DEVIN TOWNSEND – Empath – The Ultimate Edition announced for release 5th June 2020

Devin Townsend is pleased to announce the release of ‘Empath – The Ultimate Edition’ on 5th June 2020. This comprehensive version of 2019’s acclaimed album contains the original record and bonus discs across 2 CDs, plus 2 Blu-Ray discs. The first blu-ray contains the 5.1 Surround Sound mix by Devin, with visuals for the full record, plus a stereo visualiser. The second blu-ray contains a raft of bonus material, including ‘Acoustically Inclined – Live in Leeds’, a recording from his April 2019 acoustic tour where he performed tracks including ‘Love?’, ‘Deadhead’, ‘Thing Beyond Things’ & more.

It also features the full Empath Documentary, a ‘Genesis 5.1 Mixing Lesson’, a full album commentary & more. The four discs sit inside a beautiful art-book that contains new liner notes and images from the making of the album.

Devin comments of the new 5.1 surround sound mix: 

“On a technical level, I guess I have always been dissatisfied with the basic ‘stereo’ format in which the type of music I make gets presented in. Whether its headphones, computer speakers, stereos (or basically anything currently), I have had to figure out ways to get the work to function through TWO speakers. I hear things in a particularly orchestrated way, and with the amount of information that typically gets recorded per song, the result has been the dubious ‘wall of sound’ that I keep ending up with. But my intention has never been to make an oppressive experience, but rather something that is immersive and vast.

Making it work in two speakers just simply doesn’t quite work for the vision. Although I’ve managed to get the point across, (to varying degrees), things always have to compromise to make it all fit. Making the drums speak at the same time as orchestra, cymbals, guitars, choirs, synths etc.…all with my voice on top, ends up with every conceivable frequency fighting for breathing space between those two speakers.

Therefore, I asked the powers that be in my business world, to tolerate one more ‘kick at the can’ when it came to Empath. I wanted to attempt a surround mix and follow the original vision of it being an immersive, multimedia experience for people in the ways I could best achieve at this stage. And although it’s still pretty ‘dense’, with four more sources for the sound to come from, I feel its significantly closer to the original vision here.”

Pre-orders are now available here: 

https://www.omerch.eu/shop/devintownsend/

https://Devin-Townsend.lnk.to/Empath-TheUltimateEdition

Devin will head out on a Summer festival run mixed with club shows in Europe, which includes a headline appearance at Bloodstock Festival in the UK.

04.06.2020 Sweden Rock Festival – Solvesborg (SE)

05.-07.06.2020 Rock Im Park  – Nürnberg (DE)

05.-07.06.2020 Rock Am Ring – Mendig (DE)

10.06.2020 Majestic Music Club – Bratislava (SVK)

10.06.2020 Mystic Festival – Krakow (PL)

11.06.2020 Nova Rock – Nickelsdorf, (AT)

13.06.2020 The Roman Arenas -Bucharest (ROU)

14.06.2020 Mixtape 5 -Sofia (BGR)

15.06.2020 A38 – Budapest (HU)

18.06.2020 Copenhell – Copenhagen (DK)

20.06.2020 Graspop Metal Meeting – Dessel (BE)

21.06.2020 Hellfest – Clisson (FR)

23.06.2020 Rockhal – Esch-sur-alzette (LUX) Co-Headline with Meshuggah

24.06.2020 Xtra – Zurich (CHE) Co-Headline with Meshuggah

26.06.2020 Rock The Night Festival – Rivas-Vaciamadrid (ES) – CANCELLED

28.06.2020 Tuska – Helsinki (FI)

29.07.2020 MetalDays, Tolmin (SLO)

30.07.2020 Wacken Open Air – Wacken (DE)

05.08.2020 Brutal Assault Festival – Jaromer (CZE)

07.08.2020 Bloodstock Open Air – Walton-On-Trent (UK)

09.08.2020 Into The Grave – Leeuwarden (NL)

12.08.2020 Summer Breeze, Dinkelsbuhl (DE)

Find the full list of upcoming dates here: https://www.hevydevy.com/tourdates/

Review – Pure Reason Revolution – Eupnea – by John Wenlock-Smith

Well this is certainly different for me. Yes, I’d heard of Pure Reason Revolution but somehow never actually listened to their modern day take on Progressive Rock. I know that they are well regarded in certain circles and they have quite a history. Several albums, a split and, more recently, a return to action, albeit in an altered form and with a slightly different line up, so this was new territory for me. I admit it did take me a while to get to a place of understanding with this album but, as always, continued listening finally gave way to understanding and then to acceptance and admiration even. 

