I don’t believe there is any genre in metal with the potential for excitement and unpredictability more than avant-garde metal. Of course, the name itself is essentially meaningless as a genre because it contains so many different styles and sounds, [...]
There have been few bands in modern progressive rock or metal that have had a wider influence or been more loved than Britain’s Porcupine Tree. Like most fans, I was greatly saddened to learn in 2010 that the band would be on an indefinite hiatus. [...]
One of my favorite song-based prog rock bands in recent years has been England’s Pure Reason Revolution, who in 2020 came off of a decade-long hiatus. And they will soon be releasing their second album after their return in the form of ‘Above [...]
For over a quarter of a century, Sweden’s The Flower Kings have been a staple and constant presence in the world of modern progressive rock. With their hearts and roots firmly placed in the classic prog of the 70s, Roine Stolt and company have [...]
I’ve always had many loves and interests that comfortably run alongside music. The oldest of these is storytelling and history. And the beautiful thing about music, and metal especially (in terms of modern music) is that these three things [...]
If there’s anyone who knows about bombastic, gloriously over-the-top prog music it is Arjen Lucassen of Ayreon fame. Over the last two decades, this multi-instrumentalist has put out ten concept albums under that moniker, nearly all of which are [...]
Funeral doom is a quirky bird. A sub-sub-genre that inspires near-fanatical reverence from its fans, and utter bewilderment for those unfamiliar with its methods. It is glacially slow, brooding, and as the name suggests, focused on the sorrow and [...]
I think it’s safe to say that not many of us will miss 2021 any more than we did the year before. And I don’t need to go into the nearly uncountable reasons why. On the plus side, this past year saw a lot of incredible music come out, and the [...]
