Search found 47 matches

by outprogged42
Fri Feb 23, 2024 1:58 pm
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: New Vanden Plas keyboardist is...
Replies: 5
Views: 357

Re: New Vanden Plas keyboardist is...

It's a pretty decent track - the instrumental unison is very neat and the structure of the verse riff feels a little more jagged, and the symphonic outro does feel like del Vecchio's stamp. Still otherwise mostly the same as usual. Stephan Lill wrote the entire album so you may expect a more guitar-...
by outprogged42
Fri Jan 26, 2024 3:45 pm
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: New Vanden Plas keyboardist is...
Replies: 5
Views: 357

New Vanden Plas keyboardist is...

...Alessandro del Vecchio!

https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=1245575106831103

Apparently I should have heard of him, given the massive size of his resume.
by outprogged42
Tue Dec 12, 2023 3:09 pm
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: End of year lists - are we ready ?
Replies: 33
Views: 3562

Re: End of year lists - are we ready ?

My top 12 picks within the domain of the typical tastes around here are: Theocracy - Mosaic Silent Skies - Dormant TesseracT - War of Being Anubis Gate - Interference Nospūn - Opus Angra - Cycles of Pain Confusion Field - Future Impact of Past Diversions Redemption - I Am the Storm Hemina - Romancin...
by outprogged42
Thu Nov 16, 2023 8:05 am
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: Subsignal - A Poetry of Rain...
Replies: 8
Views: 580

Re: Subsignal - A Poetry of Rain...

Despite being pretty light still, it does feel less overtly poppy than La Muerta and has more old-school Subsignal vibes and classic prog-rock influences that make me enjoy the album more. "The Art of Giving In" is a massively catchy song that really showcases the sound of the album.
by outprogged42
Tue Nov 14, 2023 3:39 pm
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: Angra - Cycles of Pain...
Replies: 4
Views: 500

Re: Angra - Cycles of Pain...

I finally heard this over the weekend. I like it more than OMNI which I considered one of their weakest albums and lacking distinction from others. It brings back a large portion of prog elements while combining the newfound heaviness in the Lione era and keeping some Brazilian folk elements going ...
by outprogged42
Sun Nov 12, 2023 7:32 am
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: Angra - Cycles of Pain...
Replies: 4
Views: 500

Re: Angra - Cycles of Pain...

I finally heard this over the weekend. I like it more than OMNI which I considered one of their weakest albums and lacking distinction from others. It brings back a large portion of prog elements while combining the newfound heaviness in the Lione era and keeping some Brazilian folk elements going p...
by outprogged42
Sat Oct 28, 2023 2:50 pm
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: Veni Domine appears to have reunited...
Replies: 2
Views: 237

Veni Domine appears to have reunited...

Veni Domine's Facebook page just became active again and announced a festival appearance in March 2024. I'm not sure if this is permanent or just a one-off reunion, but they seem to be hinting that it might be more than this one show. This is not a band I particularly listen to often as their style ...
by outprogged42
Sat Oct 21, 2023 5:59 pm
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: Theocracy - Mosaic
Replies: 9
Views: 471

Theocracy - Mosaic

The progheads might be more pleased with this album compared to the last one, although that was a superb record in its own right. A lot faster and heavier than Ghost Ship, and more technical and progressive - I heard some odd meters on one of the songs and another one is 19 minutes long, and there i...
by outprogged42
Tue Sep 12, 2023 1:00 pm
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: NoSpun - Opus
Replies: 20
Views: 1688

Re: NoSpun - Opus

I greatly enjoyed this record. I agree on the slight lack of originality, but the influences being drawn upon are a little different than the modern prog school is using all the time. Haken, BTBAM, and Queen pop to mind, and I do also hear the Devin Townsend in both clean and gruffer vocals, with a ...
by outprogged42
Sun Mar 19, 2023 8:22 pm
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: Redemption - I Am the Storm (March 17, 2023)
Replies: 20
Views: 1198

Re: Redemption - I Am the Storm (March 17, 2023)

Responses in italics. We started with Jacob. He's fantastic, but frankly he overbooked himself and it took literally months and we had to move on. To be clear: I have nothing but respect for the guy. That said, his drums to me *do* sound over-processed. The reason our previous record took him longer...
by outprogged42
Sun Mar 19, 2023 8:39 am
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: Redemption - I Am the Storm (March 17, 2023)
Replies: 20
Views: 1198

Re: Redemption - I Am the Storm (March 17, 2023)

So, thanks very much for listening and for posting your thoughts. I have come back here a few times recently (mostly to read) and I am looking forward to being a contributing member of this community as soon as I get out from under the horrific workload that is staring at me. My point being: I'm no...
by outprogged42
Sat Mar 18, 2023 2:59 pm
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: Redemption - I Am the Storm (March 17, 2023)
Replies: 20
Views: 1198

Re: Redemption - I Am the Storm (March 17, 2023)

