Italian prog-metal brothers Asymmetric Universe launch new single ‘Opaco’

InsideOutMusic recently signing of Italian instrumental, prog-metal fusionists Asymmetric Universe to a new worldwide deal. The band, formed by brothers Federico Vese & Nicolò Vese, played some select live shows this past Summer, including a rapturously received set at Arctangent Festival in the UK. Today the band are pleased to launch a brand new track titled ‘Opaco’, Italian for ‘opaque’, and you can watch the video (directed by Edoardo Giuliani) now here:

The band comment: “Opaco is the most technically challenging song we have ever composed. It’s inspired by the modern guitar style of bands like Animals As Leaders, Polyphia but with a genre-bending jazz sections inspired by Pat Metheny, Victor Wooten, Jacob Collier. We wanted to set aside the heavy arrangement of the previous song in order to sound like a jazz/metal quartet.”
 
Stream the track here: https://asymmetricuniverse.lnk.to/Opaco
 
Watch the video for the bands previous single ‘Don’t Go Too Early’ here: https://youtu.be/kRZVNDgDDh0
 
The band have been receiving attention aplenty, with Total Guitar Magazine picking them out at Arctangent Festival as “this year’s guitar standout”, while Guitar World called their previous single “wonderfully ludicrous in its extremism” and “a jazz-fusion thrill ride like no other.”

Formed in 2018, with the goal of pushing the limit of modern prog and fusing disparate genres, they combine metal with jazz & ambient music, alongside chamber orchestration. In 2023, the band released their second EP ‘The Sun Would Disappear As I Imagined All The Stars’, which was mixed by Forrester Savell and mastered by Ermin Hamidovic. They also embarked on their first European tour as support to Australian progressive metallers Ne Obliviscaris, as well as opening for Caligula’s Horse in Italy.

Both brothers are mostly self-taught musicians, who have been heavily involved in composition and orchestration, as well as music production.

Federico has composed music for as wide ranging places as Radio Montecarlo (one of the biggest Italian radio stations), as well as one of the largest Italian amusement park Mirabilandia. He is a metal/rock producer and this background influences his work as a composer in the video game industry. He is also a professional music and guitar teacher with online students from different parts of the world.

Nicolò has composed pieces for various orchestral organisations (two pieces were performed in the latest symphonic season of Orchestra Sinfonica of Sanremo and one performed at Rome Jazz Festival in 2021 with a big band), worked as a composer in many Musicals and he is currently working in the video game soundtrack industry (also as a sound designer), ranging from indie games to bigger productions. He also professionally teaches composition, orchestration and adaptive music techniques for video games.
Find ASYMMETRIC UNIVERSE online:
https://www.asymmetricuniverse.com/
https://www.youtube.com/AsymmetricUniverse
https://www.facebook.com/asymmetricuniverse
https://www.instagram.com/asymmetricuniverse/
https://discord.com/invite/RAuvKcC8r9
https://www.tiktok.com/@asymmetricuniverse

INSIDEOUT MUSIC online:
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www.youtube.com/InsideOutMusicTV
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www.twitter.com/InsideOutUSA
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Jethro Tull launch ‘Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow (2024 Remix)’; taken from ‘The Jethro Tull Christmas Album – Fresh Snow At Christmas’

Jethro Tull’s relationship with the Christmas season goes all the way back to the legendary band’s early days. Now it’s to be renewed for modern-day admirers and longtime fans alike, with the release of an expanded and remixed edition of 2003’s The Jethro Tull Christmas Album via InsideOutMusic on December 6th,  2024.
 
With the release just around the corner, the 2024 remix of the track ‘Jack Frost and Hooded Crow’ has been launched on digital services. Newly mixed by Bruce Soord (The Pineapple Thief), you can listen to it now here:

Watch a trailer for the reissue here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaCoHeT6C0s
 
Under the title ‘The Jethro Tull Christmas Album – Fresh Snow At Christmas’, the bands 21st studio album has been remixed from the original masters by Bruce Soord (The Pineapple Thief), as well as being given the surround sound treatment in both Dolby Atmos & 5.1. The limited deluxe 4CD + Blu-ray book-set collection features all-new artwork, as well as live material, and includes the following across its 5 discs.

