*. Conqueror .*

Album: Stems (2014)
Genre: Prog Rock (Crossover/Symphonic Prog)  /  Italy

4 years separate the last studio album from the new Conqueror release, entitled "STEMS". Years of important changes within the formation, which returned to a less orchestral line up than in the past, concentrating on the original form of the very first band. In compliance with the novelties, we still find the points on which the band's music has always been based: the self-imposed guildelines "no ready-made rules" and "keep changing constantly the compositional approach". The new album contains eight tracks for a total of over 60 minutes of music. Each song is a glimpse thought from everyday life. The trait d'union of all the songs tells how the passage of time changes the vision of reality undergoing constant change, thus requiring a different way of dealing with situations and relating to them. To relive images in the memory, after visiting places that in the tranquility of the memory will remain forever shrouded in their beauty; to rethink the value of small gestures, which are becoming more meaningful over time and are revived with the nostalgia of those who still seeks in the present. (www.deejay.de)

Songs / Tracks Listing
01. Gina
02. Di Notte
03. False Idee
04. Un'altra realtà
05. Sole al buio
06. C'est la vie
07. Sigurtà
08. Echi di verità

Line-up / Musicians
Simona Rigano / vocals & keyboards
Ture Pagano / guitars
Peppe Papa / bass
Natale Russo / drums

RATING:  ??????????????

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*. Cargoe .* (Japan Remaster)

Album: Cargoe (1972)(Japan Remaster 2003 + 1 Bonus)
Genre: Psychedelic Rock (Hard Rock/Blues/Southern/Pop)  /  USA

Like The Hot Dogs a year later, Cargoe released their sole record in the early 1970s on Memphis-based label Ardent Records, home to better-known Big Star. Indeed, Cargoe's self-titled record was released the very same year as Big Star's '#1 Record'. Produced by Terry Manning whose 'Home Sweet Home' Lp released in 1969 trod more or less the same musical ground, that is to say a blend of psychedelic pop rock and Memphis soul, with more folk-rock leanings on here, Cargoe's eponymous album can be regarded as a precursor of that now almost mythical Ardent sound which the aura of a band like Big Star has helped cultivate. Review by "popphil" (Rate Your Music).

Songs / Tracks Listing
01. Come Down
02. Feel Alright
03. Horses And Silver Things
04. Scenes
05. Things We Dream Today
06. Time
07. Feelin' Mighty Poorly
08. Thousand Peoples Song
09. Heal Me
10. I Love You Anyway
11. Leave Today
12. Tokyo Love (Bonus)

Line-up / Musicians
Tommy Richard / guitars
Bill Phillips / keyboards
Max Wisley / bass
Tim Benton / drums

RATING:  7.75 / 10

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*. Mechanical Organic .*

Album: This Global Hive: Part Two (2014)
Genre: Prog Metal (Melodic Metal)  /  Australia

Songs / Tracks Listing
01. Show Me Oblivion
02. The Guiding Lie
03. Of Leprous Minds
04. Hate Remembers/Love Forgot
05. Empty Shell
06. Through The Lens
07. The Drifting Part
08. An Architect's Farewell
09. To Be King

Line-up / Musicians
David Bellion / Vocals, Guitars and Keyboards
Eddie Katz / Keyboards
Connie D / Guitar
Evan Harris / Bass, Chapman and NS Stick
Andrew Hurst / Drums

RATING:  7.25 / 10

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*. The Spiritual Bat .*

Album: Mosaic (2014)
Genre: Gothic Rock (Psych/Occult Rock/Dark/Prog)  /  Italy

Without losing sight of the current goth picture, The Spiritual Bat sounds delightfully old-school mirrored and, at the same time, they manage to infuse the free-for-all lo-fi realm with a refreshing breath of air. The Italians have lived up again their deathrock lineage with the release of Mosaic - third full-length studio album to date - which additionally has been pervaded with a pinch of occult rock magic. Rossetta Garrì (vocals, lyrics, programming, additional percussions, synths) and Dario Passamonti (original music, guitars, bass, synths) have struck an excellent balance between the guitar-heavy, rumbling dancefloor aspects of the genre and its more ornate flourishes. Some special guests have took part in the recording, including Alessio Santoni (Ufip, Volume, Facus) on drums, and Tyves Oben (Place4Tears, Scarless Arms), Ashkelon Sain (Trance To The Sun, Soriah) and Greg Scott Cruz (Sullen Serenade, Inheirent) on some keyboard tracks. The album is comprised of nightmarish, alchemic and psychedelic fragments, woven together by flawless guitar shimmers and distortions, as well as hauntingly chameleonic female vocals. So Mosaic seems totally apt title for this cohesive, yet enoughly varied, repertoire. Thus, tunes like the eponymous track or "We Are Born We Live We Die" will be your best choice if you're seeking for a distinctly goth adrenaline rush. Moody bass thrums coupled with sinous, scathing riffs, tribal drums propelling and Rossetta commanding the structures through her punkish conjurations while the keyboards spread veiled hints of Eastern. Furthermore, you can lose yourself in the enchantments of titles like "So Proud", "Of Breath And Veils (Battlefield)" or "Blown Away" which, relatively speaking, positions the duo directly one step below long-running acts such as Christian Death and Faith And The Muse. Certainly, this kind of tragically profound and charming soundscapes is affordible by only a few bands nowadays. The singer by herself just adds a disarmingly emotional complexity to the compositions. Whether she's performing like possessed by an evil spirit or wailing off in the distance, her voice is soaring, unnerving, and even seductive, with a touch of weird persuasiveness. Although the ritual should not work without Passamonti's precise counterpoints - at times choruses - on strings, inducing simultaneously to anxiety and reverie. No less impressive - albeit drowning deeper into murky waters - there are "Death March", with exciting proto-doom reminiscences on the driving riffs and drum thuds, "Hypnotic", an hallucinogenic succession of silky and spherical passages that leaves a subtle 70's aftertaste, "If I Were A Flower (The Journey)", with mournful melodies causing an occasional rapture, and "Linfo", which seems perfect sonic embodiment of a witches' coven. Nine tracks in total, all of them providing a powerful sense of mystique and occult. Indeed Mosaic gives a clear statement of how to remap the Goth genoma without compromising its original DNA. Review by "Billyphobia" (http://terrarelicta.com).

