Steve Hogarth & Richard Barbieri – Not The Weapon But The Hand (2012)
Feb 16, 2012 15:08
Progressive Rock Rock
Kscope is pleased to announce the release of Not The Weapon But The Hand, the new album from Steve Hogarth and Richard Barbieri. The album will be available from February 27th 2012.
Hogarth is best known as the frontman of Marillion, the progressive rock legends that he joined in 1989, following spells in The Europeans and How We Live. In addition to the 12 studio albumsMarillion have released in this time, he has also recorded and toured as a solo artist, under the moniker H.
In recent years Richard Barbieri has been a core member ofPorcupine Tree playing keyboards on all the band’s albums since 1993 as well as releasing two solo albums, Things Buried andStranger Inside. Prior to this, it was in the new-wave pioneers Japanthat he originally came to prominence, helping to create the groundbreaking synthesiser sound that defined the band and influenced the likes of The Human League, Duran Duran, Gary Numan, Talk Talk, Kate Bush and a whole raft of other artists, including Hogarth.
The band also influenced Hogarth, at that point playing keyboards in The Europeans; 'when I was in my mid-twenties Japan's 'Tin Drum' album was a firm favourite and truly a groundbreaking work... Japan were one of those rare bands where each musician seemed to have reinvented his instrument overnight. Central to this sound was the unmistakable synthesiser programming/playing of my, now, chum Mr B.'
01. Red kite (7:25)
02. A cat with seven souls (5:49)
03. Naked (6:14)
04. Crack (4:47)
05. your beautiful face (6:47)
06. Only love will make you free (8:10)
07. Lifting the lio (6:01)
08. No the weapon but the hand (1:25)
After the release of their anniversary album 'Branded' early in 2011, Bavaria’s finest rockers BONFIRE are surprising their fans with a second birthday party and a special present; "FireWorks...Still Alive! "
A quarter-century after its release, Bonfire’s sophomore album 'Fireworks', is still hailed as a bona fide classic in the Melodic Hard Rock genre and the only ones who would argue otherwise are those born without ears.
That album had it all: loud guitars, powerful vocals, big hooks, anthemic choruses…in other words, 'Fireworks' had the works, the kind of melodious hard rock magic that seemed so prevalent during the ‘80s.
The glorious decade may be long behind us, but Bonfire has decided to define the present by returning to their past on this special live album. Recorded at a string of concerts in Sweden, Romania, Switzerland and Germany, the album features nearly every song off Fireworks, including "Rock Me Now" which the band had not played live in over 20 years.
The sonic quality of this album is astonishing.
This is a live album for those who loathe live albums. If you’re looking for a raw, unpolished concert experience, then you probably want to exit this review and return to trolling the bootleg sites, because "Fireworks…Still Alive!" almost sounds like a studio album.
Like a criminal that doesn’t care if they get caught, this album makes no attempt to conceal the evidence of its post-recording enhancements.
The audience noise has been removed save for the very beginning and end of the tracks, allowing the songs to be appreciated in all their beefed-up power and glory without suffering the distraction of yelling and hollering and clapping and whistling from the crowd.
What this album really sounds like is a re-recording of 'Fireworks' with the songs being treated to a muscular upgrade, particularly in the guitars and drums department. In fact, while some might consider the following statement blasphemous, the songs sound better here than they do on the original album—they really are that much improved.
Even the gang backing vocals are still present, arguably too stacked to have been accomplished live, so perhaps sign of further post-recording tweaking, but one that works to retain the original structure, composition, and vibe of the songs.
A track by track rehashing of the songs seems pointless, as most Melodic Hard Rock fans have been cranking them up on a regular basis for over two decades now and are well aware of how great they are.
In addition to the Fireworks tracks, the band also included a live recording of "You Make Me Feel" from their debut, which is a decent tune but proves Bonfire didn’t really hit their stride until Fireworks.
Also included is "Just Follow The Rainbow", which appeared on the band’s last album and "I’m On My Way" is a emotional tribute to tragically-deceased Gotthard singer Steve Lee.
One of my favorite Bonfire tunes, "Sword And Stone" off the Shocker soundtrack, is served up with an extra dose of attitude from Lessman while the band just slams it out. Forget the original recording, this is the version you’ll be reaching for from now on.
