2025 Work in Progress..ive

[nicola]

Hi friends

2025 Work in Progress..ive




The best tracks of 2025 as new albums come out

one track per band or artist...

which can change over the course of 12 months and which can also

be replaced by better tracks from other artists


at the end of the year it will be easier to create

favorite playlist of 2025



the year should start off well with albums of some substance with
Dream Theater, IQ, Lunatic Soul, Steven Wilson,Jethro Tull
provided they don't move the release of their albums

[nicola]

AMPLIFIER








ABOUT

AMPLIFIER

...AMPLIFIER
From Official Website

Biography

Amplifier once got referred to as “Veterans” – It sucks when you’re now the old dudes when once you were the hot new thing.

​
That’s right – believe it or not at the turn of the century we were something bright and shiny and since that point we’ve put out 7 albums and countless EPs, each one as titanic and epic as the last, without ever compromising our integrity, dedication to the rock and maintained the eternal pursuit of the most excellent riff.

​
That elusive hunt has lead us to many weird and wonderful places – from countless kind peoples’ living room floors in the furthest flung regions of the UK back when we were living out of a transit van, all the way to the main stage at Download. We've been found slumped in every kind of dressing room across the continent and you can catch a ride with us on tour buses which are on fire or are upside down on the verge of the autobahn or even those with toilets where the kitchen is which is also where you sleep.

​
We have been apprehended countless times by German Highway patrols (always completely innocently) and Swiss Border guards (we always pay our tax at the border) who seemingly like to sport with us in an eternal game of terrorise the English band.


We are and will always be good sports and good sirs . Join us on our journey.


Glory. Glory.


















Hi friends

2025 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2025


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

King Kong-AMPLIFIER-Gargantuan
























King Kong-AMPLIFIER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEE-MFEY-qY



Invader-AMPLIFIER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhmR5P2bZgI





GOOD LISTENING

[nicola]

DREAM THEATER








ABOUT

DREAM THEATER

Biography
Dream Theater was formed around 1980 in Long Island and, after a difficult beginning, gained international visibility in 1992, with the release of the album IMAGES AND WORDS. It was the beginning of a successful artistic and commercial exploit, continued with AWAKE – in 1994, the live A CHANGE OF SEASON containing material recorded live at Ronnie Scott's in London, FALLING INTO INFINITY – in 1997 - and another live, the double ONCE IN A LIFE TIME. In 1999 came the concept SCENES FROM A MEMORY, which talks about the murder of a young woman that took place in 1928 according to the eyes of a modern man accused of that crime. This was followed by LIVE SCENES FROM NEW YORK in 2001, which was reprinted with a new cover, since the original was due to be released on September 11th and had the Twin Towers engulfed in flames as its image. The band then continued its path towards progressive metal with the next work SIX DEGREES OF INNER TURBOLENCE, followed by TRAIN OF THOUGHT in 2003 and OCTAVARIUM in 2005. In 2006 it was the turn of SCORE: XOX made with a twenty-nine-piece orchestra. The following year SYSTEMATIC CAOS was released.
In 2008 the band entered the studio to record the new album, scheduled for the following year; in the meantime the live CHAOS IN MOTION: 2007-2008 was released. In 2009 it was the turn of BLACK CLOUDS & SILVER LININGS; in 2010 Mike Mangini joined the band, after the departure of Mike Portnoy, who left the band in September. In June 2011, A DRAMATIC TURN OF EVENTS was released, which anticipated the new album that bears the band's name and was released in September 2013. Three years later, the new album THE ASTONISHING was released, a rock opera developed on two albums, with a concept set in a dystopian future. (Nov 20, 2017)
On February 7, 2025, the new Dream Theater album was released, entitled "Parasomnia", the first studio work of the band with Mike Portnoy in the lineup again.

















Hi friends

2025 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2025


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

King Kong-AMPLIFIER-Gargantuan

Night Terror-DREAM THEATER-Parasomnia
























Night Terror-DREAM THEATER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IPT60hvGw4




The Shadow Man Incident-DREAM THEATER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVyk...0Zl6Md&index=8




GOOD VISION and LISTENING

[nicola]

GHOST OF THE MACHINE








ABOUT

GHOST OF THE MACHINE

...GHOST OF THE MACHINE
From Official Website



Charlie Bramald
Lead Vocals and Flute

Charlie brings his dramatic vocal stylings to the otherwise familiar line-up of Ghost of the Machine.

Prog has been an essential part of Charlie’s life since he was first introduced to Genesis at the tender age of 4 by his older brother. It left a permanent impression, with both Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins becoming huge inspirations. This early prog education has fully manifested itself in Charlie's thrilling and theatrical stage performances with Ghost Of The Machine.

This is not Charlie’s first time working with his Ghost Of The Machine colleagues; eagle-eyed fans may recall his stand-in appearance on vocals with This Winter Machine at The Slade Rooms in Wolverhampton, December 2019.

Since releasing Scissorgames in 2022, Charlie has gone on to be one of the most in-demand frontmen in Prog Rock, appearing on projects such as Shadows On Mercury with fellow Ghost Of The Machine Bandmate Scott Owens, as well as Age Of Distraction, Nine Skies, Nova Cascade, KariBow, Checking For Echo Project, and more!

Graham Garbett
Guitars and backing vocals

Graham has had a love of music from a very young age and has played in bands with Mark Hagan and Stuart McAuley throughout his life.

In Mark and Graham's guise as SAND, they played shows with the mighty Marillion and John Foxx (original Ultravox frontman) with the pair writing prolifically over the years.

Regarding Graham's formative love for music, 'Shang-a-lang' (the TV show with The Bay City Rollers) was the starting point. He says, "I used to run home from school to watch it, and pretended to be them with my toy electric guitar!"

Later, his sister got an acoustic guitar, and was having lessons at school, but she wasn't that interested, whereas Graham was! He used her chord sheets to learn and made steady progress, but it wasn't until he started listening to Rush and Marillion that his skills really took off; he found out he could play their material and developed his own style from there: "I think the way I play now is a combination of Steve Rothery and Alex Lifeson, with a bit of Johnny Marr picking and jangling thrown in!"

He prefers guitar melodies over solos for the sake of them, and always tries to have a structure to guitar breaks, as he believes they are an integral part of the song's structure - most of the time, anyway!

Mark Hagan
Piano and keyboards

Mark has been around since he was born. His love of the ivories began aged 9, when he was writing concertos on his beloved Bontempi.

Mark's first band was Atmosphere, a soft rock covers and originals band. He played his first gig aged 14 in February 1980. He went on to synthesize his way through the 80's in Session 4 (new wave, punk), Sarcasm Kings and Geneva. It was in Geneva he met up properly with Graham and Stuart after sessioning for them on an EP. Geneva became SAND (Mark and Graham). They went on to support Marillion and John Foxx.

From 2003 SAND went on a 17 year hiatus whilst Mark murdered cover songs in Working Mens Clubs and holiday parks, home and abroad.

Mark was a founder member of This Winter Machine, until a sideways move with his bandmates formed Ghost of the Machine.

Mark claims that his greatest talent is enthusiastic gusto. He hopes to see many of you at future gigs to chat and drink beer. He is very exited by the music coming from the new band and believes you should be too.

Gear used: Roland Fantom 8, Jupiter 50, RD 300gx, D50, SC33 module, SH 201, Access Virus Ti, Alesis Fusion 6HD, Novation Mini nova, Korg Kross, Micro Korg, M1, Triton.

Stuart McAuley
Bass, Moog pedals and Mellotron

A former bass player with This Winter Machine, Stuart now adds his distinctive low-end noodling and drive to Ghost of the Machine.

As a prog fan since the late 1970s, Stuart’s first album purchases were Yes - Tormato, Genesis - Foxtrot and Pink Floyd - Relics. From then on, it has been much more of the same, although in later years he has listened to a lot of German Berlin school synth music, jazz and fusion, all of which has added to his playing style and approach.

His first venture into a prog band was with Paragon along with Graham Garbett and Dave Hopton with whom he recorded one album in 1987. Stuart then played in the prog power trio Still Life, again with Garbett. It was in this time that he also started the long association with Mark Hagan who played on some Still Life recordings in 1992, which never saw the light of day.

