October starts as September ended… Overwhelming!

Just what the doctor ordered as the perfect antidote to the risk of the warmth of our hearts overflowing from that wonderful ProgPower feeling to switch into an equally overwhelming sadness of missing everyone: “A Cell to Call Home” is the third full length album by Salt Lake City, Utah based Prog Rockers of Advent Horizon. And all I can think and say after spending an extended weekend in ProgPower heaven is ‘How Did It Get so Good’? And that goes for both the experience at and around the festival as well as for the vibes this perfectly balanced heavy-but-not-quite-metal-yet Prog Rock album is giving me. Tasty guest performances by luminaries like Randy McStine (Porcupine Tree), Dave Meros (Spock’s Beard, Pattern-Seeking Animals) and Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater) and more are the cherry on the cake of this perfect feel good album that isn’t missing any depth despite the permeating positive vibes. Just what I needed. Dario

2023 seems to be THE year for Norwegian Prog Rock! After fantastic releases by the likes of Ring van Möbius, Tusmørke, Pixie Ninja and the first part of the fantastic The Chronicles of Father Robin trilogy, Oslo based symphonic prog/folk duo Jordsjø continues their eclectic discography after a fantastic 2021 take on Norwegian Forest Prog with “Pastoralia” and a 2022 re-release of their earlier material with “Jord Sessions” (previously only available on homemade tapes) with “Salighet”. Analogue synths, clarinet tones and the occasional whimsical Norwegian vocals are key central in Jordsjø’s musical universe and even though they’re from the big city, the duo invokes ‘unfashionable and unpolished’ feelings from the Norwegian woods where all sorts of creatures dwell. I wanna meet them! Dario

Diving into slightly heavier territories now with “Tulpa”, the debut solo album of German (fretless) bassist extraordinaire Linus Klausenitzer. You might have heard his killer tone and slaying skills in music from bands like Obsidious, Alkaloid, Obscura and more amazing bands and, as expected, he also delivers on his own. Well, not exactly on his own, as he enlisted the help of both current bandmates like vocalist Javi Perera (Obsidious) or drummer Hannes Grossmann (Alkaloid) as well as fellow (extreme) metal luminaries like Roland Grapow (ex-Helloween, Masterplan), Phil Tougas (First Fragment), Ian Waye (Soreption) and Nicolas Alberny (Gorod) to name but a few. It is still very much a Linus/Fretless bass death metal album, and fans of all of his bands as well as the bands of all the guest musicians involved are very likely to dig it. Dario

Moving from Technical Death Metal on to more atmospheric Post Black Metal vibes, Heretoir’s “Nightsphere” continues the year of Heretoir (after a re-release of the band’s self-titled album in February and an EP coming out in May), and while the previous, second album “The Circle” (2017) is already considered a Post Black Metal classic, “Nightsphere” digs even deeper into slow, melodic melancholy, putting them back on to the map after 6 ½ years, stronger than ever. “Nightsphere” is easily an album to bridge the gap between doom and black metal realms with grandeur and I can’t wait to catch them live on their upcoming European tour! Dario

After releasing their third album, “When I Die, Will I Get Better?” in 2020, it was clear that Svalbard were ready to bring their music to the next level. The UK based band provided a deadly cocktail of post-hardcore and blackgaze, mixing ferocious aggression with introspective moments to create an overwhelming experience. Now we are in 2023, in which we see Svalbard releasing a brand new album on the renowned Nuclear Blast label. Titled “The Weight of the Mask”, it deals with issues of depression, self-loathing and the struggles of living in modern society.

Compared to its predecessor, “The Weight of the Mask” is more personal and less political, with the music leaning a bit more into blackgaze and a bit less into furious hardcore assaults. There is even a little Heaven Shall Burn vibe in some of the songs, creating an album that is as dynamic as it is vulnerable, with a great balance between melody and explosive energy.

Of course, any album would fail without quality songwriting and this is where Svalbard have done a fantastic job. From the devastating opener ‘Faking It’ until the epic closing track ‘To Wilt Beneath the Weight’, the music grabs you by the throat and just doesn’t let go. In between the impressive growls and screams, there are even occasional mellow moments with soothing clean vocals and spoken word, but Svalbard are here to deliver an emotional wrecking ball that is easily the best in their career and potentially one of the most interesting releases of the year. Lykle

Hold on. A cinematic sci-fi prog bass album? Volume 2 of a massive concept work? If that description doesn’t catch your attention, just listen to the opener ‘War’ from Titan Agronomist Project’s “Volume 2 – A Juggernaut That Can’t Be Stopped” as it single-handedly redefines the word EPIC! And that’s not even the end of it. Merely the beginning. Or rather, “Volume 1 – Maia! The Daughter of the Great Atl​-​Atl of the West” (2021) was the beginning, and ‘War’ is the beginning of the continuation. A story (and sound) of epic proportions, Titan Agronomist Project is the musical extension of Munich-based filmmaker, composer and bassist Randy M. Salo’s documentary about his grandfather, The Dragon’s of Jim Green. And while I really enjoyed Volume 1 already, I must say that Volume 2 is easily escalating the epicness right through the roof! Don’t sleep on this, cos once unleashed, I fear this juggernaut can’t be stopped! Dario 

