In care se vorbeste (canta) despre o anumita parte a rock-ului

First topic message reminder :

Incep astazi sa trec in revista niste baieti care ma incanta de ceva vreme (ok, s-au strecurat si ceva fete ) prin zgomotele care le produc. Dati-le o sansa, chiar daca initial nu va spun mare lucru.

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Mentionez ca ma voi inspira aproape exclusiv de pe site-ul de capatai al progului (desi bineinteles ca puritanii spun ca deja a virat-o spre fateta mai comerciala a abordarii), http://www.progarchives.com/
Aici veti gasi detalii despre trupele prezentate de mine, discografii, componente, exemple de piese sau videoclipuri etc. Feel free to explore !

INDEX

A

AFTER CRYING
AGALLOCH
AKKERMAN, JAN
ALCEST
AMON DÜÜL
AMOS, TORI
ANATHEMA
ANDROMEDA
ANEKDOTEN
ANYONE'S DAUGHTER
APHRODITE'S CHILD
AREA
ARSENAL
ASIA
ATHEIST
AVALON
AYREON

B

BACAMARTE
BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST
BARRETT, SYD
BEATLES, THE
BECK, JEFF
BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME
BELIEVER
BJÖRK
BLACK SABBATH
BLACKMORE'S NIGHT
BLOTTED SCIENCE
BLUE OYSTER CULT
BLUT AUS NORD
BOWIE, DAVID
BUCIUM
BYRON

C

CAMEL
CAN
CANVAS SOLARIS
CARAVAN
CELELALTE CUVINTE
CHICAGO
CHROMA KEY
CICCADA
COLOSSEUM
CRIMSON GLORY
CULT OF LUNA
CURVED AIR
CYNIC

D

DARKWATER
DAVIS, MILES
DEAD CAN DANCE
DEATH
DEATHSPELL OMEGA
DEEP PURPLE
DEUS
MCLAUGHLIN AND DE LUCIA DI MEOLA
DI MEOLA, AL
DIABLO SWING ORCHESTRA
DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, THE
DREAM THEATER

E

ECHO
ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA
ELOY
EMERSON LAKE & PALMER
EMERSON, KEITH
ENO, BRIAN

GENTLE GIANT


Eclectic Prog • United Kingdom

Alti meseriasi, probabil in top 5 al supergrupurilor.
Gentle Giant biography
Formed on the late 60's by the Shulmman brothers, GENTLE GIANT is known
as the paradigmatic progressive rock band. With an uncomparable
musicianship, they went as far as no one ever did into unexplored
grounds in the progressive music, navigating over dissonant 20th-century
classical chamber music, medieval vocal music, jazz and rock. The
multi-instrumentation capabilities of the musicians gave such dynamic to
their music, which set parameters to a whole coming generation up to
these very days. They explored Moogs, Mellotrons and Fender Rhodes usage
with such majesty! Not to mention other instruments like oboes,
violins, cellos and horns among others.

The band was able to
come across the 70's maintaining an outstanding level on their music,
altering their style over the years and keeping the quality as only a
few bands were able to do. Among their magnificent discography, all the
albums from "Acquiring the Taste" through "Playing the Fool" are
essential progressive rock releases (with the possible exception of
"Interview"). This portion of the band's career would see a fittingly
grand conclusion on the live "Playing the Fool" album. What more is
there to say about these masters of progressive music?

GOD IS AN ASTRONAUT


Post Rock/Math rock • Ireland

God Is An Astronaut biography
GOD IS AN ASTRONAUT is an epic post-rock band with definite links to
space rock sounds of bands such as Pink Floyd mixed with the heavy
layers of Mono. They are known for their beautiful, heavily layered
melodies, ambient vocals, and dynamic songs, as well as their extensive
use of lights and visuals for their live shows. The band formed in
2002, and created their own record label, Revive Records, in order to
release their first record "The End of the Beginning" the same year.
After three years away from the studio, they went back to record the LP
"All is Violent, All is Bright" in 2005. Since then, they have released
an EP, "A Moment of Stillness" in early 2006, and an internet-only
single "Tempus Horizon" in October. The band's lineup has remained the
same since its inception, including Torsten Kinsella on vocals, guitars
and keyboards, Neils Kinsella on Bass, Guitars and visuals, and Lloyd
Hanney playing drums and synthesizers.
The overall sound of GOD IS AN
ASTRONAUT has not changed dramatically since the beginning, though
their work on "The End of the Beginning" had a ssomewhat more electronic
sound than their later works. However, their brand of sprawling,
spacey melodies was well in place already at that time. Their second
LP, "All is Violent, All is Bright", places more emphasis on guitar
layers, and finds a more typical post-rock feel.
This band is highly
recommended for fans of instrumental post-rock that emphasizes beauty of
form and melody over outright experimentation. They also have a great
deal of crossover appeal to space-rock fans.

GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR


Post Rock/Math rock • Canada

Godspeed You! Black Emperor biography
GODSPEED YOU BLACK EMPEROR! is an experimental nine-piece from Montreal,
Canada that specializes in semi-avant-garde instrumental music of
haunting beauty. They've released five discs of music, with a grand
total of eleven pieces of music, so you know they can write some
extended ideas. Formed in 1995, GYBE! consists of Roger Tellier-Craig
(guitar), Norsola Johnson (cello), Efrim Menuck (guitar), Mauro Pezzente
(bass), David Bryant (guitar), Thierry Amar (bass), Sophie Trudeau
(violin), Aidan Girt (percussion), and Bruce Cawdron (percussion).
GYBE!'s music should probably be described as long, dark, moody, and
brilliant. Their sound was once compared to TANGERINE DREAM, except that
GYBE! uses no keyboards. They paint a similar sonic texture to
TANGERINE DREAM, but they do it using cello, violin, upright bass, and
three guitars, rather than synths. In fact, GYBE! is very organic, often
bringing in spoken word samples, as well as glockenspiel.

