Second, since we are dealing with an Italian band, there are Italian lyrics and vocals, natch. Don’t let that stop you from listening. Listening to the language is a thing of beauty, in my opinion, and we are stepping out of our comfort zone, so don’t be afraid. Also, the music is worth staying for. There is only one brief interlude (Lasciando alle spalle is only a minute and 45 seconds), but it is a lead piano interlude, if you will, and actually could develop into an entire song if allowed the opportunity.
Aside from the studio tracks, the two closers are definitely worth sticking around for, particularly Metamorfosi. That tune and Il ragno were both recorded at the Festival Prog di Veruno 2018. Sounds like a wonderful place to listen to some old school Italian prog! Any of you who are still questioning whether or not it would be worthwhile to check out an Italian prog act need only listen to Transiberiana for the answers!
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AINUR announce a record deal with ROCKSHOTS RECORDS and a new project!
Italy’s progressive rock-metal band AINUR, has just announced the signing of a record deal with ROCKSHOTS RECORDS.
Inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s opus since a decade and half, AINUR are coming back with a new, majestic project later this year.
The new path was overtaken by a short trailer appeared on the label’s YouTube Channel, showing up the band’s new look as well: https://youtu.be/3Jyi2OW02vk
AINUR – The New Journey (teaser)
Currently the band is located at Evolution Recording Studio (Italy), working on the new project with the producer Massimiliano Flak (Sound Storm, Highlord).
The band comments:
“After some collaboration in the past, AINUR and ROCKSHOTS RECORDS are officially partners in crime!
Get ready for a new and improved music, more aggressive and more rock!”
The new project will mark a milestone in the band’s music career, who already released four albums to date and is definitely forward to this new adventure throughout Arda.
More info will follow shortly in the coming weeks.
For more info:
Rockshots Records: www.rockshots.eu
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rockshotsrecords
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockshotsrecords
Ainur: www.ainur.it
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ainurprogrockorchestra/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ainurprogrockorchestra/
Blood Music is another uptempo number, with almost sky vocals and some darned good chops. This is not necessarily metal, but there are some heavy passages. At most times one can hear what amounts to, or sounds like, an unholy choir in the background. Their energy is just infectious here and on the other tunes as well.
Prime begins life as another tech tune, but that is just the intro, true believers. The bleeps and bloops quickly give way to wickedly fast drums and guitars, with an instrumental/vocal breakdown and some incredible BASS licks! A big finish for this tune, and you will see a pattern here if you keep listening!
Change of Skin starts with keyboard FX, then strumming, then kicks in and gives us plenty of cool riffing and a nice lead guitar solo about a minute-and-a-half in. Lyrically, “watch me as I am reborn” struck me as the central motif. Dig it!
Altered State is a more upbeat slammer, with cool guitar intro to boot. The dreamy Robert Smith-vocal vibe comes back on this one, and some powerful blast beats on the drums to bang your head to. Plenty of bass and strong vocals and another big finish finds us one closer to the end, unfortunately. This is getting really good!
Body Double is another slammer, with a big engine room (bass and drums) backing the whole adventure, plus vocally we again get the lilting, almost disturbingly so, vocal passages to go along with a strange instrumental bit about two minutes in.
The Manifest Content wins 5 extra cool points for title alone. It features a driving intro, and strings and lots of bass. Mosaic also contains lots of drums and bass, and there’s that anguished vocal again. Awesome. A busy song, if you will. Lots of stuff going on.
Spectral Friends, the closer, is just as you would expect. Ghostly buds. It is a powerful, heavier track. A big, strong finish for all. The vocals are haunting, pun intended. Go out and buy Maraton now!
