Cynic, Carbon-Based Anatomy

U.S.A., 2011

Following up on the last post (that was a prog-metal one), we have the recently released EP from Cynic.
Highlights on this one: they dropped the growly vocals, focusing on Masvidal's trembly but melodious and emotional vocals with a more reduced but pleasing pitch-shift here and there. Amazing work from the three founding members, counting on Reinert's beautiful musicality on drums, delicious timbre from Malone on the bass, and Masvidal's great guitar work, sipping on jazz and whatnot.
Apart from the minor fact that a couple of the songs are re-hashes from previous sideproject Æon Spoke, this is a delightful release.


Playlist:
1. Amidst The Coals
2. Carbon-Based Anatomy
3. Bija!
4. Box Up My Bones
5. Elves Beam Out
6. Hieroglyph

Link.

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Arch/Matheos, Sympathetic Resonance

U.S.A. 2011

IMO, an excellent release from Fates Warning founders, guitarist Jim Matheos and vocalist John Arch. Matheos' unmatched ability to balance excellent riffs with an unexuberant technicity along with Arch's great musical positioning and vocals harmonies, make this album reek of early FW releases – though with a better sonic production – and a very unsurprisingly cohesive one at that.
Expect nothing less than great tracks out of this record – fair share of repetitiveness included –, having in mind the personnel included: Matheos, Arch, Joey Vera and Bobby Jarzombek.


Playlist:
1. Neurotically Wired
2. Midnight Serenade
3. Stained Glass Sky
4. On The Fence
5. Any Given Day (Strangers Like Me)
6. Incense And Myrrh

Link.

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The Ocean, Anthropocentric

Germany, 2010.

The Ocean Collective (usually referred to as “The Ocean”) is an experimental metal band from Berlin, Germany. Their work combines elements of modern hardcore and technical metal with classical music and electronic soundscapes. The band often describes its sound as “ambient soundtrack doomrock”.

"Anthropocentric" is the second of a two album series released in 2010, following "Heliocentric".

Playlist:

1. Anthropocentric
2. The Grand Inquisitor I: Karamazov Baseness
3. She Was the Universe
4. For He That Wavereth…
5. The Grand Inquisitor II: Roots & Locusts
6. The Grand Inquisitor III: A Tiny Grain of Faith
7. Sewers of the Soul
8. Wille Zum Untergang
9. Heaven TV
10. The Almightiness Contradiction

Link.

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Agalloch, Marrow Of The Spirit

US, 2010.

Four years after "Ashes Against The Grain", Agalloch have finally released their much anticipated follow-up. Combining black metal, folk and post-rock altogether, Agalloch create yet another epic, dark and atmospheric masterpiece that may require a few listens to sink in completely.

Playlist:

1. They Escaped the Weight of Darkness
2. Into the Painted Grey
3. The Watcher's Monolith
4. Black Lake Nidstång
5. Ghosts of the Midwinter Fires
6. To Drown

Link.

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Cynic, Re-Traced

US, 2010.

Cynic's latest EP, Re-Traced, features four reinterpretations from their album Traced In Air as well as one original song. A very interesting retake on old material.


Playlist:

1. Space
2. Evolutionary
3. King
4. Integral
5. Wheels Within Wheels

Link.

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Cobalt, Gin

US, 2009.

Cobalt is a two-man project composed by vocalist/lyricist Phil McSorley (a US army scout stationed in Iraq) and multi-instrumentalist Erik Wunder. Two tracks also feature vocals from Jarboe (ex-Swans). Not your trve, lo-fi black metal, "Gin" is tempered with progressive, doom, experimental, avant-garde and sludge influences - but who cares? It's pretty damn good.

Playlist:

1. Gin
2. Dry Body
3. Arsonry
4. Throat
5. Stomach
6. A Clean, Well-Lighted Place
7. Pregnant Insect
8. Two-Thumbed Fist
9. The Old Man Who Lied For His Entire Life
10. A Starved Horror
11. Stew Craven / ...

Link.

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Devin Townsend Project, Addicted

Canada, 2009.

Addicted is the eleventh studio album by Canadian musician Devin Townsend, and the second of four planned albums in The Devin Townsend Project series. The album was written and produced by Townsend, and features Ryan Van Poederooyen, Brian Waddell, Mark Cimino, and Anneke van Giersbergen. "Danceable" progressive music.

Playlist:

1. Addicted!
2. Universe In A Ball!
3. Bend It Like Bender!
4. Supercrush!
5. Hyperdrive!
6. Resolve!
7. Ih-Ah!
8. The Way Home!
9. Numbered!
10. Awake!!

Link.

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Woburn House, Monstrous Manoeuvres In The Mushroom Maze

Germany, 2009.

Woburn House are a three-piece sludge/progressive/psychedelic metal band hailing from Bonn, Germany.

"Beautifully crafted, adventurous and inspiring - this unique band are always tough to pin down. Levitating between the bliss of the finest European avantgarde metal, epic song structures and earthy, organic post-rock tones, "Monstrous Manoeuvres In The Mushroom Maze" unfurls layer upon layer of beautifully textured melody that is driven by a bass drift that reminds us of classic early Lungfish in parts too. And all wrapped up in beautiful artwork painted by Toby Driver of Kayo Dot and mastered by the sound genius of Tom Kvålsvoll (Strype Audio)."

Playlist:

1. Omega
2. Oil
3. Globus
4. Transmitter
5. Transformer

Link.

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Mastodon, Crack the Skye.

