’ was produced by John Petrucci, mixed by Ben Grosse and mastered by Tom Baker.“When I listen back to the album, I can distinctly recall every moment of the writing process; where I was standing in the room, what inspired us in that instant and the meaning behind each song. As a producer, my goal was to try and create the best-sounding Dream Theater record we’ve ever made so that listeners can just be enveloped in the music. I really wanted this recording to truly reflect the spirit, joy and passion that went into making the album and for people to walk away feeling some of the organic nature, personality and raw energy that the band captured while together in the studio. For me, I think it accomplishes that and I hope that other people will feel the same way,” explains John Petrucci.In June 2018, Dream Theater secluded themselves in a private location in upstate New York to begin writing for the new record. While spending the summer living together in the property's adjacent residence, the band spent their days and nights crafting the music that would make up the new album in the ‘Yonderbarn’; a beautiful and spacious barn that had been meticulously transformed into a state-of-the art film and recording studio. Following an intense & extremely productive period of group writing sessions and wanting to retain the magic that was captured in this scenic and inspiring location, they decided to record the album in the very room they had all convened to write together in. Living together during the writing and recording for ‘Distance Over Time’ marked another first for the band’s 33-year career. The result is a heavier collection of songs that showcases the early roots of the band while exploring new territory as musicians and as friends.“It was like going back to summer camp,” adds James LaBrie. “Being around each other the whole time made it that much more of a profound experience. I think the songs reflect the energy. It was a lot of fun to have a situation so powerful at this point in our career.”It has been 3 years since Dream Theater released new music. To announce the details of the brand new album, Dream Theater enlisted the help of one lucky contest winner to break the news of the record to the loyal fans of the band. An Alternate Reality Game was launched that encompassed a “treasure hunt” whereby fans were able to search for clues hidden in various photos, videos, social media posts, and more. Ultimately, one lucky winner was given access to content before everyone else including the release date and cover artwork, and the winner would be the one to share the first taste of never before heard music. Dream Theater is also planning to hit the road in support of the new album. The ‘Distance Over Time’ Tour of North America was recently announced and kicks off on March 20, 2019 in San Diego, CA. The tour will run for seven weeks before wrapping up in Mexico City on May 4, 2019.Progressive metal pioneers Dream Theater — James LaBrie (Vocals), John Petrucci (Guitars), Jordan Rudess (Keyboards), John Myung (Bass), and Mike Mangini (Drums) — share a unique bond with one of the most passionate fan bases around the globe as evidenced by their two GRAMMY® Award nominations and 15 million records sold worldwide. The 1992 opus Images & Words received a gold certification and landed on Rolling Stone’s coveted “100 Greatest Metal Albums of All-Time.” Guitar World placed the follow-up Awake at #1 on “Superunknown: 50 Iconic Albums That Defined 1994.” 1996’s A Change of Seasons notably soundtracked NBC’s coverage of Downhill Skiing at the 2002 Winter Olympics. Fans voted the 1999 Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory the “Number One All-Time Progressive Rock Album” in a 2012 Rolling Stone poll. Not to mention, it ranked as the “15th Greatest Concept Album” by Classic Rock. 2009 saw Black Clouds & Silver Linings crash the Billboard Top 200 at #6 as A Dramatic Turn of Events [2011] and Dream Theater [2013] maintained a three-peat in the chart’s Top 10. Consequence of Sound dubbed 2016’s The Astonishing, “An absolutely unique experience.” Beyond three platinum and two gold videos, the group was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2010. On its 14th full-length and first release for InsideOutMusic / Sony Music, Distance Over Time, the band recharge the brotherhood that has kept them creating music together for over 30 years. It’s Dream Theater at their most dynamic, direct, and definitive.
    $145.00
  • "Islands is the new double album by progressive rockers THE FLOWER KINGS. After the group’s much celebrated return in 2019 and the highly successful “Waiting For Miracles”, creative mastermind Roine Stolt (Transatlantic, The Sea Within, Anderson/Stolt etc.) now presents 92 minutes of brand-new music with his competent line-up also featuring Hasse Fröberg, Zach Kamins, Jonas Reingold, Mirko DeMaio and special guest Rob Townsend. Due to the Covid-19-pandemic the album comes out quite a bit sooner than originally planned as Roine explains: “All shows and festivals were cancelled and the future didn’t really ‘unfold’ itself like we had hoped. To sit out the pandemic with no activities was not an option for us. We cannot be stopped by an evil virus. With members living in the USA, Italy, Austria and Sweden the only way was to use the magic of the ’net’ sending files and start building, what now became, a double album of 21 songs.” The 92 minutes long “Islands” features artwork by legend Roger Dean (Yes, Uriah Heep etc.) and all trademark sounds and melodies, the band is known for. From vintage keys to epic guitar solos, from odd drum patterns to symphonic elements, THE FLOWER KINGS present a superb, playful and complex record."
