Mark Monforti, Author at PROGROCK.COM

Mark’s Quick Review: Phideaux’s – Doomsday Afternoon

by Mark Monforti | Jul 26, 2017 | News, Reviews

So back when this came out I had never heard of the band. I heard it on the Wednesday night show about Interstellar Overdrive back in 2007. My wife and I both where amazed at the album. It became a staple of our show which was called Sounds of Muzak back then.

Valerie Gracious does a great job for the female lead vocals, Matthew Parmenter of Discipline. plays violin on this album the orchestra for Microdeath Softstar is amazing.

This really is progressive rock at its pinnacle. Thanks to amazing song writing skills of Phideaux Xavier.

We liked this album so much we got on a plane to see them at 3RP. Later on we saw them many more times including the joint in LA, RosFest, Terra Incognita, Summers End, and twice right here at our Chicago house.

So when you look at our Key for Album reviews you can see we really do mean what we say about 5 star albums.

ALBUM HIGHTLIGHTS: Micro Softdeathstar,Crumble, Formaldehyde, Microdeath Softstar

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(0.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(4.0 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(1.0 / 5)
MELODIC:	(4.0 / 5)
ARTWORK & PACKAGING:	(4.0 / 5)
DRAMA:	(5.0 / 5)
OVERALL RATING:	(5.0 / 5)

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 – Quiet Storm

by Mark Monforti | Jul 25, 2017 | News, Reviews

So here is a band I heard for the first time at Rosfest 2009 where they were a last minute replacement. I went in there with no expectations and saw a wonderful performance. At the time they were supporting what became my favorite Galahad album, Empires Never Last(ENL). I was immediately captivated by Stu’s vocals and stage presence where I was knocked on my back side to their rendition of I Could be God Since then this band has been very prolific and for my money maybe has never made an album as good as ENL but everyone has been well worth the purchase. Like all the other albums I highly recommend this album.

This particular album as is inferred by the title is much mellower than their predecessors.

This is one of the few bands that have an open invitation to play Chicago if they ever decide to take me up on that offer we will let you know here. To give you an idea of my taste in music, other bands that have taken me up on that offer are Phideaux, Guy Manning, Unitopia, Unreal City, Discipline.

If you are wondering why Guardian Angel sounds familiar it was on their live release Solidarit. This life Could Be My Last is also from the a fore mentioned ENL.

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS: Guardian Angel, Iceberg, Willow Way,Easier Said Than Done, Marz (And Beyond)

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

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: Anubis’s – Hitchhiking to Byzantium

by Mark Monforti | Jul 24, 2017 | News, Reviews

So I apparently missed their first 2 studio releases and never heard of this band until I heard our Monday night DJ spin this album on his Music Unframed show.

I was immediately taken with this album. It ticks three boxes for me, Melodic, Accessible, and Concept album. The lyrics are interesting and the vocals are clear. This album which is best suited for fans of Pink Floyd is really wonderful, dripping with drama and wonderfully multi layered. I have seriously tried to get my friends with UPF to do a double bill with this artist.

I wouldn’t fly to Australia to see this band, but I don’t think I could go to Australia without a show of theirs to see.

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(0.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(4.0 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(2.0 / 5)
MELODIC:	(5.0 / 5)
ARTWORK & PACKAGING:	(4.0 / 5)
DRAMA:	(4.5 / 5)
OVERALL RATING:	(5.0 / 5)

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: Scenariot – Scenariot

by Mark Monforti | Jul 23, 2017 | News, Reviews

Sorry guys the album really does nothing for me. I am underwhelmed with the recording quality seems like a very low fidelity recording. I don’t know what key the lead singer is in but I wish it was a different one. Let’s be clear these guys have much more talent that I could ever hope to have but in a world where there are literally 100’s of progressive rock releases a year this is by no means anything you should spend your time on.

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(0.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(1.0 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(2.0 / 5)
MELODIC:	(3.0 / 5)
DRAMA:	(2.0 / 5)
OVERALL RATING:	(1.0 / 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: Barock Project’s – Detachment

by Mark Monforti | Jul 22, 2017 | News, Reviews

So this album starts out very strong. Again the haunting piano opening I have an affinity for. Lead vocals at times sound like Paul Carrack other time harmonies are very strong almost as strong as Moon Safari. The strong opening leads to an average middle of the album then a very strong finish.

Their announcement at RosFest already makes the 2018 lineup stronger than the 2017 lineup.

I would say give this album a listen and you will be happy you did.

Peter Jones – Lead vocals on “Broken” and “Alone”

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS: Driving Rain, Promises, One Day, A New tomorrow.

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

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: Phideaux’s – Doomsday Afternoon

Mark’s Quick Review: Galahad’s – Quiet Storm

Mark’s Quick Review: Anubis’s – Hitchhiking to Byzantium

Mark’s Quick Review: Scenariot – Scenariot

Mark’s Quick Review: Barock Project’s – Detachment

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