US band, Edge of Reality, has been an ongoing venture for many years, initially instigated by Joey Frevola (Kyros) back when he was still in high school. He revived the band in 2014 and the same year they released their debut album, “Elephant in My Pajamas” by some critics described as a meeting of minds between Snarky Puppy and Haken. Some line-up alterations later and a second album, “Vicious Circle” was released. Following this, the band has released a couple of singles, self-released just like their albums, and a third studio album is planned for a 2018 release. Current band members are Brandon Center (drums), Jesse Brock (vocals), Jesse Peck (guitars), Joey Frevola (guitars) and Nick Mills (bass).
The band describes their music as being eclectic art metal, and that is, in fact, a useful indication about what to expect from this band. Like so many younger prog bands these days, they do like to have a go with both harder riffs and majestic riff and keyboard arrangements, but they are just as fond of shifting towards a more atmospheric laden, neo-progressive sound as well as quirkier details closer to the likes of Bent Knee. Complete with the occasional detours into jazzier landscapes.
We do like to sign and support our homegrown bands at RoSfest, documenting to our fellow Americans as well as to our faithful visitors that Made in America is still a mark of quality. Edge of Reality is a fine addition to the roster of homegrown progressive rock bands and we expect them to stimulate your musical palate once they hit the stage. RoSfest 2019 will take place on May 3rd through May 5th, 2019 at the Sarasota Opera House, Florida.
The final line-up and schedule for the festival are still TBA. Confirmed bands to appear so far are Riverside, Karmamoi, and Traverser.
Polish Rock masters RIVERSIDE will release their seventh studio album “Wasteland” via InsideOutMusic on September 28th, 2018 and are therefore now launching its first single outtake “Vale Of Tears”, enhancing the physical pre-order start of the album.
RIVERSIDE’s line-up and the credits for “Vale Of Tears” as follows:
Mariusz Duda – vocals, electric guitar, bass, piccolo bass
Piotr Kozieradzki – drums
Michał Łapaj – keyboards and Hammond Organ
Guitar solo by Mateusz Owczarek
Music and lyrics by Mariusz Duda
Artwork by Travis Smith
Clip by Tomasz Pulsakowski / Sightsphere
The track-listing for RIVERSIDE “Wasteland” album reads as follows:
RIVERSIDE – “Wasteland”:
1. The Day After
2. Acid Rain
3. Vale Of Tears
4. Guardian Angel
5. Lament
6. The Struggle For Survival
7. River Down Below
8. Wasteland
9. The Night Before
Next to the standard edition of “Wasteland“ as Jewel case CD, CD Digipak, and Digital Album, the release will also be available as limited edition Mediabook CD (with extended booklet, a bonus track radio edit version and a set of 3 stickers) and as Gatefold 2LP (on 180gr. vinyl with the album on CD as bonus and an Etching of the D-Side).
The various editions and limitations of the vinyl release are as follows:
Black 2LP+CD: Unlimited
Clear 2LP+CD: 100x copies / IOM Webshop Europe
Silver 2LP+CD: 100x copies / IOM Webshop Europe
Golden 2LP+CD: 100x copies / Laser’s Edge – IOM Webshop USA
Lilac 2LP+CD: 200x copies / JPC Germany
Dark Green 2LP+CD: 300x copies / Burning Shed UK
White 2LP+CD: 300x copies / CM Distro Europe
Attention: The digital pre-order option for “Wasteland” will start next week, on August 3rd.
RIVERSIDE’s Mariusz Duda checked in with the following comment about the album’s overall concept: “I’d been thinking about exploring “post-apocalyptic” regions for a long time. I read books, watched films, played video games, all connected by stories about an attempt to survive in a world that had just ended. But writing such a story myself didn’t make much sense until now. RIVERSIDEare starting a new chapter and after our recent experiences, a story like that has gained more meaning. “Wasteland” is mostly about what’s happening in the world these days but it also makes a reference to the tragedy that befell the band in 2016. Musically, we’ve returned to darker sounds but we have also turned a new page and recorded the album in a different style. It’s still RIVERSIDE but expressed in a much deeper and more mature way. Most artists say the same thing while promoting their new releases: that they have just created their best work to date. I won’t say that because everything we have done so far has been consistently very good and unique. But I will say that we have never had such an incredible emotional load on any of our previous releases, and it’s not likely that we will ever make such a charged album again. “Wasteland” is an epic, multidimensional, poetic and very deep album. Perhaps of the once in a lifetime kind.”