Well this is my review of this their fourth album, ‘Eupnea’, their first since 2010.  It is pretty topical in content in that it speaks of the experiences of Jon Courtney and his wife surrounding the birth of their baby girl, Jessie. Born prematurely at 32 weeks and weighing just 3lbs, this album records her battle for survival, which thankfully she won.

It is Jon’s tribute to his wife and daughter Jessie and has this theme woven throughout the tracks, which really helps you understand the music properly once you are aware of its back story.

‘Eupnea’ consists of just Six tracks of varying length ranging from over four minutes to the epic title track that is nearly fourteen minutes in length. That said, there are no wasted moments on these tracks as everything is of relevance and worthy of their place. Let’s have a look at this in a bit more detail.

The music opens with New Obsession which includes the sounds of hospital apparatus monitoring heartbeat, pulse and breathing. This sets the scene for much of what is to follow; great vocal harmonies from Jon and Chloe Alper and some furious guitar work from Jon that really rocks out with a wonderful melodic solo at the 3.55-minute point. It really delivers a punch, along with that fabulous chorus of “It’s you, a child, a lover you’re dead calm and the choir is so soft tonight”. Very emotional, heartfelt and a simply fabulous opener.

This is followed by the first of the longer tracks, Silent Genesis, with its atmospheric keyboards and samples. A Pink Floyd type guitar line from Jon and an insistent bass line that works to anchor everything together. This track also features original PRR guitarist Greg Jong who was bought in to create this powerful emotional feeling.

Third track Maelstrom is so called because it marked the turning point in Jessie’s struggle for life when she began steadily breathing and her parents’ anxieties were lifted. This is a song of hope that the storm has started to pass over, deeply significant and with Jon and his wife being very grateful for this positive change, an end to the uncertainty. Again, this song has more wonderful harmonies from Jon and Chloe.

Ghosts and Typhoons follows and at over 8 minutes fits between the shorter and longer pieces like a bridge. It has blistering drum patterns to it and raucous guitar throughout, featuring lovely vocals from Chloe alongside some fine support from Jon resulting in more great harmonies. This is quite a powerfully propelled piece that shows PRR’s strengths and imagination at play.

Beyond Our Bodies is a celebratory song about the fragility of life and the body’s ability to overcome incredible difficulties and to come through the other side. This is another compelling song.

Which leads us to the title track and longest song, Eupnea, which is about normal unlaboured or quiet breathing, without volition. This is a song that brings everything together in a 13 odd minute piece of contrasts, in which heavy passages sit next to lighter more gentle ones in a juxtaposition of light and shade that accentuate the emotional roller coaster that this music takes you through.

This entire album is certainly a very moving journey, and one that I urge you to join, partly as at the time of writing this review the world is struggling to cope with the Covid 19 (Coronavirus). This album follows a different scenario with, thankfully, a positive outcome.

A simply marvellous album that will be on many ‘best of’ 2020 lists I’m sure.  A fine album indeed, very emotionally raw, it rocks hard too.

If, like me, you are unaware of the music of Pure Reason Revolution, then this album is a fine introduction and will hopefully whet your appetite to discover more from this fine outfit. Jon and Chloe have produced an album of depth and intelligence here that really deserves to be widely heard. Highly recommended indeed.

Released 3/4/2020

Order from InsideOut Music here:

http://www.insideoutshop.de/Item/Pure_Reason_Revolution_-_Eupnea_-Ltd-_CD_Digipak-/16622

Self-styled ‘Funny Music Pioneers’ The Fierce And The Dead Launch Their Own Podcast

British prog instrumentalists The Fierce & The Dead have launched their own podcast, Lets Start A Cult. While initially covering the history of the band, future episodes will feature interviews with fellow musicians and friends of the band, music gear discussion and commentary on things the band find interesting.

