Showing posts with label Progressive Metal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Progressive Metal. Show all posts

7/03/2019

Concert Review: Tailwinds Music Festival In Wappinger Falls New York

Tailwinds Music Festival In Wappinger Falls New York
June 29, 2019

FEATURING: The Chris Robinson Brotherhood
Geoff Tate's Operation: Mindcrime
Black Stone Cherry
Kings X
Sass Jordan



I often wondered what it would be like to sit in on all-day/all-night rock concert. I have been to my share of concerts over the years and saw as many as 4 bands performing short sets leading up to the headliner.  But to leave at 7 am, drive 3 hours and return home at 3 am is another matter. That is one long day. I found out that is was well worth it by the time it was all over.

The first band came on at noon, one of the three local warm-ups preceding Sass Jordan. The Jason Gisser Band was excellent and the lead singer, the namesake of the band, has one fantastic voice. He reminded me of Lenny Kravitz quite a bit actually, and as far as I am concerned that is a good thing! After that set The Playback kept things going with their energized alternative rock with a punk edge then Big Guns came on to close out the warm-up sessions. They were very good as well and the lead singer was certainly a big gun himself, I thought of the first lead singer of Marillion, the gargantuan Fish. 

After the set breakdown and rebuild, Sass Jordan came on stage to kick it up a notch. The lady has been around for several years with many releases available however I never got into her music. After hearing her I am scratching my head as to why I never did. She is a great performer with just enough edge to her voice to compliment the super tight rockin’ band that supports her. After enjoying her entire set, I felt compelled to start looking into her back catalog.

Time was ticking away on this beautiful day. The threat of rain was there but the storm headed our way turned around and changed direction. The music gods were with us as the sky cleared into blue and the sun was blazing. After a few hours of that sun beating down on you, a break was necessary. And once again we were blessed with a reprieve as a cloud cover moved in and blocked out those rays. Mr. Sun would return much later in the day and provide us with a spectacular blend of colors over the mountains. 



Next up was Doug Pinnick’s Kings X. His music is different and he has a distinct vocal style that takes a bit of getting used to if you are not familiar with the music. I am familiar and actually enjoy his vocal style. The music can be a very heavy prog metal to a rock-blues edge sound. One thing you can count on in the songs are some interesting time changes. All the guitar players out there would be hard-pressed to duplicate what is being produced. Pinnick’s long slender frame and extremely long arms allow him to carry his bass down to his knees. He plays it like a lead guitar. Kings X has a large catalog of music to check out and enjoy and the concert was a taste of what there is to offer the “progressive” listeners.

By this point, the audience began moving closer to the stage and it continued to grow but not to the point of pushing us out of our seats (lawn chairs). We were about 10ft back from the stage, a perfect range to capture all the sounds and vocals. I was told at the gate they sold 1,500 tickets but it sure did not look like that many people. The capacity is 5,000 so the response to this event was pretty pathetic. It supported women’s breast cancer and the artists that were on stage were fantastic, all of them.

Now for one of the main events for many that came. Geoff Tate’s Operation: Mindcrime. Many people left after he performed which was a shame because there was more great music to come. Geoff was the voice of Queensryche and without him, they should not be bearing that name it’s as simple as that. Just my opinion on the matter. In any event, Geoff sounds fantastic and his command of the stage keeps your eyes glued right on him. He is not only singing he is playing the part of the main character in the story. The tour he and his excellent band are on this year is to celebrate the 30-year anniversary of that classic progressive metal album Operation: Mindcrime.

At one point during the performance, this beautiful blonde girl comes out on stage to sing with Geoff. I had no idea who she was. It was Geoff’s daughter Emily. She also was holding down the fort at the band’s merch table. Later on, I stopped by to say hello and asked her to make sure she told her dad that I thought that was the best Queensryche show I have ever seen. That was number 3 for me. I thought that would put a smile on his face.

Tate is as energetic and vibrant as ever and the band is tight and spot on. Basically, everything necessary to perform such a classic and musically difficult to perform recording. With twin guitars blazing away and a rhythm section that you can feel pounding right through your chest, it’s just what the doctor ordered for Mr. Tate to be in his best form. I took more pictures of that performance than any of the entire day and evening. In fact, I know CRB was the headliner but Geoff’s band could have easily been as well. No disrespect to CRB, they are fantastic, but as far as the level of musicianship and precision delivery, they are equals without question. 

After that incredible performance, what more could a music lover ask for right? Well, how about the totally kick-ass Black Stone Cherry? Now here is a band that I knew of and I never pursued their music. After hearing their performance, I am totally hooked. They put on an amazing show and it rocked the house down. I went to the local vinyl LP vendor there and grabbed the only copy of their latest release Family Tree. I spoke to one of their fans on the way to the lovely porta-potties and he informed me that was their best album and they had just played 5 songs for us. I was sold!  Anyone that likes to rock would love this band I have no doubt. For those music fans that left early, which was foolish, you missed a band in its prime cranking it out.

Now after hearing all of that loud and raucous music, I think we were all ready for something different, some tunes with a warmer blues, funky rock sound. That would be provided by The Chris Robinson Brotherhood. I picked up their new release Servants of the Sun in limited edition colored vinyl. I have yet to give it a spin but I am sure it’s great. I will buy anything they put it without a second thought.

