Top 5 of 2024!!

This year as a tough one, as there were a lot of solid albums.  The top three were figured out fairly early on in the past month, but after that, it took some serious consideration to round out the rest.  Judas Priest's Invincible Shield had a decent shot of making it, as well as Nightbound by Find Me, which started to grow on me, despite the production.  I also really enjoyed Lovebites's EP II, but decided that I shouldn't really compare it to a full album.  In the end, I was able to whittle it down to these five albums of 2024 that stood out from the rest!

5. Paragon - Metalation

This was definitely the toughest spot to fill.  As I relistened to this year's albums, I started to wonder if I could pick one from the list at all.  However, I found Paragon's new slab of chunky riffs to be what helped it squeeze in.  It's not as good as Controlled Demolition was, as these songs are a little sillier, but it's a pretty consistent album across the board, and that counts for a lot.

4. Firewind - Stand United

I know there were some power metal albums I never got around to this past year, so it might be a bit cheeky to say Firewind's latest is the best one of 2024, especially as I wasn't expecting too much after their self-titled album from a few years ago.  However, once I recognized that they had slipped into more of a heavy/power blend, I found Stand United to be a solid album, and Herbie Langhans's vocals have really settled in well for the band.

3. Jon Anderson and the Band Geeks - True

It took more than a few listens, but I was finally able to really assess this album on its own.  While it's certainly aping the classic sound of my favorite band, and I do think the songs in the middle drag it down, it can't be denied that Jon has found something pretty magical with these Geeks.  "Once Upon a Dream" alone put this album in the Top Five!

2. DGM - Endless

This year's surprise!  When their last album felt lukewarm, a let down from my winner of 2020, I wasn't sure what to make of this band.  So when I was treated to a pleasant kick-in-the-head in the form of some very 70s prog that was played with energy, I knew this was going to be a contender for the Top 5 list.  "From Ashes" still puts a smile on my face!

1. Monkey3 - Welcome to the Machine

DGM might have taken the year if it weren't for this one.  While I do think that Sphere was a better album, I can't deny this groups infectious tone and energy.  Giving their psychedelic rock a slight mechanical feel helped to shake things up, but otherwise, it was business as usual, as this band continues to impress with their dynamic song-writing and dense atmosphere.  

New Releases - September 2024!

It's been a while!  I still kinda catching up on things, but I've worked out a plan that should get me back on track before the end of the year.  And for once, I'm not reviewing any metal!  All three of these albums are ones I have been looking forward to, each for their own reasons, but it is nice to see some older styles still be represented by artists both old and young.  Let's get this prog rock article started!

David Gilmour - Luck and Strange

So we finally have the latest from this guitar legend.  There's been some talk from him about maybe moving beyond Pink Floyd, and getting a producer who has no interesting in respecting Gilmour's past.  However, I don't think he can really escape it, especially with an album like this.  Once again, David takes us through another bluesy journey, this time with an emphasis on themes of aging and mortality.

Those looking for Pink Floyd vibes will certainly find them here and there.  The title track, which features a recording from Rick Wright as a basis, feels like it could have come off of Division Bell, and "Scattered" references some of the band's 70s ideas, including a heart beat and that reverby piano from "Echoes."  As for the rest, the album tends to drift between his last two.  "The Piper's Call," "Sings" and "Yes, I Have Ghosts" feel like a folky variation on the songs fom On An Island, while some of the darkness of Rattle That Lock shows up on "A Single Spark" and "Dark and Velvet Nights."  The latter one actually gets pretty funky.  If there's one that maybe feels like an odd duck out, it's "Between Two Points," which is sung by David's daughter Romany.  It's an interesting song, but the production feels much more modern, like a contemporary pop song.  I didn't mind it, but folks who like their Gilmour material to feel classic may find it jarring.

Of course, Gilmour hasn't lost a step in his guitar work.  He still has his tasty licks and legato-style solos, so fans will get their fill for sure.  However, I feel like this album was more focused on the song-writing than the solos, and I think it makes the album feel a little more whole.  I don't know if I can really compare it to his other albums too well; I'd have to really dig in deep to compare.  However, on it's own, it's a solid album that shows how well Gilmour is aging, despite what the lyrics might imply.