Stuart, Graham and Mark then played together in the melodic rock band Geneva. It had originally been conceived as pop/rock but over time morphed into more proggy areas.

In addition to his bass playing in GOTM, Stuart also releases ambient module music under the name Mr Verloc's Hat.

Stuart is looking forward to releasing Empires Must Fall and a new slate of live performances. He may even get a new hat!

Andy Milner
Drums

Andy felt the calling of the drums from a young age and finally picked up the sticks in his early teens. He studied avidly under a few good tutors whilst cutting his teeth in both covers bands and original projects. He studied for four years at Leeds College Of Music and performed in jazz ensembles and trios.

After a wilderness, he finally returned to his love: loud rock music! And for the next two decades has played up and down the country, in Europe and even the Far East. For three years he occupied the drum chair in This Winter Machine. Now, comfortably ensconced with his Ghost Of The Machine bandmates, this latest incarnation offers the opportunity of exciting new material, as shown in the debut album Scissorgames and the upcoming Empires Must Fall.

"Watch this space… it's gonna be good."

Scott Owens
Guitars

Scott has always been into guitars/music, since his very earliest memories of running his toy cars over his father’s acoustic guitar. After years of begging them, his parents finally bought him a Squier Telecaster, and he proceeded to spend the next year posing in front of the bedroom mirror, miming along to various soundtracks. Eventually, he thought he may as well learn how to play the damn thing and the guitar obsession began!

At this point in time, Scott also got into the recording side of music, after purchasing a 4 track tape machine, and would spend hours playing demos and song ideas into the machine. His passion for recording never stopped, and is just as prevalent these days.

Scott’s first real interest in music, was back in ‘80/81 when he first heard Adam and The Ants (Kings Of The Wild Frontier album). However, he listens to most guitar-based bands from 1970’s bands (Fleetwood Mac, The Band etc), through to the present day Rock/Prog bands.

He was first turned on to Prog Rock, after watching a VHS Cassette of Marillion’s gig at the DeMonfort Hall, Leicester 1990. It was like a light bulb moment! He rushed out the following day, purchased the album Seasons End, and never looked back since. He still returns to that album regularly, but is also a fan of the Fish era album Clutching At Straws.

Having played in various local cover bands for many years, (and continues to do so with Angel Fire), Scott has always been part of an ‘originals’ band, and eventually landed the role of guitar player with This Winter Machine in 2017 until departing in 2020. Now, rejoining his former-TWM bandmates as part of Ghost Of The Machine, he is excited to be working with the guys once again to create and record fantastic new music, and is looking forward to get back on the road, playing the new material live, and meeting both the die-hard, and new fans alike.



















Hi friends

2025 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2025


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

King Kong-AMPLIFIER-Gargantuan

Night Terror-DREAM THEATER-Parasomnia

Panopticon -GHOST OF THE MACHINE-Empires Must Fall

























Panopticon -GHOST OF THE MACHINE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktNJ...rv=gzby-WmmkyI




GOOD VISION and LISTENING

[nicola]

THE JOHN IRVINE BAND











ABOUT

THE JOHN IRVINE BAND

...THE JOHN IRVINE BAND
From Official Website


I initially trained as a classical guitarist, studying at Dartington College of Arts for two years after leaving school, and then at the Royal Scottish Academy Of Music & Drama (Glasgow) where I studied with Phillip Thorne, gaining a BA in Music Performance (1989) and winning the Guitar Challenge Prize (1988).

Following a Post-Grad Certificate in Performance (1990), I began a PhD in music composition, with Nigel Osborne at the University of Edinburgh, in 1992. This was completed in 1999. At this time, I was also working in Scottish theatre where I wrote music for over 40 productions, 20 of which were for the Traverse Theatre (Edinburgh).

I have taught at St Mary’s Music School (Edinburgh) and The City of Edinburgh Music School and lectured at Edinburgh Napier University, where I was asked to redesign their ‘Music, Creativity & Communication’ course for the BA in Popular Music. I currently work as a PSA in Edinburgh Schools.

I’m the author of three sci-fi novels comprising ‘The Smith Chronicles’ series of books, and I’m also a published poet and short-story writer, having had works included in several journals and web-zines such as Poetry Scotland, The Open Mouse, Blinking Cursor, Essence, Ink, Sweat & Tears, A Handful of Stones, South and Streetcake Magazine, amongst others.

I formed The John Irvine Band in 2011…

about "HERE COME THE ROBOTS!"

The 8th John Irvine Band album is the final part of the 'End of Days' trilogy of progressive jazz-rock concept albums
The album pays homage to the Greek musician and composer Vangelis Papathanassiou, who died in 2022
Mastered by Andrew Rankine at Black Cave Recordings, Edinburgh
Mixed by John Irvine at JIB Headquarters
Drums recorded by Andrew Scott at Owl Shed Studios, Edinburgh
Artwork by Sam Hayles at DOSEprod Graphic Design Studio





















Hi friends

2025 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2025


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

King Kong-AMPLIFIER-Gargantuan

Night Terror-DREAM THEATER-Parasomnia

Panopticon -GHOST OF THE MACHINE-Empires Must Fall

The End of Days Suite: 1. The City Lights at Twilight -THE JOHN IRVINE BAND-HERE COME THE ROBOTS!
























The End of Days Suite: 1. The City Lights at Twilight -THE JOHN IRVINE BAND
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyEkLUOKA7I




The End of Days Suite: 3. An Aerial Cage -THE JOHN IRVINE BAND
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfWpey_0rf8




GOOD LISTENING

[nicola]

MOTORSPSYCHO









ABOUT

MOTORSPSYCHO

...MOTORSPSYCHO
From Official Website

https://motorpsycho.no/bio-2023/

















Hi friends

2025 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2025


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

King Kong-AMPLIFIER-Gargantuan

Night Terror-DREAM THEATER-Parasomnia

Panopticon -GHOST OF THE MACHINE-Empires Must Fall

The End of Days Suite: 1. The City Lights at Twilight -THE JOHN IRVINE BAND-HERE COME THE ROBOTS!

Lucifer, Bringer of Light -MOTORSPSYCHO-MOTORSPSYCHO





















Lucifer, Bringer of Light -MOTORSPSYCHO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTY-...Q5aj&in dex=1




GOOD LISTENING

[nicola]

CHEAT THE PROPHET









ABOUT

CHEAT THE PROPHET

...CHEAT THE PROPHET
From progarchives.com


CHEAT THE PROPHET is a progressive rock project involving the core members of a former band called NEPENTHE, which split up in December 1999 after releasing just a single album in 1997.

Multi-instrumentalist brothers Matt and Todd Mikenzo, along with drummer Jamie Boruch, have been making music together for a long time, beginning in the early 1990s with some gigs in the New York/New Jersey club area playing a mix of Euro Pop and Neo Prog under the name ARS NOVA, and releasing an album called 'Turning The Tide' in May 1993, before changing the name of the band to NEPENTHE and releasing an album called 'Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt' in March 1997.

They have been joined by other musicians at various stages of their musical journey - some for longer than others - but the core of the group has remained intact throughout. Just before the turn of the century however, despite some critical success as NEPENTHE, it seemed that commercial success would forever elude the trio, and the stresses of life began affecting them both physically and mentally. Patience and tempers began to wear thin, and they found that the bond they once had as a bunch of twenty-somethings had begun to wane.

Despite this, they stayed in touch, saw each other from time to time, and kept making music individually. Then, towards the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jamie and Matt met up in Idaho for a weekend of mountain biking, and they decided that many of the changes that had occurred as a result of Covid meant it might be worth them taking another shot at making music together as a trio, despite them living many miles apart from each other. Todd subsequently agreed, leading to the beginnings of what eventually became CHEAT THE PROPHET.

Demos and songs in various stages of completion were swapped via Google Drive, and the collection of samples was eventually whittled down down into the basis of just six songs. Two years or so later, the songs were finally finished, which might seem like a long time, but after waiting twenty years to even begin the project in the first place, maybe it wasn't after all. The album was called Redemption firstly because the trio felt to some degree that their final recordings and shows from twenty years earlier weren't as good as they might have been. They also thought that they'd left what was possibly some of their best material unrecorded, and decided it would be a shame to leave those songs unfinished.