CRB has a distinct sound and their main man Chris has a vocal style that is instantly recognizable. There is not anyone that sounds like him. I saw them several years ago when they had their first album out and completely enjoyed the show. This evening would be no exception. They made their way through thirteen songs interweaving their own blend of southern rock, blues, and country. I always enjoyed the guitar playing which reminds me fondly of the Allman Brothers. Chris looked very happy on stage, smiling frequently. There is not a lot to say from this group, Chris thanks the audience after each song then launches right into another one. They are like a well-oiled machine on stage and in the studio. They will be winding up their tour and finally taking a well-deserved break.

What day, what a night. I will never forget the experience I had hearing all that music. It was a glorious day and I hope if they have this event again and more importantly, that the support will be much better.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck
July 1, 2019
Founder of:

Note: All the pictures were snapped by me with my Google Pixel2 Phone.

Concert Review: Tailwinds Music Festival In Wappinger Falls New York

Tailwinds Music Festival In Wappinger Falls New York
June 29, 2019

FEATURING: The Chris Robinson Brotherhood
Geoff Tate's Operation: Mindcrime
Black Stone Cherry
Kings X
Sass Jordan



I often wondered what it would be like to sit in on all-day/all-night rock concert. I have been to my share of concerts over the years and saw as many as 4 bands performing short sets leading up to the headliner.  But to leave at 7 am, drive 3 hours and return home at 3 am is another matter. That is one long day. I found out that is was well worth it by the time it was all over.

The first band came on at noon, one of the three local warm-ups preceding Sass Jordan. The Jason Gisser Band was excellent and the lead singer, the namesake of the band, has one fantastic voice. He reminded me of Lenny Kravitz quite a bit actually, and as far as I am concerned that is a good thing! After that set The Playback kept things going with their energized alternative rock with a punk edge then Big Guns came on to close out the warm-up sessions. They were very good as well and the lead singer was certainly a big gun himself, I thought of the first lead singer of Marillion, the gargantuan Fish. 

After the set breakdown and rebuild, Sass Jordan came on stage to kick it up a notch. The lady has been around for several years with many releases available however I never got into her music. After hearing her I am scratching my head as to why I never did. She is a great performer with just enough edge to her voice to compliment the super tight rockin’ band that supports her. After enjoying her entire set, I felt compelled to start looking into her back catalog.

Time was ticking away on this beautiful day. The threat of rain was there but the storm headed our way turned around and changed direction. The music gods were with us as the sky cleared into blue and the sun was blazing. After a few hours of that sun beating down on you, a break was necessary. And once again we were blessed with a reprieve as a cloud cover moved in and blocked out those rays. Mr. Sun would return much later in the day and provide us with a spectacular blend of colors over the mountains. 



Next up was Doug Pinnick’s Kings X. His music is different and he has a distinct vocal style that takes a bit of getting used to if you are not familiar with the music. I am familiar and actually enjoy his vocal style. The music can be a very heavy prog metal to a rock-blues edge sound. One thing you can count on in the songs are some interesting time changes. All the guitar players out there would be hard-pressed to duplicate what is being produced. Pinnick’s long slender frame and extremely long arms allow him to carry his bass down to his knees. He plays it like a lead guitar. Kings X has a large catalog of music to check out and enjoy and the concert was a taste of what there is to offer the “progressive” listeners.

By this point, the audience began moving closer to the stage and it continued to grow but not to the point of pushing us out of our seats (lawn chairs). We were about 10ft back from the stage, a perfect range to capture all the sounds and vocals. I was told at the gate they sold 1,500 tickets but it sure did not look like that many people. The capacity is 5,000 so the response to this event was pretty pathetic. It supported women’s breast cancer and the artists that were on stage were fantastic, all of them.

Now for one of the main events for many that came. Geoff Tate’s Operation: Mindcrime. Many people left after he performed which was a shame because there was more great music to come. Geoff was the voice of Queensryche and without him, they should not be bearing that name it’s as simple as that. Just my opinion on the matter. In any event, Geoff sounds fantastic and his command of the stage keeps your eyes glued right on him. He is not only singing he is playing the part of the main character in the story. The tour he and his excellent band are on this year is to celebrate the 30-year anniversary of that classic progressive metal album Operation: Mindcrime.

At one point during the performance, this beautiful blonde girl comes out on stage to sing with Geoff. I had no idea who she was. It was Geoff’s daughter Emily. She also was holding down the fort at the band’s merch table. Later on, I stopped by to say hello and asked her to make sure she told her dad that I thought that was the best Queensryche show I have ever seen. That was number 3 for me. I thought that would put a smile on his face.

Tate is as energetic and vibrant as ever and the band is tight and spot on. Basically, everything necessary to perform such a classic and musically difficult to perform recording. With twin guitars blazing away and a rhythm section that you can feel pounding right through your chest, it’s just what the doctor ordered for Mr. Tate to be in his best form. I took more pictures of that performance than any of the entire day and evening. In fact, I know CRB was the headliner but Geoff’s band could have easily been as well. No disrespect to CRB, they are fantastic, but as far as the level of musicianship and precision delivery, they are equals without question. 

After that incredible performance, what more could a music lover ask for right? Well, how about the totally kick-ass Black Stone Cherry? Now here is a band that I knew of and I never pursued their music. After hearing their performance, I am totally hooked. They put on an amazing show and it rocked the house down. I went to the local vinyl LP vendor there and grabbed the only copy of their latest release Family Tree. I spoke to one of their fans on the way to the lovely porta-potties and he informed me that was their best album and they had just played 5 songs for us. I was sold!  Anyone that likes to rock would love this band I have no doubt. For those music fans that left early, which was foolish, you missed a band in its prime cranking it out.

