Mark Monforti, Author at PROGROCK.COM

Mark’s Quick Reviews: Обійми Дощу’s – Сон

by Mark Monforti | Jan 21, 2018 | News, Reviews

If you have never read the key for my ratings below please do so one time. I feel my ratings are tougher than my peers. Also Check my last.fm link to see how compatible our music tasts are.

This FREE album is really remarkable. One of the best submissions I have received all year. 8 years in the making with 15 musicians including a string quartet, and mixed by Bruce Soord.

Songs from the album tell a story about the struggle and difficulties a person faces in a modern urban, globalized world, a journey from the lowest point of fall to a free flight, from death to rebirth.

For fans of Phideaux and Decemberists.

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(0.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(3.5 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(2.0 / 5)
MELODIC:	(3.5 / 5)
ARTWORK:	(4.5 / 5)
DRAMA:	(4.0 / 5)
OVERALL RATING:	(4.0 / 5)

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS: Request Razom Here

Click Below to purchase at Amazon US or Amazon UK and we’ll get a little referral bonus on your whole order. Even if you don’t order this album

Key:
These ratings are just attributes and may not have correlation to the most important: OVERALL RATING

PREVIOUS BAND RATING
0: Never heard of them or debut album.
1: Someone recommended. I give them another shot.
2: Some good moments in the past but never put together an album I really liked.
3: Some 4 or 5 star songs but albums can be hit or miss for me.
4: I like 80% of their songs and probably went to see them live.
5: I would, and probably have gone on a plane to see them live.

ACCESSIBILITY EXAMPLES
1: Weather Report
2: Zappa
3: Genesis – Selling England by the Pound,
4: Marillion – F.E.A.R
5: Kino – Picture

HEAVINESS EXAMPLES
1: IQ – Seventh House
2: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
5: Opeth – Black Water Park

MELODIC EXAMPLES:
1: Opeth – Black Water Park
2: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
5: IQ – Seventh House

OVERALL RATING:
1: Will Never listen to again and deleted under no circumstances should you buy this
2: Not my thing maybe one redeeming song.
3: I like parts of this and I would check them out if they were near me.
4: I would get in the car and road trip to see this album live
5: I would get on a plane to see this performed live

See if our likes are similar See my Last.fm Page

https://www.last.fm/user/mon40/library/artists

Mark’s Quick Review: Galahad’s – The Seas of Change

by Mark Monforti | Jan 20, 2018 | News, Reviews

If you have never read the key for my ratings below please do so one time. I feel my ratings are tougher than my peers. Also Check my last.fm link to see how compatible our music tasts are.

So here we are with an album with one 42 minutes song. Not sure if it’s been done or not before but its the first album I have come across. There is a live Dream Theater album with one album tracked as only one song, but that’s the closest I know.

‘Seas of Change’ features just the five main Galahad members plus long-term honorary member Sarah Bolter who makes an appearance on flute, clarinet and soprano sax.

Well, as you can see by my ratings that I really liked Galahad prior to this so does it affect my opinion of this album. Are my ratings influenced by the Halo Effect?

Well, maybe they are as I absolutely love this album. The track is a great ride with plenty of changes. Heavy guitars some very subtle electronica, which in my mind is their trademark sound. Run don’t walk and pick up this album.

You may want to think twice about getting a vinyl version as it breaks the song in two

Track listing:

LP (Black/Turquoise/Picture Disc)

Seas of Change – Part One (20:57)

Seas of Change – Part Two (21:54)

Digipak CD

Seas of Change (42:43)

Dust (Extended Edit) (5.57)

Smoke (Extended Edit) (7.14)

Download

Seas of Change (42:43)

Dust (Extended Edit) (5.57)

Smoke (Extended Edit) (7.14)

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(5.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(3.5 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(3.5 / 5)
MELODIC:	(3.5 / 5)
ARTWORK & PACKAGING:	(5.0 / 5)
DRAMA:	(5.0 / 5)
OVERALL RATING:	(5.0 / 5)

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS: Request Dust Here
Request Smoke Here

Click Below to purchase at Amazon US or Amazon UK and we’ll get a little referral bonus on your whole order. Even if you don’t order this album

Key:
These ratings are just attributes and may not have correlation to the most important: OVERALL RATING

PREVIOUS BAND RATING
0: Never heard of them or debut album.
1: Someone recommended. I give them another shot.
2: Some good moments in the past but never put together an album I really liked.
3: Some 4 or 5 star songs but albums can be hit or miss for me.
4: I like 80% of their songs and probably went to see them live.
5: I would, and probably have gone on a plane to see them live.

