PENDRAGON - Faces Of Light (5:49)
Album: Men Who Climb Mountains (2014)
Label/Distribution: Toff/www.pendragon.mu
www.pendragon.mu
With "Men Who Climb Mountains", PENDRAGON is taking the prog summit by storm. Nick Barrett and his companions have been moving away from the classic Neoprog for some time now, and this trend will continue in 2014. On "Faces Of Light" with its addictive chorus, Pendragon push into the territory of Anathema.
NIGHTINGALE - On Stolen Wings (4:27)
Album: Retribution (2014)
Label/Distribution: InsideOut/Universal
www.danswano.com/nightingale.php
"Back with a bang! Dan Swanö's project took seven years to offer another round, more hard rock compatible work. And because of the many projects of the musician and producer one can now hope that the heart affair Nightingale won't be put on ice again for so long.
SARIS - Rain (6:59)
Album: Until We Have Faces (2014)
Label/Distribution: Duck Dive/Just For Kicks
sarisband.net
The German melodic prog/hard rock band SARIS has been in the business for more than 30 years. During this time, only two studio works were created, which now receive their long overdue successor with "Until We Have Faces". With "Rain" Saris present themselves from their symphonic side without lacking power.
SLEEPING PULSE - Gagging Order (5:45)
Album: Under The Same Sky (2014)
Label/Distribution: Prophecy/Soulfood
www.sleepingpulse.com
A new project by Antimatter Chief Mick Moss. As if he wouldn't be spreading enough heartache and world-weariness with his main band, he's adding another one, but together with the Portuguese musician Luíz Fazendeiro (Painted Black) on the other hand he also presents himself much rockier. (Review: eclipsed 11/2014)
A LIQUID LANDSCAPE - Open Wounds (4:19)
Album: The Largest Fire Known To Man (2014)
Label/Distribution: Glasville/Soulfood
www.facebook.com/aliquidlandscape
The spark ignites immediately after the first tones. The Dutch rock and float on their second album through very different worlds and emotional states between melancholy, joie de vivre and dreaming, depending on where the low frequencies of the bass or the melodies of vocals and guitar take them.
YOUR FAVORITE ENEMIES - Empire Of Sorrows (6:31)
Album: Between Illness And Migration (2014)
Label/Distributor: Graphite/Edel
www.yourfavoriteenemies.com
On their second album, the Canadians serve a gripping mix of hit appeal, noisy elements and nested arrangements. Each song is a varied musical journey in its own right. What at first seems chaotic forms into a harmonious whole with emotional depth.
RHYS MARSH - Last November (4:56)
Album: Sentiment (2014)
Label/Distribution: Autumnsongs/Just For Kicks
www.rhysmarsh.com
The Norwegian-based British multi-instrumentalist and singer RHYS MARSH (The Autumn Ghost, The Opium Cartel, Caucasus) sounds on his first solo album like a mixture of Gazpacho, Steve Thorne and The White Birch: still lifes leaning back, carried by mellotrone carpets and his smoky voice.
THE RISING SUN EXPERIENCE - Countries Off... (6:35)
Album: Beyond The Oblivious Abyss (2014)
Label/Distribution: World In Sound/Rough Trade
www.therisingsunexperience.com
The second album of THE RISING SUN EXPERIENCE is 70ies Rock in Reinkultur. The Portuguese repertoire ranges from hard rock to psychedelic to relaxed guitar rock. The "Countries Off..." presented here with its riffs and grooves is a wonderful opener of the 38-minute album. (Review: eclipsed 10/2014)
YURI GAGARIN - Za Kosmosom (8:34)
Album: Yuri Gagarin (2014)
Label/Distribution: Sulatron/Cargo
www.facebook.com/yurigagarinspacerock
YURI GAGARIN, the Swedish newcomers, give their all to the harder space rock of the old school on their debut album. Here, without the famous consideration for losses is rocked forward. Guitar riffs always and everywhere. Guitar solos too. Extra-terrestrial sounds and powerful drums added. Simple but effective.
3RD EAR EXPERIENCE - Howling Shaman's Dream (edit) (8:52)
Album: Incredible Good Fortune (2014)
Label/Distribution: Thousand Thunders/Just For Kicks
www.spacerockproductions.com
With his second musical mainstay 3RD EAR EXPERIENCE Robbi Robb presented a multi-faceted space rock album based on psychedelic jams. Stoner rock, Indian songs, flutes, saxophone, ethereal, extraterrestrial sounds and of course an irresistible forward twist en masse. (Review: eclipsed 9/2014)