Now after hearing all of that loud and raucous music, I think we were all ready for something different, some tunes with a warmer blues, funky rock sound. That would be provided by The Chris Robinson Brotherhood. I picked up their new release Servants of the Sun in limited edition colored vinyl. I have yet to give it a spin but I am sure it’s great. I will buy anything they put it without a second thought.

CRB has a distinct sound and their main man Chris has a vocal style that is instantly recognizable. There is not anyone that sounds like him. I saw them several years ago when they had their first album out and completely enjoyed the show. This evening would be no exception. They made their way through thirteen songs interweaving their own blend of southern rock, blues, and country. I always enjoyed the guitar playing which reminds me fondly of the Allman Brothers. Chris looked very happy on stage, smiling frequently. There is not a lot to say from this group, Chris thanks the audience after each song then launches right into another one. They are like a well-oiled machine on stage and in the studio. They will be winding up their tour and finally taking a well-deserved break.

What day, what a night. I will never forget the experience I had hearing all that music. It was a glorious day and I hope if they have this event again and more importantly, that the support will be much better.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck
July 1, 2019
Founder of:

Note: All the pictures were snapped by me with my Google Pixel2 Phone.

6/27/2018

Video Stream- Ghost-Rats

Ghost has a new album out titled Prequelle. I am betting this is their best yet after hearing several cuts today. This track is called "Rats." It looks like Papa Emeritus has new character and look to introduce as well.

Ghost is a very visual and theatrical band, they are quite entertaining. Beware, they are not for the faint of heart, but keep in mind this is an act. I can guarantee one thing, if you love metal, this band will quickly become one of your favorites.

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck 
 

1/15/2018

Melodic Rock Band Odin's Court Releases Sixth Studio Album Turtles All The Way Down: Vol II


Progressive Rock and Metal for fans of Pink Floyd, Dream Theater, Devin Townsend, Porcupine Tree, HIM, Iron Maiden, Journey, and Queen

Baltimore, MD, USA based progressive rock and metal band Odin’s Court are excited to announce Turtles All the Way Down: Vol. II is available as of 2018 January 5 through Melodic Revolution Records!

Turtles All the Way Down: Vol II is a continuation of Odin’s Court’s 2013 concept album Turtles All the Way Down. Turtles All the Way Down explores deep issues about mankind’s understanding of the universe, the individual, and how each new discovery may challenge what we think we understand about our surroundings.

Brookins comments on the latest release: “This album takes it up a notch from where Dimetrius, Rick, and I left off with the previous album. I think Turtles II has our best material and production yet. I know artists often say these types of things when talking about a new release, but I think Gary Raub’s drum style adds a nice vibe to the sound we previously established. We also went for some ‘epic’ sounding choruses on this one with layered choirs, which are nicely supplemented by the beautiful voice of Michelle Loose Schrotz (of mid-Atlantic based band Brave). I think this album also has a big, ambient, and dense sound, but even with that big sound, we still maintain focus on ‘the song’ because that’s what it’s all about – the messages and emotions that music attempts to deliver.”

The new album features 8 tracks of melodic hard rock, prog, and metal, including an epic piece that is over 20 minutes long with full orchestration.

Track Listing:
 1. A Brief History of Time
 2. Will I See you Again?
 3. Unmoved Mover
 4. Killing Curiosity
 5. Event Horizon
 6. Infinite Regression
 7. The Burning Tides of Time
 8. My Final Journey

To purchase Odin's Court Turtles All the Way Down: Vol II:
CD Baby: bit.ly/2CMoady
MRR Bandcamp: bit.ly/2kcgskr
Odin’s Court Bandcamp: bit.ly/2zF9NSE
iTunes: apple.co/2CYC9d0
Amazon USA: amzn.to/2Axzzb6
Amazon Japan: amzn.to/2CJJlgt
Amazon UK: amzn.to/2CFKTY5

Odin's Court:
Matt Brookins – Guitar, Vocals, Keyboard, and (Studio) Bass
Rick Pierpont – Guitar & Backing Vocals
Dimetrius LaFavors – Vocals
Gary Raub – Drums, Percussion, and Backing Vocals
Jason Pierpont – (Live) Bass Guitar

Official Sites:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/odinscourtband
YouTube: www.youtube.com/odinscourt
MRR Artist Profile: http://mrrmusic.com/odins-court/

Press inquiries: 
Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com
Melodic Revolution Records, Info@melodicrevolutionrecords.com

Melodic Rock Band Odin's Court Releases Sixth Studio Album Turtles All The Way Down: Vol II


Progressive Rock and Metal for fans of Pink Floyd, Dream Theater, Devin Townsend, Porcupine Tree, HIM, Iron Maiden, Journey, and Queen

Baltimore, MD, USA based progressive rock and metal band Odin’s Court are excited to announce Turtles All the Way Down: Vol. II is available as of 2018 January 5 through Melodic Revolution Records!

Turtles All the Way Down: Vol II is a continuation of Odin’s Court’s 2013 concept album Turtles All the Way DownTurtles All the Way Down explores deep issues about mankind’s understanding of the universe, the individual, and how each new discovery may challenge what we think we understand about our surroundings.

Brookins comments on the latest release: “This album takes it up a notch from where Dimetrius, Rick, and I left off with the previous album. I think Turtles II has our best material and production yet. I know artists often say these types of things when talking about a new release, but I think Gary Raub’s drum style adds a nice vibe to the sound we previously established. We also went for some ‘epic’ sounding choruses on this one with layered choirs, which are nicely supplemented by the beautiful voice of Michelle Loose Schrotz (of mid-Atlantic based band Brave). I think this album also has a big, ambient, and dense sound, but even with that big sound, we still maintain focus on ‘the song’ because that’s what it’s all about – the messages and emotions that music attempts to deliver.”