The 'Redemption' album was released on 7th February 2025.


















Hi friends

2025 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2025


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

King Kong-AMPLIFIER-Gargantuan

Night Terror-DREAM THEATER-Parasomnia

Panopticon -GHOST OF THE MACHINE-Empires Must Fall

The End of Days Suite: 1. The City Lights at Twilight -THE JOHN IRVINE BAND-HERE COME THE ROBOTS!

Lucifer, Bringer of Light -MOTORSPSYCHO-MOTORSPSYCHO

Marvelous World-CHEAT THE PROPHET-Redemption

























Marvelous World-CHEAT THE PROPHET
https://cheattheprophet.bandcamp.com...-losing-season




GOOD LISTENING

[nicola]

EYE 2 EYE










ABOUT

EYE 2 EYE

...EYE 2 EYE
From official website


The Story
Eye 2 Eye is a French progressive rock group from the Paris area, created by Philippe Bénabès (Keyboards) and Didier Pègues (Drums and Keyboards) at the beginning of 2003, following the dissolution of their previous group, ADN.


Three musicians also orphans of their ex-group, Limelight, come to lend them a hand: Benoit Derat (Vocals and guitars), Médéric Colas (Guitars) and Cécile (bass). Médéric Colas quickly left the group for personal reasons and was replaced initially by Bruno Pègues, brother of the drummer then at the beginning of 2004 by Amirouche Ali Benali.
The first efforts of the group are based around a cover of a title by David Gilmour, guitarist of Pink Floyd, entitled "Near the End". This piece will be used for a cover album in tribute to Pink Floyd: "None of us is Pink", at the beginning of 2006. During this period, the group is offered to participate in an album in tribute to the Dutch group. Ayreon. Eye 2 Eye decides to cover "Back on Planet Earth", from the album "Actual Fantasy", released in 1996, in a more "ambient" mood than the original track.
This same cover will be used on the group's first album, "One in Every Crowd", which will be released on October 26, 2006 at Musea. Benoit Derat and Cécile will leave the group, shortly before the release of this album.


In 2007, new compositions were put in place. A new bass player was found in the person of Aymeric Delteil in May, then in December of that same year, Jack Daly became the new singer.
Texts are quickly written and recording continues.

During 2008, the group, initially called Eye to Eye, was forced to change its surname slightly,
following the request of another homonymous group.

A version of "You", taken from the first album is re-recorded at the end of the year, with the voice of Jack.

"After All ..." was released on February 9, 2009, at Musea.
As soon as it left, the group enjoyed glowing reviews. The group will even be named at the Prog Awards in Italy, in the category "Best foreign album".
EYE 2 EYE decides to start writing a concept album whose working name is "Wax", on an original idea from Jack. But opinions diverge and finally, Jack decides to leave the training to pursue a solo career.
Djamel Zaidi (Leader of Transperception) comes to offer his services to the group in December 2009.

EYE 2 EYE decides to continue with the idea of ​​a concept album. They embark on an adaptation of Oscar Wilde's novel: "The Picture of Dorian Gray".

In early 2011, this album is being mixed and "The Wish" was released on December 9 of that same year at Musea. Etienne DAMIN replaced Aymeric DELTEIL, late 2011. Djamel Zaidi left the group in May 2012 for other musical projects ...


With "The Light Bearer" (Musea, 2017), EYE 2 EYE finally emerges from a silence that lasted five years. The neo-progressive influences of yesteryear are less obvious, to make way for others, more symphonic. The song, now held by Michel CERRONI, turns out to be deep and lyrical, while the arrangements are always more careful. A string quartet also brings something new...

​

The track, initially called "Ghosts" inspired them, and quickly needed a sequel. The title became “Ghosts – Pt.1”, and it was decided the following album will tell the following parts of that story. EYE 2 EYE began to work on it just before the release of “The Light Bearer”, and ideas came quite quickly.

But the following year, Michel CERRONI decided to leave the band during July, because of professional obligations. Fortunately, Jack DALY decided to rejoin the band in September. When he heard the demos, he became motivated as never before. From there, the recording sessions continued. Some new guests came to help: Thierry LALET (Feadog) and Claudine ISTRIA (Backing Vocals) from HELIANTHE, and Marie Pascale VIRONNEAU (Violin).

The recording sessions finally ended, in the beginning of 2020. The mixing sessions had to begin, when the Covid stopped everything...

Etienne DAMIN decided to mix the album in his own new mixing Studio during the spring lockdown. And in the beginning of July, all the tracks were sent to PROGRESSIVE PROMOTION RECORDS in Germany. The Label decided to sign EYE 2 EYE and the Band is proud to tell you the new Album, called “Nowhere Highway” will be released on December the 4th!!....

​

In the end of 2020, Djam ZAÏDI and Didier PEGUES worked on a brand new version of the long time sold out album "The Wish". They totally remixed and remastered the album, and add some new parts on it.

Djam ZAÏDI re-recorded the voices, the Bass parts and the Guitar Parts. The drums were boosted too...

On February 2021, this New Album is called "The New Wish", and was re-edited by PROGRESSIVE PROMOTION RECORDS.

​

A brand new album began to be composed and written at the same period...

When Jack DALY heard the demos, in the end of 2022, he was enthusiastic. Everything seemed ok...

But when the recording sessions started everything went from bad to worse...

Jack DALY could not find the time to record his voices, and a few months later, Etienne DAMIN decided to leave the band, in the middle of the recording process, around April of 2023....

EYE 2 EYE had no singer (once again) and no Bassist....

The remaining members tried new singers, but were not really satisfied of the results...

Anyway, Elise BRUCKERT came back to put her magical violin on the new tracks, And Djam ZAÏDI accepted to do the lacking bass parts.

​

In the beginning of July 2023, Didier PEGUES talked of that singer problem with a long time Band Friend : Paul "Hilrant" TILLEY. Paul was a long time fan and was on charge to correct the Lyrics since "The Light Bearer". He also has a huge solo career under the name of "HILRANT".

He naturally proposed Didier to put his voice on that new album...

EYE 2 EYE not only found a singer....They also found an incredible Storyteller as Progressive Rock needs !!!! Paul lives the Lyrics he sings, and everyone in and around the Band was positively surprised !!

​

Recording sessions continued and in the middle of 2024, everything was recorded.

Djam ZAÏDI proposed the band to mix and master the album which was over in November 2024.

​

Audio Files and all concerning the cover was sent to PROGRESSIVE PROMOTION RECORDS in the beginning of December 2024.....

​

The Album "Lost Horizon" has been released on Friday, February the 28th !!

​

To be continued....

















Hi friends

2025 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2025


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

King Kong-AMPLIFIER-Gargantuan

Night Terror-DREAM THEATER-Parasomnia

Panopticon -GHOST OF THE MACHINE-Empires Must Fall

The End of Days Suite: 1. The City Lights at Twilight -THE JOHN IRVINE BAND-HERE COME THE ROBOTS!

Lucifer, Bringer of Light -MOTORSPSYCHO-MOTORSPSYCHO

Marvelous World-CHEAT THE PROPHET-Redemption

The-Shoreline-EYE 2 EYE-Lost Horizon
























The-Shoreline-EYE 2 EYE
https://eye2eye1.bandcamp.com/track/the-shoreline




GOOD LISTENING

[nicola]

KARMAKANIC












ABOUT

KARMAKANIC

...KARMAKANIC
From Progarchives.com


Karmakanic biography
Founded in Malmö, Sweden in 2002

THE FLOWER KINGS family, one of the wonders of the world. It seems that nearly every member has his own solo project. But not only solo projects, their members have enough power to take part in projects like THE TANGENT or innumerable other projects. Countless as well are their guest apperances.

