Orbs

Orbs is a new supergroup of sorts, featuring members of Between the Buried and Me, Cradle of Filth, and Fear Before the March of Flames playing progressive rock. Adam Fisher's vocals may come off as whiny to many (including me), but imaginative lyrics, streamlined guitars, and flowing synths make tracks like "A Man of Science" fun. Check out their album Asleep Next to Science.

Yet another FREE compilation, bro: Sargent House

Record label Sargent House has released a FREE sampler of thirteen of its prog-inclined artists. Check out some sweet cuts from rad bands like Fang Island, RX Bandits, and Tera Melos here.
Grab it while you can!

Concert Review: Porcupine Tree at The Warfield

Last night, I caught British prog-rockers Porcupine Tree at the midsized Warfield in San Francisco. I had already seen them deliver a mind melting spectacle at the House of Blues in Boston last September, so I was interested to see if Steven Wilson and company were able to mix things up enough to create a memorable new experience.

But first, the opener. As Wilson later informed the audience, this show was to be the only appearance of Australian band Karnivool on the tour. I have a friend who listens to them but I had absolutely no idea what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised: Karnivool play melodic heavy rock a la Tool, chock full of clanky bass riffs and polyrhythmic guitar interplay. Lead singer Ian Kenny was quite impressive, delivering a pitch-perfect, soaring vocal performance. His slicked back haircut, crisp polo shirt, and robotic gestures also win him the prize for most eccentric stage personality of the night.

I usually don't like to break down bands by individual members, but Porcupine Tree's distinct musicians drawn upon their disparate influences to create their multi-faceted prog-rock sound. Keyboardist Richard Barbieri creates wind-swept, Pink Floyd atmospheres, while perpetually smiling bassist Colin Edwin lays down creamy, jazzy lines. Gavin Harrison's extremely technical drumming puts him right up next to the likes of Dream Theater's Mike Portnoy and Mastodon's Brann Dailor. Guitarist/vocalist Steven Wilson provides David Gilmour guitar heroics, melancholy melodies, and a keen songwriting ability. He also runs about the stage barefoot, clad in sweatpants. Finally, touring guitarist John Wesley also provides smooth backing vocals.

After about 15 minutes of a sustained tuning chord, Porcupine Tree took to the stage with a monster extended version of "Even Less" from 1999's Stupid Dream. That song set the theme for the night. Because this was the only concert of the tour that the band wasn't coheadlining, Wilson explained that Porcupine Tree would be experimenting with playing older and less-known songs. He made good on his promise. Within the two hour long set, the group played deep cuts like "Russia on Ice," "Pure Narcotic," and, most surprisingly, non-album track "Stars Die" from 1994.

The band did a great job playing a balanced selection from their enormous discography. For every mellow acoustic moment like "I Drive the Hearse" and "Time Flies," Porcupine Tree crushed a few skulls with the drop-tuned assaults of "Circle of Manias" and "Anesthetize Pt. 2" (one of the few danceable prog-metal songs created, ever). One minute everyone was singing along, the next, heads were bangin'.

I cannot say enough about the visuals, specifically Lasse Hoile's video creations for the band. Whether during the beautiful countryside time lapses of "Time Flies," the eerie apparitions of "The Seance," the stop motion animation of "Octane Twisted," or frenetic, druggy images of "Anesthetize Pt. 2," Hoile's work was perfectly synched to the live music.

The performance was far from flawless. Wilson gave a few false starts and jumbled up several lines. However, the frontman took all his mistakes with humor, remarking, "I bet you didn't see that level of imprecision at the Rush concert last night," after tripping up on a guitar solo towards the end of the show. And honestly, nobody cared during such a remarkable performance.

Here's an edited version of Lasse Hoile's surreal "Time Flies" video. Watch this in HD. You will not regret it.

New Oceansize - "Superimposer"

British alternative/prog-rock group Oceansize has released a new track from its upcoming album, Self Preserved While the Bodies Float Up (oddly named album has really odd album art). "Superimposer" condenses the sprawling compositions found on 2007's Frames and slathers on thicker distortion for a 4-minute power punch. Mark Heron's hypnotic, polyrhythmic drumming propels the track to its climactic finale as the band's triple guitars weave a tapestry of harmonies.
Self Preserved While the Bodies Float Up drops September 14th in the U.S.

Anathema

This past May, English metallers Anathema released their first album in 7 years. We're Here Because We're Here sees the band making even more of a break with their previous doom n' gloom, replacing darkness with dreamy Pink Floyd swirls and Vincent Cavanagh's transcendent falsettos. Some truly beautiful stuff.

"Telephone Line"- Electric Light Orchestra VIDEO

I'm going on vacation tomorrow, so I figured I would turn the clocks forward and present to you the first and only installment of Throwback Tuesday–and this fucker's a beaut. I just found the gloriously misguided Afros and goatees of Electric Light Orchestra, and I can't get enough.

