Progressive Metal Review: Vangough-Between the Madness

Release Date: November 12, 2013

Label: Dissonance Rising Publisher

Website

Describing themselves as a “Brave, eccentric and chemically unstable… [and] a sunrise of melodic cocaine for your ears. A Pandora's Box of exotic flavors mixed with harsh textures that can only be described as human,” Vangough is the best progressive metal band that you have probably never heard of before. I would say that they are criminally unknown. Named after the famous Dutch painter, Vangough come from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and consist of Clay Withrow (guitar/vocals), Jeren Martin (bass), and Kyle Haws (drums).

Between the Madness is Vangough’s third album and it is one for the ages. It is heavy, dark, and a seemingly unrelenting release of creative energy. It is the type of music that gets better with each listen and demands your attention every time. Backed by powerful vocals, guitar driven melodies, and meaningful lyrics, Between the Madness is progressive metal at its finest.

The dark journey of Between the Madness beings with “Afterfall.” It is a kaleidoscope of sound, like a journey through a progressive metal version of Alice’s Wonderland. The music perfectly complements the emotions conveyed through the vocals. “Alone” is another striking song lead by its crushing music and powerful and personal lyrical content. “Separation” is like listening to some type of controlled chaos. It is an intense display of musicianship that will have you reeling when it is over.

With its excellent guitar solo, “Infestation” is striking in its display of power. The raw and primal energy just bleeds through the vocals, making for a lasting impression. Following it up is “Schizophrenia” and, at this point, I am convinced that I am in the presence of genius and am listening to a true masterpiece.  Vangough is not just about a heavy, intense metal sound. The serene “Between the Madness” is a great change of pace. A violin has never been more metal. 

The serenity is short-lived as songs such as “Vaudeville Nation” and “O Sister” bring back the energetic and potent sound to make for some amazing and unforgettable music. “Thy Consumed Flesh” is a thrilling instrumental with an absolutely punishing sound. “Depths of Blighttown” is a short instrumental with an ominous sound. “Useless” demonstrates what kind of interesting music they can create and that they can still pull out surprises this far into the album, while providing biting social commentary. “Corporatocracy” and “The Abyss” bring the album home with Vangough’s signature sound, making for an album that is completely stunning from start to finish.

Vangough”s Between the Madness is a like a soundtrack to a dark and twisted dream that I would never want to end. This album showcases Vangough in top form and performing at their peak. It is definitely a masterpiece and a work that deserves to be lauded the world over. I can see without hesitation that this is a top-10 album of this year. These guys are the future of progressive metal and Between the Madness is the proof.

5/5 Stars

Key Tracks: ALL

Tracks:
01.Afterfall
02.Alone
03.Separation
04.Infestation
05.Schizophrenia
06.Between the Madness
07.Vaudeville Nation
08.O Sister
09.Thy Consumed Flesh
10.Useless
11.Depths of Blighttown
12.Corporatocracy
13.The Abyss 

Brian McKinnon

July 14, 2014

Review Provided By Prog Rock Music Talk

Progressive Metal Review: Thine-Dead City Blueprint

Release Date:April 28, 2014

Label: Peaceville Records

Website

It has been over ten years since the music world has last heard from Thine. Their critically acclaimed second album, In Therapy, was released in September of 2002. In the following years, they toured and started to work on their third album before life got in the way.  The band members never lost touch, and came together in 2011 to start work on their long awaited third album, The Dead City Blueprint.  

Formed in West Yorkshire, UK, in 1994 as Blood of Thine before a name change in 1996, Thine is made-up of Paul Groundwell (lead guitar), Alan Gaunt (vocals), Dylan Rhodes (guitar), Richard Swift (bass guitar), and Dan Mullins (drums).  They made their first waves with 1998’s A Town Like This and solidified their reputation with 2002’s In Therapy.  Now in 2014, The Dead City Blueprint marks their triumphant return as a premier progressive rock group.  

Their special blend of progressive rock/metal with some experimental elements thrown in is evident on the first track.  With its haunting opening, “Brave Young Assassin” provides a clear look into the somber atmosphere of The Dead City Blueprint.  Not to mention that Gaunt’s voice is just perfect for the type of music that they play and serves to enhance the music.  Following it up is the subdued “Flame to the Oak.” “Out of Your Mind and into a Void” is a spacey progressive rock song with music, especially the guitars, which really sinks in deep. It is the type of song where the music will simply take you away from it all.  ”The Precipice” is a rock song with an up-beat tempo.