GODSPEED
YOU BLACK EMPEROR!'s best album is arguably the double-disc "Lift Your
Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven". It consists of four 20 minutes
pieces. "Yanqui U.X.O." is also an excellent album, having two 20 minute
tracks and a 30 minute track. GYBE!'s other albums are "f#a#infinity"
and "Slow Riot For New Zero Kanada."

GODSPEED YOU BLACK EMPEROR!
is highly recommended for prog fans as Kraut Rock, epic-length
experimental, or anyone looking for something a little different to sink
their ears into.

GONG


Canterbury Scene • Multi-National

Gong biography
GONG is a Space/Canterbury Rock group formed by
Australian guitarist (formerly of SOFT MACHINE) Daevid Allan in Paris,
France in 1968. He did not do it alone though, he & his wife, Gilli
Smyth are the whole nucleus of that band with numerous band line-ups.
"Magick Brother, Mystic Sister" is GONG's first release & the line
up consists of: Didier Malherbe (sax), Christian Tritsch (guitar), Pip
Pyle (drums) & of course, Daevid Allan (guitar & lead vocals)
while his wife Gilli performed the spacey vocals. GONG's second release:
"Camembert Electrique" is the beginning of Allan's ideas of Pot Head
pixies, Radio Gnome's, & Octave Doctor's featured on later albums of
"The Radio Gnome Invisible Trilogy" along with the Protagonist Zero The
Hero, which consisted of "Flying Teapot" (1972), "Angel's Egg" (1973)
& "You" (1974). After "Camembert Electrique" release also saw a new
line-up & a steady one. The line-up consisted of: Didier Malherbe
(sax) Mike Howlett (bass), Pierre Moerlen (drums), Steve Hillage
(guitar), Tim Blake (synthesizers) & of course, Daevid (vocals &
guitar) & Gilli (space vocals). This line-up would last until
"You". When Allen, Smyth, & Blake departed due to dissatisfaction of
being an instrumental band this led Pierre to be the leader &
released "Shamal" in 1976. Hillage lost faith in the group &
departed as well.

All of the "Radio Gnome Trilogy" albums &
"Camembert Electrique" are great places to start for anyone interesting
in GONG. "Magick Brother, Mystic Sister" is very raw, & not as
technical or jam worthy as later GONG, but the Canterbury humor is still
there. "Shamal" is the beginning of their Fusion sound that would be
later presented on later albums. "Gong Live" features a good compilation
of tracks performed live would also be good starter album.

GROUND ZERO


RIO/Avant-Prog • Japan

Ground Zero biography
Fronted by Freeform turntablist, guitarist Otomo
Yoshihide, Ground Zero was yet another project for one of Japans most
prolific musical geniuses of the modern era. Originally formed in 1990
as a changeable line up, the band has seen numerous line-ups; which are
near impossible to keep check on as each year passes by. Not to mention
the flood of live shows. Now defunct, Ground Zero went on to release
more than a hand full of albums of the highest standard from 1993 -
1999. Though relatively short lived the band never cessed to stun and
batter our minds with some of the most spectacular and captivating
avant-rock/noise/free Jazz to ever escape the Japanese shores.
Throughout their career the band was solidified around three set
line-ups, along with the continuos influx of guest musicians.
Their
early period: Otomo, Hirose, Chino, Kimoto, Uemura and Sasaki. Mid
period: Otomo, Uchihashi, Nasuno, Uemura, Yoshigaki and Sachiko M
Late
period (now an 8 piece set up): Otomo, Uchihashi, Nasuno, Uemura,
Yoshigaki, Sachiko M, Kikuchi and Tanaka. One of the most important
factors residing in Ground Zero's music is the usages and formation of
samples. Most of their albums focus around a selection of specific
scores of music, moulded into Otomo's noisy and stylistic
interpretations. The samples come from far and wide, ranging from the
Revolutionary Pekinese Opera of China to the Free Jazz of Kaoura Abe.

By
1995 Ground Zero started to bring their acclaim to a more worldwide
audience with their second album 'Null and Void'; released on John
Zorn's own label Tzadik. This album set the benchmark of the traditional
Ground style and formula, acting as a stepping-stone to more fully
developed compositions in the future.
With the dawn of 1997 came
'Plays Standards'. We find Otomo interpreting in a more personalised
fashion, formulating a more song-orientated album, while still lending a
health does of noise doused insanity. Also released in the same year,
was 'Consume Red'. Sited as the bands greatest moment, it was to be one
of the last full releases before the band broke up. With this release we
are grace with the fullest realisation of Otomo's unique sampling
techniques. Based around samples of a Korean Hojok player (instrument
sounding like extreme bagpipes), we are engulfed with 60mins of non-stop
looped drone, which drags us further and further into dense and
terrifying realms as the piece comes into full realisation

STEVE HACKETT


Symphonic Prog • United Kingdom

Steve Hackett biography
GUITAR BASED MUSIC WITH VARIOUS STYLES
(Blues, Classical, Folk, Jazz, New Age and Progressive Rock)

Steve
HACKETT needs no introduction. He is definitely one of the major
guitarists of this century. Ex-GENESIS, he is now a major force in the
domain of music composed for guitar, rock as well as classical. Steve is
a complex musician, drawing influence from a wide variety of styles and
melding them into super compositions. His music has evolved over the
years, and while some of it was not up to the standards that he set with
other albums. They are still excellent.