RIVERSIDE’s “Wasteland” marks the first studio album effort with newly composed music after the tragic passing of founding member and guitarist Piotr Grudziński on February 21st, 2016.
RIVERSIDE will be embarking on the “Wasteland 2018 Tour” in October/November to support the release of their upcoming album. Here are the dates:
RIVERSIDE – “Wasteland 2018 Tour”:
12.10.2018 Gdansk (Poland) – B90
13.10.2018 Poznan (Poland) – Tama
14.10.2018 Wroclaw (Poland) – A2
16.10.2018 Katowice (Poland) – Miasto Ogrodów
17.10.2018 Lódz (Poland) – Magnetofon
18.10.2018 Torun (Poland) – Od Nowa
20.10.2018 Kraków (Poland) – Studio
21.10.2018 Warszawa (Poland) – Hala Kolo
30.10.2018 Berlin (Germany) – Kesselhaus
31.10.2018 Schorndorf (Germany) – Manufaktur
03.11.2018 Lisbon (Portugal) – LAV
04.11.2018 Madrid (Spain) – MON LIVE
05.11.2018 Barcelona (Spain) – Salamandra 1
06.11.2018 Lyon (France) – CCO
07.11.2018 Paris (France) – La Machine
09.11.2018 Manchester (UK) – Academy 2
10.11.2018 London (UK) – The Electric Ballroom
11.11.2018 Sint-Niklaas (Belgium) – Casino
12.11.2018 Utrecht (The Netherlands) – TivoliVredenburg
14.11.2018 Hamburg (Germany) – Markthalle
15.11.2018 Oberhausen (Germany) – Turbinenhalle 2
16.11.2018 Pratteln (Switzerland) – Z7
17.11.2018 Neunkirchen (Germany) – Gloomaar Festival
Tickets: https://riversideband.pl/en/gigs
RIVERSIDE – Festivals 2019:
04.-09.02.2019 Tampa to Key West & Cozumel – Cruise To The Edge
More dates to follow soon…
In 2009, drummer Craig Walker was asked to stand in for a local band, where he met keyboard player Darrel Treece-Birch, who was also helping them out. This led to them deciding to start a new project together, and they brought along Darrel’s longtime collaborators Martin Walker (who just happens to be Craig’s dad) and singer/bassist Alan ‘Spud’ Taylor. After the release of a demo, Gavin Walker (Craig’s brother, Martin’s son – are you following this?) was brought in as bassist to allow Alan to concentrate on singing. At the time of the release (2014) Darrel was in two other bands, one of which was Ten (with whom he is still with today), and singer Gary Hughes helped out by engineering and producing Alan, as well as providing some backing vocals. But these guys are a totally different style of music to what Darrel plays in Ten.
Some people will argue that these guys are neo prog, while others may look to crossover, but it is honestly just easier to state that they are a very English sounding prog band. Classic Pendragon has obviously been an influence, but so have some of the more keyboard-oriented pastoral bands of the past, and every time I play the classic “Weight of The World” the vocals remind me of some of the songs from Roger Glover’s ‘The Butterfly Ball’! I think what I like about the album is that there is so little stress within it, it is quite laid back at times, but they know when the guitars need to make an impact without always crunching out riffs. They are all fine musicians but are quite happy to sit back and often let Darrel lead the musical flow while Alan sits over the top of it all with wonderfully melodious vocals. They close with the eighteen-minute-long “Vision” which allows them to musically stretch their wings, yet still, keep it all contained and incredibly melodic. Driving, pastoral yet rocky when they need to be, melodic, musical, this is a really nice album indeed.
Some years ago I came across the debut album from Gandalf’s Fist, then lost touch with them again until I received an email one day stating that to celebrate the two year anniversary of their latest album they were providing a free download of the first act. A short flurry of emails between myself and Dean Marsh, and I soon had a copy of the three-CD set to listen to. I knew there was something very special going on here even before I listened to it, as there were guest appearances by Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon), Blaze Bayley (Ex-Iron Maiden), Matt Stevens (The Fierce and the Dead) and Dave Oberlé (Gryphon). The album also featured the voice acting talents of the likes of Mark Benton (Waterloo Road) and Zach Galligan (Gremlins) among others. Then on top of that there was the press release. If an album is self-released I am lucky to get a page of (sometimes) useful background information, at a maximum two. No, what I have here is a 16 page full colour guide to Cogtopolis, with diagrams, illustrations, a complete history of the formation of the city, how it all works plus so much more.
