News Archives - Page 40 of 54

Mark’s Quick Review: Abydos’s – Little Boy’s Heavy Metal Shadow Opera About The Inhabitants Of His Diary

by Mark Monforti | Sep 10, 2017 | News, Reviews

So this is the live show that “got away”. This is an album good enough that I was going to go to Germany to see performed as a musical but I switched jobs and had no vacation time to see it.

If you doubt my high rating for this album consider the fact that this debut album by the amazingly talented Andy Kuntz was able to run in Germany for a 8 week run. Totally unprecedented achievement.

This album which was a cathartic project by Andy due to losing his father and two friends in a very short time, is an album that should be heard by all progressive metal fans. For those of you who don’t skew to liking progressive metal it is still worth a listen as this is an album that is very melodic as well. Think the heaviest porcupine tree album with a heavy metal voice on top of it.

So here we are one of my favorite voice in prog with a wonderful melodic and heavy piece of work. Go check out the DVD or the CD.

The DVD does have a catchy showtune added to it and a lot of German speaking with English subtitles. Really wonderful either one.

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(0.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(4.0 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(4.5 / 5)
MELODIC:	(3.0 / 5)
ARTWORK & PACKAGING:	(3.5 / 5)
DRAMA:	(5.0 / 5)
OVERALL RATING:	(5.0 / 5)

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS: Too many to mention Request Abydos to be played on Progrock.com

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: iNFiNiEN’s – Light At The Endless Tunnel

by Mark Monforti | Sep 9, 2017 | News, Reviews

The easy comparison for this band is Bent Knee thanks to Chrissie Loftus’s vocals which sound much like Courtney’s. The songs are about as accessible too. The complex song structure means that this album is going to grow on you after successive listens.

The Quality of the recording and the songwriting makes this an album for the slightly more adventurous but no more than normal for progressive rock album.

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(0.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(2.0 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(2.0 / 5)
MELODIC:	(3.0 / 5)
"ARTWORK:	(0.0 / 5)
&:	(0.0 / 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

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS: Aya, Infinien, If You where a song.

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: Robert Reed – Sanctuary Live

by Mark Monforti | Sep 4, 2017 | News, Reviews

Robert Reed is joined by legendary drummer Simon Phillips (Toto / Mike Oldfield / The Who) while the original “Tubular Bells” production team of Tom Newman and Simon Heyworth have once again made important contributions to the sound of the album.

The quality of the recording is impeccable. I seem to love all the work that comes out of New World Studios.

This album which is 85% comprised of 3 20 minute songs which are all parts of the Sanctuary opus is as I said before is beautiful and uses Tubular Bells as its Muse. The problem for me is if you are going to have a 20 minute song you need to have some drama. I personally don’t get that. That being said I would think that this album is going to be high on other people’s list. And had I been in the area I certainly would have bought tickets and gone to this. I just don’t see how I would spin this album over something like Steven Wilson’s Happy Returns, which evokes so much more emotion from me.

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(0.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(2.0 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(1.0 / 5)
MELODIC:	(5.0 / 5)
ARTWORK & PACKAGING:	(3.0 / 5)
DRAMA:	(1.5 / 5)
OVERALL RATING:	(3.5 / 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

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS: Sanctuary 2 part 1Sanctuary 2 part 1

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: Deeexpus Projects’ – Half Way Home.

by Mark Monforti | Sep 2, 2017 | News, Reviews

This is an amazing debut album and it was strong enough to get them a gig at RoSfest. The lead singer at this time channels the voice of Paul Carrack. The song Pttee is a whimsical song full of Porcupine Tree licks and well they translate well into this fun and crunchy song. The rest of the album is above average rounded off by the sad Half Way Home which was written about an expected mother who stopped taking her anti-depressants because she didn’t want to effect the fetus, but tragically she killer herself on a bridge half way home.

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(0.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(4.0 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(3.0 / 5)
MELODIC:	(3.0 / 5)
ARTWORK & PACKAGING:	(3.0 / 5)
DRAMA:	(4.5 / 5)
OVERALL RATING:	(4.5 / 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

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS: Pttee

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: Emerald Dawn’s – Vision

by Mark Monforti | Sep 2, 2017 | News, Reviews

The first track which is epic in size has some great sax work reminiscent of Pink Floyd. The work is wonderful and atmospheric. Full of interesting bits and drama. I think this would be great for fans of melodic prog and should be a stand out album for fans of IO Earth and Renaissance thanks to Tree’s haunting vocals. I think that many other people the rate albums are going to give this 5 out of 5. So don’t let my rating fool you. I reserve the 5 star rating for albums I would pay the band to come play live at our house and this isn’t quite there.

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(0.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(3.0 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(2.0 / 5)
MELODIC:	(3.5 / 5)
ARTWORK & PACKAGING:	(3.0 / 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

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS: Musique Noire, Stranger in a Strange Land

Click the link to request the song.

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: Circus Maximus’s – The 1st Chapter

by Mark Monforti | Aug 31, 2017 | News, Reviews

So as at this time as I have just started doing reviews I have had Windows Media Player pick album for me at random. I am down to 590 hours of music to review from albums previously released.

I was excited that this album was selected. I already had some songs highlighted as 5 stars. I was happy to listen to it again for this review. I was even more excited to find that despite having songs like Sin and Glory to the Empire that this was not a christian band. I mention that only because I really liked this album even though, as a person who has walked out on Neal Morse twice that I didn’t let my bias about the perceived subject matter of the album get in the way of liking this album.

This debut album of this Norwegian Heavy Metal band sets a very high standard that they are really going to struggle to match I have to say. Michael Eriksen on vocals is wonderful and reminds me of Tommy Karevik or maybe Joe Walsh on the song Fight Fire with Fire.

This is album is just the perfect blend of metal and melodic for me. Once in a while like in the song prophecy I hear a little Spock’s Beard. This band is making albums I wish Dream Theater would make. The Epic Title track is also one of the highlights on this album.

The band is a must for fans of of Seventh Wonder and Pain of Salvation and anyone that likes progressive metal should have this album in their collection.

This album was edged out of debut album of the year by Magic Pie’s Motion’s of Desire.

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS: Glory to the Empire, The Prophecy, The First Chapter.

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(0.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(4.0 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(4.0 / 5)
MELODIC:	(3.0 / 5)
ARTWORK & PACKAGING:	(3.5 / 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: Abydos’s – Little Boy’s Heavy Metal Shadow Opera About The Inhabitants Of His Diary

Mark’s Quick Reviews: iNFiNiEN’s – Light At The Endless Tunnel

Mark’s Quick Reviews: Robert Reed – Sanctuary Live

Mark’s Quick Review: Deeexpus Projects’ – Half Way Home.

Mark’s Quick Review: Emerald Dawn’s – Vision

Mark’s Quick Reviews: Circus Maximus’s – The 1st Chapter

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