HACKETT joined GENESIS
as guitarist in early 1971 and featured across ten albums of their
history. He replaced Anthony PHILLIPS, and stayed with the band during
their successful mid-70s progressive rock period. I remember once
reading that, if GENESIS lost their "brains" when Peter GABRIEL left,
then they surely lost their "heart" when Steve left. In a way, it is
easy to see how HACKETT was "crowded out" of Genesis in 1977. From
"Nursery Crime" in 1971 to the double-live "Seconds Out" in 1977, he
created in his solo albums his own style, dominated by his guitars,
sometimes very classical or at times furious. His tracks go from a
symphonic Progressive style to a more energetic rock.

From the
first album "Voyage Of The Acolyte" while he was still with GENESIS to
his most recent ones, all are MUSTS. For the most part, all of the
compositions on HACKETT's first five solo albums are well-thought-out
and impeccably well crafted. I would highly recommend "Voyage of the
Acolyte" (missing GENESIS album), "Please Don't Touch" (powerful), his
TRADEMARK "Spectral Mornings" (pure magic), "Defector" (another amazing
album by Steve), and "Cured" (pop-oriented). This, along with "Time
Lapse", "The Unauthorised Biography", "Guitar Noir", "Darktown" and "To
Watch The Storms", are the best for people curious about the HACKETT
"feel". However I believe these are his bests - it could rightly be
called "THE HISTORY OF MUSIC ACCORDING TO STEVE HACKETT." Get them
ALL...and HAPPY LISTENING!!!

HAGGARD


Crossover Prog • Germany

Haggard biography
BLACK SABBATH meets Johann Sebastian BACH? This may be a very loose
description of the 16-member outfit from Munich, but the fact is their
roots lie as much in death metal as in classical/medieval music. Their
albums combine some fine classical moments (cello, flute, oboe, harp,
violin as well as dreamy female vocals) with the iron riffs, growling
male vocals and raw violence of death metal bands.

They have
released a mini-CD in 1994 but fans of the genre have only praises for
the subsequent two albums "And Thou Shalt Trust. the Seer" (97) and
"Awaking the Centuries" (00), both featuring heavy gothic themes yet
beautiful melodies - both deal with the forecasts of Nostradamus. "Eppur
Si Muove", released in 2004, still features wonderful musical moments
but is more vocally oriented and the growling is a bit overdone,
overshadowing/marring the beauty of the music. If you want to wallow in
"domesday" fantasy, then HAGGARD will certainly transport you to other
times in grand fashion and with stunning sonics.

Fans of THERION or melodic death metal in general will certainly want to check them out.

bistrita

HAKEN


Heavy Prog • United Kingdom

Haken biography
HAKEN is a young but respected outfit from London that started strong,
rose to the top of the progressive market, and ended up producing the
80-minute epic 'Aquarius' in 2010. Initially the band was the project
of three school buddies - Richard HENSHALL[guitar/keys], Ross
JENNINGS[vocals], and Matt MARSHALL[guitar] - who were soon joined by
keyboardist Peter JONES and drummer Raymond HEARNE. With the help of
TO-MERA guitarist Tom MacLEAN on bass they recorded a three cut demo in
2007 that received good responses and got the band booked in support of
RIVERSIDE that year.

In 2008, JONES and MARSHALL left to pursue
other interests and were replaced by guitarist Charlie GRIFFITHS [LINEAR
SPHERE/ANCHORHEAD] and the keys of Diego TEJEIDA and after touring to
support KINGS X, BIGELF and TO-MERA, Laser's Edge signed HAKEN to their
progmetal label Sensory Records.

Musically HAKEN is many-faceted:
sometimes song-oriented, sometimes avant-garde, often heavy, and always
Prog. A twisted meeting of RUSH, The TANGENT, KANSAS,and hints of
Italian symph, the six-piece is sure to please a very wide spectrum of
prog listener.


nice

PETER HAMMILL


Eclectic Prog • United Kingdom

Peter Hammill biography
Peter HAMMILL is one of the most unique and influential voices in prog.
He was the pivotal figure in VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR (VDGG for short)
who formed in 1967 at Manchester University. His obsession with lost
love, lost faith, time, space and existence itself are the cornerstones
of both his work with the band and his solo albums. He was also their
principle songwriter. The classic line-up was the HAMMILL, Banton,
Jaxon, Evans combo which produced the peak "Pawn Hearts", "Still Life"
and "Godbluff" albums. He has since brought out at least 30 solo albums,
marked by lyrics of the utmost insight (usually) and a total refusal to
compromise. Their complex music, as often brutal as it was lyrical,
fitted somewhat uneasily into the once and then niche of Progressive
Rock. An interesting figure whose albums certainly merit
investigation..!

The first of a classic trilogy in progressive
rock history, "Chameleon"... and its companion pieces "The Silent Corner
and the Empty Stage" and "In Camera", are as good if not better than
many of the VDGG albums. FOR FANS OF PETER HAMMILL...!

