Somerville has written and recorded with bands such as After Forever, Edguy, Kamelot, Epica, Avantasia, and Mayan, and this is her second release as Trillium. ‘Alloy’ was released in 2011 when it was credited to just Trillium, so it appears that there are views somewhere that she needs to be pushed more to the fore, yet keep a link to the last album. Either way, whenever I see a band name extended with the name of a member I do ask, why bother? Anyway, there is no doubt that Amanda has an amazing voice, and it is no surprise that she has appeared on other people’s albums as well. She is a strong alto, which allows her to go sing in a slightly lower register than many other female singers, with power and control, yet still hit higher notes when the need arises without going to the very heights of sopranos.
It may have been seven years since her last solo album, but as well as being in demand in the symphonic metal world she has also got married and had a baby, so life has been rather full on. Musically this is a symphonic metal album, which to be honest doesn’t really stand out too much from many of the other albums around, but what makes the real difference are Amanda’s vocals which are direct, and contain such incredible power that it cuts through like a hot knife. The album has been designed as a vehicle for her voice, so even though the songs aren’t as rich and as expressive as I would wish them to be, the album is still far superior to what it would be with many other singers. Perhaps her forte does lie with other bands, such as the mighty Kamelot or Epica, but fans of the genre should still try and hear this at least.
SL Theory release the long-awaited live album Progressively Dark (A Concert For A Group & String Orchestra) today via Melodic Revolution Records
Drummer Sotiris Lagonikas (What’s The Buzz? / Double Treat) formed musical project SL Theory, followed by the release of debut album titled “SL Theory – I”, the band has grown to a 10 – member musical force with the addition of Mike Karasoulis (Dakrya / Double Treat) on lead vocals, Alex Flouros (Seduce The Heaven / Fragile Vastness / What’s The Buzz?) and Giannis Nigdelis (Double Treat) on the guitars, Manos Gavalas (Sound Of Silence / Airged Lamh / Noely Rayn) on keyboards, Chris Kollias (Seduce The Heaven / Persona Non Grata) on bass guitar, as well as Christina Alexiou, Alexandros Louziotis, Kandia Bouzioti and Margarita Papadimitriou on backing vocals.
The extended heavy prog band, along with a classical string orchestra conducted by Maestro Yiannis Antonopoulos, presented, recorded and filmed Live in Athens,Greece on Friday, March 3rd, 2017 at Passport Keramikos, the complete album of Sotiris Lagonikas, titled “Progressively Dark” (2012), as well as songs out of the albums “SL Theory – I” (2009) and “Different Space Different Time” (2014) and a few brand new, unreleased songs written by G.Nigdelis/S. Lagonikas, in a unique dark-prog and heavy rock audio-visual show that is finally available as a Double CD & Hi-quality Digital Album the concert was also filmed and is also available on DVD.
Release Details Lead vocals: Mike Karasoulis
Guitars: Yiannis Nigdelis / Alex Flouros
Bass: Chris Kollias
Keyboards: Manos Gavalas
Drums: Sotiris Lagonikas
Backing vocals: Alexandros Louziotis / Margarita Papadimitriou / Kandia Bouzioti / Christina Alexiou
Music & Lyrics by Sotiris Lagonikas Sound Engineer: Manos Backline Soundflakes Studio Mix: Nick Papadopoulos
Lighting Director/ Video 3D mapping: Andreas Kourtis / Giannis Kalogridis / Panagiotis Tsevrenis Video
Filmed by Fotis “Ingie” Papatheodorou & Panagiotis Maidis
Video Edited by Chris Tsoukalas
Filmed live on location on March 3rd, 2017 at Passport Keramikos
Release Date: June 30th, 2018
CD Catalog No. MRRCD-22154
DVD Catalog No. MRRDVD-002
Label: Melodic Revolution Records
Format: Double CD, Hi-Resolution Digital & DVD
CD & Digital Album
Disc 1 Orchestra Set
1. Sickening My Mind 04:37
2. Holding Tight 07:19
3. Ghostly Train 04:37
4. On My Way 05:23
5. See 04:50
6. If Only 05:50
7. Time Won’t Matter 06:19
8. Need To Be Born Again 04:57
9. Goodbye, Sail On 04:57
10. Where is My Life 05:51
11. Afterlife 05:25
CD Disc 2 Band Set
12. Saints n’ Sinners 04:38
13. Now 04:42
14. Two Kings 03:38
15. The Beat of My Heart 04:15
16. It Hurts 04:01
17. Next Life 06:11
18. Real World 04:47
19. Counting My Pieces 04:15
20. Supersonic Rocket Man 07:07
Video from LIVE double album and DVD
DVD
Orchestra Set 1-11 Band Set 12 -20
1. Sickening My Mind 04:37
2. Holding Tight 07:19
3. Ghostly Train 04:37
4. On My Way 05:23
5. See 04:50
6. If Only 05:50
7. Time Won’t Matter 06:19
8. Need To Be Born Again 04:57
9. Goodbye, Sail On 04:57
10. Where is My Life 05:51
11. Afterlife 05:25 12. Saints n’ Sinners 04:38
13. Now 04:42
14. Two Kings 03:38
15. The Beat of My Heart 04:15
16. It Hurts 04:01
17. Next Life 06:11
18. Real World 04:47
19. Counting My Pieces 04:15
20. Supersonic Rocket Man 07:07
Michael-Alan Taylor is releasing his debut solo album “Avalonia (The Sonnets of Guinevere)” today via Melodic Revolution Records
Michael is best known for his work as frontman for UK’s progressive heavy rockers Nth Ascension which has released three highly acclaimed albums to date, In Fine Initium (2016) Ascension Of Kings (2014) and Frequencies Of Day & Night (2011) Michael has also appeared on No More Time (2016) by Darrel Treece-Birch
Avalonia (The Sonnets of Guinevere) is a truly cinematic and sonic masterpiece and tells the story of the last days of the brave Knight Lancelot who recalls the battles for Camelot, his devotion to his King and his love of Lady Guinevere. Sweeping orchestral passages mix with resonant vocals that carry you directly to Camelot. The album is limited to only 200 copies worldwide, the LP on heavyweight Vinyl housed in a beautiful full-color gatefold sleeve plus a special storyline insert to spark the imagination; a soundtrack for your mind. To complete this special package the album is delivered on an aquamarine clear vinyl, a visual representation of the lake where the beautiful Lady resides with Excalibur, kept safe until it is once again needed in this realm.