Guitarist Matt Stevens, “We’ve been interested in creating a podcast for ages and having stopped rehearsing and gigging due to ongoing events we thought now was the time to crack on with it. We’ll talk about the history of the band to bring people up to speed initially then we’re going to focus on talking to our friends about their music, music gear and tutorials, that sort of thing. It’s been fun to do and hopefully we’ll be able to keep it going, I really enjoyed it, but i was surprised how little I remembered about the making of the first album and EP. It was a long time ago! . “

Episode 1 is available on YouTube now with an episode to follow every week and it’ll be up on all major podcast platforms shortly. You can listen to the first episode below.

BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME CONTINUE 20th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION WITH VINYL REISSUE OF FORMATIVE SELF-TITLED 2002 DEBUT ALBUM FEATURING NEWLY REMIXED AND REMASTERED AUDIO

OUT MAY 15TH FROM CRAFT RECORDINGS AND AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER TODAY (3/24)- LIMITED-EDITION CLEAR VINYL EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE ON BAND’S WEBSTORE

Craft Recordings is pleased to announce a vinyl reissue of the scorching, 2002 eponymous debut from progressive hardcore outfit Between the Buried and Me. The album, which has been remixed and remastered by its original producer, Jamie King, is set for a May 15th release date and is currently available for pre-order. A limited-edition version of Between the Buried and Me, pressed on clear-colored vinyl, can be found exclusively on the band’s website and is also available to pre-order today. These reissues are both part of the band’s 20thanniversary celebrations, which will be marked by special releases and extensive touring.

Praised as “One of the fiercest albums in the hardcore community” by AllMusic, Between the Buried and Me set the North Carolina five-piece up to become a key player in the scene – catching the ears of fans and music critics alike with their impressive musicianship, sharp lyricism, and unique blend of progressive metal and math rock. Produced by Jamie King, who would go on to collaborate with Between the Buried and Me on numerous projects to come, the 10-track album was cerebral yet aggressive, and included some of the band’s earliest material, re-worked from their 2001 three-song demo – “What We Have Become,” “More of Myself to Kill,” and “The Use of a Weapon.” The group also wrote and recorded seven new songs, including “Arsonist,” a scathing statement against the Westboro Baptist Church, “Aspirations,” a melody-forward tune which highlights the guitar chops of Nick Fletcher and Paul Waggoner, and the epic, nine-minute long “Shevanel Cut a Flip,” which closes the album.

Reflecting on Between the Buried and Me 18 years later, guitarist Paul Waggoner said, “It’s always a strange feeling when you bring faded memories back into focus and find yourself reflecting on an adventure that started two decades ago and somehow still continues to this day. All the daily ups-and-downs and side-to-sides of being in a band can sometimes blur the past and make you forget where you came from, and why you started doing this thing in the first place. So it’s nice to dig up the bones of our humble beginnings, make them sound a little better, and present them to the people that have made this all possible.”

Frontman Tommy Rogers added, “If you told me in 2001 that this album, we recorded in five days would eventually turn into a career that’s lasted 20 years, I would think you were absolutely mad. Here we are in 2020 getting to remix and remaster what started it all. It’s been a great experience listening back and giving this original Between the Buried and Me album a new life. We hope the fans enjoy this new mix by Jamie King as much as we have.”

Often referred to as a “Thinking man’s metal band,” Between the Buried and Me continue to push the boundaries of their musical and technical abilities, even as they celebrate their 20th anniversary together. Formed in 2000, the band has released nine studio albums, including 2007’s watershed Colors, The Parallax II: Future Sequence (2012), as well as 2015’s Coma Ecliptic—which not only peaked at #12 on the Billboard Top 200 (a career-high for the band), but also garnered widespread acclaim from NoiseyRevolverAlternative Press, and The Guardian, who welcomed the album with a rare perfect score. The group has launched countless sold-out headline tours and support runs with the likes of Mastodon, Opeth, and Coheed and Cambria. Most recently, Between the Buried and Me released a two-part studio album, Automata I and Automata II in 2018. Currently, the band is gearing up for an extensive, North American retrospective tour, where they will perform the entirety of their epic, 2009 LP, The Great Misdirect, as well as a set of career-spanning material.