HERBIE HANCOCK


Jazz Rock/Fusion • United States

Herbie Hancock biography
With a career that covers half of the 20th Century,
and shows no sign of slowing down as we move further into the 21st,
Herbie Hancock is one of the major music figures of our time. Within the
world of progressive jazz/rock fusion he is topped only by Miles Davis
when it comes to musical vision, but a bit ahead of Miles and all the
rest when it comes to composition and soloing ability. Within the
broader world of jazz music in general, his innovations on the piano
place him in an elite group that includes Art Tatum, Bud Powell,
Theolonius Monk, Bill Evans, Cecil Taylor and Sun Ra. Herbie's piano
playing brings together many influences including French impressionism
and neo-classicism, Bill Evan's soft touch, Horace Silver's hard bop,
McCoy Tyner's quartal voicings and Bud Powell's fast single note lines,
and creates a personal style that is instantly recognizable even if you
only hear him play one or two notes.

Herbie was born in 1940 and
by the age of eleven was performing Mozart's Concerto in D Major in a
children's concert with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. When he was 20
Art Blakey picked him to join his Jazz Messengers. While with Blakey,
Hancock learned how to play a mixture of RnB and jazz known as hard bop,
a style that would later become the foundation for jazz fusion. Three
years later Herbie was asked to join Miles' new quintet. During this
time with Miles, Herbie, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Tony Williams
developed a totally new and unique way to play behind soloists.
Disregarding the more conservative approach of their predecessors, these
three didn't just keep time, instead they played with the rhythm and
harmony in restless and constantly inventive ways. It was during this
time that Herbie developed his unique comping style that combines French
neo-classical harmonies with syncopated rhythms and African derived
single note lines played in octaves. While with Miles, Herbie also put
out several solo albums including some, such as 'Speak Like a Child',
that include Herbie's arrangements for small jazz orchestras. His unique
scoring for instrumental ensembles reveal the expected French
influences, as well as an influence from Gil Evans' orchestrations for
Miles Davis. These laid-back and impressionistic albums sound like cool
future lounge music for the ultra hipster of tomorrow.

HAWKWIND


Psychedelic/Space Rock • United Kingdom


Hawkwind biography
Over their 30-odd year history, HAWKWIND were
probably the most famous underground rock band in the world. The group
was formed in the late '60s by guitarist/singer Dave BROCK, guitarist
Mick SLATTERY and saxman/flautist/singer Nik TURNER. Dave BROCK was the
leader of HAWKWIND and he was the captain, as it were. The band never
would have made it for 30 years without Dave.

HAWKWIND's history
has been marked by a series of confusing line-ups through 40 or so
personnel changes. Their sound has continued to metamorphose and evolve:
an almost jazz feel ("Hawkwind"), the "experimental" & acoustic
sounds of early releases ("In Search of Space"), changing to the metal
sound of their days (mid 70's), and a modern electronic feel on the
latest ("Electric Teepee"). Yes, one can detect definite evolutions.
With the primary use of the synthesizer, heavy and delay with the touch
of techno, HAWKWIND practically created a genre of music that be called:
psychedelic space-rock. Their creativity seems to be in the use of the
synths to add to the intense moods of their songs. They were the master
of the acid-space rock genre.

There are at least 100 total
albums that are either compilations, EP's, bootlegs of live
performances, etc. You can't go wrong with any of the 70's releases in
my opinion.
"Doremi Fasol Latido" ('72) - A great album with a heavy metal space rock a-la lan Lemmy KILMISTER, who later founded MOTORHEAD.
"A Space Ritual" ('73) - The essential live album combining Space-rock music, and poetry. The GREATEST album in the world!
"Hall of the Mountain Grill" ('74) - A great album for FLOYD fans - very heavy, psychedelic music with lots of effects.
"Warrior at the Edge of Time" ('75) - In my opinion, THE classic album.
"Quark, Strangeness and Charm" ('77) - A return to a more traditional HAWKWIND sound.
"The Hawklords - 25 Years On" ('78) - This is a massive compilation of their best stuff.
"PXR 5" ('79) - This album really started the HAWKWIND tradition of semi-live, semi-studio albums.
Then you should consider the following efforts which I would recommend to the "Hawkfan":
"Levitation" ('80) - The last truly great HAWKWIND studio album.
"The Church of Hawkwind" ('82) - Really a Dave BROCK solo album. Very spacey and electronic.
"Chronicle
of the Black Sword" ('85) - The last major HAWKWIND release, was a
concept album inspired by their friend Michael MOORCOCK's writings.

STEVE HOWE


Crossover Prog • United Kingdom


teve Howe biography
Stephen James HOWE was born on April 8th, 1947 in Holloway, North
London. During his childhood he was troubled by 'Fellini-like horror
fantasies and nightmares' for some years. He only could get asleep when
he listened to music (like "Teensville" from CHET ATKINS). So music
became an essential safety valve, if not an obsession pretty early on.
When he was 12 years old, Steve got an acoustic guitar from his
parents. A few years later he bought his first electric guitar (a
Japanese Guyatone) and started to copy solos from the Fifties and
Sixties rock-scene note-by-note (from Les Paul, Frank Beecher, Scotty
Moore, Link Wray and Chuck Berry to Wes Montgomery, Django Rheinhardt
and Barney Kessel). He was also influenced by Jazz icon Miles Davis, the
classical composers VIVALDI and STRAVINSKY, classical guitar player
Julian Bream and organ player Jimmy Smith. Steve incorporated all these
influences and developed his unique style. He soon turned from a
'bedroom-guitarist' into a semi-professional player and became a 'hot
session-musician'. Steve joined his first band THE SYNDICATS ('63-'65),
followed by THE IN CROWD ('66-'68) and received a "cult-hero-status' in
TOMORROW (1968), a kind of psychedelic update from the previous THE IN
CROWD. Steve even played one gig in THE NICE when he replaced David
O'List and he also did auditions for JETHRO TULL and BLACK SABBATH. But
this didn't work out for him and he joined BODAST ('68-'69).

