RPWL – Discography
RPWL (Risettion Postl Wallner Lung – the band members) is a German neo-progressive rock band clearly influenced by PINK FLOYD, but also by the BEATLES. They make melodious music, well written songs, although it could have been a bit heavier. After releasing two splendid albums, “God Has Failed” and “Trying To Kiss The Sun”, RPWL thought it was about time to close this chapter in their career and move on to new projects. They released a third album in 2003 “Stock”. Unfortunately this will be the first RPWL release which does not get my full recommendation. If you are a big RPWL fan there’s certainly enough material to be found you will enjoy.
Alchemist – Discography
Although self styled Progressive Death Metal band ALCHEMIST, hailing from the capital city of Canberra, had been created in 1987, putting out the demo cassette ‘Eternal Wedlock’ that year, they debuted commercially with the track ‘Escapism’ included on the 1993 Roadrunner ‘Redrum’ compilation album. European label Lethal Records issued their ‘Jar Of Kingdom’ album later the same year.
Guitarist Andrew lost his place to Roy Torkington for the second album ‘Lunasphere’ issued in 1995. ALCHEMIST have opened for numerous European Metal bands in Australia including KREATOR, NAPALM DEATH, CATHEDRAL and PARADISE LOST.
ALCHEMIST recorded a version of ‘Eve Of The War’ from Jeff Wayne’s ‘War Of The World’s in 1998. The band signed to the American Relapse label for October 2001′s ‘Organism’ opus. A domestic release surfaced on Chatterbox Records whilst the Dutch Displeased imprint took the record on for European markets. Live work throught Australia in March and April of 2000 saw the band uniting with CRYOGENIC and PSI CORE for the ‘World War III’ tour.
Promoting their fifth album, 2003′s ‘Austral Alien’, ALCHEMIST united with SUPERHEIST for a string of July Australian gigs. ‘Austral Alien’ fared well for the band internationally, critics and fans alike impressed with ALCHEMIST’s grasp of almost Psychedlic brand of Metal. International touring in 2004 found ALCHEMIST packaged with CULT OF LUNA and TEXTURES for October gigs in the UK. The band also put in a showing at the Dutch ‘Progpower’ festival in Baarlo.
ALCHEMIST issued ‘Embryonics’ in February 2006. The album ‘Tripsis’ arrived through Relapse Records in October 2007.
Avant-garde/Progressive Death Metal
This piece of technical/progressive death metal made them very popular and critically acclaimed in latvian metal underground and abroad. If you want to hear some quality music in the vein of CYNIC, ATHEIST and late DEATH, you should try to find this CD somewhere.
Many were shocked at the cover art of the first album (how can a metal CD have a butterfly on it???!!!). Well, fuck them. The cover art characterizes the music really well, because the songs are as colourful, expressive, unsymmetric and beautiful as that painting. The influence of CYNIC is felt in the riff structures as well as in the presence of acoustic/atmospheric breakdowns, which are more rarely to be found on this music than that of CYNIC. NEGLECTED FIELDS are undeniably more agressive, not so ambient and more metal. (c) part of review by therm
Technical/Progressive Death Metal
Phideaux – Discography
PHIDEAUX Xavier is a multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter, employing the drumming of Rich Hutchins, producer Gabriel Moffat and a revolving cast of supporting musicians. He has released several progressive/psychadelic inspired albums since 2003 and includes Jethro Tull, David Bowie, Pink Floyd, Van Der Graaf Generator, and early Genesis (among many others) as influences.
The first proper album was “Fiendish”, which introduced the folky, psychadelic sound of PHIDEAUX. “Ghost Story” mostly consists of material from a previous musical collaboration in the 90s called Satyricon (with Rich Hutchins). “Chupacabras” might be the first album that prog fans lean towards, with the 20+ minute “epic” title track highlighting the album. “313″ was an album-in-a-day project that took shape with one day of basic writing and recording, then fleshed out over the course of the next year. Probably the most significant music achievement so far, “The Great Leap” is the first album in a three part trilogy concerning “life in a dystopic eclogically disintegrating world”… but don’t let the topic fool you, PHIDEAUX’s music at heart is addictive, fun, deep, and compelling all at the same time, with memorable melodies and finely crafted arrangements that represent songwriting at it’s finest. Present are some of the prog rock staples in the use of synths, Hammond organ, mellotrons, and other interesting instrumental contributions, as well as multi-section, evolving pieces of music… but rather than rehashing prog cliches or focusing on technical acrobatics, PHIDEAUX’s music truly offers something creative and refreshing.
All these albums are consistently great and are very highly recommended for those who love the subtle, folkier, psychadelic side of prog rock with an emphasis on melodic songwriting. This music has a unqiue magic that doesn’t come around very often.
Progressive Rock / Art-Rock
Ivanhoe – Discography
IVANHOE is a band from Germany; their first release is dated 1992 (“Visions and Reality”); their style could be called metal-progressive, their works are full of feel and techniques, due to the ability of the members, which are all great and complete musicians.
The elements of prog-style are united with a metal-style; powerful metal riffs, great arpeggios, uses of keyboards, great instrumental parts… with a style which in part can be similar with metal progressive groups as ANGRA, QUEENSRYCHE, ELEGY, but with a personal style. Very particular is the great voice of Andy B. Franck, who is incredible with the high notes as well on the bass ones, really a good voice, quite similar to Geoff Tate in the high notes); his way of singing contributes to create a particular atmospheric, helped by the use of keyboards and by the arpeggios and solo of Schuler. The line up is essential the same in all their three albums, but in the last, “Polarized”, the guitar passes from Schuler to Welsch; Welsch is too a great virtuoso, but probably this little change in the line-up can be heard by a little difference of style.
The best cd is probably their first “Visions and Reality” (I suggest you to buy it for first), also ’cause it has been a work particular, with a personal style different from other bands, there is a particular atmosphere in the album; their second album: “Symbols of Time” is also a great album, full of great songs; also the third album (“Polarized”) is very good, but a little less than the others
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