Click here to pre-order/pre-save Between the Buried and Me (remixed and remastered).

TRACKLIST: Between the Buried and Me

Side A

1. More Of Myself To Kill

2. Arsonist

3. Aspirations

4. What We Have Become

Side B

1. Fire For A Dry Mouth

2. Naked By The Computer

3. Use Of A Weapon

4. Shevanel Cut A Flip

About Craft Recordings:

Craft Recordings is home to one of the largest and most prestigious collections of master recordings and compositions in the world. Its rich and storied repertoire includes legendary artists such as Joan Baez, Ray Charles, John Coltrane, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Vince Guaraldi, John Lee Hooker, Little Richard, Nine Inch Nails, Thelonious Monk, Otis Redding, R.E.M. and Traveling Wilburys, to name just a few. Renowned imprints with catalogs issued under the Craft banner include Concord, Fania, Fantasy, Fearless, Milestone, Musart, Nitro, Prestige, Riverside, Rounder, Specialty, Stax, Sugar Hill, Vanguard, Vee-Jay and Victory, among many others. Craft creates thoughtfully curated packages, with a meticulous devotion to quality and a commitment to preservation—ensuring that these recordings endure for new generations to discover. Craft Recordings is the catalog label team for Concord Recorded Music. For more info, visit CraftRecordings.com and follow on FacebookTwitterInstagram, YouTube, and Spotify.

PATTERN-SEEKING ANIMALS release first track ‘Here In My Autumn’ off forthcoming studio album “Prehensile Tales”!

n 2019, PATTERN-SEEKING ANIMALS, the California-based band featuring Ted Leonard (lead vocals & guitars), Jimmy Keegan (drums & vocals), Dave Meros (bass) and John Boegehold (keyboards), presented its much-lauded eponymous debut. Just a year later, the group releases its second opus, “Prehensile Tales”, to be released through InsideOutMusic on May 15th, 2020.
 
As a first track from the forthcoming new album, PATTERN-SEEKING ANIMALS now reveal ‘Here In My Autumn’, John Boegehold comments:
“The tale of a man clinging to a chapter in his life that’s become impossible to return to yet impossible to forget. Of course that describes much of life itself, doesn’t it?”

For the six songs on the album (the longest clocking in at over 17 minutes), the band introduced violin, flute, trumpet, cello, sax and pedal steel to the sound palette that was once again recorded & mixed by Rich Mouser at The Mouse House.
 
The track-listing reads as follows:
1. Raining Hard In Heaven
2. Here In My Autumn
3. Elegant Vampires
4. Why Don’t We Run
5. Lifeboat
6. Soon But Not Today
 
The album, featuring cover art by Polish artist Mirek (https://www.facebook.com/mirekis7/), will be released as Gatefold 2LP plus CD, Limited Edition CD, and on all digital platforms. Presales are now available!

To pre-order, stream, download “Prehensile Tales”, just click https://patternseekinganimals.lnk.to/PrehensileTalesID

KANSAS – launch sneak preview of new album ‘The Absence of Presence’ out 26th June 2020

30th March 2020: Kansas, America’s legendary progressive rock band, will release their highly anticipated new studio album “The Absence of Presence” on June 26, 2020. The band gave fans a sneak preview of what they can expect to hear on the album with this sampler video: 

“We are really excited for our fans to be able to get a taste of what is to come from ‘The Absence of Presence,’” says KANSAS lead vocalist Ronnie Platt“I think people will really be surprised by the album. ‘The Absence of Presence’ shows the band firing on all cylinders.”

“The Absence of Presence” follows-up 2016’s “The Prelude Implicit,” which debuted at #14 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart. KANSAS has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide, and is famous for classic hits such as ‘Carry On Wayward Son’ and ‘Dust in the Wind’ to the progressive epic ‘Song for America.’