In
'71 he made his legendary move to YES after a phone call by Chris
SQUIRE. Steve HOWE's solo career started in '75 with his first solo
album entitled "Beginnings". He also collaborate on albums with an
impressive list of known musicians like Lou REED, Rick WAKEMAN, FRANKIE
GOES TO HOLLYWOOD, PROPAGANDA, Stanley CLARKE, QUEEN, FISH and even the
BEE GEES! Between '81 and '95 Steve HOWE joined the commercially
successful ASIA ('81-'83 and '91-'93) and GTR ('84-'87), he founded
ABWH (YES minus Chris SQUIRE) and did a YES-reunion ('91-'92). Special
projects/concerts: the album "Guitar Speak" from '88 (with Andy Powell,
Randy California and Robbie Krieger), the Magna Carta YES tribute "Tales
From Yesterday" (with Annie Haslam) and the Montreux Jazz Festival in
'79. From '95 he's again a member of YES and recently did a world tour,
more than 30 years after he joined this legendary 'symphonic rock
dinosaur'!

His first solo album "Beginnings" from '75 is a fine
effort, showing HOWE's varied style and his amazing collections of all
kind of guitars (from Gibson and Fender electric to the banjo,
Portuguese guitar and pedal steel guitar) but I don't like his vocals.
In my opinion his second record entitled "The Steve Howe album" is his
best effort but my favourite is the live-album "Not necessarily
acoustic" (from '94). This one contains all his best material like the
virtuosic "Meadow rag" and the fragile "Surface tension". It also
features songs from YES like "Excerpts from Tales from topographic
oceans", the Spanish climate from "Mood for a day", the exciting "Clap"
and the 'stage favourite' "Roundabout". These compositions shows an
amazing variety: Spanish, classical, rock, ragtime, romantic or jazz. If
you listen to Steve HOWE, you listen to a guitar-hero who scouted all
kind of musical borders to become one of the most influential and
acclaimed progrock guitarists of all time.

ICE AGE


Progressive Metal • United States

Ice Age biography
One of the most promising bands in the field is ICE AGE. They are
composed by guitarist Jimmy PAPPAS, singer & keyboardist Josh
PINCUS, drummer Hal APONTE, and bassist Arron DICESARE - both are
absolute masters. The guitars, keyboards, drums and vocals are working
full capacity. The music is very creative and refreshing with both the
rockers and the ballads. They have a few similarities to DREAM THEATER
but they are still unique. ICE AGE's influences range from other current
progressive rock bands as DEEP PURPLE and BLACK SABBATH to the likes of
RUSH, ELP, GENESIS, YES, PINK FLOYD, and KANSAS, to name a few.

"The
Great Divide" is an outstanding debut album from ICE AGE showing the
bands music to be progressive, metallic, melodic, and dramatic! This
album recalls musical images of everyone from STYX and KANSAS to DEEP
PURPLE and RUSH. Interesting stuff, indeed. Less metallic and aggressive
than "TGD", "Liberation" is a step in the right direction for heavy
progressive music. That's another aspect of "liberation". ICE AGE is
definitely recommended to all fans of American progressive rock and
metal.

IHSAHN


Tech/Extreme Prog Metal • Norway


Ihsahn biography
Ihsahn (real name Vegard Sverre Tveitan) was born in
1975 in Notodden, Norway. He is a talented Norwegian composer,
multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, infamous for his work with the
definitive Black Metal/Extreme Symponic group EMPEROR and the
Avant-Garde project PECCATUM, and a solo artist since 2006.

Vegard
took up the piano when he was seven, and started playing the guitar at
the age of ten. Having met an adherent in Tomas Haugen, better known as
Samoth, Ihsahn formed a Death Metal group Thou Shalt Suffer, where they
recorded two demos. Ihsahn would later come back to the project in 2000
in order to record a neo-classical/ambient album "Somnium" under its
name. Ihsahn's most commercially successful work remains with EMPEROR,
with which he defined the sound of the second wave of Black Metal in
such classics as "In the Nightside Eclipse" and "Anthems to the Welkin
at Dusk". EMPEROR's latest releases, particularly the swan song
"Prometheus - The Discipline of Fire & Demise", lean towards a more
progressive direction (the songwriting for the last album was entirely
done by Ihsahn). EMPEROR ceased to exist in 2001 when the members
decided to break up and concentrate on other projects. This allowed
Ihsahn to explore his experimental tendencies more freely in the
Avant-Garde group PECCATUM, which he formed with his wife Heidi Tveitan
(known as Ihriel). Together the two have recorded three full-length
albums and two EPs, "Lost in Reverie" being their most critically
acclaimed effort.

