German Experimentalists ART AGAINST AGONY Join Patreon; Asking Support for Album #3

On By NickIn progressive rockLeave a comment

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Recently Misha Mansoor (Periphery) shocked the metal community by sharing with the world that he can’t make a living solely from his band.

This is common ground for almost all newer bands of our time, yet what has brought the rapid downfall in CD sales and decline of the music industry — the internet — also presents us with a range of new possibilities to support the bands we love and cherish even stronger than before.

Instrumental progressive metal band Art Against Agony from Germany have produced two albums and two EPs since 2014 and have toured Europe, Russia and South America over the course of the last few years, taking the management and production of the band fully into their own hands.

For the production of their third album Shiva Appreciation Society the project has now joined funding platform Patreon to give their fans a unique opportunity to support the band and become a part of the new production themselves.

From a range of 1€-50€ support, the band is offering anything from a free album until a complete involvement into the production process, being able to give the band feedback about raw tracks during composition and mixing of the album. Additionally, there is a very limited amount of t-shirts available exclusively for the Patreon supporters only!

The third album of the artist collective will be very experimental and progressive, yet one can expect a big focus on the bands Indian percussion player the_maximalist and their piano player the_surgeon, giving both of them a major spotlight.

The band will release their new record in October 2018 and follow up with a European tour, and there is more to come!

Video trailer for the new album Shiva Appreciation Society can be seen below.

Heavy Metal in Pictures

Excuse the quality, but still probably worth more than my thousand words.

Dark Funeral
At the Gates
At the Gates
Carcass
Carcass
Dying Fetus
Dying Fetus
Incantation
Incantation
Mayhem
Mayhem
Repulsion
Repulsion
Watain
Watain

 

On By Mahesh SreekandathIn Heavy metal1 Comment

Second Spring #3: “The Permanent Way” by Big Big Train

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment

The seventeenth track, “The Permanent Way,” on Big Big Train’s ENGLISH ELECTRIC: FULL POWER (2013), might very well be one of the most important songs written and produced during what many call Third-wave Prog.

Spawton and Betjeman
Two masters of the word.

The album itself, of course, is extraordinary, especially in its building of textures–all of which weave in and out, away and to, near and far, above and beyond.

Not only is the weave exceptional, but so is the actual existence of time during the album, which, depending on how BBT shape the music, slows up or speeds down.  As the title suggestions, “The Permanent Way” considers those things that remain, those that stood strong and remain standing.  Thus, the song represents a still point, around which time itself flows.

The still point of the song is the profound British poet, John Betjeman, rivaled in stance only by T.S. Eliot in twentieth-century poetic achievement.  With brass, guitars, keyboards, bass, and a variety of other instruments, the band slowly approaches the poet.  Longdon’s voice gently offers a prelude as homage.  The moment Betjeman speaks, Longdon defers, treating the master with all due deference and respect.  The result is a majestic whole that brings together past, present, and future.  This is what Big Big Train does best.  And, frankly, no one does it better.

 

 

 

Past Second Springs:

  1. Kevin McCormick’s “Storm Front.”
  2. The Fierce and the Dead’s “Part I”

 

Inspired by Craig Breaden’s brilliant 104-part Soundstream, I’ve decided to post music that reveals that rock and jazz (and some other forms of music) are not the end of western civilization, but the culmination of western civilization up to this point in time.  A second spring, if you will.

 

 

 

“I Can Change” – Lake Street Dive @lakestreetdive

On By Time LordIn progressive rock1 Comment

So glad I got my tickets, because the Vancouver show is now sold out! (Now they’ll have to update that JPG above.)

Anyway, here’s the latest killer single, previewing the exciting new album. What a song!

Second Spring #2: “Part I” by The Fierce and the Dead

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment

It’s hard to believe that I first encountered The Fierce and the Dead almost a full decade ago. They’ve been such a part of my musical life over the past eight years, that it’s actually hard to remember a time when I didn’t listen to them.

As I’ve had the privilege of arguing before, The Fierce and the Dead is, essentially, what might happen if Johnny Marr played with King Crimson.

But, labels.

Who needs them?  Just know that Matt Stevens and co. give theirs hearts, minds, and souls for the world of music.  And, we are all the better for it.

 

 

Past Second Springs:

  1. Kevin McCormick’s “Storm Front.”

 

Inspired by Craig Breaden’s brilliant 104-part Soundstream, I’ve decided to post music that reveals that rock and jazz (and some other forms of music) are not the end of western civilization, but the culmination of western civilization up to this point in time.  A second spring, if you will.

Second Spring #1: Kevin McCormick’s “Storm Front.”

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock1 Comment

Inspired by Craig Breaden’s brilliant 104-part Soundstream, I’ve decided to post music that reveals that rock and jazz (and some other forms of music) are not the end of western civilization, but the culmination of western civilization up to this point in time.

A second spring, if you will.

For our first entry, from our own cherished progarchist, Kevin McCormick.  This from his 1999 album, SQUALL.  “Storm Front.”

Immerse yourself.

Chicago Prog God, Zee Baig, with Jordan Rudess

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock2 Comments

The meeting of three extraordinary talents: Rudess, Baig, and Bowie.  Enjoy.

Led, IN THROUGH THE OUT DOOR — Lee Speaks About…

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment

In Through The Out Door (2 CD Deluxe Edition) – Led Zeppelin Introduction… The bands 8th and final studio album must of seemed like a lifetime to be released, and arrived some 3 years after their previous album Presence back in 1976. Once again more tragic events happened to fall upon Robert Plant and when […]

via Lee Speaks About Music… #68 — Lee Speaks About…

Rush, CARESS OF STEEL (Drew’s Reviews)

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock3 Comments

After all these years… (Cue the deep throated voice.) Actually don’t. Last year, sometime, I received the somewhat infamous Rush album Caress Of Steel reissued on vinyl. You know that expensive reissue on 200 gram virgin vinyl. Though long ago purchased on CD, cassette and vinyl the new record was meant to fill out the […]

via Album Review: Rush – Caress of Steel (Vinyl) — Drew’s Reviews

Soundstream on Vacation

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock1 Comment

As many of you have probably noticed, there’s no SOUNDSTREAM column this weekend.

Our beloved Craig Breaden has been posting them now for exactly 2 years–104 total, one per Sunday.  They’ve been extraordinary.  In fact, Craig’s not capable of doing anything halfway.  He’s just as extraordinary as his posts and writing.  Crisp, adventurous, imaginative, integrity–all words that describe Craig.

After 104 episodes, Craig is taking a well-deserved vacation with his family.

Happy Easter, Craig.