Progressive genius, Steven Wilson, recently confirmed that he will be releasing fifth studio album, To The Bone, on August 18th via Caroline International. What can we expect? The press releases says this, “Fusing driving futurist rock and spectral electronics to elegiac hyper-space ambience and dizzying, squalling guitars, To the Bone is Steven Wilson‘s hat-tip to the hugely ambitious progressive pop records of his youth.” Continue reading
Progressive genius, Steven Wilson, has just revealed that he will be releasing fifth studio album, To The Bone, on August 18th via Caroline International. What can we expect? The press releases says this, “Fusing driving futurist rock and spectral electronics to elegiac hyper-space ambience and dizzying, squalling guitars, To the Bone is Steven Wilson‘s hat-tip to the hugely ambitious progressive pop records of his youth.” Continue reading
This past year was a huge one for music with so many bands releasing new material it was hard to keep up, even for us here at Ghost Cult. So many legacy bands, modern classic acts, and up and comers dropped new music this year, some may wish they had waited until 2017 to drop it like it’s hot. Without further ado, here are our picks for the new tunes you need in your life in 2017. Continue reading
Steven Wilson‘s new Happiness III 7″ single is out today, and if you’re a fan of his work, this is a must have. Continue reading
It was in 2013 and across the next couple of years that Chilean proggers Aisles would all of a sudden hit the radars of the wider Prog community with an impact with their third album 4:45am (Presagio Records); a splendid release which showed particular homage to Rush amongst other prog greats. That it did so without aping too much and bringing in their own identity showed that they were ones to really watch for. Now, with latest effort, the double-sided Hawaii(Presagio Records), that potential proves more than realised.
With a concept which depicts the establishment of space colonies after the loss and destruction of Earth, and the exploration of new artistry of this future time; Hawaii showcases a much richer soundscape which, when digging deeper, reveals more contemporary influences and wider directions than on previous releases.
The familiarity of Rush and Van Der Graaf Generator sit alongside the at times melancholic likes of Steven Wilson and the otherworldly air of Sound Of Contact and even the uplifting but brooding of Riverside. Once again though, rather than a cocktail of strong and maybe polarising influences; Hawaii is a bold and unique experience with a sound which is wholly theirs. Sebastián Vergara’s voice proves very distinctive and versatile, perfectly complimenting the album’s various moods; emphasised further with the smooth guitar work of Rodrigo Sepúlveda and Germán Vergara. A rich palette and layering and atmosphere makes for newly discovered nuances with various listens and matches up with the explorative story arc.
With a fast growing audience since the release of their third album, Aisles have backed up an increased interest with their boldest, packed and strongest album to date. As a long player it of course will prove time-consuming, but Hawaii proves a compelling and effortless listen otherwise and should prove one of the biggest surprises for many people this year. An essential listen for anyone partial to the ways of prog.
8.0/10
CHRIS TIPPELL
You would think that strenuous touring schedules with both Steven Wilson and Steve Hackett would take up enough of one’s time, but somehow Nick Beggs manages to juggle this with studio session work and other projects with the likes of Lifesigns and Lonely Robot, as well as being a general hero of contemporary prog rock. Still not familiar with the notion of a well deserved rest, Beggs has also started up new band The Mute Gods with fellow busy bodies Marco Minneman and Roger King, in which his pop and prog backgrounds seem to come head to head.
Debut album Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me (InsideOut Music) certainly shows both sides in abundance, but does so with neither watering itself down or by proving daunting and inaccessible. Far from a massive prog odyssey, DNTYHFM is melodious and song based; strikingly immediate and catchy on the face of it. The opening title track proves an archetype of this, particularly with its easy to follow vocal lines which seem to hide its 7 plus minute duration; whilst sultry ballad ‘Nightschool For Idiots’ wouldn’t seem out-of-place on more straight forward rock acts’ repertoires.
Scratching past its poppy exterior however reveals deeper layers, from drawn out passages, heavy guitar tones, quirky wordplay and subject matter and near psychedelic synths, showcasing the many sides of its personnel but still sounding fluid. The only real drawback here is a lack of consistency, where the strength of its best songs only detract further from lesser counterparts like the weaker ‘Your Dark Ideas’ and ‘Mavro Capelo’ which prove more forgettable.
Aside from small discrepancies however, DNTYHFM is a solid and at times sumptuous début, albeit from a cast of seasoned and experienced personnel with fingers in many pies. Not a perfect album, but one that should be on the radars of anyone who likes catchy rock with a little more depth to jump in to.
7.0/10
CHRIS TIPPELL
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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
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
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
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.
Part three of the Ghost Cult Magazine countdown to our Album of 2015.
And now the end is near, and so we face 2015’s final curtain, and once more the Ghost Cult army got together to vote for their favourites. The results? Over 20 writers pitched and voted on over 220 albums ranging from indie pop to the most horrific savage tentacle laden death metal showing the depth, breadth and class of the official Ghost Cult Album of the Year for 2015.
The countdown (to extinction) continues…
30. Tribulation – ‘The Children Of The Night’ (Century Media)
“The Children of the Night, save for snarled vocals and horror themed lyrics, is a classic heavy metal record, far more interested in melody and catchy songs than aggression and violence; a brave record from an exceedingly talented set of musicians who are just that more subtle when it comes to what style of darkness works best.”
29. Windhand – ‘Grief’s Infernal Flower’ (Relapse)
“…something has happened here; an unsettling event or rite of passage, propelling this captivating outfit to the stars without drastically changing their identity. In doing so it has enabled the band to create its most sombre, hypnotic, emotive and supreme piece of work.”