“The Dead City Blueprint” is an incredible song.  The vocals are at their emotional best here and add to the poignant atmosphere.  It is one of those songs that get the listener completely caught up in it.  “A Great Unknown” does a great job of combining the dark and emotional levels of the previous songs.  Lyrical and moving, “The Rift” pulls out all the stops with a memorable guitar solo.  Heading towards the end, “The Beacon” and “Scars from Limbo” ensure that the quality of songs is as high as ever and continue to show Thine’s mastery of their dark and haunting sound.  “Adrift through the Arcane Isles of Recovery” is a serene ending to a great album.  It is like floating in the ocean as the ocean starts to pass under the horizon. 

Thine’s The Dead City Blueprint is nothing short of a masterpiece.  It is the type of masterpiece that takes time to appreciate.  It took me a few listens before I was fully aware of the greatness of The Dead City Blueprint and it was worth the extra time.  If you are looking for a top quality progressive rock with metal roots, then this is what you need.  I just hope that Thine does not take another twelve years to release another album.

4.5/5 Stars

Tracks:
 01. Brave Young Assassin
02. Flame to the Oak
03. Out of Your Mind and into a Void
04. The Precipice
05. The Dead City Blueprint
06. A Great Unknown
07. The Rift
08. The Beacon
09. Scars from Limbo
10. Adrift through the Arcane Isles of Recovery 

Key Tracks: Brave Young Assassin, The Dead City Blueprint, The Rift

Brian McKinnon

June 4, 2014

Review Provided By Prog Rock Music Talk

Sell your beats online at ReverbNation.com

Progressive Metal Review: Thine-Dead City Blueprint

Release Date:April 28, 2014

Label: Peaceville Records

Website

It has been over ten years since the music world has last heard from Thine. Their critically acclaimed second album, In Therapy, was released in September of 2002. In the following years, they toured and started to work on their third album before life got in the way.  The band members never lost touch, and came together in 2011 to start work on their long awaited third album, The Dead City Blueprint.  

Formed in West Yorkshire, UK, in 1994 as Blood of Thine before a name change in 1996, Thine is made-up of Paul Groundwell (lead guitar), Alan Gaunt (vocals), Dylan Rhodes (guitar), Richard Swift (bass guitar), and Dan Mullins (drums).  They made their first waves with 1998’s A Town Like This and solidified their reputation with 2002’s In Therapy.  Now in 2014, The Dead City Blueprint marks their triumphant return as a premier progressive rock group.  

Their special blend of progressive rock/metal with some experimental elements thrown in is evident on the first track.  With its haunting opening, “Brave Young Assassin” provides a clear look into the somber atmosphere of The Dead City Blueprint.  Not to mention that Gaunt’s voice is just perfect for the type of music that they play and serves to enhance the music.  Following it up is the subdued “Flame to the Oak.” “Out of Your Mind and into a Void” is a spacey progressive rock song with music, especially the guitars, which really sinks in deep. It is the type of song where the music will simply take you away from it all.  ”The Precipice” is a rock song with an up-beat tempo.

“The Dead City Blueprint” is an incredible song.  The vocals are at their emotional best here and add to the poignant atmosphere.  It is one of those songs that get the listener completely caught up in it.  “A Great Unknown” does a great job of combining the dark and emotional levels of the previous songs.  Lyrical and moving, “The Rift” pulls out all the stops with a memorable guitar solo.  Heading towards the end, “The Beacon” and “Scars from Limbo” ensure that the quality of songs is as high as ever and continue to show Thine’s mastery of their dark and haunting sound.  “Adrift through the Arcane Isles of Recovery” is a serene ending to a great album.  It is like floating in the ocean as the ocean starts to pass under the horizon. 

Thine’s The Dead City Blueprint is nothing short of a masterpiece.  It is the type of masterpiece that takes time to appreciate.  It took me a few listens before I was fully aware of the greatness of The Dead City Blueprint and it was worth the extra time.  If you are looking for a top quality progressive rock with metal roots, then this is what you need.  I just hope that Thine does not take another twelve years to release another album.

