This past year will go down as one of triumph over tragedy, more so than any other recent memory. It seems that across the board suffering in the world and on a personal level has been paramount in people’s minds. The same can be said for French metal gods Gojira, whose Magma (Roadrunner)is nothing short of brilliance, created from a place of angst and suffering on a level the band hasn’t dealt with before. Not only is it is a technical and artistic marvel, it stands apart on an emotional level for the creators, as well as the listener. The if the best art is made from a well of pain, Gojira hit the bottom of the well and came through an ocean on the other side to get here. Continue reading →
Much like a certain famous fellow Porcupine Tree member, guitarist John Wesley has had a busy schedule since that band’s hiatus; particularly with a prominent solo career (which of course also started during PT’s years). Unlike this certain counterpart however whom has veered far away from any sense of PT’s metallic elements, these have remained a core part of Wesley’s sound, additionally of course with prog and a broad range of styles to boot. Continue reading →
As we dash towards the holidays and the end of the year Ghost Cult is feeling good about this season of giving. So we are giving our fans a chance to get to know our partners, peers, and friends from bands in the world of music. They will chime in with some guest blogs, end of year lists, and whatever else is on their minds as we pull the plug on 2015. Today we have Joseph Spiller of progressive metal band Caricature. Caricature put out the acclaimed Shadows: Maxi Single this summer have a full-length in the works for 2016. Here is Joseph’s “Most Topesty Cool Favorite Releases of 2015”.
1. Tigran Hamsayan – Mockroot
How often can an album tote a definite influence of Meshuggah, Dave Brubeck, Keith Jarret, and Porcupine Tree? Add on top that this is still a pure jazz record? Pfffft. This is the sound of someone furthering and redefining a genre.
2. Fetty Wap – Fetty Wap
Yeah, before anyone says it sucks because it’s not metal, listen to this record. Fetty is all hits, all the time. Zoogang knows how to make pop hooks as if it’s in their DNA.
3. Steven Wilson – Hand.Cannot.Erase
Steven Wilson, by Melina D Photography
Backing band of the century along with the golden god of Prog. Though it gets overly self-indulgent from time to time, Hand.Cannot.Erase is absolutely stunning.
4. Psycroptic –Psycroptic
Do you even riff, Bro? Joe Haley most definitely does.
5. Ghost – Meliora
Ghost, by Meg Loyal Photography
I never got the hype on this band. I actually disliked almost everything prior to Meliora, but goddamn, did Papa bring that A-game with this heavily Dave Grohl “inspired” record.
6. Abigail Williams – The Accuser
Who doesn’t love a good comeback? Possibly the best thing Ken Sorceron has ever done. Crushing and beautiful with rich song structures. BUY THIS RECORD NOW!
7. Lamb of God – VII: Sturm Und Drang
Lamb of God, by Evil Robb Photography
After all that went on with Randy, the band came back and tell that tale along with snapshot a troubled time in the world perfectly. The riffs and drumming on this record are some of their best to date, and Josh Wilbur killed it on the production side.
8. Baroness – Purple Record
Another “Comeback Record” of sorts. Stronger, more refined, defined. The mesh of only the finest points of Yellow & Green mixed lush instrumentation and what sounds like an intense infatuation with The Cure. This one has it all.
9. Ellie Goulding – Delirium
Though not an immensely technical singer, Goulding has a golden voice. The slight raspiness and harmonically rich tambre makes me envious. This album is LONG for the pop genre, but its all top quality with fantastic hooks meshed with smooth beats and tranquil melodies.
10. Solution .45 – Nightmares In The Waking State
If you don’t know who this band is, we probably cannot be friends. GROOVES
EXTREMELY HONORABLE MENTION: I’ll be Me – Soundtrack
The delayed release of the soundtrack to the documentary about the legendary guitar player, singer, songwriter, and former member of The Wrecking Crew,Glen Campbell, who has been battling Alzheimer’s Disease for the past few years. This has two live songs from his final tour that will blow your mind considering his state, along with songs from his daughter that will make you cry while your heart flutters. The title track, penned by Mr. Campbell himself as a final letter to his wife and family will give you goosebumps (unless you don’t have a heart.
