Due to its overwhelming popularity, the new epic double album, "Revolution Road" by acclaimed American progressive rock legends Rocket Scientists has already exceeded sales expectations prior to its November 7th, 2006 street date. Pre-sales orders have already catapulted the CD into a second pressing, an unexpected feat after the project's 6-year hiatus. The band is scheduled to perform on April 28th, 2007, at the prestigious Rites of Spring Festival in Pennsylvania.
The latest Karda Estra album, "The Age of Science & Enlightement", has been nominated in three categories - The Best Foreign Record, Best Recording and Best Artwork at .
A new album for 2007? Work began in the summer on three new instrumental pieces of music - Terra Nova, Atom Of Warmth and Life Drawing. Composed by Richard Wileman, the first sessions included new instrumentalist Louise Hirst on trumpet, long term vocalist Ileesha Bailey on wordless choral vocals and Helen Dearnley on violin. More sessions are planned and Richard hopes that an album can be completed by next year. Wanting to try out some new experiments, expect more emphasis on rhythm than previous Karda Estra albums. Richard is also considering the possibility of one or two cover versions from the long wish-list he has built up over the years. Photos of the new sessions can be seen .
Between releasing "The Age Of Science And Enlightenment" and starting the summer sessions, Richard composed a piece entitled The Alpha And The Omega for a new sampler-compilation due at the end of the year. The piece is around 7 minutes long and features Richard on all instruments, except Ileesha on vocals, Helen on violin and Zoe on flute, alto and soprano saxophones and clarinet. Further information:
Karda Estra release a free mp3 album entitled "Download" this month from his website. The compilation album comprises 10 complete pieces selected from between 1998 and 2006. The instrumental music mixes the electric and acoustic playing of composer /multi-instrumentalist/ producer Richard Wileman who is regularly supported by several orchestral players and the choral vocalizations of Ileesha Bailey. For those who wish to burn the tracks to CD-R, artwork (cover and inlay) is also available to download.
Florida-based Progressive Rock Band Cryptic Vision has won the prestigious "Album Of The Year" award from the Songwriter's Showcase of America for their second studio release "In a World". The Songwriters Showcase Of America is the largest one-day original music showcase in the Southeastern United States and this year featured over 85 bands of all genres of original music. Immediately following the awards ceremony Cryptic Vision took the stage and delivered an energetic 40-minute set of original progressive music for appreciative fans including several songs from their latest album.
I was the original co-founder, co-writer and midi electric guitarist for Oxygene8. I am in a new group, Anima Obscura, and we are currently recording our debut CD. The music is instrumental progressive rock, with myself on midi electric guitar and guitar synth, Michael Petiford on drums and Chapman Stick, and Elliot Hillis on bass. The album is definitely in a progressive high-energy hard rock vein, although some pieces feature symphonic and/or ethereal layers. We are scheduled to have Ty Tabor of Kings X master the CD for us, and are currently being considered by several prog labels. For more info please check our website.
Wild Turkey is a brainchild of former Jethro Tull members Glenn Cornick and Clive Bunker. The band have recently reformed and released a new album entitled "You And Me In The Jungle".
In the Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins and Tony Banks unveiled their plans for the Genesis 2007 worldwide 'Turn It On Again' tour, which will consist of 20 gigs in Europe and 20 in the States.
The 12th Roadburn Festival, Europe's leading underground festival for stoner rock and beyond, will be held on Friday April 20 and Saturday April 21, 2007 in Tilburg, The Netherlands.
Metal Mind Productions is very proud to announce a multi-record licensing deal signed with Roadrunner Records for their fantastic back catalogue. Metal Mind will re-issue over 25 albums from the late '80s/early 90s, taken from the wide Roadrunner' archives. The selection of bands includes some remarkable Prog-Metal acts, such as Solitude Aeturnus, Crimson Glory, Pestilence and Toxik. This is a must-have offer for fans of Metal - re-issues of classic material in new digipack editions, each title limited to 2000 copies, digitally remastered, with bonus features like audio or video material, biography, liner notes from artists and more.