4.5/5 Stars

Tracks:
 01. Brave Young Assassin
02. Flame to the Oak
03. Out of Your Mind and into a Void
04. The Precipice
05. The Dead City Blueprint
06. A Great Unknown
07. The Rift
08. The Beacon
09. Scars from Limbo
10. Adrift through the Arcane Isles of Recovery 

Key Tracks: Brave Young Assassin, The Dead City Blueprint, The Rift

Brian McKinnon

June 4, 2014

Review Provided By Prog Rock Music Talk

Sell your beats online at ReverbNation.com

Progressive Metal Review: Anubis Gate-Horizons

Release Date:April 15, 2014

Label: Nightmare Records

Website

Anubis Gate markets themselves as “Denmark’s premier prog/powermetal band” and it is hard to argue with this statement after listening to their newest release, Horizons.  I would also say that they would be considered a premier band no matter which country they call home, in fact.  Following the success of 2011’s self-titled album, Horizons is not just a step in the right direction from Anubis Gate after their previous album, but it is also a step up, because this might just be their best work yet.

Even more impressive is that they have managed to stay so consistent quality wise, following the departure of two of their founding members. Guitarist Jesper M. Jensen left in 2012 and drummer Morten Sørensen departed a few months later.  Anubis Gate’s current line-up stands as Kim Olesen (guitar, keyboards), Henrik Fevre (bass, lead vocals), Michael Bodin (guitar), and Morten Gade Sørensen (drums).  Their chemistry must be very strong, as they have crafted a true progressive metal masterpiece with Horizons.

“Destined to Remember” is the first of ten incredible tracks.  It is a fantastic opener that is a complete rush, showing that these guys are still in top form.  The music is grand and explosive and the vocals sound clear and powerful.  It is evident that they have not been placated by the success of their previous album.  “Never Like This (A Dream)” comes out hard and unrelenting before switching to a more melodic sound.  It is one all-around rocking sound with a catchy chorus that has been stuck in my head for days.  

For all those out there looking for the perfect song to head bang to, “Hear My Call” is exactly what you need.  The intro is devilishly good and thrashing.  Then the guitars and vocals kick in for a melodic song that absolutely soars.  I can see this one being an album favorite for many.  Offering a refreshing change of pace is “Airwaves” with its toned down acoustic opening.  This song offers a nice mix of melodic rock with the progressive sound.  “Revolution Come Undone” is a monster of musical creation that thrashes pretty hard.  It is chest-thumping, get-your-blood-pumping type of song, making it an excellent song to mosh to. 

At the album’s halfway point, “Breach of Faith” lures you in with the opening keyboards and then switches to some hypnotic drums and guitar, before bringing it all together for an ecstatic release of music. The heavy and brooding “Mindlessness” follows it up.  It has an excellent groove with some great riffs.  The dazzling music of “Horizons” is a picture of melodic progressive metal perfection.  “A Dream Within a Dream” is a 14-minute epic that never becomes tiresome.  It is a wondrous song with many surprises.  It is dark and ambient, while being very melodic and, at times, quite catchy. In the end, “A Dream Within a Dream” is the perfect example of Anubis Gate blending their diverse sound influences. 

Anubis Gate’s Horizons is a triumphant album.  This is the type of music that needs to be absorbed through multiple listens, as it will get better each time.  It is a little early to call it, but I think that it is safe to say that Horizons is a contender for best progressive metal album of the year.  Fans should love this album, and, if you are new to Anubis Gate, then this is a good as any place to start.  It will not disappoint. 

5/5 Stars

Key Tracks: ALL

Tracks: 
01.Destined to Remember
02.Never Like This (A Dream)
03.Hear My Call
04.Airwaves
05.Revolution Come Undone
06.Breach of Faith
07.Mindlessness
08.Horizons
09.A Dream Within a Dream
10.Erasure 

Brian McKinnon

May 24, 2014

Review Provided By Prog Rock Music Talk

Progressive Metal Review: Vanden Plas-Chronicles of the Immortals - Netherworld

Release Date: February 25, 2014

Label: Frontiers Records

Website

As you may have guessed, Vanden Plas is a German band. They began making progressive metal in the mid-80s in Kaiserslauten, though their first release didn’t come until 1994. They now have nine albums and the original five members (Andy Kuntz, Stephan Lill, Torsten Reichert, Andreas Lill, and Günter Werno) still remain. Their albums tend to be creative and ambitious, as can be seen in 2006’s Christ 0, which was loosely based on The Count of Monte Cristo. It shouldn’t be all that surprising to find out that all of Vanden Plas’s members have been involved in theatre and rock musicals.

In true Vanden Plas fashion, their latest release, Chronicles of the Immortals – Netherworld is also a striving effort. This time they collaborated with fantasy author Wolfgang Hohlbein for this 56-minute tale. It checks many of the prog-rock clichés (sci-fi themes, soaring vocals, technical mastery, long tracks), but I didn’t find it to be overly in your face for non-fans willing to give such releases a chance. You’re not berated by epic, 11 minute, solo-filled, tracks full of futuristic effects. There is balance, songs rarely reach 8 minutes in length, vocals don’t reach chill-educing tones, and it’s all done quite tastefully. The more I listen to it the more the theater background of the band becomes evident.