The cellos and keyboards linger over little chords in the opening stanzas as Jeff Lynne's voice wavers at just the right moments. This continues until they all slide up into the hook, a gorgeously operatic slice of street-corner doo-wop–but with cellos and crash down onto the chorus like a wrecking-ball of hairspray and overbearing rock and roll. IT RULES RULES RULES and is playing at full volume in my workplace (room) on repeat. Why aren't you playing it yet?

Bonus points for the lamest music video I've ever seen.

New Rush - "BU2B"

Prog-rock titans Rush have released two new songs from their upcoming album Clockwork Angels. Suffice it to say, Neil Peart continues to be one of the world's most solid drummers, and frontman Geddy Lee is still slappin' da bass with vigor. "BU2B," one of the tracks, shows that Rush continue to benefit from the beefed-up modern production that graced 2007's excellent comeback, Snakes and Arrows. The song opens with a huge, swaggering riff propelled by Peart's drumming before delving into another of his meditations on faith. Despite their age, these guys are rocking harder than ever.

maudlin of the Well

Avant-garde progressive metal group maudlin of the Well made extraordinary music, but don't expect to be able to find any of their best material legally; anyone who finds a physical copy of their masterpiece Bath for a reasonable price deserves a million high-fives. The band also went on hiatus in 2003 for mastermind Toby Driver to found a new project, Kayo Dot. For this reason, the surprise release of the band's fan-funded album Part the Second for free over the internet last year seemed like a minor miracle.

Part the Second isn't a mere rehashing of old maudlin of the Well: Driver adds tons of strings, saxophones, and diverse percussion instruments to the group. In addition, he drops the harsh passages and screams that peppered previous releases, resulting in a sound that is more aligned with post-rock and modern classical music than metal. The many highlights include the evolution of "Rose Quartz Turning to Glass" from beautiful piano and violin duet to uneasy atonal moans to Pink Floyd climax, as well as the expansive prog-rock noodling in "Laboratories of the Invisible World (Rollerskating the Cosmic Palmistric Postborder)." "Excerpt from 6,000,000,000,000 Miles Before the First, or, the Revisitation of the Blue Ghost" is definitely the album's standout track, starting as a starry-eyed meditation on the creation of the universe before building up to Driver's soaring electric guitar leads.

maudlin of the Well - "Excerpt from 6,000,000,000,000 Miles Before the First, or, the Revisitation of the Blue Ghost"

You can still download Part the Second for free in a variety of formats here.

Blackfield

Since I'm leaving for Israel tonight, I figured I would post a band that has connections to the tiny country on the edge of the Mediterranean. Here's Blackfield, a collaboration between Porcupine Tree leader Steven Wilson and Israeli rocker Aviv Geffen. The band strips down Wilson's progressive tendencies to simpler songs built on foundations of acoustic guitar and piano.

Check out "Miss U," from the group's latest release, 2007's Blackfield II. Despite the title's cringe-inducing abbreviation, it's a great song. Geffen takes the lead vocals on this track and lends weight to his somewhat clichéd lyrics with his straightforward, raw delivery. Wilson provides layers of chiming electric guitars as a wash of strings and piano join in.

Blackfield - "Miss U"

New Pain of Salvation - "No Way"

Swedish prog-rockers Pain of Salvation have uploaded the lead-off track from their upcoming album, "Road Salt One," to their Myspace page. According to the band, the new album sees them stripping down their grandiose sound and "leaning towards a more classic, yet extremely colourful 70’s Rock style." Indeed, the new song, "No Way," is pretty classic rock for most of its duration, featuring slightly distorted, raw guitars and staccato Rhodes piano lines. Daniel Gildenlow delivers yet another soulful vocal performance, and drummer Leo Margarit closes the cut out with a fiery drum solo. My only problem with "No Way" is the midsection, during which the band breaks it down with several awkward sounding guitar/vocal unison licks. Hopefully, "Road Salt One" can cure the slump Pain of Salvation have been in ever since their epic 2002 masterpiece, "Remedy Lane." The new album drops next week on the 17th.

Listen to "No Way" at Pain of Salvation's Myspace.

3

It was as I was writing my Russian lit paper yesterday that I recalled the greatness of modern prog-rock band 3. Their song "Rabid Animals" suddenly cut through the post-rock that had previously been providing some pleasant ambiance, banishing all thoughts of Dostoevsky. This is a band you need to check out--they're excellent songwriters, with a unique sound anchored by frontman Joey Eppard's soaring vocals and flamenco-inspired acoustic guitar virtuosity. "Rabid Animals," from their 2009 album "Revisions," is one insanely catchy, groove-oriented track. Don't miss Eppard's insane slap-tapping guitar fill at the 2:30 mark.

3 - "Rabid Animals"