Oblivion Protocol – The Fall of the Shires (Review)

Oblivion Protocol - The Fall of the ShiresThis is the debut album from international progressive rock band Oblivion Protocol.

The Fall of the Shires is an interesting record in that it’s a sequel to Threshold’s 2017’s album Legends of the Shires, born from a desire by Oblivion Protocol founder/vocalist/keyboardist Richard West, (also keyboardist in Threshold), to continue that album’s themes and worldbuilding. Continue reading “Oblivion Protocol – The Fall of the Shires (Review)”

Virtual Symmetry – Virtual Symmetry (Review)

Virtual Symmetry - Virtual SymmetryThis 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)”

Queensrÿche – Digital Noise Alliance (Review)

Queensrÿche - Digital Noise AllianceQueensrÿche are a legendary US progressive metal band and this is their sixteenth album.

Following on from 2019’s enjoyable The Verdict, Queensrÿche have returned with a new 57 minutes of material in the shape of Digital Noise Alliance. Continue reading “Queensrÿche – Digital Noise Alliance (Review)”

Sumerlands – Dreamkiller (Review)

Sumerlands - DreamkillerThis is the second album from US heavy metallers Sumerlands.

Featuring a member of Vestal Claret, Dreamkiller contains 35 minutes of traditional heavy metal and AOR songwriting smarts. Continue reading “Sumerlands – Dreamkiller (Review)”

Sarayasign – Throne of Gold (Review)

Sarayasign - Throne of GoldThis is the debut album from Sarayasign, a rock band from Sweden.

Occasionally you stumble, blindly, across an album that is a real gem. Throne of Gold is exactly one such release. Sarayasign’s rock style may have fallen out of fashion some time ago, but that doesn’t change the fact that what they have produced here is a damn good album. Continue reading “Sarayasign – Throne of Gold (Review)”

Odd Dimension – The Blue Dawn (Review)

Odd Dimension - The Blue DawnThis 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)”

The Progressive Souls Collective – Sonic Birth (Review)

The Progressive Souls Collective - Sonic BirthThis is the debut album from The Progressive Souls Collective, an international progressive rock/metal supergroup of sorts.

Here we have 63 minutes of music that features current and ex-members of a range of bands, all brought together by a central figure. I picked this album to listen to initially due to the striking album art, but never thought it Continue reading “The Progressive Souls Collective – Sonic Birth (Review)”

NVC – The Deleted Scenes (Review)

NVCNVC are a Canadian progressive metal band and this is their debut album.

This is modern and emotive progressive metal that marries some latter-day Anathema influences with a melodic death metal side; think Ensiferum and Wintersun for a starting point. The resulting Continue reading “NVC – The Deleted Scenes (Review)”