Haken guitarist Charlie Griffiths returns with a follow-up to his 2022 solo album. This time Charlie assumes the moniker ‘Tiktaalika’ and presents ‘Gods of Pangaea’ – set for release on March 14th, 2025. The album picks up where the last left off, and continues with an exploration into an ancient forgotten world, colliding with the human-centric planet we inhabit today.
To coincide with today’s announcement, the title track from the album has been launched, featuring vocals from Texture’s Daniël de Jongh. The video sees Charlie coloring in the striking cover art, once again created by Dan Goldsworthy (Sepultura, Body Count, Aborted). Watch it now here:
Musically the album pays tribute to the art of the guitar riff, with its DNA strands reaching back to the golden era of metal with flavours of Mercyful Fate, Judas Priest, Megadeth and Metallica. Of the creative process Charlie explains, “This time around I wanted to be more song oriented, rather than having an overarching concept. Although I had a rough blueprint for the shape of the album in my head and was always conscious of the balance and flow of the album experience; starting with a fast thrasher, following up with a longer progressive track, then a slower sludgy song, followed by a softer track and so on. I finished all the music first and really focused on each section be there for a good reason, with a guitar riff that propels the song.”
The album sees Charlie joined by drummer Darby Todd (Devin Townsend) and basis Conner Green (Haken). He is also helped by a collection of some of the best vocalists in the business, with Tommy Rogers (Between The Buried & Me), Rody Walker (Protest The Hero), Vladimir Lalić (Organised Chaos) all joining the aforementioned de Jongh. “I had all the music written for a good while”, comments Charlie, “I was able to allow them to really percolate in my mind before moving on to the lyrics and vocal line demos. I’m very specific with melodies and word placement so the singers can focus on just delivering it 100% without having to figure too much out. Of course every single track came out a thousand times better than I’d hoped; everyone did an incredible job!”
The full tracklisting is as follows:
1.Tyrannicide feat. Daniël de Jongh 3:54 2.Gods of Pangaea feat. Daniël de Jongh 8:36 3.The Forbidden Zone feat. Vladimir Lalić 5:52 4.Mesozoic Mantras feat. Vladimir Lalić 6:32 5.Fault Lines feat. Rody Walker 6:30 6.Give Up The Ghost feat. Daniël de Jongh 5:15 7.Lost Continent feat. Tommy Rogers 9:12 8.Chicxulub 7:31 (Bonus Track on CD & Digital)
The album was mixed by Adam ‘Nolly’ Getgood and mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street studios. The album will be available as a Limited CD Edition (incl. 1 bonus track), Gatefold LP & as Digital Album. Pre-order now here: https://tiktaalika.lnk.to/GodsOfPangaea
US-based rising instrumental progressive metallers, Sometime In February, are pleased to announce their upcoming new studio album ‘Where Mountains Hide’ will be released March 21st, 2025 via InsideOutMusic/Sony Music. Hailing from Charlotte, North Carolina, this instrumental guitar trio present sophisticated yet accessible compositions that reveal a maturity beyond their brief time together as a band.
To celebrate the announcement, the band have also launched their latest single ‘Palantir’, accompanied by a brand-new video. Watch it now here:
The band comments of the album and single release: “We are so excited to announce our sophomore record, and our debut with InsideOutMusic, Where Mountains Hide. It’s been a long time in the making, our biggest accomplishment, and our boldest statement. Once we signed with the label, we knew we had to step up our game to keep up with the legendary names on their roster.
Alongside this announcement comes our lead single, Palantir. It was the first track written for our new album, and it sets the tone for the record as a whole. We feel it is the definitive sound for Sometime in February in our current state, and we are so excited for everyone to hear this single and the rest of the album, and for everyone to see it live in person very soon.”
‘Where Mountains Hide’ will be available as a Limited CD Digipak, Limited Edition Coloured Vinyl (both including bonus track) & as Digital Album. Pre-order’s are available now here: https://sometimeinfebruary.lnk.to/WhereMountainsHideAlbum
The full track-listing is as follows:
1.Palantir
2.Mourning Bird
3.The Bad Fight
4.Outside In
5.What Was Heard
6.What Was Said
7.Phantom Sea
8.Bury You
9.Homeworld I: Green Mountain
10.Homeworld II: Dislodged
11.Funeral House
12.There Is Nothing Here But Technology (Bonus Track)
In 2023, the band introduced themselves with their first single under InsideOut, titled ‘Hiding Place’, which showcased their melodic approach. Now, with a full album of new material, Sometime in February presents 11 captivating tracks, from the fusion-metal opener ‘Palantir’ to the progressive complexity of ‘Outside In’ to the blues-infused, prog-metal closer ‘Funeral House.’
