Ayreon releases tracklisting for new album The Source

by progrock.com | Jan 24, 2017 | Prog Report

Fans got another sneak peak into the new Ayreon release, ‘The Source’. The cover was just released and now the tracklisting has been unveiled. More news to come. Guests to be featured are James Labrie, Paul Gilbert, Tommy Rodgers, Guthrie Govan Mark Kelly, Russell Allen, Tommy Karevik, and many more.

More news to come on this highly anticipated release.

CD1:

Chronicle 1: The ‘Frame

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Spock’s Beard release 2nd album Beware of Darkness 21 years ago

by progrock.com | Jan 23, 2017 | Prog Report

After breaking through with their debut album ‘The Light’ in 1995, the band released their strong sophomore album ‘Beware of Darkness’ the following year in January of 1996. Now a full five piece band with Neal Morse, Alan Morse, Nick D’Virgilio, Dave Merso and keyboardist Ryo Okumoto on board, the band would go on to define the Spock’s Beard sound with epics like “Walking on the Wind” and the Gentle Giant inspired “Thoughts”. Other songs like the piano rocker “The Doorway” or the acoustic “Waste Away” showcased the band’s ability to focus on simple melodies and organic instrumentation.

Bassist Dave Meros had this to say about the album: “At the time that I joined the band we were just a four piece. Neal had recorded all the keyboard parts on The Light by himself. But after The Light was recorded we wanted to start doing some gigs and Neal realized he couldn’t cover it all by himself, so Ryo was brought back in. So it really was a complete band then in a physical sense. But beyond that, this was going to be our second album, we had done some live shows as a full band, there was a bit of a buzz going on, we had a new recording contract, and there was definitely a feeling that Beware Of Darkness was our first focused push forward.”

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London Prog group Kyros talk about their new album Vox Humana

by progrock.com | Jan 23, 2017 | Prog Report

Newcomers Kyros have made quite an impression in the last few years, most notably with their epic double album Vox Humana, which came out at the very end of 2016. With a busy year up ahead including a performance at Rosfest coming up in May, big things are expected from this band out of London. We were able to ask the band about how they got to this point and about the awesome new album.

Prog Report: For those not familiar with the band, talk about the history a little bit. How did you guys form?

Kyros: We’re a bunch of mates. We all happen to have similar interests in terms of musical tastes and interests. We all like progressive music and alternative stuff that stands out from the norm. Originally, this started out as a solo project of mine but I’ve always wanted to form a band so I made it a mission to do exactly that. I met everyone in the band either through uni, through other people or the internet! And well… here we are.

PR:Why the name change for the band?

K: There were other bands that went by the name of ‘Synaesthesia’, and unfortunately when it came to our plans – it made much more sense to make a fresh start with a fresh new name.

PR:Were other London prog metal bands like Haken influences on you?

K: Haken, as well as being mates of ours – are certainly a huge influence on us. Ray (the drummer of Haken) also plays Tuba and can expertly arrange a brass section. So we got him to do exactly that for Vox Humana.

PR: The new album Vox Humana, what drove you guys to come right out with a double album?

K: We don’t really do things by half measures. If it feels right, we do it. Regardless of logistical setbacks or worries. To us, it felt right to release this as a double – both because of the differences in musical styles and approaches between the first half of the album and second half and also because of the way the album is set up story-wise.

PR: What is the album about?

K: The album is about a man who struggles to ever integrate with society. From a young age, he seeks comfort from technology and video games rather than other people. As he grows up, he moves away from society to a secluded shack he finds out in the country away from the city. With his knowledge of technology, he decides to go out of his way in attempts to build his perfect idea of what a human companion should be.
As his android companion comes to life, we discover how this creation feels about human emotions and experiences. Getting to grips with what his purpose is and why he was built. Eventually, we learn that the creation is shunned and punished for his traits being too similar to ‘other humans’ – according to his maker. With these positive feelings being challenged, the creation goes out of his way to seek his purpose. If these feelings were so positive, why are they taught to be so negative? He runs away from his maker after much cognitive dissonance, to the city to see what other human beings are like.
Upon learning the similarities, he further questions his true purpose. These feelings of human emotion become too much for the android creation. As he heads back to his maker and explains that he can no longer carry on with these feelings as they are too overwhelming for a non-human being. His purpose is pointless as he was only built to be The Maker’s idea of a perfect human – but if the creation can’t live up to this, then what is his point in carrying on?
At the end of the album, we learn that the creation switches himself off and shuts down.

PR:How do you guys work as far as songwriting and then recording?

K:We write and record as we go along. It’s certainly a fortunate position to be in as there is much more room for flexibility. Usually one of us will contribute a song or a musical idea and we all develop it together as a band from there, making adjustments and tweaks to the song as time goes by.

PR: The first single “Cloudburst”, what is that song about and how did it come together?

K:The song is somewhat ironic in the sense that it’s somewhat ‘happy’ sounding yet is actually mocking motivational posters and words of positivity. The song itself is more about the idea of contemplating suicide and how these words of positivity mean nothing when you are so close to the idea of offing yourself. Yeah, cheerful – isn’t it?

PR: What’s next for the band now that this album is out?

K: More music. We are releasing our second single, ‘Monster’ on our upcoming ‘Monster EP’ soon which also includes two all-new tracks. We will also be releasing a brand new video to accompany this release. We are also planning gigs in both Europe and the US – but more on that later.

For more on Kyros visit them at: https://www.facebook.com/KyrosOfficial/

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Opeth – “Era” (Official Video)

by progrock.com | Jan 23, 2017 | Prog Report

Opeth are gearing for more shows in the US and in advance of that, they have released a new video from their successful album ‘Sorceress’. The track “Era” is the new single and Mikael had this to say about it on their Facebook page:

”I have to say our involvement in the making of the ”Era” video was so minimal we can’t take credit either for or against its brilliance. We did 3D scans of our bodies (clothed) in Munich during the last European tour. I remember everyone’s extremely tired and probably slightly hungover. The director just placed us in a ice-cold room and then scanned us with something that looked like a flashing hairdryer. Done! We’ve done our part for the video. Next! During the process of finishing the piece it got clear to me that it really works with the song. That’s something I was involved in actually, picking the song. It’s extremely difficult. Which song to choose? How do I know what works best for this format? Well, I don’t. I picked a song from the record that has a strong chorus. Slightly old school way of thinking I guess, but ultimately it didn’t matter all that much to me. The video is nice. I dig it. It’s slightly on the pretentious side, but hey, works for me! And like I said, it really works with the overall vibe of the song. Lyrically and musically and definitely emotionally.” – Mikael Åkerfeldt

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Frost* to reissue live album ‘The Philadelphia Experiment’

by progrock.com | Jan 23, 2017 | Prog Report

Coming off their 2016 return with Falling Satellites, Frost* are set to reissue their 2010 live album The Philadelphia Experiment as a 2 CD version with a new tracklisting. The group is scheduled to perform on Frost* the Cruise To The Edge which sails Feb 7-11 out of Tampa, FL and were just announced as part of the SUmmer’s End Festival on Oct 7th.

Pre-orders for The Philadelphia Experiment are being taken at www.themerchdesk.com.

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