    $18.00
  • "Triple CD contains the Swedish and English versions of Opeth's album In Cauda Venenum with new illustrations by internationally renowned Travis Smith in the booklet. In addition, there is also a third CD including 3 previously unreleased bonus tracks, both in English and Swedish: "Pöbeln" / "The Mob", "Cirkelns Riktning" / "Width of a Circle" as well as "Frihet & Tyranni" / "Freedom & Tyranny"."The album opens with haunting Mellotron and we are off to the races.  By now its the law of the land that Opeth has forsaken the "old" sound.   They are a progressive hard rock band who's albums are packed to the rafters with retro sounds.  The album arrives as a double disc - one version of the album sung in their native Swedish and the other in English.  The traditional melancholy sound is present here.  Expect dynamics galore.  This is an album of contrasts - darkness/light - heavy electric/acoustic.  If Trettioariga Kriget and Gryphon had a child it might sound like this.  The smell of the 70s permeates every aspect of this album so if you like old school hard rock and prog you're going to have a field day with In Cauda Venenum.  When Damnation came out it blew my mind and I think the band has done it again.  They've been kicking the tires of a masterpiece with Heritage, Pale Communion, and Sorceress but they really went and did it this time.  BUY OR DIE!"Given what OPETH have achieved over the past three decades, it seems unfair to question whether or not a new album would be anything less than a domineering success. They are set to release their thirteenth opus to add to a discography that boasts a formidable repertoire of encapsulating albums, but the most interesting line of enquiry is one of discovery. How well does a contemporary OPETH fit into the modern day? The simple answer is that they don’t really seem to care. The years might have seen them transform from death metal icons to a glowing example of prog rock prowess, but while listening to In Cauda Venenum, it is clear that they are writing music for themselves. The record is rife with the kind of personality we have grown to love from the Swedes, ultimately thriving in its honesty and stunning integrity.This is evidenced by the fact that In Cauda Venenum is the first OPETH album to be written entirely in the band’s native Swedish tongue. Even though it stands accompanied by an English version, this is a bold move, and the perception it breeds means that this feels like the most personal OPETH album to date. Coupled with sampled sonic backdrop aplenty and almost organic musicianship, it has the feel of a soundtrack to a movie we can’t see, prompting us to visualise our own masterpiece and inject our own character. Livets Trädgård / Garden Of Earthly Delights seems like opening credits rolling us into lush scenery, before Svekets Prins / Dignity takes up the gauntlet and sends us spinning into a torrid whirlpool of prog rock wizardry. Deft riffing backed by electronic keys builds the track, before a wailing solo ascertains that the OPETH writing style has been injected at full tilt. Cue delicate guitar work and vocals, before a full metallic barrage brings the track full circle with emphatic grandeur. Mikael Åkerfeldt‘s vocals are pristine, slotting perfectly into the dense instrumentals with decades-honed precision. Hjärtat Vet Vad Handen Gör / Heart In Hand continues the charge, with a runtime well over eight minutes allowing plenty of space for OPETH to open the taps. The devil often lies in the details, and throughout the album, the Swedes make use of this philosophy, employing a consortium of instruments to create a surgical level of precision. This is nothing new to OPETH, but this time the approach feels more innate, and better executed than ever.In between raging spells of heavy metal structure, melodic opulence shines in equal measure. In Cauda Venenum isn’t conventionally heavy, nor is it mellow, instead it is an open gateway into the thought process of one of history’s most capable bands. OPETH have already proved they can nail the death metal approach (in fact, they’re largely responsible for the genre being in the healthy state it is today) and with recent albums they have also tapped into a more progressive conception. This time round, the likes of De Närmast Sörjande / Next Of Kin and Minnets Yta / Lovelorn Crime reach beyond expectation. It is the best of both worlds and then some. Never have the band juxtaposed such vast beauty alongside the monstrous riffs of old, and yet the contrast allows the music to pop with brighter colour and deeper shadow than anything in their back catalogue.From the sampled maniacal laughter and time bending riffs of Charlatan to the orchestral intro of Ingen Sanning Är Allas / Universal Truth, each twist and turn is like a blind bend, pleasing the listener time and time again with its unpredictable nature. The blood still runs from OPETH veins, but the execution is more patient, and covers a gargantuan scale. Long swathes of atmospheric space drift by hand in hand with violin, starkly set against biting guitar in an ever waging war. Then, we bridge into Banemannen / The Garroter, one of the album’s most eclectic tracks. Jazzy, wandering riffs feel almost like cabaret, sounding like the backdrop to a seedy city underbelly. Drums set the pace, and the bass work shines through, before a meandering solo sees us into Kontinuerlig Drift / Continuum, where choppy guitar drags us into another seven-minute masterclass of prog rock musicianship. It is utterly flawless.OPETH knew that recording the album in Swedish exposed them to a risk of isolating their English speaking fans. It has to be said that writing an English version will stand them in better stead, positioning the record as more accessible; yet as Allting Tar Slut / All Things Will Pass ultimately closes the record, it is clear that they not only made the right decision, but it really couldn’t matter less which language they chose to present the record in. In Cauda Venenum is the finest work OPETH have produced in a long time – if not ever. It will require time and space to soak up its brilliance, but if afforded such simple luxuries, it is an album set to inspire, overwhelm and rewrite the very fabric of what it means to be a heavy band in 2019." - Distorted Sound
