Melodic Revolution Records is excited to announce that The Rain will see a worldwide release on April 7th 2016 in both CD and Digital formats.
Gildenlöw’s eleven year career as bass player in the progressive rock band Pain of Salvation set the wheels in motion for his solo career, which took flight with release of his debut album RUST (2013), paving way for The Rain. In addition to vocals, Gildenlöw performs a wide range of instruments and uses carefully selected guest musicians – adding strings, accordion and church organ – to make this album come to life.
About The Rain: The deep tones of how the mind fights against itself resonate throughout this powerful and poignant work by Kristoffer Gildenlöw. A brilliant effort after his highly acclaimed first solo release: Rust (2013); a thematic album which delved into the realities of aging and one’s perspectives on past, future and ultimately reconciliation with life choices. Again, Gildenlöw has chosen a heavy subject for the theme of The Rain; which is a concept album that examines the life of a man in later stages of dementia who struggles with his own reality, perceived through the metaphor of rain and clouds.
The gentleness of the piano passages oppose the angst and turmoil which lie beneath. The gentle pace at which the album progresses is reflective of the destructive force of the disease upon the man, and you find yourself at the tipping point with the track, ‘Breath In, Breath Out’. It is through this lyrically beautiful song that the realization of the end becomes apparent; leaving the listener grasping for the beauty captured in the mind’s eye.
The Rain – Track List: 1. After The Rain pt. II 2. Holding On pt. I 3. Seeking The Sun pt. I 4. Seeking The Sun pt. II 5. Worthy 6. Holding On pt. II 7. See it All 8. Peripheral Memory 9. Breathe In, Breathe Out 10. In the Evening 11. It Was Me 12. Drizzle 13. She 14. All For You 15. The Funeral pt. I 16. The Funeral pt. II
Album Line-up: Kristoffer Gildenlöw: Vocals, Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Piano, Keyboards, Bass Guitars, Double Bass, Percussion, Glockenspiel Lars Erik Asp: Drums & Percussion (Gazpacho) Paul Coenradie: Electric Guitar (Valentine, Aniday) Fredrik Hermansson: Piano & Electric Piano (Pain of Salvation) Anne Bakker: Violin, Viola & Vocals (Blaze Bayley) Maaike Peterse: Cello (Kovacs, Ayreon, Kingfisher Sky)
Special Guests: Norman Ebicilio: Vocals on Drizzle Cees Pouw: Accordion Theo Teunisen: Church Organ Popkoor Zuilen: Choir Rienk Speelman: Conductor Recorded, Mixed and Produced at New Joke Studios (NL) by Kristoffer Gildenlöw except: Drums Lars Erik Asp Recorded at Anywhere Studios (NO), Guitars Paul Coenradie Recorded at Legacy Studio (NL) by Patrick Terwee, Keyboards Fredrik Hermansson Recorded at Livingroom Studios (S) and Additional Cello Recorded at Here’s Johnny Studios (NL). Mastered at Fine Tune Mastering Studio (NL) by Peter van’t Riet; Artwork by BlackLake Design (NL)
About The Artist: Born in Eskilstuna, Sweden, Gildenlöw made a name for himself in the progressive rock scene during his eleven year career (1995- 2006) as bass player for world-renowned Swedish band, Pain of Salvation. His skill as a bass guitarist granted him the endorsement by Mayones guitars for more than a decade. In addition to bass guitar, Gildenlöw studied: piano, drums, double bass, guitar, classical vocals and music design; all of which have served the artist well in his transition to a solo career. He left Sweden and PoS to move to the Netherlands, but remained very active working as a session musician in live performances, touring, and recording bass lines on over thirty prominent albums for various artists all over the world. Gildenlöw’s solo career took flight with release of his debut album, RUST (2013). He released charity single, Pass The Torch (2014) and critic’s response to previews of The Rain (2016) have been very positive. The Rain worldwide release April/2016.
In Related News: Kristoffer Gildenlöw, presents his 2nd solo album, The Rain live on March 25, 2016 at Cultuurpodium Boerderij, Zoetermeer, Netherlands. Kristoffer will be joined on stage by his live band: Paul Coenradie (Aniday, Valentine), Dec Burke (Frost*, Audioplastik), Dirk Bruinenberg (Patrick Rondat, Elegy), David Gutierrez Rojas (Kingfisher Sky), Anne Bakker (Blaze Bayley), Daniël Huijben (The 11th Hour), and Rick Snel (Déva Dyne) *Co-headliners: Antimatter (UK)
I would like to open this review as one coming out from underneath a boulder in 2015. How I missed this one in such a banner year in progressive rock and metal is beyond me.
It seems that Greece contnues to make their mark in the world of progressive rock and metal. From the land that has brought us Firewind, Gus G, Seduce The Heaven, etc .. presents the band called Groove Therapist. It seems that Groove Therapist intended to make a statement early in their recording career by the debut release of a concept album titled Mr Funker “The Myth’ .