Jon Anderson and the Band Geeks - True

So the story goes that the Band Geeks were just a cover band who happened to include a lot of Yes covers.  When Jon Anderson joined up with them, fans were talking about how good they were at playing classic Yes stuff.  Then they announced an album, and despite that pretty terrible cover art, they did end up recording something that sounds like classic Yes.

While Jon Anderson's singing and lyrics give this a heavy Yes-like tone, I do wonder if maybe the rest of the band is trying a little too hard to be like Yes from multiple eras.  Obviously, there's some classic Yes stuff, mostly Tales of Topographic Oceans or Going For the One, but there elements of their 80s pop sound, especially on "Shine On," and even some symphonic flourishes making me think of Magnification.  The Band Geeks are due a lot of credit, as they're playing is definitely spot on.  They are eager to sound like the classic members of Yes, with keyboard runs like Wakeman, basslines like Squire, and guitar solos like Howe.  

I guess my main concern is whether this stands on its own as good music or if it's just reminding me of music I already love.  I know I struggled with Arc of Life's two albums, to say nothing of what Yes has been doing lately, for the same problem.  However, I can't deny that Jon and the Geeks have worked out the kinks and made something that really clicks with me here and there.  "Shine On" has a lot of good energy on it, "Build Me an Ocean" sounds like it comes from The Living Tree, and the 16-minute epic "Once Upon a Dream" sounds like a sequel to "Awaken."  I get the feeling that if I listen to this more, I'll start to come around on it, but for now, it's a solid collection of tracks that fans of classic prog will probably enjoy.

Monkey3 - Welcome to the Machine

After loving their last album so much that it was my album of the year for 2019 (and checking out their first), I was pretty excited to hear they had a new one in the works.  However, this came out back in February.  I didn't plan to set it aside for so long, but life happens.  In any case, I'm finally catching up.  Despite the five year gap, these guys haven't lost a step.

As if the title wasn't obvious, these guys have a very Pink Floyd influenced sound, mixing in elements of post-rock, stoner rock, and even some crushing, Tool-like segments.   However, they are able to weave this together so that it all flows really well.  Their tone remains intact, drifting between mysterious and uplifting as the songs build and breakdown.  There is a stronger mechanical feel in the songs (matching the title), but it's only sprinkled in here and there, adding another layer to their iconic wall of sound.  Another factor I love about this band is, while they are experts at creating a solid spacey atmosphere, they aren't afraid to jam it out for a bit, freeing up the band to let the guitars go wild for a while.  Playing this stuff live must feel liberating.

I'm not going to lie: this is a Top 5 contender for the year.  "Ignition" gets things started perfectly, "Collision" is a solid follow up with the mechanical bits, "Kali Yuga" dips pretty deep into their atmospheric side, "Rackman" builds up really well, and "Collapse" is a good closer with a lot of fun Pink Floyd references and excellent transitions and dynamics.  I don't know if it's quite as good as Sphere, but it's very close, and certainly a standout album for 2024.

Last Played - August 2023!

I'm not sure if it's just me getting older, but I felt this summer has been busier than others, taking up a lot of my time.  Nevertheless, I was able to squeeze in a few listens here and there.  It's a bit of an eclectic trio of albums, but there's pretty solid stuff to talk about.  Here's what I've been listening to lately!

Primal Fear - Primal Fear

(So this is a bit awkward.  I had originally written this to be part of the 1998 Anniversary Article.  However, when I took a closer look, I realized this album came out at the end of 1997!  So I've decided to move it to this article instead.)

In the mid 90s, singer Ralf Scheepers left Gamma Ray in hopes of being auditioned for vocalist position in Judas Priest after hearing that his name got onto a short list of potential candidates.  However, when Ralf heard nothing, and then saw that Tim "Ripper" Owens got the job, he was approached by Mat Sinner to start a new project, which turned into Primal Fear.  Since then, Ralf and company have been tearing up the power metal scene with their Painkiller inspired sound.  While I have enjoyed many of their recent releases, I recently decided to check out their debut, and unsurprisingly it's another slab of solid heavy/power metal.