RATING:  7.75 / 10

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*. Ring .* (Reissue)

Album: The Empire of Necromancers (1975)(Reissue 2006)
Genre: Prog Rock (Psych/Space Rock/Symphonic Prog)  /  Japan

RING is a very obscure Japanese outfit that existed in the second half of the '70s. This CD, "The Empire of Necromancers" includes all the recordings they've ever made, none of them having been available until now. The first five tracks were recorded live in the studio in the fall of 1975 and feature the performance of all the musicians mentioned in the lineup above. The opening instrumental piece improperly entitled as Prolog covers one third of the space of Ring's single conventional LP and is clearly overextended. It includes several different sections, but the band so often returns to previously traversed paths that I'd have to strongly strain my imagination to regard it as a true suite. What's most disappointing, however, is that most of the composition sounds heavily derivative, the themes being just ripped off from Pink Floyd's famous songs, namely Welcome to the Machine, Shine on You Crazy Diamond and Astronomy Domine. Only a few of the middle sections are free of direct influences, the music moving back and forth between classic symphonic Prog and complicated Hard Rock. The White Sybil follows and is one of the two tracks featuring vocals (surely in Japanese). Takashi Kokubo's inexpressive singing to the accompaniment of electric piano lasts for more than 3 minutes, but it was worth the wait, at least regarding this particular situation. The rest of the song is an intense, dynamic, effective instrumental Space Fusion filled with splendid piano improvisations courtesy of Yukitoshi Morishige, who is certainly the most original and, that being said, most skilled voice in this ensemble. Nevertheless, the overall picture still evokes certain associations with Pink Floyd, circa "A Saucerful of Secrets" this time around, which is also typical of the remaining song Magic Lady, although the beginning and the finale of it are heavy Art-Rock. Well, Piano Solo is indeed nothing else but a piano solo, which in turn:-) is just what the next track, The Desolation of Soom, begins and ends with. The long middle section is a slow requiem-like symphonic Space Rock, and I must note this Ring's variation on the central theme of Shine on You Crazy Diamond is quite simple and unpretentious, often bordering on plagiarism. It is no surprise that this "empire" had collapsed already before its factual birth back in the 70s, because the lord of the Ring:-), drummer Takashi Kokubo (he penned all the tracks for Ring's then-abortive LP), is a poor, unimaginative "necromancer". Although performed with the use of programmed drums, the remaining two tracks, The Star of Sorrow and In the Memory of Charnades the Pan, somewhat better suit my personal taste. Both were initially recorded in 1978, but were reworked and re-recorded especially for this release this last January. These aren't the works of Ring and come under the title of "Kokubo Synthesizer Works", being performed by Kokubo (synthesizers and programming) and Kayo Matsumoto (synthesizers) with the assistance of Haruhiko Tsuda (guitar). The former is rich in sounds of various woodwinds and reminds me somewhat of chamber music. The latter is a composite musical architecture, which includes classically inspired symphonic Progressive with bombastic arrangements and hints of both ELP and Gustav Holst, still Pink Floyd-influenced Space Rock, dark Ambient, imitation of Organ music and more. Conclusion. This opus might be very attractive for those with incurable nostalgia for the '70s sound and for fans of Pink Floyd-inspired music. As for me personally, most of it leaves me absolutely cold. Review by "Vitaly Menshikov" (www.progressor.net).

 RATING:  7.75 / 10

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*. Beyond Violet .*

Album: Frozen Words (2014)(Ep)
Genre: Prog Metal (Gothic/Symphonic Rock)  /  Netherlands

Beyond Violet is strongly influenced by melodic rock and metal bands such as Lacuna Coil, Evanescence, Rammstein, Unsun, Sirenia, Within Temptation and Muse, as well as early progressive rock and new wave. The group was founded late 2008 by multi-instrumentalist and producer John Edwards, who previously released well-received material in a variety of genres on several major and independent labels. In 2009, Beyond Violet made its debut as the opening act for top symphonic metal act Autumn. After several personnel changes, the band now consists of: Roxane (vocals), John (guitar), Ilona (keyboards), Joachim (bass) and Merlijn (drums). Beyond Violet has received ample positive press coverage and glowing reviews, and continues to build a worldwide following and solid live reputation with their combination of melodic symphonic rock / metal and highly energetic live performances. The band’s first video was viewed more than 10,000 times online in a short time. Indeed, a highly technical band that makes it all seem easy. (www.cdbaby.com)

Songs / Tracks Listing
01. Frozen Words
02. Deep Defence
03. Bright Star
04. Deceit
05. Survivors

RATING:  7.25 / 10

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*. Taurus (Taurus Ex-T: 25-75-82) .* (Singles)

Single 1: Zöld csillag / Szólíts meg vándor (1972)
Single 2: Akire szerelemmel nézhetek / A kőfalak leomlanak (1973)
Genre: Prog Rock (Hard Rock/Psych/Blues)  /  Hungary

Songs / Tracks Listing

Single 1 - 1972
01. Zöld csillag
02. Szólíts meg vándor

Single 2 - 1973
01. Akire szerelemmel nézhetek
02. A kőfalak leomlanak

Line-up / Musicians
Béla Radics / guitar, vocals
Ferenc Balázs / organ, piano, vocals
Győző Brunner / drums
Lajos Som / bass (1972)
Zorán Sztevanovity / bass, vocals (1972-73)

RATING:  8.25 / 10

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*. Fontarabie .*

Album: Fontarabie (2014)
Genre: Prog Rock (Crossover/Alternative)  /  Canada

BIO: In 2012, Malajube began to slow things down before they eventually took a break. Since then—and even more so since 2013, when he started working full-time on his new project - Julien Mineau has been busy with Fontarabie, a new vesperal pop album. With music as a cause and remedy to fear and anxiety, Mineau locked himself in his Sainte-Ursule home, far from tours and stress. In this seemingly haunted house, he initiated several collaborations and quietly developed new tracks during intimate sessions with Simon Trottier (Timber Timbre), Benoît Rocheleau, Patrick Lavoie, Julie Fontaine, and Virginie Parr. Experimentation was at the heart of this hazy process and the orchestrated atmosphere that can be heard in horror movies served as the only guideline, leading to 14 new tracks wrapped in strings, brass, and woodwind. The inception of some of these dates back to 2009, a time when they did not fit well with Malajube’s sound. All tracks were reworked to include celesta, a cross between the piano and the glockenspiel. This tinkling, vectorial instrument was notably used by Tchaikovsky for his otherworldly, mysterious trademark sound. Through this lush collection of angelic yet tormented tracks, between giallo and reverie, Mineau’s shortbreathedly seeking the light, exploring the throes of dread and hypochondria, hunting under water as well as in the sky, fighting foes that have since become his friends. No demos, no pre-prod, no singles, just a whole lot of creation - the fruit of fertile musical collaboration, a plural symphony, the redemption that comes with comfort and remoteness. Fontarabie will be presented on June 15, 2014, at the Francofolies de Montréal, during a one-time orchestral show that will gather around 15 musicians. (www.fontarabie.com/en)

RATING:  7.5 / 10

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*. Majestic .*

Album: Epsilon 1 (2014)
Genre: Prog Rock (Neo/Space/Prog Metal)  /  USA

The first part of the 2014 epic release titled Epsilon from Majestic. Progressive rock music consisting of neo and space prog mixed with a touch of metal. Beginning with the artwork, french graphic artist Jonathan Maurin (Aeon Lux) handles visuals. Joining us for vocals is V.O.Z alumni David Cagle (Liberty & Justice), Celine Derval (Scythia) and Chris Hodges (Every Living Soul). Majestic veteran Jessica Rasche returns to make a special cameo appearance. Finally, we introduce Marc Atkinson (Riversea, Nine Stones Close, Mandalaband) who contributes his amazing voice to Majestic. (www.majesticsongs.com)

Songs / Tracks Listing
01. Chariots
02. Mother Dearest
03. Starlight
04. Epsilon I: Event Horizon
05. Epsilon II: Doorways
06. Epsilon III: Samskaras

RATING:  ????????????

