Not a lot of big releases week, but I still ended up with a bunch of stuff (not just Friday, but throughout the week):
ANEKDOTEN - From Within
This is the Swedish prog rock band's 3rd album from 1999 that was recently (2020) remastered onto vinyl. I found it new at a local record store and couldn't pass up the opportunity. Great band, love their first 2 the most, but all of their discs are great. Also picked up a few old (second hand) releases from Jethro Tull, Tori Amos and a Foreigner disc for my son (who's totally into classic rock these days).
https://youtu.be/_aAaJ5HjfMw
CAST - Vigesimus
Larry already talked up and down about this one here on the forum, but I'll just second his opinion. By far the best prog rock / neo prog album I've heard this year so far. Kansas / Arena / Shadow Gallery in one happy mix! Can't believe I never heard of the band. Also bought their 2017 album "Power and Outcome" and placed an order for their 2018 Live BluRay.
https://youtu.be/SkHPXqaFf9I
MERCURY CIRCLE - You Open Up the Earth (single)
Finnish all star band featuring people from Hanging Garden, Children of Bodom and Swallow the Sun. It sounds like a more "world music" version of StS, but still with a doomy backbone. Really awesome. Can't wait for the full album soon ...
https://youtu.be/5QbcJP1QpJU
TILIAN - Factory Reset
Okay, so the album isn't out yet, but 3 of the singles are, and when pre-ordering on iTunes you'll get those right away. All 3 are wonderful! I'm pretty certain most here won't like it, but it's really brilliant pop/alternative/indie-rock with a slight post-hardcore touch, and something of a proggy edge to it. Tilian Pearson is the lead singer (clean) for Dance Gavin Dance, who I absolutely have come to adore in the past year, and I blindly will purchase anything they put out.
https://youtu.be/Y0BvPTIYW00 (that middle-part sounds like a Kate Bush tribute)
DROPKICK MURPHY'S - Turn Up That Dial
Another guilty pleasure of mine, and another pre-order, which provided 5 (!) singles.I always had a soft spot for celtic folk music, and compared to their last album which went too far into the poppier realm that I would have wanted, the Dropkicks have turned the dial up (pun intended) for the folksy moments here. Still lots of punk attitude.
https://youtu.be/NEqniZcaU6Y
HEAVY FEATHER - Mountain of Sugar
This basically sounds like a mixture between Blues Pills and Greta van Fleet, so bluesy "hard" rock somewhere in between Janis Joplin and Led Zeppelin. Not original in any way (heck, their record label calls it "roots rock") but it's very well done and I'm looking forward to many roadtrips with this one blasting.
https://youtu.be/GT5S1_Z24b8
I wanted to get the new THE VINTAGE CARAVAN album as well, but something went wrong on iTunes with this, and only 3 of the songs are available to purchase even if album officially came out this week. I've listened to it through Amazon Music and it sounds really great. I'm a sucker for retro-hard rock, and this is great stuff. Oh well, I guess I'll wait another week on this.
and finally ...
HAIL THE SUN - New Age Filth
This has top 5 candidate written all over it. Just absolutely amazing. I knew / expected that already, as all 3 singles released up to the album release were phenomenal. It's a very short album (only 34 minutes), and that's the only "annoying" thing about it; all 10 songs are killer though! I love Donovan's voice and his drumming is insane ... how he can do both at the same time blows my mind. Musically it's progressive post-hardcore, so it you have no interest in that genre, stay away
https://youtu.be/xGQYE_epZG4