New releases:
Moonlight (Poland) - "Integrated in the System of Guilt" CD (Polish version)
Pestilence (Holland) - Mind Reflections + bonus tracks CD DG
Crimson Glory (USA) - "Strange and Beautiful" + b/t CD DG
Crimson Glory - "Astronomica Ltd, Version 2" CD DG
Disincarnate - "Dreams of the Carrion Kind" + b/t CD DG
Heathen - "Victims of Deception" + b/t CD DG
Last Crack - "Burning Time" + b/t CD DG
Last Crack - "Sinister Funkhouse" + b/t CD DG
Realm - "Endless War" + b/t CD DG
Realm - "Suiciety" + b/t CD DG
Solitude Aeternus - "Beyond the Crimson Horizon" + b/t CD DG
Solitude Aeternus - "Into the Depths of Sorrow" + b/t CD DG
Xentrix - "Shattered Existence" + b/t CD DG
Xentrix - "For Whose Advantage" + b/t CD DG
Xentrix - "Kin" + b/t CD DG
Znowhite - "Act of God" CD DG
Irek Dudek (Poland) - "Anthology 1976-2006" Box
Horrorscope - "Evoking Demons" CD
Kasa Chorych - "Blues Cyrek Naszych" CD
Krzak - "Pamieci Skiby" CD
Tomasz Mars - "Meski Burdel" CD
Janusz Niekrasz Band - "Stalo Sik Czas Na Prawde" CD
Ogryd Wyobracni - "Howitynia Dumania" CD
Forthcoming releases (November 27):
Moonlight (Poland) - "Integrated In The System Of Guilt" CD (English version)
Atrophy (USA) - "Socialized Hate" + b/t CD DG
Atrophy - "Violent By Nature" + b/t CD DG
Gorguts - "Considered Dead" + b/t CD DG
Gorguts - "Erosion of Sanity" + b/t CD DG
Sadus - "Chemical Exposure" + b/t CD DG
Sadus - "Swallowed in Black" + b/t CD DG
Sadus - "Vision Misery" + b/t CD DG
Toxik - "Think This" + b/t CD DG
Toxik - "World Circus" + b/t CD DG
Bulldozer - "Regenerated in the Grave" 5CD Box
Sinister - "Prophecies Denied" DVD / DVD+CD
Grave - "Enraptured" DVD / DVD+CD limited
Catamenia - Bringing The Cold To Poland DVD / DVD+CD
Obituary - "Frozen Alive" DVD / DVD+CD
Bank (Poland) - "Muzyka Mlodej Generacji" + b/t CD DG
Bank - "Jestem Panem Swiata" + b/t CD DG
Irek Dudek - "Ty" DVD
Immanuel - "Nagrania Niepublikowane" CD
Morawski, Nowicki, Waglewski, Hocdys - "Howinie" CD
As previously announced, F2 will be holding a special night of Prog this month featuring 3 great bands from the label. Ezra will open, followed by Credo and headlined by Magenta. A night of fun and great music!
Magenta, Credo & Ezra:
Sunday 26 November 2006 6:00pm
The Robin 2, Bilston, UK
GBP 12.00 in advance (Door price GBP 14.00)
Magenta has built a reputation of being an excellent live band, fronted by Christina, recently voted best female vocalist by the Classic Rock Society. The band deliver powerful and emotional Progressive Rock with stunning guitar solos and memorable melodies. They are not ashamed of showing their influences that include Yes, Pink Floyd and Genesis, amongst others, but they mix it with their own unique style, flare and energy. Magenta hope to include two new songs in their set as well as some songs from their "Home" CD that haven't been played before, and some new arrangements of songs from "Seven".
Following superb appearances by Credo at the recent Summers End festival and their headline gig for the Classic Rock Society last week, this is one of the last chances this year to see them playing material from their CD "Rhetoric". Credo were recently described as being like 'discovering a lost gem from the Script For A Jesters Tear / Fugazi era of Marillion'!
Opening the three-band concert will be Ezra, promoting their third CD release "Songs From Pennsylvania". Their music hints at Rush, Pink Floyd, It Bites and Yes, and again consists of great melodies and excellent guitar solos, a trademark of the F2 Music label.
Fireworks Magazine - Update: As previously announced, F2 will have a cover mount CD and extensive coverage in the next edition of Fireworks Magazine. The magazine was originally scheduled for October, but due to printing delays out of our control, this will now be available in December. The packed CD will feature tracks by Magenta, Credo, Ezra & Chimpan A, and the magazine will include comprehensive coverage of the bands with interviews carried out by Fireworks writer Paul Jerome Smith. Should be a good read! Click for information of how to buy this magazine. Price in the UK is GBP 4.00 including postage.
All F2 CDs plus many more are available at . All prices include shipping to anywhere in the world.