The new album features 8 tracks of melodic hard rock, prog, and metal, including an epic piece that is over 20 minutes long with full orchestration.

Track Listing:
 1. A Brief History of Time
 2. Will I See you Again?
 3. Unmoved Mover
 4. Killing Curiosity
 5. Event Horizon
 6. Infinite Regression
 7. The Burning Tides of Time
 8. My Final Journey

To purchase Odin's Court Turtles All the Way Down: Vol II:
CD Baby: bit.ly/2CMoady
MRR Bandcamp: bit.ly/2kcgskr
Odin’s Court Bandcamp: bit.ly/2zF9NSE
iTunes: apple.co/2CYC9d0
Amazon USA: amzn.to/2Axzzb6
Amazon Japan: amzn.to/2CJJlgt
Amazon UK: amzn.to/2CFKTY5

Odin's Court:
Matt Brookins – Guitar, Vocals, Keyboard, and (Studio) Bass
Rick Pierpont – Guitar & Backing Vocals
Dimetrius LaFavors – Vocals
Gary Raub – Drums, Percussion, and Backing Vocals
Jason Pierpont – (Live) Bass Guitar

Official Sites:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/odinscourtband
YouTube: www.youtube.com/odinscourt
MRR Artist Profile: http://mrrmusic.com/odins-court/

Press inquiries: 
Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com
Melodic Revolution Records, Info@melodicrevolutionrecords.com

12/21/2015

Prog Metal Band Odin's Court Release Deathanity (R3)


Progressive Metal for fans of Pink Floyd, Dream Theater, Devin Townsend, Porcupine Tree, Iron Maiden, King’s X, Metallica, HIM, and Journey, Enchant, Queen

Baltimore, MD - USA based progressive rock and metal band Odin's Court's announced the re-release of their 2008 album Deathanity (R3) for March, 1 2016. Deathanity (R3) is a “reboot” of the original ProgRock Records album, consisting of a remix (original recording), new recordings (e.g., vocals), and a re-master.

Band leader Matt Brookins commented on the decision to revisit Deathanity: “This was an important album to the band – we worked hard independently, and then shopped it to labels. It was picked up by ProgRock Records (2008), and to date remains our best selling and most popular release. While we were, and still are, proud of what we did, there are some factors that made us want to revisit and improve the quality of the album…mainly, the addition of Dimetrius LaFavors (lead vocals), but also my improvements as an engineer and producer. Additionally, the concept of the album is becoming increasingly important in today’s world, so hopefully we will reach even more ears with this re-release. Stylistically, this album is heavy, progressive, and artsy.”

Deathanity was well received when originally released:

“There's wonderful variety from section to section, the instrumentation and the songwriting are clearly the album's strengths.” – Sea of Tranquility

“The sound of the group is quite personal with a lot of quality, and fantastic production for their music, very pleasant to the ear, nothing strident, with guitars and smooth refining where all instruments are in a place where you can distinguish each of them with complete ease.” – Hall of Metal

“Matt Brookins has succeeded in serving a fantastic album to the inclined listener. From the first minute until the last there is insanely much to discover, and the protagonists are true masters of their instruments.” – Rock Times

Check out the first single “Manifest Destiny” from Deathanity (R3) here:


The band is continuing off the momentum gained from the positive press received on their latest album Turtles All the Way Down (2015):

“Odin’s Court has quietly become one of the best bands in the American Progressive Rock scene, and this album is a perfect example of why that is the case.” – Hard Rock Haven

“Terrific melodic prog/metal that gets better with every listen!” – USA Progressive Music

“The band plays heavy rock inundated with catchy guitar riffs, cool keyboard passages, and excellent lead vocals…the music is so well played, upbeat and catchy as any rock/metal album I have heard in a while.” - Sea of Tranquility

“The strengths are undoubtedly the singing, orchestration, and the work on the guitars. It is highly recommended listening!” – MusicInBelguim.Net

Odin's Court:
Matt Brookins – Guitarist, Keyboardist, Vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist
Rick Pierpont – Guitarist and Backing Vocalist
Dimetrius LaFavors – Vocalist
Gary Raub – Drummer, Percussionist, and Backing Vocalist
Jason Pierpont – Bassist

CONTACT:
Email: band@odinscourtband.com

OFFICIAL SITES:
Band: www.OdinsCourtBand.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/odinscourtband
YouTube: www.youtube.com/odinscourt

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Prog Metal Band Odin's Court Release Deathanity (R3)


Progressive Metal for fans of Pink Floyd, Dream Theater, Devin Townsend, Porcupine Tree, Iron Maiden, King’s X, Metallica, HIM, and Journey, Enchant, Queen

Baltimore, MD - USA based progressive rock and metal band Odin's Court's announced the re-release of their 2008 album Deathanity (R3) for March, 1 2016. Deathanity (R3) is a “reboot” of the original ProgRock Records album, consisting of a remix (original recording), new recordings (e.g., vocals), and a re-master.

