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31.XII+ Jethro Tull
31.XII+ Deep Purple
31.XII+ Jon Anderson
31.XII+ Steve Hackett
31.XII+ Ozzy Osbourne
31.XII+ Prog Promotion Records
31.XII+ MoonJune Records
31.XII+ InsideOut Music
31.XII+ Lizard Records
31.XII+ Butler Records


BANDS & PERFORMERS:

Jethro Tull
(UK) / December 31, 2016

Latest news:

Jethro Tull leader Ian Anderson has unveiled an album of reworked classic tracks with string quartet. He's collaborated with the Carducci Quartet, along with longtime colleague John O'Hara, to create 12 reinterpreted pieces for the “Jethro Tull: The String Quartets” album, to be released on March 24 via BMG Records. Anderson explains how he encountered violinists Matthew Denton and Michelle Fleming, violist Eoin Schmidt-Martin and cellist Emma Denton via a "rather unlikely" contact, and how he went about "putting them to the test" creating "quite authentic classical-style arrangements". Anderson also says: "A couple of years ago I came up with the idea of recording a dedicated string quartet album in a contemporary but classical setting, with brief appearances from myself. John came up with a few suggestions of his own which presented challenges. All had an intimacy and presence which I looked forward to recapturing in the cozy and very personal space of my office desk where I did the overdubs".

Related Links:
Jethro Tull

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Deep Purple
(UK) / December 31, 2016

Forthcoming release:

Deep Purple’s next album — their 20th studio effort — is called “Infinite”, and is still on track for release sometime in 2017. The announcement follows bassist Roger Glover’s October video update, in which he promised an imminent release for the new record. “I know a lot of you have been waiting for this new album of ours. Well, it’s nearly there. We recorded it in February in Nashville, and we’ve been working on it and the mixes were finally done a couple of months ago. It’ll be out sometime next year – early spring, most likely”. “Infinite” is set to arrive roughly four years after the band’s most recent set of new material, “Now What?!”, a record that cracked the UK Top 20 and earned Deep Purple the Comeback of the Year honors at 2014’s Revolver Golden God Awards. As Glover noted, as much as the group might like to make its way back to the new release racks more often, their busy live calendar makes it hard to put an album together. “I know you’ve been very patient – and so have we”, said Glover. “We tour a lot, and it’s difficult to actually get some time in the studio sometimes, but the album is finished”.

Related Links:
Deep Purple

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Jon Anderson
(UK) / December 31, 2016

Latest News:

Jon Anderson on Rock Hall reunion with Yes: It’ll be at least a little while before the artists included in next year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees officially go public with their plans for the ceremony. But for former Yes singer Jon Anderson, a reunion with his ex-bandmates feels like a safe bet. Anderson opened up about his feelings regarding the group’s long-awaited induction during an interview with Rolling Stone, admitting that while he hasn’t spoken with many of the Yes vets being honored with induction, he has no doubt he’ll be performing onstage with them at the ceremony next April. “I’m sure it’s going to happen,” Anderson affirmed. “I’m sure we’ll all eventually let go of these feelings of frustration you have with people over the years”. As testy as things may have occasionally gotten after Anderson’s departure from the lineup, he insisted he still sees them as family. Name-checking guitarist Steve Howe and drummer Alan White, he laughed, “You go through periods of time where you’re totally … Whenever I think of Alan and Steve, we are still musical brothers. Sometimes brothers don’t agree with each other. It’s the truth. But this is just one night, a lot of fun, a celebration. I think a celebration is good”. While he expects a Rock Hall performance, Anderson sounded a far more noncommittal note when it came to the prospect of a longer reunion. As he pointed out, his current trio project with fellow Yes vets Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman recently finished touring behind their former band’s music — and for him, the trio is keeping that spirit alive. “We know we’re Yes in our senses, even though we’re calling ourselves ARW. We’re playing a whole evening of Yes music and the fans are going crazy,” said Anderson. “This is just the last two months. It reminds you that in some ways I’m so damn fortunate to be singing the way I do and excited about writing new music with Trevor and Rick, which we’re doing, as I was in 1972 at that moment in time when we did Fragile and Close to the Edge and we knew we were doing something very unique”.