    $17.00
  • APOLLO: The ancient Greek and Roman God of music and poetry.SONS OF APOLLO: The new supergroup featuring members of Dream Theater, Mr. Big, Guns ‘N Roses, and Journey.In early 2017, rumors began circulating about a new secret project including former Dream Theater members Mike Portnoy and Derek Sherinian. Finally, on August 1st, the duo revealed the details to the rest of the world, introducing their new band, SONS OF APOLLO.Reuniting to form SONS OF APOLLO, Portnoy and Sherinian join forces with guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (ex-Guns N’ Roses), bassist Billy Sheehan (The Winery Dogs, Mr. Big, David Lee Roth) and vocalist Jeff Scott Soto (ex-Journey, ex-Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force). Their debut album, Psychotic Symphony, will be released October 20 on InsideOutMusic/Sony Music. Psychotic Symphony was produced by the dynamic production duo of Portnoy and Sherinian, also affectionately known as “The Del Fuvio Brothers,” the nickname given to them over 20 years ago during their time together in Dream Theater.SONS OF APOLLO formed very organically, its seeds planted with a predecessor group, as Portnoy explains: “Derek and I reunited shortly after I left Dream Theater in 2010 and we put together an all-instrumental touring band with Billy Sheehan and Tony MacAlpine. That was my first time working with Derek since the ‘90s when he was in Dream Theater, and it was just great to be working with him again. Ever since that tour, which was really just a one-off live thing, he has been nudging me to start a real, original, full-time band. The timing just had never been right, because I had too many other things on my plate. Long story short, the time was finally right to take the bait and put together a band.”“Mike and I work at a relentless pace in the studio,” continues Sherinian. “The music is modern, but we have an old-school soul. What is unique about SONS OF APOLLO is that we have true rock n’ roll swagger along with the virtuosity-- a lethal combination!”But what to call the next great supergroup? “Derek was mainly the one behind the name,” says Portnoy. “I have a list that I keep on my phone of about a hundred different band names, which I constantly have to refer to every time I have a new band every year (laughs). So I pulled up the list and Apollo was one of the names on the list. It was a word that both of us really liked. We started fiddling with different variations of the word. One of the original band names we were working with was Apollo Creed, the character from the Rocky movies, but after lots of different discussions on different variations, Derek suggested SONS OF APOLLO and it seemed to stick. Apollo is the god of music, so with that in mind it seemed like a fitting name.”With Portnoy, Sherinian and Sheehan having previously toured together in the aforementioned lineup that came to be known as PSMS, playing instrumental versions of various songs drawn from each member’s history, SONS OF APOLLO was the next logical step. They kept that fire burning and stoked it higher by bringing in a different guitarist, adding a vocalist, and creating all original material. The nine songs comprising Psychotic Symphony incorporate the progressive style and individual technical prowess Portnoy and Sherinian shared together in Dream Theater, combined with the swagger and groove of Van Halen, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin.“I have known Mike and Derek for a long time, so when they came to me with SONS OF APOLLO, I jumped on this straight away,” says Thomas Waber, Label Manager/A&R International of InsideOutMusic. “However, the album they ended up recording exceeded my already high expectations by a long mile! We couldn’t be happier about it!”SONS OF APOLLO will hit the road in 2018 for their first worldwide tour.“This is a real band,” Portnoy declares. “This is going to pick up for me and Billy where The Winery Dogs left off, in terms of this being the next logical full-time thing for us. I’m not saying The Winery Dogs have broken up, because we haven’t, we’re just on a break. SONS OF APOLLO is absolutely going to be a full-time band and we plan on touring all over the world throughout 2018 and, honestly, it is the priority for all five of us.”Sherinian agrees, “We will go on a worldwide crusade in 2018 to bring SONS OF APOLLO to as many people as possible. Apollo was the God of Music, and we are his mighty offspring!”SONS OF APOLLO ARE:Mike Portnoy – drums and vocalsDerek Sherinian – keyboardsBilly Sheehan – bassRon “Bumblefoot” Thal – guitar and vocalsJeff Scott Soto - vocals 
    $18.00
  • "If there is one band who has captured the sound of the golden age of Progressive Rock (1969 – 1975) without sounding regressive or copycat, it is the Norwegian band Wobbler. The band has always had an energetic and youthful approach to the classic prog era, and has managed to blow new life into the genre. Wobbler´s fifth offering is an exciting blend of carefully planned and jammed material that encompasses everything the band has done up to now. Dwellers of the Deep consists of four distinctive pieces and is a broad looking glass into Wobbler´s creative whims and playful exuberance. The album showcases the band´s mastery of dynamics and flow, with passages and themes veering from the scenic and serene to the downright rocking. On the final track, Wobbler is in full blast, with a 19 minutes suite taking the listener through aspects of the darker sides of Wobbler´s sound. The lyrical themes on the album deals with human emotion, and the ongoing struggle between juxtaposed forces within the psyche. An introspective voyage among the realms of memories, feelings and instincts, where the light is brighter, and the dark is darker. The concepts of wonder, longing and desperation permeates the histories told, and the currents from the deep are ever present. The production is open, detailed, warm and punchy, making the soundscape put together by the now seasoned sound alchemist Lars Fredrik Frøislie to an aural feast. New musical directions further the quintet’s burgeoning aural idiosyncrasies and solidify the band stature as one of the most exciting and interesting bands on the global music scene, independent of genre."TRACK LISTING:1. By the Banks2. Five Rooms3. Naiad Dreams4. Merry Macabre
