KANSAS, America’s legendary progressive rock band, will celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2023. To commemorate this landmark occasion, current label InsideOutMusic are pleased to announce Another Fork In The Road – 50 Years Of Kansas for release on the 9th December 2022. A career-spanning collection, it features carefully-selected tracks from across the bands sizable discography, as well as a new version of ‘Can I Tell You’. Originally recorded and released on their 1974 debut, the song is updated by the current line-up, providing a full-circle perspective on the band’s long and continuing history that has seen them release 16 studio albums and sell in excess of 30 million albums worldwide.
Phil Ehart comments: “We are really honored by the commitment that InsideOut Music has put into ‘Another Fork in the Road.’ This is far more than just another greatest hits album. ‘Another Fork in the Road’ is an in-depth representation of the evolving and winding musical journey of the band KANSAS that’s been 50 years in the making.”
Another Fork In The Road – 50 Years Of Kansas will arrive as a 3CD Digipak collection, including extensive liner notes by journalist Jeff Wagner, as well as pictures of rarely-seen memorabilia and archive material, all overseen by founding member Phil Ehart. Pre-order now here: https://kansas.lnk.to/AnotherForkInTheRoad-50YearsOfKansas
The full track-listing is below. Please note, due to licensing restrictions there are minor differences between the European & North American release.
Disc 1: 1.Can I Tell You (new 2022 version) 2.The Absence of Presence (The Absence of Presence, 2020) 3.Throwing Mountains (The Absence of Presence, 2020) 4.Crowded Isolation (The Prelude Implicit, 2016) 5.Summer (The Prelude Implicit, 2016) 6.The Voyage of Eight Eighteen (The Prelude Implicit, 2016) 7.Icarus II (Somewhere to Elsewhere, 2000) 8.The Coming Dawn (Thanatopsis) (Somewhere to Elsewhere, 2000) 9.Distant Vision (Somewhere to Elsewhere, 2000) 10.The Wall (Always Never the Same, 1998) 11.Dust in the Wind (Always Never the Same, 1998) 12.Desperate Times (Freaks of Nature, 1995) 13.Under The Knife (Freaks of Nature, 1995)
North America Version – Disc 2: 1.Fight Fire With Fire (Drastic Measures, 1983) 2.End of the Age (Drastic Measures, 1983) 3.Incident on a Bridge (Drastic Measures, 1983) 4.Play the Game Tonight (Vinyl Confessions, 1982) 5.Crossfire (Vinyl Confessions, 1982) 6.Windows (Vinyl Confessions, 1982) 7.Hold On (Audio-Visions, 1980) 8.Loner (Audio-Visions, 1980) 9.Curtain of Iron (Audio-Visions, 1980) 10.No One Together (Audio-Visions, 1980) 11.On The Other Side (Monolith, 1979) 12.Angels Have Fallen (Monolith, 1979) 13.How My Soul Cries Out For You (Monolith, 1979)
EU Version – Disc 2: 1.House on Fire (In the Spirit of Things, 1988) 2.Rainmaker (In the Spirit of Things, 1988) 3.Silhouettes in Disguise (Power, 1986) 4.Secret Service (Power, 1986) 5.Three Pretenders (Power, 1986) 6.End of the Age (Drastic Measures, 1983) 7.Incident on a Bridge (Drastic Measures, 1983) 8.Play the Game Tonight (Vinyl Confessions, 1982) 9.Crossfire (Vinyl Confessions, 1982) 10.Windows (Vinyl Confessions, 1982) 11.Hold On (Audio-Visions, 1980) 12.Loner (Audio-Visions, 1980) 13.No One Together (Audio-Visions, 1980) 14.On The Other Side (Monolith, 1979) 15.How My Soul Cries Out For You (Monolith, 1979)
Disc 3: 1.Carry On Wayward Son (Two for the Show, 1978) 2.Portrait (He Knew) (Point of Know Return, 1977) 3.Sparks of the Tempest (Point of Know Return, 1977) 4.Miracles Out of Nowhere (Leftoverture, 1976) 5.Magnum Opus (Leftoverture, 1976) 6.Icarus – Borne On Wings of Steel (Masque, 1975) 7.Child of Innocence (Masque, 1975) 8.Down The Road (Song for America, 1975) 9.Song For America (Song for America, 1975) 10.The Devil Game (Song for America, 1975) 11.Death of Mother Nature Suite (Kansas, 1974) 12.Belexes (Kansas, 1974) 13.Journey From Mariabronn (Kansas, 1974)
Kansas will celebrate their 50th anniversary with extensive touring in North America in 2023. The band is currently comprised of original drummer Phil Ehart, bassist/vocalist Billy Greer, vocalist/keyboardist Ronnie Platt, violinist/guitarist David Ragsdale, keyboardist/vocalist Tom Brislin, and original guitarist Richard Williams.