As an album Chronicles of the Immortals – Netherworld is an experience. Some of the tracks do okay on their own, “Vision 3hree – Godmaker” as the single is a prime example, but it really is a release that should be listened to from start to finish. It is a story after all, and you wouldn’t want to read only certain chapters of a story or read them out of order, and that is the case here as well. Still if you want to check out a couple other tracks to get a sense of what Vanden Plas has to offer here, “Vision 7even – The King and the Children of Lost World” and “Vision 8ight – Misery Affection” will provide a good sense of the range. If you aren’t someone that is capable of listening to an album in its entirety, Chronicle of the Immortals – Netherworldprobably isn’t for you, but if Vanden Plas sounds up your alley, I’d definitely recommend it.

4.5/5 Stars

Key Tracks: Vision 3hree – Godmaker, Vision 7ven – The King and the Children of Lost World, Vision 8ight – Misery Affection

Tracks:
01. Vision 1ne
02. Vision 2wo – The Black Knight
03. Vision 3hree – Godmaker
04. Vision 4our – Misery Affection Prelude
05. Vision 5ive – A Ghosts Requiem
06. Vision 6ix – New Vampyre
07. Vision 7ven – The King and the Children of Lost World
08. Vision 8ight – Misery Affection
09. Vision 9ine – Soul Alliance
10. Vision 10n – Inside
 

Kevin Kozel

April 27, 2014

Review Provided By Prog Rock Music Talk

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Progressive Metal Review: Vanden Plas-Chronicles of the Immortals - Netherworld

Release Date: February 25, 2014

Label: Frontiers Records

Website

As you may have guessed, Vanden Plas is a German band. They began making progressive metal in the mid-80s in Kaiserslauten, though their first release didn’t come until 1994. They now have nine albums and the original five members (Andy Kuntz, Stephan Lill, Torsten Reichert, Andreas Lill, and Günter Werno) still remain. Their albums tend to be creative and ambitious, as can be seen in 2006’s Christ 0, which was loosely based on The Count of Monte Cristo. It shouldn’t be all that surprising to find out that all of Vanden Plas’s members have been involved in theatre and rock musicals.

In true Vanden Plas fashion, their latest release, Chronicles of the Immortals – Netherworld is also a striving effort. This time they collaborated with fantasy author Wolfgang Hohlbein for this 56-minute tale. It checks many of the prog-rock clichés (sci-fi themes, soaring vocals, technical mastery, long tracks), but I didn’t find it to be overly in your face for non-fans willing to give such releases a chance. You’re not berated by epic, 11 minute, solo-filled, tracks full of futuristic effects. There is balance, songs rarely reach 8 minutes in length, vocals don’t reach chill-educing tones, and it’s all done quite tastefully. The more I listen to it the more the theater background of the band becomes evident.

As an album Chronicles of the Immortals – Netherworld is an experience. Some of the tracks do okay on their own, “Vision 3hree – Godmaker” as the single is a prime example, but it really is a release that should be listened to from start to finish. It is a story after all, and you wouldn’t want to read only certain chapters of a story or read them out of order, and that is the case here as well. Still if you want to check out a couple other tracks to get a sense of what Vanden Plas has to offer here, “Vision 7even – The King and the Children of Lost World” and “Vision 8ight – Misery Affection” will provide a good sense of the range. If you aren’t someone that is capable of listening to an album in its entirety, Chronicle of the Immortals – Netherworldprobably isn’t for you, but if Vanden Plas sounds up your alley, I’d definitely recommend it.

4.5/5 Stars

Key Tracks: Vision 3hree – Godmaker, Vision 7ven – The King and the Children of Lost World, Vision 8ight – Misery Affection

Tracks:
01. Vision 1ne
02. Vision 2wo – The Black Knight
03. Vision 3hree – Godmaker
04. Vision 4our – Misery Affection Prelude
05. Vision 5ive – A Ghosts Requiem
06. Vision 6ix – New Vampyre
07. Vision 7ven – The King and the Children of Lost World
08. Vision 8ight – Misery Affection
09. Vision 9ine – Soul Alliance
10. Vision 10n – Inside
 

Kevin Kozel

April 27, 2014

Review Provided By Prog Rock Music Talk

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