28. Steven Wilson – ‘Hand. Cannot. Erase’ (KScope)
“Where The Raven… was mysterious and downright grave emotionally, the new album is poignant and uplifting almost all the way through. Even in somber moments, the songs have an underlying feeling of hopefulness that defies the melancholy. Wilson is a master delivering the unbridled beast of a song in a beautiful package.”
27. Maruta – ‘Remain Dystopian’ (Relapse)
“Seething with a fulminating ire, yet showing unexpected versatility; if you’re pissed off with parents and / or bullies, but don’t want an ignominious revenge to stick you on the front pages, exercise your frustration with these guys instead.”
26. Drudkh – ‘A Furrow Cut Short’ (Season of Mist)
“Like all great Drudkh releases, this is an album that reveals more with every listen, a rousing yell of defiance backed by a passionate beating heart. Tenth full-length release A Furrow Cut Short is one of their finest efforts to date.”
25. Heart of a Coward – ‘Deliverance’ (Century Media)
“Writing this review is a bit like trying to make conversation with a devastatingly attractive woman – all I could initially think of to write about each song was “Fucking Brilliant”. In summary, Deliverance is a stunning piece of work that can only be criticised for coming to an end. More of this please lads.”
24. Nile – ‘What Should Not Be Unearthed’ (Nuclear Blast)
“Death jams like ‘In the Name of Amun’ and ‘Age of Famine’ give way to breadth and dizzying tempo changes, the kind of searing death metal that recalls prime Morbid Angel. If the prog fans and metal elitists can get past the death grunts and learn to love the blast beat they may just find a band fawn over other than Dream Theater.”
23. Deafheaven – ‘New Bermuda’ (Anti Records)
“A sprawling mini-opus, one that tells us much of where this band can really go musically in the future. While not as groundbreaking or original as Sunbather, which any band would be challenged to follow, New Bermuda hits you in all the right G-spots musically and emotionally for one of 2015’s undoubtedly finest releases.”
22. mgla – ‘Exercises In Futility’ (Northern Heritage)
“Despite the overwhelming misanthropy that is conveyed, the seamless flow and rousing melodies are emotive and enriching. It’s an album crafted with passion and dedication, which is overtly evident in their music. Mgła have honed a pioneering sound that is now getting the recognition it so very much deserves.”
Review by Heather Blewett here
21. High On Fire – ‘Luminiferous’ (eOne)
Ghost Cult Album of the Month – June “The boys have put out one monster of a record. Don’t drink the Kool-Aid, get yourself a gallon of Pike Juice instead and keep an eye out for an upcoming tour date near you.”
Review by Aleida la Llave here
Black Crown Initiate, photo by Danielle Fedorshik
“Tool and Meshuggah on the Lateralus tour. For me, this was a perfect lineup. No filler; just two bands that I love.”
“Meshuggah and Strapping Young Lad. Strapping Young Lad was opening for Meshuggah and touring for the SYL album. A great crowd crush with lots of booze.”
“Steven Wilson on the Raven that Refused to Sing tour. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more dynamic band. Marco Minnemann expanded and contracted the entire band at will. Guthrie Govan is probably the best modern electric guitarist. It ruled.”
Steven Wilson, by Melina D Photography
Black Crown Initiate just wrapped up touring with Deicide and is still supporting their release from earlier in 2015, Wreckage of the Stars (eOne).
Demons is the new pet project of Zach Gehring, guitarist for the Virginia based Rock band Mae. With Great Dismal (Spartan), Gehring has experimented with styles that he could not fit into Mae, and the results are phenomenal. Gehring really benefits from the experience of writing and producing records, and the sound quality and composition on this EP are therefore really good. The styles vary a bit, but the grungy guitar sounds and melancholic vocals are omnipresent.
Gehring’s voice is sometimes a little Steven Wilson, and sometimes, especially in ‘Lenora Slaughter’, a lot like Marilyn Manson but with vocal lines more like Corey Taylor. Backing vocals are often just a little off, but not enough to make it annoying. In fact, it ends up being a really cool stylistic effect. The vocal lines are often smooth and mellow over more energetic music, as in opening number ‘There Is No Reward’. This is a very hard rocking song, with nice grungy guitar lines, which could have goon on for a little longer in my opinion.
Gehring shows off his musical versatility on his album, as the laid-back and almost Dark Country feel of ‘Godless Girls’ contrasts with the earlier hard rock. It felt like it could have almost been a song by The Hold Steady. On the surface it seems like a simple song, but the timing of the different elements makes it much more, and when you get to the final chorus it seems to somehow go straight through you.
‘Radical Cure’ is in yet another style, and it is an excellent loud and aggressive song. The riffs and mix are once again really good, and the contrast between the vocals and music just adds so much tension in some places, while they complement each other perfectly in others.
The final song is ‘Quietly Waiting’, and it is worth waiting for. I fell in love with it from the very first notes. The acoustic guitar with clean vocals and piano is so melancholic, so beautiful and touching. This is the longest song on this release, and the popularity of artists like Wino and Conny Ochs indicate that Gehring could easily release an entire album in this style. I would happily listen to an hour of this. My only criticism for this song is that it doesn’t end on a closing tone, but I am willing to forgive that.
All in all, this is an amazing début, and I really enjoyed the experience. It touches on a number of different genres and artists, and excels in each style. Give it a listen, it’s worth it.
8.5/10
LORRAINE LYSEN
