Melodic Revolution Records Feature Album March 2018 | Marco Ragni | The Wandering Caravan

Melodic Revolution Records Feature Album March 2018 |
Marco Ragni | The Wandering Caravan

Label – Melodic Revolution Records
Release Year – 2018
Country – Italy/International 
Genre – Progressive/Psychedelic Rock

 

Band Members
Marco Ragni – Vocals/Electric and Acoustic Guitars/Bass/Keyboards/Mellotron/Piano/Mandolin
Dave Newhouse – Sax/Clarinet/Flute/Keyboards and Woodwinds Arrangements
Jeff Mack – Bass
Peter Matchuniak – Lead Guitar
Maurizio Antonini – Drums

Special Guests
Luca Zambini – Hammond Organ
Ian Beabout – Flute
Nadav Yitzhak – Oud
Michael Zentenar – Violin

Track Listing
What We Have Done In The Past We’ll Be In The Future
Waiting On The Threshold
Promised Land
Which Is The Right Path To Take ?
It’s Only Fantasy
What Are We Willing To Lose To Regain Our Freedom ?
Keep Dreaming
Back Home Again

Marco Ragni Official Website

Marco Ragni Official Melodic Revolution Records Profile

Marco Ragni Official Facebook Page

Marco Ragni Official Twitter

Marco Ragni Official YouTube Channel

Melodic Revolution Records Official Website

Melodic Revolution Records Official YouTube Channel

Melodic Revolution Records Official Store

Sometime in early to mid spring of 2015 I came into a discovery of Melodic Revolution Records. Its founder Nick Katona had friend requested me over on Facebook and soon the discovery unfolded much like the opening of Pandora’s Box for me. The talent on this label is on par with any other label on the planet today. As far as progressive rock, psychedelic rock, etc … Melodic Revolution Records is both untapped as far as its deep roster of talent and a label on the verge of just one release breaking right to become a household name within the progressive, psychedelic rock community. I feel that the subject of this review Marco Ragni will have a lot of say into the future of Melodic Revolution Records as a collective.

Marco Ragni is no stranger to the Power Of Prog community either. Back in 2016 I presented two very different reviews of this Italian Progressive Genius. The first was the very personal introspective double concept album Mother From The Sun and the very intelligent and thought provoking Land Of Blue Echoes. Now in 2018 I return to review the appropriately titled, Marco Ragni’s The Wandering Caravan. This current offering sees Marco Ragni return with some familiar faces and label mates such as Jeff Mack – Bass – (Scarlet Hollow), Peter Matuchniak – Guitar – (Gekko Project, The Steppes Tribute To Early Steve Hackett and Bomber Goggles).

Then there are some newer musicians to the Marco Ragni franchise. Making their debut’s to the franchise on The Wandering Caravan are Italian drummer Maurizio Antonini, Luca Zabbini – Hammond Organ – (Barock Project), Ian Beabout – Flute, Nadav Yitzhak – Oud, Michael Zentiner – Violin(Zenlandband). Marco Ragni has a uncanny ability to assemble world class musicians on his projects and The Wandering Caravan is certainly no exception. The returning talent is also a testament that Melodic Revolution Records has a very heavy family like atmosphere where its musicians really want to work with one another.

With The Wandering Caravan, Marco Ragni brings a little of his last four releases with him. There are some of the vast atmospheric structures from Mother From The Sun, the technical, yet futuristic and forward thinking progressive rock from Land Of Blue Echoes, there are the more precise to the point radio hits much in the vein of California with songs like It’s Only Fantasy, Back Home Again, Which Is The Right Path To Take and Promised Land, with some of the more experimental psychedelic elements of Rajanty especially with tracks such as What We Have Done In The Past We’ll Be In The Future and Waiting On The Threshold. The Wandering Caravan is basically a progressive rock symphony in 8 movements. Each movement that I will now proceed to elaborate on.

What We Have Done In The Past We’ll Be In The Future begins with a little Latin flair with the acoustic guitar style of Marco Ragni himself. It soon fortifies into a well structured atmospheric track off the flamenco acoustic chord progressions. The acoustical chord progressions allow for the heavier more straight forward lead guitar sections which are done by one of the world’s most criminally under rated guitarists Mr. Peter Matchuniak, (Gekko Project, The Steppes : A Tribute To Early Steve Hackett). Peter Matchuniak is a beautiful well balanced blend of David Gilmour meets Steve Hackett with a sprinkle of ‘The Canterbury Sound’ of Pye Hastings of Caravan.