    $15.00
  • ‘Arise’ gives the impression that the creative skills of Steve Babb have gone into overdrive, is there a better storyteller in modern progressive music?” - Progradar.comGlass Hammer shoots for the stars with the new concept album, “ARISE.” Set against the backdrop of deep space exploration, ARISE follows the extraordinary journey of an android dispatched by overzealous scientists to uncover the galaxy’s hidden wonders. The album’s lyrics, liner notes, and artwork convey a tale of cosmic dread and wonder that doesn’t begin with a big bang, but, according to Glass Hammer mastermind Steve Babb, “...definitely ends with one.”He’s joined by singer Hannah Pryor and guitarist Reese Boyd for Glass Hammer’s twenty-first studio album. “ARISE is my progressive-rock spin on space rock,” says Babb. “I’m still flirting with doom metal on a couple of songs, as we did on the last two albums, but there’s also psych-rock and even 80’s influence going on in the music. Even so, it’s very much a prog-rock album, just one that touches on other styles.”Babb goes on to make a bold claim. “We’ve always been big on finales,” he says. “But the final track on ARISE is like nothing we’ve done before. It’s an epic-length instrumental prog-rock jam meant to leave our fan’s jaws on the floor!”
    $13.00
  • Four years after their latest studio album, now finally "I Am The Storm" arrives - an intense slice of heavy music, evoking the presence of one's inner strength. Like a force of nature, every lover of sophisticated metal music with depth will fall in love with Englund's inspired vocals, the sheer power and exquisite arrangements.The masters of song-oriented progressive metal are back! Los Angeles- based band REDEMPTION, fronted by charismatic vocalist Tom S. Englund (also Evergrey) are one of the most respected and critically acclaimed bands, highly praised in prog- as well as melodic/power metal circles. Four years after their latest studio album, now finally "I Am The Storm" arrives - an intense slice of heavy music, evoking the presence of one's inner strength. Like a force of nature, every lover of sophisticated metal music with depth will fall in love with Englund's inspired vocals, the sheer power and exquisite arrangements. 
    $16.00
  • After a 10 year absence Enchant are back.  The band started in 1993 making them one of the earliest prog metal band.  Actually they are sort of an interesting band in that they seem to exist in both the prog rock and prog metal realms.  Some metal fans think of them as a bit lightweight and some prog rock fans think they are too heavy!  One thing is for sure they are wildly successful.  This is definitely prog but it never loses sight of the melody.  Fronted by the great Ted Leonard (who is now doing double duty with Spock's Beard) this one is a no-brainer - whether you are metal or prog head.  "irst impressions are the similarities to Spock’s Beard. Hardly surprising since Ted Leonard has been singing with them since 2011. He’s been with Enchant longer; their first CD came out in 1993. And familiarity doesn’t breed contempt here, fortunately.Bay area progressive rockers, they steer a straight course composing guitar-structured songs that they extemporise over. Guitarist Douglas A Ott is also the band’s main producer, with The Great Divide having been recorded at his own studio, but if in the past the band’s followed his direction they’re now more involved after a ten year gap working on other projects. Also, while integral, Ott doesn’t dominate Enchant’s sound but flows in and out adding a hard rock bias to their generic musical flavouring. Drummer/percussionist Sean Flanegan and bassist Ed Platt have the solidity of early Kansas and musically there are some pretty snazzy and often too brief keyboard solos from Bill Jenkins.A rolling cyclical bass line forms the basis of opening number ‘Circles’ with Leonard pondering life going round well, like a circle – while the lyrics aren’t profound they feel right and though this isn’t a concept album, despite the band stating otherwise, there are common themes concerning the human condition in a loosely existential manner. Mainly straight verse and choruses ‘Circles’ breaks out into more complicated time signatures before an acoustic comes to the fore, vocals return, an electric guitar take over and it concludes with a nicely warm keyboard solo. ‘Within An Inch’ follows with a steady rock backbeat over which Ott’s playing echoes Camel’s Andy Latimer interrupted briefly by some John Ellis punk-styled sirening. ‘The Great Divide’ follows suit in a more epic manner, the arrangement akin to Genesis in their golden period.Enchant don’t play with the fairies, despite what their name suggests. If anything they’re two steps removed from an AOR sound leaning in towards early Asia with some latter day Beatles thrown in, and a less grandiose take on Spock’s Beard. One might refer to them as technically proficient rather than emotionally overwrought, meaning there is a heartfelt flavour to their songs, and they tend to grow on you.The subdued opening to ‘Life In A Shadow’ throws a brief curveball echoing the Canterbury sound of Hatfield & The North before a heavy chorded chorus takes this into a rocking tune with soulful harmonies. ‘Deserve To Feel’ pours on the technical drumming and dribbling triplet bass figures with some flashy pyrotechnics predominantly on guitar but with keen keyboard flourishes, moving into a more intricate musical score as Jenkins and Ott trade inspired lines towards its conclusion. Likewise, ‘Here And Now’ builds reflectively moving towards emotional drama.Finely composed, played well, Enchant’s The Great Divide might not have you falling under its spell, but you may well be surprised how you find yourself being drawn to playing it." - The Midland Rocks
    $13.00
