ALBUM REVIEW: Black Orchid Empire – Tempus Veritas


 

Prog metal trio Black Orchid Empire crank up the technical complexity and again display their playing chops on Tempus Veritas (Season Of Mist). While there is a certain schizophrenia at play here, a clash of styles, if not intent, it has to be said that when these London-based boys (Paul Visser – vocals/guitars, Dave Ferguson – bass/vocals, and Billy Freedom – drums) are good, they are very good.

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NEW MUSIC FRIDAY: July 15th New Music Releases


Purchase and Stream all the New Music released today

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ALBUM REVIEW: Dream Theater – A View From The Top Of The World


The fifteenth studio album from prog legends Dream Theater finds the Bostonian act with nothing left to prove but still in the form of their lives. At a mighty seventy minutes in length yet featuring a mere seven tracks, A View From the Top of The World (InsideOut Music) explores and probes new ideas while reinventing the past with gleeful abandon. Complex compositions which could seem forced, unwieldy or contrived in the hands of others, Dream Theater pulls off with unerring and enviable ease.

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Dream Theater Announces their New Album “A View From The Top Of The World”


After much teasing on social media, Progressive Metal legends Dream Theater has announced their new album, their 15th, dubbed A View From The Top Of The World, due out on October 22nd, 2021 via InsideOut Music. The album is composed of seven-songs with artwork created by long-time cover collaborator Hugh Syme (Rush, Iron Maiden, Stone Sour). A View From The Top Of The World was produced by John Petrucci, engineered and additional production by James “Jimmy T” Meslin, and mixed/mastered by Andy Sneap.

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Dream Theater Shares Live Video for “Fatal Tragedy” – New Live Album Coming Soon


Progressive Metal legends Dream Theater have shared a new live performance video, “Fatal Tragedy”, from their upcoming live album Distant Memories – Live In London. Pre-orders are live at the link below. .The video is taken from the second set of the show where James LaBrie, John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess, John Myung and Mike Mangini celebrate the band’s seminal concept album Metropolis Part 2 – Scenes From A Memory. Watch “Fatal Tragedy” now!

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Aenimus – Dreamcatcher


Technical Death Metal feels like such an unnecessary term. The cornerstone of Death Metal, outside of the cartoonish violence depicted in lyrical content, is a virtuosic musical ability. How exactly do you make something already technically proficient even more extreme in its dexterity? Fortunately, bands like Aenimus are here to provide the answer.Continue reading


Dream Theater – Distance Over Time


Bands with twenty-five-plus years under their belts often have to wrestle with the temptation to become a nostalgia act or to continue pushing the musical envelope which, in turn, carries its own set of risks. For Dream Theater, the past few years have been particularly difficult for the band: with drummer Mike Portnoy leaving in 2010 and filling the role with Mike Mangini, the band has been trying to reconfigure its soul.Continue reading


Dream Theater Is Set To Work On Their New Album, 2019 Release Expected


Dream Theater, by Trebmal Photography

Prog metal legends Dream Theater have planned the writing for their new album, due out in 2019. According to singer James LaBrie, the band will get together this June and begin writing songs for their next full-length album. The album will be the follow-up to their last album 2016’s The Astonishing (Roadruner). Last year the band signed a new deal with InsideOut Music, a sub-label of Sony Music. LaBrie was a guest on the Lead Singer Syndrome podcast, which you can read quotes from and hear below. Continue reading


Ayreon – The Source


2017 will be seen as a monumental year for both Arjen Anthony Lucassen and for Ayreon; the band and its fanatical fan base. Significantly it will mark the first live performances by Ayreon (and a very rare live appearance by the infamously shy and reclusive Lucassen), but also sees a brand new album that revisits the conceptual narrative of one of the band’s most beloved albums, 01011001 (InsideOut). Showing a return to the sci-fi storyline of said album, The Source (Mascot) in fact acts as a prequel piece, and is the most refined and strongest album they have released for some time.Continue reading


Ayreon’s New Song Features Members Of Dream Theater, Symphony X, Blind Guardian And More


Arjen Lucassen will be releasing his new Ayreon album, The Source, on April 27th via Mascot Label Group, and as promised, this record features a ton of guest appearances from some of the biggest names in heavy metal. Continue reading