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Re: 2023 Work in Progress..ive
GLASS HAMMER
ABOUT
GLASS HAMMER
...from official website
Glass Hammer is an American progressive rock band from Chattanooga, Tennessee. They formed in 1992 when multi-instrumentalists Steve Babb and Fred Schendel began to write and record “Journey of the Dunadan”, a concept album based on the story of Aragorn from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. To their surprise, the album sold several thousand units via the Internet, The QVC Shop-At-Home Network, and their own toll-free order number. As such, Babb and Schendel were convinced that the band was a project worth continuing. The stage was then set for a successful career that now includes numerous albums, DVDs and an enthusiastic, world-wide fan base that continues to grow at a steady rate.
While many musicians have appeared on Glass Hammer albums over the years, Babb and Schendel have remained the core creative force of the band. Both play a variety of instruments, but Babb is better known as the bassist while Schendel is the primary keyboardist. And though they also sing, a number of other vocalists (most notably Michelle Young, Walter Moore, Susie Bogdanowicz, Carl Groves and Jon Davison) have also handled lead vocal duties.
Lyrically, Glass Hammer is inspired mostly by their love of literature (most notably Tolkien, C. S. Lewis and John Krakauer) and Babb’s love of Victorian prose and medieval mythology. Musically, they lean towards 70’s driven symphonic rock, focusing on epic-length songs anchored by Babb’s distinctive bass guitar work and strong keyboard playing from Schendel; specifically Hammond organs in the tradition of ELP. They have a superb melodic flow to the music they make, encapsulating real power and dynamics without ever becoming overpowering. Their most apparent influences are Yes, ELP, Genesis, and, to a less noticeable extent, Camel. Fans and critics are usually quick to attest that Glass Hammer have managed to combine those influences into a unique style all their own.
Critically acclaimed albums have continued to flow from the Glass Hammer studio, with the most successful and noteworthy being “Chronomtree” (2000), “Lex Rex” (2002), “The Inconsolable Secret” (2005) and “IF” (2010). Vocalists and fan-favorites Carl Groves and Susie Bogdanowicz took a temporary hiatus from the band after 2009 and vocalist Jon Davison took over as lead vocalist for three studio albums; “IF”, “Cor Cordium” and “Perilous”. Kamran Alan Shikoh joined the band at the same time taking on the role of guitarist.
During the recording of “Perilous”, Davison also assumed the role as front-man for Yes. This led to Carl Groves rejoining the Glass Hammer in 2013 for live performances and recording. Aaron Raulston joined at the same time as drummer for the group. Susie Bogdanowicz rejoined in late 2013 and appeared along with Raulston, Groves and Shikoh in 2014 concerts.
Glass Hammer’s “Ode To Echo” release for 2014 featured performances by many of the band’s vocalists, including Bogdanowicz, Young, Moore and Davison, though Carl Groves was handling the lion’s share of the vocal duties for the band. “The Breaking Of The World” followed in 2015 along with the two CD one DVD set “Double Live” which was recorded and filmed at ROSFest in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Carl Groves and Susie Bogdanowicz fronted the group throughout 2015.
2016’s “Valkyrie” saw the lineup shift somewhat as Carl Groves departed and Susie Bogdanowicz stepped to the fore. Before recording sessions began, Babb, Schendel, Shikoh and Raulston rehearsed the music of “Valkyrie” for several weeks, as if they were preparing for a live concert. This was a new approach for Glass Hammer album production. According to the band, this was done in order to better capture the live energy of an actual Glass Hammer performance. “Valkyrie” was also conceived as a “full-blown concept album” in the tradition of “Lex Rex”, and “The Inconsolable Secret”.
