ON LINE, ON TIME, FULL TIME NEWS
After studying jazz guitar in Los Angeles, Graz, Helsinki and Munich, German guitarist JAN ZEHRFELD set out to create a band that combined elements of jazz and metal. The result was PANZERBALLETT, a tight-knit and chops-laden outfit that ultimately mixed electric jazz, death metal, funk, math rock and a lot of other things in-between. That's not surprising when you consider that Jan's list of musical influences includes MESHUGGAH, MATS/MORGAN, DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, SCREAMING HEADLESS TORSOS and ALLAN HOLDSWORTH.
In the traditional style of jazzers interpreting well-known compositions, PANZERBALLETT makes a habit of re-working familiar music, yet in a way that re-envisions it as anything but traditional. Whether rendering original compositions or taking ownership of old favorites, the performance energy is always high, the arrangements are unexpected and eclectic, the playing is ferocious and often tongue is placed firmly in cheek.
Described as JOHN ZORN meets Meshuggah, or as the German newspaper Die Welt has said, "faster than Metallica, more powerful than Motörhead, and funnier than Rammstein," PANZERBALLETT is pushing fusion in a different direction. ProgDay is thrilled to welcome them on their first journey to the US.
Diatessaron is a 5 piece Prog-Rock band from Calgary, Canada. The culmination of their 3 years together is Monument, an album consisting of one 35 minute long piece of music divided into 5 movements.
The album is an abstract commentary on the dropping of the atom bombs ending WWII. For more information on the lyrical content of the piece, email diatessaronband@gmail.com and request an annotated copy of the lyrics. The music itself contains a large dynamic range, from high distortion metal to mellow, clear acoustic sections. The band is known for
making heavy use of mixed meters without sounding overly mathematical or forced. Monument is meant to be played as one continuous piece (press play at track one and
everything will meld together). However, Tracks 1 and 3 are most able to stand apart from the whole if desired as they follow more traditional song structure within themselves.
Review:
Diatessaron - Monument
Diatessaron are a new melodic progressive band from Calgary in Canada. The band are fronted by Si Tj on vocals with Carl Janzen and Darren Young on guitars, Erik Smistad slams out the bass and Stephan Bots knobs the drums.
The band have been together for several years and even though this album is only five tracks it actually scurry's in at 35 minutes and it's foundation's are based on the atom bomb dropping in WWII. It would be easy to view the band alongside the likes of Spock's Beard and Rush, but while that is completely apparent Diatessaron have their own form of prog rock taking on many twists and turns throughout the 35 mins.
The tracks I enjoyed the most were 'Senbazuru' which is totally breathtaking; I love the whole flow of this track and the commanding enthusiasm it releases, musically and lyrically. The track is reminiscent of Rush and Welsh prog band MAN. It's a really good track, the playing and production is right on the money and in singer Si we have new prog star in the making, I also hear a lot of early Yes flowing through this track which runs in at over 12 minutes and takes on the Spock's Beard track 'The Light' as being one of my favourite and longest tracks I can keep playing throughout without getting fed up, there is so much to enjoy from Eastern influences to even a slight political Pink Floyd tone, genius.
I also enjoyed the charismatic 'Galactic Jellyfish' which again has a Spock's Beard crossed with America and ELO, very basic 70's prog rock texture. The mid section is just so beautifully performed. I must give a special mention to the bass playing on this track, again there's so many influences running through this track that the first thing most will shout is Rush, but that's' really only in Si's vocals. I also loved 'The Statue', one of the shorter tracks that has a funky little Dream Theater vibe crossed with Swedish A.C.T.
Overall, 'Monument' is a great progressive release and a must have for prog fans and the band have already had airplay on such UK stations as ARFM Soundscapes, check them out at: http://diatessaron.bandcamp.com
Nick - TSM
The Band:
Carl Janzen – Guitar
Darren Young – Guiatar
Erik Smistad – Bass Guitar
Si Tj – Vocals
Stephan Bots – Drums
Tracklisting:
1. The Statue
2. The Phoenix
3. Prism
4. Galactic Jellyfish
5. Senbazuru
Two Side Moon Promotions
Email: twosidemoon.promo@ntlworld.com
www.slwpromotions.com/tsm/index.htm
www.myspace.com/nickyaor
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Progressive Rock & Progressive Metal - E-Zine
http://www.progressiverockbr.com
http://progrockmetal.blogspot.com/
Rusty Pacemaker was born in 1974 and lives in Lanzenkirchen, Austria.
