Russian Circles, Geneva

US, 2009.

Russian Circles, a three piece instrumental rock/metal band from Chicago, is releasing their third full-length album in October this year. Similarly to previous works, Geneva oscillates between heavy discordant metal and soft delicate passages, with occasional moments of memorability.

Playlist:

1. Fathom
2. Geneva
3. Melee
4. Hexed All
5. Malko
6. When The Mountain Comes To Muhammad
7. Philio

Link.

more...

Tangled Thoughts of Leaving, Tiny Fragments

Australia, 2008.

Tangled Thoughts of Leaving was formed in early 2004 by pianist Aaron Pollard and guitarist Andrew McDonald in Mandurah, Western Australia. After the addition of drummer James Hoey and bassist Luke Pollard, their sound evolved from vocal-based progressive metal to a predominantly instrumental being, focused on creating enthralling atmosphere and dynamics. "Tiny Fragments", the debut EP, incorporates a variety of sounds, including metal, post-rock, prog, jazz and noise.

Playlist:

1. Tiny Fragments Part One
2. Tiny Fragments Part Two
3. Tiny Fragments Part Three
4. The Banshee

Link.

more...

Ender, Self-titled

New Zealand, 2008.

"Ender describe themselves as experimental drone rock - which means their palette is mainly comprised of layered slabs of overdriven guitar... The pair have the capacity not only to construct great caverns of noise but to deftly evoke mood and emotion with sustained tones in harmony and dissonance. The arrangement of pure tone, minus premeditated riffs or the focus of a voice allows a listener to be carried away on its waveforms. The music is corralled into four unnamed parts, perhaps heralding a seasonal life cycle."

Playlist:

1. Part 1
2. Part 2
3. Part 3
4. Part 4

Link.

more...

Caspian, Tertia

US, 2009.

The second studio album by Massachusetts post-rock quintet, following 2007's acclaimed "The Four Trees", released last month.

Playlist:

1. Mie
2. La Cerva
3. Ghosts of the Garden City
4. Malacoda
5. Epochs in Dmaj
6. Of Foam and Wave
7. Concrescence
8. The Raven
9. Vienna
10. Sycamore

Link.

more...

From Monument To Masses, On Little Known Frequencies

US, 2009.

From Monument to Masses is a instrumental post-rock power trio. As with other albums released by this politically-charged group, their music does not integrate sung lyrics, although numerous television, radio and film sound clips are played within the tracks.

Playlist:

1. Checksum
2. (Millions of) Individual Factories
3. Beyond God & Elvis
4. A Sixth Trumpet
5. An Ounce of Prevention
6. Let Them Know It's Christmastime
7. Hammer & Nails
8. The First Five

Link.

more...

Alice in Chains, Black Gives Way to Blue

US, 2009

Whether you consider this to be an AIC album or simply a Jerry Cantrell solo effort, it's still one of the most anticipated comebacks of the year. Enjoy.


Playlist:

01 - All Secrets Known
02 - Check My Brain
03 - Last of My Kind
04 - Your Decision
05 - A Looking in View
06 - When the Sun Rose Again
07 - Acid Bubble
08 - Lessons Learned
09 - Take Her Out
10 - Private Hell
11 - Black Gives Way to Blue

Link.

more...

Blood Ceremony, Blood Ceremony

Canada, 2008

Saw these guys opening for Electric Wizard and they simply blew me away. Black Sabbath meets Jethro Tull, psychedelic doom with flute. Genius.


Playlist:

01 - Master of Confusion
02 - I'm Coming With You
03 - Into the Coven
04 - A Wine of Wizardry
05 - The Rare Lord
06 - Return to Forever
07 - Hop Toad
08 - Children of the Future
09 - Hymn to Pan

Link.

more...

Dead Meadow, Feathers

US, 2005.

Dead Meadow is a stoner rock/psychedelic rock band originally from Washington, D.C.. The band formed in the fall of 1998 from the ashes of local bands The Impossible Five and Colour, when singer-guitarist Jason Simon, bassist Steve Kille, and drummer Mark Laughlin set out to fuse their love of early 70’s hard rock and 60’s psychedelia with their love of writers J.R.R. Tolkien and H.P. Lovecraft.