Progressive music giant Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree, Blackfield, Storm Corrosion) released his new album Hand. Cannot. Erase. (Kscope) back in March, it was a further exploration of storytelling in his art, but on a grander scale. No stranger to putting down amazing concept albums, Wilson’s best recorded work feels like a book; it envelopes you and you cannot put it down. Touring the USA, Wilson’s performances are always a marvel of high musicianship and class. He has a first class touring band behind him as well consisting of Nick Beggs (bass), Adam Holzman (keyboard), Guthrie Govan (guitar), David Kilminster (guitar) and Craig Blundell (drums). Stopping off at the Mesa Arts Center in Arizona, the band played the new album in its entirety, as well as some Porcupine Tree cuts such as ‘Lazarus’ and ‘Sleep Together’. Closing out with the title track from The Raven That Refused To Sing, Wilson left the stage with the audience enthralled. Shot here by Melina Dellamarggio of Melina D Photography, we get to peek into a window of what the performance felt like in person:
Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree) is celebrating the release of his new solo album Cheating the Polygraph, out now via Kscope Musicby teaming up with Zildjian Cymbal Company, giving fans a chance to win a signed copy of his new CD/5.1 Surround Disc Set! How do you win? Easy .. all you have to do is impress Gavin with your drumming skills and he’ll select ten people to win! All entries must first sign up to the Z Club at zildjian.com and then upload a 30 second video of you playing your favorite, signature Gavin Harrison groove or fill. Enter here.
Porcupine Tree drummer Gavin Harrison is streaming their new music video for “Hatesong/Halo”, off of his solo album Cheating the Polygraph, out now via KScope Music. Watch it below.
Porcupine Tree drummer Gavin Harrison has posted the latest episode (Episode #61) of the KScope Podcast surrounding his latest album Cheating The Polygraph, out now via Kscope. Stream it below.
Tim Bowness has been in NAM Studios recording his forthcoming album, due out late Summer 2015 via InsideOut Music.
The album is a follow-up to 2014’s acclaimed Abandoned Dancehall Dreams and features Bowness’ live band (including Porcupine Tree‘s Colin Edwin), alongside Anna Phoebe, Peter Hammill, Andrew Keeling and other guests (to be announced shortly).
Tim had this to say:
“If Abandoned Dancehall Dreams was something of a bolder and more dynamic extension of No-Man’s ‘Schoolyard Ghosts,’ I’d say that the new album is something of a bolder and more dynamic extension of ‘Abandoned Dancehall Dreams.’ A logical step forward with some surprises, I hope. It’s been really exciting working with the band on most of the pieces and getting some special contributions from the likes of Anna Phoebe, Peter Hammill and Andrew Keeling.”
Tim Bowness is primarily known as vocalist/co-writer with the band No-Man, a long-running collaboration with Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree). In addition to releasing six studio albums and a documentary DVD with No-Man, Tim has worked with popular Italian artist Alice, Robert Fripp, Hugh Hopper (Soft Machine), OSI and Roxy Music‘s Phil Manzanera, amongst many others, and is a member of the bands Henry Fool and Memories Of Machines.
Stream the music video for “The Warm-Up Man Forever” from Abandoned Dancehall Dreamshere.
Porcupine Tree drummer Gavin Harrison, along with acclaimed British jazz musician Laurence Cottle has posted a Q & A video in regards to his upcoming solo albumCheating the Polygraph, out in North America on April 14 via Kscope (April 13 in the UK, April 17 in Germany, April 22 in Japan) here and here.
Watch an album trailer for Cheating the Polygraphhere and here.
01: What Happens Now? 02: Sound of Muzak/So Called Friend 03: The Start of Something Beautiful 04: Heart Attack in a Layby/The Creator Had a Mastertape/Surfer 05: The Pills I’m Taking (from Anesthetize) 06: Hatesong/Halo 07: Cheating the Polygraph/Mother & Child Divided 08: Futile
Porcupine Tree drummer Gavin Harrison will be releasing a brand new solo album of re-imagined Porcupine Tree songs called Cheating the Polygraph, out in North America on April 14, 2015 via Kscope (April 13 in the UK, April 17 in Germany, April 22 in Japan). Watch a trailer for the album here and here.
1. What Happens Now? 2. Sound of Muzak (So Called Friend) 3. Start of Something Beautiful 4. Heart Attack in a Lay-By (Creator had a Mastertape / Surfer) 5. Anaesthetize (The Pills I’m Taking) 6. Hatesong-Halo 7. Cheating the Polygraph (Mother & Child Divided) 8. Futile
Gavin Harrison currently finds himself working with British progressive rock group, King Crimson. His playing and performing résumé includes stints with artists as varied as Iggy Pop, Lewis Taylor, Manfred Mann and Kevin Ayers.