If there is a difference between this and the newer albums, it's that this is much more typical power metal, which makes sense, as the scene was really growing at the time.  The band really did go right at the start for the nexus between Judas Priest and Helloween or Gamma Ray (and they even get Kai Hansen to come play on a few songs!).  While they do mix it up with the occasional anthemic stomper or power ballad, they really lean on the uptempo chugging and bass drum double-kicking for most of these tracks, not that I'm complaining.  There are a few moments where there could have been a bit more polish, either on the lyrics or the transitions, but otherwise, it's pretty standard, satisfying stuff.

Ralf Scheepers makes his presence known all over this album (which makes sense, as he was the main reason the band was made in the first place); he really soars here.  The rest of the band is tight as well, with Tom Naumann's guitars putting out riff after riff, with some great solos.  "Chainbreaker" is an excellent opening track, "Promised Land" has some interesting 6/8 riffing, and both "Battalions of Hate" and "Running in the Dust" have a lot of old-school charm.  While it's not a mind-blowing debut, it's pretty clear these guys had something special from the beginning and they've made it their core going forward, resulting in a lot of excellent music.

Rick Wakeman - A Gallery of the Imagination

I had been aware of keyboard legend Rick Wakeman had worked on and released a new album early in the year, but when the first few singles were lackluster, I didn't really pay attention to the album when it came out.  However, now that Yes themselves have put out a new album, I felt the need to give Rick his due.  I really did enjoy his last album with the English Rock Ensemble, so I hoped that this would be a decent follow-up.  While there are some interesting ideas across a diverse set of songs, the album doesn't feel quite as strong or cohesive as The Red Planet did.

Probably the first big difference is the inclusion of Hayley Sanderson as a vocalist.  She's not bad, but maybe a little high and light, and the mix makes her seem slightly shrill once in a while.  The lyrics mostly stay in figurative and flowery territory to help evoke the imagery that Rick and his band are trying to create.  However, the main problem, and it's kind of a big one, is that the album focuses on a kind of proggy sophisticated pop rather than any kind of rock.  Not that I can't enjoy other genres outside of the rock sphere, but when I think of Rick Wakeman, I don't think of chilled, pop-oriented, art pieces (though I suppose that better fits the cover art).  I wouldn't have been surprised if he had covered "Smooth Operator" by Sade.

For what it's worth, what it lacks in way of rock or adventurous spirit it makes up for with some decent variety, shifting between soft layers of synths to solo piano to latin jazz grooves, with the occasional synth or guitar solo here and there.  "Hidden Depths" brings in a bit of rock, "The Man in the Moon" made me think of the Alan Parsons Project, and "The Moonlight Dream" has some interesting, dreamy synth layers and solos that trade between guitar and keys.  He also has just some straight up solo piano pieces that are nice and atmospheric, but overall, there really isn't much to recommend outside of the occasional decent synthesizer solo.  Perhaps it's just a consequence of having bad expectations, but after his last effort was such a solid proggy tribute to the red planet, this is quite the let down.

Monkey3 - Monkey3

After having enjoyed their last album so much that it was my album of the year in 2019 (good heavens, has it really been 4 years?), I knew I needed to dig into the backlog of this band and hear more of what they've done.  With 2003 being the next target for my Anniversary Article series, I figured I could sneak their debut in here on this article.  It's a bit of a shift from what I heard on Sphere, but they remain excellent at maintaining a spacey, rockin' atmosphere.

The first thing I noticed was a lack of the Pink Floyd sense of emotion, instead leaning in harder towards a riff-filled stoner rock with massive riffs that dominate the space.  However, they remain experts at dynamics, letting their songs drift between high intense sections and softer, brooding moments, without ever feeling jarring or strange.  The songs just ease themselves between the sections with jammy rhythms all the way through.  I felt like they were aiming for a space between Tool and Seven Planets with maybe a dash of Pearl Jam: solid grooves and big riffs bound together with good atmosphere.  Sometimes, a section will feel repetitive without much going on, but for psychedelic rock, this is minor gripe, as setting an immersive tone is the priority, and sometimes that requires a bit of repetition for the trance-y vibes to settle in.

