Search Results: prog

• HETEROMORPHIC ZOO Unleashes "New World" EP and "Ritual of Fidelity" Music Video

  Oct 13, 2024 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

   

  Emerging metal act Heteromorphic Zoo, from Victoria, BC, Canada, is set to captivate audiences with their debut EP “New World”, produced by Chris Wiseman (Shadow of Intent, Currents) plus mixed and mastered by Christian Donaldson (Cryptopsy). Coinciding with the EP launch, the band has unveiled the music video for their single “Ritual of Fidelity”, which they comment on:

  “This song is about an ancient power awakening within a great tomb, filled with monsters. The leaders declare their loyalty (or fidelity) to the overlord. Musically, the actual “ritual of fidelity” takes place in the middle of the song. It’s a classical 3-voice fugue between the violin, lead guitar, and rhythm guitars + bass with a subject, tonal response, 2 counter subjects, and everything. Of course, it’s not a pure fugue since other instruments are also playing, but that’s the skeleton of it, and the callback to an old baroque form brings out the ritualistic nature of the song.”​
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  “Ritual of Fidelity” has a memorable lead guitar melody during its chorus, chuggy yet melodic verse riffs, and an overall more neoclassical sound. The violin is fairly subdued and in the background until the moment of the ritual fugue, since that moment is meant to introduce it to the listener for the first time.

  Born from a desire to create “Worship Music for Monsters”, Heteromorphic Zoo's five-track EP showcases a diverse and extreme sound that pushes the boundaries of modern metal. Lyrically, "New World" tells the story of a grand alliance of monstrous beings invading a new realm, with perspectives shifting between the monsters, their overlord, and their enemies. The band's innovative approach combines groove and melody, intricate riffs, and powerful breakdowns, resulting in a sonic experience that defies easy categorization. They are recommended for fans of In Flames, Within the Ruins, and Ne Obliviscaris.

   

  ​Released on October 10th, 2024, "New World" is available at the following links:

  ​https://heteromorphiczoo.bandcamp.com/album/new-world​

  Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3NkbzAg​

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  Track Listing:​
  1. Ritual of Fidelity – 3:29
  2. Your Final Seconds (feat. Ville Hokkanen) – 3:42
  3. Napalm – 4:22
  4. Avatara – 3:39
  5. Aura of Despair – 3:41
  Total Length 18:53

  EP Credits:​
  All songs performed by:
  Heteromorphic Zoo
  Coty Garcia - Vocals
  Megan Ash - Violin
  Ray Heberer - Guitar, Bass
  Bryce Butler - Drums
  ​
  All songs written by:
  Ray Heberer (SOCAN member)
  Produced by Chris Wiseman
  Mixed by Christian Donaldson
  Mastered by Christian Donaldson
  Album Artwork by Lordigan Pedro Sena
  Music is Canadian Content - MAPL
  ​
  Album band lineup:
  Coty Garcia - Vocals
  Megan Ash - Violin
  Ray Heberer - Guitar, Bass
  Bryce Butler - Drums
  ​
  Live band lineup:
  Ray Heberer - Vocals, Guitar
  Megan Ash - Violin
  Jon Power - Bass
  Bryce Butler - Drums

  More Info: https://linktr.ee/heteromorphiczoo

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• SANDVEISS Unleashes Fiery New Heavy, Melodic Stoner Prog Rock Album “Standing In The Fire”

  Oct 11, 2024 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Heavy rock titans Sandveiss, from Quebec City, Canada, are proud to announce the release of their highly anticipated new album “Standing in the Fire”, which comes out on October 11th, 2024. This new release returns with their most ambitious and diverse album to date, it features eight powerful tracks that showcase the band's evolution and musical prowess. The band comments on the album:

  “Five years after the release of our sophomore album “Saboteur”, we are stoked to finally present our new offering, “Standing in the Fire”. Musically, it showcases diversity but also, we hope, homogeneity and coherence. We draw from a wide range of influences, from metal to stoner rock, from prog to punk rock. While some are more apparent than others, they all play a key role in shaping our sound.”

  The production of “Standing in the Fire” has a modern feel while still incorporating vintage sounds and instruments, and the mix by Karl Daniel Lidén (Greenleaf, Dozer, The Ocean Collective) adds depth, texture, and power to the album. Lyrically, the songs were mostly written in response to, or sometimes as a grim reflection on, human and social issues, including politics and environmental problems.

  The band cites that they've pushed their boundaries on all sides. The heavy is heavier, the prog is proggier, and the catchy is catchier. They've allowed themselves to explore new territories while staying true to their core sound. They are recommended for fans of The Sword, Dozer, and Baroness.