Originally founded as an instrumental solo project for guitarist Tristan Auman in 2020, Sometime in February became a fully rounded prog rock trio with the addition of drummer Scott Barber and bassist Morgan Johnson after making the jump from studio to stage following the release of their EP ‘Here Goes’ in 2021. The Carolina-based group has kept their foot on the gas ever since, touring throughout the Southeast US and releasing their follow-up, the debut LP ‘There Goes’, in 2023.
The trio’s connections extend into the progressive music world, featuring collaborations with Between the Buried and Me members Paul Waggoner and Dan Briggs. Tristan had been working for Waggoner in a local coffee shop. After getting to know Tristan, he went to see the band and was impressed by their live performance. He later invited Auman to fill in alongside Paul on BTBAM gigs. In return, Waggoner contributed to the track ‘The Bad Fight’ and appeared in the music video. “I had a part open for him on the song,” Auman recalls. “He sent over some ideas, and they were perfect, as expected.”
Briggs added a unique touch, playing textural elements and additional instruments like mandolin, rather than bass. The BTBAM connection also extended to the album’s mixing, handled by engineer Jamie King, who previously worked with Scott’s former band, Trees on Mars. “Tristan knew right away he wanted to work with Jamie, and I was all for it,” Scott says. “Jamie was great in the studio with a positive vibe the whole time.”
To enhance the album’s sound design, the band brought in Eric Guenther, keyboardist for The Contortionist. “We discussed sound design, and The Contortionist was at the top of our list,” Morgan explains. “Eric was our first choice, and he was on board right away. He had seen Tristan on the BTBAM tour, and he elevated the entire project with his contributions.”
For Tristan, ‘Where Mountains Hide’ represents a step forward, with an uplifting and optimistic feel. “For this album, I wanted the songs to stand alone more, instead of making everything flow together like typical prog albums. But in the end, it naturally felt cohesive. The album has a grand and fantastical vibe, and with instrumental music, it can be challenging to create a specific atmosphere, but that’s what I aimed for.”
Originally released in 2006, Signal to Noise was White Willow’s attempt to break out from the established 70s prog rock sound. Wanting a sound that was a bit more up to date, the band chose to work with an outside producer.
“We were great fans of the work Tommy Hansen had done with various bands, and we knew he had a really nice studio. So we set off to Denmark and spent some wonderful weeks in his garden studio in Horsens. One of our influences on this record was City Boy; we wanted a similar kind of amalgam of progginess and catchiness. We also had a singer, Trude Eidtang, who was very comfortable experimenting with vocal harmonies, which brought a new aspect to the band’s sound.”
This re-release, meticulously remastered by Jacob Holm-Lupo brings new life to the album, featuring the iconic original cover art for the first time on vinyl. It’s the fifth in a series of six White Willow re-releases on Karisma Records.
Tracklist: 1. Night Surf 2. Dusk City 3. Joyride 4. Chrome Dawn 5. The Dark Road 6. Splinters 7. The Lingering 8. Ghosts 9. Ararat
9th January 2025: Steve Hacketts annual performances at Trading Boundaries, in Sussex, UK have become something of a tradition for the legendary guitarist in recent years. Presenting stripped down material, and showcasing his acclaimed classical compositions, these unique & intimate concerts have become a highlight of the year, beloved of his fans. As Steve explains: Its always a joy for me to play at Trading Boundaries, a magical intimate place full of beautiful lights and exotic imagery, illuminating the darkest time of year over Christmas and New Year… Its the perfect location for my acoustic set.
Live Magic At Trading Boundaries, set for release on 17th January 2025, collects various recordings from these shows from over the years, and also features appearances from regular collaborators including brother John Hackett on flute, Roger King on keys, Rob Townsend on flute & sax, & Amanda Lehmann on guitar & vocals. The release also coincides with Steves next two live appearances at the venue, on the 18th & 19th January 2025.
Today he is pleased to release a live recording of the track Jacuzzi, originally featured on his 1980 solo album Defector, and you can listen to it now here: https://youtu.be/6peMKqgIOUU
Steve comments: Im thrilled to be releasing such a special album of live virtuoso performances over the years at such a magical venue.
