|
CD Reviews
Live Reviews
Interviews
Unsigned
|
|
Oct 7th |
Ecliptica Sign To
Frontiers |
 |
Frontiers Records have announced the launch of Ecliptica's debut album “Impetus” which is scheduled for release on December 5th 2008.
Ecliptica are a heavy metal band hailing from Austria and were founded by guitarist Markus Winkler in 2005. He put together a line-up with six members in total, together with the other guitar player Bernie Scholz, Thomas Tieber and Elisabeth Fangmeyer on vocals, plus Florian Thür and Roman Klomfar on bass and drums respectively.
Ecliptica soon started to write songs and in April 2007 released their critically acclaimed first EP “The Awakening” in front of 500 people at Planet Music Vienna. During the promotion for the EP, Ecliptica won the “Metal Battle Austria 2007” contest and played a live set at the world famous “Wacken Open Air” in Germany, not forgetting that they have also landed a support slot for the major US-Prog Metal gods Symphony X
In January 2008 the band entered the Hinterhof Studios in Vienna to record their first full length album “Impetus”, which is now being released on the international markets by Frontiers Records. The word “Impetus” stands for Power, Speed and Energy just like the sound of these 10 songs delivered on the album. Straight through without orchestral arrangements Ecliptica reduced their songs to a rough and powerful but still melodic feel.
The music of Ecliptica is defined in their musical roots: blending the traditional Heavy Metal of the 80’s with intricate rhythms and progressive elements from all decades. The song writing however is very personal and original, thus making them instantly recognizable thanks to the use of two vocalists and to the classical elements which are incorporated into the songs. Theatrical elements and an eclectic song writing complete the picture of a very gifted band that is now ready to be unleashed.
The full track listing for Impetus is as follows:
Impetus, My Paradise, Land of Silence, Carry On, Twilight Hall, Turn Away, Old Man’s Memories, Watching You, Jester in the Ballroom and Black Swan.
|
|
Oct 7th |
Unitopia |
|
Inside Out Music are to release the new album from Unitopia, entitled The Garden on November 24th.
 
Australian band, Unitopia area new signing to Inside Out Music and a great addition to the roster of the leading label for progressive rock and progressive metal music. The Garden is the second release by the six-piece (Mark Trueack, vocals; Sean Timms, keyboards, guitar; Matt Williams, guitar; Monty Ruggiero, drums; Shireen Khemlani, bass; Tim Irrgang, percussions) and is a double concept album
Unitopia’s carefully arranged compositions are as multi-layered as they are transparent and every one of their songs is pervaded by an infallible feel for melodies and emotional depth. Imagine The Flower Kings, Van der Graaf Generator, King Crimson and Men at Work in one and the same boat, and you get a vague idea of the artistic worlds which Unitopia inhabit.
The current line-up of Unitopia began in 1996 when a mutual friend introduced Mark Trueack and Sean Timms after realising the two had similar musical tastes. They discovered many similarities, not only in music, but in their sense of humour, films and TV and their joy for life and concern for the environment. A date was made for Trueack to come over to Timms’ studio. As soon as Timms heard Trueack sing he knew that they had to start working together. This formulated into an energetic and exciting song-writing partnership that culminated in the completion of their debut album More Than A Dream in 2005.
The Garden was written, demoed, recorded, mixed and mastered in three years and the result is a concept album which takes listeners on a fascinating journey through space and time. From the opening track this double album keeps its listeners in permanent suspense. “The songs do tie very nicely together and have a flow to them,” Timms confirms, explaining its thematic background: “The overall message that the album conveys is one of redemption. It is an album about hope coming from despair. “
The full track listing for The Garden is as follows:
CD1: One Day, The Garden, Angeliqua, Here I Am, I Wish I Could Fly and Inside The Power
CD2: Journey's Friend, Give And Take, When I'm Down, This Life, Love Never Ends, So Far Away, Don't Give Up Love and 321
|
|
Oct 7th |
Karmakanic |
|
Inside Out Music are to release the new album from Karmakanic, entitled Who's The Boss In The Factory, on November 24th.