I just received the CD in the mail and finished the entire thing just now. This album's themes are extremely relevant to me right now and to the places I've been since 2018, so I was eagerly awaiting the release. My overall impressions: It's a pretty melodic album in general, one of the least aggres...
by outprogged42
Fri Mar 17, 2023 9:30 am
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: Anima One by Gunter Werno (Vanden Plas) - Symphonic Concert
Replies: 9
Views: 289

Re: Anima One by Gunter Werno (Vanden Plas) - Symphonic Concert

Werno's keyboard playing was always distinct and he'll be missed in Vanden Plas (yes, he recently quit), Wait, WHAT?!?!? It was only this January. I'm suspecting they might bring on one of the keyboardists they've worked with, possibly even Markus Teske from the All My Shadows album. Vanden Plas wi...
by outprogged42
Fri Mar 17, 2023 5:27 am
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: Anima One by Gunter Werno (Vanden Plas) - Symphonic Concert
Replies: 9
Views: 289

Re: Anima One by Gunter Werno (Vanden Plas) - Symphonic Concert

I'd like to hear this sometime soon. Werno's keyboard playing was always distinct and he'll be missed in Vanden Plas (yes, he recently quit), but stuff like this will ensure we hear plenty of him in the same context.
by outprogged42
Fri Feb 24, 2023 6:42 pm
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: Redemption - I Am the Storm (March 17, 2023)
Replies: 20
Views: 1198

Re: Redemption - I Am the Storm (March 17, 2023)

The third song is a proggy epic over 8 minutes long. Lots of twists and turns and plenty of smoothing over odd meters, and Vikram's influence on the keys is quite significant. The lyrical content is superb as always.

I think there's one more coming out, right?
by outprogged42
Mon Jan 16, 2023 3:48 pm
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: R.I.P. Chris Rifkin.......
Replies: 11
Views: 466

Re: R.I.P. Chris Rifkin.......

Hey guys, long time..Yeah this sucks. I also spoke with Chris in late October early November about it, I also dont say anything out of respect for his wishes. , his spirits were great and he sounded like his was going to be able to get to PPUSA this year...I am pretty saddened by his departure... T...
by outprogged42
Fri Jan 13, 2023 9:19 pm
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: What are you listening to right now?
Replies: 435
Views: 20655

Re: What are you listening to right now?

Been listening to parts of both of the Power of Omens albums this week. They need a good audio system to really shine through with all the little details in the music - particularly the constantly hyperactive drums. The second half of the 20-minute epic song "In the End" is sheer instrumental chaos....
by outprogged42
Thu Dec 22, 2022 10:20 am
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: Are we putting together our year end lists ?
Replies: 16
Views: 625

Re: Are we putting together our year end lists ?

I listen to less new music as the years go by, so I don't have that many. I also listen to a lot of non-metal or prog-related artists in addition. Releases I've liked from this year: Threshold - Dividing Lines (Prog-Metal) Images of Eden - Weathered and Torn (Prog-Metal, Heavy Metal) Floating in Spa...
by outprogged42
Sat Dec 10, 2022 10:29 am
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: Redemption - I Am the Storm (March 17, 2023)
Replies: 20
Views: 1198

Redemption - I Am the Storm (March 17, 2023)

March has been a month of significant releases to me for years, and 2023 doesn't seem to be an exception. Finally some new music from Redemption after hearing almost nothing for a while. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWrXVDeLv1A This is supposed to be a straightforward, brutally heavy metal song a...
by outprogged42
Mon Nov 28, 2022 6:56 pm
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: The band Asia?
Replies: 3
Views: 290

Re: The band Asia?

I do really enjoy the first album. There are splashes of prog to complement the AOR/neo sound. The first three songs are the ones you hear on the radio. The first two more than the third.
by outprogged42
Thu Nov 24, 2022 3:07 pm
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: THRESHOLD / Dividing Lines ......
Replies: 8
Views: 486

Re: THRESHOLD / Dividing Lines ......

****Great description indeed......obviously a huge Threshold fan, so cool to see ....... I'm a Psychedelicatessan man myself, having cut my teeth on Wounded Land, which I love, but Psyche just blew me away - I won't go into detail so as not to detract from the disc at hand, after reading all the th...
by outprogged42
Wed Nov 23, 2022 7:00 pm
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: THRESHOLD / Dividing Lines ......
Replies: 8
Views: 486

Re: THRESHOLD / Dividing Lines ......

I wasn't sure I'd like this one as much as the last because I prefer the proggier side of Threshold, despite knowing they can crank out a catchy chorus in a traditional song structure as good as anyone else, as long as there's enough heaviness too. Wounded Land is still a sentimental favorite becaus...
by outprogged42
Wed Nov 16, 2022 8:28 am
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: Instabuy bands?
Replies: 18
Views: 639

Re: Instabuy bands?

Within the bounds of artists in this board's wheelhouse: Threshold Redemption Hibernal Theocracy Who/what is Hibernal? I can't seem to find them on metal-archives. It's a one-man project (mostly) that's gone back and forth between prog-rock, ambient, and Vangelis-like soundtrack music, sometimes al...
by outprogged42
Sun Nov 13, 2022 8:44 am
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: Instabuy bands?
Replies: 18
Views: 639

Re: Instabuy bands?