KARMAKANIC is a kind of solo project from Sweden's finest bass player Jonas REINGOLD. But how could it be any different (anyway we are talking about the FLOWER KINGS), many of his band mates are featured in this project, it seems as if they can't live without each other. KARMAKANIC is one of the better side projects and released two albums so far, "Entering the Spectra" and "Wheel of Life". The difference between these two albums is Roine Stolt's influence. The first one sounds like the FLOWER KINGS with exception of some bass dominated parts. You will get Roine Stolt on vocals and guitar. Unlike "Entering the Spectra" Roine plays a very small role on the new album "Wheel of Life". It sounds more independent and disengages a little from the typical FLOWER KINGS sound, maybe because Roine just plays some guitar parts and Krister Jonzon took over the main guitar work. What both albums have in common is the dominating bass, not really astonishing because we are talking about a project that is led by Jonas Reingold.

So if you like the FLOWER KINGS you will love KARMAKANIC, but will also like them if you never heard of the Kings. I recommend to start with the second album "Wheel of Life" because it has not so many similarities to their main project like the first release.

: : : Martin Dietrich, GERMANY : : :




















Hi friends

2025 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2025


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

King Kong-AMPLIFIER-Gargantuan

Night Terror-DREAM THEATER-Parasomnia

Panopticon -GHOST OF THE MACHINE-Empires Must Fall

The End of Days Suite: 1. The City Lights at Twilight -THE JOHN IRVINE BAND-HERE COME THE ROBOTS!

Lucifer, Bringer of Light -MOTORSPSYCHO-MOTORSPSYCHO

Marvelous World-CHEAT THE PROPHET-Redemption

The-Shoreline-EYE 2 EYE-Lost Horizon

End of the Road-KARMAKANIC-Transmutation


























End of the Road-KARMAKANIC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAavyLQTMrE



Cosmic Love-KARMAKANIC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQjzF3IzAMU


GOOD LISTENING

[nicola]

BLACK NARCISSUS













ABOUT

BLACK NARCISSUS

...BLACK NARCISSUS
From By Killjoy on February 17, 2025 in Reviews

It’s often impossible to convey feelings with words, so it’s sometimes better not to try. This certainly appears to be the philosophy of Black Narcissus, an instrumental post-rock duo from Belgium comprised of bassist Jesse Massant and drummer Thomas Wuyts. While instrumental groups are hardly uncommon, especially in this genre, Black Narcissus is unique in that bass and drums are the only tools they use to construct their interpretation of the relationship between man and nature. These two vital, stalwart instruments can often be overshadowed by the flashy vocal and multi-guitar antics commonplace in rock and metal. How bright can they shine in a setting where they possess the spotlight by default?

Black Narcissus’ main goal is to cultivate an environment where individual emotional responses can freely blossom. There Lingers One Who’s Long Forgotten is teeming with ethereal, evocative melodies sounding like the result of cross-pollination between earlier Explosions in the Sky and Alcest’s Les Voyages de L’Âme era.1 As this description might suggest, there is little resembling heaviness aside from stray blast beats and thick, reverb-drenched bass chords. But those who share our Overlord’s cynical views regarding the role of reverb in atmospheric music needn’t worry; in this case, it’s not a crutch to force a specific mood. Rather, the rich moods naturally wax and wane through masterful musical arrangements, developed enough to easily latch onto yet ambiguous enough to leave room for personal interpretation. Black Narcissus recognizes that, like in nature, there is beauty in simplicity, and all are welcome to partake.



Mother Nature may recycle her resources but Black Narcissus doesn’t recycle ideas. Both players continually explore different melodies and tempos, like walking past one tree after another, each unique but part of a singular forest. Massant’s bass lines gently cascade during “In Throes of Increasing Wonder” and ripple in “Draped in Ivy, Guilded by Time” as if in response to Wuyts’ syncopated crashes like raindrops hitting a pond surface. I can’t stress enough how much the drumming thrives in this partnership. Wuyts takes full advantage of the music’s free-flowing character to play one intricate rhythm after another, seemingly using the entirety of his drum kit on a regular basis. The music is further enriched by the warm and whimsical tones of an upright bass—Massant proving to be an expert bassist in more than one sense—which cast a folksy cinematic tint onto tracks such as “On This Twilight Evening” and “These Hands That Build.”



The reluctance of Black Narcissus to linger long in any one place does not mean that they abandon streams of thought prematurely. They provide ample space for each musical passage to gradually bloom and disperse seeds to transition to the next as effortlessly as the passage of time. Time, though, is largely irrelevant here. There Lingers One Who’s Long Forgotten lasts for exactly one hour, but it could have been either half or twice as long and remained equally entrancing. Therefore, it works best if the listener is willing to surrender any dispositions toward customary song structures and witness a forest grow at its pleasure with no concern for the orderliness of man. To this end, the production sounds fantastic. The bass lines, often layered atop one another, are easily audible; each cymbal tap, tom beat, and snare hit sounds crisp and satisfying. My only minuscule grievance is when a spoken word sample in “At the Mercy of Men with No Mercy at All” interrupts immersion by lasting too long, but the other samples throughout the album are used more sparingly.

There Lingers One Who’s Long Forgotten is an aural treat I could never have been prepared for. I selected an instrumental album because I thought it would help me focus during a busy period in my day job, but it gave me way more than I bargained for. While it does make for pleasant background music, it becomes increasingly rewarding the more time and attention are invested. It’s truly an album to become lost in, each hauntingly beautiful song a great companion for many different moods and activities. After five paragraphs of inadequate efforts to describe its majestic sound, I have to admit that Black Narcissus is correct: words are of little value in this realm. So, if you haven’t already, press play and hear the magic for yourself.




















Hi friends

2025 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2025


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

King Kong-AMPLIFIER-Gargantuan

Night Terror-DREAM THEATER-Parasomnia

Panopticon -GHOST OF THE MACHINE-Empires Must Fall

The End of Days Suite: 1. The City Lights at Twilight -THE JOHN IRVINE BAND-HERE COME THE ROBOTS!

Lucifer, Bringer of Light -MOTORSPSYCHO-MOTORSPSYCHO

Marvelous World-CHEAT THE PROPHET-Redemption

The-Shoreline-EYE 2 EYE-Lost Horizon

End of the Road-KARMAKANIC-Transmutation

These Hands That Build-BLACK NARCISSUS-There Lingers One Who's Long Forgotten























These Hands That Build-BLACK NARCISSUS
https://blacknarcissusband.bandcamp....nds-that-build


GOOD LISTENING

[nicola]

STEVEN WILSON










ABOUT


"The Overview" the inspiration for Steven Wilson's new album started from the Overwiew effect that astronauts have once they find themselves observing the infinite immensity of the universe and you understand how irrelevant we are and how unstable our presence can be and instead of enjoying the fortune of this passage .... on earth the populations spend most of their time waging wars and other things ... the same meaning of the Overwiew effect I have always wanted to insert it in the background of my Work in Progress..ive without ever having been an astronaut .....
never put a Wilson album on the turntable thinking you know in advance what you could expect ... the personified eccentricity and a creativity that has few equals in the progressive scene will always make you get your feelings wrong ... The Overview is the classic album that should be listened to several times and is made up of two suites of 23'.17'' and 18'.27'' I like them both
my first listening didn't give me positive feelings... now the more I listen to it the more I like it... then I have a particular preference for the suites and long tracks
Well done Steve






STEVEN WILSON

...STEVEN WILSON
From Progarchives.com

Steven Wilson biography
Steven John Wilson - Born 3 November 1967 (Kingston upon Thames, London, UK)

STEVEN WILSON, perhaps most widely known for his role as the frontman for the popular act PORCUPINE TREE , is an artist from the UK who, through his various side projects, has spanned a vast number of musical ideas and concepts. Some of the styles he has been known to utilize are heavy prog, psychedelic, electronica, post-rock, ambient music, drone, metal, and art rock. Furthermore, WILSON is intensely focused on production values, dynamic mixing and mastering, and all other sorts of building albums that sound best in high-quality systems. In short, WILSON has always been an artist that appeals to audiophiles and fans of meticulously produced music. This shows up strongly in each of his bands and projects, but it plays even more of a role in his solo efforts.



Though some of his earliest musical recordings were demos that predated even Porcupine Tree, his solo releases did not truly start appearing until his "Cover Version" singles began in 2003. Essentially releasing one a year, each "Cover Version" contained a particularly unconventional song that WILSON chose to reproduce and one original song by WILSON. Also, in 2004, WILSON put out his experimental electronic album "Unreleased Electronic Music Vol. 1." Neither the "Cover Version" singles nor "Unreleased Electronic Music" feature any other performers, aside from some input from THEO TRAVIS on the latter.