 
For songwriter and producer Jonas Reingold, bassist with Swedish prog rock act, The Flower Kings, Karmakanic is much more than just a musical side show. Whenever he has the time, he devotes himself to the group which consists of a nucleus featuring himself, Göran Edman (vocals), Krister Jonsson (guitar), Lalle Larsson (keyboards) and Zoltan Csörsz (drums). “Karmakanic consists of a core band, with guests coming and going,” he explains. The guests on their latest album, Who’s The Boss In The Factory?, include renowned musicians such as his Flower Kings colleague Tomas Bodin (keyboards), Andy Tillison of The Tangent on Hammond organ, accordion player Lelo Nika, who has worked with jazz pianist Joe Zawinul, and tenor saxophonist Theo Travis, whose career résumé features work with renowned artists such as Robert Fripp, Gong and Soft Machine. This list indicates that Karmakanic consciously cover a wide stylistic range on Who´s The Boss In The Factory?.
Karmakanic got together in 1999 before releasing Entering The Spectra (2002) and Wheel Of Life (2004). Who’s The Boss In The Factory? is the band’s third and most diverse album to date, recorded at Reingold’s own Reingold Recording studios and mixed at Pama Records, Cosmic Lodge and Reingold Recording.
The album includes the 20-minute symphonic rock number, Send A Message From The Heart, which would be difficult to surpass in terms of its imaginativeness. “I worked with three different themes throughout the song,” Reingold explains. “I used the themes in different keys, time signatures etc. The lyrical context is uplifting; San Francisco-ish, sunny, its message is that it’s better to speak from your heart rather than your mind so I invited my son Alex to start off the CD. He sings the first verse. I think the lyrical context gets even clearer when sung by a five-year-old kid.”
Eternally, which comes in two parts and is devoted to Reingold’s parents, who died last year in a tragic car accident just before Christmas, is no less impressive. “I used real strings on this one just to enhance the feeling, and Lelo Nika performed a wonderful accordion solo. He is a real genius, nailing the vibe of the song impeccably.”
Reingold can be proud of an album which is simply intended to make the listener feel good – no more and certainly no less. “I try to make as good music as possible and have a fun time while I’m doing it”, says Reingold. “As long as everybody puts the music first and enjoys themselves it’s good enough for me.”
|
|
Oct 7th |
Stone Gods
Announce New Permanent Drummer |
|
After months of anticipation and speculation, and literally hundreds of world-wide drummers offering up their services, the three rock'n'rollers known as the STONE GODS, are pleased to announce that permanently joining them on the Good Ship SG will be none other than Robin Goodridge, of ex-Bush fame.
With new single 'Don't Drink The Water' out on October 27 (taken from their smash hit album 'Silver Spoons and Broken Bones') and a full UK tour, supporting Aussie rockers Airbourne, kicking off on November 1, Robin has joined their number just in time.
It has been an incredible year of achievements for the Stone Gods - their debut release, the 'Burn The Witch' EP, sold out within hours of going on sale and hit the UK Rock Chart at number 2. The band played triumphant sets at this year's Download and Isle of Wight Festivals, as well as touring with Velvet Revolver. Their debut album was released in July to critical and commercial success. And to top it all, they have received TWO nominations for the 2008 Classic Rock Magazine Awards (Best New Band and Album Of The Year)!
Catch them at one of the following:
1 Nov 2008 Cardiff University
2 Nov 2008 Bristol Academy
5 Nov 2008 Birmingham Academy
6 Nov 2008 Sheffield Octagon
7 Nov 2008 Liverpool Academy
8 Nov 2008 Manchester Academy
10 Nov 2008 Dublin Vicar Street
11 Nov 2008 Belfast Limelight
13 Nov 2008 Inverness Ironworks
14 Nov 2008 Dundee Fat Sams
15 Nov 2008 Glasgow Barrowlands
17 Nov 2008 Newcastle Academy
18 Nov 2008 Leeds Metropolitan University
19 Nov 2008 Stoke Victoria Hall
20 Nov 2008 Nottingham Rock City
22 Nov 2008 Oxford Academy
23 Nov 2008 Norwich UEA
24 Nov 2008 Cambridge Junction
26 Nov 2008 Folkestone Leas Cliff Hall
27 Nov 2008 London Astoria
28 Nov 2008 London Astoria
|
|
Upcoming Gigs
Upcoming Gigs
Click On Adds For More Info
Win A Pair
Of Tickets To See Marillion On Their Forthcoming UK Tour.
Click On Add For Details |