Because the songs have such good flow, it's hard to identify which tracks are the best, especially when they often transition seamlessly from one to the next.  "Last Gamuzao" is a solid opener, setting the tone for the album and having excellent moments on its own.  "Bimbo" gave me Blade Runner vibes, and "Darkman's Nose" has some nice heavy riffing.  Overall, it was a solid listen, though not as mind-blowing a Sphere was when I first heard it.  Still, it's a good start for the band, and it's easy to see how they could build on this.

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While things remain busy, I still plan on trucking along, with the next Anniversary Article coming up next.  I know there's a lot of new releases I've been neglecting, but I intend to get to them soon.  As always, it's overwhelming to see just how many new releases come out each year, but I'll get to as many as I can, eventually.  Until then, rock on! \m/

New Videos - August 2019!

Phew!  Just in time for the end of the month!  I know I have so much more to catch up on, but at least here are some videos for August!

More Italian Prog Metal!  Hollow Haze brings a great, symphonic stomper with "Destinations," going big like good prog should do!  Very melodic and catchy, with moments where the orchestra really helps build things up.  Good stuff!

Alter Bridge is back with their blend of hard rock, alt metal, and post-grunge.  Again, I feel bad for having not gotten back into this band.  This song just has more of the same big riffs, soaring vocals, and introspective tone that I've always liked from Kennedy, Tremonti, and company.

Airbourne is back with another slab of blues-rock.  Frankly, it's hard to go wrong with what works, and we have another great rocker from these Aussies.  Not that there was any reason to doubt, as these guys know how to rock!

Yes, I know I already reviewed the Monkey3 album, but I don't care!  This stuff remains amazing!  Their eclectic mix of psychadelic, stoner, and post-rock cannot be denied!  This one is not as long and starts off rather acoustic, but that's only the set up for the banger this song becomes!

While this Rhapsody of Fire spin-off has been releasing singles for a while, this is the first one that really got my attention.  Here we have Turilli / Lione Rhapsody exploring more abstract, nearly science fiction concepts.  However, that symphonic power metal sound remains very intact, full of high-speed riffs and epic choruses backed by massive choirs!

I feel like I don't cover enough classic-style progressive rock around here.  Pattern-Seeking Animals is a side project featuring current and former members of Spock's Beard, and while I'm not familiar with the Star-Trek-inspired band, I know good melodic prog when I hear it.  A bit Yes, a bit Genesis, but very light and floaty.  Not bad!

Last Played - August 2019!

I think August is going faster than July did!!  Still, I've been trying to catch up on a bunch of the new releases.  Here's what I've been playing lately!

Crazy Lixx - Forever Wild

Taking a look at the cover art, you’d think it would be just chock-full of cheesy 80s anthemic rockers, and while you wouldn’t be wrong, when they’re this good, it just doesn’t matter!  Crazy Lixx is a band dedicated to keeping that classic pop metal sound alive, and they sound great on their latest record, comparable to the best of Def Leppard or Scorpions.

Of course, there are some pretty predictable songs, like “Wicked” being a straight-forward rocker about the wild life, and “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” is the kind of power ballad that dominated the radio in the late 80s.  However, if this kind of stuff was going to bother you, you’re listening to the wrong record.

What really stands out is the heart and passion these guys have for this sound.  This isn’t some half-baked effort to capitalize on a minor trend, but a band who makes the most of what made this kind of music great in the first place.  With so many fist-pumping anthems, especially “Break Out,” “Silent Thunder”, “Terminal Velocity,” and “Never Die (Forever Wild),” it’s hard to not just headbang along with a massive smile on your face.

As far as I’m concerned, there is no such thing as a dead genre, where nothing more worth saying with a certain style of music.  There is always room for high-quality, well executed rock music in my books, and Forever Wild knocks it out of the park. 

Paragon - Controlled Demolition

I was pretty impressed with Paragon’s two videos from earlier, so I figured I’d throw in their new album on and get a full dose of their sound.  What I got was more of the same: crunchy, heavy, thrashy, Accept-inspired German metal!