It is certainly no secret that progressive rock and metal has served as the perfect breeding ground of creativity of conceptual albums. From the earlier albums such as Yes’ Tales Of Topographic Oceans to Jethro Tull’s Thick As A BrickThe Who’s Quadrophenia in the 1970’s to later pieces like Queensryche’s Operation Mindcrime,Savatage’s Streets A Rock Opera,Fates Warning’s A Pleasant Shade Of Grey and Dream Theater’s Metropolis 2: Scenes From A Memory, Groove Therapist’s Mr Funker ‘The Myth‘ now joins company with these and many other conceptual works in progressive rock and metal music.
On a creative and literary note, Groove Therapist’s Mr Funker ‘The Myth‘ will certainly appeal to fans and readers of such legendary writers as Edgar Allen Poe’s The Raven and Charles Dickens’David Copperfield. Like those masterpieces, Mr Funker ‘The Myth‘ has a brooding villain oppressing a orphanage or the poor in obscurity by a evil entity called Drop ‘D’ and a hero lurking in the shadows of the streets within the village waiting for its chance to strike and avenge the evil.
On a musical perspective this concept has a little of everything. It has heavy progressive riffs and even a few sick time signatures to perfectly narrated segue’s that help the listener follow the story. A lot of the actual musical tracks hit with all the hallmarks of a progressive outlet. Whether it is a symphonic, a old school hammond organ or a modern progressive metal there is a little bit for every audio pallet out there. The fact that there is a actual female singing the female portions and male singing the male portions also helps the listener identify and relate with the characters of the main narrative. When anger resides in the characters so does the vocal and melody.
This was one of the most courageous and ambitious debut’s I have heard in the last 25 years. Where most bands wait until their third and latter albums to do a concept such as this, Groove Therapist have made a profound and direct statement that they are here now. Mr Funker ‘The Myth’ will be a concept album we will be talking about 20 years from now. This is also a concept that can easily have visual treatment on it if the band ever decides to go that direction. For the courage and ambition as well as a damn good concept. I give this a 5/5.
It appears that 2016 is starting out where 2015 left off as far as quality progressive power metal is concerned. Among a few bands that are or have already released great albums this year are Myrath Legacy, Redemption The Art Of Loss, and industry standards like Dream Theater The Astonishing have already opened up 2016 as 2015 came to a close. However there is a hidden diamond, a true hidden treasure that some how came to my attention way out of left field that being Italy’s own Eleventh Hour.
Eleventh Hour’s Memory Of A Lifetime Journey are among the new guard of power/progressive metal. Their clean approach is still a powerful reminder of the demand for quality vocal oriented melodic power progressive metal. Memory Of A Lifetime Journey is a true thematic journey in itself. Although not a concept album there is a common thread of various stories through the ten tracks that make up the album. Each track telling its own story while maintaining a epic journey in the album’s collective.
Eleventh Hour’s Memory Of A Lifetime Journey is one of those albums that come along every 5-10 years that really has a lot to say within the span of 60+ minutes. Every song on the album has a individual story within a common over all theme. While some power progressive metal bands like to grandstand and exploit virtuosity, Eleventh Hour bring it real and back to Earth by telling stories that the listener can either identify with or find escape in.
Although Eleventh Hour’s Memory Of A Lifetime Journey is the vision of Aldo Turini – Guitars, it is not a domineering monarchy. This is very much a democracy where the rest of the band has equal time and care with their respective roles. With a strong emphasis on the songwriting this also sets the band up quite nicely with potential live set lists. On some of the tracks such as the opener Sunshine’s Not Too Far Behind (Intro), All I Left Behind and JerusalemAlberto Sonzogni – Keyboards perfectly compliments the string section of Aldo Turini – Guitars. Just as the deep rhythm section of Black Jin – Electric and Fretless Bass & Luca Mazzucconi – Drums certainly are within harmony, giving the album teeth and grit. Alessandro Del Vecchio – Vocals is also and certainly one of the best vocalists to come up in the last 15 or 20 years.
Eleventh Hour’s Memory Of A Lifetime Journey spends the first have of the album with a heavy emphasis on progressive metal the last half , five tracks more in a melodic power metal mood. There i a reason I left out my track by track analysis on this particular review. For one it is a debut and two after the listener buys this album and starts his or her listening experience they will realize that the album was made to be enjoyed as a whole album.
The very fact that Eleventh Hour are not signed by a Frontiers Records in Italy or AFM Records or even a InsideOut Music and are independent is way beyond me. Maybe it might be better this way for now. However any label really needs to take a real listen and consideration on Eleventh Hour. Memory Of A Lifetime Dream gets a 5/5 for having a little of something for every audio pallet within the melodic progressive power metal community thus having a unifying quality that is sometimes lost on this style of music.
About 50 years ago there was something happening in Germany that would enhance the landscape of music for 3 & 1/2 generations to come. This would affectionately known as Krautrock. This was a more subtle minimal approach to progressive rock unlike the over the top progressive rock coming from the UK at the time. Bands such as Amon Duul ii , The Can, Popol Vuhl and Kraftwerk to name a few believed that a less and more eccentric approach was more. Due to the post World War 2 bitterness krautrock would be rejected on UK soil. Therefore the bands from Germany bypassed the UK and sought audience in America.
