by Blake | Mar 17, 2017 | Prog Report
John Mitchell is back with Lonely Robot, his own musical project now getting ready to release the much-anticipated second studio album ‘The Big Dream’ on April 28th, 2017. Now you can check out the stellar new track ‘Everglow’ here:
John Mitchell had this to say: “Everglow is the first track I wrote for The Big Dream, it encapsulates the still present feeling that despite being surrounded en masse, we are a synthesised society barely truthfully communicating with each other on a less than superficial, soap box sermon level. Everglow is the hopeful ray of light when the phones go away and the eyes finally make contact. Coming from me, that’s almost ironic!”
Following 2015’s acclaimed debut ‘Please Come Home’, ‘The Big Dream’ has a core theme running through it – one that sees The Astronaut, the central character in the Lonely Robot adventure, emerging from a long period in stasis.
Mitchell explains: “The Astronaut wakes up from a cryogenic sleep but finds he’s no longer in space, and is instead in a woodland area surrounded by a group of strange people with animal heads! It’s a little surreal, a little ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ to some extent. This is something of a solipsistic haze, for want of a better description!”
Mitchell explains more about his Lonely Robot concept: “I have always envisaged the storyline of The Astronaut’s journey evolving over the course of three albums. And I always knew where I wanted to go with the second album – taking The Astronaut away from space and into a strange and unfamiliar environment. Right now, I have no thoughts of what will happen for the third one but I’d better start thinking about it now!”
“The key inspiration for Lonely Robot comes from my love of science fiction films, and the atmospheric soundtracks that often accompany them – such as Alan Silvestri’s compositions for ‘Contact’ and Clint Mansell’s work for ‘Moon’.”
The album once again features drums by Craig Blundell (Steven Wilson), with all other instrumentation on the album delivered by Mitchell himself.
The post Lonely Robot – “Everglow” (Official Audio) appeared first on The Prog Report.
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by Blake | Mar 16, 2017 | Prog Report
Scale the Summit are prepping to release their new album, In a World of Fear. The album is due out on May 19th, 2017 and is available for pre-order now. The new album features band leader Chris Letchford on guitar, joined by Charlie Engen on drums and Kilian Duarte on bass. Now comes the first song to be revealed from the album with “Royal Orphan”.
Check out the song here. Pre-order it here: https://scalethesummit.bandcamp.com/
The post Scale the Summit – “Royal Orphan” (Official Audio) appeared first on The Prog Report.
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by Blake | Mar 16, 2017 | Prog Report
Nad Sylvan, vocalist with Steve Hackett and Agents Of Mercy, has announced the release of his new solo album ‘The Bride Said No’ for May 26th, 2017, on digipak CD, gatefold 2LP + CD & digital download. The album sees Nad joined by a myriad of guests including Roine Stolt, Steve Hackett, Guthrie Govan, Tony Levin, Jonas Reingold, Nick D’Virgilio, Doane Perry & more.
Nad comments: “Last year, I was lucky to find a gap from all the hectic touring with Steve Hackett so that I could write and record a new album, all done in only six months. The music came very easily for me this time, which gives the album a slightly more coherent feel than that of my previous releases. Surrounded by top notch musicians, the delivery is more than one could ask for. They truly put their heart and soul into every single note sung and played. And so the Vampirate’s journey continues into modern times.. Hope you will enjoy this one as much as I did creating it!”
The full track-listing for the album is as follows:
1. Bridesmaids
2. The Quartermaster
3. When The Music Dies
4. The White Crown
5. What Have You Done
6. Crime Of Passion
7. A French Kiss In An Italian Café
8. The Bride Said No
In 2015, Nad Sylan impressed everyone with his fine conceptual solo album ‘Courting The Widow’. A vampiric tale wrapped in a 17th century atmosphere, this definitively marked out the talented Swede as a surging star in the progressive rock world.
Now, Sylvan is back with ‘The Bride Said No’, an album that continues the fascinating plot, albeit with a far more extravagant musical palette. “I didn’t originally have the idea of going on with this story on the new album. But what happened was that I revisited a song called ‘The Bride Said No’, which I began to write in 1989. I kept a few of the early ideas I had for the verses and also that title, but the rest of the song is brand new. However, the title itself got me thinking that it made sense if this were used in relation to the vampirate character from ‘Courting The Widow’. And the whole thing developed from there.”
On the creative side, what the new album does is to expand Sylvan’s horizons, as he explains. “Musically, the previous record was very much located in the 1970s, and you can still hear a little of that here. But this one is a lot more modern sounding and diverse. In fact, I would say it’s closer to musical theatre than anything else.”
