Teramaze "Eli: A Wonderful Fall From Grace"

Country: Australia
Genre(s): Progressive Metal

Label: Wells Records
Format: CD, digital

Release date: May 24, 2024
Tracklist

1. A Place Called Halo

2. The Will of Eli

3. Step Right Up

4. I Mantissa

5. Madam Roma

6. Standing Ovation

7. Hands Are Tied

8. A Wonderful Fall From Grace

Credits

Dean Wells: Guitars, Vocals

Andrew Cameron: Bass

Chris Zoupa: Guitar

Nick Ross: Drums

Nathan Peachey: Vocals

Description/Reviews:

'Eli: A Wonderful Fall From Grace' is a concept album that finishes the trilogy of their Halo storyline, following 2015's 'Her Halo' and 2021's 'Sorella Minore.'Commenting on the album's thematic direction, the band states: "We began with a story of betrayal, love, and wonder told through the album Her Halo. We continued that tale through to a climactic finish with the epic suite Sorella Minore. And now, we have finally brought to you the third instalment of the Halo Saga, to bring the whole story together. We take you not forward in time, but to the very beginning...Eli - A Wonderful Fall from Grace takes us to A Place Called Halo, the circus where it all began in the height of it's popularity. Eli, a shipwreck survivor discovers the travelling tented landscape, and becomes the star attraction... but at a terrible price.Along with a full length concept album, we finally release the short story that sparked this spell binding concept all those years ago.Every story has a beginning, and so is Eli - A Wonderful Fall from Grace."

Media/Samples
Teaser
Bandcamp (not available)

Links:
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Môr "The Wisdom of Simple Things"

Country: Multinational
Genre(s): Progressive Rock, Art Rock
Format: digital
Release date: April 4, 2024
Tracklist

1. Night Light (6:36) 

2. The Wisdom Of Simple Things (4:05) 

3. Room For Another (5:59) 

4. Circles (3:43) 

5. Out Of Place (6:26) 

6. Rivers (5:26) 

7. Interior Man (4:06) 

8. The Fortunate Ones (3:40) 

9. First Here (3:51) 

10. Hymn To The Ordinary (7:26) 

11. Downstream (3:08) 

Total Time 54:26

Credits

Ramlee Oak - Lyrics, Vocals, Bass, Drums

Chris Matthews - Guitars, Mixing, Music, Production

Peter Rand - Guitars, Keyboards, Music

Media/Samples
Bandcamp

Links:
Facebook

Cymbalic Encounters "Eclipsis"

Country: Multinational
Genre(s): Instrumental Progressive Rock
Format: digital
Release date: April 5, 2024
Tracklist

1. The Penumbra Shadow (3:41) 

2. Echo, Delta, Charlie (3:48) 

3. At The Drop Of The Bowler Hat (4:43) 

4. Afterlife Theme Park (5:08) 

5. Eclipsis (2:52) 

6. Futuristic Skylines (4:14) 

7. Electromagnetic Interference (3:17) 

8. Chinatown (5:45) 

9. Disruption Of The Order (4:24) 

10. The Nectar Of Immortality (4:28) 

Total Time 42:20

Credits
Mark Murdock (Masheen Messiah, The ID, The New Empire) - drums, synthesizers, fretless bass synth

Fernando Perdomo (Dave Kerzner, Dreaming In Stereo) - guitar (1, 3)

Dave Sturt (Gong) - fretless bass (1, 7)

Joe Berger - lead guitar (8, 9, 10)

Tim Pepper (The ID) - vocal (6)

Charles Lambiase - fretless bass (8, 9 & 10)

Daniel Kubota - guitar (4) 

Media/Samples
Bandcamp (available)

Links:
Facebook (Mark Murdock)
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Elephant9 "Mythical River"

Country: Norway
Genre(s): Instrumental Progressive Rock, Fusion
Label: Rune Grammofon - RCD2235
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release date: April 19, 2024
Tracklist

1. Solitude in Limbo #2

2. Mythical River

3. Party Among the Stars

4. Chamber of Silence

5. Heading for Desolate Wastelands

6. Star Cluster Detective

7. Cavern of the Red Lion

8. Solitude in Limbo #1

Credits
Ståle Storløkken - keyboards
Nikolai Hængsle (Needlepoint) - bass
Torstein Lofthus - drums, percussion

Recorded and mixed by Mattias Glavå

Description/Reviews:

Their previous album Arrival of The New Elders presented a more varied and reflective trio, still as groovy as ever, but more structured and less jam oriented... We´re delighted to confirm that Mythical River is moulded much in the same way and a natural follow-up, with six stellar new compositions by keyboard maestro Ståle Storløkken, bookended by two cosmic snippets. From the hypnotic and magical to the razor sharp and polyrhythmic, this is yet another very strong group effort from a trio on top of their game. Comparisons have been made with bands dating as far back as the sixties, but with Arrival of The New Elders and Mythical River Elephant9 appear as a thoroughly contemporary, timeless and even futuristic sounding band.