For a full list of upcoming dates, head to: https://www.kansasband.com/tour-dates/
With a legendary career spanning five decades, KANSAS has firmly established itself as one of America’s iconic classic rock bands. This “garage band” from Topeka released their debut album in 1974 after being discovered by Wally Gold, who worked for Don Kirshner, and have gone on to sell more than 30 million albums worldwide.
Composing a catalogue that includes sixteen studio albums and five live albums, KANSAS has produced eight gold albums, three sextuple-Platinum albums (Leftoverture, Point of Know Return, Best of KANSAS), one platinum live album (Two for the Show), one quadruple-Platinum single ‘Carry On Wayward Son,’ and another triple-Platinum single ‘Dust in the Wind.’ KANSAS appeared on the Billboard charts for over 200 weeks throughout the ‘70’s and ‘80’s and played to sold-out arenas and stadiums throughout North America, Europe and Japan. ‘Carry On Wayward Son’ continues to be one of the top five most played songs on classic rock radio, and ‘Dust In the Wind’ has been played on the radio more than three million times!
The summer of 2020 marked the release of The Absence of Presence, KANSAS’s sixteenth studio album, which debuted at #10 on Billboard’s Top Current Albums chart. The wide-ranging progressive rock album, released by InsideOut Music, follows-up 2016’s The Prelude Implicit, which debuted at #14 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart.
Who are we? Where do we go? These are the kind of existential questions that have arisen for many of us during these last years and that have also been haunting DISILLUSION during the process of creating their fourth full-length “Ayam”. Without a chance to perform live and their personal lives also being affected by many restrictions the focus of the German avant-gardists shifted fully towards their band and the creation of new songs as well as recording. The effect is audible: “Ayam” sounds richer, even more multi-layered, and fully matured compared to the already highly praised previous releases. Yet the intricacies of their music are never just a means to an end, but more than anything all the complexity is subjugated to serve the inner feeling and cinematic aspect of each song itself.
The thematic questions and multi-dimensional layers of the songs are also reflected in the album title “Ayam”. The word derives from Sanskrit and means “This One”. Pronounced in English it sounds like “I am”, while reading it backwards turns it into “Maya”, which is neither an accident nor explained by the band that obviously likes to offer riddles.
While DISILLUSION stuck closer together, they were also searching their hearts whether it was time to change old habits and try out something new. This led to the excellent decision to leave the mix of the album to different ears than the bands’ for the first time. Their choice could not have been better as renowned producer Jens Bogren (OPETH, KATATONIA, MOONSPELL) once again worked his exciting magic and enhanced their already unique sound by shining a sonic spotlight to the most important aspects such as the vocals.
Founded around singer and guitarist Andy Schmidt in the East Germany city of Zwickau in 1994, DISILLUSION pulled the rare trick of already becoming a staple in the field of avant-garde melodic death metal with the release of their full-length debut “Back to Times of Splendor” in 2004. The Germans have always been driven to seek new challenges and find new ways to evolve their music, which was exemplified by the following album “Gloria” that took radical musical steps in several directions at the same time. “Gloria” was far ahead of its time in terms of composition and sound, which becomes apparent when compared to GOJIRA’s masterpiece “Magma” for example that came out a decade later.
Despite their early success, DISILLUSION took a creative hiatus until suddenly returning in 2016 with the single “Alea” and a new line-up that had changed in several positions. Quite likely even to the band’s surprise, a large and loyal fan base had formed during the decade of their absence, which showed in sold out shows and a highly successful crowdfunding campaign to realise a new album, which the Germans repeated for “Ayam”.
When “The Liberation” was released in 2019, critics described the album as a logical continuation of “Back to Times of Splendor”. Its songs reflected 15 years of additional experience in the musical development of Andy Schmidt. “The Liberation” turbo-charged all of DISILLUSION‘s best qualities: the perfect interplay of massive metal with moments of pure euphoria and quiet introspection that create a sonic rollercoaster ride of passionate emotions.