Instrumental prog, part 2: Italian edition! “Awakening” is the first album of Rome based prog trio Infinite Rising which features 32 minutes of spacey and tasty instrumental stuff, giving lots of room for all three instrumentalists involved. Without getting all too technical mostly, but not quite being entirely ‘song focused’ either, Infinite Rising present their own hybrid of instrumental prog that dwells more on unusual harmonies and creating these cosmic atmospheres all those song titles already suggest. ‘Orbital Inclination’ suggests a strong Cynic inclination for example. And they’re doing a damn good job while they’re at it! Dario

Instrumental prog, part 2: the experienced edition! US-based guitarist Michael Abdow might not be the biggest name in the prog metal business, but he has made quite a name of himself already as live guitarist for legendary prog metal OGs Fates Warning during the last 10 years, and since 2010, he has already released four solo albums as well. “Séance in Black” is his fifth solo album and he poured in all of his experiences, not only as an accomplished guitarist, but as a well versed songwriter as well. With the former Fates Warning members going down some more straightforward and accessible paths in various outlets (A-Z, Kings of Mercia, Ray Alder solo), this might just be the proggiest FW release in quite some time and I do hope it will bring him finally some more recognition within the prog scene on his own. Well deserved it would be indeed. Dario

Inspired by the work of science fiction author Issac Asimov, the new album “Ergo Atlas” of Portuguese progmetal band Apotheus is a direct sequel to their 2019 released “The Far Star”. The new epic takes place Millions of years after their last mission and tells about an artificial intelligence coming up with an ingenious plan that puts life in the Universe at risk. Sound-wise, they sit somewhere between Evergrey and Soen with their kind of musical storytelling, clicking all boxes ffo rather dark, heavy prog. Fitting to the plot they come along with a good variety in their compositions, building up dense soundscapes to catch the gloomy sci-fi atmosphere, accompanied by a challenging rhythmic and some marvelous guitar action, giving room for the vocals to unfold the saga. While it took me a bit to get into “Ergo Atlas”, the knowledge about the background helped to dive deeper into this journey, and it was worth it. Katha 

Carrying over more of a black metal theme from Heretoir a couple of releases above this highlight, South African cosmic black metal entity Crow Black Sky blew my mind right into the vast space of the cosmos with their new album “Sidereal Light Vol. Two”. Mixed and mastered by Darkane legend Lawrence Mackrory, I just can’t get enough of the vast sound evoking eons of cosmic history past, present and future. A sound that should definitely appeal to more than just the black metal fanatics. Sublime! Dario

You’re craving blastbeats and symphonic deathcore, but with a more old school, less sterile production? Long-standing heroes of Carnifex got you covered this week with their ninth studio album “Necromanteum”. Firing on all cylinders, just like the cover artwork is suggesting, the ten new songs deliver pure Victorian zombie ghost feels galore and don’t let up until the very end. Relentless, gory fun, interspersed with shredding old school solos. Sick! Dario

And now for something completely different: “The 4 Castles of Stelcoaryn” is the third installment in Micheal “Toehider” Mills XII in XII project. 12 EPs in 12 months. “Quit Forever” was all over the place. “Snapshots From Beacontown Spring Dance ’85” pure 80s, and now Vol. 3 dips deep into celtic folk/rock territory with equal panache. No questions, this needs to be another highlight! Dario

Hei’An from Slovenia are a mystery to me. Coming out of nowhere, landing a great debut album with “Imago” last year, getting the opportunity to record some of the songs “Live at EastWest Studios” in LA with an even more orchestral approach in the arrangements of their post metal tunes. Released just in time for their beautiful performance at ProgPower Europe, now they’re even Grammy-nominated! Sometimes, life seems weird and random, but Hei’An is definitely a talented band to be watched, who knows how far they might go… Dario

Random bonus EP highlight: I have no clue anymore where I picked up this release, but Stone and Silver’s four track EP (combined to one on Spotify and Bandcamp) “Natural Causes” is just too good not to highlight. Top notch instrumental prog metal from Texas. If anyone can jog my memory and help me remember where I stumbled across this great release and if there’s any social media channel’s I can follow to keep up to date with anything they might do in the future, please feel free to message me! Dario

Not so random live Highlight: “A Message of Peace Tour” is a great celebration of the works of Ukrainian keyboardist Antony Kalugin – be it under the Karfagen, Sunchild or Hoggwash moniker. 1 hour and 17 minutes of top notch prog rock/neo prog recorded live at the Parkvilla Theater in Alphen aan den Rijn (NL), giving a good overview across the many works of the every industrious Antony Kalugin. Some parts more cheesy, others quite epic and proggy in a neo prog way, it serves as a great reminder that not all good music in this subgenre has to come out of the UK or Canada. Fans of the genre take heed! Dario