  • Ten years since the band first formed, 2017 will see Haken’s first two albums, ‘Aquarius’ & ‘Visions’, reissued through InsideOutMusic after being unavailable for a lengthy period of time. Remastered by the renowned Jens Bogren (Devin Townsend Project, Between The Buried & Me), who worked with the band on their last two studio albums ‘Affinity’ & ‘The Mountain’, this reissue sees the albums brought up to the sonic quality of their most recent output.Originally released back in 2010, the band’s debut album ‘Aquarius’ capitalised on 3 years of work from the band which saw them staking their claim as one of the most exciting new progressive metal bands, playing with the likes of King’s X, Riverside & Bigelf. A 72-minute concept record that touched on themes of global warming, this album has long held a place in their fans’ hearts & the lengthy 17-minute closing track ‘Celestial Elixir’ remains in their set lists now.Arriving just a year on from their debut, ‘Visions’ cemented the bands reputation as one of the most solid progressive metal bands of recent years, bringing them to the US on tour for the very first time in 2011. Another detailed concept album conjured in part from a dream that vocalist Ross Jennings experienced, ‘Visions’ captured the imaginations of both fans and critics alike. Haken have also announced that they will be revisiting the album in full, live at Prog Power USA in September 2017. 
    $14.00
  • We have a special offer Tiles "Pretending2Run" t-shirt/2 CD bundle.  The shirt design is courtesy of the illustrious Hugh Syme.  The new Tiles album is a 2CD set in a digipak with a 28 page book.After an eight year absence, T I L E S returns with a vengeance by delivering the mesmerizing 2-CD magnum opus “Pretending to Run.”  Clocking in at over 96-minutes, “Pretending to Run” is an ambitious and richly crafted song cycle spinning the tale of a man blindsided and disillusioned by betrayal.Once again, T I L E S teamed up with producer Terry Brown – and with mastering by Grammy award winning engineer Peter Moore, “Pretending to Run” boasts a powerful and detailed sonic landscape.  Complementing the dramatic and multi-layered storyline is Hugh Syme’s striking and surreal imagery.  Featuring a lush 28-page full-color booklet, the design and packaging for “Pretending to Run” is an elaborate and stunning work of art.Lending their talents to “Pretending to Run” is an extraordinary collection of special guest musicians: Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull), Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater, Winery Dogs), Adam Holzman (Steven Wilson Band), Mike Stern (Miles Davis), Kim Mitchell (Max Webster), Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree), Kevin Chown (Tarja Turunen, Chad Smith), Max Portnoy (Next to None), Matthew Parmenter (Discipline), Mark Mikel (Pillbugs), Joe Deninzon, and other notable guests from the Detroit area… Destined to be on the radar of Prog fans everywhere, “Pretending to Run” is a distinctive  presentation framed in the grand traditions of progressive rock.  Clearly and unmistakably T I L E S, but infused with a more expansive sound as the guest artists propel the band into new directions sure to please fans old and new.Special guest performances by:Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull)Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater, Winery Dogs)Adam Holzman (Miles Davis, Steven Wilson)Mike Stern (Miles Davis)Kim Mitchell (Max Webster)Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree)Kevin Chown (Tarja Turunen, Chad Smith)Max Portnoy (Next To None)Matthew Parmenter (Discipline)Mark Mikel (Pillbugs)Joe Deninzon (Stratospheerius)  
    $25.00
  • Swedish psychedelic/progressive rock alchemists AGUSA present their third full-length album simply titled Agusa.The follow-up to 2015’s Agusa 2 (Två ) sees the AGUSA circle expanding their kaleidoscopic output which conjures images of nature and the cosmos, their extensive passages again leading the listener into fantastic realms of a possibly supernatural or parallel existence. While Agusa 2 (Två) engulfed forty minutes of music through two massive tracks, Agusa sees the band delivering their singular brand of, trance-inducing, folk-inspired, occult rock through more traditional track lengths, offering five songs which range from five to ten-and-a-half minutes in length and are a bit heavier than the album’s predecessors.Agusa was recorded and mixed by Viktor Rinneby and mastered by Grammy-winning engineer Bob Katz, and completed with art by Danilo Stankovic and design by Peter Wallgren.In September 2016 AGUSA released their live disc Katarsis, which had been recorded in Athens, Greece six months before. Following that release the band had hectic schedule with gigs in Scandinavia, Poland, and back to Greece. This proved to be too much for organ player Jonas Berge who left the band in January 2017, while recording the new Agusa album, which caused the band to take a pause in order to complete the album and replace Berge. Finding a talented organ player who would also fit into the group proved to be a difficult task, but finally Danish organ player Jeppe Juul was picked as Berge's successor. Juul is originally from Denmark but now lives in the deep woods of southern Sweden in primitive circumstances, where they must carry all water from a nearby well and occasionally get some electricity from some solar cells on the roof. He has previously played with many acts in different genres; Marcus Miller, Royal Danish Ballet, and Lili Haydn, among many others.AGUSA has performed live throughout Europe, including the mighty Roadburn Festival and more. Preceding the new Agusa album, flute player Jenny Puertas gave birth to a daughter in May which saw the band performing sans-flute for several shows, and additionally, organist Jonas Berge rejoined the lineup for several performances, which saw them playing live with two organ players. As always, AGUSA performed vastly different versions of the new songs live compared to how they ended up on the album, continuing their ongoing mission of turning every concert into something unique.
