Category: Progressive rock

Review: Mezzanine Floor – Architecture Of Aeons

On By NickIn Progressive rock1 Comment

architecture-of-aeons

Mezzanine Floor is a South African band that has been active since 2010. They released their debut album this past September, bringing a mix of a catchy progressive metal and hard/alternative rock sound which circles around melodeath in some parts, then turns back again where it takes its roots. The album is called “Architecture Of Aeons” and it includes 11 songs. Both lyrically and musically the album is built around emotional fields covered with anger.

“Architecture Of Aeons” knows how to satisfy one’s ears. Great guitar melodies, mostly brutal vocals in a combination with cleans, lots of “anger” that helps in expressing the song vibes. This album is a great familiar tune from the very known and loved bands such as In Flames, Mastodon, Tool, and Children of Bodom.

“Architecture Of Aeons” is an interesting take on the mentioned genres; technically it is very professionally built. Hopefully we won’t wait too long for its follow-up. A must-listen of the year.

Get a copy of “Architecture Of Aeons” here.

Kate Bush — “And Dream of Sheep (Live)” — Official Video

On By Time LordIn Progressive rock1 Comment


This is a special piece of film to accompany the release of the live single ‘And Dream Of Sheep’. The vocal was performed live while filming Kate lying in the huge water tank at Pinewood Studios. This was to create a sense of realism, as the character in the song is lost at sea. However it became more realistic than Kate had imagined. She spent so long in the water during the first day of filming that she contracted mild hypothermia. She recovered after a day off and carried on filming. Everyone agreed it had added to the authenticity of the performance. This film was then projected onto a large oval screen which hung above the stage during the performances of her live show.

SexCake episode 7! Sick bed burrito! — Grendel HeadQuarters

On By IrisIn Progressive rockLeave a comment

Seventh episode of SexCake! DJ Mowsee and Lady K discuss the music that’s played during this episode track by track. WARNING: This show is uncensored! It contains useful (or useless) info about your favourite tracks, a DJ Mowsee on a bed (and you may guess if he’s wearing any pants), and your usual dose of Tim Bowness (which Lady K almost forgot to add to the playlist).

You will hear music from Dark New Day, Boards Of Canada, Katatonia, A Chinese Firedrill, Cog, Pride & Glory, Cocteau Twins, Stereomud, Tool, Moonbound, Twelve Foot Ninja, Stick Men, Maybe Tranquility, Puya and no-man!

You can listen to the show here:

Join SexCake on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/142378056232821/

This show was originally broadcast on ISKC Rock Radio! Join the ISKC Facebook Group and give the ISKC Radio Group a like!
http://iskc.rocks/
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via SexCake episode 7! Sick bed burrito! — Grendel HeadQuarters

Prog But Not Prog: Local Comic Books Day

On By bradbirzerIn Progressive rockLeave a comment
local-comic-book-day
One worthy effort.

Today is Local Comic Book Day in North America. Most comic shops have limited markets and can always use much bigger ones.

For what it’s worth, my kids would not be the kids they are without comic books inspiring them to read, to think imaginatively, and to emulate heroes who are not afraid to speak and act in the name of virtue. I can say the same about myself (whatever my faults).

If it helps to overcome the stigma that comics are “funny books” or juvenile, just think of comic books as intricately and nobling moving and interlocking stained glass.

Or, consider this. All modern comic book heroes are simply medieval saints and classical heroes and demigods in modern garb.

So, without hestitatiion, I encourage you to support your local comic book store today.

http://localcomicshopday.com/participating-stores/

PRR’s THE DARK THIRD: 10 Years Later

On By bradbirzerIn Progressive rock2 Comments
thedarkthird
One of at least three different covers for this album.

If there’s anything in the music world quite like Pure Reason Revolution’s first full album, THE DARK THIRD, I’ve never encountered it.  Of course, I can think of Talk Talk, Lush, Pink Floyd, My Bloody Valentine, Porcupine Tree, Cocteau Twins, NAO, and Newspaperflyhunting. . . but PRR is still something rather altogether different.

Even upon my very first listen, I remember being just utterly dazzled.  Hard to believe that has already been a decade ago.  it was the first album I ever purchased as a download.  Frankly, I hate downloads, and I have long since bought the actual physical CD of THE DAR THIRD, but I remember well putting my credit card number in and waiting nervously for it to appear in iTunes.

Continue reading “PRR’s THE DARK THIRD: 10 Years Later” →

Wowwie! — Grendel HeadQuarters

On By IrisIn Progressive rock2 Comments

Sometimes you get the most sweetest messages from the most awesome artists!🙂 I’m near to tears! Thank you so much dear Sel Balamir of Rockosmos!