Related Links:
Jon Anderson

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Steve Hackett
(UK) / December 31, 2016

Forthcoming release:

Former Genesis guitarist, Steve Hackett has a long and fruitful solo career behind him. His brand new solo album, "The Night Siren" will be released on March 24, 2017, via InsideOut Music. The style is Progressive Folk Rock (if briefly). Format: CD, vinyl, digital. Tracklist: 1. Behind the Smoke, 2. Martian Sea, 3. Fifty Miles from the North Pole, 4. El Nino, 5. Other Side of the Wall, 6. Anything but Love, 7. Inca Terra, 8. In Another Life, 9. In the Skeleton Gallery, 10. West to East, 11. The Gift. Line-up: Steve Hackett: guitars, vocals; with: Roger King: keyboards, programming; Rob Townsend: wind instruments; Amanda Lehmann: vocals; Gary O'Toole: drums; Benedict Fenner: additional keyboards & programming; Also featured: Kobi: vocals; Mira: vocals; Nick D'Virgilio: drums; Malik Mansurov: Tar; Gulli Breim: drums & percussion; Christine Townsend: violin, viola; Dick Driver: double bass; Troy Donockley: Uilleann pipes.

Related Links:
Steve Hackett

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Ozzy Osbourne
(UK) / December 31, 2016

Latest News:

As we await the next, most likely final, move by Black Sabbath, its frontman is gearing up for his next work. Ozzy Osbourne is currently working on a new solo album, his first since 2010’s “Scream”. The news didn’t come directly from the singer, but rather Sylvia Rhone, the president of Epic Records, who was on hand at the label-run Epic Fest in Los Angeles, which featured a set by Osbourne. Although she wasn’t willing to provide any specific details of the project, she was happy to tease Billboard by saying, “It’s going to be a really special album. It’s going to be amazing, it’s something Ozzy has never done before that he’s always wanted to do”. So what does this mean for Black Sabbath? Back in April, Osbourne said that they were going to make one last record in 2016 — the follow-up to 2013’s “13” — and embark on a high-profile farewell tour. Whether or not Osbourne’s new solo album pushes the Sabbath finale back any further has yet to be determined.

Related Links:
Ozzy Osbourne

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RECORDING COMPANIES:

Progressive Promotion Records
(Germany) / December 31, 2016

Forthcoming release:

  • Retrospective – “Re:Search"

    Progressive Promotion Records presents: "Re:Search", the new album by the Polish progressive metal outfit Retrospective. Release date: February 10, 2017. Format: CD, digital. Tracklist: 1. The End of Their World, 2. Last Breath, 3. Look in the Mirror, 4. Roller Coaster, 5. Right Way, 6. Rest another Time, 7. Standby, 8. Heaven is Here, 9. The Wisest Man on Earth. Line-up: Jakub Roszak – lead vocals; Beata Lagoda – keyboards, backing vocals; Maciej Klimek – guitars; Lukasz Marszalek – bass; Robert Kusik – drums; Alan Szczepaniak – guitar.

    Related Links:
    Progressive Promotion Records

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    MoonJune Records
    (USA) / December 31, 2016

    Forthcoming release:

  • Tohpati Ethnomission – New album

    MoonJune Records starts 2017 with one of the label's most acclaimed artists, Tohpati. The seminal Indonesian axeman is back with the brand new album of one of his most exciting projects in his 20+ years career, Tohpati Ethnomission. Please check this high-octane progressive ethno-jazz-rock-fusion of the highest caliber. CDs are shipping this Wednesday, and Download is available immediately.