Release Details
All Music composed & Performed by Michael-Alan Taylor
Recorded at Talylormade Studios, Lytham, UK. The War Room Fleetwood UK
Production and Engineering by Darrel Treece-Birch, The War Room Fleetwood UK
Mixed and Mastered by Darrel Treece-Birch, The War Room Fleetwood UK www.darreltreece-birch.com
Album Art Design Darrel Treece-Birch
Photography by Adrian-Paul (the Viking) Ashworth on location at Dunnottar Castle Scotland, UK.
Release Date: June 29th, 2018
Catalog No. MRRLP-12-005
Label: Melodic Revolution Records
Format: LP & Hi-Resolution Digital
1. Guinevere
2. Final Battle
3. Death of Arthur (Song of Argante)
4. Lady of the Lake
5. Avalon
6. Land Without A King
7. Discovery
8. The Dance of Love
9. Epilogue
The Cast
Michael-Alan Taylor (lead vocals, guitars, keyboards)
The Supporting Cast
Darrel Treece-Birch (piano, additional keys, and guitar) Guinevere, Final Battle, Lady of the Lake, Land Without A King
Craig Martin Walker (low flute) Guinevere
David Austin Taylor (spoken word) Final Battle
Melissa Brown (spoken word) Lady of the Lake, Land Without A King
I have great news! We now have a host hotel with all the accommodations that we promised and it will be available to book starting on July 3rd.
Please read below for details.
Aloft Sarasota offers a convenient downtown location, vibrant social scene, and tech-savvy design. The Sarasota hotel is located just minutes from the bay, popular islands, and beaches, plus the nearby Ed Smith Stadium and Historic Spanish Point and Sarasota Opera House.
InsideOutMusic, the leading force in today’s progressive rock scene, celebrate their 25th anniversary of being a label in 2018, in what will be one of their biggest and busiest yet. Today they launch a specially priced, 35-track digital compilation, giving a glimpse of what InsideOut have been doing for the past few years. The collection features tracks from label mainstays like Devin Townsend Project, Steve Hackett, Spock’s Beard, Riverside, Enchant & The Tangent, as well as newer bands like Bent Knee, Caligula’s Horse, Perfect Beings & Sons of Apollo. Download/stream the compilation here: https://InsideOutMusic.lnk.to/25YearsOfInsideOutMusic
As previously announced, to coincide with the anniversary, two of their longest serving artists, Spock’s Beard & Roine Stolt’s The Flower King’s, will head out on a European co-headline tour in Winter 2018.
You can find the full list of dates below:
30th November – Cosmopolite, Oslo, Norway
1st December – Kulturhuset Studion, Stockholm, Sweden
2nd December – KB, Malmo, Sweden
4th December – Zeche, Bochum, Germany
5th December – Z7, Pratteln, Switzerland
6th December – La Machine, Paris, France
7th December – De Boerderij, Zoetermeer, Netherlands
8th December – Hedon, Zwolle, Netherlands
9th December – Islington Assembly Hall, London, UK
10th December – Academy Club, Manchester, UK
Formed back in 1993 in Kleve, Germany, the label made their name with acts such as Enchant, Spock’s Beard, Symphony X & The Flower Kings, many of whom they still work with now – a rarity in this day and age. Since that time, the label has played a key & continued role in the survival and resurgence of progressive rock in recent years, and has always prided itself on shining a light on leftfield music. Now the band count some of the biggest & most exciting bands amongst their roster, including Dream Theater, Steve Hackett, Devin Townsend, Sons of Apollo, Kansas, Haken, Riverside, Leprous & more. On the label’s 20th anniversary back in 2013, one of the labels founders, and current label-head Thomas Waber was given the Guiding Light award at the Progressive Music Awards, praising his aforementioned role in the continued celebration of progressive rock.
Many of InsideOut’s longest running relationships will see new albums released in the labels 25th year, including Spock’s Beard’s 13th album ‘Noise Floor’, a new collaborative project called The Sea Within that features Roine Stolt, Daniel Gildenlow & Jonas Reingold (all veterans of the label), a landmark live album from Devin Townsend filmed at a special performance at a Roman Theatre in Bulgaria, a new studio album from Riverside & much more.
This year will also see InsideOut release a whole host of lavish catalogue releases throughout 2018, including the second part of The Flower Kings ‘A Kingdom of Colours’ CD boxsets, a series of Devin Townsend high-end vinyl boxes, a CD collection covering the whole of Enchant’s illustrious career, & much more yet to be announced.
The Progressive Music Awards 2018 recently announced their nominations, with InsideOutMusic seeing 10 nominations in total, including Spock’s Beard for best international artist, as well as nods for Perfect Beings, Toundra, PFM, Sons of Apollo, Kino, Leprous & Caligula’s Horse. Find more details here: https://www.loudersound.com/features/vote-now-in-the-2018-progressive-music-awards
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