As PECCATUM split up in March, 2006, Ihsahn
started to work on his first solo album "The Adversary", the release of
which was initially mentioned not long after EMPEROR dissolved. All of
the instruments were masterfully played by the man himself, aside from
drums, for which purpose Ihsahn hired the virtuoso Asgeir Mickelson
(BORKNAGAR, SPIRAL ARCHITECT). In addition, the vocals on the track
"Homecoming" are done by by Kristoffer "Garm" Rygg known for his work
with ARCTURUS and ULVER.

"The Adversary" combines influences from
progressive rock, classical and heavy metal, as well as Tveitan's rich
experience in the Black Metal field, and is a all-around mature effort.
The album is recommended to all fans of Extreme Progressive Metal.
Ihsahn currently considers writing a follow-up to the album, as well as
finding musicians to reproduce the songs in a live setting.

INDUKTI


Experimental/Post Metal • Poland

ndukti biography
INDUKTI is the induction of five minds, it is the
musical conglomeration designed to stimulate the imagination and to draw
forth the exceptional experiences and unique emotions.

"The
music that is created by INDUKTI hypnotizes, paralyzes, does not let the
listener get away from it, it entrances him. The pieces are long,
well-structured and arranged skillfully. There are plenty of sounds
generated by the variety of effects and forms of articulation all
enriched by splendid expression and performance mastery. The
overwhelming guitar sound, celestial rhythms, psychedelic violin.it all
makes the listeners drawn into the magic musical world, makes them move
around peculiar spaces within the maze of restless rhythms and imminent
dusk." - these words expressed by the band's fans summarize the music of
INDUKTI.

INDUKTI's line-up has been unchanged for the last three
years. During that period the band has performed tens of concerts, it
has been awarded the first prize in three festivals (Big Star, Rock
Gardens and Voyage51). INDUKTI's music has appeared on two compilations
(Polish Prog-Metal vol.1 and Polish Prog-metal vol.2) and on the
independent release (Myrtwa) which received a warm welcome by the fans.

The inducing minds:
Wawrzyniec
Dramowicz - pulsating propeller of the band, generator of cracks and
rustles, percussionist, graduate of McGill University in Montreal with a
degree in Music, member of Sinfonia Varsovia, Polish Philharmonic
Orchestra and former member of Montreal Symphony Orchestra.

Ewa
Jablonska - melody constructor, tension creator - violin, graduate of
music school, symphonic experience, session musician, part of projects
such as Kokszoman, Robot, Halucyna and Vein.

Piotr Kocimski -
power controller, draftsman of sonic space, guitar, ethnical
instruments, music school graduate, psychologist, co-founder of the
band. Member of other musical projects, ex-member of Vein.

Maciej
Jaskiewicz - riffhypnotist, sound mathematician - guitars, spontaneous
musician, engineer. Ex-member of metal projects (Klinika
Psychiatryczna).

Maciej Adamczyk - trans and crump generator,
bass counterpoint - bass guitar, doublebass, member of numerous musical
projects (Bajkonur, Namaste)

IQ


Neo-Prog • United Kingdom

IQ biography
One of the Pioneers on the British Neo Prog scene (apologies to Martin
ORFORD - I know you hate the Neo Prog concept), IQ is one of the few
bands from the 80's and 90's scene that superbly delivers a full
symphonic, rich in emotion music. The outstanding vocals of Peter
NICHOLLS give the band its trademark, but the keyboard arrangements from
the multiband man Martin ORFORD (JADIS) really add to the atmosphere
here. Not enough, the guitar work from Mike HOLMES completes the last
essential ingredient of the band's musicianship.

The band is
strongly influenced by (GABRIEL era) GENESIS, with a hard-edged and
powerfull sound. Very extensive discography, in which you easely notice
the band's evolution. I would say IQ is one of the few bands that has
been able to maintain a growing curve in terms of musicianship and
identity over the years. The music became heavier on the 90's, but with
no doubt, it improved a lot.

They truly carried the torch of
progressive music into the 80s. Their first two prosper albums, "Tales
From The Lush Attic" and "The Wake" are among the very finest
progressive rock albums released in that decade. However, IQ's most
recent recordings "Ever" and the double-album, "Subterranea", are
considered by many of their fans to be even better than their seminal
early 80s work. ESSENTIAL PROG!!!


meseriasi

IRON BUTTERFLY


Proto-Prog • United States

ron Butterfly biography
Doug Ingle (Vocals, Organ) formed the first incarnation of 'Iron
Butterfly' in 1966 in San Diego with drummer Ron Bushy. After the group
moved to Los Angeles and played the club scene, it secured a recording
contract and got national exposure through tours with 'the Doors' and
'Jefferson Airplane'.

Following the release of their 1968 debut
album, "Heavy", original members Jerry Penrod (bass), Darryl DeLoach
(vocals), and Danny Weis (guitar) left the band and were replaced by
guitarist Erik Brann and bassist Lee Dorman. Weis went on to join
'Rhinoceros'. Later that year, the new line-up recorded "In A Gadda Da
Vida", a masterpiece of heavy, psychedelic acid rock, which sold four
million copies, spent over a year in the Top Ten, and was the first
album to receive platinum certification after the RIAA instituted the
award. (The title has been translated as "in the garden of Eden" or "in
the garden of life.") A shortened version of the title track, which
contained extended instrumental passages with
classical/Eastern-influenced organ, plus a two-and-a-half-minute drum
solo, reached number 30 on the singles charts. The follow-up, "Ball",
showed greater musical variety and went gold, followed by two more album
releases in 1970 - "Live", and "Metamorphosis".