A cacophony of various woodwind instruments along with a Hammond Organ make for a blast of sheer progressive bliss. They carry elements or progressive rock’s past with modern more contemporary elements for a current listening audience. This is also a a testament of true growth as a songwriter and musician that accompanies further maturity. With the flutes there is a heavy Jethro Tull style within this track. Whether it is deliberate or by influence it is done with the utmost taste and class. This is all enhanced by lyrical content that allows the listener to take the song in so many directions within the screen of the theater of the mind.

Waiting On The Threshold opens up with a fine woven tapestry of various piano, wind and keyboard passages. Marco’s very distinct vocal comes in with semi isolation off the instrumental portion. The relationship between the vocal and instrumental allows for both sides the ability to breathe without one suffocating the other. There is also a beautiful dynamic of lead guitar and acoustic guitar’s in a gentle, warm inviting melody. The underlying flute makes for a very interesting world music element that will have a instant international flavour to the composition. This one is also full of some longer instrumental passages.
This track also contains some heavily induced folk elements. Marco Ragni has some strong elements of Pink Floyd and Cat Steven’s vocal elements blended with the great expanse of the instrumental working perfectly in union with one another. The song closes out with some beautifully arranged jazz elements which are articulated by the saxophone. Some of the closing jazz portions remind me a lot of Weather Report meets Camel with a little twist of Caravan.

Promised Land opens up with a very strong psychedelic folk passage. This is created with the well blended elements of acoustic and semi acoustic guitar’s mixed with elegant flutes to accompany them. Soon the vocal harmonies and more up tempo chord progressions enter in along with the powerful rhythm section. This is the first track on the album that really has a distinct and definite rhythm section compared to the previous two songs. The rhythm section has more atmospheric than heavy laden time signatures. It also transitions smooth and seamlessly into the following track Which Is The Right Path To Take? The seamless transition has some serious overall 1960’s style psychedelic vocal harmony’s and song melodies.

Which Is The Right Path To Take? picks up smoothly where Promised Land left off. It does so with heavy and profound psychedelic elements. The vocal harmonies are very woven off various layers where one vocal track is blended in from another vocal harmony. This layering continues to the point where there are three to four vocals playing off and on each other. The various vocal layers continue until there is a main lead vocal passage anchoring the track. The lead guitar has a heavy influence into the various directions of the song. These heavy stringed influenced sections are a definite staple into the identity of Marco Ragni’s music and this track validates this. Both the lead and backing vocal’s run in spot on perfect time with the open expanse of the stringed section.

It’s Only Fantasy opens up with a deep dark piano passage. The passage gives the listener the appearance that Marco is isolated in a open acoustic friendly room with just him, his heart and voice. This is very heavily laden elements of Avant Garde and RIO, (Rock In Opposition). This is done with a lead piano chord progression that meets up with various woodwind instruments along with some semi conventional keyboard passages that sound very heavy in a regressive state of mind. If you, the listener, enjoy some Avant Garde/RIO cream in your straight blacken normal progressive coffee than this is perfect to start your morning music journey. This song finishes up with more straight away traditional heavy prog chord progressions.

What Are We Willing To Lose To Regain Our Freedom? opens up with a more traditional progressive rock passage. You can hear all the hallmarks that distinguish progressive rock from other genres. There is a beautifully performed Hammond Organ along with a deep bass and drum aesthetic. The deep tones from both the rhythm section and organ synth’s along with the strong atmospheric backdrop satisfy the purists of the genre. Soon the instrumental atmosphere gives way to various effects of innocence as we here children at play. Much like Mother From The Sun, Marco Ragni has a very uncanny method at conveying innocence through his musical compositions. What Are We Willing To Lose To Regain Our Freedom? continues to validate what seems to be a signature staple in Marco Ragni’s musical legacy. Overall What Are We Willing To Lose To Regain Our Freedom? is a very uplifting song that is both a progressive rock opus and a classic rock masterpiece.

Keep Dreaming opens up with a deep profound piano with highly lush tones and dark melodies. The added beauty in darkness is the vocal which perfectly compliments the instrumental section. The first few minutes transport the listener into a symphony hall atmosphere. Soon after a hint of the acoustic guitar is sprinkled in to add melodious flavour to the arrangement. The song goes from dark and somber to one of uplifting enlightenment. The instrumental is uplifting and the lyrical portion is in perfect harmony to the instrumental. Marco Ragni always has a intricate way of taking the listeners minds and moods from dark somber landscapes to horizons of pure enlightenment. Towards the end the track display’s heavy symphonic and progressive folk elements. Keep Dreaming is a classic textbook example to this. It is also a track with many vintage elements from the late 1960’s and 1970’s however with a modern 21st Century accent on it. Keep Dreaming seamlessly transitions into the final song of the album Back Home Again. The transition reminds me a lot of the seamless transition from Any Colour You Like to Brain Damage off Pink Floyd’s Darkside Of The Moon.