Playlist:

1. Let's Jump In
2. Such Hawks Such Hounds
3. Get Up On Down
4. Heaven
5. At Her Open Door
6. Eyeless Gaze All Eye/Don't Tell The Riverman
7. Stacy's Song
8. Let It All Pass
9. Through The Gates Of The Sleepy Silver Door
10. Untitled

Link.

more...

Maserati, Passages

US, 2009.

Maserati is a rock band from Athens, Georgia, USA whose sound is best described as post-rock with math, progressive and psychedelic rock influences. Their music is instrumental, relying on the standard rock instrumentation of guitar, bass, and drums. Maserati brings in experimental sounds to produce a unique and complex musical experience.

Playlist:

1. Join Us, Mystic Sister
2. No More Sages
3. Monoliths
4. Thieves
5. The World Outside [Thee Loving Hand Remix]
6. Inventions [Justin Van Der Volgen Remix]
7. Monoliths [Steve Moore Remix]
8. Do You Hear The Nightbirds Calling?

Link.

more...

Melt-Banana, Cell-Scape

Japan, 2003

In portuguese there's a word that best describes the music of this hip semi-underground Tokyo-based group that has discorgraphy misspelled on their website: "Fritanço"!
(...) some people say their music is like a roller coaster in an amusement park... Yako and Agata make up on a cluster of the most impressive (and wtf?-worthy) stuff in terms of music blend — I had never thought I'd hear Fantômas and Pretty Girls Make Graves merge so beautifully — in an album that has ever caught me completely off guard.
Then again, from Japan — and from closure's library — you'd expect... a good surprise.


Playlist:

1. Phantasmagoria
2. Shield for Your Eyes, a Beast in the Well on Your Hand
3. A Dreamer Who Is Too Weak to Face Up To
4. Lost Parts Stinging Me So Cold
5. Chain-Shot to Have Some Fun
6. Like a White Bat in a Box, Dead Matters Go On
7. Key Is a Fact That a Cat Brings
8. A Hunter in the Rain to Cut the Neck Up in the Present Stage
9. If It Is the Deep Sea, I Can See You There
10. Outro for Cell-Scape


Link.

more...

Porcupine Tree, The Incident

England, 2009.

PT's new release. No need for introductions, this is pretty much the biggest band in prog right now, and after over two decades of activity, nothing here is going to be terribly surprising. Less of a metal influence than previous efforts, but also less diverse than In Absentia and less immersive than The Sky Moves Sideways. Will hold off further judgements until I've heard this one a lot more.



Playlist:

Disc 1 - The Incident
I. Occam's Razor
II. The Blind House
III. Great Expectations
IV. Kneel and Disconnect
V. Drawing the Line
VI. The Incident
VII. Your Unpleasant Family
VIII. The Yellow Windows of the Evening Train
IX. Time Flies
X. Degree Zero of Liberty
XI. Octane Twisted
XII. The Séance
XIII. Circle of Manias
XIV. I Drive the Hearse

Disc 2
1. Flicker
2. Bonnie the Cat
3. Black Dahlia
4. Remember Me Lover

Link

more...

Yes, Close To The Edge

England, 1972

Okay, so probably this post will get some yawns as a response, for this is probably a must-have for some progressive rock die-hard fans. As for me I've had it for a long time, though just recently it became an addiction.
Presented with a 3-track album of multi-movement classics by this dear band, little else could I do than engage in some consequent image-flashing trips provided by the aforementioned stimuli, posted below.
Hope you will enjoy it as much as I do.


Playlist:

1. Close To The Edge:
I. The Solid Time Of Change
II. Total Mass Retain
III. I Get Up I Get Down
IV. Seasons Of Man

2. And You And I:
I. Cord Of Life
II. Eclipse
III. The Preacher The Teacher
IV. Apocalypse

3. Siberian Khatru


Link.

more...