Live Magic At Trading Boundaries will be available as a Limited-Edition CD Digipak, Gatefold 180g 2LP & Digital Album, mixed by long-time live sound engineer Ben Fenner. Pre-order now here: https://stevehackett.lnk.to/LiveMagicAtTradingBoundaries
1 Improv 00:01:54
2 Blood on the Rooftops 00:01:15
3 The Barren Land 00:01:34
4 Black Light 00:01:12
5 Horizons 00:01:29
6 Jacuzzi 00:03:20
7 Suppers Ready (Excerpt) 00:01:40
8 After the Ordeal 00:02:01
9 Hairless Heart 00:05:04
10 Jazz on a Summers Night 00:03:48
11 Gnossienne No. 1 00:03:00
12 Walking Away from Rainbows 00:03:28
13 Poulenc Organ Concerto (excerpt) 00:03:45
14 The Red Flower of Tai Chi Blooms Everywhere 00:02:19
15 Hands of the Priestess 00:05:39
16 Memory Lane 00:05:12
17 Only Happy When it Rains 00:04:08
18 Ace of Wands 00:03:37
19 The Journey 00:03:36
Listen to the track Ace Of Wands (originally from his debut solo album Voyage Of The Acolyte) performed live here: https://youtu.be/zfnwYd2IyYs
Over the course of 19 tracks, Steve explores various facets of his catalogue, including Genesis classics like Blood On The Rooftops & Horizons, stripped down solo material such as Ace Of Wands & Hands Of The Priestess, and magical renditions of his much-acclaimed classical catalogue like Black Light & The Journey. As a result, this album shows a completely different side to his playing: Somehow, you can feel the special atmosphere through the sound of the music on this new live album, which is a complete contrast to my live rock shows.
I love the delicate dreamlike quality of this show with John and Rob interplaying beautifully on flute and sax, interspersed by surprising moments of power, such as the point when Rogers keys become the sound of a full blown pipe organ! The album also features two performances of tracks from Amanda Lehmanns most recent solo album Innocence and Illusion, Amandas lovely vocals on her own spellbinding songs also provide a special contrast.
Steve has recently been reissuing his classical catalogue, and the latest two in the series, Metamorpheus & Tribute are available now. Both albums have been newly remastered for vinyl, and are available as Gatefold 180g LPs in both black and limited coloured vinyl editions for the very first time. New digipak CD editions are also available, and they can all be ordered below:
These follow hot on the heels of his critically-acclaimed new studio album The Circus and the Nightwhale. A rite-of-passage concept album with a young character called Travla at the centre of
it, the 13 tracks have an autobiographical angle for the musician who says about his 30th solo release: I love this album. It says the things Ive been wanting to say for a very long time.
Set to unleash his latest and eighth studio album “Powercore” toward the end of January 2025, prog guitarist Marko Bojkovic has one more treat for fans with the last single to reveal before the full-length officially drops from Forerunner Recordings.
Entitled “From Within” featuring guest vocals fromGabe Vermund, the track is an empowering composition of progressive, power, and metalcore. Bojkovic states:
“We all have a power within us, and we already have that power! We didn’t get it from training or experience; we just have it! All you have to do to realize you have it is to believe in yourself! This song also has the best guitar solo that I’ve written by far because it’s the perfect showcase for my current style!”
Previous Singles “What We Accomplished” ft. Chris Thomas and “Find Your Flame” ft. Johnny Ray (The Mourning), Gabe Vermund, and Chris Thomas (a cover of the song from the video game Sonic Frontier can be heard at the following links:
Inspired by his youthful years of playing Sonic Adventure on his Sega Dreamcast and being wondered but its luring soundtrack, Marko Bojkovic over the years has been exploring instrumental guitar sounds, and will be presenting his eighth studio album “Powercore” on January 24th, 2025 on Forerunner Recordings.
Packing the most punch with perfectly combined progressive metal, power metal, metalcore, and djent along with influences from jazz fusion to classical music, Bojkovic‘s new album “Powercore” (named after his own dubbed genreof metal called Progressive PowerCore) is meant to send positive messages such as being able to accomplish anything you set your mind to and believing in yourself. Musically, the album’s guitar solos are among the best he’s ever written. As a small content creator on YouTube and Patreon, Bojkovic has become known on the internet for his economy-picking prowess, which he showcases to excellent use on the songs featured in this full-length. In addition to the guitar work, Bojkovic played all the bass lines on “Powercore” along with recruiting guest vocals from Chris Thomas (growling vocals, clean vocals) and Gabe Vermund (clean vocals).
“This album is me finally channeling my personality in my music! Its predecessor ‘Venom’ represented how I felt at a certain point in my life, and those familiar with that record may be caught a bit off guard given the drastic change in my style, but PowerCore represents how I feel in general! It is meant to be accessible to metal fans and non-metal fans alike. This album is a reflection of how I stay positive in difficult situations, but also has moments of self-reflection, or as Eckhart Tolle calls it “presence.” A lot of metal songs seem to be about sadness and negativity, and while those songs are very cool and heartfelt, metal songs can be positive and inspire the listener to go out and achieve a set goal!” adds Bojkovic.
