This is the third album from Swiss/Italian progressive metal band Virtual Symmetry.
Virtual Symmetry play progressive metal, and on their self-titled new album they give us 63 minutes of professionally crafted material. Also, you’ve got to love it when a band opens their album with a 20-minute epic. Spoiler alert – it’s a very good track indeed. Continue reading “Virtual Symmetry – Virtual Symmetry (Review)”
This is the third album from US progressive metal band Parius.
The Signal Heard Throughout Space is a 61-minute sci-fi “conceptual rock opera”. Blending progressive metal with technical and 70s progressive influences, the album offers a Continue reading “Parius – The Signal Heard Throughout Space (Review)”
This is the third album from Imminent Sonic Destruction, a progressive metal band from the US.
The Sun Will Always Set contains 52 minutes of expressive progressive metal. It’s an album that might not be what you think it is as it wears many hats across its playing time. Continue reading “Imminent Sonic Destruction – The Sun Will Always Set (Review)”
This is the third album from Italian progressive metallers Odd Dimension.
For an very rough idea of what The Blue Dawn sounds like, think of a metallic modern fusion of Dream Theater and Rush. It’s an imperfect description, but it gives you a decent idea of what to expect across the 64 Continue reading “Odd Dimension – The Blue Dawn (Review)”
Oceana are a progressive metal band from Italy and this is their debut album.
As an introductory description of The Pattern, I’m just going to be lazy and quite the promo blurb – “The intent was to mix progressive metal elements with European-style death doom. Influences, from a musical point of view, range from Edge of Sanity to Katatonia, from Paradise Lost to Duran Duran, from Metallica to Dream Theater, in a Continue reading “Oceana – The Pattern (Review)”
Altesia are a French progressive metal band and this is their debut album.
Despite seeing the light of day at the end of 2019, I felt compelled to shine a light on Paragon Circus once I had made its acquaintance, as it really is a damn fine record. Across 57 minutes of material, Altesia take us on a journey that’s as compelling as it is enjoyable. Continue reading “Altesia – Paragon Circus (Review)”
Twisted Illusion are a progressive rock band from the UK and this is their second album.
This is a sprawling, ambitious piece of work. At almost 100 minutes in length, this is a double album full of progressive delights and lesser-travelled journeys. Continue reading “Twisted Illusion – Insight to the Mind of a Million Faces (Review)”
A Sense of Gravity are a progressive metal band from the US. This is their second album.
I bet you’ve always wanted a record that mixes Dream Theater and Between the Buried and Me haven’t you? Well, now you have one. With symphonic/neoclassical elements combined with extreme metal, this is 68 minutes of progressive metal delivered just the way we like it; interesting and exciting. Continue reading “A Sense of Gravity – Atrament (Review)”
Greensleeves are a Brazilian Progressive Metal band and this is their second album.
This is quality Progressive Metal with a proper Metal edge. The band aren’t afraid of being a bit heavier than the norm and the songs make the most of this, mixing the forthright nature of Metal with the wandering, exploratory Progressive edge of the style.
If you like bands such as Dream Theater, Threshold, Pagan’s Mind and Nevermore then Greensleeves should be your thing too.
The singer has a really, really good voice; coming off somewhere between the singers of Pagan’s Mind and Nevermore his voice rises to the challenge again and again. Frequently the weakest link in bands such as this is the singer and I’m very pleased to say that isn’t the case here.
The songs are very well played, as you would expect for a band in this genre, and there are plenty of leads and solos to satisfy. I should compliment the chunky rhythms also; as mentioned previously they’re heavier for the norm and certainly bring out the Metal aspect of their sound.
Decent melodies and layered harmonies combine with thick guitars and melodic know-how to create exemplars of the style.
There are 12 tracks in total and they’re all composed so that the album as a whole is a very good listen. At over 72 minutes in length it’s a long listen but one that’s very rewarding.
I’ve really enjoyed listening to this and will continue to do so again and again in the future.
Definitely one to check out for your next Progressive Metal fix.
Wonderbox Metal 