If you shy away from live albums like a witch shying away from a burning stake, I beg you to give "FireWorks... Still Alive!" a shot.
Aside from some short snippets of audience interaction, what this really sounds like is a re-recorded version of Bonfire’s seminal Fireworks album, and while they say you can’t improve upon a classic, this release proves them wrong.
Bonfire was once considered the Best of the Best in the Melodic Hard Rock business and this updated trip down memory lane will make you remember why.
A Must Have.
01 - Ready 4 Reaction
02 - Never Mind
03 - Sleeping All Alone
04 - Don't Get Me Wrong
05 - Give It A Try
06 - Fantasy
07 - American Nights
08 - Obsessive Intro (inst.)
09 - Sweet Obsession
10 - Rock Me Now
11 - Champion
12 - You Make Me Feel
13 - Sword And Stone
14 - Just Follow The Rainbow
15 - I'm On My Way (live Gotthard cover)
16 - Let It Grow (edited studio cut)
Claus Lessmann (vocals, guitar)
Hans Ziller (guitar)
Chris Limburg (guitar)
Uwe Kohler (bass)
Dominik Hulshorst (drums)
BandThe Rockin Pneumonias Info: Kung Fu Thunders Style: Rock’n’Roll Punk/Power pop/Garage Years: 2006 Info: mp3 CBR 256 Info: 80 mb Upload: unibytes gigabase Info: :Espano
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Tracklist:
1 Outer (Another) Space 04:20
2 You Don't Love Me 02:47
3 New Romance 03:27
4 Danny Says 02:21
5 Run Chicken Run 02:16
6 Inside My Brain 02:55
7 Kung Fu Thunders 02:45
8 Celebration Partner 02:46
9 Rockin' Pneumonia & The Boogie Woogie Flu 02:29
10 Takin' a Shine To You 03:49
11 All Right 04:16
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Toño: Voz / Guitarra
David: Bajo / Coros
Loki: Bateria
H. Zombie: Guitarra
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PULSONICA – TRIBALOIDE 2011
Feb 14, 2012 14:23
Progressive Rock Rock
Band Pulsonica Info: Tribaloide Years: 2011 Info: Argentina Style: Eclectic Prog Tracklist: Mp3/ 320kbps Info: 88,56 ??
PULSONICA is a musical project which combines traditional Afro Latin rhythms with different Progressive Rock styles, always starting from a protagonist percussive work based on the use of polyrhythms, irregular metrics, unisons and percussion solos.
In this search, a great variety of instruments are used. There are two percussion sets, the first one is a drum set with timbales and the other one is composed by congas and accessories. There are also melodic percussive instruments like xylophone and glockenspiel, electric and acoustic guitars, bass guitar, aerophone instruments and programmed sounds.
Landmarq are a UK-based neo-progressive rock band. Since forming in 1990, they have so far released six albums, two of which were recorded live at various concerts in the UK and elsewhere inEurope.
Initially signing to a Dutch record company, SI Records, then forming their own label, Synergy Records, the band have established themselves within the world of progressive rock, though their style may also extend into album-oriented rock, melodic rock, hard rock and even a slightly jazz edge.
Vocalist Damian Wilson left the band after three very well received albums to concentrate on his solo career and the band found a replacement in Ian ‘Moon’ Gould. ‘Moon’ spent a year with the band, playing various gigs in the UK and Holland, before deciding to move on. It was at this point that Landmarq decided to go for a radical change to their sound and recruited the long-time friend of the band, Tracy Hitchings, who formally sang with Quasar and did their first vinyl album, "The Lorelei" and has done two albums with Clive Nolan's Strangers on a Train - The Key Part I and The Key Part II and has done a solo album with Mr. Nolan called From Ignorance to Ecstasy and before joining Landmarq she had done sessions with the likes of Steve Hackett (Genesis), Nik Turner (Hawkwind) and a tour with John Wetton (Asia/King Crimson) and has worked with Rick and Oliver Wakeman (Yes), Clive Nolan, and Bob Catley (Magnum) on Jabberwocky and on Nolan/Wakeman's Hound of the Baskervilles, which also featured English actor Robert Powell, who narrated the album.
Landmarq have played concerts in the UK, Holland, Germany, Belgium, France, Poland, Italy, the US and Mexico; both as support and as headliners at various festivals and music venues. The band have worked with many well-known artists including Marillion, John Wetton, Steve Hackett, Hugh McDowell, Nik Turner (Hawkwind), Annie Haslam (Renaissance), IQ, Pendragon, Arena and Suzi Quatro.
