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Mark’s Quick Review: Arena’s – Double Vision
Arena in the 22nd year one the bands that I credit with the resurgence of progressive rock as their albums has been wonderful since their inception. Their lineups are always filled with amazing musicians and equality strong song writing. The albums have ranged from...
Mark’s Quick Review: Cell15’s – River Utopia
River Utopia the sophomore album from Robert Richardson's band Cell15 has made it this way and it has to be very good to match their debut album and which won 2014's best debut album and best opening track. I have seen this some of this album performed live which...
Mark’s Quick Review: Jon Durant’s – Is Parting
Solo guitar's Jon Durant sent us his album, Parting Is last month and we gave it a few spins. After checking it out I don't believe that I can recommend this album. I typically like polyphonic huge sounds and this is really just soundscapes and pleasant guitar sounds....
Mark’s Quick Review: Royal Architects’ – Et in Arcadia Ego
Royal Architects sent me a vinyl edition of their album to review. Which is a real attention getter I will say. Their debut album comes to us from Baltimore home of the often visited Orion Studios. This album is a great debut. Its a bit uneven in quality possibly, but...
Jethro Tull to release 50th Anniversary compilation
To celebrate their 50th anniversary, Jethro Tull will be releasing a new compilation, 50 for 50, with songs selected exclusively by Jethro Tull’s founder, singer and flautist, Ian Anderson. The three-disc set is loosely arranged in chronological order to capture the...
Sons of Apollo release spanish single version of “Alive/Tengo Vida”
Former Dream Theater members Mike Portnoy and Derek Sherinian, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (ex-Guns N’ Roses), Billy Sheehan (The Winery Dogs, Mr. Big, David Lee Roth) and Jeff Scott Soto (ex-Journey, ex-Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force), known collectively as Sons of Apollo...
Mark’s Quick Review: shob’s – Karma Obscur
France's Shob has released an album called Karma Obscur. This is a tough album for me to review in some respects. I find that albums featuring bass players are appreciated more by people that play the bass or any instrument rather than a simple consumer of music. This...
See “And the Druids Turned to Stone” from the upcoming Ayreon Universe live release
Prog visionary Arjen Lucassen’s massive ‘Ayreon Universe’ live DVD/blu-ray release, which documents his first-ever life shows, will be released this Friday, March 30th. In anticipation of the release, Arjen has just posted a final sneak peek from the performance,...
Mark’s Quick Reviews: Travis Woyen’s – Echoes in the Dark
Travis Woyen's - Echos in the Dark showed up in our in box a few months ago. This Minnesotan who has been inspired by 70's prog rock. Produced and and played all the instruments on this recording. I think maybe this album would have benefited from other people's...
Yes release 50th anniversary North America tour dates
YES, one of the biggest bands in prog rock history and true pioneers of the genre, today (March 26) revealed the dates and details for this summer’s 50th Anniversary North American tour titled #YES50: Celebrating 50 Years of YES. Tickets for the 30-plus date outing,...
Mark’s Quick Review: Audio70’s – ElectRockProg(con)Fusion
This debut instrumental album from Vento region of Italy is a one man show with Luigi on the keyboards has above average song writing and the each song I like. There is some drama too with the 10 minute track Hypersequence. This is about as good as a one man band can...
Mark’s Quick Review: Riverside’s – Wasteland
One of the stand out performers of any genre, Riverside has released a new album this year and although I think that the hard core fans of the band are not very excited by it, I think it is another great album by this Polish prog band. Granted the loss of Piotr is...
Mark’s Quick Review: El tubo Elástico’s – Impala
There isn't an abundance of prog coming from Spain, but when it does come its usually pretty good. This album is no exception. This instrumental album is multi layered thanks to two guitars and keyboards. The song writing is top notch and songs are unique. And if you...
Mark’s Quick Review: Sunchild’s – Messages from Afar – The division of Illusion and Time.
Sunchild is a project by Ukrainian composer, musician, multi-instrumentalist, producer Antony Kalugin. The album is a light romp of glorious gateway prog. With a large ensemble to give this album its ultimate sound. The guitar sounds a bit Satriani like without so...
Mark’s Quick Review: Curious Grace & Black Rabbit’s – #WorldOnFire
A Chicago Sextet Curious Grace & Black Rabbit releases their debut album #WorldOnFire. They play a lot of venues that I frequent and I will go see them live sometime, but I can't recommend this album. I just couldn't find any melodies to hold on to. To me passages...