ACCESSIBILITY EXAMPLES
1: Weather Report
2: Zappa
3: Genesis – Selling England by the Pound,
4: Marillion – F.E.A.R
5: Kino – Picture

HEAVINESS EXAMPLES
1: IQ – Seventh House
2: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
5: Opeth – Black Water Park

MELODIC EXAMPLES:
1: Opeth – Black Water Park
2: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
5: IQ – Seventh House

OVERALL RATING:
1: Will Never listen to again and deleted under no circumstances should you buy this
2: Not my thing maybe one redeeming song.
3: I like parts of this and I would check them out if they were near me.
4: I would get in the car and road trip to see this album live
5: I would get on a plane to see this performed live

See if our likes are similar See my Last.fm Page

https://www.last.fm/user/mon40/library/artists

Mark’s Quick Review: Village in the Valley’s – Old Stories

by Mark Monforti | Jan 19, 2018 | News, Reviews

If you have never read the key for my ratings below please do so one time. I feel my ratings are tougher than my peers. Also Check my last.fm link to see how compatible our music tasts are.

This album started out promising and the subject matter is pretty interesting. A whole production of small tragic stories that appeared in a little fictional village in a valley, and Nightrider was the song that would start and spread (according to the tale) evil across the village.

The third track about a Step father raping his step daughter who becomes pregnant and later commits suicide is pretty depressing so it better be a really kick ass song. But this is a real burden to get through. The melody just goes on and on the syncopation of the lyrics seem odd and forced. The songs tempo is way to slow and well the singer seems to be having trouble holding the notes.

To make matters worse Magic Playground actually might be an Ayreon Song called The Castle Hall.

I have to say take a pass on this album and better luck next time. I really think you have it in you to make a good album but this is not it.

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(4.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(3.0 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(2.0 / 5)
MELODIC:	(3.5 / 5)
ARTWORK & PACKAGING:	(4.0 / 5)
DRAMA:	(4.0 / 5)
OVERALL RATING:	(4.0 / 5)

Key:
These ratings are just attributes and may not have correlation to the most important: OVERALL RATING

PREVIOUS BAND RATING
0: Never heard of them or debut album.
1: Someone recommended. I give them another shot.
2: Some good moments in the past but never put together an album I really liked.
3: Some 4 or 5 star songs but albums can be hit or miss for me.
4: I like 80% of their songs and probably went to see them live.
5: I would, and probably have gone on a plane to see them live.

ACCESSIBILITY EXAMPLES
1: Weather Report
2: Zappa
3: Genesis – Selling England by the Pound,
4: Marillion – F.E.A.R
5: Kino – Picture

HEAVINESS EXAMPLES
1: IQ – Seventh House
2: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
5: Opeth – Black Water Park

MELODIC EXAMPLES:
1: Opeth – Black Water Park
2: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
5: IQ – Seventh House

OVERALL RATING:
1: Will Never listen to again and deleted under no circumstances should you buy this
2: Not my thing maybe one redeeming song.
3: I like parts of this and I would check them out if they were near me.
4: I would get in the car and road trip to see this album live
5: I would get on a plane to see this performed live

See if our likes are similar See my Last.fm Page

https://www.last.fm/user/mon40/library/artists

Mark’s Quick Review: Greg Lake’s – Live in Piacenza

by Mark Monforti | Jan 18, 2018 | News, Reviews

If you have never read the key for my ratings below please do so one time. I feel my ratings are tougher than my peers. Also Check my last.fm link to see how compatible our music tasts are.

The sad thing for me is the only time I saw Greg Lake play was in Ringo Starr’s All Star band. This concert recorded in Italy back in 2012. Hearing this album just makes that a more sad fact.

This is an extremely well recorded and well executed live disk. Greg’s voice albeit different after 40 years is powerful and emotional.

Lake was joined for “Lucky Man” by a trio of respected Italian prog-rock musicians — Aldo Tagliapietra, Bernardo Lanzetti (PFM,Mangala Vallis), and Annie Barbazza.

Now I typically don’t listen to live albums let alone review them but this is an exceptional album with exceptional songs. Do you have trouble getting prog to the speakers because your friends or family do not like it? Well here is the album that everyone will love.