Back Home Again transitions beautifully from Keep Dreaming. The track takes a very heavy folk rock chord progression along with vocal harmonies that perfectly compliment the instrumental part. The tone that Back Home Again takes is very simple yet relaxed. This is written in such a way that allows the listener to begin to absorb and appreciate what that have just heard on the album as a collective, which is difficult to do sometimes. The violin eloquently performed by Michael Zentenar is the unsung hero on this one and helps to anchor mood of the song.

In the short few years I have known Marco Ragni through social media and his music, it has completely been bewildering and inspiring all at the same time. He definitely has the ability to transcend many sub genres that now lay under the progressive rock banner. Marco Ragni is definitely one of progressive rock’s new standard bearer’s who is carrying the flag among the contemporary progressive rock community. The Wandering Caravan is another masterpiece that will cement Marco Ragni’s legacy as such. I give Marco Ragni’s The Wandering Caravan a 5/5.

Top 10 Albums of 2017 | Progressive Rock – 3 of 3

Top 10 Albums of 2017 | Progressive Rock – 3 of 3

Finally the third and final list in the Album Of Year 2017 series has come to its completion. This was probably the absolute toughest list to compile. Due to the very tough nature of this list, I decided to sit on it a month before release it here at Power Of Prog Another reason these sorts of lists are becoming tougher with every passing year is due to the immense volume of music out there. There seems to be too much music out there with the advancement of technology through social media. Therefore due to all these factors it is become more challenging to compile these lists. Thank you all who joined in for the Top 10 Album Of Year 2017 Melodic Hard Rock/ Melodic Metal/ AOR list and Top 10 Progressive Metal Album Of Year 2017

 

.1. Nad Sylvan – The Bride Said No

Label – Inside Out Music

Band Members
Nad Sylvan – Lead Vocals/Electric & Acoustic/Guitars/Keyboards/Piano/ Orchestrations / Programming/ Poducer & Mxing

Additional Musicians
Tania Doko – Lead & Backing Vocals
Jade Ell – Lead & Backing Vocals
Sheona Urquhart – Lead & Backing Vocals/Saxophone
Steve Hackett – Guitars
Guthrie Govan – Guitar
Roine Stolt – Guitar
Anders Wollbeck – Keyboards & Programming / Orchestration /Sound Design /Co-producer 
Tony Levin – Chapman Stick / Upright bass / Electric Bass
Jonas Reingold – Bass /Guitar Riff 
Nick D’Virgilio – Drums/ Percussion
Doane Perry – Drums 
Alfons Karabuda – Waterphone 

Nad Sylvan Official Website

Nad Sylvan Official Facebook Page

 

2. The Samurai Of Prog – On We Sail

Label – Seacrest Oy Records

 

Band Members

Marco Bernard – Rickenbacker Bass
Kimmo Porsti – Drums & Percussion
Steve Unruh – Vocals/Violin/Flute/Guitar

Guest Musicians
Octavio Stampalia – Keyboards
Ruben Alvarez – Electric & Acoustic Guitars
Kenny Shacklett – Keyboards/Vocals/Acoustic Guitar
Srdjan Brankovic – Electric Guitars
David Myers – Keyboards/Grand Piano
Jacques Friedmann – Electric Guitars
Luca Scherani – Keyboards
Michelle Young – Vocals
Sean Timms – Keyboards
Mark Trueack – Vocals
Jacob Holm Lupo – Electric Guitars
Oliverio Lacagnina – Keyboards
Flavio Cucchi – Classical Guitar
Brett Kull – Electric Guitar
Daniel Faltt – Vocals
Roberto Vitalli – Moog Taurus Pedals
Stefan Renstrom – Keyboards/Vocoder

The Samurai of Prog Official Website 

The Samurai Of Prog Official Facebook Page

 

3. Forever Twelve – Home

Label – Melodic Revolution Records

Band Members

John Baker – Lead Vocals
Steve Barberic – Keyboards
Tom Graham – Guitar, Keyboards, Bass, Vocals
Fernando Martinez – Drums, Percussion

Forever Twelve Official Website

Forever Twelve Official Facebook Page

 