  Due out on October 11th, 2024 from Folivora Records, the album “Stand in the Fire” is available for pre-order (Digital and Vinyl) at https://sandveiss.bandcamp.com/album/standing-in-the-fire​

  Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3XnzDIq​

  Track Listing:​
  1. I'll Be Rising - 5:03
  2. Standing In The Fire - 3:51
  3. Wait And See - 3:26
  4. No Love Here - 7:26
  5. Fade (Into The Night) - 3:48
  6. Gone Away - 4:53
  7. These Cold Hands - 4:57
  8. Bleed Me Dry - 5:42

  More info: https://folivora.ca/ | https://www.facebook.com/Sandveiss | https://www.instagram.com/sandveissband

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• CHAIN CODE's Spacey, Progressive Debut Album “Synthetic Outcomes”

  Oct 1, 2024 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Chain Code, the progressive rock project from Milwaukee, USA, is now officially reeling their debut album, “Synthetic Outcomes”, which will hurtle listeners through time and space as they go on a sonic journey through a dystopian future where technology has overtaken humanity, blending complex melodies, dissonant chords, and thought-provoking lyrics into a cohesive and immersive experience. Mastermind MuRphry shares his thoughts on the album:

  “I am pleased to finally unleash this labor of love. I started this project in 2022 and manically wrote two albums, fixated on creating paranoid yet beautiful progressive rock to express my enjoyment of dystopian science fiction that sees humanity losing its very essence to machines. The initial point musically was to have Adrian Belew join Voivod in my bizarro musical mind. I encourage any weirdo to put on a set of headphones and take a trip to our future with the chaotic elegance that is Chain Code!”

  Each track on the concept album offers a unique perspective on the overarching theme of the consequences of humanity’s overreliance on technology. From the frantic energy of the opening track “Human(kind of)” to the haunting beauty of “In Line” Chain Code masterfully balances chaos and harmony, creating a sound that is both challenging and rewarding.

  “Synthetic Outcomes” invites listeners to immerse themselves in a world where technology has the upper hand, but the future is still uncertain. It is recommended for fans of progressive rock, sci-fi themes, King Crimson, and Talking Heads.

  Listen to “Synthetic Outcomes” at the following links:

  Spotify - https://spoti.fi/4enVncZ​

  Bandcamp - https://chaincode.bandcamp.com/album/synthetic-outcomes​

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  Track Listing:​
  1. Human(kind of) (8:12)
  2. A New Face (4:42)
  3. They’re NOT Mad Scientists (4:16)
  4. Unlearn (6:18)
  5. My Buddy (3:54)
  6. Inadequate (4:27)
  7. Junk Piles and Their Lonely Owners (5:16)
  8. Reaching Out (7:02)
  9. In Line (8:00)

  More info: Facebook.com/ChainCodeBand

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• NIGHTWRAITH Unleases Progressive MeloDeath Epic Album “Divergence”

  Sep 13, 2024 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

  NightWraith, the progressive melodic death metal band from Denver, USA presents their latest and new offering "Divergence". An album featuring eight original tracks and a cover version of Pink Floyd's "Us and Them", the full-length has a lot of depth to it and is not a traditional metal record.

  Vocalist guitarist Benjamin Explains further:

  "We hope people can appreciate the risks we took on this record. We wanted to really kick it up a notch for anyone who already knows our music since they might be expecting that from us. We also don’t want to turn off any potential new listeners, so it was kind of a fine line between what current fans expect from us, and what brand-new listeners are willing to keep an open mind for. There’s really something for everyone on this album, whether it's 80’s style guitar riffs, blast beats, electric piano, or guttural vocals."

  "Divergence" takes listeners on a sonic journey. There are many layers to it and the band's idea was for people to hear something new with each listen. The album is intended to lift you up with major melodies, evoke emotion with harmonic minors, and harken overall feelings of nostalgia and hope. ‘Divergence’ often utilizes classic songwriting structures (verse/chorus/bridge/lead). Each instrument is not overly complicated, but when layered on top of each other, the music has a lot of depth. The drums are fast with lots of big rock fills and the choice to use fast double bass and blast beats was meant to give the album a driving, more ‘classic’ metal sound. The keyboards/synthesizer tones are the icing on the cake and are what truly color the album in a nostalgic-sounding way. The melodies that were written to lay on top of the guitars are what give the songs the musical complexity that can be rare within the heavy metal genre. There are also a lot of solos on this album, but none of them are overly ‘shreddy’ and are meant to serve the song, not the player.