Within the bounds of artists in this board's wheelhouse:

Threshold
Redemption
Hibernal
Theocracy
by outprogged42
Tue Sep 27, 2022 11:34 am
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: Hourglass - Voids and Visions (new album; new song "Void Within")
Replies: 1
Views: 175

Hourglass - Voids and Visions (new album; new song "Void Within")

The band themselves have confirmed their upcoming new album will be called "Voids and Visions" on the heels of releasing this "single" - which, in typical Hourglass fashion, is 25 minutes long. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPsnr4dpYFs The bassist and keyboardist have changed, and there is yet ano...
by outprogged42
Sun Jul 17, 2022 8:17 am
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: Threshold - Dividing Lines - 11/18
Replies: 7
Views: 358

Re: Threshold - Dividing Lines - 11/18

Legends of the Shires was utterly brilliant and arguably, for me, the best Threshold album ever. This album is very much anticipated. The darker tone does seem as if it won't be as much in my wheelhouse, however if it keeps a lot of the sonic traits of the last one as Rich claims, it should impress ...
by outprogged42
Tue May 24, 2022 7:43 am
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: Spheric Universe Experience - Back Home...
Replies: 10
Views: 812

Re: Spheric Universe Experience - Back Home...

Following up on my last comment, the album came out on Friday and I listened to the entire thing on Sunday. It's terrific, almost uniformly front to back, and is in line with my initial impressions above. Tons of technicality and more stylistic turns into left field than before - jazzy slap bass, Qu...
by outprogged42
Fri May 13, 2022 8:18 am
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: Spheric Universe Experience - Back Home...
Replies: 10
Views: 812

Re: Spheric Universe Experience - Back Home...

I was in Nice on vacation before seeing Night of the Prog 2018 in Germany and spent a couple of days with Fred and his girlfriend, and saw the studio where some of the SUE albums were recorded. I heard some of the instrumental demos of the disc at the time and was really impressed with the technical...
by outprogged42
Tue Oct 26, 2021 5:00 pm
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: Dream Theater - A View from the Top of the World
Replies: 17
Views: 948

Re: Dream Theater - A View from the Top of the World

On first listen, this is a quite good but not extraordinarily album. It lacks in the ability to really surprise and wow the listener compared to their other more recent works. The songs are perfectly solid yet don't seem to fully come together as well-rounded pieces. The Alien, Transcending Time, an...
by outprogged42
Thu Sep 23, 2021 7:58 pm
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: Best of lists ?
Replies: 17
Views: 999

Re: Best of lists ?

Only a few standouts thus far.. Ronnie Atkins - One Shot WET - Retransmission Images of Eden - Angel Born League of Lights - Dreamers Don't Come Down Evergrey - Escape of the Phoenix I haven't kept up with new stuff as much this year compared to others. I expect Dream Theater to grow on me after it ...
by outprogged42
Tue Aug 10, 2021 5:51 pm
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: Redemption clones
Replies: 8
Views: 693

Re: Redemption clones

I would not say that Redemption aren't a unique band. I just don't think they get to the point where they have many tangible qualities that other bands don't, that are easy to replicate for other bands. Emotional urgency by the use of increasing harmonic tension is fairly close (Nick described theor...
by outprogged42
Sat Jul 17, 2021 3:46 pm
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: Anima Tempo
Replies: 4
Views: 385

Re: Anima Tempo

Anima Tempo was actually supposed to play at ProgPower Europe before COVID. It was about time they got a big gig like that. Their debut was excellent.
by outprogged42
Sat Jul 17, 2021 3:42 pm
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: Neo-Prog: Where should I look now?
Replies: 55
Views: 9675

Re: Neo-Prog: Where should I look now?

I would highly recommend: Greylevel - Hypostatic Union (Canada): extremely melancholic and downbeat, very much like old Porcupine Tree with some IQ thrown in. It holds some very bittersweet memories for me and I couldn't keep the disc, however it's a pretty amazing example of this style of music don...
by outprogged42
Mon May 17, 2021 12:58 pm
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: Pendragon - Love over Fear
Replies: 10
Views: 2018

Re: Pendragon - Love over Fear

Men Who Climb Mountains was an incredible disc, however it was extremely dark and not something I can listen to often. Love Over Fear is the antithesis. Bright, positive, and authentically so. Combining the old sound with the new perfectly. "360 Degrees," "Soul and the Sea," and "Eternal Light" hit ...
by outprogged42
Mon May 17, 2021 12:55 pm
Forum: PM: Core
Topic: Vanishing Point - Dead Elysium...
Replies: 8
Views: 1141

Re: Vanishing Point - Dead Elysium...

Embrace the Silence is one of my personal favorite albums in the style and still receives fairly regular plays. Unfortunately, since then they have gone far down the road of "melodic metal" and dropping the diversity that makes their style sustainable for an entire album. Distant is the Sun is a fai...