Jan King And Medicine Ball / Point of Departure

 

How nice is to listen to Fresh Music From Jan and 'The Balls", This new brilliant latest work took some time in the making and it was worth the wait. 

With a very Nice Artwork Point of Departure Kicks off with an Introductory Instrumental ; Before Being Born which opens  the Door to the First Song Track Number 2, Blackmail.

A mid tempo song featuring Jan's powerful vocals with a backdrop of sound and style that approaches Jeff Buckley's type of songwriting.

I See the Rain the Third track of the album continues the Pace of the the First Song, with a Hendrix touch, I love the Choruses and the Guitar sound and soloing towards the end of the Song.

Broken Bridge, continues as if it was a linked to the previous Song as a conceptual piece and its a great mixture of Guitar and Voice.

The Surprise continues with Point of Departure, and Instrumental, it showcases each individual and their Instruments following Jan's Guitar soloing.

The Bluesy Bad Medicine, features Keith back on Saxophone and Voice, another Bad Ass sounding song and great lyrics, Jan and Keith sharing roles and then singing at unison works perfectly, great track!

No Weather, another Bluesy sounding song, it also showcases Jan's great clean sounding guitar soloing and great Vocals. There's the trading licks between Bass and Guitar in the Mid Section of the song, brilliant combination of talents and they sound so tight!

The Acoustic moment comes with Down to Pray, with a country feel the Steel strings and percussion moves in like a meditation or trance Music.

Take What You Get, goes back to that bluesy mood and the follower, "Dragons" shows us a softer and quieter powerful Hawaiian type of Ballad, with a real nice sounding guitars, awesome lyrics and Vocals by Jan, great clean guitar tone.

Another mid tempo song; King of Skate, brings back the electrifying soloing from Jan and her powerful vocal lines and lyrics, including a nice change of key after the middle soloing.

The interesting mood of Dance in the Rain, creates a mysterious rhythm section, sort like a marching tempo, my favorite song of Point of Departure, it defines "The Balls" in style.   

Waking up The Dead, is the long piece on this album, a darker sound, it creates the right ambient towards the end of the record, makes it sound like a conceptual piece, again the soloing brings the song to a great end, with a multi voice choir.

After Dying, appears to be a continuation of the beginning of the album, an Instrumental that leads to the final song into the "Coda" of this amazing sonic Journey with; Forsaken, a great and melancholic yet uplifting piece.

Rodrigo Trupp exclusively for Música en Progreso

Sons of Ra / Tropic of Cancer

I was Introduced to Sons of Ra through Keith Wakefield, Bass Player to Medicine Ball, a Bluesy-Punk-Rock Outfit. So its nice to have their album, Tropic of Cancer in my Hands and give it a few spins.

The EP finds Drummer Michael Rataj also from Arbogast and Mine Collapse, Guitarist, Bassist and Synths operator Erik Oldman (Mare Crisium) along Keith Wakefield on Bass and tenor saxophone.

Tropic Of Cancer its a suite with six parts I through VI, and it opens with what would be the main theme, which reminds me of early King Crimson fused with Santana, the theme gets more explored on parts II and III, with sound escapes fused with the saxophone makes a good transition to the last few Tracks,  part IV which is my favorite on this EP,  it explores Indian or Arab Music and it gives the Music a halo of Mystery. Part 5 shows Erik's great Fret work, reminding me of Carlos Santana, at times. The suite goes back to continue exploring the main motives on the last Chapter moving into more expressionist soils as this Opus moves to a brilliant ending.

A nice trip of fine mixture of Jazz and Avant Garde, the Band has been playing live with a busy schedule.

Rodrigo Trupp for Música en Progreso

Sonata Arctica / Clear Cold Beyond / Atomic Fire Records 2024

Many Albums later and Sonata Arctica still goes strong, speed Power Metal at its best. Opener First in Line its featured in their live perfomances along: California, A Monster you can't See and Angel Defiled.

All this songs are signature hooking choruses and great instrumentation, cohesive as ever, its hard to survive playing speed power Metal nowadays.

A great Album with most songs in fast mode and there is time for Ballads which would be The Best Things and the Closing Clear Cold Beyond. In the End years of experience is paying its dues, Sonata Arctica is firm and well, best album since the Days of Grays.

