Progressive 2016

Lee Abraham's latest album - modern British Progressive rock with many luminaries from the progressive scene. Lee Abraham is a British bass player and multi instrumentalist. Was the bass player for Galahad from 2005 to 2009…

The Theater Equation is a live album and DVD/BluRay by Arjen Anthony Lucassen's progressive rock/metal rock opera project Ayreon. The Theater Equation consists of a live performance, with cast, choir and small orchestra, of the 2004 album The Human Equation…

Declan "Dec" Burke is a guitarist, keyboardist and vocalist who has written, recorded and performed with Frost* and Darwin’s Radio. He has also toured with Frost* supporting Spock’s Beard and Dream Theater. Dec formed Darwin’s Radio in 2003 with Mark Westworth. The band released the "Pictures EP" in 2003 and then "Eyes of the World" in 2006, culminating in their appearance at RosFest in Philadelphia in 2007. The band released the follow up "Template for a Generation" in August 2009. At the end of 2009, Dec announced he was moving on from Darwin’s Radio to concentrate on a solo venture.
The result of this was his first release "Destroy All Monsters", a nine track album coming in at 45mins and a more pop take on the prog genre…

The multi-instrumentalist members of Norwegian quartet Panzerpappa play an appealing blend of Canterbury-esque prog and Rock in Opposition-flavored avant-prog.
Panzerpappa is one of the finest RIO/Avant bands out there currently, these guys have strong influences from bands like Univers Zero and Samla Mammas Manna, and together with the band's amazing musicianship there's no doubt that these guys are something to really check out. The music can best be described as modern Symphonic RIO with very eclectic instrumentation. This stuff is extremely complex, very progressive and avoids the "repeating ourselves" trap (something that many other bands have failed) with elegance; It's very fresh sounding and original with other words, and the melodies are excellent.

German band Cromwell was formed back in 1994, and released their debut album "Burning Banners" in 1997 through the German label Angular Records. Line-up alterations and other issues then saw to it that the band activities stopped up for quite some time, but a second album has been in the works for many years now. Their sophomore creation "Black Chapter Red" eventually appeared in the summer of 2016, issued through Progressive Promotion Records. Those who are fond of the harder-edged variety of neo-progressive rock that some bands started to explore in the '90s should feel right at home with this sophomore production by Cromwell. Tight, firm and dark toned guitars paired off with light toned keyboard arrangements are the key combination that creates an appealing sound, with effective vocals and clever use of minor alterations, as the details that ensure nerve and tension, are maintained quite nicely…

Bristol based BEAK> were formed in January 2009 by Billy Fuller (bass), Matt Williams (keyboards) and Geoff Barrow (drums) - also known as a member of Portishead. During a twelve-day session they recorded music for an eponymous album based on strict guidelines as for the writing and recording process of their work. The songs are reminiscent of German bands like Neu, Harmonia, Can and Kraftwerk and was recorded live in one room with no overdubs or repair, only using edits to create arrangements. All tracks were written over a twelve-day session in Bristol, England.
While retaining the eerie, claustrophobic atmosphere of its predecessor, the second LP from BEAK> boasts a brisker, more purposeful sequence. In 2016 BEAK> scored the soundtrack for the film Couple in a Hole.

Amorphis hasn't released a physical greatest hits compilation in more than thirteen years when ''Chapters'' had been published. Since then, Amorphis had an important line-up change with the chasrismatic and versatile Tomi Joutsen taking Pasi Koskinen's spot. The band has also released a whopping eight studio albums which weren't covered by the last compilation…

La Bocca Della Verita is the next new name from the Italian progressive rock scene. The style of music which can be heard on their compositions can be labelled as retro progressive rock. In every way they look back at the beautiful musical period of progressive rock released in the seventies. All of the bands they covered at first can be heard on this almost 80 minutes long album. But also acts such as Yes and King Crimson could have been an inspiration for the musicians. The two keyboard players easily step into the footsteps of Tony Banks, Rick Wakeman and the late Keith Emerson. Also the bassist knows how to sound like the late Chris Squire. As for the lead guitarist it wasn't easy to compare him with anyone. But he comes close to Steve Hackett and Robert Fripp. Highly recommended to those who adore the progressive rock made in the seventies.

The Decameron series is put together by Colossus magazine and in it, they bring together progressive rock artists from all over the world to make what is usually a multi-disc compilation album, but even by those standards, this four CD set is their most elaborate yet. Look at who is here!