Tag Archives: progressive music
GHOST CULT ALBUM OF THE YEAR 2017: Part 1 (50 – 26)
As the dust begins to settle on what will undoubtedly go down in a history as a fine year for heavy and progressive music, the Ghost Cult crew present our favourite albums of 2017. While a year with only a couple of genuine life-changing, genre redefiners, nevertheless 2017 has seen an absolute plethora of very, very high quality releases. With over 400 albums reviewed this year, at an average of 7.5/10, there was a deep pool of quality releases selected and dissected throughout the year. A genuinely democratic inner sanctum here, we now present Part 1 of an official Ghost Cult Album of the Year (2017) run down that s truly representative of Ghost Cult, our writers, and our musical position as a site. Please share your thoughts and comments on the music we collectively love, as we countdown from 50 through to 26…Continue reading
Fleurety – The White Death
If there is one definable moment when 20th Century history took the wrong path, it’s when we decided to remember Prog as being safe. Yes, by the end it was all twenty-minute drum solos and Rick Wakeman in a dress, but Prog grew out of the thrill of experimentation, the desire to subvert and transgress against rock orthodoxy, and the best of it always had a sense of danger at its core. Continue reading
Lunatic Soul – Fractured
Founded in 2008, Lunatic Soul is the musical alter-ego of Riverside frontman and bass player Mariusz Duda. Duda has poured his heart and soul into the new album, Fractured (Kscope), which reflects what seems to have been a turbulent time in his personal life as well as the current sociopolitical climate in general.Continue reading
Updownc – I, Awake
I, Awake (self-released) is the 5th album from UK-based outfit Updownc. Their first as a three-piece, this self-released monster is easily one of the most satisfying instrumental records of 2017.Continue reading
Threshold – Legends Of The Shires
The last couple of years have proven to be a mixed bag for UK prog-metal stalwarts Threshold. The release of 2014’s For The Journey (Nuclear Blast) saw an increased vibrancy with their strongest album for quite some time and with it, an increased spotlight breaching past their cult following. Ever victims of the revolving door of members, however, saw significant changes in band personnel, with guitarist Pete Morden leaving and the shocking departure of talismanic vocalist Damien Wilson (replaced by one-time vocalist Glyn Morgan) potentially providing stumbling blocks. That they have responded with a double album, near conceptual piece in Legends Of The Shires (Nuclear Blast) shows at the very least they hadn’t run out of ideas, and that they certainly haven’t lost any of their mojo as a result.Continue reading
Cormorant – Diaspora
Across a four-album lifespan, Bay Area’s Cormorant had consistently proven to be one of metal’s true and brightest hidden gems, offering a branch of Black Metal which takes as much worship from progressive giants such as King Crimson as it does from Extreme Metal’s icons. Still independent to this day, Cormorant have always showcased a meticulous detail that encompasses not only their rich and textured music, but even down to their vibrant, detailed and often awe-inspiring artwork. Having always shown true forward thinking and near limitless artistry, it is simply staggering that their fifth release Diaspora (self-released) breaks their mould even further, and is without a doubt their boldest offering to date.Continue reading
Execration – Return To The Void
With Return to the Void (Metal Blade) Execration deliver a 42 minute slab of dark and dirty European Death Metal, mixed with the single-minded raw aggression of Black Metal, and a sprinkling of Prog. This mix means there are some nice changes of pace and tempo throughout which allow the album to remain fresh even after many a listen. When many an album in the genre can easily succumb to the numbing effect of too much brutal music, Return to the Void takes a more cerebral and philosophical approach.Continue reading
Circle – Terminal
Terminal (Southern Lord) is Circle’s thirty-second album, not counting sixteen live albums and three soundtracks (!). To say they are constantly putting out new material is an understatement.Continue reading
Anathema – The Optimist
Over a lengthy and storied career, Anathema have always had a knack for change; whether it being through evolutionary steps, a desire toward experimentation or both. It is well documented by now of their beginning as a Doom/Extreme Metal outfit with cult classics developing through to their contemporary, comparatively unrecognisable incarnation as an emotive Prog outfit; simply put, Anathema have always done what they want and have never been ones to bow to expectation. Nowadays, fanfare and as a result, expectation is at an all-time high when it comes to a new album; so in perhaps typical fashion, they release their most cinematic effort and most challenging release for many years in The Optimist (Kscope).Continue reading