4. Gentle Knife II – Clock Unwound

Band Members

Astraea Antal – Flutes/Woodwinds and Visuals
Pål Bjørseth – Keyboards/Vocals/Trumpet
Odd Grønvold – Basses
Thomas Hylland Eriksen – Saxophone & Woodwinds
Veronika Hørven Jensen – Vocals
Håkon Kavli – Vocals & Guitars
Eivind Lorentzen – Guitars & Synths
Charlotte Valstad Nielsen – Saxophones
Ove Christian Owe – Guitars
Ole Martin Svendsen – Drums/Percussion
Brian M. Talgo – Samples/Words/Vocals/Visions & Artwork

Gentle Knife Official Website

Gentle Knife Official Facebook Page

 

5. Milky Way Gas Station – Somewhere Anywhere
Label – Independent

Band Members

Rob IJpelaan – Guitars/Vocals
Harald Veenker – Drums
Niels Hoppe – Guitars
Jeroen Vriend – Bass

Milky Way Gas Station Official Website

Milky Way Gas Station Official Facebook Page

 

6. Knight Area – Heaven And Beyond

Label – Butler Records

Band Members

Gerben Klazinga – Keyboards
Mark Smit – Vocals
Pieter van Hoorn – Drums
Peter Vink – Bass
Mark Bogert – Guitars

Knight Area Official Website

Knight Area Official Facebook Page

 

7. The Mute Gods – Tardigrades Will Inherit The Earth

Label – Inside Out Music

Band Members

Nick Beggs – Bass/Chapman Stick/Guitars/Keyboards/Vocals/Programming
Roger King – Keyboards, Guitars/Backing Vocals/Programming/Production
Marco Minnemann – Drums/Percussion/Guitars/Sound Design

The Mute Gods Official Website

The Mute Gods Official Facebook Page

 

8. Schooltree – Heterotopia A Metaphysical/Paranormal Rock Opera

Label – Unsigned/Independent 

Band Members
Band Members – Current
Lainey Schooltree – Lead Vocals/Keyboards/Creator
Tom Collins – Drums
Peter Danilchuk – Synth’s/Organ
Ryan Schartzel – Bass
Sam Crawford – Lead & Rhythm Guitar’s

Band Members – Album Recording Personnel

Lainey Schootree – Vocals/Pianos/Synths
Brendan Burns – Guitar’s
Derek Van Wormer – Bass
Tom/Tod/Tad Collins – Drums
Peter Danilchuk – Organs/Synths
Peter Moore – Nylon Guitar/Additional Vocals/Keyboards/Programming

Schooltree Official Website

Schooltree Official Facebook Page

 

9. King Of Agogok – Morning Star

 

Band Members

Hans Jorg Schmitz – Creator/Percussion/Keyboards/Guitars/Bass
Dago Wilms – Guitar/Bass
Gary Farmer – Rickenbacker Bass
Steve Unruh – Flute/Violin
Pantelis Petrakakis – Bass
Andrew Marshall – Spanish Guitar
Phillip Schmitz – Keyboards/Piano/Voice
Peter Simon – Woodwinds
Erik Vaxjo – Mellotron
Chip Gremillion – Keyboard
Scott Taylor – Ulliann Pipe
Kathrin Daniel – Voice
Viktoria Papen – Voice

King Of Agogik Official Website

 

10. Cosmic Fall – Kick Out The Jams

Label – Clostridiumrecords

Band Members

Daniel Sax – Drums
Mathias Rosmann – Guitar
Klaus Friedrich – Bass

Cosmic Fall Official Facebook Page

Cosmic Fall Official Bandcamp Store Profile

 

Melodic Revolution Records Feature Album January/February 2018 | Blå Lotus Tube Alloys

Melodic Revolution Records Feature Album January/February 2018  | Blå Lotus Tube Alloys

LabelMelodic Revolution Records
Release Year – 2018
Country – Sweden
Genre – Heavy Progressive/Psychedelic Rock

 

Band Members

Fredrik Andersson – Hammond Organ and Farfisa Organ/Mellotron/Synth’s/Electric Piano/Flute and Vocals
Linus Karlsson – Bass Guitar/Theremin & Random Sound Effects
Wiktor Nydén – Drums/Percussion

 

Contact Links 

Blå Lotus Official Website

Blå Lotus Official Melodic Revolution Records Profile

Blå Lotus Official Facebook Page

Blå Lotus Official YouTube Channel

Definition of :
Craft –

1. An art, trade, or occupation requiring special skill, especially manual skill,
2. Skill or dexterity
3. Skill or ability used for bad purposes; cunning; deceit; guile.
4. The members of a trade or profession collectively; a guild

 

When a band makes a album they frequently use words like write, record, produce, engineer and master. That conventional wisdom is not wrong whatsoever and those words are very appropriate to use to describe the album making process. Now when some people work on a project like a album they use attention to detail in every facet of that process. Attention to said detail can be called craft, crafting or even crafted once the process has reached its completion.