With “Ayam”, DISILLUSION again sail among the stars to new stellar constellations of heavy sounds. While staying true to their general course, the German avant-garde pioneers also continue dropping anchor to explore new planets sparkling in space with a multitude of radiant sounds. “Ayam” offers exciting evolution rather than radical revolution, and DISILLUSION‘s new musical forms and means are most beautiful and astonishing to behold. This album is a golden ticket to join the extraordinary journey of a life-time. Please feel free to check-in anytime you like!
Release date: November 4, 2022
Tracklist 1. Am Abgrund 2. Tormento 3. Driftwood 4. Abide the Storm 5. Longhope 6. Nine Days 7. From the Embers 8. The Brook
Recording line-up Andy Schmidt – vocals, guitar Sebastian Hupfer – guitar Ben Haugg – guitar Robby Kranz – bass, backing vocals Martin Schulz – drums
Current line-up Andy Schmidt – vocals, guitar Ben Haugg – guitar Robby Kranz – bass, backing vocals Martin Schulz – drums
Guest musicians Birgit Horn – trumpet, flugelhorn Clara Glas – cello Frederic Ruckert – keyboard Marek Stefula – triangle
Recorded & produced by Andy Schmidt & Disillusion at Echolux Studios Leipzig Drum recording engineering by Magnus Wichmann Mixed by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios, Sweden Mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios, Sweden
DISILLUSION Headliner 2022 14 OCT 2022 Köln (DE) Yard Club 15 OCT 2022 Frankfurt (DE) Das Rind 28 OCT 2022 Hamburg (DE) Headcrash 19 OCT 2022 Berlin (DE) Frannz’ 04 NOV 2022 Leipzig (DE) Werk 2
DISILLUSION with OBSCURA & PERSEFONE 07 SEP 2022 Köln (DE) Gebäude9 08 SEP 2022 Hamburg (DE) Knust 09 SEP 2022 Berlin (DE) Hole 44 10 SEP 2022 Praha (CZ) Futurum 11 SEP 2022 Warszawa (PL) Hydrozagadka 13 SEP 2022 Wien (AT) Viper Room 14 SEP 2022 Zürich (CH) Komplex Klub 15 SEP 2022 Milano (IT) Legend Club 16 SEP 2022 Lyon (FR) CCO 17 SEP 2022 Barcelona (ES) La Nau 18 SEP 2022 Madrid (ES) Caracol 19 SEP 2022 Toulouse (FR) Le Rex 20 SEP 2022 Paris (FR) Petit Bain 22 SEP 2022 Bristol (UK) Exchange 23 SEP 2022 Dublin (IE) Voodoo Lounge 24 SEP 2022 Glasgow (UK) Audio 25 SEP 2022 Leeds (UK) Brudenell 26 SEP 2022 London (UK) The Underworld 28 SEP 2022 Nijmegen (NL) Doornroosje 29 SEP 2022 Frankfurt (DE) Das Bett 30 SEP 2022 Mannheim (DE) MSC Complex 01 OCT 2022 München (DE) Backstage Halle
Canada’s The Wring is gearing up to release a third album in December, which is an amalgamation of different styles, brought together by solo artist Don Dewulf. His project has been growing by leaps and bounds, and this new release will wow listeners across the heavy spectrum. “Spectra” is a bit like a 1970’s King Crimson album, but without any ethereal soliloquies and certainly with a more significant hard rock/metal influence. It is a cauldron of hard rock, jazz, metal, classical, 80’s rock, 70’s rock, and probably a few other things. The performances are tight and meaningful. Dewulf comments on the album:
“I am very proud of the compositions on this album. You will hear rock, prog, metal, jazz, classic rock, and a few other things, covering a wide range of approaches, but still cohesive and very accessible for any kind of listener. Prog music can tend to be grandiose; I wanted this album to be the opposite of that. Tight, concise, and well-executed with interesting melody, rhythm, and lyrical themes. Marco Minnemann’s drums were the first thing to be recorded. His performance set the tone; the other guys had no choice but to play their asses off, and they did!”