Media/Samples
Mythical River

Links:
Facebook
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Present "this is NOT the end"

Country: Belgium
Genre(s): Avant Prog
Label: Cuneiform Records
Format: CD, digital
Release date: March 29, 2024
Tracklist

1. Contre (7:53)

2. this is NOT the end / Part 2 (25:19)

3. this Is NOT the end / Part 1 (12:11)

Credits

Roger Trigaux (Univers Zero) – keyboard, vocal, composition

François Mignot – guitar

Pierre Chevalier – piano, keyboards, vocal

Dave Kerman (5UU's, U Totem) – percussion

Keith Macksoud – bass

Kurt Budé – sax, clarinet, bass clarinet

Liesbeth Lambrecht – violin

Udi Koomran – sound

Recorded by Udi Koomran at Studio Simonnes, Rhode-Saint-Genèse, Belgium.

Violins recorded by David Minjauw at Studio Simonnes, Rhode-Saint-Genese, Belgium.

Pianos recorded at Raphaël Terlinden's home studio, Brussels, Belgium.

Mixed and mastered by Udi Koomran and Pierre Chevalier, at the Pergola, Holon, Israel.

Description/Reviews:

Present's music is a striking blend of heavy rock with classical and zeuhl influences. The compositions, all penned by Trigaux, utilize repetition, complex counterpoint, intricate interplay between the instruments, rapidly shifting time signatures, and a strong instrumental attack. The final result is blindingly precise works of syncopated instruments, all seemingly coming from different angles but ultimately working together as a cohesive whole.

Media/Samples
Bandcamp

Links:
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For All We Know "By Design Or By Disaster"

Country: Multinational
Genre(s): Progressive Rock/Metal
Label: Construction Records
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release date: March 22, 2024
Tracklist

1. Forced To Be Free (5:18) 

2. Lifeline (5:50) 

3. This Hell We Know (6:23) 

4. The Future That Came Too Soon (7:05) 

5. All We Did Was Hide (4:36) 

6. Hush (2:14) 

7. Remind Me To Forget You (5:34) 

8. Flaws (7:39) 

9. Guide Me In Getting Lost (4:36) 

10. Ghosts Of Summer's Past (4:30) 

11. Goodbye (4:21) 

Total Time 58:06 

Credits

Wudstik (Ayreon) - Vocals/Screams

Léo Margarit (Pain of Salvation) - Drums, Backing vocals

Kristoffer Gildenlöw (Pain of Salvation) - Bass, Backing vocals

Marco Kuypers - Piano

Ruud Jolie (Within Temptation, Anneke van Giersbergen) - Guitars, Backing vocals & additional keys/programming

Description/Reviews:

Compared to the first two albums, 'By Design Or By Disaster' takes the listener to even more extremes, from beautiful atmospheric strings to pounding rhythms and guitars. However, Jolie continued to search for melodies and harmonies that one might not immediately expect. The music still does not conform to conventional norms. For the attentive listener, there are once again some 'easter eggs' hidden; melodies from previous albums that have found their way onto this new record but in a different form. This makes the first two albums, together with this record, a kind of triptych. The same applies to the artwork.

'By Design Or By Disaster' is not a concept album, but there is certainly a common thread in terms of the lyrics. They revolve around the journey of a young man navigating through life, building and losing relationships along the way, such as with his parents, loved ones, and later, his children. It's as if he is constantly looking in the mirror. Hence the three characters on the album cover; it's the same person but in different phases of his life. The two adults are blindfolded by the blue ribbons, symbolizing our preconceptions and the obscuration of vision. Because, whether we like it or not, we can get stuck in how we (think we) are. On the other hand, the baby is still free from judgment and completely open to life. For now…

Media/Samples

The Future That Came To Soon

Links:
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Clan Aldo Pinelli "Nordiska Vatten"

Country: Argentina
Genre(s): Instrumental Progressive Rock
Label: Lizard Records (CD)
Format: CD, digital
Release date: March 22, 2024 (CD), March 28, 2024 (digital)
Tracklist

1. Volando con el Dragón (3:24) 

2. Nordic Waters (14:48) 

3. Eolofonía (2:08) 

4. Juegos de Azar, Partes 1, 2, 3, 4 y 5 (6:01) 

5. Estudio 6 (1:32) 

6. Báltico (New Mix) (3:42) 

7. Una Voz Ritual (5:20) 

8. To Open (1:33) 

9. Medarp Alilui (6:38) 

Total Time 45:06 

Credits

Aldo Pinelli (Habitat): guitars, bass, keyboards

   With

Paula Dolcera: flute, cello

Silvia Pratolongo: percussion

Roberto Sambrizzi (Habitat): drums

Carlos Bignani : additional keyboards

All songs written by Aldo Pinelli

Produced by Lizard Records and Aldo Pinelli.

