Tag Archives: progressive rock

Ryorchestra – DMK

by Dæv Tremblay

The Music

The Words

It’s already quite a year for Zeuhl and other types of avant-prog, with the due comeback of Japanese act 高円寺百景 (Kōenji Hyakkei) and their album ドリンビスカ (Dhorimviskha), French supergroup Piniol and their stellar album Bran coucou. Of note, there are also Moteur!, Protoplasma, and Orchestra of the Upper Atmosphere for good measure. This is quite a crowded year for such a niche genre, and Ryorchestra is yet another voice that tries to be heard. DMK is the Japanese band’s debut album, and it was released in June without any promotion whatsoever, and … Read more

Zevious – Lowlands

by Dæv Tremblay

The Music

The Words

The Zevious trio has something to tell with its music. With members from Dysrhythmia, Sabbath Assembly, and more, their album Lowlands is a real treat combining post-metal with elements of progressive rock and jazz, all instrumental.

Mike Eber’s guitar parts are versatile and well furnished so that there’s always something interesting from that part of the spectrum when you go through the album. Backing him is the rhythm section of drums and bass, which are also very proficient, energetic, and non-standard. So much so that when more standard parts come into play, as in “Smear Campaign”, … Read more

Ring van Möbius – Past the Evening Sun

by Jeff Nixon

The Music

The Words

Ring van Möbius released their debut album Past the Evening Sun back in May, containing three very proggy tracks, including an epic twenty-one-minute title track, the full video of which is featured above. The Norwegian trio provide a hefty dose of Hammond organ, mellotron synths, and strong instrumental grooves, right out of 1971. There are lots of prog bands that take influence from that era, but few that make it sound new and original. Ring van Möbius are one of those few.

The lineup consists of Thor Erik Helgesen on lead vocals and keyboards, Håvard Rasmussen … Read more

EXCLUSIVE SONG PREMIERE:
The Mercury Tree & Cryptic Ruse –
“The Cold Flame Burns”

by Dæv Tremblay

The Music

The Words

Ever since their inception, The Mercury Tree has moved from an alternative metal band towards more and more obscure progressive rock and genre fusion. This progression has reached a new apex, thanks to the collaboration with xenharmonic prog solo band Cryptic Ruse on their upcoming EP, Cryptic Tree. For a few albums already, The Mercury Tree has experimented with multiple different tonal systems at once on their few latest albums, but this EP aims at pushing that experimentation to its limit.

By joining forces with a … Read more

EXCLUSIVE TRACK PREMIERE:
Doom Shrugs – “A Five-Letter Word for Happiness”

by Dæv Tremblay

The Music

The Words

Neo-Zealander experimental math rock project Doom Shrugs assaults us with their first song, “A Five-Letter Word for Happiness”, off of their upcoming album The Clairolfactant and the Flatulent Ghost.

The opening track of the album exemplifies rather perfectly what the project is about. With its dissonances, rhythmic caprices, and overall eccentric character you can already appreciate the unique fragrance of the group. One of the most striking features of this song might be its near constant chord staccato, which is so prevalent it’s almost uncomfortable—in the … Read more