by Blake | Mar 31, 2017 | Prog Report
Big Big Train are getting ready for the release of their new album entitled Grimspound on April 28th, 2017. The collection which was originally meant as a companion EP to their 2016 release Folklore evolved into a full album. Now comes the first song to be released for the track “As the Crow Flies”, the video made by Johan Reitsma.
“As the Crow Flies” is a song about the succession of moments of letting go, as children grow to adults and prepare to set their own course in life.
Check it out below.
Pre-orders of the album are now available at our official stores at:
Burning Shed (for vinyl and CD’s)
https://www.burningshed.com/store/bigbigtrain/
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Source:: Prog Report
by Blake | Mar 30, 2017 | Prog Report
Mike Portnoy is gearing for a run of shows with Mike Portnoy’s Shattered Fortress in Europe. Now comes the announcement of the ONLY US headlining show at Irving Plaza in NEW YORK CITY on Sept 24th with Special Guests Next To None.
The other US show will be at Prog Power Festival in Atlanta and that is sold out.
Tickets will go on sale TODAY at 12 Noon EST http://www1.ticketmaster.com/event/0000527CE2FF252F
Password Only! Must Use the Password FORTRESS to purchase tickets
The Shattered Fortress premiered on Cruise to the Edge and features Eric Gillette and member of Haken playing Portnoy’s 12-step suite he composed with Dream Theater.
The post Mike Portnoy announces final US date for The Shattered Fortress appeared first on The Prog Report.
Source:: Prog Report
by Blake | Mar 30, 2017 | Prog Report
Anathema are premiering the first track from their forthcoming new studio album The Optimist entitled “Springfield”.
Daniel Cavanagh explains the song choice “Here we present the song ‘Springfield’, it’s actually the song that closed our unforgettable Wembley gig with Opeth and it seemed to be a track that just fell into place without much effort. It seemed to do itself. The song forms part of a narrative that runs through The Optimist album, it’s a narrative that begins where A Fine Day To Exit left off. The album is a journey. The songs are ambiguous. There is no right or wrong way to take them. Make of them what you will.”
Anathema’s eleventh full-length The Optimist is due for release on 9th June through Kscope, where the ambient rockers will reveal some of the darkest, most challenging and unexpected music the sextet have put their name to.
Anathema, led by brothers Daniel and Vincent Cavanagh, along with drummer John Douglas, singer Lee Douglas, bassist Jamie Cavanagh and drummer/keyboardist Daniel Cardoso began recording The Optimist in the winter of 2016 at Attica Audio in Donegal, Ireland and then finished at Castle Of Doom studios in Glasgow with producer Tony Doogan [Mogwai, Belle & Sebastian, Super Furry Animals] at the helm and was mastered at the legendary Abbey Road Studios.
1. 32.63N 117.14W
2. Leaving It Behind
3. Endless Ways
4. The Optimist
5. San Francisco
6. Springfield
7. Ghosts
8. Can’t Let Go
9. Close Your Eyes
10. Wildfires
11. Back To The Start
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by Blake | Mar 29, 2017 | Prog Report
Aviv Geffen, the Israeli singer/songwriter as one half of the rock duo Blackfield with British musician and producer Steven Wilson, is taking the band’s newest studio album V on an anticipated 10-date European tour in May 2017. Having recently performed with and hosted British Indie artist Jake Bugg in Tel Aviv and with fan requests for more live dates following his support for Biffy Clyro in February, Aviv will be heading on his first headline tour since the release of V.
Sat May 20 – FR – Paris La Boule Noire
Sun May 21 – BE – Brussels La Madeleine
Tue May 23 – UK – Birmingham Institute 2
Wed May 24 – UK – Glasgow Oran Mor
Thu May 25 – UK – Manchester O2 Ritz
Fri May 26 – UK – London Islington Assembly Hall
Sun May 28 – DE – Hamburg Knust
Mon May 29 – DE – Colgone Luxor
Tue May 30 – DE – Berlin Musik and Frieden
Tickets on general sale from Wednesday March 29th – for details www.facebook.com/blackfieldhq
Blackfield recently announced two new music videos, created by long time collaborator Lasse Hoile (www.lassehoile.com), for the Wilson-penned “From 44 to 48” and for “Lonely Soul”.