‘The Bride Said No’ takes what Sylvan has done before and elevates it with a new creative sensibility. He has plans for a final chronicle of this ‘vampirate’ trilogy. But that’s for the future. Right now, we can all revel in the delights of this eight track masterpiece.
“I set out to take things even further than before. I believe I have succeeded.”
Nad has most recently been seen performing alongside the legendary Steve Hackett as part of his Genesis Revisited with Classic Hackett tour, which continues across the world during 2017.
The post Nad Sylvan announces new solo album appeared first on The Prog Report.
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by Blake | Mar 15, 2017 | Prog Report
Cruise to the Edge 2018 is set to sail from Feb 3rd-8th out of Tampa once again, this time hitting new ports in Belize and Costa Maya. The initial lineup was announced as the recent cruise returned announcing Yes, Marillion and a few others. over the last month, more bands have been revealed. There should be more bands announced between now and the actual cruise. So far the artists on board include:
Yes
Marillion
Martin Barre
Saga
Gong
Anathema
Knifeworld
Haken
Glass Hammer
Lifesigns
Moon Safari
Thank You Scientist
and Late Night Live
For more information visit: http://cruisetotheedge.com/
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by Blake | Mar 15, 2017 | Prog Report
After premiering the The Shattered Fortress featuring an all-star Prog lineup on Cruise to the Edge in Feb, Mike Portnoy has now revealed a number of dates for the event in Europe and other countries including Israel and Russia. The line up consists of members of HAKEN and the NEAL MORSE BAND performing Dream Theater’s 12 Step Suite live in it’s entirety.
Portnoy explains on his Facebook page, “This is not “a new band or project”, it is “an exclusive EVENT” that will be making several exclusive live appearances in select markets throughout the world ONLY in 2017.”
The setlist at the show will be comprised of the 12 Step Suite and select other classic Mike Portnoy/Dream Theater songs
As of now, these are the ONLY Shattered Fortress shows…after 2017, this will NOT be happening again….So don’t miss this ONCE IN A LIFETIME event while you can!
All Tickets on Sale this evening! Wednesday March 15th at 7pm GMT
The post Mike Portnoy reveals more Shattered Fortress dates appeared first on The Prog Report.
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by Blake | Mar 14, 2017 | Prog Report
Supergroup KXM, featuring the trio of dUg Pinnick (King’s X), George Lynch (Lynch Mob), Ray Luzier (Korn), are back with a new album, Scatterbrain. The follow-up to their successful debut from 2014, finds the band continuing along a similar path but expanding upon their brand of Hard/Prog Rock with more intensity and a few musical surprises. There is no denying these three stellar musicians gel together like few side projects can. Interestingly, while Pinnick possesses the Prog cred, it is Luzier and Lynch that add just as much punch and technicality to the music, making for an intriguing mix.
The album opens with the hard hitting title track, a reference to the scattered nature of the band’s musical outlook. Immediately the outstanding production is noticeable, especially Luzier’s signature drum sound that emphasizes the bass drums. His use of double bass in unlikely moments adds to the aggressive nature of the track. Luzier’s talent as one of rock’s best drummers is not recognized enough.
One of the album highlights comes with the second track, “Breakout”. Generally, anything Pinnick sings will have a King’s X sound or vibe to it. This track particularly so, with its use of dissonant vocal harmonies during the chorus, one of the signatures of his home band. Pinnick sounds as good as ever belting out screams as if he was back in 1990. Lynch’s guitar solo is melodic and captivating, fitting perfectly. Luzier goes nuts on the drums during the fade out, worth checking out. This is an outstanding track.
Throughout the album the group tear thru a number of hard rock songs, each with their own dynamic moments, from the chorus in “Big Sky Country”, to the reggae breakdown in “Not a Single World” wear Lynch supplies a tremendous solo, to the bluesy closing ballad, “Angel”.
KXM are the real deal, a group of musicians that are brilliant musicians and songwriters. While not a Prog album necessarily, any fan of well played and produced rock will enjoy this album. Get Scatterbrain and play it loud.
Released on March 17th, 2017 on Rat Pak Records
Key Tracks: Scatterbrain, Breakout, Not A Single World, It’s Never Enough
Tracklisting:
01. Scatterbrain
02. Breakout
03. Big Sky Country
04. Calypso
05. Not A Single Word
06. Obsession
07. Noises In The Sky
08. Panic Attack
09. It’s Never Enough
10. True Deceivers
11. Stand
12. Together
13. Angel
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