To bring his vision to life, Sudbury, Ontario local Dewulf enlisted some of the best professional musicians to play the parts. Marco Minnemann – world-renowned drummer, member of The Aristocrats, and successful solo artist. Chandler Mogel – Amazing singer with a great 80’s vibe. Reggie Hache – Canadian bass superstar. Does his own thing and contributed incredible parts to this album. Isamu McGregor – Session keyboard player with great vision and feel. Together they deliver an expansive, detailed eight-track album that touches on a wide range of musical styles and themes. Each listener will hear something different in the compositions.
The Wring started in 2015, as Dewulf had a lot of material written that needed to see the light of day. He assembled the players and released the self-titled album in 2017. They played some shows, and players drifted off, but there was still an abundance of material. Another batch of studio musicians was brought together to release “Project Cipher” in 2021 and yet another diverse bunch got together for “Spectra”.
The band’s classic heavy rock intertwined with prog is recommended for fans of Rush, King Crimson, and Dream Theater.
“Spectra” is due out on December 16, 2022 via Wormholedeath Records.
Track Listing: 1. Stiletto 4:40 2. Stones & Bones 4:58 3. The Prince 3.54 4. The Wolf 5:00 5. Tin Man 5:25 6. From Mars 4:43 7. Sins 4:43 8. Fallen 5:05 Album Length: 38:28
Album Recording Line Up: Don Dewulf – Guitars Marco Minnemann – Drums Chandler Mogel – Vocals Reggie Hache – Bass & Keyboards Isamu McGregor – Keyboards
““Wring² Project Cipher comes with a heavy, classic rock feel, but there’s an epic, questing nature to tunes like Sorceress, Steelier and Dose that pushes The Wring beyond metal norms and into prog territory.” – Prog Magazine
“The extreme professionalism on display throughout this entire album, although a labour of love, is a true master class of musicianship performed by musicians who are truly at the top of their game, making the industry what it is today. The sheer attention to detail is a credit to each and every performer as they tailor their craft neatly and precisely throughout every track, with nothing less than perfect being the order of the day.” – Stargazer Music Magazine
“Overall, the entire album is laden with a rich tapestry of sound and lyrics, well thought out and carefully developed by founder member and visionary Don Dewulf, taking the listener on that perfect journey of thought, and is a credit to its makers gathering no dust in any collection. 10/10” – Stargazer Music Magazine
“Thanks to his renowned session musicians and original compositions, The Wring is a refreshing discovery that offers a personal reading of modern metal. 4/5” – Music Waves
“What sounds at first to be a straight-forward rock album, turns out to be so much more. It’s a tad short, but sometimes less is more. You can hear many influences in these tracks, some of them familiar, but The Wring have stamped their own identity all over it. This should keep you going for the time being but expect more from Don Dewulf with The Wring3 already in the recording stage!” – The Prog Space
“Dewulf’s guitar work shines throughout, at times reminiscent of Alex Lifeson in his prime, such as his powerful solo on ‘Steelier’ which soars above the raging musical maelstrom below. There’s even a funk-infused breakout on ‘Dose’, which is infectious with its driving hook. It’s an absorbing record, one that takes time to soak in, but several plays ensure that it’s burnt deep into the memory. When those end-of-year lists come round, ‘Wring² Project Cipher’ is likely to be pushing for a slot.” – The Razor’s Edge
“The Wring generally succeed at what they’re going for—Dewulf has produced a fun, catchy record. Particularly on the album’s middle section (“Cipher,” “Steelier” and “Dissension”), there’s some great songs with great riffs. If you’re after some new prog, you could do a lot worse than this album, and I found it quite hard to score.” – Angry Metal Guy
“The overall sound is something like the heavier side of Rush, with hooks and melodic elements smoothing out the guitar crunch, making this very accessible.” – The Progressive Aspect
The 16th studio album will be released in Japan and SE Asia on October 26, 2022 through King Records. The 16th studio album will be released in Europe and in North & South America on October 28, 2022 through Northpoint Productions.
Tracklist: 01. Midway (Resumption) 02. Thorn In My Heart 03. The Key Of Insanity 04. Live Another Day 05. The Purge 06. One More Shot 07. Scream Of Anger a) Hit and Run b)The Thrill of the Chase 08. Left In The Wind 09. Resurrection F451
Artist: Royal Hunt Title: Dystopia. Part II Format: Digital CD / Physical CD / Label: King Records for Japan and SE Asia + Northpoint Productions for EU and N & S America
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