All Things Prog

ALL THINGS PROG

While I'm admittedy not a huge Prog Fan these websites are what I consider my "GO TO" resources when I need a Prog fix.   

Prog Archives - Undoubtedly THE best resource on the planet for all things prog whether it's looking for a discography, that long lost Prog band you listened to 20 years ago or just wanting to catch up on the latest Prog reviews, this archive has it all.  https://www.progarchives.com/ 

New Prog Releases - This doesn't really have reviews but it is very useful in that it has the Country, Genre, Release Date, Complete Track listing, Credits, sometimes a brief description of the music, links to media samples and band links  It's incredible help finding new and obscure prog bands. The search button is a nice touch allowing you to narrow the search for different bands.  https://newprogreleases.blogspot.com/

DRPR - DRPR is the Dutch Progressive Rock Page and has been around since 1995 supporting all things Prog.  They've got album reviews, live reviews and the writters even have a Blog where they submit 5 albums they recommend and they've posted their year end "best of" list.  Great resource.  https://www.dprp.net/ and https://weekendprog.blogspot.com/

The Prog Mind - The Prog Mind is another great resource for all things Prog.  There's album reviews, Spolights, Random Musings and of course the best of 2023 thru June.  As always I look forward to the year end best of List from this site. https://theprogmind.com/

Encyclopaedia Metallium (Metal-Archive) - This is probably one of the most comprehensive listing of Metal bands I've ever seen.   To call it an Encylodaedia is pretty accurate.  I'd be shocked if anyone that isn't considered metal isn't listed.  Even obscure bands I never thought I'd find are listed.  You can search by bands Alphabetically, by Genre or by Country.  You can search by record labels Alphabetically or by country.  When you click on a band there's a ton of information available.  There's the country of origin, location (City), Status (Active, Split up etc), When they were formed, Themes, current label...and that's just in the header.  Theres a tab for the bands Discography, Members (Current & Past), Reviews, Similar artists and Related Links which has links to every social media platform or music platform the artist music might be available on.  This is the holy grail of musical information in my opinion.  https://www.metal-archives.com/

BNR Metal Pages - Not as comprehensive as Metal Archives but BNR metal is a great resource if your looking for information about a bands releases cause they specialize in listing full discographies of band as well as current and former members of bands and they've got a nice biography of the bands.   If your looking to dive into a bands discography this is a great resource to start looking.  https://www.bnrmetal.com/v5/main/home

Know of any other great resources? Drop a note in the comment box and share it.  

Power Metal Warrior

 Power Metal Warrior

I want to give a big shout out to a fellow Blog from Poland called Power Metal Warrior.  Because of their blog I found a ton of music that I wouldn't have normally found.  I used Google Translate to read it since it's written in Polish but it does a great job.   There were very few reviews and ratings that I didn't agree with and many that were spot on. Their year end top 40 was pretty spot on too.  Highly recommend checking them out https://powermetal-warrior.blogspot.com/

 Top 5 Best Doom Metal Albums. 

5. Sorcerer - Crowning of the Fire King (2017) 

Sorcerer is the first of 3 Swedish Metal bands on this list.  Sorcerer released thier first demo in 1989 and toiled in relative obscurity releasing several releases on Metal Blade before unleashing this opus of modern epic doom on the masses in 2017.  This album was chosen as album of the month by Germany's Rock Hard Magazine when it came out and surprised the Prog/Power community by playing the presigious ProgPower USA Festival in 2019 which was one of my favorite performances  that year.  Still one of my favorite doom releases this never gets old with such classics as Sirens, Ship of Doom, Abandon by the Gods and the title track Crowning of the Fire King.  

4. Isole - Bliss of Solitude (2008)

Bliss of Solitude was Isole's 3rd release and first on Napalm Records and went largely unnoticed in Doom circles which was a shame because it was probably one of the heaviest doom metal releases I've ever heard.  The slow and incredibly heavy guitar tone was just in your face and the dark rich vocals from Daniel Bryntse were an instrument of doom in itself.  There were a number of tracks that stood out on this release with From Clouded Skying being one of my favorites along with Imprisoned in Sorrow.  

3. While Heaven Wept - Of Empires Forlorn (2003)

I really consider WHW's release Of Empires to be one of the most important releases of the doom genre simply because it combined Epic Heavy Metal with Doom and added symphonic elements to give it such a unique sound.  It really brought WHW to the forefront of the doom genre and raised the bar for Doom metal as a whole with 8 incredible songs. Tom Phillips vocals were mesmerizing and really enhanced the whole experience, especially on tracks The Drowning Years and Of Empires Forlorn.    Still one of my favorite doom releases and while I listed it as #3 I still find myself listneing to this more from time to time than # 1 or 2. 

2. Candlemass - Epicus Doomicus Metallicus (1986)

My first introduction to Candlemass was their debut on Black Dragon records and the sheer heaviness of the album just blew me away.  It was vastly different than many other European bands and really took the heaviness of Black Sabbath and amped it up to another level.  Ironically Candlemass was dropped from Black Dragon due to poor sales despite the albums critical acclaim as being one of the most influential modern doom bands.  Take your pick for a favorite song..all were heavy as hell and worthy of listening too...especially if you owned this on vinyl.  Digital format is great but this album deserved to be heard as only vinyl could capture it.  

1. Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath (1970)

The Godfathers of Doom, The debut album from Black Sabbath probably single handedly defined and created a generation of bands for many decades.  From the opening Black Sabbath to The Wizard and Sleeping Village, Black Sabbath turned the music world upside down and never looked back.  

Top 15 Favorite Songs of 2022

 These songs are some of my favorite songs I've run across in 2022.  That doesn't mean I listened to every album from all the major bands..but I think I listened to enough to get a pretty good represenation of what was released.  So before everyone whines about Devin Townsend, Within Temptation, Therion Stratovarius not being included they all released good CD but none of the songs stuck with the way these 15 did.  

1. Scorpions - Rock Believer

Sue me. Scorpions are one of the favorite bands of all time and this was far and away my favorite song from 2022. There wasn't even a debate between 1 and 2.  Klaus Meine still sounds fantastic for 74 and Rock Believer is one of the best songs the Scorpions have written since Savage Amusement.  

2. Visions of Atlantis - Legion of the Seas

Far and away the best thing Vision of Atlantis has done.  They've separated themselves from the pack of female fronted Nightwish/Within Temptation clones and written a song that's incredibly catchy. 

3. Wind Rose - Gates of Ekrund 

I have to admit when these guys were announced for ProgPower USA I was less than thrilled but I decided to give it a listen...any the rest they say, is history.  Dwarven Metal never sounded so good.  Gates of Ekrund is as catchy as they come. 

4.  Madhouse - Down n Dirty

Sleazy metal never sounded so good...Madhouse is one part Ratt, One part LA Guns and all things fun from Hair Metal and the output is one of best songs of 2022.  

5. Cleanbreak - Coming Home 

James Durbin put together an all star cast featuring bassist and drummer from Stryper, the guitarist from Riot V and penned a classic ready for radio hit that is better than that the average Frontier Records Release.  

6.  Brymir - Voices In The Sky

Brymir really rocked my world with thier 2019 release Wings of Fire which is a unique blend of Symphonic, Melodic Death and Pagan metal.  Fast forward to 2022 and Voices in the Sky picks up where Wings left off.  Not for everyone but I love the symphonic elements and harmonies.  

7. Wilderun - Passenger

Prog Metal isn't my favorite genre but when something this good comes along it's hard to pass it by.  

8. Ozzy Osbourne - Patient #9

Ozzy is right up there with The Scorpions and Iron Maiden as one of my favorite artist and he defies all odds by not only living but releasing some absolutely killer music.  Patient #9 features some great guitar playing by the late great Jeff Beck and is just a catchy tune. 

9. Kate Nord - Dream of Daylight 

If I'm being completely honest, there's about 5 songs that could have made my favorite songs of 2022 list which is a pretty good indicator where this album falls in my favorite releases of 2022.  Kate contribution to the Symphonic Metal scene went largely unnoticed due to late December release but make no mistake, this is a monster song on a monster release. The backing band is none other than Noveria so you know there's talent galore on this record and the solo on this song really gives the song a beautiful but powerful kick in the pants.   Here's to hoping it gets put to CD in 2023 but for now it's only available in digital format on bandcamp. 

https://katenord.bandcamp.com/album/compass-to-your-hearts-desire

10. Deathless Legacy - Ora Pro Nobis 

I guess if Ghost had a female sister it would sound something like this.  Seriously though it seems like everything coming out of Italy is frickin awesome.  Deathless Legacy are no exception. 

11. Kissin Dynamite - Coming Home

I'm a fanboy and I don't care, Kissin Dynamite are another guilty pleasure.  This just  consistently puts out great albums and fantastic singles that in any other market besides the US would be monster hits.   With a motto of "Their Mission is to bring back Stadium Rock" you've got to have the chops and vocalist to back that up and Kissin Dynamite check all the boxes

12. My Soliloquy - The Great Polarity

For whatever reason Pete Morten has not achieved the same notariety as his ex bandmates in Threshold however this single should have turned a lot of heads and had him mentioned in the same breath...however, that doesn't seem to be the case. Regardless, The Great Polarity is a great melodic Prog Metal single and caught MY attention.  Gotta start somewhere right? 

13. Lords of The Trident - Acolyte

Lords of the Trident are trying to carry the US Power Metal baton and their last album The Offering was a great release and should put them on the map. Acolyte was one many many great songs from this Minnesota based band.  

14. Raptore - Triumphal March to Hell 

Oh Hell Yes, who doesn't like a little in your face Speed Metal.  Raptore remind me a lot of Enforcer and that's as big a compliment as you can get in my opinion.  Far from a one song wonder, Raptore shows on Triumphal March to Hell they are ready for the big leagues.  

15. Confidential - Devil Inside

Coming to us from Norway, Confidential kind of flew under the Symphonic Metal radar but make no mistake this band could hold their with other great bands of the genre.