That trend changed at the end of 2008, however, when WILSON released his first full-length, proper solo album, "Insurgentes." Featuring, among others, PORCUPINE TREE drummer Gavin Harrison, Prog bass legend TONY LEVIN, current DREAM THEATER keyboardist JORDAN RUDESS, and saxophonist/flautist THEO TRAVIS, "Insurgentes" proves rather quickly that it is not simply another ambient or electronic release. Toying with many of the styles that can be seen in PORCUPINE TREE, "Insurgentes" is a mature, laid-back album marked by less metal and more noise than PT's later albums. WILSON has stated that the album draws a lot of influence from shoe gazer, post-punk, and drone music.

Essentially, before "Insurgentes," WILSON used his solo moniker for a final catch-all for some of his music, making it difficult to draw comparisons to other bands. Nevertheless, "Insurgentes" makes it possible to site some bands with similar sound. Of notable similarity or inspiration are RADIOHEAD, JOY DIVISION, GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR, THE MARS VOLTA, and other WILSON projects such as BASS COMMUNION and PORCUPINE TREE.

thanks to Spence (LiquidEternity) for the biography
















Hi friends

2025 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2025


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

King Kong-AMPLIFIER-Gargantuan

Night Terror-DREAM THEATER-Parasomnia

Panopticon -GHOST OF THE MACHINE-Empires Must Fall

The End of Days Suite: 1. The City Lights at Twilight -THE JOHN IRVINE BAND-HERE COME THE ROBOTS!

Lucifer, Bringer of Light -MOTORSPSYCHO-MOTORSPSYCHO

Marvelous World-CHEAT THE PROPHET-Redemption

The-Shoreline-EYE 2 EYE-Lost Horizon

End of the Road-KARMAKANIC-Transmutation

These Hands That Build-BLACK NARCISSUS-There Lingers One Who's Long Forgotten

Objects Outlive Us-STEVEN WILSON-The Overview























Objects Outlive Us-STEVEN WILSON
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P3Ukihr7iQ


GOOD LISTENING

[nicola]

IQ








ABOUT

IQ

...IQ
From Official Website

BAND HISTORY

With a 44-year history, IQ are widely regarded as one of the world’s most highly respected progressive rock bands.

The group was formed in 1981 by guitarist Mike Holmes and keyboard player Martin Orford. They recruited bassist Tim Esau that year, followed by vocalist Peter Nicholls and drummer Paul Cook in 1982, when they released their first cassette album ‘Seven Stories Into Eight’. Constant gigging throughout the UK led to them becoming a regular fixture at London’s legendary Marquee Club. Their first vinyl album ‘Tales From The Lush Attic’ was released in 1983, with the classic ‘The Wake’ in 1985 and the live set ‘Living Proof’ in 1986.

Tensions within the band, plus a punishing live schedule, resulted in the departure of Peter Nicholls in 1985, at the end of a UK tour with Wishbone Ash. With new singer Paul Menel, the band secured a lucrative record deal with Phonogram and released studio albums ‘Nomzamo’ in 1987 and ‘Are You Sitting Comfortably?’ in 1989. Both albums were promoted by extensive European tours, with Magnum and Mike And The Mechanics, respectively.

Dissatisfied with the lack of support from Phonogram, Paul Menel and Tim Esau left IQ in 1990. The remaining members recruited Les 'Ledge' Marshall on bass. That year, Peter Nicholls rejoined the band but tragedy struck when Les died suddenly and unexpectedly in the summer.

The 1991 release of the live and rarities album ‘J'ai Pollette d'Arnu’ was a significant event, being the first release on Giant Electric Pea, a new label founded by members and associates of IQ. This year also saw the arrival of John Jowitt as the band’s new bassist. With a stable line-up once more, IQ resumed live work in the UK, Europe and North America while also writing new songs which would form the basis of ‘Ever’ (1993). The sumptuous live box set ‘Forever Live’ was released in 1996, followed in 1997 by the band’s magnum opus, the monumental double concept album ‘Subterranea’. This was supported by a completely new multi-media live presentation, featuring the album performed in full, which earned the band unanimous acclaim.

In 1998, IQ re-recorded their first cassette album as ‘Seven Stories into ’98’ and released the rarities album ‘The Lost Attic’ in 1999 which was followed by concerts in North America and, for the first time, South America. New studio album ‘The Seventh House’, released in 2000, received much critical acclaim and saw the band tour extensively throughout Europe. 2002 saw the release of ‘Subterranea: The Concert’ DVD. The release of 2004’s ‘Dark Matter’ and the ‘IQ20’ 20th Anniversary Concert DVD recorded two-years earlier before a packed house in Holland, saw IQ back at the very top of the progressive rock tree. ‘Dark Matter’ was voted Album of the Year in countless music magazines around the world.

In 2005, Paul Cook left IQ after 23 years’ service and was replaced by Andy Edwards (ex-Robert Plant Band) who features on the 2-DVD live set ‘Stage’, filmed in the USA and Germany that year. Another line-up change followed in 2007 with the departure of Martin Orford after 26 years. The band enlisted Mark Westworth, formerly with Darwin’s Radio, and, after a short hiatus, work continued on IQ’s ninth studio album, ‘Frequency’, released in 2009. It was a musical tour de force which received universally positive reviews.

Andy Edwards’ decision to leave the band to focus on his teaching career soon after led to the return of original drummer Paul Cook, and in 2010 IQ marked the 25th anniversary of their seminal album ‘The Wake’ with the release of a deluxe four-disc collector’s box set featuring a host of previously unheard studio outtakes, demos and live tracks. The accompanying tour resulted in a live DVD of the album performed in its entirety, filmed in Holland. At the end of the year, Mark Westworth and John Jowitt both announced their departures from the group.

2011 was IQ’s 30th anniversary year. With the arrival of keyboard player Neil Durant and the welcome return of original bassist Tim Esau, the band were able to celebrate this landmark in their illustrious career with four original members in the line-up. IQ performed successful live shows throughout Britain and Europe.

In 2012, IQ celebrated the 15th anniversary of ‘Subterranea’ by re-staging the original show in full, updated with improved technology and production values, taking the show to mainland Europe and America at a special show at the Rite Of Spring Festival (ROSfest) in Pennsylvania. They also released a full performance CD recorded on the previous year’s 30th anniversary tour. While in the US they were approached by independent film maker Matthew Miller who wanted to make a full-length feature film based on the story of ‘Subterranea’. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of their debut album, a deluxe edition of ‘Tales From The Lush Attic’ was released containing a remix of the album, a plethora of writing sessions, rehearsals, demos and unused ideas as well as a concert DVD featuring most of that landmark album.

IQ’s eleventh studio album, ‘The Road Of Bones’, was released in 2014 and once again received universal acclaim gathering numerous ‘album of the year’ awards from progressive rock media. This was followed in 2015 by the double ‘Live On The Road Of Bones’ album recorded at The Met in Bury, a venue that had seen the band perform annual sell-out shows since the ‘Subterranea’ show was debuted there over two nights some 17 years previously. The film based on ‘Subterranea’ was commercially released in 2016 after gaining a couple of prestigious awards at film festivals the year before. The soundtrack to the film by Mike Holmes was also released which included a specially recorded new IQ song written exclusively for the film.

2017 saw the release of the first IQ BluRay ‘Scrape Across The Sky’. Recorded at a concert on the ‘Road Of Bones’ tour, the disc featured over three hours of bonus features. To celebrate 20 years of the infamous IQ Christmas Parties, the band gave away copies of ‘Tales From A Dark Christmas’ seasonally-themed CD to everyone attending the 2017 Xmas concerts in London and Holland.