“The Absence of Presence,” released by Inside Out Music, features nine all new tracks written by the band, produced by Zak Rizvi, and co-produced by Phil Ehart and Richard Williams. KANSAS’s signature sound is unmistakable throughout. The album showcases Ronnie Platt’s towering vocals, David Ragsdale’s searing violin, Tom Brislin’s dazzling keyboards, Williams and Rizvi’s electrifying guitar riffs, Ehart’s powerful drums, and Billy Greer’srocking bass.

“We are really proud of the album ‘The Absence of Presence,’” comments KANSAS guitarist, producer, and songwriter Zak Rizvi“Making a new KANSAS album sets a very high musical standard that is expected from our fans. From rockers, to progressive epics, to ballads, there is something on this recording for everybody.” 

“The Absence of Presence” will be released June 26, 2020, on Inside Out Music. The album will be available on CD, Double LP 180 Gram Vinyl, Limited Edition Deluxe CD + 5.1 Blu-Ray Artbook, and as a digital album. Pre-order opportunities begin on the 17th April via KansasBand.com & other outlets.

“The Absence of Presence” Track Listing:
1. The Absence of Presence

2. Throwing Mountains

3. Jets Overhead

4. Propulsion 1

5. Memories Down the Line

6. Circus of Illusion

7. Animals on the Roof

8. Never

9. The Song the River Sang

Scottish prog Maestros Abel Ganz Open Pre-Orders For New Album – The Life of the Honey Bee and Other Moments of Clarity

The Life of The Honey Bee, And Other Moments of Clarity” is the eagerly and long-awaited new album from Scottish prog maestros Abel Ganz. A concept album comprising of six thematically linked pieces exploring our relationship with memory and loss. The liminal space between a fading ‘what was’ and an anticipated ‘what is to come’.

The album recalls the hazy technicolour of long remembered summers and the sepia of a love forgotten. A place where we blur the boundaries of returning and renewal. The lyrics chart the course through recollection to premonition. These words are both deeply personal and universal, hope for what is next and a lament for what we have lost.

The new album has taken six years to realise and follows on from the self-titled 2014 opus Abel Ganz which was both critically acclaimed [topping several ‘best of’ lists for that year], and universally acknowledged as the band’s best, most mature album to date.

The influences on the new album continue in a similar vein – further developing their eclectic mix of folk, rock, metal and Celtic styles. The album’s trajectory shifts between crunching guitars, subtle acoustic instruments, strings, soaring Hammond and emotive grand piano all connected by lyrical storytelling and timeless vocals and harmonies.

Produced by Denis Smith, mixed by the legendary Simon Vinestock [Texas, Blur, Robert Plant, Simple Minds] and mastered By Jacob Holm-Lupo [White Willow / Opium Cartel] the album also includes a beautiful performance from multi award winning former ‘Scots Singer of the Year’ and acclaimed solo artist Emily Smith. Other notable contributions include the dynamic saxophone skills of Snake Davis, string arrangements and performances by Frank Van Essen, Chromatic Harmonica by Alex Partlin, as well as regular virtuoso contributors Fiona Cuthill and Stephen Lawrence from the Scottish folk-music scene.

Speaking of the new album drummer and band producer Denis Smith says:

“We have all pushed ourselves so incredibly hard on this record in an attempt to make this the best possible ‘complete work’ we could make. Everything on the record is interconnected and is there for a reason – right down to the guests we chose to play specific parts, the spaces we chose to record in, to the artwork – everything!

We deliberately set out to avoid simply repeating what we did last time – we hope we have taken ourselves in to new areas (amazingly – the band’s first concept album), while still retaining that ‘Ganz’ touch. On the production side of things – it’s a source of great personal pride that we have been able to collaborate and work with such skilled professionals such as Simon Vinestock and Jacob Holm-Lupo. These guys are at the very top of their game and they have helped us to raise the production values to a much higher, professional level.