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(4.5 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(4.0 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(1.5 / 5)
MELODIC:	(4.5 / 5)
ARTWORK & PACKAGING:	(4.5 / 5)
DRAMA:	(4.0 / 5)
OVERALL RATING:	(5.0 / 5)

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS: Request Greg Lake Here

Click Below to purchase at Amazon US or Amazon UK and we’ll get a little referral bonus on your whole order. Even if you don’t order this album

Key:
These ratings are just attributes and may not have correlation to the most important: OVERALL RATING

PREVIOUS BAND RATING
0: Never heard of them or debut album.
1: Someone recommended. I give them another shot.
2: Some good moments in the past but never put together an album I really liked.
3: Some 4 or 5 star songs but albums can be hit or miss for me.
4: I like 80% of their songs and probably went to see them live.
5: I would, and probably have gone on a plane to see them live.

ACCESSIBILITY EXAMPLES
1: Weather Report
2: Zappa
3: Genesis – Selling England by the Pound,
4: Marillion – F.E.A.R
5: Kino – Picture

HEAVINESS EXAMPLES
1: IQ – Seventh House
2: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
5: Opeth – Black Water Park

MELODIC EXAMPLES:
1: Opeth – Black Water Park
2: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
5: IQ – Seventh House

OVERALL RATING:
1: Will Never listen to again and deleted under no circumstances should you buy this
2: Not my thing maybe one redeeming song.
3: I like parts of this and I would check them out if they were near me.
4: I would get in the car and road trip to see this album live
5: I would get on a plane to see this performed live

See if our likes are similar See my Last.fm Page

https://www.last.fm/user/mon40/library/artists

Mark’s Quick Review: Organized Chaos’ – Divulgence

by Mark Monforti | Jan 17, 2018 | News, Reviews

If you have never read the key for my ratings below please do so one time. I feel my ratings are tougher than my peers. Also Check my last.fm link to see how compatible our music tasts are.

This Belgrade-based progressive metal band has found some magic with this release. In part to Lalić’s vocals who vocals who I find to be as pleasing as Mariusz Duda’s vocals.

Cinnamon which is the strongest track on this album has some of the most interesting changes I have heard all year and a very epic ending.

Haken’s Richard Henshall does a wonderful job on Broken Divine. Opera singer Branislava Podrumac guests on The Mask which is wonderful as well.

This is for any fan of progressive melodic metal such as riverside, haken and porcupine tree.

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(0.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(4.0 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(4.0 / 5)
MELODIC:	(3.0 / 5)
ARTWORK:	(4.0 / 5)
DRAMA:	(4.0 / 5)
OVERALL RATING:	(4.0 / 5)

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS: Request Cinnamon Here
Request Broken Divine Here

Click Below to purchase at Amazon US or Amazon UK and we’ll get a little referral bonus on your whole order. Even if you don’t order this album

Key:
These ratings are just attributes and may not have correlation to the most important: OVERALL RATING

PREVIOUS BAND RATING
0: Never heard of them or debut album.
1: Someone recommended. I give them another shot.
2: Some good moments in the past but never put together an album I really liked.
3: Some 4 or 5 star songs but albums can be hit or miss for me.
4: I like 80% of their songs and probably went to see them live.
5: I would, and probably have gone on a plane to see them live.

ACCESSIBILITY EXAMPLES
1: Weather Report
2: Zappa
3: Genesis – Selling England by the Pound,
4: Marillion – F.E.A.R
5: Kino – Picture

HEAVINESS EXAMPLES
1: IQ – Seventh House
2: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
5: Opeth – Black Water Park

MELODIC EXAMPLES:
1: Opeth – Black Water Park
2: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
5: IQ – Seventh House

OVERALL RATING:
1: Will Never listen to again and deleted under no circumstances should you buy this
2: Not my thing maybe one redeeming song.
3: I like parts of this and I would check them out if they were near me.
4: I would get in the car and road trip to see this album live
5: I would get on a plane to see this performed live

See if our likes are similar See my Last.fm Page

https://www.last.fm/user/mon40/library/artists

Mark’s Quick Reviews: Обійми Дощу’s – Сон

Mark’s Quick Review: Galahad’s – The Seas of Change

Mark’s Quick Review: Village in the Valley’s – Old Stories

Mark’s Quick Review: Greg Lake’s – Live in Piacenza

Mark’s Quick Review: Organized Chaos’ – Divulgence

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