Band leader Matt Brookins commented on the decision to revisit Deathanity: “This was an important album to the band – we worked hard independently, and then shopped it to labels. It was picked up by ProgRock Records (2008), and to date remains our best selling and most popular release. While we were, and still are, proud of what we did, there are some factors that made us want to revisit and improve the quality of the album…mainly, the addition of Dimetrius LaFavors (lead vocals), but also my improvements as an engineer and producer. Additionally, the concept of the album is becoming increasingly important in today’s world, so hopefully we will reach even more ears with this re-release. Stylistically, this album is heavy, progressive, and artsy.”

Deathanity was well received when originally released:

“There's wonderful variety from section to section, the instrumentation and the songwriting are clearly the album's strengths.” – Sea of Tranquility

“The sound of the group is quite personal with a lot of quality, and fantastic production for their music, very pleasant to the ear, nothing strident, with guitars and smooth refining where all instruments are in a place where you can distinguish each of them with complete ease.” – Hall of Metal

“Matt Brookins has succeeded in serving a fantastic album to the inclined listener. From the first minute until the last there is insanely much to discover, and the protagonists are true masters of their instruments.” – Rock Times

Check out the first single “Manifest Destiny” from Deathanity (R3) here:


The band is continuing off the momentum gained from the positive press received on their latest album Turtles All the Way Down (2015):

“Odin’s Court has quietly become one of the best bands in the American Progressive Rock scene, and this album is a perfect example of why that is the case.” – Hard Rock Haven

“Terrific melodic prog/metal that gets better with every listen!” – USA Progressive Music

“The band plays heavy rock inundated with catchy guitar riffs, cool keyboard passages, and excellent lead vocals…the music is so well played, upbeat and catchy as any rock/metal album I have heard in a while.” - Sea of Tranquility

“The strengths are undoubtedly the singing, orchestration, and the work on the guitars. It is highly recommended listening!” – MusicInBelguim.Net

Odin's Court:
Matt Brookins – Guitarist, Keyboardist, Vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist
Rick Pierpont – Guitarist and Backing Vocalist
Dimetrius LaFavors – Vocalist
Gary Raub – Drummer, Percussionist, and Backing Vocalist
Jason Pierpont – Bassist

CONTACT:
Email: band@odinscourtband.com

OFFICIAL SITES:
Band: www.OdinsCourtBand.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/odinscourtband
YouTube: www.youtube.com/odinscourt

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Prog Metal Band Odin's Court Release Deathanity (R3)


Progressive Metal for fans of Pink Floyd, Dream Theater, Devin Townsend, Porcupine Tree, Iron Maiden, King’s X, Metallica, HIM, and Journey, Enchant, Queen

Baltimore, MD - USA based progressive rock and metal band Odin's Court's announced the re-release of their 2008 album Deathanity (R3) for March, 1 2016. Deathanity (R3) is a “reboot” of the original ProgRock Records album, consisting of a remix (original recording), new recordings (e.g., vocals), and a re-master.

Band leader Matt Brookins commented on the decision to revisit Deathanity: “This was an important album to the band – we worked hard independently, and then shopped it to labels. It was picked up by ProgRock Records (2008), and to date remains our best selling and most popular release. While we were, and still are, proud of what we did, there are some factors that made us want to revisit and improve the quality of the album…mainly, the addition of Dimetrius LaFavors (lead vocals), but also my improvements as an engineer and producer. Additionally, the concept of the album is becoming increasingly important in today’s world, so hopefully we will reach even more ears with this re-release. Stylistically, this album is heavy, progressive, and artsy.”

Deathanity was well received when originally released:

“There's wonderful variety from section to section, the instrumentation and the songwriting are clearly the album's strengths.” – Sea of Tranquility

“The sound of the group is quite personal with a lot of quality, and fantastic production for their music, very pleasant to the ear, nothing strident, with guitars and smooth refining where all instruments are in a place where you can distinguish each of them with complete ease.” – Hall of Metal

“Matt Brookins has succeeded in serving a fantastic album to the inclined listener. From the first minute until the last there is insanely much to discover, and the protagonists are true masters of their instruments.” – Rock Times

Check out the first single “Manifest Destiny” from Deathanity (R3) here:


The band is continuing off the momentum gained from the positive press received on their latest album Turtles All the Way Down (2015):

“Odin’s Court has quietly become one of the best bands in the American Progressive Rock scene, and this album is a perfect example of why that is the case.” – Hard Rock Haven

“Terrific melodic prog/metal that gets better with every listen!” – USA Progressive Music

“The band plays heavy rock inundated with catchy guitar riffs, cool keyboard passages, and excellent lead vocals…the music is so well played, upbeat and catchy as any rock/metal album I have heard in a while.” - Sea of Tranquility

“The strengths are undoubtedly the singing, orchestration, and the work on the guitars. It is highly recommended listening!” – MusicInBelguim.Net

Odin's Court:
Matt Brookins – Guitarist, Keyboardist, Vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist
Rick Pierpont – Guitarist and Backing Vocalist
Dimetrius LaFavors – Vocalist
Gary Raub – Drummer, Percussionist, and Backing Vocalist
Jason Pierpont – Bassist

CONTACT:
Email: band@odinscourtband.com

OFFICIAL SITES:
Band: www.OdinsCourtBand.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/odinscourtband
YouTube: www.youtube.com/odinscourt

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

10/20/2015

Heavy Metal Review: Iron Maiden-Book of Souls

Release Date: September 4, 2015
Label: BMG Recorded Music

Iron Maiden is one of heavy metal’s most legendary bands, who rose to fame and dominated the charts during the 1980s. This is one of those cases where if you do not know who they are, you must have been living under a rock for the past few decades. Formed in London in 1975, the current incarnation of the band consists of Bruce Dickinson (lead vocals, piano), Dave Murray (guitar), Adrian Smith (guitar), Janick Gers (guitar), Steve Harris (bass, keyboards), and Nicko McBrain (drums). 