US, 2009

The album which marks Mastodon's break with a major label also marks their biggest change in sound and fanbase. Whilst moving to a proggier sound, Mastodon may have alienated many former fans, but do so whilst maintaining their status as most relevant metal band of today. It might not be what many expected, or even hoped for, but Crack the Skye doesn't cease to surprise and impress on successive listens.



Playlist:

1. Oblivion
2. Divinations
3. Quintessence
4. The Czar
5. Ghost of Karelia
6. Crack the Skye
7. The Last Baron

Link.

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Sólstafir, Köld

Iceland, 2009

Kold asserts Solstafir's attempt at claiming the most impressive metal album of the year, and they get pretty close. Somewhere between Neurosis and Primordial, Kold may lack the experimental edge of the former, but prove much more consistent than the latter, producing memorable epic tracks which consistently build in momentum.


Playlist:

1. 78 days in the Desert
2. Köld
3. Pale Rider
4. She Destroys Again
5. Necrologue
6. World Void of Souls
7. Love is the Devil (and I am in Love)
8. Goddess of the Ages



Link.

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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.

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Amorphis, Skyforger

Finland, 2009.

Skyforger is the ninth studio album by Finnish progressive/death metal band Amorphis. Like their previous works, this is a concept album, the lyrics being English translations of Finnish poems based on the Kalevala.

Playlist:

1. Sampo
2. Silver Bride
3. From the Heaven of My Heart
4. Sky Is Mine
5. Majestic Beast
6. My Sun
7. Highest Star
8. Skyforger
9. Course of Fate
10. From Earth I Rose

Link.

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Indukti, Idmen

Poland, 2009.

A long-awaited album. Idmen maintains Indukti's progressive structure, swarming with oriental melodies and violin-driven songs, but introduces a slightly heavier rhythm and some Arcturian (they sound like Garm to me) metal vocals.

Playlist:

1. Sansara
2. Tusan Homichi Tuvota
3. Sunken Bell
4. ...And Who's The God Now?!
5. Indukted
6. Aemaet
7. Nemesis Voices
8. Ninth Wave

Link.

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The Pax Cecilia, Nouveau

US, 2004.

The Pax Cecilia's first album is an obscure release that lacks the experimental instrumentation and production quality from their subsequent work, Blessed Are The Bonds. Notwithstanding, it is an enjoyable album overall, nicely incorporating violin and piano-ridden melodies into a post-hardcore structure. Screamo vocals aside, Nouveau anticipates a very interesting composition.

Playlist:

1. Opening Monologue
2. Beneath Every Powerline There Is Still A Graveyard
3. An Aurora: The Crux Candide
4. MDCCLXXV
5. Fluorescence A.D. 1429: Burning The Body Of Joan Of Arc, Or "Cupid"
6. Phosphorescence A.D. 79: Buring The City Of Pompeii, Or "Psyche"
7. England: Theatre Of The Air
8. A Denouement

Link.

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Riverside, Anno Domini High Definition

Poland, 2009.

Anno Domini High Definition is the fourth full length studio album by progressive rock band Riverside. The album will be officially released on June. The band has stated that it will be the most energetic and rocking release of their discography thus far.

Playlist:

1. Hyperactive
2. Driven to Destruction
3. Egoist Hedonist
1. Different?
2. Hedonist Party
3. Straw Man Dance
4. Left Out
5. Hybrid Times

Link.

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O.S.I. - Blood

U.S., 2009

In Blood, O.S.I. have succeeded in creating a fascinating album at the crossroads between rock and progressive metal. Music that alternates between atmospherically dense and aggressively demanding elements, while effortlessly transcending barriers between different styles and genres.
Following its impressive predecessors, Office Of Strategic Influence (2003) and Free (2006), Blood is the third release by Kevin Moore and Jim Matheos. O.S.I. unites two exceptional composers who share their penchant for the unusual and are on the same artistic wavelength. - InsideOut Music

To be released April 27th in Europe and 15th of May in North America.

As for me, it left me speechless.


Playlist:

1. The Escape Artist
2. Terminal
3. False Start
4. We Come Undone
5. Radiologue
6. Be The Hero
7. Microburst Alert
8. Stockholm
9. Blood


Link.

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An Endless Sporadic, Ameliorate EP

U.S., 2008

Here's a group I can relate to. Young californian progressive metal duo with some Guitar Hero appearances. Nice energy to this EP, along with a crappy cover as well.


Playlist:
1. Anything
2. Impulse
3. Sun Of Pearl
4. The Adventures Of Jabubu


Link.

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Spastic Ink, Ink Complete

U.S., 1997

Even though the amount of musical notes hereby contained actually make my ears itch, this is the proof that Ron Jarzombek is either a lunatic or a tasteful musician; probably both.

It's not usual to find a record with such a sensible notion of music that eventhough positioned as virtuoso/fusion/progressive metal, finds its humility in blending and paying attention to such nuances as human speech factors, dynamic and complex tempo changes, and still find the humour to tell musical tales of a squirrel on the prowl for some breakfast or Thumper's scene from Disney's Bambi.

...it still has a horrible sleeve.


Playlist:

1. Mad Data Race
2. A Morning With Squeakie
3. Just A Little Dirty
4. See, And It's Sharp!
5. Suspended On All Fours
6. A Wild Hare
7. Harm And Half
8. To Counter And Groove In E Minor
9. That 178 Thing
10. Eights Is Enough
11. Mosquito Brain Surgery


Link.

more...