The term progressive is tossed around the metal world often, an adjective readily applied to bands across the myriad of sub-genres. Throw “progressive” in front of any standard description and it instantly adds a level of technicality and arrangement not found in the genre as a whole. Taking it a step further, bands that operate… Continue reading Album Review: Utgard by Enslaved (Nuclear Blast, Oct. 2nd)
Tag: progressive
Sometimes It’s Fun to Have Fun: MANGATA and COVET
One thing modern heavy metal can be hopelessly devoid of? Fun. It’s all gloomy doom rituals or shredding as fast as you can in as many time signatures as possible…. But sometimes girls/boys/all genders of people just want to have fun. Mangata and Covet are two fun bands I’ve come across on my quarantined April… Continue reading Sometimes It’s Fun to Have Fun: MANGATA and COVET
AltCtrlToob Video Premiere: Rick Massie’s “Together As One”
#QuaratineLife gotcha down? Need a dose of prog rock positivity? Canadian musician Rick Massie has ya covered with this video for the single “Together As One.” Massie says of the tune, “I originally planned to release this long after my debut album as a solo artist. I didn’t want people to be confused and think that… Continue reading AltCtrlToob Video Premiere: Rick Massie’s “Together As One”
EP Spotlight: Deathwish by Dig Two Graves
Opening the promo for Dig Two Graves‘ upcoming EP Deathwish, I felt old for about the twenty-fifth time this week — and it’s only Tuesday. Let’s just say that “progressive metalcore” are two words not usually found in my music lexicon. But these young bros have some pensive sentiments to share amidst the breakdowns and… Continue reading EP Spotlight: Deathwish by Dig Two Graves
Panoramic – A Review of Devin Townsend’s Empath
It’s been almost two years since Devin Townsend released what was to be his last album under the Devin Townsend Project moniker, Transcendence. Although I enjoyed that album a great deal, Mr. Townsend had gotten himself stuck in a formula that he seemed incapable of escaping from. It was most likely due to pressures from… Continue reading Panoramic – A Review of Devin Townsend’s Empath
Better Over Time: A Review of Dream Theater’s Distance Over Time
I remember that night back in 1994 clearly. “Take The Time” was playing on my father’s stereo at home. It was during the song’s lengthy instrumental workout that I made this innocent observation: “Boy, these guys write long songs.” My father’s response? “Well, they love to play.” It was an endearing thing to hear as… Continue reading Better Over Time: A Review of Dream Theater’s Distance Over Time
Album Review: Brave’s the calm | the storm
Washington DC prog rockers Brave released their sophomore album the calm | the storm on January 8th to positive reviews from AlternativeNation.net, Dead Rhetoric, and now this very blog. The layered compositions feature active bass, interactive string and keyboard lines, and rich vocals. Singer and co-founder Michelle Schrotz says of the album, “These songs represent ‘life stories’ and lyrically… Continue reading Album Review: Brave’s the calm | the storm