Author Andrew Doherty
It’s always a pleasure to hear from the Finnish soundmeister Kenneth Kovasin a.k.a. ówt krì. Both “New Seed” and “Pilgrimage” are thought-provoking and mind-opening in a way that we’re allowed to develop our own thoughts without any form of prescription… Continue Reading →
Sunday 6th October The UK dominated the afternoon with three representatives of the not-always-so-united kingdom appearing in the afternoon. The first of them was Temples on Mars from London. Energy was in the air as Temples on Mars started with… Continue Reading →
I hadn’t realised that Milan was one of the epicentres of post punk and dark wave in the 1980s until I read the attachment that came with this. Well they recognise Joy Division and The Cure, and having heard this… Continue Reading →
Saturday 5th October A highlight at this festival for me is the exposure of bands from the host country. Saturday’s line-up started with one such in Golden Caves. There wasn’t a full house yet but 70 or 80 isn’t a… Continue Reading →
Here we go. The gentle juggernaut that is ProgPower Europe is upon us again. Having missed last year’s episode, I was back for my fix of the great, the good and hopefully the mystifying. The line-up looked interesting and as… Continue Reading →
My first encounter with London-based Temples on Mars was at ProgPower Europe this year. I learned that this London-based band was previously called Agent, hardly a stand-out name, and this is effectively a re-launch. After the band’s entertaining heavy melodic… Continue Reading →
I go around a lot in Prog circles and I’ve sensed a shift change in attitude towards Haken. Whereas around 3 or 4 years ago, they were the bee’s knees and the favourite band of many, I’ve heard the view… Continue Reading →
A cold and wintry wind blew in. Never mind the quiet start. Avast follow the tradition of their Norwegian forebears with brutal, violent black metal. But wait … the atmosphere changes and has the dreamier and majestic air of post… Continue Reading →
In common with their name, Aeternus seem to have been around forever. The lynchpin is Ares, who founded the band from Bergen in 1993 and has been the epicentre of a band, which has historical and current links with many… Continue Reading →
“Follow the white rabbit”, we’re told. Well, maybe we should but for sure we’re taken on a journey through a strange Wonderland here on this experimental saxophone-driven jazz prog collection from French quartet DRH. Sometimes it’s good not to have… Continue Reading →
Four years ago a trio in Rotterdam formed a heavy sludge rock band. This band Massa recognises influences in the likes of the Melvins, Yob, Mogwai and Godspeed. The word “cinematic” is affixed to their work. The scene is set…. Continue Reading →
I always finding it disconcerting when an album starts with three minutes of acoustic progressive ambience – quite sophisticated actually – and immediately changes tack and goes into death metal vibes. I won’t hold this against Piah Mater specifically, whose… Continue Reading →