Spiritual Beggars have been around for a long time. Their first self titled album was released away back in ‘94 and since then the band has strived to make melodious and challenging hard rock music always looking to be that bit different. This is fully fledged retro rock. There are edgy, driving guitar riffs, layered keyboard fills and swirls, big melodic choruses, a firing vocal performance, classy production.
Not to be confused with bands by the same name [most notably the Thrash/ Death Metal act from Miami, Florida, there's also band with the name from Holland playing Doom/ Death Metal), the US (Alternative Rock act from Arkansas) and no less than three from the UK (one from Huddersfield playing just “Metal”, another from Bradford playing Epic Doom Metal, and the last one from Milton Keynes, playing a hybrid of Folk, Prog and Rock)] this Post-Hardcore quintet (consisting of lead singer Maarten Vanarwegen, guitarists Erwin Wehenkel and Glenn Catteeuw
Based in Lismore, Co. Waterford, South Ireland, Melodic Metal act Sirocco was formed in early 2003 as an instrumental quartet, of which today only rhythm guitarist Jim Tobin remains.
Sirenia are back with a brand new gothic metal album, which goes by the name of Perils Of The Deep Blue. It's almost impossible to compare Sirenia to any other band in the world of female fronted metal. They've had a handful of singers throughout the past twelve years of their existence, but finally they seem to have found the true pearl in the metal ocean.
Sgt. Sunshine’s brand of swinging stoner rock has not changed much, but better songs, better hooks, and fuzzier production give III a healthy advantage over its predecessors Black Hole and Sgt Sunshine.
Senses Fail is an American post-hardcore band from New Jersey witch was formed in 2002. The line up initially consisted of Buddy Nielsen, Dan Trapp, Dave Miller, Garrett Zablocki and James Gill. Shortly after being signed to Drive Thru Records, James Gill was kicked out of the band due to irreconcilable differences.
Q. Age (previously known as Quaad H.) were founded in 1999 and took 11 years before their debut Songs For Your Lonely Island came out. Three years later, they are back with the follow-up Stop the Clocks. Don't expect overly playful progressive music, but rather some of the more grunge rock kind with electro beat influences which might as well be called indie rock.(vomit sounds by editor).
Pessimist were formed in 2006 and after some demonstrational recordings they debuted with Call To War in 2010 (Firefield Records). Since then, little things happened, but Pessimist started working on a new full length, which is about to be released through Germany’s MDD Records.
October Tide were formed in 1995 by two members of Katatonia, Jonas Renske and Fredrik Norrman. Initially October Tide were meant to be a temporary Katatonia-side-project, and after two full length albums the project was put on hold.
Fans of progressive rock, and especially fans of Neal Morse are really spoilt, especially when they buy the limited digipack, which includes not only 2 DVD’s, but also 3 CD’s. For my review I had to to with the three CD’s only though, so I’ve got no idea how good the DVD’s are.
