Has anybody else noticed the relative quiet in the progressive rock world lately? I can’t just be me. Sure, Spock’s Beard has a new album coming out soon (and it is good – I’ve heard an advance review copy), but it seems like all the “big” names are taking it easy. Of course, Mike Portnoy is currently touring with Sons of Apollo as they play their brilliant debut album, so that explains the lack of newer material from his other bands. Even Muse has been quiet lately, although they claim they’re going to record some new music this year. That still leaves me wondering what the heck has happened to Moon Safari, Mystery, or even little known band Persona Grata, whose 2013 album “Reaching Places High Above Me” was fantastic.
Where is everyone? Am I selfishly shouting to an empty room?! ENTERTAIN ME!!! Ok, I’m exaggerating a lot. I know most of these people have full-time jobs and family commitments that keep them from pursuing what they love, but I still see a bit of a genre-wide drought from the more prominent names thus far in 2018.
I recently wrote a tribute to Colin Tench over at the Dutch Progressive Rock Page. I also reviewed his two most recent albums, which he released under the Colin Tench Project banner. While I only ever “spoke” with him via email, he was great to interact with. He was so supportive of Progarchy, which we greatly appreciated. It was truly sad to see him go.
“Wither” is one of Dream Theater’s better ballads. John Petrucci wrote it as a way of conveying the writer’s block he sometimes experiences in writing music. I’ve found that it makes an excellent theme song for my graduate school experience. Soul crushing, to say the least.
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. – John 15:12-13
Today, and for the past several days, Christians have been celebrating a love so overpowering that it appears absolutely foolish to the minds of man. I’m continually astounded by the fact that God Himself would lay down His life so that we don’t have to spend eternity separated from Him, if we choose to lay down our pride and submit to His perfect plan. In defeating death, Jesus has made that possible. What a magnificent love.
The last few days have been rough. Grad school. Internship applications. Living in a city. Yuck. For as much as I love being fully informed, there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t want to jump in my 33 year old car and drive until I’m miles away from the nearest person. (Here‘s somebody who just about did that – one of the most enjoyable books I’ve ever read.)
Whilst wallowing in this state of mind, a gathering of angels appeared above my head… and they were playing Haken, who seemed to be echoing my very thoughts. This is what they said:
Eyes open wide as I awake
I sense no change within the air
Hope leaves my soul, I paralyse
This world of pain and suffering
Creeps into me and once again
I mourn the loss of innocence
If I could run away
Back to my innocent days
Someone’s calling me
Echoes of a childhood memory
Someone’s calling me
Echoes of a childhood memory
Passages of time
Buried in the chaos of my mind
Chronicles of life
Concealing a truth I left behind
Passages of time
Buried in the chaos of my mind
Chronicles of life
Concealing a truth I can’t deny
Moon begins to rise
Reflecting on a life once sanctified
Night begins to fall
Voices of my youth, immutable
Memories collide
My scattered soul is almost unified
Thoughts are in full flight
Enveloping a wisdom earned with time
Passages of time
Stripping back the layers of my mind
Chronicles of life
Unraveling a truth which I must find
Haken really doesn’t get enough credit for the brilliance of their lyrics. They aren’t obvious, but they are glorious. I always find something new in them. The above lyrics are from their song, “Crystallised.” This song is one of the best prog metal songs in the genre. Haken always seem to lift my spirits. They end the song with nothing but hope and joy:
I have returned
To the springtime in the garden
Seeds are sown, flowers grow
And the child is born again
Filled with delight
And the laughter is contagious
As we dance, as we sing
Celebrating ’til the end
Joy and respite
On the faces of the children
With a smile, realise
That their love will never end
I have received
Affirmation of the spirit
Falling snow takes me home
And the man is whole again
Mind open wide as I awake
I sense a change within myself
Hope feeds my soul I realise
I feel the earth under my feet
Son by my side, I am complete
Pride fills my heart in Paradise
Hearts open wide as I awake
I sense a change within myself
Love feeds my soul I realise
This world of pain and suffering
Ignites in me and once again
Sparks the rebirth of innocence
If I could run away
I’d choose to live for today
Someone’s calling me
Echoes of a childhood memory
The moon will rise
The night will fall
I hold your hand
But you let go
The sun will shine
The snow will thaw
All things must pass
Into the unknown
Escaping the past by embracing the future
Escaping the past by embracing the future
Escaping the past by embracing the future
Escaping the past by embracing the future
You gotta love Prog Magazine. They are always introducing me to new things. Orphaned Land, a band of which I was completely unaware fifteen minutes ago, just released a new album yesterday entitled Unsung Prophets and Dead Messiahs. Steve Hackett features prominently on the track “Chains Fall to Gravity.” The song loosely reminds me of Hackett’s recent solo output before he even begins playing his guitar solo. The entire song is magnificently epic.
Here’s to hoping that the prog gods shine upon Progarchy and send us a review copy!
We are playing two shows in 2018. These will be the only two gigs this year as we are currently writing music for a new album which we will be recording in the autumn.
Films of the Kings Place 2015 shows
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Films of our 2015 concerts at Kings Place, London have now been made available for rental or purchase from Vimeo. The films provide a complete set one and a complete set two. Links here:
Founder member of Big Big Train, Andy Poole, has recently left the band and we wish him well in his future adventures. We will make an announcement soon on the additional musician we have recruited to replace Andy for our live shows.
Best wishes
Danny, Dave, David, Greg, Nick, Rachel and Rikard
Well, I’ve bought my digital copy of the King’s Place shows. Have you??!! Take note that there are free downloads of three of the band’s music videos also available on Vimeo.
I loved Sound of Contact’s first album, but this band seems to be surrounded by some sort of unknown drama. Simon Collins (son of the mighty Phil) and Kelly Nordtrom both announced that they have left the band. Since Simon was both drummer and vocalist, it really isn’t Sound of Contact without him (there’s no way they have another drummer that happens to sound exactly like him). This is certainly a very strange turn of events, especially considering Dave Kerzner left the band and rejoined a few years ago.
Here we are again, folks. We find ourselves at the end of another great year for prog. Sadly, we’ve had to say goodbye to some amazing artists this year, including John Wetton, but we at least have their music by which to remember them.
I know I’ve been a bit quiet here at Progarchy lately due to beginning graduate school this fall. Hopefully things settle down going forward, and I’ll be able to contribute more. For now, here are my favorite albums from 2017 in vaguely ascending order.
Sad news today from AC/DC – legendary rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young has died at age 64 after battling dementia over the last several years. A true icon in rock music, Malcolm played some of the meanest riffs you will ever hear. RIP.
Progarchy 