This being my first experience with a Paragon album, they certainly know how to lay on the riffs.  Whether they’re stomping at a mid-tempo pace and powering ahead with high speed thrashers, it’s non-stop crunching from beginning to end.  And on top of it all is Andreas Babuschkin’s vocals, sounding very Udo-like, full of soaring power and strength. 

Some tracks do stand out, though.  First, you have “Reborn” and “Mean Machine” really blowing things up at the beginning, but later tracks like “The Enemy Within” and “Black Widow” maintain that power.  In the middle is the 8 minute epic “Deathlines,” which starts off with a slower vibe, but eventually kicking into double-speed madness before settling back in that earlier, haunting tone.  Other tracks are not as strong, but don’t drag the album down, making the album feel fairly solid from beginning to end.

Much like it’s cousin “Fight the Fear” by Herman Frank from earlier in the year, it’s straight ahead metal, though Paragon does provide a thrashier vibe.  Definitely a blast to listen to when you want that Teutonic metal sound!

Monkey3 - Sphere

I know I joked about having posted half the album in my video posts, but I really was impressed with what I found.  Finally, I decided to give the whole album a go and listen to the other half.  To be short, it’s just as good!  

On the videos, I made reference to their Pink Floyd influence, but as I’m taking in the whole thing, I’m also hearing bits of Tool, post-rock, doom metal, along with all the psychedelia they’re throwing around.

However, their biggest trademark is their sheer wall-of-sound approach to song-writing.  These guys sound gigantic!  Not a single corner of your headphones will feel empty once they get going.  Even with the beginning of “Ida” starting as something of an acoustic ballad eventually gives way to outright sonic force.

Another thing I liked about the album is how liberating it felt.  As opposed to Tool with their angst-filled brooding, Monkey3 have more of a lighter, flying feel.  It really gives me the impression that these songs would be an absolute blast to play live, as the musicians have all kinds of room to noodle and explore.

If there is a potential flaw, it’s that the album doesn’t really have a lot of diversity in tone.  While each song is memorable in its own way, they all go for the same tone throughout the album.  It’s certainly not a bad thing for a band to stick to their sound, but those looking for more variety in their albums may find this one a little single-minded.

However, for me, this stuff was amazing.  From the explosive “Spirals” to the epic “Ellipsis,” I was completely blown away.  Seriously, I think this is the best album I’ve heard this year so far!  Full of passion and great musicianship, this is clearly a band I need to listen to a lot more!!

Find Me - Angels In Blue

To round things out, I decided to listen to some old-fashioned AOR.  While Journey will likely always be the reference point for this kind of music, Find Me look to build on that foundation by having more emphasis on synths, a sharper production, and putting the drummer right next to the vocals in the mix.

Of course, the singer is always going to be center of this kind of music, but the guitars really do feel like background music and don't really do that much soloing.  While it's not a bad choice, it's definitely something I noticed listening through the album.  The lyrics are also that specific kind of sentimental one expects from this kind of music.  Nothing awful, but nothing really noteworthy.

However, if you're in for some anthemic rockers from the early 80s, it's hard to go wrong with what Find Me is providing here.  While the songs do kind of blend together, it is pretty fun to listen to while it's on.  Like I said earlier, there is no such thing as a dead genre, and as long as we have bands like this providing new, solid AOR, that will remain a fact.

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It's been fun to finally catch up on some new releases, but I know I'm still struggling to make new articles for this blog.  While I'm not giving up on it, I don't think I can really make any promises regarding the frequency of my output.  I think I can do a videos post before the end of the month, but we'll have to see, as this week is going to be busy for me.

Still, I'm glad to talk about some new stuff, and hopefully even more great rock is around the corner.  Until then, rock on!  \m/

New Videos - July 2019!

Good heavens, July is slipping right by!  Good think I've found some great new songs to share!  It's a little all over the place, but still full of epic rock and metal for you.  Check them out!

Talk about a huge AOR sound!  I admit I had never heard of Unruly Child before now, but I'm impressed!  This song has it all: great riffs, sweeping synths, and an huge, uplifting chorus.  I can only hope the rest of their new album sounds like this!