5600 miles to the west in San Francisco California another less is more approach was happening within its own music scene. This approach was a more drug induced, mind expansive that would be called Psychedelic, Acid or Stoner rock. Bands like The Greatful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, JanisJoplin and Crosby, Stills and Nash were on the forefront of this revolution of music.
Come now to 2016. It is as if the Krautrock of Germany and the Psychedelic/Acid rock of San Francisco had ‘Melodic Intercourse’ and created a all new sub genre within progressive and psychedelic music. This new music would have all the elements of both scenes as well as a more free form improvisional sound that is not as pre conceived nor written ahead of time. One of the many multiple offspring that both scenes of music produced was current German progressive/psychedelic rockers The Spacelords.
The Spacelords Liquid Sun embodies a little bit of every element of the two music scenes mentioned above along with their own improvised and free form approach to the music itself. Although only 3 songs and a total album length of 33+ minutes long, The Spacelords Liquid Sun gives the listener a sonic sense of a full one hour of listening bliss. Within the 33+ minutes we find long improvised yet tight rhytymic sections with layer upon layers of intergalatic soundscapes and atmospheres. Now a brief yet detailed look at The Spacelords Liquid Sun.
Liquid Sun begins with a gentle and subtle percussive element with the cymbals from the drums. That element is quickly met by the tight rhythm section between the deep bass and rhytym guitar. This is a more progressive track meaning it starts out very subtle and climbs in various up and down tempo progressions and passages. At some points it sounds like a cross between Earthless meets Buckethead meets Oresund Space Collective. About the 3:00 mark it takes a heavily space rock approach within the track. At about the 6:00 mark the track takes a very 1970’s stoner rock turn. At the 7:00 mark it takes a highly and perfectly surround sound approach as if to give the listener an appearance of some alien contact. The final 4:00 the track is a very traditional psychedelic/stoner track that contains heavy progressive time signatures towards a climax.
Spaceship Breakdown starts off almost in the vein of very early ZZTop Tres Hombres’ passage of progression. It may give the listener an appearance of 4/4 however there is much more like a 5/4 and 7/8 time signature going on here. There also seems to be some various spaceship micro processing effects happening in the back drop. This track always breaks back to the same progression before taking a sonic ascension towards a climatic riff and passage. Spaceship Breakdown also has some very tight rhythm based guitar solo’s. This is a type of track if you had a intergalactic convertable going through the concourse of space and time you may hear this. Many of the space effects are wonderfully performed on a mellotron synth organ.
Black Hole starts out with a lot of guitar fret work making more effects as it goes and balancing them well with melody. It has a very eerie yet liquid and subtle vibe about it. This is met by a perfectly complimented deep bass and drum rhythm section. At about the 4:00 mark the band really settles in for a lengthy jam session. The passages and progressions off the riffs continue to climb with great continuity. For a 21:10 improvised track the band really picks up one another’s changes really spot on. There continues to be surround sound style soundscapes and effects. The track evens takes some serious down tuned stoner style elements as well. At some points this takes a very stoner metal turn. If you like long progressive free form improvised jam songs than Black Hole is perfect for your audio pallet.
The Spacelords Liquid Sun was a true adventure. It is definitely one of those albums the band can certainly build their legacy upon. They can convey the true nature of the goal they set without totally overwhelming the listener. Liquid Sun will be a album that will celebrated a few generations from now much like the Krautrock of Germany and Psychedelic rock of San Francisco is now. This is my first 5/5 for 2016.
(Bandcamp Player – Hover Mouse Over Image To Listen )
Kristoffer Gildenlöw has just released his second video for the upcoming album “The Rain” due for worldwide release on April 7th in both CD & Digital formats.
The video simply titled ‘The Rain – Preview 2’, introduces you the audience to the band via a stunning visual montage, while the backdrop intertwines with instrumental passages from the new album The Rain.
In related news! Kristoffer has revamped his website and has made ‘The Rain’ CD available for pre-order and can also be pre-ordered in various bundles with his highly acclaimed previous release ‘Rust’.
Kristoffer will present his new album live on stage at Boerderij Cultuurpodiucm, Amerikaweg 145, 2717 AV Zoetermeer, Netherlands on March 25th 2016 with special guest on the bill Antimatter.
The Live Presentation Band are: Paul Coenradie (Aniday, Valentine), Dec Burke (Frost*, Audioplastik), Dirk Bruinenberg (Patrick Rondat, Elegy), David Gutierrez Rojas (Kingfisher Sky), Anne Bakker (Blaze Bayley), Daniël Huijben (The 11th Hour), and Rick Snel (Déva Dyne)
AMBER SCHULTZ, who’s the GRAND PRIZE WINNER of the LYRICS CONTEST, for her composition ” TOXIC WORLD. ”
Truey and Steve Unruh, are VERY PLEASED with the entries, for the PLANETARY OVERLOAD LYRICS CONTEST, for they have selected the 2 WINNING LYRICS, 1 RUNNER-UP, and 5 HONORABLE MENTIONS.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
Melodic Revolution Records is excited to announce that The Rain will see a worldwide release on April 7th 2016 in both CD and Digital formats.