Recommended for fans of Trivium, Avenged Sevenfold, Periphery, Dream Theater, and Firewind, Marko Bojkovic‘s new album “Powercore” is available for pre-save at the following link – https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/markobojkovic/powercore
Fans interested in Bojkovic’s Patreon Page to get exclusive content about his guitar playing and techniques, please subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/MarkoBojkovic
Track Listing: 1. Anesthesia (No Easy Way Out) – 3:58 2. From Within – 5:29 3. Sacrifice For Sanity – 3:50 4. What We Accomplished ft. Chris Thomas – 3:17 5. Find Your Flame ft. Johnny Ray (The Mourning) – 4:00 6. Thrown – 5:41 7. To Reminisce – 4:54 Album Length: 31:11
You can do stuff on lead guitar that no one else can do, such as your economy picking.” – Patrick Finster – Producer
“Venom is a very heavy album and I absolutely loved the guitar work. The self-titled track really showcased the heavy riffs and helped set the course for the rest of the album. ‘Maximum Carnage’ also had nice guitar work as well. Hard, heavy, and head bang worthy riffs…. In all I highly recommend this album for fans of bands like Trivium and Meshuggah. With Marko’s guitar work plus the vocals, it’s definitely worth a listen for anyone that enjoys heavy metal, with some screaming vocals.” – Music Crowns
Florida metal guitarist Marko Bojkovic has released his latest album, Venom. Musically, the album is a mixture of progressive metal, death metal, power metal, and thrash metal, with a hint of influence from anime and video game OSTs… Marko’s music is perfect for fans of Trivium, Meshuggah, Allegeaon, Obscura, Dream Theater, Firewind, Sabaton, Powerwolf, Iron Maiden, Kiko Loureiro/Angra, and Leprous.” – Punkerton Records
“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Marko and mentoring his playing for over 2 years now and can easily see he’s one of the most capable, hardest working and fastest learning guitarists I’ve ever come across!” – Bradley Hall, guitar Youtuber
THE FIRST SINGLE TO BE RELEASED FROM HIS UPCOMING ALBUM MOBULA (28TH FEBRUARY 2025)
Revered pianist and one half of atmospheric prog duo Iamthemorning Gleb Kolyadin returns today with the first single from his new solo album Mobula (28th February). The track, titled ‘Glimmer’, introduces new styles and folk elements for Gleb, taking listeners on a journey through cosmic landscapes, shifting times of day, and deep space, where imagination transforms the ordinary.
‘Glimmer’ is brought to life by a mesmerizing, handcrafted animation by Natalia Ryss. Known for her work with Max Cooper, Ryss’ stunning video, crafted frame by frame over three months using different techniques like rotoscoping, perfectly mirrors the track’s otherworldly charm and adds a visual depth to the ethereal quality of the music.
Drawing from poloniumcubes – Gleb’s vast music diary of over 500 tracks – Mobula unfolds as a suite of 14 short stories, each one a vibrant novella in sound. It’s a sci-fi-inspired odyssey that captures the spirit of grace and exploration, embodied by the album’s titular oceanic creature. From neoclassical elegance to pulsating electronic beats & folk textures, Mobula traverses genres and emotions, mirroring the movements of an imaginary planet and its ever-changing atmospheres
Mobula marks Gleb Kolyadin’s first album fully conceived and produced in the UK, following his relocation two years ago under a Global Talent visa. The album, mixed and mastered by Vlad Avy, blends rich folk and ethnic influences with electronic rhythms. Central to Mobula’s vibrant sound is the contribution of percussionist Evan Carson, a notable figure in the folk scene, whose work on almost all the tracks added an exuberance and dynamism to the rhythmic palette.
‘his music comes from deep within his soul. What treasure lies there’ – Prog Magazine
Adding to the album’s distinct character is the enchanting resonance of a 100-year-old Broadwood grand piano that was used throughout the recording process. Captured by engineers Marcel van Limbeek (Tori Amos) and Gianluca Capacchione (Max Meser), the piano brings a timeless, organic warmth to the compositions, contrasting beautifully with the album’s modern production techniques.
‘a master’ – Classic Rock Germany
Mobula will be released on 28th February on Kscope on purple vinyl LP, black vinyl LP, CD and digitally. Pre-order here: https://GlebKolyadin.lnk.to/mobula
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