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*. IQ .* (Bonus CD)

Album: The Road Of Bones (2014)(Bonus CD)
Genre: Prog Rock (Neo/Symphonic Prog)  /  UK

Songs / Tracks Listing CD 2 (Bonus CD):
01. Knucklehead
02. 1312 Overture
03. Constellations
04. Fall and Rise
05. Ten Million Demons
06. Hardcore

Line-up / Musicians
Peter Nicholls / vocals
Mike Holmes / guitar
Tim Esau / bass
Paul Cook / drums
Neil Durant / keyboards

RATING:  9 / 10

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*. FEM (Forza Elettro Motrice) .*

Album: Sulla Bolla di Sapone (2014)
Genre: Prog Rock (Symphonic Prog)  /  Italy

It sure is refreshing to listen to the debut album by Italian prog rockers FEM Prog Band.  Sulla Bolla di Sapone is a great retro prog rock album, probably my favorite prog rock album since 2010! I know you probably want reasons why I think Sulla Bolla di Sapone is pretty special. I will point out, first, that most of the songs are mid paced or a bit faster and there are only a couple of the more "serious" type of prog rock songs toward the end of the album and those are EASILY least favorite of the album even though I still like them. The rather speedy songs have some superb retro keyboard playing and we even get some nice piano work, too. What is great is despite the crazy good keyboard work, the guitar and bass both get their chances to shine, too! It probably helps that there is a pretty fair amount of prog rock fusion to the music which always emphasizes the musicianship on an album. It is GREAT that there are 15 tracks on Sulla Bolla di Sapone.  There are no drawn out songs that you wish were done already which seems to be the norm on prog rock albums these days. Hell, 7 of the tracks are under 3:10 in length and the longest track is only 6:15 in length! The band likes to keep throwing fresh ideas at us and this works superbly. Yes, Sulla Bolla di Sapone is some retro sounding Italian prog rock, but it is much different than I am accustomed to hearing on an Italian prog rock album. The album doesn't contain the slowish and emotional songs dominated by the singer, who often sounds like he is about to breakdown and cry. Make no mistake about it. The band's new vocalist Massimo Sabbatini certainly has the voice to sing like this, but the band avoids this and lets Massimo show what an excellent singer he is. His voice fits the band's music so much better than the prior singer. Surprisingly, as good as Massimo is, he actually sings far less than you would expect and there is quite an abundance of instrumental music on Sulla Bolla di Sapone. Don't be concerned because the music is excellent without vocals and the musicianship extremely impressive during the instrumental sections. About halfway through Sulla Bolla di Sapone I thought I really had FEM Prog Band figured out. That was until the band surprised me with some harmonies and brass sound to the music that reminded me of one of my favorite artists The Alan Parsons Project. Then the band throws some flute playing into a couple of songs. It is excellent but really was unexpected. Sulla Bolla di Sapone is a concept album of sorts, based on a story of the same name. Even though the album takes us on the bit of a roller coaster ride of emotions, I never felt I needed to understand what was being sung as the music itself does a pretty darn good job. Oh, the lyrics seem to be all sung in Italian so you may not understand them any better than I did. Sulla Bolla di Sapone really is a great album and should be enjoyed by fans of Italian prog rock  as well as any fans of excellent retro keyboards in their prog rock. This is especially true since everything is so well done on Sulla Bolla di Sapone and the music so catchy and impressive. Review by "Butterflyman" (Rate Your Music).

RATING:  9 / 10   **FANTASTIC**

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*. Three Seasons .*

Album: Grow (2014)
Genre: Prog Rock (Heavy/Psych/Hard Rock)  /  Sweden

Es una de nuestras bandas predilectas, y como tal, no nos dejamos un adelanto al sin catar desde que flipamos con su primer álbum. Three Seasons son una realidad, una banda sueca anclada en un pasado donde el ácido reinaba y el postureo no existía;  un tiempo en el que la gente iba a los conciertos a flipar y no a hacer fotos para el Instagram. Con Grow alcanzan un nivel superior en el que se me hace difícil calificarles. Sartez ha dejado de lado los riffes más hard rockeros que tanto nos hicieron flipar en sus anteriores álbumes, dejándose llevar por arpegios y acordes de guitarra sucia, siempre doblada por un hammond y comandada por una base rítmica descaradamente jammera. Fue el mismo Olle, el bajista de la banda, quien nos confirmó que, en estudio, se dejan llevar a la vez que graban. Los resultados son palpables ahora más que nunca en temas como “By The Book”, de desgarrador estribillo, golpes de batería espaciales y melodías ácidas cual saco de tripis. “Tablas Of Bahar” conserva algo de su lado más folk, que sigue sonando deliciosamente analógico, pero en líneas generales, en Grow es difícil hacer distincion entre temas. Es un álbum artesanal surgido de la química entre músicos, sin planos ni planes. Difícil de digerir a primera escucha, pero plagado de secretos en compensación. Se necesita calma para disfrutar cortes como “Food For The Day”, o la inicial “Which Way”, que personalmente, hubiera dejado para más tarde. El impacto inicial es chocante, si bien con calma y apertura de miras, el disco se convierte en delicia. En su segunda mitad encontré algo a lo que agarrarme entre tanta psicodelia y colores hipnóticos. Los tres últimos cortes contienen estribillos más cercanos (“No Shame”), algo de hard rock clásico y ecos Purple (“Home Is Waiting”), y delicadeza muy Three Seasons, de la que define el feeling y termina en explosión rockera (“Familiar Song”). A la segunda vuelta, todo tiene otra gama de colores, y los primeros temas te llenan la cabeza de paisajes imposibles y deformaciones inexistentes. Grow es un álbum sencillo en técnica y complejo en contenido. Más psicodélico que sus antecesores, más alucinado. Diferente, y de gran calidad y sin enterrar las señas de identidad. Todos los músicos exploran nuevos registros y en consecuencia, llegan a lugares desconocidos. Grow es atípico hasta dentro de la moda retro. Se acaba volviendo adictivo, y hasta canciones de 10 minutos se pueden escuchar en repeat porque están llenas de escondrijos. Un rock de visiones alérgico a los esquemas, pero que entra sin mayores dificultades. Y nosotros, esperamos su anuncio de gira desde ya. Reseña por "Edgar Carrasquilla" (http://rockthebestmusic.com).

