1 debut, 2 live albums, 2 re-releases and a double album!

With a new Haken album around the corner and the first reviews firing up the ‘too much djent/not enough djent’ discussions, they’re currently seem to be focusing most of the modern prog world’s attention on their “Fauna” hype already (alongside Sleep Token maybe). Meanwhile, New York based project/band Enoch Root, led by mastermind Reese Ortenberg, just released “Delusion” today. And that might just be the antidote for all those who are missing the old, exuberantly melodic Haken sound with no stuttering 7-string guitars whatsoever. Further reference points could be the likes of The Dear Hunter, Rendezvous Point with their unfailing knack for melodic immediacy and more recently the harmonic sensibilities (and conceptual story-telling) of Soulsplitter. All ingredients that are sitting firmly among my favorites, so it’s no wonder, that with a stellar production, accomplished songwriting skills and spot-on performances, Enoch Root is quickly becoming a new favorite, just as the two outstanding singles, opening track ‘The Scavenger’ and the title track, promised. So now I’m very eager to see what this exciting new band still has in store for us with possible future releases. Dario

ProgPower Europe related live release of this week, #1: even though it was not recorded at their ProgPower performance, “Livefires”, the first ever live release from Swedish progressive rock shooting stars PreHistoric Animals, was recorded in ProgPower country, The Netherlands, at the Boerderij in Zoetermeer, one of the ‘proggiest’ venues in Europe, with many ProgPower regulars in attendance. “Livefires” documents a hungry band, absolutely on fire, and what’s even better: you can watch the entire concert on YouTube as well! And while you’re marveling with a smile at their contagious feelgood music, you can hop over to https://theprogspace.com/awards2022/ and vote for their latest studio album “The Magic Mystery Machine, Chapter 2” in the Progressive Rock category, guitarist Daniel Magdic, bassist Noah Magnusson and drummer Samuel Granath in the respective Performance categories. Dario

ProgPower Europe related live release of this week, #2: this time really recorded at ProgPower, or more precisely, the PreParty at the Chapel in the (in-)famous Kasteel De Berckt, accommodation and home for most attendees and bands during ProgPower Europe, presented by The Progspace. Amsterdam based ambassador of the Venezuelan Cuatro, Abraham Sarache, treated us to some very cool acoustic versions of his grungy alternative prog with his international trio comprised of himself on vocals and Cuatro, Scottish-born Tristan Turner on various basses (and Kimono) and German Jan Kohrt on drums and percussion, who has since left the band. Selected songs from this performance are now available as “Live at ProgPower Europe 2022 (Unplugged)” digitally on Bandcamp and on all streaming platforms. Give it a listen while Abraham is working on more electrified studio stuff hopefully, The Progspace is certainly preparing another memorable ProgPower PreParty at the Chapel. Stay tuned! Dario

Re-release #1: About 12 years after the initial release of their debut album “The Return of Inertia”, Chicago based instrumental prog metal masters Outrun the Sunlight have prepared a completely re-recorded “2.0” version of it and that gave the album a well deserved polish and shine. With the current line-up and the help of drummer James Knoerl (Aviations, Gargoyl, Brand of Sacrifice), mastermind and guitarist Austin Peters used the downtime during lockdown to give those 11 songs the crystal clear and powerful sound he had always envisioned for them. Dario

Re-release #2: Japanese Zeuhl legends Koenjihyakkei present a completely remixed and remastered (Revisited) version of their 2001 album “Nivraym” with three live bonus tracks, recorded in 2020. If you’re not familiar with that quite distinctive name (according to Google translate it means either ‘One Hundred Views of Koenji’ or ‘Kindergartener Hyakkei’, depending on whether you put in the japanese characters or the latin transcription): imagine a bastard child of Magma (complete with a made up language and crazy operatic vocals – and ELP on speed. Or something like that. An unrelenting Jazzrock onslaught with barely a straight meter, easy listening chords let alone standard songwriting tropes in sight. Headache-inducing for some, source of endless stimulation for others. You decide. Dario

Coming from Oakland, CA are blackened death metal trio, Ulthar, dropping their newest music in 3 years with, not just one, but TWO full-length albums, respectively titled “Anthronomicon” and “Helionomicon”. Of the two releases, the latter will be my pick to highlight, as it is musically more experimental, and arguably their most proggy effort to date. On this album, you will find two 20-minute tracks that push themselves sonically in diversity, playing with elements of tech death, black metal, prog, avant-garde metal, and ambient. Lots of creative riffs and ear-catching segments that will pull you in for the whole ride; this trio of musicians have really made something special that prog death fans and old school death metal fans will love, especially if you’re also into other groups like Blood Incantation, Bedsore, Devoid of Thought, and Edge of Sanity. Currently my favourite album to drop this year, and arguably their strongest effort yet, so don’t miss it! Colin