To craft something is to take extra attention to detail by carefully using a special set of skills to get a special set of premium results. This is exactly what Sweden’s Bla Lotus have done with their Melodic Revolution Records debut Tube Alloy’s. When we think of Sweden and progressive rock or metal music we usually think of Opeth or a Pain of Salvation, Flower Kings, Änglagård, Anekdoten, Spiritual Beggars,Nad Sylvan, etc …

Bla Lotus are a serious heavy prog band that carry various old school influences of late 1960’s to early to mid 1970’s stoner fried psychedelic music to a modern age of listener. Bla Lotus are a Hammond Organ lovers paradise combining elements of Rick Wakeman and Jon Lord meets Per Wiberg – Spiritual Beggars to craft a very unique melodic stringed section which is highly due the fact the band has no guitar whatsoever with the various Hammond, Mellotron and other synth’s. The fact they do not have a piece like a guitar does not cheapen the product at all. Even in the description on their official Facebook page says, ” Progressive rock trio. No six-strings allowed”.

For a band that started only two years ago in 2016 they have developed such a tight cohesive sound. On Tube Alloy’s you can certainly notice that Fredrik Andersson – Hammond Organ and Farfisa Organ/Mellotron/Synth’s/Electric Piano/Flute and Vocals , Linus Karlsson – Bass Guitar/Theremin & Random Sound Effects and Wiktor Nydén – Drums/Percussion all mastered the craft at their individual instrumental roles much like musical journeymen. Now a breakdown of Bla Lotus Tube Alloy’s track by track.

Trajectory begins heavily with a very deep bass/drum rhythm section that is soon met in perfection with a Hammond Style organ. From the first hooks the band transports the listener to the 1970’s based chord progressions and passages with a modern relevant sound. Fredrik Andersson definitely display’s his extraordinary finger talent on the synth sections on this one. Trajectory is also a instrumental track that gives the listener the appearance it serves as a smooth seamless transition intro to the next track Omnistellar Firefly.

Omnistellar Firefly picks up quite smoothly from Trajectory. This starts off in a very psychedelic manner much like the psychedelic music coming out of San Francisco California, London England or New York at the time. With very deep rhythm toned chord progressions and vocals that echo like a LSD trip this is any psychedelic purists paradise. You literally do not need a synthetic substance nor drug to feel the full melodious effect the band is portraying here. This also reminds me very much of the late great Jon Lord’s solo material with the orchestra.

Mephistopeles is a much more methodical groove laden piece. The rhythm and stringed sections definitely have a method to their madness and specific purposes in the body of the track or song itself. At 8:09 this is the second longest song on Tube Alloy’s and allows the band much more freedom to display their own skills while building a unified body of work. The echo vocals really accentuate the psychedelic feel to the song. The organs play in perfect time to the bass and drums within the rhythm section much in the vein of Deep Purple’s Space Truckin.

Moebius fades in quite subtly. This is most definitely the most experimental Avant Garde psychedelic track on the album. It is also a straight away progressive psychedelic track with standard stringed section and rhythm section until about a quarter or half way mark and then the experimental elements come into play. The experimental section works on all three major channels of the auditory senses, the right channel, the left channel and center channel. The band engineers this quite brilliant into a full surround sound package on the listener.

Recreational Nuke is the shortest track on the album, however do not be deceived it is still as full of progressive twists and turns and time signature changes. It may start a little slowly however do not let that be the focus. There are huge Hammond organ and rhythm sections. This is arranged perfectly within the album allowing a bit slower pace for the listener to begin to absorb the tracks of the album as a collective. It may require a few spins and listens for this to make sense to the listener. The psychedelic vocals are as strong on this as every other song on the album as well.

Indian Money starts out with big pounding and deep drum based rhythm sections. The drums are semi isolated allowing for a more heavier sound before the bass and Hammond and other organs come into play. This track takes all the various elements the band employed within the album as a collective. This one is written much like it was orchestrated or a symphony.

There is certainly a massive ground swell of this style of psychedelic progressive rock. Look at it like a over inflated balloon or a underground caldera waiting to burst through. I believe Bla Lotus will be at the forefront once this style of progressive psychedelic rock really takes off. This style of music will be the next significant genre to take off and bands like Bla Lotus will headline the pioneering spirit and craft of this style of music. Once this style does take off again Bla Lotus Tube Alloy’s will be one of those future essential albums any fan of the genre must have. This is why I give Bla Lotus Tube Alloy’s and 5/5.