RATING:  ????????????

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*. IQ .* (Promo)

Album: The Road Of Bones (2014)(Standard Edition)
Genre: Prog Rock (Neo/Symphonic Prog)  /  UK

Songs / Tracks Listing
01. From The Outside In
02. The Road Of Bones
03. Without Walls
04. Ocean
05. Until The End

Line-up / Musicians
Peter Nicholls / vocals
Mike Holmes / guitar
Tim Esau / bass
Paul Cook / drums
Neil Durant / keyboards

RATING:  9.25 / 10   **MASTERPIECE**

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*. Little Tragedies .*

Album: At Nights (2014)(Recorded 2011-2012)
Genre: Prog Rock (Symphonic Prog)  /  Russia

A Russian band including a variable number of musicians, LITTLE TRAGEDIES was born from the will of composer and musician Gennady ILYIN to experiment new musical expression forms. More particularly, his art could be described as an hybrid mixture of Seventies-like Progressive rock, fusion jazz-rock and contemporary classical musics. The whole thing played through vintage keyboards reminding of the Seventies, but especially with an obvious Slavonic personality. Released in 2005 by the Musea label, "Return" is the third and certainly the best work of LITTLE TRAGEDIES. Like the previous albums, the latter was inspired by poems of Nicolai GUMILEV and sung in Russian. The eleven titles have a style close to that of EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER, with an impressive musical virtuosity and a strong originality. Here is a fantastic concept-album of powerful neo-classical rock, rich in diversity and intensity, filled with feverish and enthusiast instrumental sequences. In order to celebrate its twenty years of existence under its name (It was PARADOX from 1988 to 1994), LITTLE TRAGEDIES offers today its twelfth studio album... No less ! Published in the year 2014 on the Musea label, "At Nights" still pays hommage to the russian tongue and culture, polishing its mixture with occidental Progressive rock even further. And here comes another true achievement for LITTLE TRAGEDIES ! (www.amazon.com)

Songs / Tracks Listing
01. At Nights
02. In the Library
03. Forest. Darkness...
04. Dawn
05. Comrade
06. Sekhmet
07. Late Autumn Time
08. Spring Chatter
09. Walking Stick
10. There Are Many Good Things in the World...

Line-up / Musicians
Gennady Ilyin / keyboards, vocals
Alexander Malakhovsky / guitars
Oleg Babynin / bass guitar
Aleksey Bildin / saxophone
Yuri Skripkin / drums

RATING:  8.5 / 10

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*. Salty Dog .* (Reissue 2013)

Album: Salty Dog (1976)(Reissue 2013)
Genre: Psychedelic Rock (Zam Rock/Acid/Blues/African Music)  /  Zambia

Salty Dog was one of the more obscure bands of the Zam Rock movement. The group was formed in the mid-70s as a trio and released just an album in 1976, the small record Zambezi , disappearing after a few years. Time passed and the trio continued in obscurity, in 2013 the album was reissued on CD and vinyl with bonus tracks by Strawberry Rain. The band's sound brings the typical Zam Rock, heavily influenced by American and British psychedelic/acid rock of the time, blues rock and African music also has some passages . The fuzz guitar always present is the highlight in the instrumental part, "aggressive" drums also has great moments. Some more acoustic and romantic tracks can also be heard as Try A Little Harder and Lullaby. The songs are all in English. A very consistent album, with several great tracks, main highlight for the first three: Fast , Mama and See The Storm. 
Review by "Andredema" (Rate Your Music).

RATING:  7.75 / 10

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*. Anathema .*

Album: Untouchable (2014)(Ep)
Genre: Prog Rock (Crossover/Exp./Metal/Alternative)  /  UK

This release includes the studio versions of ‘Untouchable Part 1 & 2′ as featured on the critically acclaimed 2012 album Weather Systems and the live versions taken from the recent Untouchable LP capturing the band at their special one-off show at the ancient Roman theatre of Philippopolis.

Songs / Tracks Listing
01. Untouchable (Parts 1& 2) (Studio Version)
02. Untouchable (Parts 1& 2) (Live with Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra)

Line-up / Musicians
Vincent Cavanagh / vocals, guitars
Daniel Cavanagh / guitars; vocals
Lee Douglas / vocals
John Douglas / drums
Daniel Cardoso / synths
Jamie Cavanagh / bass

RATING:  8.25 / 10

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*. The Feather of Ma'at .*

Album: The Feather of Ma'at (2014)
Genre: Prog Metal (Arabic/Djent/Egypt/Exp./Instrumental)  /  Germany

Songs / Tracks Listing
01. Ma'at
02. Lunaria Solaris
03. Gorlath Of The Hammadas
04. Luxor
05. Theme Of The Lost Sun
06. Ma'at pt.2
07. The Rainbow Orb
08. The Halo Gem
09. The Philosopher Stone
10. S-Pheroza
11. Supra Space

Line-up / Musicians
Johannes Schäbel / all instruments

RATING:  ???????????

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*. Quantum Fantay .*

Album: Terragaia (2014)
Genre: Prog Rock (Psychedelic/Space Rock)  /  Belgium

Long awaited new concept album of Belgium finest Space prog rock band Quantum Fantay takes you on a 70 minute adventurous journey to different areas around planet earth. Combining etnic instruments and sounds with their well known mixture of prog, space, dub,trance rock will move, shiver and surprise every music lover. featuring guest appearances of members from Anima Mundi, Gracerooms, Neo Prophet, Strograss and many more. The 5th studio album is a milestone in their carreer.

Songs / Tracks Listing
01. Journey to Earth
02. Azu kéné dékké leppé
03. Desert Rush
04. Aargh
05. Instant Karma
06. Chopsticks and Gongs
07. Indigofera
08. Yah Roste Fooroap
09. Cowdians
10. Journey from Earth

Line-up / Musicians
Pete Mush / synths and programming
Jaro / bass guitar, djembé, didgeridoo, sas
Gino Bartolini / drums, djembé & other percussion
Dario Frodo / lead guitars
With:
Anaisy Gomez (Anima Mundi) / bagpipe

RATING:  8.5 / 10

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*. Dawn .*

Album: Darker (2014)
Genre: Prog Rock (Symphonic Prog)  /  Switzerland

Songs / Tracks Listing
01. Yesterday's Sorrow
02. Cold
03. Darker
04. Lullabies for Guterflies
05. 8945
06. Out of Control
07. Lost Anger
08. Endless

Line-up / Musicians
Julien Vuataz / bass
Nicolas Gerber / keyboards
René Degoumois / vocals, guitars
Manu Linder / drums

RATING:  ???????????