Artist: Landmarq Title Of Album: Entertaining Angels [Limited Edition] Year Of Release: 2012 Country: UK Genre: Neo Progressive Rock Total Time: 1:40:26 Format: Mp3 Quality: CBR 320 kbps Total Size: 242 mb
Tracklist:
CD 1
1 Entertaining Angels
2 Glowing (Part I Friends)
3 Glowing (Part II Lovers)
4 Mountains Of Anglia
5 Personal Universe
6 Prayer (Coming Home)
7 Turbulence (Paradigm Shift)
8 Calm Before The Storm
CD 2
1 Walking On Eggshells
2 Timeline
3 Stormbrewing
4 Thunderstruck
Not all Christmas albums are created equal, and when Neal Morse gets creative, you are guaranteed something unique. "A Proggy Christmas" is only available to Inner Circle Member.Click here for more information on how to sign up.
Band Neal Morse Info: A Proggy Christmas Years: 2011 Style: Progressive Rock Info: MP3 CBR 320 kbps Info: USA Time: Radiant Records ????? Tracklist: 44:35 Info: 100 Mb
Tracklist:
01 – Carol Of The Bells
02 – O Holy Night
03 – The Little Drummer Boy
04 – Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
05 – Home For The Holidays
06 – Shred Ride
07 – Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming
08 – Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
09 – God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen O Come Emmanuel
10 – The Christmas Song
The band was created in 2009 by Steven Francis, Emmanuel de Saint Méen and Lorraine Young, and released its eponymus debut album in September 2010.
Their music can be classified as Crossover Prog (or Art Rock) according to the ProgArchives gurus [2] and has been found to be close to a female fronted Porcupine Tree [3]. It has received considerable attention from its release, with notable reviews from Ravenheart Music [4], Strutter'zine [5], Music Street Journal [6], and is also "album of the month" at newears.org[7]. These reviews compare Delusion Squared's music to Porcupine Tree but also to Anathema, The Pineapple Thief, Ayreon, Phideaux.
Their debut work is a concept-album unraveling a dark sci-fi story in which a young girl, who was born in a post nuclear techno society, revolts against her condition (and the AI supremacy) and decides to give birth to a natural child. Due to copyright laws which extend to modified genes, she is found guilty of "gene piracy" and abandoned on the polluted outside. There she meets survivors, and becomes a spiritual guide to them, eventually starting a new religion.
The CD release is a dual sleeve digipack sporting a synopsis of the story. A digital release is also available. The album is a self-release, with no evidence that the band tries to get signed to a record label. According to an interview in Music Street Journal [8] the band is busy preparing a sequel to the first album. There is no evidence that the band has ever played live or will be going to.
Band Delusion Squared Info: II Years: 2012 Info: France Style: Cross Prog Tracklist: Mp3/ VBR~210kbps Info: 85,44 ??
You want a good laugh? Take a look at the CD artwork and video trailer for this album. It’s beyond bad. It’s embarrassing. And it’s not the first time – so chances are it won’t be the last. That's the bad news.
The good news is that this new album is yet another musical masterpiece from one of the greatest heavy metal bands on the planet. I kid you not. The band that once upon a time was the byword for bad production and bad accents is now a legendary beast that people will write about one day. But for now it’s just me telling it like it is. So here’s my take.
Skylark quietly transformed into a female fronted outfit a couple of albums ago now. Somewhere between the last album and this one they lost Kiara (their leading lady). Not sure what happened, but since this is metal we’re talking about – it probably wasn’t nice. Anyway, enter Ashley. She’s American. And she can sing.
So with Ashley on board, the accent issues stay dead. Well sort of. Here and there the lyrics continue to be sung exactly as they’re written, even when the grammar just don’t add up. Maybe Ashley is too nice to say anything. Well I’m not. My message to the band is that if you’ve got an English speaker in the band, then for the love of God get her to do a spell and grammar check. Please.
“The Tears Of Jupiter” is a tiny little teaser of a song that kicks things off with everything you except from an Eddy Antonini masterpiece. It’s got grand piano to burn and a hook that does snatch and grab like a crim wanted in three states. And there’s probably no better introduction to Ashley as the new voice of Skylark. She picks up right where Kiara left off with a dark but powerfully crystal clear register. I like.