    $15.00
  • So here's an album that I suspect would be seated on many 2023 Top 10 lists were it not for the fact it was released in the final days of the year.Ten years in the making is the second album from Philadelphia area prog band The Twenty Committee.  The band is led by keyboardist Geoffrey Langley who has been a member of Renaissance for quite some time.  In fact I was tipped to the band by previous Renaissance (and Camel) keyboardist Jason Hart who is a friend of Geoffrey.  I'm glad he did.  This is a futuristic conceptual work - you don't get more prog than that.  Langley's keyboard work is on display and he's an obvious talent but that doesn't overshadow the skills of the rest of the band.  Plenty of nice soulful guitarwork that adds an edge where needed in parts of the album.  The 13 minute title track features a welcome guest appearance from none other than Annie Haslam!  Its probably the heaviest song Queen Annie has ever sung on and it works perfectly.  Here and there the album reminds me of Echolyn but with a more overt prog side, particularly when Langley shows some flashy keyboard work. I suspect there repeated listens with reveal more intricacies.  I'm up to the challenge.  BUY OR DIE!“It is one of the most impressive debut albums I have ever heard and I can see why it found a place on many of the ‘best of’ lists of 2013. It is in turns inspiring, moving and uplifting and will stay with you for a long time to come. It left me wanting more and that happens on fewer and fewer occasions nowadays.”That was my conclusion (when writing for Lady Obscure Music Magazine) of the debut album, ‘A LifeBlood Psalm’, from New Jersey, USA residents The Twenty Committee. That album was released ten years ago and it is only now that they are releasing ‘The Cycle Undone’, the band’s sophomore release and I am so happy that this talented bunch of musicians (with a couple of changes) are back on the scene, and back with an almighty bang!The band’s current line up consists of Geoffrey Langley on lead vocals, keyboards, synthesizers, and organ, Justin Carlton on background vocals, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and additional keyboards, Joe Henderson on background vocals, drums, and percussion, Jeff Bishop on lead guitar and background vocals and Richmond Carlton on bass, harp, and background vocals. We also have Laura Langley guesting on autoharp and the legendary Annie Haslam of Renaissance dueting on lead vocals on the album’s title track.Way back in 2015 I was chatting with Geoffrey about the prospect of album number two and he told me this, “We’re working as quickly as possible. I think I’ve told you before that I also do a lot of work in the musical theater world. We had our first Twenty Committee practice since January today. No Broadway yet but I’m getting close. Anyway, this puts the band on hold. All I can tell you is there will be another album and everyone that’s heard the new stuff say it sounds like a modern version of “Power and the Glory”. Hope that gets you pumped for album number two.” So, eight years later that promise has finally arrived.According to the band, the album is ‘a sci-fi dystopian tale of sentient robots, flawed humans, out-of-control technology, morality, and how those four things reconcile each other.’ To be honest, after quite a few listens, it’s the music and the heart and soul of this record that really resonates with me.The album opens with the epic twelve minutes of Recodified, a song whose opening reminds me of the fantastic prog/jazz fusion of Snarky Puppy but delivered in The Twenty Committee’s signature cultured style. I just get the feeling that the band had a blast while writing and performing this track. Geoffrey’s intricate keyboards and the effortlessly cool bass and drums of Richmond and Joe blend together perfectly while Jeff and Justin’s fizzing flashes of guitar add real panache, this intro really had me buzzing from the off. The track then opens up into definitive The Twenty Committee territory with Geoffrey’s gorgeous vocals flowing over the uber-smooth keyboards, chiming guitars and elegant rhythm section, it’s just gloriously textured and as polished as you like. Sparks In The Mind does a good job of following the opening masterpiece and is high energy, upbeat and shines with a vitality that positively lights up the place. There’s strong hints of early Ben Folds Five to my ears although the great vocals really do shine here. Now let’s get into Embers, a wistful, almost mournful piece of music that has beauty deep in its soul. Geoff’s vocals are sublime and full of passion and longing and the music just seems to add a plaintive and melancholy edge. The guitar bleeds emotion and a powerful yearning and just sends a shiver down my spine, what a superb piece of music it is. A Star in The Eye carries on the reflective, wishful feel and starts quite gently with the subdued vocals and restrained delivery of the music. There’s longing and hunger in the powerful chorus but this graceful song is calm serenity personified. It’s on tracks like this that you really appreciate the skill of the musicians, they are all particularly wonderful but Geoffrey’s keyboards can really stand out at times.Forevermore is a musical delight, the intricate play between