Tag Archives: Progressive Rock

EP REVIEW: Ihsahn – Fascination Street Sessions

Posted on by

 

Ihsahn is a true living musical legend who helped shaped the modern symphonic sound of Black Metal with his work across the four albums Emperor produced between 1994 and 2001, particularly with their debut In The Nightside Eclipse which is perhaps the quintessential release of the genre. And although Emperor are still of course touring and Ihsahn has in the 2000’s released music with his Thou Shalt Suffer and Peccatum projects, the focus for the Norwegian musician has undoubtedly been on developing his solo career.

Continue reading →


INTERVIEW: Billy Sheehan of The Winery Dogs on Their New Album, and Longevity in The Music Business

Posted on by

 

Ghost Cult caught up with bass guitar legend Billy Sheehan of The Winery Dogs! Billy discussed the new album “III” – out now on Three Dog Records, launching their own label, the evolving role of labels in the music business, how Billy – Mike Portnoy, and Richie Kotzen all write together, the return of touring, how many guest sessions Billy really did during the height of the pandemic, and much more! Continue reading →


CLASSIC ALBUMS REVISITED: Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of The Moon” Turns 50

Posted on by

 

Ghost Cult welcomes in guest contributor, podcaster and Pink Floyd expert Nik Cameron of The Glacially Musical Pouredcast to wax on about Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon, which turned 50 years old today (March 1st, 2023).

 

The Dark Side of the Moon, 50 Years Later

As we sit here, author and reader, what could be arguably called the greatest prog rock album of all time, The Dark Side of the Moon, by Pink Floyd, has aged fifty years. At the time of this writing when I attempt some words about this massive achievement, I am 47 years old.Continue reading →


ALBUM REVIEW: Devin Townsend – Lightwork

Posted on by

 

It’s been three years since Canadian musical contortionist Devin Townsend confused the hell out of everyone with Empath, an album of such relentless eclecticism and stupefying eccentricity that even now it remains almost beyond comprehension. A kitchen sink album in every respect, our heroic Canuck threw literally everything into the mix. From death metal and jazz to Chad Kroeger and cats, Empath was the mindfuck to end all mindfucks.

Continue reading →


INTERVIEW: Devin Townsend – “Lightwork” Album Breakdown

Posted on by

 

We chatted once again with the great Devin Townsend – all about his new album “Lightwork” now releasing on November 4th, 2022 via InsideOut Music! Devy discussed the last few years and releases in his life, his creative process, and then a track-by-track breakdown of the new album with songwriting and lyrical inspirations, and a hint at the next Devy album.

Continue reading →


CONCERT REVIEW: VOLA – Voyager – Four Stroke Baron Live at Rebellion

Posted on by

VOLA playing at Rebellion Manchester Credit: Rich Price

Opening up tonight were Nevada three-piece Four Stroke Baron, a band who are difficult to classify. Heavy slabs of groove-laden prog smash funkily across a packed audience. The set is marred only by the fact that in a couple of songs the singer notably loses his voice and the band without missing a beat goes on to deliver their first instrumental set from the dark smoke-laden stage of Rebellion and its notoriously bad lighting. Handling an awkward situation very well indeed they still delivered a solid and enjoyable set that had the audience’s heads bobbing along in time.

Continue reading →


ALBUM REVIEW: Sigh – Shiki

Posted on by

 

Four years after previous studio outing, Heir To Despair (Candlelight), Japanese avant-garde black metal act Sigh switch record labels once again and return with twelfth full length album Shiki (Peaceville). In their native language, the title translates into many different things such as ceremony, colour and motivation but the main themes present here are “four seasons” and “time to die”. A concept derived from a traditional Japanese poem, frontman Mirai Kawashima takes an existential approach to the seasons, watching cherry blossoms (a symbol of Spring) in full bloom while going through the Autumnal stage of his life with Winter just around the corner.Continue reading →


ALBUM RE-ISSUES BOXSET REVIEW: Voivod – Forgotten In Space

Posted on by

 

One of the most influential thrash metal acts of the eighties, progressive Canadians Voivod have never been content with sitting back and churning out the same record over and over again. A constant desire for change and reinvention has meant the quartet from Jonquière, Quebec has had to endure much unnecessary and often ludicrous pigeon-holing over the years. Post-Thrash. Punk. Speed. Proto-Industrial. Avant-Garde. Progressive. And even Nuclear Metal (whatever that is).

Continue reading →


ALBUM REVIEW: Porcupine Tree – Closure – Continuation

Posted on by

“Progressive rock” is a term that can encompass a wide variety of sounds. At one point or another in their 35-year history, Porcupine Tree — the brainchild of Steven Wilson — have probably touched upon most of these. Having put out several albums of electronica-infused psychedelic space rock since their formation in 1987, the band reached a peak of critical and commercial success in the 2000s with the metal-influenced experimental songcraft exemplified by In Absentia and Fear of a Blank Planet. By the start of 2011, however, Porcupine Tree appeared to be no more, with Wilson announcing a hiatus to focus on his solo career; he stated as recently as 2018 that getting the band back together “would seem like a terribly backward step”.

Continue reading →


ALBUM REVIEW: LaMacchia – Thunderheads

Posted on by

For every rush of adrenaline there’s the eventual lull. For each euphoric high there’s the comedown to follow. Thunderheads (Aqualamb Recordings) — the debut record of LaMacchia — plays like the 3am winding down of a night of excess. Thrills and sensual desires wedded to a shadow of sadness and introspection.

Continue reading →