The Book of Souls is their sixteenth studio album, and their first since 2010’s The Final Frontier.  This eleven song double album clocks in at just over ninety minutes, and it is ninety minutes well spent.  While hitting on themes of mortality, the soul, death, and sorrow, The Book of Souls is one wild ride, leading to an unforgettable and incredible finale. 

“If Eternity Should Fail” is an all-around fantastic opener. First, there is the thrilling atmosphere in the beginning and, second, are the stellar vocals that bring everything to the next level. The music and vocals fit so well together that I would never want to separate them. There is also a great solo section a bit after the halfway point for good measure. Overall, it is a grand and mythic song musically, vocally, and lyrically. It is the perfect song to open the album, because if you like it, then I would be astonished if you did not like the rest. Living up to its name, “Speed of Light” is a hard-hitting rocker that comes out soaring like a comet through the night sky. There is great energy in the vocal performance, but the guitar work steals the show on this one.

“The Great Unknown” opens with a killer base line and astounds with its otherworldly sound. The vocals reach new heights that the previous songs did not, and the guitar solo around the five minute mark absolutely tears things it up. A towering beast of a song, “The Red and the Black” grabs you by the hair with its delicious opening riff, and then continues to groove right along. It is a fairly long, clocking in at just over thirteen and a half minutes, and though it does an adequate job of not wearing out its welcome, I was waiting for it to end by the eleven minute mark. Pulsating with energy, “When the River Runs Deep” is a fast paced, head-banging tune. “The Book of Souls” starts off mellow with an acoustic opening, before the whole band drops in to turn things up to eleven. The song has a great flow, leading to the most memorable riff on the album, making for a fantastic end to the first album. 

Starting off the second album in glorious fashion, “Death or Glory” is a high tempo track packed with unrelenting energy. It is a ripping and roaring song that absolutely soars, and has a great eighties throwback vibe to its sound with its riffs and melodies, making for a rock solid metal tune. The jarring opening of “Shadows of the Valley” has a slightly sinister feel to it and it could be the theme song to a dark fantasy film. The music is nice and controlled metal during the instrumental. 

“Tears of a Clown” is an interesting song, because it is a bit of a heavy metal lament. As you can tell by the title, the lyrics are sad and depressing. There is a nice guitar solo to lift the spirts up, as much as it can on a song like this. “The Man of Sorrows” is a haunting song with plenty of emotion. I am also thinking that it possibly makes “Tears of a Clown” a tad redundant. “Empire of the Clouds” is the closers of all closers, a truly epic and stunning song. There is the beautiful piano opening, an album highlight for sure, that moves seamlessly into metal territory with some nice harmonies and killer guitar parts.  It is by far the album’s longest song, but it never wears out its welcome.

It is safe to say that Iron Maiden has knocked it out of the park with The Book of Souls, and it made it over the fence with plenty of room to spare.  Despite a few minor glitches, I have found that this album has grown on me with each listen. This album is a must for Iron Maiden fans. The Book of Souls is a 21st century metal masterpiece. 

4.5/5 Stars

Key Tracks: If Eternity Should Fail, The Great Unknown, Death or Glory, Empire of Clouds

Tracks:

Disc One
1.If Eternity Should Fail
2.Speed of Light
3.The Great Unknown
4.The Red and the Black
5.When the River Runs Deep
6.The Book of Souls


Disc 2
1.Death or Glory
2.Shadows of the Valley
3.Tears of a Clown
4.The Man of Sorrows

5.Empire of the Clouds


Brian McKinnon - Write A Music Review Sr. Staff
October 20, 2015
Review Provided By Write A Music Review



Heavy Metal/Prog Metal Review: Iron Maiden-Book of Souls

Release Date: September 4, 2015
Label: BMG Recorded Music

Iron Maiden is one of heavy metal’s most legendary bands, who rose to fame and dominated the charts during the 1980s. This is one of those cases where if you do not know who they are, you must have been living under a rock for the past few decades. Formed in London in 1975, the current incarnation of the band consists of Bruce Dickinson (lead vocals, piano), Dave Murray (guitar), Adrian Smith (guitar), Janick Gers (guitar), Steve Harris (bass, keyboards), and Nicko McBrain (drums). 

The Book of Souls is their sixteenth studio album, and their first since 2010’s The Final Frontier.  This eleven song double album clocks in at just over ninety minutes, and it is ninety minutes well spent.  While hitting on themes of mortality, the soul, death, and sorrow, The Book of Souls is one wild ride, leading to an unforgettable and incredible finale. 

“If Eternity Should Fail” is an all-around fantastic opener. First, there is the thrilling atmosphere in the beginning and, second, are the stellar vocals that bring everything to the next level. The music and vocals fit so well together that I would never want to separate them. There is also a great solo section a bit after the halfway point for good measure. Overall, it is a grand and mythic song musically, vocally, and lyrically. It is the perfect song to open the album, because if you like it, then I would be astonished if you did not like the rest. Living up to its name, “Speed of Light” is a hard-hitting rocker that comes out soaring like a comet through the night sky. There is great energy in the vocal performance, but the guitar work steals the show on this one.