the guitar and keyboards is genius and the whole band are at the top of their game. Calm, reflective vocals give the foundation for what is almost a piece of musical theatre. Deeply thoughtful and introspective yet with a brooding intensity waiting to break out, a hidden intelligence almost. Sometimes you have to just stop and listen to the music and that’s what this song, and album is all about. The second epic on the album, and title track, The Cycle Undone is truly majestic, a prog epic in the best sense of the word. Intricate sections, calm, reflective moods, resplendent overtures, virtuoso musicianship and incredible vocals, this track has it all. The tastefully muted opening feels mystical and magical at the same time, building the story for the listener and holding you rapt in attention. A soulful guitar then takes up the refrain, soaring and diving with an emotive edge before Annie Haslam adds a brief touch of class. A brilliant Lenny Kravitz style guitar riff then lights a fire under the song and we are off on a 70’s rock style musical journey aided and abetted by some wonderful keyboards. Then Annie really gets to strut her stuff and deliver a superb vocal performance, duetting supremely with Geoffrey, as guest appearances go, they don’t get much better than this. Robot Death is all that’s great about The Twenty Committee distilled into six and half minutes of musical wonder. A calming piano and touching vocal really touch the heart strings before the stylish guitar and rhythm section add their skillful touch. This sumptuous song then plays out to the sounds of some pretty fantastic guitar playing, quite a compelling statement indeed. The album then closes with the delicate piano led Dust Returned, a contemplative sixty-four seconds to finish off this amazing musical performance.With ‘The Cycle Undone’ The Twenty Committee have not only returned triumphant, they have also delivered one of THE musical experiences of 2023. Highly emotive songwriting allied with musicianship of the utmost quality, the band’s sophomore release builds on the enormous promise of their debut all those years ago. It may be ten years after but, boy, what a way to make a comeback!" - ProgRadar[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"23839","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image"}}]] 
    $12.00
  • "Clive Nolan and his Neo-hard rocking companions return for the eighth Arena album in twenty years, `The Unquiet Sky', taking inspiration from (without being a direct interpretation of) M.R James' short story `Casting the Runes'. It's easy to see why the ghostly tale of supernatural intrigue and occult mystery from 1911 would appeal to Mr Nolan, and the album reveals plenty of the sleek and heavy symphonic rock with poetic lyrics that the British band is known for. The previous disc `The Seventh Degree of Separation' was a divisive and somewhat controversial release for a new line-up of the group that now included vocalist Paul Manzi, a transitional album that saw them adopting a more streamlined hard rock/metal sound. But long-time fans of the group will be pleased to know that, while there are still similarities to that previous album here and there, the much-loved symphonic atmospheres the band was known for are given more focus again, meaning a better balance of these two qualities together to create a truly sublime Arena work.Some of the twelve tracks on offer still retain a hard-rock flavour, but everything an Arena fan could hope to discover is all present and accounted for here. After a more low-key performance on the previous album, virtuoso keyboardist/composer Clive Nolan is center stage again over the entire disc. Not only are his exquisite synths constant and upfront, but the artist has also implemented plenty of theatrical and orchestral symphonic textures into the group this time around, his recent work with the `Alchemy' musical being obvious right from the start, and these theatrical flourishes are a perfect fit for the group. Vocalist Manzi made a promising and reliable debut as singer for the group on `...Separation', but here he lifts his game considerably and offers endless more vocal variety. Better worked into the group, he is equally at home with heartfelt ballads, theatre flair and chest-beating rockers, and he has really become a perfect frontman for the band. Kylan Amos from Nolan's own `Alchemy' production replaces bass player and IQ member John Jowitt and makes an impressive debut here, ex-Marillion drummer perfectly drives the music forwards and It Bites/Kino/Lonely Robot guitarist John Mitchell delivers his usual tasteful and commanding guitar flair.Of several of the highlights, listen out for the gleefully wicked and wondrous orchestral pomp that opens the album that could easily be an outtake from Mr Nolan's `Alchemy' show, the infernal and overwhelming church organ intimidation of `The Demon Strikes' and especially the shimmering dark reggae (yes, really!) chimes and sleek electronics of the thrashing `No Chance Encounter', where Kylan's bass really glides. `The Bishop of Lufford' perfectly mixes ghostly gothic mystery with soaring symphonic prog and muscular hard rock (and wait for that hair-tearing heavy finale!). `Oblivious to the Night' is a fragile little