He is into heavy music since his childhood and started to make his own music at the beginning of the new millenium.
He never took any lessons on an instrument or joined any musical education. He started to play guitar and in order to complete his first songs he just grabbed a bass and did the
vocals. On the first demo versions the drums were programmed.
Very soon he dreamt of writing, recording and producing his own music however, in the end it took him about seven years to complete his debut album 'Blackness and White Light'. The first material that could be considered as a song, ended up as the opener of the album, titled 'cell', and is a very different version from the original of 2003. After having written and recorded five songs in a rough demo version, he got to know Franz Löchinger, a professional drummer, who agreed to play the drums on the album. To complete a full length opus, Rusty wrote another five songs and slowly collected recording devices and studio equipment.
At that time Rusty (which is the artist's nickname) just added the word 'Pacemaker' and hence had his pseudonym as an artist.
The next logical step was to build a studio and so he did. The recording of 'Blackness and White Light' was finished in 2009, mixing and mastering happened in 2009 and 2010 in Rusty's, by then named, 'White Studio'. After all the hard work, Rusty felt it took him a lifetime to complete the album but eventually the release date was set for the 20th of October 2010.
To stay completely independent and to keep all rights in his hands, he did everything by himself (composing, mixing, mastering, cover artwork,etc.) and finally founded the label 'Solanum Records'. Right after having finished the album Rusty Pacemaker decided to improve his studio situation as he found the working condition in the 'White Studio' quite frustrating. So just before the album was released, the studio was completely rebuilt to set a new standard and push things forward.
By now Rusty is writing new songs for an upcoming album under the working title 'Ruins' to be released in the year 20??.
His idea of being an artist is strongly influenced by one of his idols, 'Bathory' - mastermind Quorthon who sadly passed away.
The Band:
Lead Vocals - Rusty Pacemaker
Guitar - Rusty Pacemaker
Bass - Rusty Pacemaker
Drums - Franz Löchinger
Tracklisting:
1- Cell
2- You Never Had
3- My Way
4- Amok
5- Waiting For Tomorrow
6- The Human Race
7- My Last Goodbye
8- Blackness And White Light
9- Revolution
10- Mother
UK Publicity : Two Side Moon Promotions
Email: twosidemoon.promo@ntlworld.com
www.slwpromotions.com/tsm/index.htm
www.myspace.com/nickyaor
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Progressive Rock & Progressive Metal - E-Zine
UK tech metal act CYANIDE SERENITY have revealed Divine Heresy's Travis Neal as their new singer.
The band issued the following statement: "We are incredibly delighted to announce Travis as our new singer, we are hoping this will be the end of constant changing of vocalists, we have a lot of bad luck in this area and hope we can move on without any more setbacks. Travis is an exceptional singer and has an incredible scream, he is the ideal candidate alongside Matt and we cannot wait to hit the stage with him!"
GRAnd BAtON is having a very special guest from Guadeloupe for a series a shows this month, ending in Louisiana in May.
... and this week, GRAnd BAtON is back at BAM!
on Saturday, April 16th at BAM Cafe, 9pm
30 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, NY.
free
BAM is America's oldest performing arts center and a leading presenter of the avant-garde. Since opening in 1861, it has presented the finest in performing arts.
Come get the real vibe of the traditional goat skin drum from Guadeloupe!!!
... and that's it for this week:)
| contact@grandbaton.com http://www.myspace.com/grandbaton http://www.myspace.com/jcmaillard http://cdbaby.com/cd/jcmaillard http://cdbaby.com/cd/grandbaton http://www.reverbnation.com/grandbaton |
Find an overview of all the dates below:
14.04. D - Rüsselsheim, Das Rind (Simeon Soul Charger)
15.04. NL - Zoetermeer, Boerderij (IO Pages Festival)
16.04. D - Oberhausen, Zentrum Altenberg
17.04. D - Habach, Village
We're wishing you a lot of Fun with „Yogi Lang and Band" and hope to see some of you on Tour!!
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Progressive Rock & Progressive Metal - E-Zine
Legendary Hawkwind Guitarist Releases Lloyd Langton Group's Latest Effort
"Huw emerges from the Hawkwind shadows..."