Yup, here's some more Grand Magus.  This is another solid piece of traditional metal, full of vikings and epicness provided the only way these guys can.

Yes, I know, another Monkey3 video from their new album Sphere.  At this point, I've posted half of the album, but I don't care!  They sound amazing!  Another incredible slice of psychedelic rock that builds into a massively epic ending!

So the power metal band ReinXeed decided to rebrand themselves as Majestica, but keep the same, straight ahead epic metal we've known them for.  I'm not sure why they decided to change their name, but I'm not complaining!  Sounding like a mix of Stratovarius and Rhapsody of Fire (with a few bass solos thrown in!), this song just plain rocks!

Here's another new power metal band, this time made up of people who've worked with U.D.O., Twilight Force, and even Yngwie J. Malmsteen.  Again, epic straight-forward, and full of those lightning fast guitar leads I love so much.  Looking forward to more from these guys!

Let's finish off with another power metal banger!  Twilight Force is showing off their new singer for their next album, but their sound stays comfortably between Rhapsody of Fire and DragonForce, so it's not really a surprise I like it!  I can't help but love the epicness of this kind of stuff!!

New Videos - June 2019!

Well, after such a busy April and May, I seemed to have slumped a little.  Don't worry, I have plenty of content coming down the pipeline, but first, let's cover some new videos.  Turn it up!

I know it might seem strange to start with a ballad, but this one does have quite a bit of heart behind it, even if it is broken!  Soaring vocals from Herry Hess along with a symphonic vibe really help this one soar.  Get out the lighters

Crazy Lixx is at it again, with another anthemic 80s-styled rocker!  With that epic, glossy Def Leppard vibe, these guys bring the fun for their brand of glam metal, and it just sounds amazing!  Having a few fighter jets flying around blowing things up doesn't hurt either.

What's this?  More AOR?  Why not!  Here we have Hardline again rocking like it's still 1982, and that's a good thing!  This has all the drive and adrenaline a good rock song like this needs!

Have I mentioned how impressed I've been with Italian Prog Metal lately?  Here's another great epic, though it's a little closer to traditional metal, but full of melodic leads and epic synths.  Still, great stuff!

And now for something a little different.  Monkey3 is known for their modern take on psychedelic rock and just like the last song I featured, this is full of atmosphere and intensity.  The fact that this is live doesn't affect the sonic weight and power of what they have going here.

Man, these guys can play!  I know I've posted them here before, but I can't help it!  So intense while still being melodic and catchy!  Once again, big Megadeth vibes, without feeling derivative, this is just another dose of great metal!!

New Videos - May 2019!

Here we go, kicking things off with more videos!  I think I'm gonna have a bunch of these articles for May, as I'm seeing a lot of good stuff in the pipeline, as well as learning about a lot of new bands!

However, let's kick things off with one of my favorite bands: Hammerfall!  Coming back with their 11th album, they decide to start off with something that's more mid-tempo and anthemic as they celebrate their Swedish rock heritage. A solid start!

Here we have a new AOR project from Mike Slamer, who seems to have a lot of those.  This time, he's teamed up with Andrew Freeman from Last in Line for some great 80s anthemic rock.  This one has a very nice mix of guitars, synths, and epic vocals!

Apparently this band has been around since the mid-90s, but this song really doesn't show any aging in their classic sound.  While giving me some massive Saxon vibes, this is a nice slice of old-school metal for those who hanker for the days of denim and leather!

I admit that, except for Pink Floyd, my knowledge of psychedelic or space rock is pretty limited, but this is some amazing stuff from Monkey3!  The guitar has a bit of a Gilmour vibe in the solo, but the rest is a very dynamic mix of guitars and synths that really takes you out there!

Moonlight Haze is a new band, but seems to be sticking with a very solid style of symphonic metal.  Full of dramatic sweeps and epic vocals, there may not be any surprises, but it's well put together, and shows the promise this band has.

I'm really getting the impression that Italy has a lot of solid progressive metal bands (maybe because of their RPI heritage?).  This is Hollow Haze, and while it might not be the most proggy piece out there, this one is still some great, melodic metal, with some synth leads thrown in for good measure!