Erik Braunn
left the group and was replaced by guitarists Mike Pinera and Larry
'Rhino' Reinhardt, but the group's success was largely over. Iron
Butterfly broke up in 1971; Braunn and Bushy re-formed the group in the
mid-'70s.

super piesa, tinand cont si de an.

JEAN-MICHEL JARRE


Prog Related • France

ean-Michel Jarre biography
Jean-Michel André JARRE (born August 24, 1948 in
Lyon, France) is a French composer of electronic music. He is the son of
Maurice Jarre, a composer of film music, who has written the scores to
such films as "Lawrence Of Arabia" and "Dr. Zhivago", among many others.

Jean-Michel
JARRE is regarded as one of the pioneers in the electronic music genre,
along with artists and bands such as Wendy CARLOS, VANGELIS, KRAFTWERK,
Isao TOMITA or TANGERINE DREAM. He is well-known for staging
spectacular outdoor concerts of his music, which feature laser displays
and fireworks, and three of which appeared in the Guinness Book of
Records for their large audiences, often of several million.

Jean-Michel
JARRE began studying piano at the age of five, but he abandoned his
classical training. During his youth he formed a band called MYSTERE IV.
In late 1960s he started experimenting with tape loops, radios and
other electronic devices, until, in 1968, he joined the Groupe de
Recherches Musicales, under the direction of Pierre Schaeffer, the
"father" of the musique concrète, where he was introduced to
synthesizers.

His album "Oxygene" launched in 1976 was a big
success worldwide, the song "Oxygene Part IV" becoming one of the
best-known pieces of electronic music ever.

In 1978, his second
album "Equinoxe" was released, followed by a concert in Paris on the
Place de la Concorde in Paris in 1979. This concert attracted 1 million
people, which was JARRE's first entry in the Guinness Book of Records
for the largest crowd for an outdoor concert.

In 1983 he created
the album Musique pour supermarchés (Music for supermarkets), which had a
print run of only a single copy. JARRE destroyed all the master records
from his studio work, allowed a Luxembourg radio to broadcast the album
once and auctioned it to raise money for French artists. People
recorded the album using their tape recorders while it was broadcasted
on the radio, so we can listen to that album, at a very poor quality
though (the radio station was an AM station

JETHRO TULL


Prog Folk • United Kingdom

Jethro Tull biography
" I didn`t have to play it all the time, I just had to wave it around and look good " - Ian Anderson 2003.

Eccentric
on stage yet rather thoughtful, reserved and even sombre at times when
not in the limelight, the Jethro Tull image was the brainchild of flute
wielding frontman Ian Anderson. Clad in scruffy vagabond apparel, and
looking more like an anachronism out of a Charles Dickens tale, Anderson
conveyed an old English aura during the band`s formative years in the
late 60`s and early 70`s which would persist throughout the band's 40
year career both visually and musically.

Born on August 10, 1947
in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, Anderson was augmented by a revolving
door of colourful musicians over the years which added to the
flamboyance of the Jethro Tull phenomenon. Conceived as a psychedelic
blues band in late 1967 the music of Jethro Tull has always been
dauntingly intricate embracing many styles including blues, jazz, folk,
medieval, classical, hard rock along with forays into electronic music,
sometimes referred to as "space age prog". The lyrics were equally as
sophisticated and sometimes reached new heights of grandiloquence
commenting on depressing world events such as drug abuse, the oil
crisis, modernisation, third world troubles and a deteriorating
economy.. Other topics included fads, spy novels, environmental and
social issues as well as metaphysical musings. With lyrics and music
which ran deep Jethro Tull have often been over-analysed by both fans
and critics alike and many of their albums have been erroneously
interpreted as autobiographical due to the fact that many of their
record covers featured artwork which seemed to depict Ian Anderson's
likeness, something which he has vehemently denied in numerous
interviews.

(Jethro Tull (30 March 1674 (baptized) – 21 February 1741) was an English agricultural pioneer who helped bring about the British Agricultural Revolution. He perfected a horse-drawn seed drill
in 1701 that economically sowed the seeds in neat rows, and later a
horse-drawn hoe. Tull's methods were adopted by many large landowners,
and they helped form the basis of modern agriculture.)

una din primele 5 trupe de prog.

JON & VANGELIS


Prog Related • United Kingdom

Jon & Vangelis biography
Jon & Vangelis is an '80's project between JON ANDERSON of YES and
Greek Progressive Electronic artist VANGELIS. Jon & Vangelis creates
an art-pop style of music comparable to '80's YES and maybe even ASIA.
Fans of '80's YES and VANGELIS should listen to this.


merita ascultata, dar cred ca o stiti.

JON OLIVA'S PAIN


Progressive Metal • United States

Jon Oliva's Pain biography
The genius Jon OLIVA, (leader of SAVATAGE, DOCTOR BUTCHER and TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA) now has his own solo career.

The
idea is to put here some great songs that are left-out from the other
bands. Recommended for the fans of BEATLES, QUEEN, BLACK SABBATH, FREE,
The WHO, JOURNEY, DREAM THEATER ... besides, of course, SAVATAGE and
TSO!!!!

KAMELOT


Progressive Metal • United States

Kamelot biography
KAMELOT debuted in 1994 with "Eternity" featuring
Mark Vanderbilt on vocals, Thomas Youngblood on guitars, Glenn Barry on
bass, Richard Warner on the drums and David Pavlicko on the keys, but
later, after one record, Richard and Mark would leave giving a chance to
Casey Grillo and Roy Kahn (Ex-CONCEPTION vocalist) to be part of the
band during their third album "Siege Perilous". Their sound completley
changed, they became an above-average melodic metal band, some compared
them with SONATA ARCTICA or HAMMERFALL, but clearly KAMELOT was above
this genre, adjusting progressive arrangements to the all ready famous
melodic metal sound.