]]>Influences of Porcupine Tree, Pink Floyd, A Perfect Circle and Psychotic Waltz form the base of their music. Especially singer Paul Glandorf, also known from his live performances for Ayreon, has something in his voice reminding me of Buddy Lackey. Take for example the song ‘Leap Into Flames’ it sounds a lot like Psychotic Waltz, also musically. With that said, this band can’t do a lot wrong for me anymore. The entire album is a nice ride through progressive land. Serene and atmospheric go hand in hand with more groovy parts, but especially the song writing makes the most impression on me. It sounds so pure and natural and by edding some stoner sounding parts they are a perfect band also for fans of Deftones, Radiohead, Tool and Oceansize as well.
This Dutch band made an album that can compete with all other progressive rock and post metal bands around the globe!
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NTH ASCENSION has returned to their regular album artist Oliver Pengilley to paint the stunning new artwork. The renowned UK artist made his cover art debut with NTH ASCENSION’s first release ‘Ascension of Kings’ in 2014, and was followed by their sophomore release ‘In Fine Initium’ in 2016. The powerful seascape contains Pengilley’s trademark imagery and pulls the viewer deep into ocean waves.
Track listing:
1. The Opening
2. True Identity
3. Fire In The Sky
4. Reconciled
5. The Gathering (Clanaan pt7)
6. Journeys End (Clanaan pt8)
7. Lament (Clanaan pt9)
8. Sound To Light
The album was engineered by Darrel Treece-Birch & Martin Walker. Mixed and Mastered by Eric Gillette (Neal Morse Band), EKG Studios, USA.
Writing in NTH ASCENSION is very collaborative. Initial ‘bare bones’ of songs are brought into a rehearsal setting and the band enhances the song from there. Once the song is fleshed out and expanded upon it is then ready for playing live or indeed recording. All members of the band bring ideas to the table and in some cases a reinvention of older ideas from the various incarnations of previous bands, eg Vision is a song written originally in 1991 by Darrel Treece-Birch, at which time it was 8 minutes long and not 18 minutes as it finally ended up.
Influence wise each band member sites many artists as ‘having an influence’. Such as, Marillion, Genesis, Yes, Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Rush, Dream Theater, Pink Floyd to name a few. But the band resolutely stands by, that the music that is created is not designed or to order but is organic and natural.
NTH ASCENSION is:
Michael Alan Taylor – Vocals
Darrel Treece-Birch – Keyboards (TEN)
Craig Walker – Drums & Percussion
Gavin Walker – Bass Guitar
Martin Walker – Electric & Acoustic Guitars
Imagined in November 2009 by keyboardist Darrel Treece-Birch and drummer Craig Walker after both helping out a friend (Alan Allcock) with has band ‘Sonic Jam Project’ at a Charity concert in Fleetwood (Fleetwoodstock). Long time writing partners and friends Alan ‘Spud’ Taylor and guitarist (and father of Craig and Gavin) Martin Walker signed up in January 2010.
The first year the band went under the name Nth Degree but altered the latter after discovering other bands with the same name. The writing ‘core’ of Darrel, Alan and Martin has been in operation since the mid 80’s.
A demo recording ‘Frequencies Of Day & Night’ was issued as a free download option via website Aurovine in late 2011. 2012 saw the addition of brother to Craig, Gavin, on bass guitar, making it truly a family band. In 2013 the band began sessions developing what became the songs for Ascension Of Kings. In November 2013 the band signed to Sonic Vista Records and began recording their ‘official’ debut album ‘Ascension Of Kings’. The album Ascension Of Kings contains a 3 part suite entitled ‘Clanaan Chronicles’ which will run and occur on subsequent albums. This follows a story by Darrel Treece-Birch in the vein of Narnia/LOTR which sees the rescue/redemption of a tortured realm from an evil dictator by a Seventh Rider who ultimately ascends to be a prophesied King.
In 2015 the band departed from Aurovine and signed with American label melodic Revolution Records (MRR). In 2016 they released their second album ‘In Fine Initium’ to further critical acclaim and in the three year period collectively the members released 6 albums on the USA based label.