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*. Ossian .*

Album: The Carrying Stream (1997)
Genre: Prog Folk (Celtic/Scottish Folk)  /  UK

William Jackson, who plays the Celtic Harp with this group, is one of the best Celtic Harpers in the world. This album is a terrific blend of instrumentals and songs. I bought it after a concert I saw in Edinburgh (at the fringe) in 99, and it's been in my top 10 ever since. Everybody who's ever heard "Fisherrow" while in my car has smiled and asked "who is this?" before joining in the chorus! The song about the working man is as rousing as it is catch-- both musically and politically. Not a bad tune on it. One of my 20 favorite folk CDs. Review by "Gwen A Orel" (www.amazon.co.uk).

RATING:  8 / 10

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*. The Merlin Bird .*

Album: Chapter and Verse (2014)
Genre: Prog Rock (Crossover/Folk)  /  Australia

Based in Melbourne, Australia, The Merlin Bird meld a variety of musical influences into an atmospheric whole. Their work contains elements of rock, folk and classical music, combined with lyrics that explore the worldly, the esoteric and the downright unfathomable. While previous predictions of band membership numbering in the millions have proven incorrect, the mathematical function used to calculate this has now been revised to show an arithmetical growth rate rather than an exponential one. The Merlin Bird are prepared to donate themselves to science should further studies on these principles be required, although given their hourly rate for participating in medical experiments, "donate" is probably too loose a term. (www.facebook.com)

Songs / Tracks Listing
01. To the Unknown God
02. Chapter and Verse
03. Chapter 3
04. Words Across the Sky
05. In Dreams of Egypt
06. Of Night and Day
07. The Word That Was
08. The Turning
09. Truth's a Lady
10. Backburner
11. Unto Rome
12. Another Story Told
13. To Be Continued ?

RATING:  ???????????

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*. Fungus .*

Album: Careful! (2006)
Genre: Prog Rock (Eclectic/Heavy/Psych)  /  Italy

A group from Genoa, Italy, starting as a totally improvisational band in 2002, led by Alessandro Vernetti (guitar) and Carlo Barreca (aka zerothehero) (bass, Chapman stick).After numerous line-up changes the band moved on to more structured compositions and in 2004 they recorded the album ''Careful!''.This was not released before 2006 on Mellow Records, at a time when the participating members Cinzia Bernardi and Vittoria Mezzano (female vocals) and drummer William Bettucchi had already left Fungus. Basically ''Careful!'' is a Heavy/Psych Rock album with progressive flourishes here and there, based on psychedelic guitars, dreamy female vocals or narrations and strong power rhythms, characterized by a nostalgic 70's-sounding rhythm section.Keyboards are used sporadically, mainly as a sound effect instrument than a real filler of the sound, still there are some nice parts like on ''Polipetide'' and its GENTLE GIANT-like clavinet solos.The album has an evident vintage feeling throughout, blending the British Psychedelia with more modern Indie Rock parts, including funky grooves or aggressive passages.The longer tracks even contain some trully psychedelic moments with repetitive guitar lines and hypnotic elements akin to the Kraut Rock movement, while the female singing parts become irritating with lots of sreaming parts and wordless lines.Also ''Latin Circle'' stands out for its excellent flute drives played by Barreca, another piece with a strong 70's mood, very much close to JETHRO TULL. Nicely played Retro Psych/Prog with some superb vocal moments along with interesting and far from forgettable musicianship.Not really groundbreaking, but definitely deserving recommendation. Review by "apps79" (Prog Archives).

RATING:  7 / 10

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*. Resistor .*

Album: To the Stars (2014)
Genre: Prog Rock (Crossover Prog)  /  USA

Songs / Tracks Listing
01. To The Stars (11:46)
02. Random Values (2:58)
03. I, Of The Hurricane (4:33)
04. Train to Tucana (7:08)
05. Atlantis’ Final Flight (6:07)
06. Little Lie (5:20)
07. AnnihilExcavation (8:37)
08. The Boy With His Brain Out In Space (12:51)

Line-up / Musicians
Steve Unruh / guitar, vox, violin, flute
Rob Winslow / bass guitar
Barry Farrands / drum set, backing vox
Fran Turner / guitar

RATING:  ???????????????

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*. Mice On Stilts .*

Album: An Ocean Held Me (2013)(Ep 5 Track's)
Genre: Prog Rock (Crossover/Psych/Avant/Chamber Folk)  /  New Zealand

I love surprises. I had never heard of Mice on Stilts from New Zealand, but after being introduced to them, I can't see myself forgetting them. These guys play an extraordinary brand of progressive rock featuring an eclectic array of instruments and a concise, inspired skill in songwriting. Their new EP is called "An Ocean Held Me", and I can't help but be drawn in by their ambition and maturity. Like I said, the band plays an eclectic form of progressive rock. They call it "cinematic doom folk". Honestly, I don't really get the "doom" part of it, though the music is rather melancholy or even eerie. However, the other two labels are perfect, especially "folk", as it dominates in much of their sound. Their music also mixes in a decent amount of jazz, evident in the use of saxophone and trumpet. Speaking of, I really enjoy the instruments on this five-song EP. In addition to the standard instruments, Mice on Stilts utilizes the viola, sax, and trumpet. They use them liberally, too, not as gimmicks. The result is an organic touch to the music that just feels right. The band, I must say, are excellent musicians. From the nocturnal peals of the sax to the excellent variety of keys to the well-executed drums, all of the instruments are played with respect, finesse, and a maturity that denotes love. The vocals are also wonderful, as they remind me of Brendan Perry of Dead Can Dance, only with an indie influence of sorts. This slower, haunting style of vocals adds to the melancholy atmosphere. Imagine then, this mood surrounded by colorful instrumentation and personality. The cover art, then, makes sense now, right? A dark, brooding figure strolls along the beautiful, colorful ocean. "An Ocean Held Me" is one of those albums where each song is more impressive than the last. It begins with the sublime, atmospheric sound of the saxophone. This excellent introduction begins a wonderful, yet short, journey through the velvet "Syd's Socks", the driving and lovesick "Binocular Bath", and the fuzzy, folksy ambiance of "A Moss Ocean". Just when I didn't think it could get any better, along comes the classic, jazzy "Vulnerable Vader", and, lastly, my favorite track "Tuatara Lawn", not only the longest song, but also full of atmosphere, excellent guitars, and Pink Floyd influence. By the end of this EP, I was hooked. The sheer variety of style and expertise made ignoring this band impossible. Not only is the musical style varied, but I love the diversity of the instrumental styles. Ben Morely on guitars can be just as effective in a dark, driving format as he is in an atmospheric form. Drummer Rob Sander is amazing whether keeping time or blowing us away with some serious pounding. Bassist Sam Nash knows how to stay low key, but he also knows how to drive the music viscerally. The same goes for everyone else, too. Nick Wright on piano, Sam Hennessy on viola, and Aaron Longville on the horns all show their maturity while impressing me with their control. Folksy or pensive or moody, they can play to fit emotions and colors. Mice on Stilts is a band that deserves attention. In a world where many have forgotten to progress and push boundaries, this band does it with ease and with class. Jazz collides with folk music and progressive rock to form a formidable and vivid backdrop to the emotions and vulnerability that the lyrics and vocals express. It's a collision of different moods and different styles to great effect every time. If you love good music and artistic integrity, support Mice on Stilts. Review by "Second Life Syndrome" (Prog Archives).