In 2020 Glass Hammer released the first of Babb’s concept trilogy, Dreaming City. It would be followed in in 2021 with Skallagrim-Into The Breach, 2022’s At The Gate, and Babb’s first full-length novel, Skallagrim – In The Vales Of Pagarna. The saga tells the story of “the thief with the screaming sword”, a sword and sorcery inspired character. The band began to adopt a heavier sound for these projects, and introduced lead vocalist, Hannah Pryor to the fold. A session guitarist, Reese Boyd, who had played on several GH albums, became an official member in 2023 for the release of the band’s space rock homage, ARISE.
Other prog musicians and rock artists have made contributions to Glass Hammer projects, including Jon Anderson of Yes, Arjen Lucassen, Rich Williams and David Ragsdale of Kansas, Rob Reed of Magenta and Randy Jackson of Zebra. Glass Hammer has also appeared with The Adonia String Trio and performed two concerts (2006-2007) with 120 plus member choirs from Belmont University and Lee University.
Hi friends
2023 Work in Progress..ive
These are my best tracks of 2023
Track Title-Group or Artist-Album
I'm Done with You-RIVERSIDE-ID.ENTITY
Life Lines-SUNCHILD-Exotic Creatures and a Stolen Dream
Scanning The Dark Horizon-JOHN IRVINE-Scanning The Dark Horizon
Memories in a Box-SINGLE CELLED ORGANISM-EVENT HORIZON
To_find_the_light_part_two-GREAT WIDE NOTHING-Hymns for Hungry Spirits, Vol. II
Ghosts From The Future-OVERHEAD-Telepathic Minds (Disc 1)
King_of_the_world-RPWL-Crime Scene(Disc 1)
No Man's Land-TNNE-LIFE 3.0
Mysterious Forest, Pt. 1-KARFAGEN-Passage to the Forest of Mysterious
Something New-MARTIN MILLER-Maze of My Mind
Kill_the_sun_and_the_moon_and_the_stars-THE BLACK CAT'S EYE-The Empty Space Between A Seamount And Shock-Headed Julia
Gargantuan.(Part One)-AMPLIFIER-Hologram
The Beauty and the Least-MYSTERY-Redemption
Scratches-INNER PROSPEKT-Canvas Three
All Connected-YES-Mirror to the sky
Summer Lies Beyond-COMEDY OF ERRORS-THRENODY FOR A DEAD QUEEN
The Sacred Law of Retribution-TRITOP-RISE OF KASSANDRA
Ingravita-BUHO ERMITANO-IMPLOSIONES
Danger-ELOY-ECHOES FROM THE PAST
Naturens katedral-LARS FREDRIK FRØISLIE-FIRE FORTELLINGER
Ur askan-AGUSA-PRIMA MATERIA
The 11th Chapter: The Nine, including a) The Fire (pt II), b) A Nonagon in Eight -RING VAN MÖBIUS-Commissioned Works Pt II - Six Drops of Poison
Journey to the Center of the Mind -MARCO RAGNI-HALLUCINATORY EMBRYO
Poker -I VIAGGI DI MADELEINE-TRA LUCE E OMBRA
The Gathering-SKY PASSAGE-The Gathering
Moving Through Tomorrow-SOUTHERN EMPIRE-Another World
Tell Me-KARMAMOI-STRINGS FROM THE EDGE OF SOUND
Liquid Suite-LA BOCCA DELLA VERITA-[Un]connected
Stronghold -THE FLOWER KINGS-LOOK AT YOU NOW
Helen-UNITOPIA-SEVEN CHAMBERS
Actual Brutal Facts-STEVEN WILSON-THE HARMONY CODEX
A Hymn for the Pioneers-SYNTH REPLICANTS-Time of Legends
Push-TREVOR RABIN-Rio
Labyrinthus-IL BALLETTO DI BRONZO-Lemures
Hydra-SEVEN IMPALE-Summit
The River-THIS WINTER MACHINE-The Clockwork man
Lotus Unfolding-OZRIC TENTACLES-Lotus Unfolding
The Return Of Daedalus-GLASS HAMMER-ARISE
The Return Of Daedalus-GLASS HAMMER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYvrAgui0xI
GOOD LISTENING
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