piano interlude with whimsical synths and a thoughtful vocal, `Markings on a Parchment' is an eerie dream-like introspective instrumental, and Mitchell's extended guitar solo in the classy title track even brings to mind Nolan's other band Pendragon.Cascading classical piano spirals with snarling brooding guitars in `What Happened Before', and Clive delivers an overload of delirious synth soloing goodness on both `Time is Running Out' and `Returning the Curse' in the best Nolan tradition that his fans always love to hear! `Unexpected Dawn' is a strong ballad with warm Hammond organ and soothing acoustic guitar, and the ambitious seven minute closer `Traveller Beware' finds time for plenty of ghostly gothic tension, punchy plodding heavy riffs, creeping piano and a stirring repeated chorus with a dark lyric.But special mention has to go to glorious power balled entitled `How Did It Come To This?'. It's a glorious emotional tune with a sombre piano melody, delicate orchestration and dreamy lyrics, carried by a perfectly controlled yet soaring vocal from Manzi. A restrained unfolding guitar solo from Mitchell in the middle ensures it may be one of the truly most heartfelt pieces ever to appear on an Arena album, and it's certainly one of their most purely romantic musical statements to date.Along with typically fascinating and surreal proggy cover artwork and a lavish CD booklet (but what a shame there doesn't seem to be a vinyl version in the works so far), `The Unquiet Sky' is one of the most lavish, sophisticated and varied Arena albums to date, and certainly one of their most endlessly melodic. It's a fine return to form for the Neo prog institution, and it really shows what this latest line-up is capable of, so hopefully even more impressive music is to come from the mighty Arena!" - ProgArchives
    $17.00
  • Virtuoso keyboardist Vivien Lalu has created a new progressive metal epic featuring an all star cast:Band [A-Z]---Martin LeMar (Mekong Delta) - VocalsMike LePond (SymphonyX) - BassSimone Mularoni (DGM) - GuitarsVirgil Donati (PlanetX)- DrumsVivien Lalu (Shadrane) - KeyboardsGuests [A-Z]---Jens Johansson (Stratovarius)Joop Wolters (Shadrane)Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater)Marco Sfogli (James LaBrie)Mike Andersson (Cloudscape, Fullforce)Peter Wildoer (Darkane, James LaBrie)Born of Noelle and Michel Lalu, musicians from the ‘70s French progressive act Polene, Vivien Lalu has released a surplus of recordings through an array of different bands and projects since 1997, as the keyboard player for underground black/doom band Time For A Change. At the turn of the millennium Lalu played keys for two underground progressive metal bands from Paris, Sad Warden and then Mind’s Orchard, and in 2002 was hired by Hubi Meisel (ex-Dreamscape vocalist) to compose and record the keys for his solo album EmOcean, the following year doing the same for Meisel’s sophomore album Kailash, both of which were released by Lion Music.It was at this time Vivien Lalu begins recruiting his own associates from major prog and metal bands — some of which he shares time composing music alongside in progressive metal act Shadrane — and forms his own solo project, LALU. The first full-length Oniric Metal was released on Lion Music in 2005 and began an entirely new chapter for this composer and his insatiable need to create mind-expanding, cinematic music.These accomplishments helped Lalu to begin securing score and soundtrack work for film and television; over the last few years he’s written many cues for the orchestral soundtrack for the Warner Bros movie Seuls Two, for the show Science X made in association with Lucasfilm Ltd. Additionally he joined the production team behind Laszlo Jones in order to assist the recordings and production of Banana Nation (Universal Music Group). He’s composed many soundtracks for French television, music and sound effects for Neko Entertainment, worked as a sound designer for Ubisoft Entertainment and much more.After collaborating with Shadow Gallery for a song on their Digital Ghosts album, and working with Canadian drummer Chris Nalbandian for his Paralysis of Analysis solo album — recording all keys and sharing solos with Derek Sherinian and Alex Argento — Vivien finally settled in and began work on the second LALU opus. Handling all composition and songwriting duties, as well as all keyboards on the massive production, Vivien weaved the cloth of the new album with vocalist Martin LeMar (Mekong Delta), bassist Mike LePond (SymphonyX), guitarist Simone Mularoni (DGM), drummer Virgil Donati (PlanetX), the album’s parts recorded in several countries including the United States (Los Angeles and New York), Germany and Italy, produced by Lalu in his own studio, and mixed at Boumbox Studio in Paris by Yan Memmi (Dio’s Lock Up The Wolves, Marcus Miller’s The Sun Don’t Lie, etc.). Additional contributions from Jens Johansson (Stratovarius), Joop Wolters (Shadrane), Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater), Marco Sfogli (James LaBrie), Mike Andersson (Cloudscape) and Peter Wildoer (James LaBrie) were also carefully built into the album, the final product boasting over fifty minutes of exceptional, massive  cinematic, atmospheric metal Lalu has dubbed, Atomic Ark. 
    $5.00