Although Abel Ganz has had a very long history as a band [with many high spots] we feel very strongly that this album is the pinnacle of achievement and we hope you do too!

The pre-sale will begin at midday on Sat 28th March and run until May 31st. The official release date is June 15th 2020!

https://abelganz.com/?fbclid=IwAR0ozcQ8fTwrC2eFZqCRTX6oiqs3oen_Kj5z-Vcecyc4Oi2ePw5FW–msKE

Glass Hammer Announce Dreaming City Pre-Order


Glass Hammer’s latest concept album will be released April 17th, but the band’s website is accepting pre-orders now for autographed copies and Limited Edition T-shirts.

Bandleader Steve Babb describes the album as a story about “finding hope in the midst of despair”.

“Dreaming City rocks a lot harder than many of our previous albums,” he adds. “But we are experimenting now with blending many genres, from 70’s classic prog to space rock and synth-wave. 2018’s
Chronomonaut was a big hit for us, so we want to keep that momentum going. We never want to make the same album twice though, so expect some surprises on Dreaming City.”

“What if the Devil never went to Georgia? What if he never made it and stopped off in Tennessee instead? Hold that thought and listen to Glass Hammer’s monster creation, Dreaming City, an unstoppable force that will blow your conceptions of this band wide apart…” Martin Hutchinson – Progradar 

Pre-orders available now at the band’s website:

https://glasshammer.com/?fbclid=IwAR3l5F8py6CQ6XCOSt2TOBvI7kdTHgJCBDk83x9Qd_LsxlskJ1DjYNzwSZ8

Glass Hammer founders Fred Schendel and Steve Babb

Pure Reason Revolution announce co-headline European tour dates with Gazpacho

Pure Reason Revolution are set to release ‘Eupnea’, their first new studio album in nearly 10 years, on the 3rd of April 2020, and now they are pleased to announce a European co-headlining tour alongside Norwegian art-rockers Gazpacho for late 2020.

The band comments: “To deliver Eupnea’s tracks live will be a challenge but I’m sure rewarding. The tracks breathe new life, they develop; synth lines become guitar parts etc This experimentation is inspiring & feeds new creativity”.

Gazpacho who are currently working on the follow up to their 2018 album ‘Soyuz’ add:

“Gazpacho are happy to announce that we are hitting the roads in Europe this October, for a double-bill tour with the brilliant PRR! Yes! You get 2 concerts for the price of.. well.. one-ish! With a 2020-released album in our pocket we’re looking forward to once again meet the crowd, strengthen bonds and friendships, and of course make new ones. The 2020 tour will include France, Holland, Poland, Germany and the UK from October 16 to October 25.”

Their as yet untitled new album is due for release later this year on Kscope. 

You can find the full list of dates below, tickets go on sale this week.

16.10 Warsaw (PL), Progresja

17.10 Poznan (PL), U Bazyla

18.10 Berlin (DE), Columbia Theater

20.10 Cologne (DE), Die Kantine

22.10 Zwolle (NL), Hedon

23.10 Breda (NL), Mezz

24.10 Paris (FR), Petit Bain

25.10 London (UK), Islington Assembly Hall

Pure Reason Revolution recently released the single ‘New Obsession’. Watch the Thomas Hicks-created video here: https://youtu.be/dNP9z70zms4

Jon Courtney commented of the track: “It begins with the beeps, bleeps & monitors from the hospital apparatus & machines, setting the scene for the album. I had a primitive, more electronic demo before Greg (Jong) arrived in Berlin & at that point it got catapulted into a whole new direction.” 