The band spent 2018 writing a recording material for a new album but also found time to celebrate the 25th anniversary of ‘Ever’ at concerts throughout Europe and North America. A deluxe three-disc version of ‘Ever’ was also released featuring remixes, surround sound, live versions and ‘further listening’ tapes.
In 2019, IQ released their epic double album ‘Resistance’, claimed by many to be their best album to date, no mean feat for a band 38 years into its career. IQ supported its release by continuing to play concerts throughout Europe and the UK, but the arrival of Covid-19 in 2020 brought with it the cancellation of all the band’s live work. In its place, IQ arranged online streaming events of previously unseen shows, as well as releasing the 2-CD live set ‘A Show of Resistance’ and the ‘Live Like This’ Blu-ray, both recorded at the Colos-Saal in Aschaffenburg, Germany.

2021 marked the 40th anniversary of the band’s inception in 1981 and with it came the release of ‘The Archive Collection 2003-2017’, a deluxe 12” x 12” package comprising a 52-page hardback book and 11 CDs of rare material, plus an exclusive Blu-ray featuring two complete concerts, ‘Subterranea’ and ‘IQ30’, filmed in 2011. Selling out of its original limited edition pressing almost immediately, a further limited pressing likewise sold out in no time at all.

With the resumption of the band’s live work, 2022 saw the release of the 2-CD live set ‘IQ40: 40 Years of Prog Nonsense’ and in 2023, IQ set about beginning work on their next studio album, slotting writing sessions and rehearsals around their live commitments. Recording sessions began in November that year and would continue for the next 12 months.

The 2024 release of the 4-CD live set ‘The IQ Weekender 2024’, recorded in Aschaffenburg, was a commemoration of the band’s by now immensely popular annual Weekender events. While touring Europe, the band continued to work on the new album, and recording was finally completed in December that year.

2025 sees the release of ‘Dominion’, IQ’s 13th studio album and one of which the band are justifiably proud. The year will see them promoting the album by playing an unprecedented number of live shows around the world, including UK, Europe, Canada and the prestigious Cruise To The Edge in the USA.


















Hi friends

2025 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2025


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

King Kong-AMPLIFIER-Gargantuan

Night Terror-DREAM THEATER-Parasomnia

Panopticon -GHOST OF THE MACHINE-Empires Must Fall

The End of Days Suite: 1. The City Lights at Twilight -THE JOHN IRVINE BAND-HERE COME THE ROBOTS!

Lucifer, Bringer of Light -MOTORSPSYCHO-MOTORSPSYCHO

Marvelous World-CHEAT THE PROPHET-Redemption

The-Shoreline-EYE 2 EYE-Lost Horizon

End of the Road-KARMAKANIC-Transmutation

These Hands That Build-BLACK NARCISSUS-There Lingers One Who's Long Forgotten

Objects Outlive Us-STEVEN WILSON-The Overview

Far From Here-IQ-Dominion



























Far From Here-IQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD3cJxOx3Yo


GOOD LISTENING

[nicola]

LET SEE THIN









ABOUT

LET SEE THIN

..LET SEE THIN.
From Official Website



BIO
We are a Polish music band established in 2018 in the city of Lodz, playing rock/art rock, spiced up with electronic accents.

In our music, we try not to hold on to any specific music genre – we simply play what we feel comfortable with, connecting our classic rock foundations with some new ideas and influences.



Since the first official performance in front of a wider audience, which took place at the beginning of 2019, we have been performing throughout the country as a part of all kinds of festivals, outdoor events and club stages. During the pandemic we focused on recordings in the studio, which resulted in the release of the debut album entitled „2 Years 2 Late”, which includes eight original compositions.



In April 2021, the album was released in the physical form (CD) by the Irish record label Progressive Gears Records and was very positively reviewed by music journalists and critics, not only in Poland, but also in many European countries.



Premiere of our second studio album „MACHINE CALLED LIFE” took place on the 15th of January 2025.

„MACHINE CALLED LIFE” is a collection of eight stories about life, transience and how our view of the world has changed over time. In the musical layer, we remain faithful to our original guideline, which can be described in one simple word – „OPENNESS”. Open to experiments, searching and combining different genres, we flow freely. Listen and flow with us…
MEMBERS
Łukasz Woszczyński (vocals)
Przemek Kaźmierski (drums/percussion)
Michał Dziomdziora (bass)
Paweł Wężyk (keys)
Maciej Włodarczyk (electric guitar)



















Hi friends

2025 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2025


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

King Kong-AMPLIFIER-Gargantuan

Night Terror-DREAM THEATER-Parasomnia

Panopticon -GHOST OF THE MACHINE-Empires Must Fall

The End of Days Suite: 1. The City Lights at Twilight -THE JOHN IRVINE BAND-HERE COME THE ROBOTS!

Lucifer, Bringer of Light -MOTORSPSYCHO-MOTORSPSYCHO

Marvelous World-CHEAT THE PROPHET-Redemption

The-Shoreline-EYE 2 EYE-Lost Horizon

End of the Road-KARMAKANIC-Transmutation

These Hands That Build-BLACK NARCISSUS-There Lingers One Who's Long Forgotten

Objects Outlive Us-STEVEN WILSON-The Overview

Far From Here-IQ-Dominion

Sleeping on a Cloud-LET SEE THIN-Machine Called Life


























Sleeping on a Cloud-LET SEE THIN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM0m9oa1h8U


GOOD LISTENING

[nicola]

BJØRN RIIS










ABOUT

BJØRN RIIS

..BJØRN RIIS
From Official Website


Bjørn Riis is among Norway’s most acclaimed and prolific artists in the progressive rock genre. As a songwriter, multi instrumentalist and producer, he’s transitioned from learning his trade in obscure cover bands to having worldwide success both as a forming member of Airbag and as a solo artist.

Based on a common love of bands like Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree and Radiohead, Airbag formed in Oslo, Norway, in the early 2000s. Bjorn soon took the role as the band’s main songwriter and his trademark guitar playing plays a significant part in Airbag’s sound. The band’s critically acclaimed albums, including their latest The Century of the Self (“A masterclass in minimalist elegance” – Prog Magazine), has gained Airbag a strong following and a dedicated fan base.

For nearly two decades, Airbag and Bjørn has headlined sold-out shows, shared the stage with some of the biggest bands and artists in the genre, including Marillion, Yes, Saga, Neil Morse and Riverside and performed at some of the biggest festivals, including Night of the Prog and Cruise to the Edge.

Bjørn’s life in music started in the early 80s when he discovered Kiss, Black Sabbath and Whitesnake. This soon led to Bjørn picking up the guitar spending hours figuring out classic riffs and exploring weird sounds. Later, Pink Floyd and Porcupine Tree was crucial in Bjørn’s formative years as a songwriter.

After firmly establishing Airbag as a force to reconned with, Bjørn went deep into his own musical roots and recorded his first solo album, Lullabies in a Car Crash, in 2014. The album was a huge success, both commercially and personally, and it gained Bjørn the confidence and inspiration to venture out on a steadily growing solo career.

As a solo artist, Bjørn’s music is multi layered taking inspiration from different genres and styles. The bands he grew up with are ever present but his unique sound also has references to late 60s singer/songwriters, americana, electronica and film music.

Bjorn’s new album, Fimbulvinter, will be out April 11 2025.




















Hi friends

2025 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2025


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

King Kong-AMPLIFIER-Gargantuan

Night Terror-DREAM THEATER-Parasomnia

Panopticon -GHOST OF THE MACHINE-Empires Must Fall

The End of Days Suite: 1. The City Lights at Twilight -THE JOHN IRVINE BAND-HERE COME THE ROBOTS!

Lucifer, Bringer of Light -MOTORSPSYCHO-MOTORSPSYCHO

Marvelous World-CHEAT THE PROPHET-Redemption

The-Shoreline-EYE 2 EYE-Lost Horizon

End of the Road-KARMAKANIC-Transmutation

These Hands That Build-BLACK NARCISSUS-There Lingers One Who's Long Forgotten

Objects Outlive Us-STEVEN WILSON-The Overview

Far From Here-IQ-Dominion

Sleeping on a Cloud-LET SEE THIN-Machine Called Life

Gone-BJØRN RIIS-Fimbulvinter



























Gone-BJØRN RIIS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDdM5wq2ySg


GOOD LISTENING

[nicola]

COSMIC CATHEDRAL









ABOUT

COSMIC CATHEDRAL

..COSMIC CATHEDRAL
From progarchives.com

Cosmic Cathedral biography
Cosmic Cathedral is Neal MORSE, Chester THOMPSON, Phil KEAGGY, and Byron HOUSE. The album Deep Water" comes from jam sessions where Jerry Guidroz put the best parts together. What resulted from all those sessions was a more groove-oriented feel. The album's centerpiece is a 38-minute song suite. The music has the Neal Morse style of Prog Rock with some jazzy parts and more straightforward rock. There is no plan for a tour in 2025, but the band is going to perform at Morsefest in October 2025.
















