The second album by Epignosis, Mr. Brown has really made great strides forward all around, (from what was an already impressive debut).
For those unfamiliar, Epignosis plays a melodic, textured and symphonic style of progressive rock. This is the path followed taken again on "Refulgence" and while not unprecedented, it does not need to be. Instead of sprawling, dense epics that test your patience and tolerance of self indulgence, "Refulgence" is a very mellow album, dominated by piano and synth, ripe with acoustic and clean guitar, with some crunchy guitar tones thrown in, harmonious bass and punctuated with soothing vocals. Brown's wife, Tasha, has an increased role on this album and her vocals can be described best as angelic. Wish their natural voices could shine throughout and not occasionally dive into effects, which happens a few times, but that is just the personal preference of this reviewer.
The songs on "Refulgence" have been trimmed down, (or maybe simply broken up) and instead of the 8 minute + songs heard on "Still the Waters" there are more here, all under 6 minutes in length with one exception: the 17 minute self titled track. After an ambient intro piece, said title track begins and is really a microcosm of the album. Everything is here in one song, drifting gently from section to section and has quite a variety within its frame. Also here one will notice the greatly improved drumming, which, (while not a buzz kill on "Still the Waters") was a bit rough at times and lackluster. The physical sound is much improved with this album, as is the actual drumming. On a related note, while not really an issue before, the overall production is also better...and kudos to Brown for developing as a complete musician.
Band Epignosis Info: Refulgence Years: 2011 Info: USA Style: Sympho Prog Tracklist: Mp3/ 320kbps Info: 114 Mb
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1. Effulgence (1:51)
2. Refulgence (17:21)
3. Bold Eternal Day (5:53)
4. Hope Maketh Not Ashamed (4:47)
5. If the World (4:02)
6. Vestibule of Smoke (2:17)
7. Riddles in the Dark (4:19)
8. A Handful of Humanity (4:49)
9. Fade (2:30)
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- Robert W. Brown, Jr. / All instruments and vocals
- Tasha Nichole / Vocals
1. Master And The Simulacrum (6:45)
2. The Depraved (4:20)
3. Battle Within (5:50)
4. Hammerhead (5:50)
5. Flagiston (6:15)
6. Autumn Rain (5:55)
7. The Beginning Of Nothing (6:04)
8. Genesis Part 1 - The Celestial Architect (8:43)
The iconic symphonic rock vocalist returns after a 4-year hiatus.
After a four-year break since her last album, Lana Lane is back with her most powerful release to date, “El Dorado Hotel.” The veteran symphonic rock diva delivers a 10-song tour-de-force of finely crafted original tracks in an audiophile production by husband/keyboardist, Erik Norlander. “El Dorado Hotel” hosts Lane’s usual broad spectrum of musical styles and genres with a cohesiveness that fans of the artist will recognize instantly. The opener, “A Dream Full of Fire,” is a new Lana Lane classic that blurs the line between prog metal and jazz stylings in a mélange that only she can deliver. “Maybe We’ll Meet Again” is a European-styled melodic AOR radio anthem blending classic rock with modern sensibilities. The song, “El Dorado,” is a Lana Lane epic with a soaring chorus reminiscent of her classic, “Queen of Ocean.” The robust “Darkness Falls” introduces an Irish folk style combined with a gothic metal element with its haunting choral vocals and arena-crafted chorus. Then “Hotels” is an acoustic track that evokes jazz standards like “Autumn Leaves.” The tracks, “Believe,” “Life of the Party,” “Gone Are The Days” and “Moon God” add further threads to the “El Dorado Hotel” tapestry. The album closes with the 11-1/2 minute opus, “In Exile” that producer Erik Norlander describes as a “vintage progressive rock epic.”
The musicians of “El Dorado Hotel” are a top-notch group of artists including both new and familiar faces. Lane says about the musicians, “Both Freddy DeMarco and Mark Matthews did some fantastic work on Erik’s solo project, “The Galactic Collective”. I then had the opportunity to play with them both during some live appearances in 2011 when I sang with the band. After having played with the guys and getting to know them, I knew that I wanted them to be a part of this project as well. Then for John Payne, Jay Schellen, Guthrie Govan and Bruce Bouillet (ex-Racer X), as you know, Erik been has playing with John Payne for about 5 years now. When the original 1982 lineup of ASIA reformed a few years back, John Payne formed his own separate band to continue all the work that he had done with ASIA during his 14-year run and many albums with them. So John and Erik tour as “ASIA Featuring John Payne,” and they’ve probably played over a hundred shows together.
Jay is the drummer in the band, and both Guthrie and Bruce have been the guitarists. Bruce is working with them currently. I of course go to a lot of their shows and have become friends with all of them. It is a great group of people, and they are all very talented musicians. Since we see them so much and Erik plays with them constantly, it was only natural to work with them on this album. And then finally for Mark McCrite, Neil Citron and Don Schiff, all three of them have been on so many Lana Lane albums going all the back to my very first album in 1995. It’s great to continue working with them through all these years.”