“The Great Unknown” opens with a killer base line and astounds with its otherworldly sound. The vocals reach new heights that the previous songs did not, and the guitar solo around the five minute mark absolutely tears things it up. A towering beast of a song, “The Red and the Black” grabs you by the hair with its delicious opening riff, and then continues to groove right along. It is a fairly long, clocking in at just over thirteen and a half minutes, and though it does an adequate job of not wearing out its welcome, I was waiting for it to end by the eleven minute mark. Pulsating with energy, “When the River Runs Deep” is a fast paced, head-banging tune. “The Book of Souls” starts off mellow with an acoustic opening, before the whole band drops in to turn things up to eleven. The song has a great flow, leading to the most memorable riff on the album, making for a fantastic end to the first album. 

Starting off the second album in glorious fashion, “Death or Glory” is a high tempo track packed with unrelenting energy. It is a ripping and roaring song that absolutely soars, and has a great eighties throwback vibe to its sound with its riffs and melodies, making for a rock solid metal tune. The jarring opening of “Shadows of the Valley” has a slightly sinister feel to it and it could be the theme song to a dark fantasy film. The music is nice and controlled metal during the instrumental. 

“Tears of a Clown” is an interesting song, because it is a bit of a heavy metal lament. As you can tell by the title, the lyrics are sad and depressing. There is a nice guitar solo to lift the spirts up, as much as it can on a song like this. “The Man of Sorrows” is a haunting song with plenty of emotion. I am also thinking that it possibly makes “Tears of a Clown” a tad redundant. “Empire of the Clouds” is the closers of all closers, a truly epic and stunning song. There is the beautiful piano opening, an album highlight for sure, that moves seamlessly into metal territory with some nice harmonies and killer guitar parts.  It is by far the album’s longest song, but it never wears out its welcome.

It is safe to say that Iron Maiden has knocked it out of the park with The Book of Souls, and it made it over the fence with plenty of room to spare.  Despite a few minor glitches, I have found that this album has grown on me with each listen. This album is a must for Iron Maiden fans. The Book of Souls is a 21stcentury metal masterpiece. 

4.5/5 Stars

Key Tracks: If Eternity Should Fail, The Great Unknown, Death or Glory, Empire of Clouds

Tracks:

Disc One
1.If Eternity Should Fail
2.Speed of Light
3.The Great Unknown
4.The Red and the Black
5.When the River Runs Deep
6.The Book of Souls


Disc 2
1.Death or Glory
2.Shadows of the Valley
3.Tears of a Clown
4.The Man of Sorrows

5.Empire of the Clouds


Brian McKinnon - Write A Music Review Sr. Staff
October 20, 2015
Review Provided By Write A Music Review



9/16/2015

The Winery Dogs Return To The Ridgefield Playhouse On October 3rd

Fans are getting ready for The Winery Dogs fall U.S. tour, which is set to kick off on Saturday, October 3, at 8 p.m. at The Ridgefield Playhouse as part of the Pepsi Rock Series powered by Xfinity.  The Winery Dogs - a rock supergroup comprised of vocalist and guitarist Richie Kotzen who made his mark with Poison and Mr. Big, bassist Billy Sheehan who has been rocking for decades with Steve Vai, David Lee Roth, Mr. Big and others, and drummer Mike Portnoy  the co-founder of progressive metal superstars Dream Theater.   

The seeds of The Winery Dogs were planted in 2011 when Sheehan and Portnoy were working on music together with a different guitarist and songwriter. When that didn’t gel, a mutual friend, “That Metal Show” host and consummate music fan, Eddie Trunk, suggested they contact Kotzen and see if he was interested in forming a band. “We all thought that was a brilliant idea,” Portnoy says. “We were looking for that super gifted guitar player, singer and songwriter -- and that’s Richie.”  Supergroups often times are short-lived entities composed of gifted players that jam out for little while and then quickly record with the hopes of catching lightning in a bottle. Moreover, they’re often the sum of their collective parts. That’s certainly not the case with The Winery Dogs, a cohesive, well-rounded classic-sounding trio with blazing songs that defy expectation. The group’s self-titled debut is filled with straightforward rock and roll inspired by some of their favorite bands, and their music transcends any of the styles they’re best known for.  The push-pull dynamic illustrates how The Winery Dogs toy with established styles and turn them into something special, complete with Sheehan’s acrobatic bass fills and Kotzen’s rapidfire solos, which help The Winery Dogs blend in a way that’s both instantly recognizable and utterly individual.   Earlier this year the group started work on the follow-up to their debut album, which will be self-produced and released in North America this fall on Loud & Proud Records via RED (a division of Sony Music Entertainment) and in the rest of the world via earMUSIC.  Media sponsor for this event is 99.1fm WPLR.
   
For tickets ($55), call or visit the box office at The Ridgefield Playhouse, (203) 438-5795. The Ridgefield Playhouse is a not-for-profit performing arts center located at 80 East Ridge, parallel to Main Street, Ridgefield, CT; ridgefieldplayhouse.org.       

The Winery Dogs Return To The Ridgefield Playhouse On October 3rd

Fans are getting ready for The Winery Dogs fall U.S. tour, which is set to kick off on Saturday, October 3, at 8 p.m. at The Ridgefield Playhouse as part of the Pepsi Rock Series powered by Xfinity.  The Winery Dogs - a rock supergroup comprised of vocalist and guitarist Richie Kotzen who made his mark with Poison and Mr. Big, bassist Billy Sheehan who has been rocking for decades with Steve Vai, David Lee Roth, Mr. Big and others, and drummer Mike Portnoy  the co-founder of progressive metal superstars Dream Theater.   