Hi friends

2025 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2025


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

King Kong-AMPLIFIER-Gargantuan

Night Terror-DREAM THEATER-Parasomnia

Panopticon -GHOST OF THE MACHINE-Empires Must Fall

The End of Days Suite: 1. The City Lights at Twilight -THE JOHN IRVINE BAND-HERE COME THE ROBOTS!

Lucifer, Bringer of Light -MOTORSPSYCHO-MOTORSPSYCHO

Marvelous World-CHEAT THE PROPHET-Redemption

The-Shoreline-EYE 2 EYE-Lost Horizon

End of the Road-KARMAKANIC-Transmutation

These Hands That Build-BLACK NARCISSUS-There Lingers One Who's Long Forgotten

Objects Outlive Us-STEVEN WILSON-The Overview

Far From Here-IQ-Dominion

Sleeping on a Cloud-LET SEE THIN-Machine Called Life

Gone-BJØRN RIIS-Fimbulvinter

Deep Water Suite-COSMIC CATHEDRAL- Deep Water



























Deep Water Suite-COSMIC CATHEDRAL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udOm56aVQxg


GOOD LISTENING

[nicola]

PATTERN-SEEKING ANIMALS










ABOUT

PATTERN-SEEKING ANIMALS

..PATTERN-SEEKING ANIMALS
From official website

Pattern-Seeking Animals
January 2025

Pattern-Seeking Animals comes out of the gate in 2025 with the release of their fifth album Friend of All Creatures due out on February 14th, on GEP Records. The Los Angeles-based quartet have been one of the prog scene’s most prolific and well-received artists, beginning with the release of their self-titled debut album (2019), followed by Prehensile Tales (2020), Only Passing Through (2022) and Spooky Action at a Distance (2023).

Originally formed with past members of Spock’s Beard, Pattern-Seeking Animals (P-SA) has long since staked claim to its own identity, forging a strong path in the prog world. The band, named after a quote about human behavior from science historian Michael Shermer, PS-A is Ted Leonard (lead vocals and guitar), John Boegehold (keyboards, guitars, programming), Dave Meros (basses) and the energetic Jimmy Keegan (drums and vocals).

Friend of All Creatures (named from a verse in the Bhagavad Gita) contains 7 songs, all written by Boegehold, who also produced the album. It was engineered and mixed at Woodcliff Studio in Los Angeles by Frank Rosato in 2024.

About the new album, John Boegehold says, "We're all very proud of this album and are looking forward to everyone finally hearing it".

















Hi friends

2025 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2025


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

King Kong-AMPLIFIER-Gargantuan

Night Terror-DREAM THEATER-Parasomnia

Panopticon -GHOST OF THE MACHINE-Empires Must Fall

The End of Days Suite: 1. The City Lights at Twilight -THE JOHN IRVINE BAND-HERE COME THE ROBOTS!

Lucifer, Bringer of Light -MOTORSPSYCHO-MOTORSPSYCHO

Marvelous World-CHEAT THE PROPHET-Redemption

The-Shoreline-EYE 2 EYE-Lost Horizon

End of the Road-KARMAKANIC-Transmutation

These Hands That Build-BLACK NARCISSUS-There Lingers One Who's Long Forgotten

Objects Outlive Us-STEVEN WILSON-The Overview

Far From Here-IQ-Dominion

Sleeping on a Cloud-LET SEE THIN-Machine Called Life

Gone-BJØRN RIIS-Fimbulvinter

Deep Water Suite-COSMIC CATHEDRAL- Deep Water

Another Holy Grail-PATTERN-SEEKING ANIMALS-Friend Of All Creatures


























Another Holy Grail-PATTERN-SEEKING ANIMALS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI3UJfpwVC0


GOOD LISTENING

[nicola]

CEN-PROJEKT











ABOUT

CEN-PROJEKT

..CEN-PROJEKT
from progarchives.com and official website

Cen-ProjekT biography
From Germany, this is the project of multi-instrumentalist Chirs ENGELS and a trio with bass player Wolfgang KROPF and drummer Marius BOFFGEN. The lyrics are inspired by poems. Chris has also released many studio albums under his name, but these are more on the heavier side. The music here in his 9 albums with the band has some influences from the 70's symphonic prog and bands like GENESIS and PINK FLOYD.


I am happy to release the new concept album "The Story of Enja" today :-) I assume it will be released on bandcamp first and then on all the usual platforms in the next few days. This album was important to me. It might be a bit different from the last albums. Sophie Brown and friends are also on it :-) I would like to thank Wolfgang Kropf, who recorded the bass and was a great help with the mixing. Have fun!

Dear music friends,

As of today, I am withdrawing my music with the projects "Engels" and "Cen-ProjekT" from streaming services. In the future, a new album will be available for one week on platforms like Spotify and will then be exclusively available on Bandcamp. Singles will still be accessible on streaming services. Naturally, I will provide selected journalists and online radio stations with the albums to make the music available to a wider audience.

Creating, composing, and recording music is an enormous effort. While Spotify listeners can access a vast library of music for a monthly fee, musicians receive only €0.003 for each stream. This practice allows very few artists to make a living from their music.

I produce Neo-Prog-Rock, a non-commercial niche with an audience that still appreciates and enjoys music. I am proud of each of you who is part of this community. Bandcamp will also serve as a platform for communication, and I look forward to your feedback.

Thank you for your understanding and support!

Best regards,


















Hi friends

2025 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2025


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

King Kong-AMPLIFIER-Gargantuan

Night Terror-DREAM THEATER-Parasomnia

Panopticon -GHOST OF THE MACHINE-Empires Must Fall

The End of Days Suite: 1. The City Lights at Twilight -THE JOHN IRVINE BAND-HERE COME THE ROBOTS!

Lucifer, Bringer of Light -MOTORSPSYCHO-MOTORSPSYCHO

Marvelous World-CHEAT THE PROPHET-Redemption

The-Shoreline-EYE 2 EYE-Lost Horizon

End of the Road-KARMAKANIC-Transmutation

These Hands That Build-BLACK NARCISSUS-There Lingers One Who's Long Forgotten

Objects Outlive Us-STEVEN WILSON-The Overview

Far From Here-IQ-Dominion

Sleeping on a Cloud-LET SEE THIN-Machine Called Life

Gone-BJØRN RIIS-Fimbulvinter

Deep Water Suite-COSMIC CATHEDRAL- Deep Water

Another Holy Grail-PATTERN-SEEKING ANIMALS-Friend Of All Creatures

Seraphina Moon-CEN-PROJEKT-Carnival Of Lost Souls
























Seraphina Moon-CEN-PROJEKT
https://cen-projekt.bandcamp.com/track/seraphina-moon


GOOD LISTENING

[nicola]

GERALD MASSOIS








ABOUT

GERALD MASSOIS

..GERALD MASSOIS
from official website

biography
gerald massois

GERALD MASSOIS is a multi-talented French musician, composer and arranger specializing in symphonic progressive rock. Drawing his inspiration from a variety of musical styles (Ange, Peter Gabriel, Dream Theater, Ennio Morricone...), he released in 2018 his first album «Le vol erratique d'un papillon» based on the attacks of the Bataclan. Available exclusively in digital version (bandcamp, artist’s website, streaming platforms), this self-produced opus was written as the first piece of a musical trilogy. At that time, GERALD MASSOIS played all instruments except the drums of his long-time comrade Maxx GILLARD. To celebrate this album, a band is preparing to play at the Prog'Sud festival in May 2019, with JONATHAN TAVAN on bass and his co-producer NICOLAS GARDEL on keyboards.