  The band also stepped up the production on this album by recruiting some talented guest musicians to contribute and added extra rhythmic layers using acoustic guitar and percussive instruments like cowbells and shakers. Then stepped up the production again by involving producer Zack Ohren (Machine Head, Immolation) to mix and master the record, which gave it a top-shelf-sounding production quality.

  Due out on September 13, 2024, from What’s Left Records, “Divergence” is available for album pre-order at https://nightwraith.bandcamp.com/​

  Vinyl pre-order - https://whatsleftrecords.bigcartel.com/product/nightwraith-divergence-lp-clear-red-vinyl ​

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  Track Listing:​
  1. Fruitless (5:15)
  2. Perpetual Night (5:13) ft. guest Cole Rudy - Pedal Steel Guitar
  3. One Flower (5:14) ft. guest Andreas Wild - Baritone Saxophone
  4. Whispers of Dragonflies (5:27) ft. guest Kelly Schilling - Concert Flute
  5. Invocation (2:19) ft. guest Joey Truscelli - Guitar Solo
  6. Fallen Kings and Queens (4:20) ft. guests Dan Phelps & Chuck French - Backup Vocals
  7. Nothing Left to Lose (3:24)
  8. Divergence (5:20) ft. guests Jeremy Portz & Xander Galvin-Soto - Auxiliary Percussion
  9. Us and Them (bonus Pink Floyd cover) (5:18)
  Album Length: 42:08

  More info: Nightwraithband.com | Facebook.com/nightwraithband | Instagram.com/nightwraithband | Twitter.com/nightwraithband

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• FEN Returns With New Album “Dear Mouse”

  Sep 12, 2024 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

  After a twelve-year hiatus, progressive rock band FEN is set to release their sixth studio album, “Dear Mouse”, on September 12, 2024. Emerging from the mountain shadows of Nelson, Canada in 1998, FEN has consistently impressed critics and fans alike with their unique blend of technical proficiency and purposeful songwriting. The band comments:

  “‘Dear Mouse’ is less a comeback album than a tying up of loose ends. The ten songs were all started in 2014 or earlier. They sat as fragments for a long time, but as life pulled the band apart, we couldn’t ignore these unfinished gems—or so we thought of them. We chipped away at them on and off. They dragged us along almost painfully at times. For the final three years, we pushed as hard as our lives would allow. Ultimately, Dear Mouse was a test of our perseverance and of getting out what needed to be said. We can rest now. And we will. We hope you find something in the music to appreciate.”

  “Dear Mouse” marks a significant milestone for the band, breaking their decade-long silence. The album stands at a crossroads of genres, incorporating elements from throughout FEN's discography. Fans can expect a diverse listening experience, with tracks ranging from the multi-movement composition “Seam of the Heart”, which echoes the eerie concept of their earlier work “Heron Leg”, to the infectiously melodic “Ritual Lite”, competing for the title of poppiest tune in their repertoire.

  The album's guitar work is a particular highlight, seamlessly transitioning from jagged riffs to ethereal textures, offering a comprehensive summary of the band's decades-long refinement of their craft. Lyrically, many of the songs on "Dear Mouse" explore themes of endings, touching on subjects such as the conclusion of long-term relationships, employment, and even one's physical home. Despite these potentially heavy themes, the band aims to provide an overall uplifting and energetic listening experience, with a couple of slower tracks for balance. It is recommended for fans of Tool, Porcupine Tree, and Opeth.

  Album Order - https://fencanada.bandcamp.com/album/dear-mouse​

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  Track Listing:​
  1. Ritual Lite - 4:28
  2. Recall - 4:29
  3. Season to Live - 4:57
  4. The Password is I Believe - 2:48
  5. Dying on a Hill (of Cubicle, Window, Steel, and Concrete) - 4:19
  6. The Seam of the Heart - 6:52
  7. Our Latest Quarry - 3:56
  8. E.D.B.D. - 2:37
  9. Dear Mouse - 4:56
  10. Into the Blaze - 5:18
  Album Length: 44:40

  Album Credits:​
  Produced by Fen
  Sheldon Zaharko of Zed Productions: tracked drums and bass, and mixed all songs
  Album mastered by Andy Vandette at Evolve Mastering
  All songs written by Fen
  Oil paintings by Jason Froese
  Band:
  Randall Stoll: drums
  Jeff Caron: bass on tracks 1-9
  Sam Levin: guitar, piano, programming, bass on track 10
  Doug Harrison: vocals, lyrics

  More Info: https://www.facebook.com/fenmusic

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