 

Interview w / Steffany Johnston – Vocalist Masqued

Interview w / Steffany Johnston – Vocalist Masqued

Houston Texas now has to its credit a progressive metal band that owns my Top 10 Progressive Metal Albums Of 2017 with Masqued -The Light In The Dark.  Coming off a year where the area has damaged on a wide scale to Hurricane Harvey the band Masqued puts out a very positive and uplifting progressive metal album that seems to be lacking in the genre at times. Well this is not the case if Masqued’s lead vocalist Steffany Johnston has something to do with it. Trained at the University Of Houston in Voice and Music and expressing her lyrical ideas with a lifetime of experience at her back Steffany Johnston brings a level of positive enlightenment  in the bands debut album The Light In The Dark.

She recently gave Power Of Prog some precious time with the interview you will read below. Bands like Nightwish, Epica, Within Temptation and Delain are on notice that another band with a powerful minstrel are on the way up.

First of all Steffany it is great to have you here at Power of Prog. Welcome !

1) This is one of the more obvious questions, what or who influenced your journey into music and how young were you when that had taken hold of you?

It always did. As far back as I could remember, I always knew what I was going to do since I was 4. The first song I remember writing was when I was 6 years old. I always wrote songs. When I got a little older they would come to me in my sleep and in the middle of taking test, when I would write papers, when I would watch t.v., when I would eat, when I was driving. I can’t tell you how many times I had to pull over to write, record or notate my song ideas. I remember being late for things because an incredible song idea would appear as I am getting ready to leave for some event. It was a blessing and a curse all rolled into one lol. I also started playing piano when I was 6 and continued throughout the years and still do today aside of the band, and at the age of 12 I started playing the guitar. I would lock myself away in my room chunking away at rhythms and lifting metal guitar solos. When I was 18 I got a bass and bought some recording gear and would be late for dinner due to writing and recording original songs. I knew that one day I would form a band when I was old enough. I remember running an add in the paper when I was 14 years old, looking for other musicians to start a band with. When I turned 20 I started making a living playing bass guitar and singing locally and internationally. I have performed in numerous bands through out the years and am now grateful to have my place as the vocalist of Masqued.

2. Are you formally trained in music and if so where did you begin your study?

Yes, I have a Vocal Performance/Music degree from the University of Houston. Studying vocal performance, orchestration, arranging and opera. I would perform with the orchestra and with many famous conductors one of them being world renknown Robert Shaw.
I remember driving to school listening to Jazz and fusion then staying at the university all day practicing classical music with the chorus and opera then heading off to practice or to gigs with my rock band. I was like “where do I really fit in? I liked it all and wanted to do it all, I remember feeling so different from most of the people I knew.

3. Do you have any influences outside music that influences any instrumental or lyrical passages in your music?

I believe everything I have encountered over the years has embedded itself in some way in my state of being and comes out to play in my writing. I see a lot of injustice all around and it affects me deeply. Its hard to keep silent when I can demand better for myself and others, to fight for a noble cause or to see the hurting and to bring them a sense of hope. We are all human and are in this mad house together.

4. Your debut album The Light In The Dark is loaded with a lot of very positive and uplifting music, this is something that is becoming lost in the metal or progressive metal communities. Where do you get your lyrical inspirations from?

I feel that there is so much darkness and chaos in the world that it is important to present the trials and then provide a solution, a way of resolve. Music is so powerful, it can give you the will power and strength to get up out of bed after suffering spells of hopelessness from a loss, an injury or failure, sparking new life into you that inspires you to live on. Music also has the power to curse you, to sentence you further into despair when your already down, sometimes so much so that you lose the will to live. You have to be careful with words…there is so much power in what you allow into your mind on a daily basis via words/lyrics and what you speak out into existence. Our themes lyrically are those of liberation, speaking out against hate crimes, fighting for our freedom, finding hope and the strength to live when you have lost the will. We are not going to just lay down and die. Its all powerful stuff. I have heard numerous testimonies of people finding solace in our music. It makes me feel like this is what its truly about, being a bright light in a very dark tunnel, hence the album title “light in the dark.” Life can be brutal.

5.  What band or who would be a dream for you to open up for, co headline with for a live show?

Metallica, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Nightwish, Within Temptation and so many more.