The same year, GERALD MASSOIS begins writing new songs for his second album. Delayed by the pandemic, this album entitled «Demain à l'aube» was released on 12/01/2024 on digital and Digipack and will be available on 01/02/2025 on streaming platforms/ Bandcamp. His music combines complex arrangements, orchestral influences and a mix of acoustic and electric instrumentation to create evocative and concept-driven compositions. Some guests are invited for this album including GIONATAN CARRADONA of PROFUSION.



In addition to some orchestrations and keyboards, NICOLAS GARDEL co-orchestrates, mixes and masters the album.



The third part of the trilogy is already written...




















These are my best tracks of 2025


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

King Kong-AMPLIFIER-Gargantuan

Night Terror-DREAM THEATER-Parasomnia

Panopticon -GHOST OF THE MACHINE-Empires Must Fall

The End of Days Suite: 1. The City Lights at Twilight -THE JOHN IRVINE BAND-HERE COME THE ROBOTS!

Lucifer, Bringer of Light -MOTORSPSYCHO-MOTORSPSYCHO

Marvelous World-CHEAT THE PROPHET-Redemption

The-Shoreline-EYE 2 EYE-Lost Horizon

End of the Road-KARMAKANIC-Transmutation

These Hands That Build-BLACK NARCISSUS-There Lingers One Who's Long Forgotten

Objects Outlive Us-STEVEN WILSON-The Overview

Far From Here-IQ-Dominion

Sleeping on a Cloud-LET SEE THIN-Machine Called Life

Gone-BJØRN RIIS-Fimbulvinter

Deep Water Suite-COSMIC CATHEDRAL- Deep Water

Another Holy Grail-PATTERN-SEEKING ANIMALS-Friend Of All Creatures

Seraphina Moon-CEN-PROJEKT-Carnival Of Lost Souls

Demain a l’aube-GERALD MASSOIS- Demain a l’aube


























Demain a l’aube-GERALD MASSOIS
https://geraldmassois.bandcamp.com/track/demain-laube


GOOD LISTENING

[nicola]

THE FLOWER KINGS









ABOUT

THE FLOWER KINGS

..THE FLOWER KINGS
from official website

Biography
The Flower Kings
A brief history

They are regarded by many as one of the leading, if not THE leading, progressive rock outfit of the new millennium. The Flower Kings are led by progrock icon, guitarist, vocalist, composer, producer Roine Stolt into a world of unlimited musical fantasy and flair. Playing it's first ever live date in August 1994 as a result of the interest in Stolt's solo album "The Flower King", the band quickly became somewhat of a phenomenon in the progressive rock community for everyone that once loved bands like Pink Floyd, Genesis, Zappa, UK, Utopia, Yes, ELP, King Crimson or Focus.

The band quickly finished the first proper band recording "Back In The World Of Adventures" released 1995 on it's own label "Foxtrot Records" and played shorter tours in Europe the same year, the ball started rolling...just a bit. Building on the success of albums like "Retropolis" & the already classic double CD's "Stardust We Are" and "Flower Power" they toured Europe, Japan & South America and started to build a worldwide following.

Successful tours resulted in the recording of the live album, "Alive On Planet Earth", which was compiled from shows in both the USA and Japan -98 & -99.

It shows the essence of the textural and emotional offering that is now the trademark of The Flower Kings and shows that this is a band that probably has as much in common with Mozart, Debussy, Andrew Lloyd Webber or Miles Davis as with Pink Floyd, Beatles, Bowie or Yes. There is always an element of soulfulness and drama and the richness of moods and inventiveness has to be heard to be believed. Flower Kings signed to German label in 1999.

Roine Stolt is keeping himself busy with numerous sideprojects around the world like TransAtlantic (alongside Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse & Pete Trewavas), plus the reunion of Swedish progrockers KAIPA, his 70's band, Another one is he new highly acclaimed "Tangent" CD featuring Van Der Graaf Generator saxman David Jackson and the obscure "Flying Food Circus" project.

With the albums "Space Revolver" 2000 and "The Rainmaker" released in September 2001 The Flower Kings sound shifted to a more accessible level but maintains all the elements that have established this band as one of those most colourful exponents of progressive rock in the world today.

In November 2002 Flower Kings released yet another astonishing and adventurous musical statement : "Unfold The Future". A double CD containing everything from classic symphonic rock in pure 70's fashion ( read Yes, Crimson, ELP, Genesis) to weird Zappaesque or Miles Davis like early 70's fusion, there's even the odd pop song.

Flower Kings are no simple copycats that merely try to relive the glorious 70's, they rather fuse their sound with a remarkable knowledge of their past but still containing elements contemporary music and of all music history, still looking into the future, always ready to point out new directions and new possibilities, where to take progrock next, always ready to take risks !!! With this comes of course a healthy portion of criticism from the more conservative progfan or prog metal lovers, but Flower Kings still go the way they find most fruitful and rewarding and taylored to stand the test of time, may it be pop or experiment.

Not unlike bands like, Phish or Greatful Dead, by incorporating jamming and new twists to every show Flower Kings have built a devoted fanbase of "Flowerheads"that follow them all over the globe, Europe, USA, Japan, Canada, South America. There even seem to be an element of what is "more than music" a way of life that resound the positive music and thoughtful lyrics. Depending more on the soulful elements Flower Kings have left audiences raving for weeks about what seemed to be a highlight of their concertgoing life, EVER !!!

With a relatively fresh rhythm section of Hungarian prodigy Zoltan Csorsz and bass madman Jonas Reingold and also presenting labelmates "Pain Of Salvation's " Daniel Gildenlow as a keys, guitar, percussion and vocal sideman together with frontline; leadsinger / guitarist Roine Stolt, keyboardist Tomas Bodin and guitarist /leadsinger Hasse Fröberg they did all embark on the initial leg of a European tour in Nov 2002. Since then they have all continued to florish and blossom in the most spectacular ways, doing another USA tour in June 2003, playing a memorable set at the No.1 US progrock festival "Nearfest".

October 2003 saw them embark on the "part 2" of Unfold The Future Tour in conjunction with the release of their first DVD and a Live CD titled "Meet The Flower Kings".

The DVD have done remarkably well for the band and there are already plans for another DVD, focusing on interviews with all bandmembers and live sequences of the non-epic songs.

A new CD, ADAM & EVE is in the finishing stages for release in July 2004, followed by a European tour.

In the meantime everyone in the band keep busy with side projects including a new Tangent CD a new Karmakanic CD "wheel Of Life" and a new project including Roine Stolt and drummer Doane Perry(Jethro Tull), vocalist and bassman Ellis Hall(Tower Of Power/Ray Charles) and keyboardist & LA movie soundtracker Vince DiCola.

A new CD by the group "Swedish Family" led by Tomas Bodin is in the making for release late summer 2004, a record of 70's prog inspired by Swedish folkmusic.................





















These are my best tracks of 2025


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

King Kong-AMPLIFIER-Gargantuan

Night Terror-DREAM THEATER-Parasomnia

Panopticon -GHOST OF THE MACHINE-Empires Must Fall

The End of Days Suite: 1. The City Lights at Twilight -THE JOHN IRVINE BAND-HERE COME THE ROBOTS!

Lucifer, Bringer of Light -MOTORSPSYCHO-MOTORSPSYCHO

Marvelous World-CHEAT THE PROPHET-Redemption

The-Shoreline-EYE 2 EYE-Lost Horizon

End of the Road-KARMAKANIC-Transmutation

These Hands That Build-BLACK NARCISSUS-There Lingers One Who's Long Forgotten

Objects Outlive Us-STEVEN WILSON-The Overview

Far From Here-IQ-Dominion

Sleeping on a Cloud-LET SEE THIN-Machine Called Life

Gone-BJØRN RIIS-Fimbulvinter

Deep Water Suite-COSMIC CATHEDRAL- Deep Water

Another Holy Grail-PATTERN-SEEKING ANIMALS-Friend Of All Creatures

Seraphina Moon-CEN-PROJEKT-Carnival Of Lost Souls

Demain a l’aube-GERALD MASSOIS- Demain a l’aube

- Considerations-THE FLOWER KINGS-Love



























Considerations-THE FLOWER KINGS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEqV...0lK-F&index=15


GOOD LISTENING