Tag Archives: Chris Tippell

Ne Obliviscaris – Urn

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Since their full-length début back in 2012. Australian prog metallers Ne Obliviscaris have shown a tremendous boldness of vision but yet have not quite managed to get it to gel to perfection. Their amalgamation of extreme metal, complex tech-metal, progressive rock’s wide arrangements and added orchestral elements have proven equally impressive and daunting, and despite some moments of brilliance, they haven’t quite backed their talent up with a landmark release. That is until now, with third album Urn (Season of Mist) being an unprecedented step forward.Continue reading →


Godsticks – Faced With Rage

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Whilst perhaps not the most obvious sounding progressive band, Wales’ Godsticks are one that have undergone some significant transformation over their course. 2015’s Emergence (self-released) particularly showed a grittier edge with a heavier, near metallic sound and feel throughout. In this time, mainman Darran Charles has had an influential stint with proggers The Pineapple Thief during a very successful time for them, whilst Godsticks themselves have signed to Kscope (also home to The Pineapple Thief). Perhaps as a result of Charles’ time with PT, latest album Faced With Rage is the band’s most rounded album and feels like a pinnacle of their career to date.Continue reading →


Daniel Cavanagh – Monochrome

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As a founding member of UK prog band Anathema, Daniel Cavanagh is no stranger to writing powerful music that wears its emotions firmly on its sleeve; most recently personified in the sublime The Optimist (Kscope). Cited at various places throughout that album’s promotion was Daniel Cavanagh’s struggle with depression and the low points that he reached in that time. In the light of these battles, solo album Monochrome (Kscope) is a deeply personal record that, in comparison to the emboldened vision of The Optimist, feels more to the bone and loses none of the expected emotional resonance.Continue reading →


August Burns Red – Phantom Anthem

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By now considered metalcore stalwarts, August Burns Red have always proved a reliable and popular outfit without ever reaching the creative or commercial heights of many of their peers; yet have successfully carved somewhat of a niche in the genre. Whilst never seeming close to toppling the likes of Killswitch Engage or Parkway Drive off their perches, they have produced a consistently decent catalogue and have settled into the notion of their music being fun and (at least attempting to be) anthemic throughout, whilst also never being afraid to shy away from the samey and stagnant structures that plague many in the genre. Continue reading →


Godspeed You! Black Emperor – Luciferian Towers

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In a modern-day climate ever shrouded in chaos, with the evils of the world seemingly ever rife and constant and a political landscape that spells doom and hardship; it seems only fitting that Godspeed You! Black Emperor, a band that has always prided and showcased their alternative, anti-capitalist political outlook, return with a new album after a long five years. One of the most adventurous and near abrasive yet beautiful components in post-rock, and a genuinely captivating and forward thinking outfit throughout their existence, a new release is very unlikely to disappoint; and Luciferian Towers (Constellation), a name that eerily matches the recent Grenfell Tower news in London, is a suitably matched soundtrack to today’s ever harrowing timeline.Continue reading →


The Pineapple Thief – Where We Stood (Live/DVD)

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In their long and storied career, The Pineapple Thief have simultaneously proven to offer a consistently excellent catalogue and yet have maintained a mostly, near cult status of being under the radar. Having garnered critical acclaim since their inception in 1999 but never truly hitting commercial peaks of some of their peers, 2016 seemed to be a major step forward for them. The addition of guitarist Darran Charles and iconic drummer Gavin Harrison also seemed to light a greater fire in the band and in part led to career highlight album Your Wilderness (Kscope) and a resulting tour which included their biggest headline show to date at London’s Islington Assembly Hall. Recorded on that very night, Where We Stood shows one of Britain’s premier alternative/progressive bands in their strongest and most vibrant form to date.Continue reading →


Threshold – Legends Of The Shires

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The last couple of years have proven to be a mixed bag for UK prog-metal stalwarts Threshold. The release of 2014’s For The Journey (Nuclear Blast) saw an increased vibrancy with their strongest album for quite some time and with it, an increased spotlight breaching past their cult following. Ever victims of the revolving door of members, however, saw significant changes in band personnel, with guitarist Pete Morden leaving and the shocking departure of talismanic vocalist Damien Wilson (replaced by one-time vocalist Glyn Morgan) potentially providing stumbling blocks. That they have responded with a double album, near conceptual piece in Legends Of The Shires (Nuclear Blast) shows at the very least they hadn’t run out of ideas, and that they certainly haven’t lost any of their mojo as a result.Continue reading →


Cormorant – Diaspora

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Across a four-album lifespan, Bay Area’s Cormorant had consistently proven to be one of metal’s true and brightest hidden gems, offering a branch of Black Metal which takes as much worship from progressive giants such as King Crimson as it does from Extreme Metal’s icons. Still independent to this day, Cormorant have always showcased a meticulous detail that encompasses not only their rich and textured music, but even down to their vibrant, detailed and often awe-inspiring artwork. Having always shown true forward thinking and near limitless artistry, it is simply staggering that their fifth release Diaspora (self-released) breaks their mould even further, and is without a doubt their boldest offering to date.Continue reading →


Adagio – Life

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Times have been rather tumultuous for French progressive metal stalwarts Adagio since the release of their last album Archangels In Black (Listenable) way back in 2009. A continuing series of vocalist setbacks saw numerous changes in that time, with the latest seeing Mats Levén single year duration come to an end with him being succeeded by Kelly Carpenter. Jelly Cardarelli and Mayline Gautie have also joined as drummer and violinist respectfully. A mammoth wait for an album was also heightened by a crowdfunding campaign, and thus, the promise of big things to come. Now finally the follow-up arrives, revealing what is their most ambitious work to date, which sadly is not entirely a saving grace.Continue reading →


Oceans Ate Alaska – Hakiri

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The notion of a band being a brotherhood opposed to just a collective is of course a common one, but it is one that especially rings true when it comes to young Metalcore outfit Oceans Ate Alaska. In interview cycles and the like, their tale was that of a group of school friends since a very young age, before coming together and making strong ripples with their brand of Prog-tinged Metalcore on their début Lost Isles (Fearless).Continue reading →