Track two is an unexpected cover of a catchy little theme song from a cult Japanese anime cartoon. No big deal except that it lets me bring up that it also features one of a truckload of guest singers that appear on this album. I won’t go into details, but you’ve got opera singers, rock vocalists – and even Eddy himself singing away.
“The Princess and Belzebu” is an obvious nod to the epic story Eddy has told over the years. And in keeping with that tradition, you get a speed metal rush of melody and neoclassical breaks that would break a lesser band. And things have only just started. “She” and “Love Song” ensure the headbanging doesn’t let up even when the words on the page look a little soft. Look closer. Eddy doesn’t write soft.
If the album openers are a speed metal brush with symphonics, then the middle tracks are a symphonic brush with speed. That means the canvas just got bigger. Even when the songs aren’t long, the delivery is bigger and the melodies more epic. That’s how a song called “Tears” rips the heart out of what could have been a ballad to carve a hailstorm of hurt out of a double kick explosion of piano and shredding.
For a minute there, “Lions Are The World” seems like an almost pointless make over of a song they did well enough a few albums back. And then the last 3 minutes of the song happens and you realize this is what it was always meant to sound like. The new arrangement is terrifyingly grand. Think lots of voices. Think instruments at war. And then think bolting through a minefield with a blindfold on.
“The Wings Of The Typhoon” and “Mystery Of The Night” turn up towards the end of the album – and you really have to feel sorry for new singer Ashley and long time guitarist Romani. Both chip in with a song each, but neither ever really stood a chance against the crushing melodic genius of Antonini. In the case of “Mystery Of The Night”, this one song alone is as good as the whole album. Which is saying something when chances are this is the album of the year for 2012. That’s right, I’m saying that with ten months to go. It’s that good.
01. The Tears Of Jupiter
02. Tobe! Glendizer
03. The Princess And Belzebu
04. She
05. Love Song
06. Tears
07. Lions Are The World
08. The Wings Of The Typhoon
09. Sands Of Time
10. Mystery Of The Night
11. Road To Heaven
12. Believe In Love
13. Follow Your Dreams
14. EyesJapanese bonus tracks:
15. Tobe! Glendizer [Karaoke version]
16. Faded Fantasy
17. Follow Your Dreams
"Rick Manwiller spent 18+ years as the keyboardist/guitarist/vocalist for MCA Records' pop-rock band Dakota, who's premiere effort was 1984's Runaway (MCA 5503), co-produced by former Chicago drummer Danny Seraphine and famed top-shelf engineer Humberto Gatica.
Rick stayed with the band through the late 80's and 90's as the band released several excellent melodic rock CD's that got raves, particularly by the perennial lovers of melodic rock in the European and Japanese markets.
1. I Got This Friend
2. Tomorrow Is You
3. Little Bit Of Magic
4. Struggles With The Heart
5. Just In Time
6. Findin' You Tonight
7. Not Your Kinda Lover
8. If I Ever
9. One Last Look
10. What Does He Mean?
11. Mrs S
12. Too Good To Be True
Brigada Huesos – Brigada Huesos (2012) Maxi Single
Feb 12, 2012 21:53
Hard Rock
Fosy is a very loved and recognized both in his native Euskadi and in his adopted land, Catalonia. A restless ass and how easy is to find at any soiree but is giving everything on stage. Show your concern is passing through "La Banda Trapera", "The Furies", "turncoats" and "Gatekeepers" among others, coming to combine several bands at once,and now this "Bones Brigade", his personal project which does not leave too much of hisGatekeepers Dictatoriano Rock'n'Roll, but if he gives it a more Punk.The guy is a waste of energy that has to be channeled in some way, and in this album I had to do everything, composes the lyrics, the music and record all the instruments he is a guy..... although generous (and why not Bilbao is) and "may" (reluctantly, let's be honest) get a couple of taps around the great Jorge Reboredo (Snobs and former NCC).
To the Bones Brigade, Fosy is surrounded by a few figures that the R'n'R Punk andBasque, said Jorge, Mikel (Txorlitohead) and Unai "Jebi" (Last Government), which canlive McGiber as dangerous as a hardware store, capable of heating the cold environment of Vitoria, where he currently resides.