- Classic Rock Magazine
Huw Lloyd-Langton's music history spans over 40 years. He has been on the road with various bands since 1967 - all catalogued in his biography. Huw has been associated with Hawkwind so long it is sometimes hard to separate him from that amazing mother ship. But in truth, Huw has always been an independent musical gypsy. When not on the road with Hawkwind he always had his own band the LLOYD LANGTON GROUP (LLG). He achieved top 10 chart success in UK in 80s with 2 of his solo LLG albums and 2 singles. When not touring and recording with bands Huw has performed countless solo acoustic concerts.
Huw is recognized in UK as one of the finest ever rock guitarists. To the hundreds of thousands HAWKWIND fans worldwide Huw is a legend. When he appears at their concerts with LLG or as a solo acoustic artist he always receives a standing ovation.
Earlier this years Cleopatra Records released a solo classical album worldwide Classical Tales. This lovely thoughtful album is a collection of short classical guitar pieces showing yet another side to Huw's talents.
Despite two serious illnesses since 2001 curtailing his work on the road he has managed to come back fighting to record and perform again. However during this period he continued his work with the Killing Cancer Charity and the mental health charity Restore.For more information, see his official website below.
Huw has been asked to perform his solo acoustic set to open 70s progressive rock band NEKTAR's month tour being planned by Cleopatra Records in USA end of July/August 2011. Huw lasted tour the US with WIDOWMAKER in 1976 then 1977. Both their albums were in the top 50 national charts.
Physical copies of Huw's new LLG album Hard Graft have only been released in UK receiving great reviews in the press and on-line media. He has also collected rave reviews on various radio stations. One of Huw's solo acoustic blues tracks on Hard Graft, "So Long Baby," reached number 1 spot on EKR Radio September 2010.
Website: http://www.huwlloyd-langton.co.uk
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APOCALYPSE is, definitively, one of the all time biggest names in Brazilian progressive rock scene. It's a 25 year career! Uninterrupted! Its vast discography includes 10 albums released in Brazil, Europe, USA and Asia - including a double album recorded live in the United States during the first international tour of the band and the DVD Live In Rio from 2006, with an impeccable production.
And when everybody thought that the band had already done everything, they announced the release of 25th Anniversary Box Set, a commemorative box in celebration of the band's 25th anniversary.
Unpublished work in the national progressive rock, the commemorative box-set includes book, DVD and two CDs, one being the band's new studio album. "Apocalypse's 25th Anniversary Box Set is the most daring project of the band's career", says the keyboardist, Eloy Fritsch. "Since our double CD recorded live in USA in 1999, we had no other hard-working project than this. With this box-set we celebrate this beautiful career guided by the musical identity created by the band during 25 years. Moreover, the project also presents our new studio album."
Titled 2012 Light Years From Home, the new APOCALYPSE album is for sure the highlight of this Box-Set. The album was recorded at Refugio Studios in Porto Alegre and produced by the band. This is the successor of the high acclaimed The Bridge Of Light from 2008 (Musea Records) and marks the premier of the new drummer, Fabio Schneider.
The second CD in the box is Magic Spells that brings old APOCALYPSE's classics played by the band's previous line-up and sung in English. The recordings were extracted from live performances during the "Magic Tour" in 2005.
The DVD The 25th Anniversary Concert is other great feature of the box-set. It registers the show APOCALYPSE played in September 2009 at Acts Lounge of the Rio Grande do Sul Federal University in Porto Alegre. On the occasion, the band presented the show of the "The Bridge Of Light Tour" and also songs from Live In Rio DVD. They counted with the special participation of the Brazilian musician Hique Gomes from the duo 'Tangos & Tragedias'. Lastly, the book that comes in the box was written in Portuguese and English by the journalist and producer Eliton Tomasi and tells the complete history of APOCALYPSE. The book recalls the great moments of the group and includes unpublished photos. The book also contains a chronology of APOCALYPSE written by the author of the Brazilian Progressive Rock Encyclopedia, Leonardo Nahoum, beyond statements of musicians, staff and complete discography.
The content of 25th Anniversary Box Set comes accompanied by a very special package. An exclusive poster is also part of the bill. All the artwork of the CDs, DVD, book and package is signed by the vocalist Gustavo Demarchi.
APOCALYPSE's 25th Anniversary Box-Set is a product funded by the project "Financiarte" from the city of Caxias do Sul and its distributed by Musea Records in Europe and Kinesis in USA. The box-set is also available for sale worldwide through the band's official website.