    Related Links:
    MoonJune Records

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    InsideOut Music
    (Germany/USA) / December 31, 2016

    Forthcoming release:

  • The Mute Gods – “Tardigrades will Inherit the Earth”

    InsideOut Music presents: “Tardigrades will Inherit the Earth”, the new album by the UK progressive rock/metal band The Mute Gods. Release date: February 24, 2017. Format: CD, vinyl. Tracklist: 1. Saltatio Mortis, 2. Animal Army, 3. We Can't Carry On, 4. The Dumbing of the Stupid, 5. Early Warning, 6. Tardigrades will Inherit the Earth, 7. Window onto the Sun, 8. Lament, 9. The Singing Fish of Batticaloa, 10. Hallelujah, 11. The Andromeda Strain, 12. Stranger Than Fiction. Line-up: Nick Beggs (Steven Wilson, Steve Hackett, Fish); Roger King (Steve Hackett); Marco Minnemann (Steven Wilson, The Aristocrats).

    Related Links:
    InsideOut Music

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    Lizard Records
    (Italy) / December 31, 2016

    Forthcoming release:

  • The Ancient Veil – "I'm Changing"

    The Italian combo The Ancient Veil returns to the progressive rock scene. Featuring both founding members of the legendary band Eris Pluvia, namely Alessandro Serri and Edmondo Romano (the composers of the highly appreciated record "Rings of Earthly Light" from 1991), the outfit has finished their brand new album, "I’m Changing", in the - same - style of Progressive Folk Rock with orchestral arrangements. Lizard Records will officially release the CD on January 16, 2017.

    Related Links:
    Lizard Records

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    Butler Records
    (UK) / December 31, 2016

    Forthcoming release:

  • Knight Area – "Heaven and Beyond"

    Hailing from Holland, Knight Area is a progressive rock band that has existed since 2001. "Heaven and Beyond", their brand new album, will see the light of day on February 10, 2017, via Butler Records. Format: CD, digital, vinyl. Tracklist: 1. Unbroken, 2. Dreamworld, 3. The Reaper, 4. Twins of Sins, 5. Box of Toys, 6. Starlight, 7. Heaven and Beyond, 8. Saviors and Sinners, 9. Eternal Light, 10. Tree of Life, 11. Memories. Line-up: Mark Smit - lead vocals, keyboards; Gerben Klazinga - keyboards, backing vocals; Mark Bogert – guitars; Pieter Van Hoorn - drums, backing vocals; Peter Vink – bass.

    Related Links:
    Butler Records

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    Progressor Crew
    (Uzbekistan/Norway/UK) / December 31, 2016

    Dear readers and visitors of www.progressor.net! As some of you may have noticed, we haven't been able to post as many reviews in 2016 as in previous years. We currently have one primary reviewer, and for 2016 other aspects of life rather dominated his life in ways that made it harder to produce as much material as previously. Olav suffered a condition called Burnout back in 2015, and at the start of this year he started the adjustment to going back to working full time in his paid profession. This was a rather demanding task, which did affect the amount spare time he had available for writing. Due to the aforementioned illness Olav also chose to move out from the city and settled in rural Norway in the early summer of 2016, the sale of his apartment, the purchase of a house, the process of moving as well as getting hold of craftsmen for needed repair of his new house - a process that further cut away at time normally set aside for writing. Also, Olav was unlucky enough to break his leg - ankle to be precise - in mid November 2016. He is still recovering from the surgery that was needed after that accident, but has now slowly gotten to the point where some writing can be done again. Vitaly has been ill too - very ill, in fact. We do take all promos submitted to us seriously, but sometimes life gets in the way. 2016 has been a year where life was rather more cumbersome than usual in that context. If chance and life allow us, we will be more productive in the 12 months ahead of us. Our best wishes for a good 2017 for all our readers, as well as all artists, promo agents and labels that have submitted or will submit material for review.

    Related Links:
    Progressor Crew

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