Yes boys and girls, what we have here is a full-blown concept album on steroids. In some ways it is mix between the concept albums of Clive Nolan and the science fiction stories with music of Hibernal. There is far more acting and drama than one would hear from the former, and far more songs and rockiness than one would get from the latter. In many ways this has moved far away from the concept album format, and into a full-blown film for the ears. I soon found that the only way to listen to the album was by giving it my full attention, as if I didn’t I soon lost track of whatever else I was trying to do anyway. The interplay between the progressive rock music and the dramatic storyline is seamless, with both providing dynamic interplay.
I kept “seeing” what was going on in my mind, and also wondering if they were ever going to publish a book to go with this, as I can easily imagine this story being greatly expanded. I am not going to give anything away about the storyline itself, apart from saying that it takes place under the earth’s surface, as due to man’s maltreatment of nature humanity were sent underground some two hundred years previously. From the very beginning, when the lamplighter comes across a traveller, I was hooked, desperately wanting to understand where the story was going to take me. That the music was heavily influenced by neo prog and contained wonderful vocals performances and great musicianship and melodies was the real icing on the cake. I was surprised just how often I was reminded of the mighty Legend, as they and Galahad have obviously been fairly important inspirations behind this mighty endeavour, as has Ayreon and IQ.
A triple CD concept album, of this depth and magnitude, is released very rarely indeed. I can honestly say that it is one of the most impressive pieces of work I have come across in the last five years, and is essential listening to anyone who loves good music. www.gandalfsfist.com
“Metallia” is an epical prog-metal composition in six parts. A multi-layered sonic piece of ravishing solo electric guitars, time-bending tempo shifts, grooving bass lines and deranged drums.
This instrumental progressive metal album will reveal its intricacies and hidden depths over time. It will extract from your mind pure visions, to mend your mental pictures, preen presumptions and to elicit an element of the unexpected…. because that is what will transmute your subliminal mind map into a remarkable blueprint which will lead you from wherever you are now, to wherever you want to be.
I. Red Lion
The sonic journey begins with the fiery “Red Lion”. Dazzling, dynamic prog-metal guitar solos amidst the haunting ancient rhythm of a bewitching toumperleki, groovy bass lines and eerie portentous vocals set the musical sojourner on his quest from the Prima materia to the creation of the Magnum Opus.
II. Bee
An acoustic flamingo based guitar introduces an abstruse beat forged from multi-layered vocals which lead to frenetic harmonic guitar solos shifting in time-twisting riffs collecting the delirium of the mind-matter and as a “Bee” transforming it to spiritual gold.
III. Androgyny
An ominous ethereal chorus introduces the stage of “Androgyny” – one’s conquest over duality. An ironic, menacing and taunting riff incites the seeker, as a celestial chorus awakens the hero on his journey. The blossoming of a self-expressive electric guitar meets the forces of inertia, apathy and the oblivion of nothingness. The unsteady hero though rises from the emptiness with a twisted, spiralling enraptured guitar solo as the celestial beings rejoice.
IV. Resurrection
Undulating beats and transparent steely violins proclaim the entrance into mastery in “Resurrection”. A rock guitar reels in ecstatic head-banging measures leading to an explosive, exuberant climax of tempo-shifting multi-instrumental solos.
V. Dragon’s Kiss
Kissed by the Dragon but not dissolved by it. “Dragon’s Kiss” is an epic propulsive build of percussion, guttural and lilting vocals, riffing electric guitars, fantastical violins, grooving bass lines and furious drums traversing dark sonic landscapes and imagery.
VI. Triumph
Delirious high pitched screaming vocals celebrate the “Triumph”. Finger-twisting guitar riffs soar in multi-layered sonic solos while a distorted demoniac guitar propels a spellbinding bass and drums to the ultimate state of immutability
COMMENTARY
We all want to have answers to the ultimate meaning of why we are here. There’s a time when you need to set aside everything you already know.
We collect experiences and impressions with our minds and this increases the presence of our soul.
There is a duality not only without but within because the mind receives information from both the body and the spirit.