Threshold / Dividing Lines Nuclear Blast 2022

Threshold its been around for a while now, since their debut Wounded Land and consecutively changin singers they have managed to keep it fresh and with every new effort they have known how to survive. Dividing Lines finds the Band at their peak in to creativity, RIchard West on the hambient Keyboards, Karl Groom on those electric passages and great atmospheric soloing,

The band's debut album, Wounded Land, was released in 1993, taking its name and some thematic elements from Stephen R. Donaldson's novel of the same name. Wilson was unavailable to join the band for the follow-up tour, and so Glynn Morgan was recruited to replace him. He sang on the band's 1994 second recording, Psychedelicatessen, Threshold left their longtime label, InsideOut Music, in 2006 to join Nuclear Blast Records. Guitarist Nick Midson left the band in early 2007 for unknown reasons. Glynn Morgan has come to rplace Daamian Wilson in two opportunities after Wounded Land, their debut from 1993 and for Legends of the Shires in 2017 So we are in front of this 2022 release which bring us back to a more melodic Threshold yet the heavy riffing and the great drumming effort from the Band stays the same since Hypothetical from 2001, Johanne James on Drums and in 2003, bassist Jon Jeary left and was replaced by Steve Anderson. It has taken me quite some time to relate to some of the more intricate themes like on The track the Domino effect, which is over 10 minutes long. there is nothing unfamiliar on the record, solid guitar riffing great druming and bass playing, the recording is very bright in sound. theres the more heavier songs like Complex and King of Nothing, where we can hear the heavier side of Glynn's voice.

Rodrigo Trupp for Música en Progreso

Secret Sphere Blackened Heartbeat

Towards the end of the nineties and beginning of the two thousands, Italy gave birth to a renowed Power Metal style Bands: Rhapsody, Labyrinth, Secret Sphere and Vision Divine. The style was re animated by this four bands releasin albums around the same time, Rhapsody released Legendary Tales in 1997 Labyrinth, Return to Heaven Denied in 1998, Secret Sphere, Mistress of the Shwadowlight in 1999 and Vision Divine self titled in 1999. I guess we could say this are the Big Four of Italian Power Metal.

Secret Sphere have released their second album since the return of Vocal Virtuoso; Ramon Messina in 2020, since then they edited Lifeblood in 2021. and now we have Blackened Heartbeat. Its no surprise to find all great ingredients to make this album a good listen, the speed the heavyness the Power and the Symphonies are all present to me a bold effort during times in which such genere is a bit redundant. But whats important is that this new effort is a great example of craftmanship among the peers, Roberto, Aldo and Andy are joined with the Powerful Drumming by Marco Lazzarini since 2013 to present and Gabriele Ciaccia − keyboards since 2009. Secret Sphere is one of the best Power/Symphonic Metal Bands and they still have the Power on turning each of their albums into Masterpieces, my wish now is that they record a Live Album but this time with Ramon on Vocals, would be the coolest thing to see since they are touring right now. Im not going to review each song cause thats your Job to get the Album, Im going to say that in general the album keeps building up from good to Intense and to some Extreme Metal is also featured towards the end of the Record, which also comes with a very nice Cover Graphic Art. Rodrigo Trupp for Música en Progreso (The Progress in Music Pages)

Progressive-Rock-Metal Part two

Legacy-Roots and Resurgence

North American Bands like; Ice Age, Shadow Gallery and Magellan, (mostly under the Magna Carta Record label),  appeared around the same year as the now almost “Cult” Classic, When Dream and Day Unite, Dream Theater’s first record released in 1988. On this my second part of reviewing Progressive Metal I'm also focusing on its other coming, which has produced new ensembles, offering a variety and new fusion in styles, here are some examples.

                  Fear Factory, USA, coming from a different and probably Heavier style fear factory was Metal before Prog, and the usage of Growling came handy yet only secondary to their sampling,Electronic and at times rapped Songs, since 1989 the band has released nine full-length albums and have evolved through a succession of styles, Fear Factory are contemporaries and probable precursors of the genre’s and subsequent resulting Bands like Anacrusis. 

    Strapping Young Lad, Canada, Before the Name "Devin Townsend", appeared resonating to a broader audiences, the "Man" had have been part of crossover Band SYL. Taking things to the extreme, yet combining experimental; Electronics, Choirs, Growling, and sometimes Maximum Speed, Gene Hoglan also from Testament and Former of Thrash precursors, the still nowadays powerful Sounding "Dark Angel"(the Band), formed part of the group towards its latter works, the Album "Chaos Years" tells their story from 1994 until its dissolution up to 2006.