6. If you had any concept album in you what or who would it be about ?

That is a fantastic question Robert and requires more thought on my end. Perhaps our third release will be a concept album. You have sparked my interest

7. I noticed that Light In The Dark as a album are pretty much straight away rock and metal tracks with hardly a hint of anything like a ballad, was that intentional or just how the album came to it creation?

Haha! Yeah, it just kind of happened that way. However, we have been working on a new collection of songs and yes, there are some brooding ballads. We are all really enjoying and are excited about this stuff.

8. Where did the name Masqued come from?

Choosing a band name was most difficult lol. It is kind of a blur, though I do remember one of my band mates throwing that name out there and it took off in my mind. I found the name rather intriguing with an element of theatrics and mystery. I really like the name and am glad we all agreed.

9) Out of all the music festivals that seem to come back around in Europe and the USA every spring and summer, what would be your dream festival to appear on?

Gosh there are so many…hmmm…I would say any of the Prog Power festivals would be great and definitely Wacken Open Air Festival would be stellar along with Chicago Open Air. To have a prime time spot would be the dream of dreams.

10. What are plans for Masqued by way of touring and performing in 2018? Are you booked for any shows yet?

Absolutely! We have some great shows in the processed of being solidified and will be making announcements soon though I can say the Female Metal Event in the Netherlands is one of our stops. Sooo exciting! Is there any ideas brewing for a follow up to your debut album? Yes, we definitely have a second album cooking right now. I am loving the new stuff, it just keeps getting better and better. So exciting, more great Masqued music IS in the works!!

11) When most bands with both a female and male vocalist are going with the more harsh growls ‘Beauty & Beast’ style vocal, you are your male counterpart Shane DuBose have chosen to go against the grain as it is and remain with clean vocal styles. Was this always the goal of Masqued or did it just happen this way through the evolution of the band?

We admire a great growl and scream but I think we do what is most natural to us. Who knows what will evolve in the future, anything is possible. I can say that we pride ourselves on such a melodic construct and rich harmonies. There is a lot going on in our music, a ton of musicality is what you will find from each Masqued member.

12. The final question, do you have any parting words for your existing fan base or any future fan base that takes interest in Masqued?

First of all I want to thank you all for your love for music and keeping the scene alive. We thank all of our existing fans for your unfailing love and support of us and we Masqued, are looking forward to reaching out and connecting to all of you new fans out there, all over the world. Where ever you are in your journey of life we hope to share it with you through this music; the human experience is very real and can reach great states of joy and punishing sorrows. In all the laughter and tears, we can travel this road, through music that bands us all together. We love to hear from you, messages us anytime, You can connect with us via

Masqued Official Website

Masqued Official Facebook Page

Masqued Email Booking 

Top 10 Albums of 2017 | Progressive Metal | 2 of 3

Top 10 Albums of 2017 | Progressive Metal | 2 of 3

Welcome back. This is the second of three lists of Top 10 Albums of 2017 here at Power of Prog. This time we count down the Top 10 Albums of 2017 . We are also at a point in history where there is as much progressive metal as there is it’s paternal genre progressive rock.

As many know who follow this music, progressive rock now has its branches in many other genres or sub-genres of heavy metal music. This list below is compiled from traditional progressive metal, extreme progressive black metal, progressive power metal, cinematic progressive metal, progressive death metal and a progressive rock/metal opera. Without further delay here are my Top 10 Albums Of Year, Progressive Metal.

 

1. Masqued – The Light In The Dark

Country – Houston, Texas USA

Label – Sleaszy Rider Records

Band Members

Jon Allen – Drums
Drew Creel – Guitar
Shane Dubose – Bass/Vocals
Eric Halpern – Guitar
Steffany Johnston – Vocals
Adam Rawlings – Keyboards

Masqued Official Website

Masqued Official Facebook Page

 

2. Pain Of Salvation – Passing Light Of Day

Country – Sweden

Label – Inside Out Music

Band Members
Daniel Gildenlöw – Lead Vocals/Lead Guitar
Johan Hallgren – Lead Guitar/Vocals
Léo Margarit – Drums/Vocals
Daniel Karlsson – Keyboards/Vocals
Gustaf Hielm – Bass/Vocals

Pain Of Salvation Official Website

Pain Of Salvation Official Facebook Page

 

3. Ayreon – The Source

Country – The Netherlands

Label – Mascot Label Group/Music Theories Recordings

Band Members/Original Cast

Arjen Anthony Lucassen – Electric and Acoustic Guitars/Bass Guitar/Mandolin/Synthesizers, Hammond/Solina Strings/All Other Instruments
Ed Wabry – Drums