By the way, go buy your own copy of AWOOGA‘s album here: http://awooga.bandcamp.com/

via Wowwie! — Grendel HeadQuarters

The Fierce and the Dead: Both and Neither

On By bradbirzerIn Progressive rockLeave a comment

I’m sorry, but, really, who doesn’t love these guys!?!?!  So glad to know that BEM is treating them so royally.  –Brad

a2125809357_16

***

The Fierce And The Dead – If It Carries On Like This We Are Moving To Morecambe (remastered) – released by Bad Elephant Music on 18th November 2016

Originally released in 2016, the album has been remastered with five bonus tracks, and is presented in Digipak format for the first time. The release also features all new artwork by celebrated artist Mark Buckingham.

…Morecambe represents the first flowering of The Fierce And The Dead’s signature sound, and displays both the immediacy of their music and a promise of what was to come.

Guitarist Matt Stevens says: “We’re really pleased to get this opportunity to release a definitive version of the first Fierce And The Dead album – we’re still really proud of it. It’s nice to get an opportunity to go back to  remaster it, sort out the packaging and put some previously unreleased tunes on there. Mark Buckingham’s brand new art is really special and the opportunity to work with one of our favourite artists is a massive deal for all of us. I’m really pleased to be able to release it in partnership with our friends at BEM.”

Continue reading “The Fierce and the Dead: Both and Neither” →

Iris Interviews: Geoff Tate (Operation: Mindcrime, ex-Queensrÿche) — Grendel HeadQuarters

On By IrisIn Progressive rockLeave a comment

Written interview! Interview with Geoff Tate of Operation: Mindcrime Geoff Tate recently released his second studio album with his band Operation: Mindcrime, named Resurrection (you can read my review of that album here). It’s a follow up of the album The Key, and the second part of the trilogy. Geoff and Iris did an interview […] Continue reading by clicking on the link below!

via Iris Interviews: Geoff Tate (Operation: Mindcrime, ex-Queensrÿche) — Grendel HeadQuarters

A Proper Awe: The Gift’s WHY THE SEA IS SALT

On By bradbirzerIn Progressive rock1 Comment

The Gift, WHY THE SEA IS SALT (Bad Elephant Music, 2016).  Tracks: At Sea; Sweeper of Dreams; Tuesday’s Child; The Tallest Tree; All These Things; and Ondine’s Song.

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From: Bad Elephant Music, 2016

Talk about mythic.  The Gift has given us a love song to the vast world of the oceans.  Well, “love” might be too strong.  There’s love here, to be sure, but there’s also fear and mystery and more than a bit of properly understood awe.

Finding myself quite taken with this most recent release, I keep feeling waves of nostalgia for the first time my great friend, Craig Breaden, introduced me to real Procol Harum—not the Procol Harum of the top 40, but Procol Harum in all of the band’s art rock glory.  Yes, The Gift talk about “Salty Dogs”, but it’s far more than this lyrical reference that calls me back to my first moments with that Procol Harum album, more than a quarter of a century ago, now.

Partly, it’s the flow of the album.

Partly, it’s the intelligence of the lyrics.

And, partly, it’s the whimsy that mixes so well with gravity—not an easy skill for any lyricist.

And, there’s another fantastic aspect to this album—the flow of the music perfectly follows the flow of an ocean journey.  How The Gift accomplished this so ably, I’m not sure.  But, every instrument—whether the keys, the bass (love the bass playing on this album; absolutely love it), the voice, or the guitar—leads to the next one, always playing nicely as it trades off the focus, one to the next.  The effect is an usual and compelling flow for the listener as he (or she!) journeys from one wave to the next.

Continue reading “A Proper Awe: The Gift’s WHY THE SEA IS SALT” →

Rush: TIME STAND STILL–still in theaters

On By bradbirzerIn Progressive rockLeave a comment

This just came from Rush official:

Due to overwhelming demand, there will be encore screenings of the documentary Rush | Time Stand Still across the US on Thursday, November 17 – check http://rushtimestandstill.com for a theatre near you!

On Thursday, November 17 there will also be a special screening by Planet Rock in London, UK. The event will be hosted by Rush Superfan Darren Redick at Planet Rock studios at 6pm. There are 10 pairs of exclusive tickets to be won, you can enter here: http://www.planetrock.com/win/rush-exclusive-uk-advance-screening/Contest closes Monday Nov 14 at 23:59PM.