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Showing posts with the label Prog

EP Review, Peter Lawson chronicles the tale of The Witchfinder

  Photo Credit: OOB Records Words by Anselm Anderson Multi-instrumentalist Peter Lawson shares the story of a 17th-century witchfinder and his accomplice on his latest EP, "The Witchfinder." The EP is inspired by the true story of Matthew Hopkins and John Stearne, two witch-finders intent on causing chaos and destruction during the Civil War in 17th-century England. They hunted down suspected witches under the Witchfinder Act of 1542 before presenting them for trial. Lawson produces over half an hour of seven tracks, using traditional medieval instruments like the bodhrán and mandolin to depict their horrible deeds. Lawson combines folk, blues, and progressive music elements to craft a distinctive style that resonates with the essence of that period. The darker electronic elements come into play with a distorted monologue in the opening track "Saint Vitus Dance," which captures the innocence of the time before tragedy struck. The narrative turns unexpectedly in ...

EP REVIEW: Elevenwire- Blood Red Sun

 Words by Anselm Anderson Prog metal act ElevenWire has released their debut effort Blood Red Sun  via OOB Records. The album has nine prog-rock fusion tracks with jazz, metal and beautiful atmospheric soundscapes. The album follows a dystopian concept based on the emergence of AI (Artificial Intelligence) ruling the planet. The trio of brothers, John and Robert Hughes, along with long-time buddy Jim Armstrong, capture the tone of this nightmarish scenario through subliminal guitar interplay, string arrangements, and soaring keyboards reminiscent of the late Jon Lord. In modern times, it is rare to hear a progressive rock release that sounds like the luminaries of the 1970s, such as Rush and Genesis. The release was mixed by guest drummer Eric Gillette at his studio in Tulsa, OK, USA. This further assists in the development of an immaculate work full of quality songwriting, thought-provoking lyrics, and harmonic vocals. The album opens with the melancholic string arrangements...

ALBUM Review: Questing Beast- Birth

  WORDS BY ANSELM ANDERSON Prog Metal band Questing Beast hails from New England, USA. They recently released the first in a trilogy of records entitled Birth. T he Ten Tracker is a concept album based on the World's End, a scornful god and an interdimensional system. The lyrical content and subsequent music would have impressed many fantasy novelists like George R.R Martin, Frank Herbert and J.R.R Tolkien. Formed in 2019, the quintet of vocalist Joe Harris, guitarists, Joe's sister Jane and Shane Malouf- Pieterse, drummer Christian Kincaid and Warbringer bassist Chase Bryant on bass has spent the past three years writing, recording and mastering their modern-day masterpiece: a mixture of heavy metal, deathly growls, jazz passages and elements of opera. 'Birth' was produced by Benny Grotto at Mad Oak Studios in Allston, MA. Each track Is brought to life in a unique and bombastic fashion, enlightening and frightening us. The doom-stricken riffs of 'A Comet's T...

Single Review: The Skys- Communication

Words Were Written by Anselm Anderson The Skys  are a highly revered rock outfit from Lithuania, who have toured extensively around the world to critical acclaim. The band has several albums to date, including Automatic Minds,  the band's latest studio release; which was produced by Grammy award-winning  Dom Morley  ( Amy Winehouse). Communication  is one of the singles from the album that features The Voice USA contestant  India Carney  on vocals. The track combusts between a multitude of harmonic lines and heavy beats that are reminiscent of the prog music  Pink Floyd and Genesis  were so fond of producing.  The opening sequence begins with an apparent transmission before breaking into the eerie vocals that repeats " We all see through cancer". The hypnotic bass lines then join in tandem to create a dreamlike atmosphere that builds through each bar until the counterpoint to male vocals enters with ...

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Single Review: Allan James- Our dreams

Words were written by Anselm Anderson for Rambling Man's Reviews Allan James  is a much-accomplished singer-songwriter, based in Northern Virginia, USA James is a self-taught musician, who began playing guitar and singing songs aged 8 and by the time he reached his early teens, James had started to record and perform his original music for school, dances, and charities. James returned to the US following a successful stint as host of his own guitar TV show in Iceland, whilst living over there. Allan James achieved critical acclaim following the release of his debut single on local radio stations, as well as releasing  6 albums to date. James has always been at the forefront of utilizing technologies and using the internet to build a fanbase.  He now returns with " Our Dreams", the latest single off his forthcoming new album. A beautifully structured track that captures the soul with its succinct guitar play and poetic lyrics. The track conjures feelings of serenity...

Review: Stereophobia- Choke on This

Photo Credit: Eclipse Records   Words written by Anselm Anderson Last week, Stereophobia released their highly anticipated sophomore album, Choke on This , through Eclipse Records. This album follows their 2023 debut, No One Cares, and features a straightforward blend of alt-rock and grunge influences. Stereophobia is a power trio based in Lisbon, Portugal, consisting of guitarist and vocalist Mike Rocha, drummer Daniel Antunes, and bassist Bruno Santos. Produced by Miguel Camillo and mixed, mastered and recorded alongside Stereophobia at MC Studios. Choke on This consists of thirteen tracks filled with musically unsettling tones, angst-driven lyrics, and sonically enriching riffs that cut deep. Photo Credit: Rodrigo Vargas The album opens with an unsettling monologue that transitions into the intense cries of 'Maggots', which combines frenetic riffs and frenzied harsh vocals, propelling this album into a dramatic surge of grunge. The album maintains a grunge essence, echoing ...

EP Review: Virtue in Vain-Nothing is All I Am

  CoverArtwork Courtesy of San Pr Words Written by Anselm Anderson Today marks the final chapter of an emphatic trilogy by British Metalcore Heavyweights , Virtue in Vain . Nothing is All I Am ' is the third instalment exploring human emotions and psyche.  The trio began their journey in 2015 with their debut EP,  For All You Know is the Mask I Wore ,  focusing on the loss of identity, before 2019's   Dusk//Dawn looking at the consequences of a terrible night out, whilst 'Nothing is All I Am ' focuses on rebuilding a fractured mind. The trio of lead vocalist Hywel Thomas, guitarist Mason Williams, and drummer Daniel Bryant hail from South Wales deliver another dose of metalcore that hits like a sledgehammer to the head. The band replicates what many other British bands of the genre do, but they bring a story behind their music. Their emotional cries blend with powerful riffs and down-tuned instrumentals that resonate long after the music has stopped. Their...