          Evergrey, 1995, Gothenburg,  Sweden, they've released 11 albums between 1998 and 2016, their most recent one its The Atlantic, Singer took the role of fronting American band Redemption since 2017.

           Evergrey has explored the more accessible aspects of the Art and the darker with Hymns of the Broken released 2014. 

               Porcupine Tree, UK, dates back to 1987 formed by Steven Wilson along with Opeth , have cultivated a taste for exploring both worlds of "Prog", sometimes Pink Floyd, Sometimes Beatles and the Heavier, not my favorite mix, but the Band seems to have a huge following and is or was very prolific. I recommend their conceptual double record The Incident from 2009, which is their 10th studio album and  their last to date.   

                 Gogira, France, Active since 1996, another exception to the rule, Gogira mixes Godflesh, Tool and Metallica, the result sometimes is Extreme Death, due to Growling and maximum speed, but the progressive moments are memorable,also their themes deal with green Peace, sort of Ideals.

                   Leprous, Norway,    since 2001  has released 5 albums since 2009, been their most recent Malina 2017, which continues the tradition of redefining and re inventing, The Prodigy and Massive attack’s reminders are there yet strictly hidden, in contrast with some more somber influences or hints from bands like Saga and Jeff Buckley.  Leprous started as a Black Metal Band.

                  Opeth, Sweden, started in 1989, and has released 13 full lengths between 1995 and 2016. Another gem from Sweden have received acclaimed support from other Musicians like; Mike Portnoy, Kamelot, and Fates Warning.

They Mix Folk, Prog and also Death Metal.

                Spheric Universe Experience, France,1999 they've released 4 Discs, the latest in 2012 Entitled “The New Eve” which deviates from their more structured earlier works, into different and more abstract territories, always with a good twist of well blended Heaviness, their sound Live is impressive, they released a Live In London, featuring only 5 songs, three songs ranging the 5-7 minute format two the 9-10 minute length, worth the check out, the singer uses a variety of tones, overall abstract at some times.

             Myrath, from Tunisia pays homage to heir faith in their Arabic and North African Roots and follow a folklore-oriented style in Music, which dates back within the early 2000’s, their mixture of percussion, oriental and pentatonic scales makes their Music more Classical than any other before them, their most representative work I believe is 2011’s Tales of the Sands, which is less commercial than their 2016’s Legacy.

       
        Thought Chamber, USA formed in 2006 and with two impressive albums released 2007 and 2013, they represent the American Influence from Bands like Boston, Kansas and Styx, cultivated or followed by Bands Like Dream Theater, to my surprise, fronted by Enchant’s singer Ted Leonard, who to me, does a much better Job here, the Music flows into uplifting instrumental pieces touching a variety of territories memorably.

                  Haken, was formed in 2007 in London UK, they have released 6 albums between 2010 and 2020, In 2017 Mike Portnoy joined the band on tour.

Also incorporating some "Monster" vocals or Growls, Syncopation and some expressionism in their Music Haken its an interesting but not easy to assimilate  type of Music, still very original and at times reminiscent of similar bands like Periphery and Plini. 

           Redemption, USA, 2001 to Present has included several members from other bands in it like Symphony X and Fates Warning and Armored Saint, with solid influences on all the aforementioned bands, Redemption inclines also to a more symphonic, yet darker arranging to suit Ray Alder’s voicing or for Evergrey's Tom Englund who is now singing for the Band, the result is both Progressive and Malmsteenian, (due to Ingwie's Orchestrated approach of the instrument), it has its very interesting movements of music, guitarist virtuoso Vernie Versalles, formerly with both Armored saint and Fates Warning it's also part of the Band.

                   Riverside, 2001, Poland 

An excellent and well blended bunch of great executioners at each of their instruments, Dark and Melancholic and Heavy, but no extreme.

They have that distinctive sound that was made popular by Deep Purple mixed with some Marillion, Great guitar work too, they also remind me of Roger Waters.