CD1: Original Album Mixes
CD2: 2024 Remixes by Bruce Soord
CD3: Christmas Live At St. Bride’s 2008 (newly remixed by Bruce Soord)
CD4: The Ian Anderson Band Live At St. Bride’s 2006 (previously unreleased)
Blu-ray: Dolby Atmos, 5.1 Surround Sound & High Resolution Stereo Mixes of The Jethro Tull Christmas Album, as well as High Resolution Stereo Mixes of both live recordings

As well as this, the album will be released on vinyl for the very first time, as a Gatefold 180g 2LP featuring the 2024 remixes. Pre-orders are available now here: https://jethrotullband.lnk.to/JethroTullChristmasAlbum

The Jethro Tull Christmas Album was much praised on first release, with Rolling Stone noting admiringly: “The originals simmer with eccentric, eclectic, folky energy, rocking ditties threaded through with Celtic stylings, jazzy undercurrents, Ian Anderson’s distinctive flute and wry humour.” Allmusic called it “perhaps the most satisfying Tull releases in 25 years.”

It included new interpretations of no fewer than seven Tull songs, including their first to be inspired by the holiday, 1968’s much-loved ‘A Christmas Song.’ That Anderson composition, which opened with lyrics interpolated from ‘Once in Royal David’s City,’ was the B-side of the band’s first UK chart single, ‘Love Story.’

“Some of the tracks are not necessarily Christmas songs; they’re more seasonal so that gives a broader window,” says Ian. “And then there are a couple of them that I quite often play in the middle of summer and say, ‘It’ll soon be Christmas – it’s in the diary. So let’s kick it off now.’ And that’s part of what I’ve done over the years since October of 1968 when I went into record ‘A Christmas Song. ‘So, yes – it goes back a long way.”

‘A Christmas Song’ was joined on the album by reworkings of such pieces as Tull’s 1976 festive hit ‘Ring Out Solstice Bells’; ‘Weathercock,’ first heard on 1978’s Heavy Horses; and ‘Another Christmas Song,’ from 1989’s Rock Island. Also among the re-recordings was J.S. Bach’s ‘Bourrée”, another longtime live favourite, inimitably imagined by Ian.

“Part of the joy of redoing those things,” he says, “is that you can…not necessarily recreate, but you can keep all the essential elements of the song and maybe declutter it a little bit and give it a fresh look, but essentially still staying faithful to the original arrangements.”

The Jethro Tull Christmas Album was their last studio set to feature longtime guitarist Martin Barre, who composed its pretty closing instrumental ‘A Winter Snowscape.’ Also featured on the album were keyboard and accordion player Andrew Giddings, bassist Jonathan Noyce and drummers Doane Perry and James Duncan. Anderson compositions making their debut included the opening ‘Birthday Card At Christmas’ and ‘First Snow On Brooklyn,’ while traditional pieces such as ‘God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen’ and ‘We Five Kings’ were interpreted alongside Fauré’s ‘Pavane.’

JETHRO TULL online:
http://jethrotull.com/
https://www.facebook.com/officialjethrotull/
https://twitter.com/jethrotull
https://www.youtube.com/user/tullmanagement
https://www.instagram.com/jethrotull_/

INSIDEOUT MUSIC online:
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New ‘Refestramus’ Christmas Song and Upcoming Music Video

The new Refestramus single “I Ruined Christmas” is a wet blanket for the holidays, chronicling the perils of parental disappointment, political disagreements, sleeping with someone’s hot sister and smoking joints in the garage before Xmas dinner.   

Refestramus composer/drummer/ leader Derek Ferguson says, “My favorite bit is the line ‘it’s like I told you before, it won’t happen again, my dear’ – we know that even as they apologize, they haven’t really learned anything from their mistakes and will undoubtedly be repeating them.”

The music video features clips of Refestramus’ rock video girl Agent M plotting mayhem on friends and family, who aren’t in very good moods at their holiday tables. It shows the band in the studio looking mighty ornery, too.

The video goes live on Friday, 12 noon CT/ 10 AM PT/ 5 pm UK time at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z1o-P6qBlc 

Along with Derek Ferguson, the band members are guitarist Derek Pavlic and producer Ian Beabout (Colouratura), with long time vocalist NIDA, and a host of festivity-spoiling guests: bassist Jerry King (Cloud over Jupiter), keyboardist Dyanne Potter Voegtlin (Potter’s Daughter), and saxophonist Mitch Lawrence.