Music composed in my artistic residency at VICC (Visby International Center for Composers) in Sweden. In addition, the album contains other compositions previously created in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Recorded at VICC (Visby, Sweden) and Melania Studio (Buenos Aires, Argentina) by AP (+ some drums and cello recorded at La Naranja Studio by Lapo Gessaghi and flute recorded at 2.21 Studio by Ale Belmonte)

Editing, Mixing and Mastering at Melania by AP

Cover image by Oscar Bitz (1993)

Design by Roberto Menecón

Track 4 (parts 3, 4 and 5) originally published on Superposed Shrouds and Tapestries, 2009

Track 6 originally released on Rainy Season, 2012.

Description/Reviews:

The Nordic landscape becomes a source of inspiration for ethnic features and other more electric progressive rock moments, including orchestral sections.

Entirely instrumental this album differs from Aldo's previous works by less Medieval and Celtic influences and thus less use of flute. Here Aldo prefers new age-progressive sounds for which he finds affinities with the more imaginative Mike Oldfield.

Media/Samples
Bandcamp 

Links:
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Yobrepus "Rhizome Revolution - Part 1"

Country: Norway
Genre(s): Progressive Rock Opera
Label: Apollon Records
Format: CD,digital,vinyl
Release date: March 22, 2024
Tracklist

1. Stay Cool (5:08) 

2. The Enabler (9:01) 

3. Protozoa (2:13) 

4. Holy Motors (5:59) 

5. Firestorm (7:37) 

6. Jupiter (4:42) 

Total Time 34:40

Credits

Mats Jørgen Sivertsen – vocals, keys, guitars and loops

Vegard Weyergang Vartdal – vocals, bass, guitar, synth and saxophone

Øyvind Rognerud – guitar, synth and rhodes

Paal Urdal – drums

Madeleine Ossum - First violins 

Lotte Hellstrøm Hestad - Second violins 

Heidi Johnstad Arnesen - Violas 

Ingeborg Skomedal Torvanger - Cellos  

Kjetil Jerve - Piano (5)

Jon Arild Stieng - Guitar solo (6)

Leon Muraglia - Additional synths, loops and guitars

All songs written and produced by Mats Jørgen Sivertsen.

Recorded by Nick Terry at Black Valley Studios in Oslo, May 2022, except strings and piano, which were recorded by Jørgen Smådal Larsen at Studio Paradiso in Oslo, March 2023.

Mixed by Nick Terry and mastered by Morten Lund.

Cover illustrations by Ted Parsons and sleeve design by Aktuba Ink.

Description/Reviews:

Through the two albums, listeners are presented with fragments of personal stories, in no apparent order, each offering distinct perspectives on the revolutionary events. In this first part, a group of rebels prepare for violence while the rich and powerful get ready to up-load their consciousness to the cloud. Later, murderous AI drones roam the streets and a high ranking official gets tried for a genocide. And still someone finds room to sing a song about love? 

While the moods are less melancholy than they were on Mycelium Days, the stylistic range is still as wide as ever. Genre-wise the albums traverse everything from aggressive alt-rock, to wistful folk, 60s-inspired prog and dark, 90s-tinged electronica.

Media/Samples
Bandcamp

Links:
Web page
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Updates

'Recent updates' page has been (and will be) updated for 2024.

'2023' page has been updated until September.

Lucifer Was "En Fix Ferdig Mann"

Country: Norway
Genre(s): Retro Prog, Hard Rock
Label: Apollon Records
Format: CD, digital, vinyl
Release date: March 15, 2024
Tracklist

1. Frå Fyrste Dag (4:54) 

2. Ein Fix Ferdig Mann (3:09) 

3. Krig I Opne Landskap (6:05) 

4. Ei Gåte (5:13) 

5. Når Natta Kjem Og Tek Meg (2:48) 

6. Eg Vil Ha Det Eg Vil Ha (3:09) 

7. Snømann I Sol (6:18) 

8. Aftenbøn Til Dauden (5:28) 

9. Kunsten å Gjere Ingenting (6:33) 

Total Time 43:37

Credits

Jon Ruder - Vocals

Thore Engen - Guitar

Andreas Sjo Engen (Pymlico) - Guitar, backing vocals

Arne Martinussen - Organ, piano

Bjørn Malmåsen - Bass

Arild Brøter - Drums

Plus various guest musicians including a choir

Links:
Web page
Facebook
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