          Headspace, UK, active since 2006  The Band features Keyboard Player Adam Wakeman, and to me one of the best singers in the genre  Damian Wilson who had work with Father Rick Wakeman, The band follows the British Progressive in the lineage towards what Band mates Threshold had previously done, yet Headspace include some Darker arrangements extended instrumental parts, still giving enough space in their songs for acoustic melodies and quiet ambient, Album recommended is "All That You Fear is Gone" 2016 released on the Inside Out Label.

                 Symphony X  USA, 1994 Another exception to the rule this time, due to Symphony X tendency to go power metal, yet and nevertheless inclined to Expressionism, and interesting blend of Speed and also Symphonic arrangements accompanied by the amazing singing of Russell Allen, on of the best singers Ive heard.

Along the years Russell Allen and other members of the Band have contributed withe several other Bands from the Genre. 

               

       Caligula's Horse, Australia,

2011 their Music has changed from Bloom 2014 to In Contact 2017.(both released on Inside Out Label)

A new and Fresh Progressive Metal approach in which each musician shines without the need of extended tracks

Up to date they've putted 5 records as of 2020.

Rodrigo Trupp for Música en Progreso April 2020 (Quarantine)

Testament. Thrash Kings

After Metallica broadcasted their famous "One" Music Video Clip, an Avalanche of good Visual Material dropped in front of our eyes as, every week the MTV, Infamous Head Bangers Ball, Bombed us with great shorts of all sorts, it was the time in which I would go and seat and watch the TV show which broadcasted all the best good Music happening at that moment, the year was 1989.

Thrash Metal, a combination between Punk in terms of the lyric's thematic content, the speed and raw sound of the earlier Motorhead and the Speed Metal created by no other than Metallica, is a prolific Music Style and as such it has created its own Form of Art.

Testament is one of the Bands that came from the Bay Area, along others ; Like Forbidden, Death Angel or Exodus, some of these outfits are still proficient, touring and making Records.

Therefore; Dark Angel, Forbidden (both Bands experienced a short but good come back in 2012-2014), Death Angel, Exodus and Testament are considered or they should be recognized as the Big 5.

These last three have experienced a re success, due to this resurgence of Thrash, Metallica and the Big four are still around. 

Testament in my opinion have bonded back better than never and had produced four of the most wonderful albums on recent years and since the reunion of the original line up, (minus their Drummer) and with a few line up changes the Band has released: The Formation of Damnation 2008 Dark Roots of Earth 2012 The Brotherhood of the Snake 2016 and Titans of Creation 2020.

I had the chance of finally seeing them in my Native Chile at the Santiago Metal Fest in 2013, along Anthrax and Forbidden.     Unfortunately I was not there a year later when the Forefathers of Thrash 'Dark Angel" performed, at that same Metal Fest I believe in 2014. The group had never played live since its dissolution after their Time Does Not Heal Classic album from 1991.

Thrash Metal had its peak in the mid-towards late 80's, most bands coming from San Francisco in California, "The Bay Area", the movement had a new Start during a festival to fund raise money for Chuck Billy singer of Testament, who had  Cancer at that time, the Thrash of Titans tour 2001, was the benefit concert which gathered: Heathen, Death Angel, Exodus and Vio-lence among several others.

 

Since this faithful event, Death Angel, Testament, Forbidden and also Dark Angel have remained active some on and off and Thrash Metal is still raging on; Kreator, Sacred Reich, Overkill, Whiplash, Sodom, Nuclear Assault, Metal Church are a few examples of how this Underground movement reaches still popularity around the Globe, probably thanks to its rich Musical content and achievement.

Testament are: Chuck Billy Singer, Eric Peterson Guitars and Vocals, Steve Di Giorgio Bass (formerly with Death), Gene Hoglan Drums (former Dark Angel Drummer) and Alex Skolnick Guitars.                                 

Check their Latest  Titans of Creation album from 2020 on Nuclear Blast Records, its full of great songs, the full speed thrash-death metal; Curse of Osiris, the memorable opener Children of the Next Level, the more Intricate-Progressive Ishtar's Gate, every political lyric and against corrupt society themes are all explored, there is even space for a very Dark Choir, Instrumental-Orchestrated song at the end of the record titled Catacombs. 

Without a doubt Testament have become one of the most important and interesting Bands in this pure, Re developed, re Invigorated and more Technical New Wave of Thrash Metal Music Scene.

Rodrigo Trupp for Música en Progreso. April 2020