The basic tracks of which were recorded at Aardvark Productions in Steubenville with engineering talents of Dan Bozek and Crack the Sky’s Rick Witkowski.

 “I Ruined Christmas” appears on Melodic Revolution Records’ latest holiday anthology ‘Spirit of December Eight’ which will be available on Bandcamp at 
https://myrevolution.bandcamp.com/album/spirit-of-december-eight
 
“I Ruined Christmas” comes to you hot off the heels of the critically divisive “Intouríst” album, released through Melodic Revolution Records. After ruining progressive art rock last May, the Grinche’s of Prog, Refestramus, have simply grown in ambition.

Hailing from Lakeview Chicago, Illinois, fans are calling Refestramus “the Punks of Prog” because “this song is out to spoil your holidaze next month,”  says Derek Ferguson, “The good news is you can make everyone’s holidays better by gifting ‘I Ruined Christmas!’”  

 left to right  Derek Pavlic, Derek Ferguson, Ian Beabout

The I Ruined Christmas Sessions
NIDA – lead and backing vocals
Mitch Lawrence – saxophones
Derek Pavlic – guitar 
Dyanne Potter Voegtlin – piano, keyboards and Moog synthesizer
Jerry King – bass
Derek Ferguson – drums, sleigh bells, glockenspiel, bass drum

Agent M from the Music Video “I Ruined Christmas”

Additional Information:
Produced by Ian Beabout and Derek Ferguson
Mastering Engineer: Ian Beabout
Recording studio: Aardvark Productions and The Rec. Room, Steubenville OH
Record label: Melodic Revolution Records

Refestramus Online:
Website: www.refestramus.com

Melodic Revolution Records Online:
https://li.sten.to/mrrmusiccom

Exciting New UK Prog Event Last Night of the Progs

The John Hackett Band embodies the spirit of progressive rock. From John’s pastoral flute
textures, through the funky interplay between drummer Duncan Parsons and bassist Jeremy
Richardson to the intricacies of Nick Fletcher’s lead guitar the group embrace pop, rock, jazz,
classical, funk and all stops in-between, from the tenderest of ballads to hair-raising

instrumental workouts!

John Hackett has been a much-loved and admired figure in the progressive rock scene since
the mid-70’s; best-known for his flute work with his brother, former Genesis guitarist, Steve
Hackett on albums such as Voyage of The Acolyte, Sketches of Satie and Please Don’t Touch,
alongside his own solo albums Checking Out Of London, Another Life

and The Piper Plays His Tune.
hacktrax.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/JohnHackettBand

John Mitchell is an English musician, songwriter and record producer.
A multi-instrumentalist who predominantly sings and plays guitar, Mitchell is a member of
several popular progressive rock bands, including Frost*, It Bites and Arena.
John releases his solo music under the pseudonym Lonely Robot. John also masterminded the
bands Kino and The Urbane and played bass for alternative rock band A. John has performed
live with the likes of John Wetton (Asia) and Martin Barre (Jethro Tull) to name a few.

Home

https://www.facebook.com/johnchristianmitchell

Hoopy Frood are celebrating 20yrs together and about to release their new album “Mostly

Harmless”, a few tracks from which will be included in their set”.

https://hoopyfrood.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/hoopyfroodmusic

FOLLOW LAST NIGHT OF

THE PROGS

Tickets: https://wegottickets.com/event/634448

Last Night of the Progs FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/871165237977396
First Night of the Progs FB event: https://www.facebook.com/events/334250666382614

Prog Guitarist Manuel Barbará Ties Together Powerful Vocal And Instrumentals In “Whisper In A Storm” Off Blade Runner-Themed Metal EP Out Now!

Manuel Barbará, an acclaimed metal guitarist and composer, is pleased to announce the release of his new video for the single “Whisper in a Storm”. The track, featuring Thalia Tymowski of Among the Stars and guitarist Millisa Henderson, is the title track from Barbará’s latest EP, released on September 13, 2024. He comments on the collaboration:

“I’ve wanted to have Thalia Tymowski sing a song of mine ever since I met her in 2020. I’m super happy to be able to feature her on something as cool as this. It was very satisfying to pour my fascination with Cyberpunk into a song with Thalia’s help and Millisa’s guest solo at the end made me nervous to record mine.”