Greylevel is a progressive rock band from the west coast of Canada featuring Derek Barber (vocals, keyboards, guitars, bass and programming), Richard Shukin (6 and 12 string guitars, bass and lead guitars), and Esther Barber (vocals and keyboards). Its earliest beginnings go back to 2001 when Derek Barber began writing and recording songs in his home studio. Trained from childhood in classical piano, Derek desired to create music that incorporated his classical training with his love for progressive rock music. After several years of honing the craft of writing and recording, Derek was joined by his wife Esther and good friend Richard Shukin, bringing Greylevel to it's current form. Together the three of them recorded their debut album, "Opus One", which was completed in 2006. Although not a concept album, it follows a general theme of lost love and finding hope in looking beyond one's self. Focusing more on expressive playing and song writing then on pure chops and technicality, "Opus One" takes the listener on a journey through many emotions and experiences.
"Opus One" is the ProgRock Records debut release from Greylevel. Fans of older Porcupine Tree, Pink Floyd, Camel and IQ will particularly enjoy this release, although there is something for everyone. The album is available for immediate order and will ship in early December.
Daryl Stuermer (USA) - "Rewired - The Electric Collection"
Unicorn Digital is proud to announce that guitarist has signed a deal with the label to release his new solo album. Daryl's new CD "Rewired - The Electric Collection" signals a renaissance and vital shift in musical direction for the Genesis/Phil Collins guitarist. Stuermer, formerly with fusion violinist Jean-Luc Ponty (1975-1978) and Genesis (1978-1993), has chosen a collection representing aggressive, edgy, guitar-heavy Jazz Rock.
Planet 8 Records is proud to announce their label launch with the debut of Electro Global Future Jazz album "Invisible Intelligence" byMandorla. Mandorla is the production moniker for British jazz-funk fusionist Clive Stevens. Riding an eclectic wave of sonic voyages, Stevens embarks on an ambitious new chapter of his musical evolution with "Invisible Intelligence", his eighth studio album, which takes the listener on a journey from Brazil to Bombay, featuring some of today's most interesting performers and producers, including Chris Brain and The Ananda Project, Steven Brown, Fernando Saunders, Markus and aghi spirits, with spectacular graphics by German artist Michael Potrafke.
Planet 8 Records is named after Neptune (the eighth planet from the sun) - the ruler of music, films, fashion, dreams, imagination, emotion, intuition and the sea. They intend to give a new generation of international artists the chance to express progressive music for the 21st century. For further information please check out their website.
The musicians: Ann Gaytan (voice, guitars, keyboards, programming), Helmut Abel (accordion), Thierry Vassias (guitars, bass, bouzouki, saz), Chris Joris (kalimba, oudou, percussion), David Minjauw (percussion). Strings (conducted by Jean-Luc Fafchamps): Fred Van Lieff (violin), Roman Borkovskyy (viola), Renaud Lhoest (viola, violin), Sigrid Vandenbogaerde (cello), Fabienne Dries (cello). Choir: Heike Schmidt, Chantal Vermuelen, Michel De Vos, Claude Galland, Marie-Stephanie Smet, Guy Kotowitch, Eirc Heyperf.
All Carbon-7 CDs can be purchased online from the label's website.
Northern Star Records made major worldwide news in publications such as Billboard (US), Uncut (UK) and Dazed & Confused (UK) when we kicked off the current worldwide psychedelic revolution with "Psychedelica Vol. 1". The album featured psychedelic legends such as Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Telescopes, Silver Apples, The Electric Prunes and The Fuzztones alongside those currently at the forefront of the current psychedelic revolution, The Lovetones, The High Dials, Black Angels, The Stevenson Ranch Davidians and the psychedelic heroes of tomorrow The Electric Mainline, Spacegarden, Bavarian Druglords, Pioneer 4, Snowdonnas and The Vandelles. Now we're set to take that revolution another step further.
Northern Star is set to become the world's first mp3 vendor dedicated solely to psychedelic, experimental, underground and independent sounds. Northern Star is going to become a one-stop shop for great music. This is the real revolution! Only bands with the Northern Star seal of approval will appear on the Northern Star site and for any psych/indie and underground band worth their salt, there will be only one place they'll want to be seen and that's .
The launch date has been set for November 15th 2006 and the countdown has just begun. The launch includes releases from the likes of The Stevenson Ranch Davidians, The Flowers of Hell (featuring Death In Vegas and Sonic Boom), Findlay Brown, Alex Lowe (ex-Hurricane #1), Mellow Drunk (including members from the current Brian Jonestown Massacre line-up), The Deaths, Dabenport and Snowdonnas plus classic releases from legendary psychedelic bands Drop City and The Strange Flowers. With many, many more lined up over the coming months Northern Star are set to be at the forefront of underground music. We're starting a revolution and we want you to be a part of it.