In February 2019 the band’s contract ended and they signed to Metatronic Records in order to release their highly anticipated third opus ‘Stranger Than Fiction’. A marked jump in production was added with the mixing and mastering skills of Neal Morse Band guitarist extraordinaire Eric Gillette.
]]>As usual with the proggers, there are a couple of blurbs. Empath begins with one of those, and it is titled Castaway. It features bird and beach FX , mellow guitar (Hawaiian?) and keyboards. It is only a couple of minutes long, but the point of it is lost on me, unless it is, of course, to set up the next tune. Genesis begins life with heavy metal riffs, keyboards, general weirdness, vocals about thirty seconds in, and almost a death metal growl here and there. It is atmospheric in nature, with lots of squealing guitars, a very weird mid-section and a cacophony about half way through. It is quite a tune.
Spirits Will Collide is up next, and it is a triumphant number in nature. You can feel it in the production, the horns, the big riffs, the vocal choir. You get the picture. Evermore features another big, bright intro with big vocals. The vocals start out buried at first, but soon take on their own instrumental aura, if you will. Some stop-time heavy metal riffs and another bizarre midsection later, and you have another cacophony, then out! Sprite has sort of an exalted vibe to it, and includes a spoken word intro, of all things. This track is weird – almost disturbingly so. They keys are way out there, and just when you think his vocals are going to reign you in, they do, but only briefly! There is a very bizarre vocal FX close on this one.
Hear Me is a wow/holy crap kind of song, in that everything is BIG – big riffs, big keys, big drums – you get the idea. HUGE vocals! The vocals are strange, almost nut job strange but that is typical Devin. My wife is more brutal – she says “it sounds like shit!”. I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. My wife, not so much! There is a big jam in the middle, another cacophony, and some serious screaming.
Why is symphonic in nature, with operatic vocals. I wish I had a voice like that! Big finish on this one. Borderlands begins life with a rooster crow, which seems appropriate somehow. It is a big tune. It starts out with simple synth washes and guitars strumming, but it just keeps getting bigger and bigger! The tune, itself, of course, is gargantuan. Eleven minutes may not seem like much to the resident progger, but for Townsend it is a bit of a stretch. If you think that is immense, however, just wait, there’s one more!
First, of course, we have another interlude. Requiem is another of those blurbs I’m always bitching about, but it seems to serve more of a purpose at least this time. This time around is features orchestra and vocals, so it is most likely one of those blurbs that will get bigger and actually get a chance to become a song!
Last, but not least, we have the big one. The monster leviathan, Singularity. This beast is twenty-three-and-a-half minutes long! It careens back and forth between skullduggery and song like I veer in modes from narcoleptic to frantic! It is huge, but it has purpose, again, for a big one. It starts out with a “Where Were You?” (Jeff Beck) vibe, then all hell breaks loose! One must listen to get an idea of where to go from here. I just loved it.
]]>There are five tracks on board here, and they go from good to better to best at the close, appropriately enough. Opening track and video The Ruler of the World features some pretty piano, some FX, some good vocalizing and an excellent guitar solo at the 3:45 mark.
Running Out of Luck is a jam of its own, complete with birds and beach FX (waves, etc.). Digital Affair is pretty much exactly what the title would suggest – an affair with a bot. There are techno vocals, keys, another wickedly good guitar solo, and more birds (??). Meet the Past has more of the delicate piano work, plus some good vocal work. This is reggae prog, for lack of a better term. Things slow up a bit here. We do get another cracking guitar solo at about 2:50 in.
Closer A Broken Trust is probably the best track here. It is a guitar-driven, gutsy prog rocker. Still not metal, for those of you chomping at your iron bits. Sorry. It is, however, a bit heavier than the other tracks. There are some techno vocals, FX, then keys, then at 3:15 the guitars really let rip!
Today’s lesson is this – just because you haven’t heard from a band in a while, don’t count them out! I heard that the legendary Jersey rockers Angel just signed to Cleopatra the other day!