Barbará continues to explain that “Whisper in a Storm” is the most “traditional” of the four songs with a typical verse-chorus structure. It still features odd expanding and contracting rhythms and huge stacks of guitars with Tymowski’s powerful voice tying the whole thing together. The final bridge gives way to two melodic guitar solos and a final, crushing riff.

Inspired by the Cyberpunk genre and specifically the film “Blade Runner”, the single showcases Barbará‘s ability to weave complex narratives through instrumental music. His fascination with Cyberpunk as a genre grew out of a few authors in the 80s reinventing the noir genre to talk about the political, social, economic, and scientific shifts that were happening at the time.

The collaboration with Tymowski on vocals adds a new dimension to Barbará‘s typically instrumental approach and is recommended for fans of Keith Merrow, Monuments, and Meshuggah.

Watch and listen to the music video for “Whisper in a Storm” via its premiere on V13 HERE.

Released on September 13, 2024, “Whisper in a Storm” is available at https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/manuelbarbar/whisper-in-a-storm

Track Listing:
1. Dead Hand (feat. Jody Miller) – 5:43
2. A Different Horizon (feat. Jake Howsam Lowe) – 5:49
3. Aphelion (feat. Michael Nystrom Bala) – 4:13
4. Whisper in a Storm (feat. Thalia Tymowski & Millisa Henderson) – 4:51
5. Whisper in a Storm (instrumental) – 4:51
EP Length: 24:42

“the song (A Different Horizon (feat. Jake Howsam Lowe (Plini)) blends metal heaviness and classical music concepts to create something intricate, unique, and highly technical.” – Decibel Magazine

“Berklee trained and steeped in metal music, composing, and shredding, the EP (Whisper in the Storm) is going to unite die-hard metal fans and guitar geeks alike. The first single off this EP is “Dead Hand,” which features Jody Miller, a renowned violinist in the video game music scene.” – Ghost Cult Magazine

“If a sophisticated and often elegant variety of mainly instrumental progressive metal is a subject matter of particular interest, and you are fond of such creations exploring the entire span from gentle and melodic all the way towards the extreme, then you will find this EP quite the rewarding experience I’d imagine.” – Progressor

“When I came across New Jersey based guitarist and composer Manuel Barbará and his solo debut album “Moonrise” in 2021, I saw myself blown away by his modern instrumental style, combining mighty heaviness with dreamful electronic sounds. Finding inspiration in a wide range of classical, neoclassical as well as contemporary artists and bands, his new EP, “Whisper in a Storm”, lines up here as well, offering epic shredding within a spacey atmosphere fitting to the Blade Runner theme. While the playing is highly sophisticated and not an easy listen due to its dissonance and complexity, there’s still this djenty grooviness that keeps me vibing with it. Recommended ffo modern Progmetal in the veins of Tesseract, Periphery and Meshuggah.” – The ProgSpace

“It is no surprise that a composer and big-time guitar player as Manuel Barbará took care of everything on “Whisper in a Storm”: all songs were written and (almost) performed only by Manuel Barbará, and produced and promoted all by himself. The result of Barbará’s musical expertise resonates throughout all the sequences of this musical journey on “Whisper in a Storm”, full of guitar solos and complex string instrument arrangements and impressive drum tempo and captivating Djent riffs. But the cleverness of “Whisper in a Storm” is on the other side of the coin. Even though “Whisper in a Storm” is grounded by lavishing on melodies which are composed in the high level of mastery of Barbará, the fact is that “Whispers in Storm” brings to us five palatable songs. I guess that Manuel Barbará’s main goal was not only to mesmerize guitar-students-amazed-by-complex-solos-lovers on “Whisper in a Storm”, but also to relate with people who love just to listen to good songs. The Progressive harmonies on “Whisper in a Storm” seem to stroll by guitar riffs, with synchronized tempo that resembles experimental Metal bands like Tesseract and Devin Townsend, and shredders players as Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai. 10/10” – Ever-Metal

“Prog metal, with a pinch of metal/deathcore musically” – Moshpit Radio 89.9FM WORT (Madison, WI)

More info: Manuelbarbara.com | Facebook.com/8stringalchemy | Instagram.com/8stringalchemy | Tiktok.com/@8stringalchemy