With the line-up change, KAMELOT released
their best known material; albums like "The Fourth Legacy" that fused
Middle-Eastern sounds with power metal speed and "Karma" where they
demonstrate that talent and energy their fans worldwide acclaimed,
strong, heavy, mellow, deep and thoughtfull music were highly praised by
the press, getting very good reviews and giving KAMELOT the status of
heavy weight. Later in 2003, they released "Epica" a conceptual piece
based loosely in Goethe's Faust, "Epica" showed a peak on KAMELOT's
career, melodic choirs and orchestration makes company to their
trademark sound to create a whole world of fantasy and amusement, only
to be shadowed by the following release "The black halo" in 2005, their
best work yet.

KAMELOT has evolved in the past years, becoming a
more serious band, not afraid to exploit their talent, I wouldn't be
surprised if they turn to a more progressive edge as the years pass by,
this is a great band that never stop amazing fans all over the world.

KANSAS


Symphonic Prog • United States

Kansas biography
Original members Kerry LIVGREN (guitar) and Phil
EHART (drums) combined their two separate bands into one large band.
Kerry's band was called SARATOGA, and Phil's was called WHITE CLOVER.
The band changed its name to KANSAS. They were from the beginning just
an ordinary rock band, but were quickly compared to other progressive
bands in the 70's like GENESIS, YES and KING CRIMSON. Combining the
musical complexities of British prog-rock with the soul and
instrumentation of the American heartland, KANSAS became one of the
biggest selling and most successful touring acts of the 1970s. With huge
hits like "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust In The Wind", they helped
define the sound of "classic rock". They are loved all over the world.

I- THE 1970s
The
Early Days: Their self-titled debut album was released in 1974, but
nationwide response was slow. Their second album, "Song For America",
saw a softening of KANSAS' sound, with more classical influences
evident. The third album, "Masque", featured more pop songs and
lyrically quite dark. They suffered ridicule from people around the
world, because they wore overalls and had a violonist, which made people
think that they were a country music group.
The Best of Times:
"Leftoverture", with the popular single "Carry On Wayward Son", became a
signature piece and pushed the album to platinum success. The followup,
"Point Of Know Return" (1977) contained the ever-popular acoustic "Dust
In The Wind". During their tour, they recorded their first live album,
"Two For The Show" (1978) and the next studio album "Monolith" (1979).

II- THE 1980s
Seeds
Of Change: A year later, the band followed up with "Audio Visions", the
last production of the original band lineup. WALSH left the band due to
creative differences. "Vinyl Confessions" had Christian lyrical
content. The next album, "Drastic Measures" (1983), had some hard rock
material on it, including the song "Mainstream". In 1984, the band
released a greatest hits compilation, "The Best Of Kansas", which
featured one new song, "Perfect Lover".
The Second Generation: The
group split in 1983, only to reform in 1986 with the albums "Power" and
with "The Spirit Of Things" (1988). Sales of these two albums were not
very strong. Thus, the second generation of KANSAS had come to an abrupt
end.

III- THE 1990s: The Third Generation

toata lumea cred ca a oftat pe piesa asta....

KAYO DOT


RIO/Avant-Prog • United States


Kayo Dot biography
Kayo Dot is a New York based avant-garde rock and experimental metal
group which formed in 2003 after several members left Toby Driver's
previous project, Maudlin of the Well. Kayo Dot has been subject to
several line-up changes, although the constant members are Toby Driver
on bass, lead vocals, guitar, clarinet and keyboards, and Mia Matsumiya
on violin, viola and vocals.

The band released their debut
composition, 'Choirs Of The Eye', on John Zorn's label Tzadik in 2003.
This album captures atmospheric metal with avant-garde overtones with an
evocative and sincerely experimental approach. 'Choirs Of The Eye'
continues the combination of metal and atmospheric compositions which
maudlin of the Well are known for, and is a good entry point for new
listeners.

The band's 2006 follow up, 'Dowsing Anemone With
Copper Tongue', combines a more avant and less metal overall sound, and
features over an hour of guitar based compositions with less frontal
vocals and a higher emphasis on atmospheric textures and avant-garde
playing.

In 2008, they released their third LP, 'Blue Lambency
Downwards', which features several shorter compositions bookended by two
ten minute pieces. This album is the least metal of their output, and
is made up mostly of drum textures combined with string sections and
clarinet playing. The connection of metal within a typical sense is gone
from the band's sound, replaced by an occasionally aggressive and
consistently freeform sound.

Kayo Dot's overall sound has become
less metal based since their formation, and it is advisable that metal
fans start with their debut. Kayo Dot is recommended to listeners of
avant-rock, experimental and atmospheric music, fans of maudlin of the
Well and anyone interested in a unique combination of metal and
experimental textures.

The current line-up consists of Toby
Driver, Mia Matsumiya, Terran Olson, David Bodie and Daniel Means, who
all play several instruments.

'.With Kayo Dot I try to
constantly discover new ways of being "heavy" and "dark" without
resorting to the same old cheap tricks that so many other "heavy" and
"dark" bands rely on. In that case, we are the most metal band of all'