]]>Not that this is your typical pedestrian prog rock here. Not by a long shot. There are several tracks, including opener Opponent, that feature soaring vocals and huge riffs. There were moments where I was reminded of prog heavyweights Frost* and Riverside. Some dreamy passages as well, and some overtly mellow tunes, but we forge ahead.
Lascivious features some solid bass and muscular drumming. Lotus is a bit of a journeyman tune, in storyteller mode you might say. It is a good title track with a cool heavy instrumental mid-section. Martyrs is also heavier with some gorgeous piano work. Covenant again features some excellent bass work and an FX intro. Penance is mellower again, almost tame compared to the other tracks.
River is a bluesy ballad, and kicks in a bit about a minute and a half in. A nice slow, shredding solo burns its way in about 2-and-a-half minutes in. Rival is a bit heavier, thank goodness, and then we have the big monster, Lunacy. The closing track features another instrumental mid-section and some nice rhythm riffing.
Overall, then, if progressive rock is your thing, then you may just like Soen. Hell, you may love them! I know that I am, personally, intrigued enough to go back and seek out the first three records!
]]>There is some serious playing going here, particularly in the opening track, Raindrops. In my notes I wrote down JAM a few times, which to me indicates that they are in sync and are rocking out! Solos abound, and we can hear that throughout. Landscapes is up next, and it is another big jam. The drums say hello right out of the starting gate, bashing your brain into a sweet oblivion. There are some quiet passages, but for the most part it is a good prog jam.
Next up is Echo, and this is where the vocal growling comes in. It is not overdone, which I like. In my humble opinion, clean vocals are just better. This track is bright again, very well produced – almost too slick in spots, but still well done. An excellent guitar jam at the close.
Parable is up next, and features one of those creepy, eerie intros that I am always on about. There are desert sands FX, and strumming acoustic guitars. Beautiful playing, and somewhat dreamlike. Towards the close we hear monk -like vocal chanting.
The title track is our closer for the day. Chiming guitar harmonics begin the track, but soon give way to some really heavy guitar chops. This is almost sinister but in an ethereal way. Haunting piano and vocals seem to square up this tune. There are more chops before it’s all over, but no real metal here. This is more like prog rock. I would even venture to say that it’s prog hard rock!
]]>La Bottega Del Tempo A Vapore (‘The Steam-Powered Time Bazaar’…..very steampunk-sounding moniker) are from Italy and they certainly don’t do themselves any favours with a name that looks more like a song lyric. As you might have deduced, the lyrics of LBDTAV are in their native tongue and “Viaggi InVersi” seems to have a strong affinity with the Italian Prog scene of the mid-1970s, albeit with lots of Metal elements added.
My aforementioned description of the album’s opening moments pretty much sets the scene for what follows…..a hotpotch of different ideas, mood swings and instruments. Sometimes this approach works, other times…well, not so much.
Some examples…I liked the psychedelic/ethereal moods such as those in ‘Urla e Perdonami’ and ‘Tempo Inverso – Pt2’. Some well-delivered guitar licks pepper the album and the band certainly knows how to write strong melodies. But with the exception of ‘Mestieri’ and perhaps ‘Tempo Inverso – Pt2’ there aren’t any songs which are 100% gratifying for me. ‘Dama di Spade’ (‘Ace Of Spades’) is way too long at 25 minutes’ duration and I struggled to keep myself from dozing off as it played. And the lead vocals sometimes feel subdued.
The album title is a play of words: ’inversi’ translates as ‘inverted’ but ‘in versi’ means ‘in verses’. Combine that with ‘Viaggi’ – ‘journeys’ – and the title is complete. It’s a conceptual release where the band expands on characters that had appeared in the previous album.
So “Viaggi InVersi” contains some good elements but, taken as a whole, it falls short of being essential listening. To pinch the travelling metaphor, with “Viaggi InVersi” LBDTAV take many roads without getting far.
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