RATING:  8.5 / 10   **FANTASTIC**

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*. Altered State .*

Album: Dos (1993)
Genre: Prog Rock (Hard Rock/Metal/Heavy Prog)  /  USA

I'm sure this album was never intended to deliver prog music as such, however has enough substance to be assigned to this genre in my opinion. Provided with excellent musicianship the band is something like an insider's tip I would say. Which means here we have a bunch of tricky heavy rocking songs - really enjoyable, although this is not dedicated to prog purists, the only thing you must know. Stylistically oriented at hard and heavy rock bands like Led Zeppelin and Rush they are throwing a proper experimental attitude in here and now. Just take the high speed racing Where Is Harrison Ford? which bears a significant fusion touch and therefore proves the band's variety at best. Puzzling - I can't file I Wish It Would Rain - the main chorus sounds so remarkable to me, it's just like a deja vu - as if this has been produced in the 1970s, buried in my memory for a long time and finally digged out not long ago. Not the band's most representive song, because very catchy, probably peering hard at a place in the charts, never mind - enjoyable nevertheless. Although the German song title means 'fear', Angst is a charming ballad on the contrary. If you still may have the impression that this comes as a simple rock album - Made of Gasoline will teach you better at the latest. And anyway - this is rather unusual - I have the impression the album qualitatively grows the more it comes to the end. This points to the closing monster track Thinkin' About Movin' to a Catatonic State - partially heavy - tending to prog metal - partially mellow. It all closes for the first time at 11:30 with some spacey/ambient soundscapes, you have the chance to relax then with complete weightlessness until they decide to attach some more time provided with a bubbling blistering atmosphere. An extraordinary composition really, rich on variety, surprises ... and experimental approach if you take the last minutes. Following this I also have to mention The Waking Dream - a bluesy ballad basically ... but wooooow ... spiked with some striking extras, speaking of the irresistible dynamic, other-wordly vocals, psychedelic guitars - a fantastic solo included - aso aso. And so my final conclusion goes like this: 'Dös' is an entertaining album and - intended or not - has forwarded them into the prog olymp with ease. 
Review by "Rivertree" (Prog Archives).

RATING:  7.75 / 10

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*. Astra .*

Album: Broken Balance (2014)
Genre: Progressive Metal  /  Italy

I received this new album, "Broken Balance", from Astra without having any previous experience with this progressive metal band. Astra hails from Italy, and shouldn't be confused with Astra, the psychedelic rock band from the USA. I can understand the confusion over the name, as I was even a bit taken aback when this album blazed into my ears. Astra is a far cry from prog rock, and are indeed a full-on progressive metal band. Yes, the music is pretty loud. Interestingly, I don't hear much of the standard progressive metal styles in their music, though. For this, they should be commended. Indeed, I hear almost nothing of Dream Theater or Symphony X in their style. With a gut-busting punch to the mix of hefty guitars, amazing drums, and throbbing bass; this band seems like a descendant of the likes of Black Sabbath or Dio, even. Yes, their sound does have an 80's hair metal sound to it that I found alternately comforting and disappointing. Like I said, the guitarwork is superb and really heavy. The riffing is out of bounds on this album, though I don't hear much that I haven't heard in the past---no new twists or anything. The bass is similar in that it is played expertly, but sounds pretty standard. Other elements, such as the keys, are almost completely absent from the album, so I can't really comment on them. The keys are nice when they're there, but they are rare. I must point out, though, that the drummer is simply incredible. Not only is Filippo Berlini fantastically skilled and technical, but he also has a great ear for fills and interesting beats. I applaud him as my favorite aspect of this album, "Broken Balance". The 80's hair metal vibe is especially pushed by the presence of Andrea Casali. His voice is rather high-pitched, but still strong. It reminds me, in a way, of David Coverdale and company. I don't dislike this, as I still have some fondness left for those guys. However, combine this with uninteresting lyrics that seem cheap, silly, and cheesy at times; and the 80's vibe skyrockets. It's strange, though, as the music itself is really heavy and technical, but the vocals and melodies seem so simple and catchy. The songwriting is fairly strong in terms of accessibility and digestibility. Besides some of the instrumentals, there's nothing on this album that would restrict it to fans of progressive music. Indeed, most of the songs sound very similar, though enjoyable. So, if you have a love for heavy metal with progressive elements, "Broken Balance" could be an album to hear. Its heaviness is an asset, and not a crutch. It doesn't overindulge in technical frivolities, and Astra has done an admirable job in writing great songs. It's nothing inventive, but it's definitely a pleasure to hear. Review by "Second Life Syndrome" (Prog Archives).

RATING:  ???????????????

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*. Taliesyn .*

Album: When Silence Will Be Unbearable (1996)
Genre: Prog Rock (Neo Prog/Prog Metal)  /  Germany

