Upplevelsen Av Formaliteten Att Faktiskt Förekomma, by Twin Pyramid Complex (experimental rock, 6-track EP, released October 7, 2018, Helsingborg, Sweden) Favourite track: Ortodoxa Crocs (Fauxpa #21)
Tic Toc Turmoil, by Anti Clock Tower (instrumental progressive metal, full-length, released October 8, 2018, Frankfurt, Germany) Favourite track: Edges & Corners, Pt.1
Stick Men - 20180926 Dosey Doe, Houston, TX (BOARD MIX) -- a soundboard recording released by dudes wot play in King Crimson these days. There's even a couple of KC songs here. Free lossless download from Bandcamp. --Geoff
Possible at Sea, by Biscuithound (progressive rock, full-length, releases October 13, 2018, New Orleans, Louisiana) Favourite track: Golden
Le vol erratique d'un papillon, by Gerald Massois (progressive rock, full-length, released October 12, 2018, Reims, France) Favourite track: Le vol erratique d'un papillon
Reincarnation, by VUDU (progressive metal, full-length, released October 12, 2018, Austria) Favourite track: Sacrament
Steve Rothery Band - Live at the Band on the Wall, Manchester May 13th 2018 (Desk recording), by Steve Rothery (progressive rock, full-length, released October 15, 2018, Aylesbury, UK) Favourite track: The Last Straw
Ok, nothing really new there but nicely packaged. Listening to Present from Nancy right now, nice... So far the remaster doesn’t sound overdone as many are in latest reissues nowadays. Eq and compression have probably been used to their bare minimum settings.
Dark Dragon King, by Gunblade X (progressive rock, full-length, released October 20, 2018, Washington, D.C.) Favourite track: Child's Play
Aside from the major progressive acts that are still around like King Crimson for example, it’s difficult for me to get excited about any of these newer bands as I feel that so many of them are just retreading musical waters or seem to emulate what has come before. I don’t really hear any true progressive musicians anymore.
Has anyone heard this one yet? Comments or opinions? By the way, I haven't heard 95% of the albums posted here but wow, the cover art on these is pretty freaking awesome.
Yes a lot of bands trying to emulate by rehashing old stuff. Prog as we knew it in the 70’s is mostly gone but some of the new acts are very interesting.
Overseas, by White Coven (progressive psychedelia, full-length, physical CD available, released October 20, 2018, Zaragoza, Spain) Favourite track: Overseas
Well, when a new band play their original songs but in the genre that is 50 yrs old and have its own rules that some people once called *progressive*, wouldn't that supposed music have to be more or less "retro" in one way or another? Thus, if a song / album is out of our beloved genre's rules, it's not Prog(ressive rock) anymore, because *progressive rock* the tag is just the genre name and it doesn't mean that music have to progress literally. However, there are plenty of great albums released by some new bands that are very interesting although they are following the genre's rules quite strictly.
I've just discovered, and have now become a huge fan of, Opeth, in their post death-growl incarnation. I'm a little surprised there isn't more mention of them in this thread, although perhaps they are classed more as 'retro-progressive', or are known more for their death metal output? I discovered Damnation through looking at Steven Wilson's remixing discography, and haven't enjoyed getting into a new album as much since first discovering Purple and Zeppelin almost 40 years ago. I'm currently working my way through their 'clean vocal' output - Damnation, Heritage, Pale Communion and Sorceress (this last one now on its way to me on vinyl format). They are very much their own band, and massively creative (even within a single track, let alone a whole album), but I can also hear clear influences of Deep Purple, Jethro Tull and Dio-era Black Sabbath, amongst others. Fantastic writing, performance, mixing and mastering on Damnation...
And yes, this is a super group but one must like heavy/metal music to start with. I discovered them with Heritage and just acquired whatever I could there after. Blackwater park or Still life are probably the easiest of their growl period to go with. Frankly, once you get used to their growl sound, the door is just opened for you to discover the rest of their discography. Delivrance and Morning rise are 2 other favotires of mine. New live album is on its way and a new studio album is planned for 2019.
I have a hard time with Opeth for the opposite reason: I found them an interesting and diverse metal band, but a very uninteresting and imitative prog band. Say what you will about the "growl" era, but there was some really impressive "light and shade" action when they still employed more extreme sonic landscapes and then pulled everything back for the kind of sound you hear all over the Damnation album, which is 100% a desert island disc for me. Unfortunately, I find the sound they're chasing now feels far too much like they're trying to be Goblin or something.
First Hour, by Third Wave Mansion (progressive rock, full-length, released June 1, 2018, Quebec City, Québec) Favourite track: Free Giant
Cosmic, by Stereochrome (experimental rock, full-length, released October 22, 2018, Durham, New Hampshire) Favourite track: Nebulous