Progressive Vocal

This is a Japanese numbered limited edition box set featuring SHM-CDs of the complete Kenso collection. Each album comes in a nice mini-LP style sleeve. In addition to a nicely put together booklet, you get the 11 studio/live albums (don't forget Music For Unknown Musicians was a double) plus a CD with unreleased studio and live tracks, a live DVD…

The second album from Christiaan Bruin, one of the biggest talents to have hit the neo-prog and prog rock scene during the last decade. This is a composer and artist I will keep a close eye on in the future…

The Minstrel's Ghost is the 2012 sensation, a fabulous musical creation that has all the hallmarks of a classic prog album, where old school symphonics meet the new pristine university. American multi-instrumentalist Blake Carpenter has smartly surrounded himself with some seriously gifted players most notably Hungarian Zoltan Csorsz (still the best Flower Kings drummer ever), who positively explodes here, as well as gifted guitarist Colin Tench (of the thrilling Corvus Stone, Colin Tench Project and Bunchakeze). Others include Marco Chiappini of Gandalf's Project (a close relative in this semi-medieval-pop-prog genre) who shines on devastating organ and assorted ivories. .Bassist Troy James Martin holds it all down with muscular proficiency .And of course main man and master musician Blake Carpenter, who has really carved himself a name for himself with this magnificent opus!

For prog fans the first album "Time" is highly recommended for listening. It is one of the best debuts in the former Yugoslavian rock scene and it influenced many generations of musicians.

With a career spanning more than three decades, composer and multi-instrumentalist Arjen Lucassen has firmly established himself worldwide as driving force in progressive rock. While best known for his rock opera project Ayreon, the multi-talented Dutchman also regularly embarks on musical side projects such as Ambeon, Guilt Machine and Star One. Arjen’s side projects all explore different aspects of his musical personality, with each new release being a creative reaction to the style of its predecessor. Star One is no exception.
The first Star One album, Space Metal (2002) was Arjen’s reaction to his previous project, the relatively soft Ambeon. After releasing the first few Ayreon albums, Arjen had noticed that many others were following in his footsteps and releasing their own rock operas…

"Mental Hygiene" is the third installment from Slychosis. Gregg Johns. Todd Sears, and Ceci Whitehurst return with Clay Pell on bass. Special Guests appearing include Jeff Hamel of Majestic on Guitar and Keyboards, Bones Joshua Theriot of Abigail's Ghost on guitar, Bridget Shield on Vocals, and Mike Fortenberry on trumpet. This album adds dark and heavy undertones in conjuction with the melodic prog layers associated with Slychosis. The songs are more vocally-oriented on this venture featuring the vocal talents of Ceci Whitehurst and a guest appearance from Bridget Shield…

This album is an unknown album, but not good enough for me to call it gem. Byzantium is a very Gentle Giant influenced band…

Mars Hollow is one of the very few bands that have successfully managed to show a more accessible side of classically inspired symphonic prog… nonetheless, don't expect to listen to them on regular radio…

A riddle wrapped in an enigma dressed up in leather and studs, Germany's Mekong Delta perplexed the heavy metal world both by playing an unconventional brand of progressive thrash and by keeping the identities of the bandmembers secret for the first five years of a career starting in 1987…