The seeds of The Winery Dogs were planted in 2011 when Sheehan and Portnoy were working on music together with a different guitarist and songwriter. When that didn’t gel, a mutual friend, “That Metal Show” host and consummate music fan, Eddie Trunk, suggested they contact Kotzen and see if he was interested in forming a band. “We all thought that was a brilliant idea,” Portnoy says. “We were looking for that super gifted guitar player, singer and songwriter -- and that’s Richie.”  Supergroups often times are short-lived entities composed of gifted players that jam out for little while and then quickly record with the hopes of catching lightning in a bottle. Moreover, they’re often the sum of their collective parts. That’s certainly not the case with The Winery Dogs, a cohesive, well-rounded classic-sounding trio with blazing songs that defy expectation. The group’s self-titled debut is filled with straightforward rock and roll inspired by some of their favorite bands, and their music transcends any of the styles they’re best known for.  The push-pull dynamic illustrates how The Winery Dogs toy with established styles and turn them into something special, complete with Sheehan’s acrobatic bass fills and Kotzen’s rapidfire solos, which help The Winery Dogs blend in a way that’s both instantly recognizable and utterly individual.   Earlier this year the group started work on the follow-up to their debut album, which will be self-produced and released in North America this fall on Loud & Proud Records via RED (a division of Sony Music Entertainment) and in the rest of the world via earMUSIC.  Media sponsor for this event is 99.1fm WPLR.
   
For tickets ($55), call or visit the box office at The Ridgefield Playhouse, (203) 438-5795. The Ridgefield Playhouse is a not-for-profit performing arts center located at 80 East Ridge, parallel to Main Street, Ridgefield, CT; ridgefieldplayhouse.org.       

9/07/2015

Prog Metal Band Odin's Court Launch Crowd Sourcing Campaign to Release Two Albums


Progressive Metal for fans of Pink Floyd, Dream Theater, Devin Townsend, Porcupine Tree, Iron Maiden, King’s X, Metallica, HIM, and Journey, Enchant, Queen

Baltimore, MD - USA based progressive rock and metal band Odin's Court's announced a crowd sourcing campaign to release 2 albums: Deathanity (R3) and Turtles All the Way Down Vol, II. Deathanity (R3) is a “reboot” of the original ProgRock Records album released in 2008, consisting of a remix (original recording), new recording (e.g., vocals), and a re-master. Turtles All the Way Down, Vol. II continues the concept started in 2015’s album by the same name.

Rewards for campaign backers include CDs, digital releases, shirts, signed drum heads, vinyl banners, coasters, picks, an invitation to a listening party, and more. Samples and more details may be found at the following link:  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/odinscourt/odins-court-deathanity-reboot-and-turtles-ii

By launching this crowd sourcing campaign, the band wishes to continue the momentum gained from the positive press received on their latest album Turtles All the Way Down (2015):

“Odin’s Court has quietly become one of the best bands in the American Progressive Rock scene, and this album is a perfect example of why that is the case.” – Hard Rock Haven

“Terrific melodic prog/metal that gets better with every listen!” – USA Progressive Music

“The strengths are undoubtedly the singing, orchestration, and the work on the guitars. It is highly recommended listening!” – MusicInBelguim.Net

Band leader Matt Brookins commented on the decision to revisit Deathanity: “This was an important album to the band – we worked hard independently, and then shopped it to labels. It was picked up by ProgRock Records (2008), and to date remains our best selling and most popular release. While we were, and still are, proud of what we did, there are some factors that made us want to revisit and improve the quality of the album…mainly, the addition of Dimetrius LaFavors (lead vocals), but also my improvements as an engineer and producer. Additionally, the concept of the album is becoming increasingly important in today’s world, so hopefully we will reach even more ears with this re-release. Stylistically, this album is heavy, progressive, and artsy.”

Deathanity was well received when originally released:

“There's wonderful variety from section to section, the instrumentation and the songwriting are clearly the album's strengths.” – Sea of Tranquility

“The sound of the group is quite personal with a lot of quality, and fantastic production for their music, very pleasant to the ear, nothing strident, with guitars and smooth refining where all instruments are in a place where you can distinguish each of them with complete ease.” – Hall of Metal

“Matt Brookins has succeeded in serving a fantastic album to the inclined listener. From the first minute until the last there is insanely much to discover, and the protagonists are true masters of their instruments.” – Rock Times

Turtles All the Way Down, Vol. II continues where the last album left off, exploring the concept of infinite regression and individuals’ methods of finding their place and coping in such a vast universe. Brookins comments: “The creation of 2015’s album was therapeutic to me. I was so enthusiastic about the concept, that I ended up writing two albums worth of music and lyrics. While we discussed putting out a double album, our financial situation and time constraints prohibited it at the time. Rather than letting these ‘extra’ songs go unheard, we thought it would be nice to complete them. While some songs didn’t make the final cut, many did – and I wrote some new ones as well. We also have a couple of alternate versions of songs from the 2015 album. Stylistically, this album strikes me as a bit AOR with a hard edge.”

Odin's Court:
Matt Brookins – Guitarist, Keyboardist, Vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist
Rick Pierpont – Guitarist and Backing Vocalist
Dimetrius LaFavors – Vocalist
Gary Raub – Drummer, Percussionist, and Backing Vocalist
Jason Pierpont – Bassist

CONTACT:
Email: band@odinscourtband.com

OFFICIAL SITES:
Band: www.OdinsCourtBand.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/odinscourtband
YouTube: www.youtube.com/odinscourt

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com