Original Cast Members/Vocalists

James Labrie – Dream Theater- As ‘The Historian’
Tommy Giles Rogers – Between The Buried And Me – As ‘The Chemist’
Simone Simons – Epica -As ‘The Counselor’
Mike Mills – Toehider – As ‘T-H1’
Floor Jansen – Nightwish – As ‘The Biologist’
Hansi Kursch – Blind Guardian – As ‘The Astronomer’
Tobis Sammet – Avantasia/Edguy – As ‘The Captain’
Michael Eriksen – Circus Maximus – As ‘The Diplomat’
Nils K Rue – Pagans Mind – As ‘The Prophet’
Zaher Zorgati – Myrath – As ‘The Preacher’
Tommy Karevik – Kamelot – As ‘The Opposition Leader’
Russel Allen – SymphonyX – As ‘The President
Will Shaw – Heir Apparent’ Wilmer Waarbroek, Jan Willem Ketelaars, and Lisette van den Berg – Scarlet Stories as ‘The Ship’s Crew’
You … Insert Name Here … as ‘The Audience’

Production
Lori Linstruth – Photo Stills/Ajren Lucassen & Ayreon Cast
Wayne Joyner – Lyric Videos for Everybody Dies and Star Of Sirrah

Ayreon Official Website 

Ayreon Official Facebook Page

 

4. Persefone – Aathma

Country -Andorra

Label – Vicisolum Productions/Enorm Music

Band Members
Marc Martins – Vocals
Carlos Lozano – Guitars
Miguel Espinosa – Keyboards& vocals.
Filipe Baldaia – Guitars
Toni Mestre – Bass
Sergi “Bobby” Verdeguer – Drums

Persefone Official Website

Persefone Official Facebook Page

 

5. The Vicious Head Society – Abject Tomorrow

Country – Ireland

Label – Independent/Self Release

Band Members 

Graham Keane – Guitars/Bass/Creator
Wilmer Waarbroek – Vocals
Derek Sherinan – Keyboards
Nahuel Ramos – Keyboards
Pat Byrne – Vocals
Klemen Markelj – Drums
Kevin Talley – Drums
Nathan Pickering – Vocals

The Vicious Head Society Official Website – Merchandise

The Vicious Head Society Official Facebook

 

6. Perihelion Ship – To Paint A Bird Of Fire

Country – Sweden

Label – Independent/Self Released

Band Members 

Andreas Hammer – Guitar/Vocals
Jari-Markus Kohijoki – Drums
Pirkka Maksimainen – Synths
Mikael Aalto – Bass

Perihelion Ship Official Bandcamp Profile

Perihelion Ship Official Facebook Page

 

7. Dreadnought – A Wake In Sacred Waves

Country – USA

Label – Sailor Records

Band Members 

Kelly Schilling – Guitar, Flute, Clean and Harsh Vocals
Jordan Clancy – Drums, Alto/Tenor Saxophone
Kevin Handlon – Bass, Mandolin, Lyrics
Lauren Vieira – Keys, Clean Vocals

Dreadnought Official Website

Dreadnought Official Facebook Page

 

8. Iapetus – The Long Road Home

Country – USA
Label – Independent/Self Released

Band Members 

Matthew Cerami – Vocals/Guitars/Bass
Jordan Navarro – Guitars/Drum Programming/Keyboards/Additional Sounds
Jordan Navarro And Nick Shann – Drum Programming/Arrangements

Additional Musicians
Nick Shann – Guitar Solo & Stringed Arrangememnts on ‘The Long Road Home’ Violin on ‘My Father, My God
Benjamin Ian Meyerson (Fin Amor) & Justin Barone (Consonance) – Additional Lyrics & Vocal Arrangements
Samantha Marie Rae (Nectar) – Guest Vocals
Charles Buonsera – Bass Solo on ‘Evisecrate Divine’

Iapetus Official Official Merchandise Store

Iapetus Official Facebook Page

 

9. Scardust – Sands Of Time

Country – Israel

Label – Independent/ Self Released

Band Members
Noa Gruman – Lead Vocals
Yoav Weinberg – Drums
Yadin Moyal – Guitars
Yanai Avnet – Bass
Alex Nicola – Keyboards

Scardust Official Website

Scardust Official Facebook Page

 

10. MindMaze – Resolve

Country – USA
Label – Inner Wound Recordings

Band Members
Sarah Teets – Lead Vocals
Jeff Teets – Guitars, Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Rich Pasqualone – Bass, Backing Vocals
Mark “Truk” Bennett – Drums

MindMaze Official Website

MindMaze Official Facebook Page