A fairly rare and unknown German band from the early 90's, Taliesyn's `When Silence Will Be Unbearable' is a heavy interpretation of the Neo Prog style, with loud metallic guitars behind oceans of icy cool synths backing up a feisty female singer in Jennifer Holzschneider. The band were a little rough around the edges, but there was plenty of youthful enthusiasm on display from the developing players. Some brief sections of their music sounds like a slightly metal attempt at 70's Genesis, and the band is comparable to other heavy female prog bands from the time such as Cromwell, as well as Neo proggers Arena. Despite several of the players still involved in the music industry today, we were to only receive this one sole album from Taliesyn, another band to fall victim of the `one-and-done' prog curse that sweeps across our favourite genre! But we're lucky to have this one brief moment, and it's a punchy and energetic take on Neo prog that fans should give a chance to. Opener `Sad Reality' is probably one of their best compositions, a frantic stomping rocker with snappy drumming, murmuring bass and endless twirling synth solos - just listen in the final minute for the blitzkrieg run keyboard player Rudiger Blank unleashes! All this is worked through a delirious mix of wild tempo changes, melodic riffing and a well-balanced vocal where Jennifer effortlessly moves back and forth between forceful and heartfelt. `Silence Burns Under Skin' is a melancholic and slightly uneasy floating ballad, `What The Moons Brings' is an intimidating and brooding metal rocker with wailing guitar solos over thick Hammond organ and a snarling vocal. `Rush Hour' is a spiky instrumental that attempts Dream Theater-like technicality with quick-timed riffing, crisp guitar melodies, urgent keyboard wig-outs and even briefly jazzy drumming. The imposing and monolithic `Irresistible Recurrence ' is another of the truly great pieces, perhaps a little messy but filled with so much bluster. Aggressive heavy riffs, a battery of drums and a wall of Hammond, while Jennifer resembles a mad Goddess with her spitting and harsh vocal. `Moving Mania' is a reflective piano ballad with a pained vocal delivery full of longing. It's one of the more delicate and sophisticated pieces on the album with confident bursts of drama. `Way of Insight' is a more typical Neo piece, full of chiming dreamy and mysterious acoustic guitars and placid washes of synths. The ethereal repeated chorus is especially lovely, and the orchestrated final instrumental run could almost have been off a vintage Renaissance album. Closer `King of Dreamlands' incorporates numerous vintage defining prog and Neo influences in amongst the heavier elements, so listen out for the powerful organ in the intro, 80's Marillion guitars, machine-gun drumming and racing heavy riffery along the lines of Iron Maiden, clouds of gentle I.Q-style synths and some grinding Steve Hackett-like guitar moments in the big regal finale. With truly mind-bending psychedelic artwork by Eckehard Post, `When Silence Will Be Unbearable' was one of the very first underground prog albums I bought when I first started getting into the genre over 20 years ago, and it's held a special place in my heart all this time. The combination of a tough yet feminine singer, prominent keyboards and heavy guitars was all very new to me at the time, and I found it truly fascinating. Anyone interested in female fronted prog bands, progressive rock from the 90's or bands that drift into the heavier side of the Neo style should take a chance on this lost little gem if they can still track down a copy. Review by "Aussie-Byrd-Brother" (Prog Archives).

RATING:  7.25 / 10

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*. Time Thief .*

Album: It's Never Over (2014)
Genre: Prog Rock (AOR/Crossover Prog)  /  USA

Time Thief is a three member studio band that draws from influences of the 70's and 80's including bands like Kansas, Styx, and Level 42. The three members of the band originally played together in a band during and after their high school years in the 80's. They all hail from a small town in the New York Finger Lakes region called Hammondsport. The trio used to pass time during free time at school writing lyrics for various song ideas. Now more than 2 decades later, the three members have reunited with more life experience and honed musical skills to produce what they hope will be the first of many collaborative projects musically. Their sound is a unique blend of soaring harmonies, heavy edged rock and carefully crafted lyrics meant to inspire and tell a story. The edges are smoothed by an orchestral accompaniment that brings an intensity and excitement to the musical pieces. At the core of each member is a passionate appreciation for music of all genres from classical to progressive rock. Their music has an atmospherically immersing quality that takes the listener on a musical journey through time. (http://timethiefband.com)

Songs / Tracks Listing
01. It's Never Over
02. Time Machine
03. I Don't Know Why
04. We're On the Run
05. Missing You
06. Insanity (What the Prophet Saw)
07. Time Thief Overture

Line-up / Musicians
Adam Oplinger / Bass, Rhythm Guitar
Josh Smith / Keyboards, Drums, Vocals
Terry Smith / Lead, Rhythm and Acoustic Guitars, Vocals

RATING:  ???????????????

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*. Maraca .*

Album: The Body Is Too Slow for Me (2006)
Genre: Prog Rock (Avant-Garde/Exp./Eclectic/Jazz)  /  Czech Republic

Many of the contemporary Czech alternative artists who have recorded for Indies Records have opted to perform in the Czech language exclusively. But Maraca is among the exceptions to that rule; unlike other Indies releases, The Body Is Too Slow for Me contains some songs in English as well as some songs in other languages. But then, including some English-language material is part of this band's multiculturalism, and it is one of the things that contributes to Maraca's delightful unpredictability. Maraca is by no means an easy band to categorize; this experimental CD is probably best described as Czech alternative rock or Czech avant-garde rock with elements of jazz, cabaret, and world music. Lead singer Gabriela Vermelho projects some of Tori Amos' quirkiness and eccentricity, but The Body Is Too Slow for Me is hardly a carbon copy of an Amos album; in fact, it's not at all. There is a lot going on here: electric guitar, electric bass, and Hammond organ are heard alongside world music instruments ranging from the oud (an Arabic lute) to the didgeridoo (an instrument associated with Australian Aboriginals) to the Indian sitar. Indian musician Amit Chatterjee brings some raga flavor to the table, but elements of North African, Middle Eastern, East European, and Mediterranean music also assert themselves. Parts of this 2005-2006 recording are somewhat self-indulgent, but even then, Maraca is highly musical, and all things considered, their creativity yields enjoyable results on The Body Is Too Slow for Me. Review by "Alex Henderson" (www.allmusic.com).

RATING:  7.5 / 10

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*. The Sky .*

Album: Majestic (2014)
Genre: Hard Rock (Prog Rock/AOR)  /  USA

Robert Fleischman´s voice age like wine, so many singers struggle hard to keep their voices in shape when they´re getting old but Robert sounds young and he´s singing in a higher pitch on "Majestic" compared to The Sky´s first album from 2011. There´s a romantic atmosphere over the entire new album even though you´ll find a serious undertone in his lyrics, I do think The Sky´s 2nd album is stronger than their debut which was good too. "Majestic" sounds more complete and rich, you can of course hear the obvious influences of John Lennon but there´s more added to this musical landscape like James Bond soundtrack vibes and even Jefferson Airplane´s 70´s era. Robert also takes the listener back to the sound of his first solo album in the AOR-ish "So I´ll wait", songs like "In my head" and "Little by little" bring thoughts to Jeff Lynne while the folkrock-like "Don´t know what I´d do" could´ve been an unreleased song by America. Fans of the first The Sky album will love tracks such as "Breath away", "Pill" and "One day", to me they´re new Robert Fleischman classics. I´m amazed. Review by "Kaj Roth" (http://rothnroll.blogspot.se).

RATING:  ??????????

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*. June Tabor, Iain Ballamy & Huw Warren .*

Album: Quercus (2013)
Genre: Prog Folk (Chamber/Jazz/Contemporary Folk)  /  UK

Drawing from both the spontaneity of jazz and the lyricism of contemporary folk, the British trio known as Quercus can be tough to pigeonhole into a specific genre description, but their self-titled debut proves that an improvisational approach to folk-inspired composition can work really well. Featuring the brooding vocal work of June Tabor accompanied by Huw Warren's detailed piano arrangements and Iain Ballamy's subtle saxophone melodies, this 2013 release leaves plenty of room for the compositions to breathe, while still feeling "busy" enough to grab its listener's attention. Although some folks may still feel that Quercus is too dynamically stagnant to feel fully engaging, I think this qualifies as a good "rainy day" album. Fans of atmospheric music should have no trouble appreciating this one! Review by "J_Man" (Rate Your Music).