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by Blake | Mar 29, 2017 | Prog Report
Review by Joel Barrios
Cosmosquad is not a name that will ring a bell for many, being one of the reasons for the 10 year gap between their previous discographic effort “Acid Test” and their new album “The Morbid Tango”. If you are familiar with the band’s catalog, then do yourself a favor and buy the album right now. On the other hand, if you are hearing about them for the first time by reading this review, don’t be shy and keep on.
The L.A. based musical collective led by veteran guitarist Jeff Kollman (Bombastic Meatbats, Glenn Hughes, Mogg/Way) on guitar, Shane Gaalaas (B’z, Diesel Machine, MSG) on drums, and Kevin Chown (Tarja, Bombastic Meatbats, Paul Gilbert) on bass have been around for quite some time, specifically since 1997 when Jeff, Shane and Barry Sparks formed the band after some serious jams at a rehearsal studio in Phoenix, Arizona. With three studio albums and a live record under their belt, Cosmosquad have been one of L.A.’s best kept secrets, yet with a dedicated following spanning all four corners of the globe. To define what genre their music moves into, I’d say “jazz rock”, however tagging them like that will let you wonder whether their stock in trade is a total jazz take on rock songs like Alex Skolnick Trio, a smooth laid back combination of jazz grooves with a generous serving of blues like Endangered Species, or a guitar soloing over a metal chug riff like Derek Sherinian’s solo albums.
Fortunately, the Cosmosquad’s sound veers away from the common clichés of an overpopulated genre, and manages to melt together a vast amalgam of sounds and eclectic melodies, serving them in an organic and smoking tight package. After a horrible wait of 10 years (yes, I keep ranting about it!) “The Morbid Tango” arrives to my collection and doing so it reveals one simple fact: time has done nothing but add a slightly more metallic edge to the same killer combination they are known for: equal parts of fusion, funk, infectious and melodic riffs, intense bass lines, and impossible drumming patterns; all of them generously sprinkled with heavy footed chops and over the top musicianship; resulting in energetic, complex and melodic instrumental music, impeccably executed.
If you have never heard of Jeff Kollman, you might want to pay attention at his playing on this record. From early Van Halen-ish riffing to Hendrix fueled bends, Kollman finds a way to just own each track, the Moroccan Tango licks paired with the Flamenco guitar in the title track are pure elegance, and his guitar tone is amazingly diverse throughout the 11 songs. However, his partners in crime are all for it, playing their asses off musically. Shane Gaalaas is a true drumming machine, following his drum fill could leave you jaw-dropped; and the uber-talented Kevin Chown lays down powerful and bonding bass chords wrapping the band’s sound effortlessly.
“The Morbid Tango” is a musical concept, the story of the circle and meaning of life itself, from birth through the journeys of youth, love and loss, wisdom and how we all ascend through death’s door. It was conceived and recorded at Crumb West Studios in Simi Valley, CA, produced by the tandem of Shane Gaalaas and Jeff Kollman, and mixed by Gaalaas, with guest contributions coming from top L.A. session musicians Jeff Babko on keyboards, David Collier on percussion, and Jono Brown providing strings.
A well-balanced combination between old-school, raw, organic, and modern production electronica, this record demonstrates these guys have found a great recipe to keep the listener interested and curious as to what will happen next. ‘The Morbid Tango’ is a true team effort more than the spotlight being on any player; a musical and visual adventure, told in vivid sonic colors, viciously visceral one moment, fragile and intimate the next. A defiant statement against the laws of virtuosic musicianship, songwriting and all other sorts of tomfoolery; and a true example of how gorgeous melodic composition can meet farfetched playing.
Highly recommended for any metal fusion or progressive metal fan, as well as for jazz-fusion lovers (who aren’t afraid of some heavy moments in music) this is a tremendous record from head to toe and a candidate for one of the best metal fusion albums of the year. Simply put: Cosmosquad rules, and if their music doesn’t move you, I certainly don’t know what will.
Released on Jan 14, 2017
Cosmosquad are:
Jeff Kollman / guitars
Shane Gaalaas / drums
Kevin Chown / bass
With:
Jeff Babko / keyboards
David Collier / percussion
Jono Brown / strings
Track Listing:
1. Morbid Tango
2. Cyclops
3. The Ballad of Rick James
4. Anatomy of A Beatdown
5. Recollection Epilogue
6. Always Remember the Love
7. The Crosses
8. Still Life
9. Sangfroid
10. Beyond Death’s Door
11. Beyond Death’s Door Reprise
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Source:: Prog Report