ABOUT APOCALYPSE
APOCALYPSE came up in 1983 in Caxias do Sul when the keyboardist Eloy Fritsch started a rock band with his schoolmates. Inspired by the bands Yes, Genesis, Rush and Led Zeppelin, since the beginning the band's proposal was to do their own music. Even before releasing its first album, APOCALYPSE gained notoriety and did concerts and performances at the major festivals of Rio Grande do Sul. The first self-titled LP was released in 1990. Perto do Amanhecer, the second album, was out in 1995 in France and marked the first contract with Musea Records that would be APOCALYPSE's record label in Europe during years. Aurora dos Sonhos hit the stores in 1996 preceding Lendas Encantadas which featured re-workings of the band.
In 1998, APOCALYPSE was invited by the record label Rock Symphony to play with the renowned British band Pendragon at the "Rio Art Rock Festival", in Rio de Janeiro. Direct reflection of success abroad, in 1999 APOCALYPSE was one of the attractions of "ProgDay 99", one of the biggest progressive rock festivals from Unites States. The ProgDay Festival performance had been recorded and originated Live In USA, APOCALYPSE's first live album. That was the first time that a Brazilian rock band recorded a show in the USA and released a double CD format!
Rock Symphony released in 2003 the fourth APOCALYPSE album titled Refugio. Two years after, the band took part of the festival "Rock Symphony For The Record" at the Niteroi Municipal Theater. The band's performance was filmed and originated the band's first DVD, Live In Rio, also released in CD.
In 2006 APOCALYPSE played another very important show with Uriah Heep in Rio do Janeiro. In 2008 APOCALYPSE released The Bridge Of Light, the most prized album of its career. The album brought to the band several indications as 'Best of the Year': "Best Album", "Best Cover", "Best Show" and "Best Keyboardist" to Eloy Fritsch. In March of 2009, Eloy Fritsch also won the "Premio Acorianos de Musica – Mencao Honrosa", for his contribution to the southern music scenario. At the same time APOCALYPSE also got the "Vasco Prado Trophy" in honor to the band's 25 years of career.
DVD The 25
th Anniversary ConcertApocalypse (1991)
Perto do Amanhecer (1995)
Aurora dos Sonhos (1996)
Lendas Encantadas (1997)
The Best Of APOCALYPSE (1998)
Live in USA (2000)
Refúgio (2003)
Live in Rio - CD & DVD (2006)
The Bridge Of Light (2008)
Magic Spells (2010)
The 25
OFFICIAL ADRESSES ON INTERNET:
RECORD LABELS:
Spring Tour 2011 starts Thursday
They're hitting the road to support Thunderbirds. Here are the dates:
• April 14 - Cambridge MA - Cantab Lounge
• April 15 - Brookfield CT - The Room (all ages)
• April 16 - Clifton NJ - Dingbatz
• April 22 - Portland ME - Geno's Rock Club
Nominated for Best Heavy Music/Metal Act
Once again we have been nominated for Best Heavy Music/Metal Act in the Portland Phoenix Best Music Poll. Vote for By Blood Alone here: http://portland.thephoenix.com/bmp/portland/Vote/HeavyMusicMetalAct/
By Blood Alone
www.bybloodalone.com
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Progressive Rock & Progressive Metal - E-Zine
http://www.progressiverockbr.com
http://progrockmetal.blogspot.com/
04/15/11
HOB/Cambridge Room
2200 N Lamar Street
Dallas, TX
All Ages / $ 12/ $ 15
tickets
04/16/11
Cactus Cafe
1 University Station
Austin, TX
All Ages / $ 15
tickets
04/17/11
Public Concert in the Greenway Plaza region of Houston.
Rsvp's for Advance Tickets can be sent to gayle.collins@ymail.com
Address provided upon rsvp.
$20 ticket. 6:00p Event.
Peter performs approximately 7:15pm
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Progressive Rock & Progressive Metal - E-Zine
http://www.progressiverockbr.com
http://progrockmetal.blogspot.com/
It's 1989 again - at least for 46 minutes and 34 seconds. With his new band Beautiful Beast, German singer and guitarist Julian Angel has recorded a late-eighties styled album that features melodic hard rock, hair metal, aor, glam and sleaze with a common denominator. "It's a party rock album with style" says Angel who made sure the music always meets 80s quality requirements such as catchy hooklines, big choirs, virtuoso guitar solos and thundering drums.
After a few delays caused by illness and mixing engineer Rolf Munkes' (Empire, Tony Martin Band) full schedule Beautiful Beast's "Adult Oriented Candy" has finally been officially released on April 8, 2011 following an exciting release countdown on several social networks.