Songs for El Dorado Hotel were written by Lana Lane, Erik Norlander and longtime collaborator, Mark McCrite, who comments, “My favorite songs on the album are ‘El Dorado’ (with the fantastic Spanish guitar) and ‘A Dream Full of Fire’ – that’s a really killer ‘classic’ Lana Lane track.” You can hear those two songs from the album in their entirety at the Think Tank Media web site: www.thetank.com/lledh.htm
Lana Lane – El Dorado Hotel musicians:
Lana Lane – vocals
Erik Norlander – keyboards, additional guitars, bass and programming
with
John Payne – harmony and choral vocals, mandolin Mark McCrite – guitars, bass, choral vocals, programming Bruce Bouillet – guitars Neil Citron – guitars Freddy DeMarco – guitars Guthrie Govan – guitar Don Schiff – NS/Stick Mark Matthews – bass Jay Schellen – drums
Produced by Erik Norlander for Think Tank Media, USA
Lana Lane – El Dorado Hotel track list
01 A Dream Full of Fire [8:25]
02 Maybe We’ll Meet Again [5:39]
03 El Dorado [6:12]
04 Darkness Falls [5:12]
05 Hotels [3:40]
06 Believe [6:03]
07 Life of the Party [4:03]
08 Gone are the Days [6:23]
09 Moon God [5:08]
10 In Exile [11:43]
Worldwide release date:
January 25, 2012 on the Think Tank Media and the Avalon (Japan) labels Both label versions contain the identical track listing – there are no bonus tracks on any edition
Band Atomic Opera
Info: For Madmen Only
Style: Hard Rock / Progressive
Years: 1994
Info: VBR ~250-270 kbs
Info: 100.82 Mb
Info: USA
Tracklist:
01 - Joyride.
02 - Justice.
03 - Achilles' Heel.
04 - I Know Better.
05 - All Fall Down.
06 - War Drums.
07 - Blackness.
08 - December.
09 - This Side of the Rainbow.
10 - New Dreams.
Rip By: Pipe Desertor
Download :
Unibytes.com
Made In Sweden – Made In England (1970)
Jan 27, 2012 21:55
Progressive Rock
Band Made In Sweden
Info: Made In England
Style: Progressive Rock
Years: 1970
Info: 320 kbps
Info: 99 mb
Info: Sweden
Tracklist:
Winter's A Bummer
You Can't Go Home
Mad River
Roundabout
Chicago, Mon Amour
Love Samba
Blind Willie
Little Cloud
Band Pererin
Info: Tirion Dir
Style: Progressive / Folk Rock
Years: 1982
Info: 320 kbps
Info: 97 mb
Info: U.K.
Tracklist:
1. Llosgi Yn Fflam
2. Harri'r VIII
3. Boed Fy Nghalon
4. Niwl a Than
5. Lisa Lan
6. Y Gelynen
7. Gweld y Gwir
8. O Ferch y Ffair
9. Y Capten Newydd
10. Mynwent Eglwys
Derek Jenny – External Expression of Internal Order (2011)
Jan 27, 2012 14:19
Progressive Rock
1. No Definition, 06:21
2. Exploration, 05:18
3. Moratorium, 08:53
4. Learn to Love It, 06:01
5. Cooldown, 01:00
6. Nature Denied, 05:38
7. The Quest, 11:32
8. The Mask of Truth, 08:13
9. The Horrors of Being, 09:37
Band Saviour Machine
Info: Saviour Machine
Style: Progressive Metal
Years: 1993
Info: CBR 320 kbs
Info: 169.11 Mb
Info: USA
Tracklist:
01 - Carnival Of Souls.
02 - Force Of The Entity.
03 - Legion.
04 - Ludicrous Smiles.
05 - The Wicked Window.
06 - Son Of The Rain.
07 - Killer.
08 - The Widow And The Bride.
09 - Christians And Lunatics.
10 - The Mask.
11 - A World Alone.
12 - Jesus Christ.
Rip By: OldMag
Download :
Unibytes.com
Still Life – Still Life (1970)
Jan 24, 2012 16:02
Progressive Rock
Band Still Life
Info: Still Life
Style: Progressive Rock
Years: 1970
Info: CBR 320 kbs
Info: 100,60 Mb
Info: UK
Tracklist:
01 - People in Black.
02 - Don't Go.
03 - October Witches.
04 - Love Song No. 6 (I'll Never Love You Girl).
05 - Dreams.
06 - Time.
Rip By: Repertoire
Download :
Unibytes.com
Karuna Khyal – Alomoni 1985 (1976)
Jan 21, 2012 23:33
Progressive Rock
Band Karuna Khyal
Info: Alomoni 1985
Style: Progressive / Psychedelic / Space Rock
Years: 1976
Info: 320 kbps
Info: 111 mb
Info: Japan
Band Tomrerclaus
Info: Tomrerclaus
Style: Progressive Rock
Years: 1978
Info: 320 kbps
Info: 143 mb
Info: Denmark
Tracklist:
1.Sorte Mand
2.Nar Spindelvaevene Blomstrer
3.Forvalterdrengen
4.Prisen For At Ryge Cigar
5.Cellokarma
6.Kanibalerne Kommer
7.En Dag Da Jeg La I Luften
8.Mr. Fantastic
9.Dauu
10.Sadan Er Den Altid
11.Koda Er Nedtur
12.Jeg Vil Gerne Standses
13.Hepar
14.Gronbenet Rorhone
15.Honserock
16.En Lille Stue
17.Lovesang
18.Supersound
19.Gamle Skygger
20.Guitarstorm
Band Tomrerclaus
Info: Jeg Var Go I Gar
Style: Progressive Rock
Years: 2005
Info: 320 kbps
Info: 123 mb
Info: Denmark
Tracklist:
1.Jeg Var S? Konfus
2.68
3.M?gen Siksakker
4.Jeg Var Go' I G?r
5.Skal Det Blive Ved?
6.2 Venner
7.Dage Der Styrter Afsted
8.Fik Du Et Glimt?
9.VI Vil Ha' Sommer
10.Christiania Sangen