RATING:  7.75 / 10

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*. Taurus .*

Album: Opus 4: Elevations (2014)
Genre: Prog Rock (Symphonic Prog)  /  Chile

Songs / Tracks Listing
01. Movement I - Avernuss
02. Movement II - Phlegra
03. Movement III - Ceraunius
04. Movement IV - Nepenthes
05. Movement V - Tharsis
06. Movement VI - Ortygia
07. Movement VII - Deuteronilus
08. Movement VIII - Euripus
09. Movement IX - Zephyria
10. Movement X - Arsia

Line-up / Musicians
Claudio Momberg (SETI, Subterra, Caamora) / all instruments

RATING:  ????????????????

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*. Philippe Luttun .*

Album: The Wonderful Legend of Sliding Rocks (2002)

Genre: Prog Rock (Crossover/Prog Metal)  /  France

Songs / Tracks Listing
01. Legend
02. Night Visions
03. Collective Dream
04. Introspection
05. Death Valley Ride
06. Alone in this Land
07. Waiting for an Answer
08. Unique and Multiple

Line-up / Musicians
Philippe Luttun / vocals, guitars, keyboards and programming
Special Guests:
Xavier Guillemet / acoustic and electric guitar solo on "Death Valley Ride"
Charazade / spoken voices on "Legend" and "Unique and Multiple"

RATING:  7.5 / 10

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*. Flaming Row .*

Album: Mirage - A Portrayal Of Figures (2014)
Genre: Prog Rock (Prog Metal/Folk/Symphonic/Rock Opera)  /  Germany

Songs / Tracks Listing
01. Mirage - A Portrayal Of Figures (Pt.1)
02. Aim L45
03. Burning Sky
04. Journey To The Afterlife
05. Alcatraz
06. Memento Mori
07. Pictures
08. In Appearance - A Portrayal Of Figures (Pt.2)

Line-up / Musicians
Niklas Kahl / Drums
Marek Arnold / Keyboards, Saxophone
Martin Schnella / Guitars, Keyboards, Bass, Vocals
Kiri Geile / Vocals
With:
Jimmy Keegan (Spock's Beard, Santana)
Leo Margarit (Pain Of Salvation)
Kristoffer Gildenlöw (Ex-Pain Of Salvation / Rust)
Ted Leonard (Spock's Beard / Enchant)
Magali Luyten (Ayreon / Beautiful Sin)
Johan Hallgren (Ex-Pain Of Salvation)
Dave Meros (Spock's Beard)
Eric & Nathan Brenton (Neal Morse)
Arjen Anthony Lucassen (Ayreon / Star One)
Gary Wehrkamp & Brendt Allman (Shadow Gallery)
Diego Tejeida (Haken)

RATING:  8.75 / 10   **MARVELLOUS**

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*. Papadosio .*

Album: Observations (2009)
Genre: Psychedelic Rock (Electronic/Improvisation/Jam/Prog)  /  USA

Papadosios most recent album is everything one could hope for. I think they are going to be the next big thing in the jamtronica scene. This studio album really shows what the band can do in a non live setting. The vocals sound amazing and the instrumentals are on point. Some highlights on the CD include "The lack of everything", and "The eyes have eyes". Papadosio has a unique and pleasant sound to them that keeps my body moving and my head in the clouds. I hope everyone enjoys this album as much as I did and I hope to see everyone at one of their shows. Review by "haveAniceDAY" (www.amazon.com).

RATING:  7.75 / 10

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*. Il Fauno di Marmo .*

Album: Canti, Racconti e Battaglie (2013)
Genre: Prog Rock (Folk/Symphonic Prog)  /  Italy

Molte band orgogliose della propria autonomia artistica sicuramente legittima non amano molto essere “etichettate” come influenzate da mostri sacri del passato o del presente. E' chiaro che il paragonare la proposta musicale di un nuovo gruppo a qualcosa di più conosciuto è da considerarsi un artificio per permettere al lettore di avere una idea più precisa di quanto andrà ad ascoltare e non necessariamente per tacciare di scarsa originalità le nuove leve. Tutta questa precisazione per presentare la band friulana che dopo una dozzina di anni come “The rebus” (due album autoprodotti ed un live in bacheca), decide di cambiare il nome nel nuovo, e certamente più “progressivo”, “Il Fauno di Marmo” (dal libro omonimo di Nathaniel Hawthorne). “Canti, racconti e battaglie” è un album orgogliosamente anni ‘70, con strumentazione adeguata (organo, Mellotron, Moog...), sonorità robuste e voce “importante” (il bravo Luca Sterle) che nel panorama “prog” odierno fa la sua bella figura. Ed anche le liriche (in italiano ovviamente...) non lasciano indifferenti: la denuncia sugli abusi inferti agli animali del circo; la vendetta di un “buffone ranocchio” di corte nei confronti del re che lo ha sempre deriso; il dramma della droga e dell'alcool ma l'invito a “Non mollare mai” (come da brano omonimo); il ricordo della battaglia di Kosovo-Polje tra serbi ed ottomani o, ancora, il dramma umano di Dorian Gray. Ma procediamo con un po' di ordine analizzando brevemente qualche brano: “Benvenuti al circo” è un classico hard rock debitore della lezione dei primi Uriah Heep (“Look at yourself”) filtrata con la tradizione melodica italiana. “Madre natura” sposa l'irruenza del Biglietto per l'Inferno con quella dei Jethro Tull (notevole l'uso del flauto da parte del vocalist Sterle). “Hop frog” è anch'esso imbevuto di sonorità seventies (Osanna? Corte dei Miracoli? Ancora il Biglietto...?) con flauto, chitarra tagliente e organo Hammond. E che dire delle “svisate” di Hammond offerte a profusione in “Non mollare mai”? Un vero e proprio viaggio a ritroso nel tempo... In un siffatto contesto non poteva mancare la cover “storica”. La scelta è caduta su “Un villaggio, un'illusione” di Quella Vecchia Locanda. Inutile dire che la “vocazione” vintage de “Il fauno...” è perfetta per questa rivisitazione così importante. La chiusura con “Dorian Gray” non può che confermare quanto detto in precedenza: viscerali riff di chitarra e tastiere retro per una band che si diverte e diverte sempre più anche l'ascoltatore. “Il Fauno di Marmo”: un “anacronismo vivente” ma che siamo felici di avere apprezzato e che speriamo di contribuire a fare conoscere ancora di più. Recensione di "Valentino Butti" (www.arlequins.it).

RATING:  8.25 / 10

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