If the connection is weak between the spirit and the mind – there is no possibility to see the whole or our state and place in existence.
Our minds – our everyday consciousness is cluttered with judgments, repetition, echoes of apprehension and fear, debates and doubts. If left on its own without the guidance of spirit; we exist in a negative world, alienated, in conflict with reality.
Let’s isolate the thoughts, feelings, and emotions that are produced by the physical body first. Then we can isolate the thoughts, feelings, and emotions that are given by our spirits and be restored to our primal state of awareness.
Here is where Metallia comes in…
Metallia is purely for your mind. It attacks your judgments and expectations. It is an alchemical journey transmuting the base metal of your mind to gold.
This instrumental progressive metal concept album is a six-part journey to extract from your mind pure visions, to mend your mental pictures, preen presumptions and to elicit an element of the unexpected…. because that is what will transmute your subliminal mind map into a remarkable blueprint which will lead you from wherever you are now, to wherever you want to be.
LISTEN
FULL DESCRIPTION
Many believe our journey through life is a series of events. Each event leading to a totally new experience. There is a misconception that our progress is linear but in fact, it is more a spiral. Events repeat themselves. We move back and forth over repeating archetypal events with various variations, until “we get it”. That’s why history repeats itself, why we find ourselves over and over again in the same types of relationships and situations. We watch the same plots repeat in the movies we watch, the books we read, the songs we sing and the experiences we share with our friends and family in our lives. We never tire of being entertained by these themes, because we ourselves are also repeating them.
“As Above, So Below” is a phrase attributed to Greek writer-god Hermes Trismegistus, “thrice-greatest Hermes” – three times great because he knew the three parts of the wisdom of the whole universe, the three parts were alchemy, astrology, and theurgy – which is to invoke the presence of gods or divine spirits through rituals such as music to achieve henosis (uniting with the divine) and perfecting oneself, become united with our higher counterparts and attaining Divine Consciousness.
The phrase means what happens on one level of reality also happens on the other. The macrocosm and the microcosm reflect each other. In Christianity, it means “As it is in heaven, so it shall be on earth.”
It means everything is sacred and sympathetic. But, there is a misconception that on our present spiritual journey, we begin as mere material mortals and then finally are resurrected to an all-knowing spiritual being in some final boring blissful state of being. Some goal to be achieved and that’s it. The same misconception exists in our lives. We believe if we achieve some random goal, that we will reach an end of our journey and then we can rest. We are driven through our lives unconsciously to achieve something. It is a misunderstanding caused by an unexamined life.
The album, Metallia explore this and reveals an overlooked detail, a missing step. There are six songs, Red Lion (prima materia), Bee (nigredo), Androgyny (albedo), Resurrection (rubedo) , Dragon’s Kiss (citrinitas) and Triumph (Magnum opus), that relate to some of the processes in alchemy which is part of the wisdom of the universe. Metallia focuses on alchemy but not in the sense of changing physical lead into physical gold but as an investigation into what is our true spiritual constitution through experiencing the mysteries of birth, mind, duality, death, and resurrection.
We didn’t come to Earth to be resurrected into a spiritual consciousness in order to leave this level of existence, but rather we came to earth to have experience here while we are realized. That is when the true journey begins here on Earth. Metallia makes the point that we can’t even begin our journey until we “recover” our initial self – the one we were born with, before it was “darkened” on this Earth plane. The music in each song is purposefully composed to take you on this journey – to remind you of your true origin (Red Lion), throw off the noise in your mind (Bee), find balance in duality (Androgyny), become what you have always been (Resurrection), given wings from the jewels of the unconscious (Dragon’s Kiss) and finally finding that seemingly immaterial substance that pervades all life (Triumph).
Read more about each song by clicking the images below
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Yes boys and girls, what we have here is a full-blown concept album on steroids. In some ways it is mix between the concept albums of Clive Nolan and the science fiction stories with music of Hibernal. There is far more acting and drama than one would hear from the former, and far more songs and rockiness than one would get from the latter. In many ways this has moved far away from the concept album format, and into a full-blown film for the ears. I soon found that the only way to listen to the album was by giving it my full attention, as if I didn’t I soon lost track of whatever else I was trying to do anyway. The interplay between the progressive rock music and the dramatic storyline is seamless, with both providing dynamic interplay.
V. Dragon’s Kiss
VI. Triumph