Jon Courtney and Chloë Alper recently sat down to discuss the new record and how it came together, and you can watch them chat all things ‘Eupnea’ in this brand new interview: https://youtu.be/QaxajIoO7xs

At the end of January they launched the epic 10-minute ‘Silent Genesis’, a track which Jon Courtney co-wrote alongside original PRR member Greg Jong. Listen to the song here: https://youtu.be/5khMXtZ6YjE

‘Eupnea’ features the work of artist Jill Doherty on its front cover, and will be available as a Limited CD Digipak, Gatefold 2LP + CD (with etching on Side D) and as a digital album. Pre-orders are now available for both physical and digital here: https://PureReasonRevolution.lnk.to/Eupnea

The full track-listing is as follows:

1.     New Obsession 05:09

2.     Silent Genesis 10:20

3.     Maelstrom 05:44

4.    Ghosts & Typhoons 08:45

5.     Beyond Our Bodies 04:28

6.     Eupnea 13:23

Of the new album the band commented:

“We stuck to our manifesto of no musical boundaries and the result was ‘Eupnea’. We return to a more progressive sound with ferocious guitars, thunderous drums and the stacked harmonies that give us our signature sound. We’re excited to begin playing it live.”

‘Eupnea’, the long-awaited return from the band, sees them harking back to their earliest days, while rolling in all of the musical experiments and experience they’ve gathered in the intervening years.

The cinematic soundscapes of Hammer and Anvil? Check. The dark atmosphere and synths of Amor Vincit Omnia? Check. The gauzy psych-prog of their debut? Ch-check.

It’s sprawling, with three tracks hitting the 10 minute mark and one notching up against 15 minutes. Sure, track length does not equal ambition, but still, it’s quite the statement of intent.

The band currently have two confirmed Summer festival dates, performing at Night Of The Prog Festival in Germany on the 17th of July, and Ramblin Man Fair in the UK on the 18th of July.

Pure Reason Revolution originally parted ways in November 2011 following touring in support of their 2010 album ‘Hammer and Anvil’. Since then, Jon Courtney started Bullet Height and released their debut album ‘No Atonement’ in 2017, while Chloë Alper began a new band called Tiny Giant as well as playing live with the likes of Charli XCX and James.

The band originally formed back in 2003, releasing their much-loved debut album ‘The Dark Third’ in 2006 via Sony BMG. They went on to release the albums ‘Amor Vincit Omnia’ in 2009 and ‘Hammer and Anvil’ in 2010. 

Review – Pendragon – Love Over Fear

“Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.” ― Lao Tzu

Let’s face it, I listen to a lot of music, A LOT!, on a daily basis and, not to say I get jaded but it takes something really special nowadays to really blow me away.

The new album from legendary progressive rock luminaries Pendragon came with an absurd amount of hype but that’s what happens when you have been around since 1978, even I didn’t turn 11 until 1978!

Well the fantastic album artwork promised untold riches beneath and, boy, did these guys really deliver with “Love Over Fear”, sixty-five minutes of pure musical drama and utter bliss. It truly is THE listening experience of the last year by quite a considerable margin and with every listen this glorious collection of magical moments continues its journey to the peak of musical nirvana.

Am I being a tad over effusive with my praise? We all know opinions about music can only ever be subjective but I have listened to literally thousands of albums in the last 40 years and, to me, “Love Over Fear” is in the top three albums I have ever listened to, yes, I did just say that!

I’m still not sure whether the Genesis reunion tour is a good idea or not but they were a superb band in their heyday and I have to scratch my head in disbelief that Pendragon never attained even a small percentage of their success when they can write, record and deliver an album of such high quality as this?

Emotion, passion, power, grace, empathy, sentiment, pomp and circumstance, these hugely impressive and talented musicians deliver it all across ten songs that shine brightly with their sheer brilliance.

There is a three disc version that has the original album plus an acoustic and an instrumental version but, surprise, surprise, I bought the vinyl which is a thing of sheer beauty and a sublime listening experience.

The album opens with the power of Everything, an in your face blast of keyboards, guitar, bass and drums which grabs your attention immediately before effortlessly moving into the wonderment of Starfish And The Moon, a beguiling and bewitching song where the focus is on Nick Barrett’s mightily impressive vocal performance. Two songs in and the skill level of these musicians is already obvious as you are drawn into their evocative world.

Truth And Lies is an absolute classic in the making, an intelligently constructed track that weaves a magical spell in your mind leaving you on the edge of your seat in anticipation before breaking out majestically into a powerful symphonic prog masterpiece with an utterly compelling guitar solo by Nick. The rhythm section of Peter Gee and Jan Vincent Velazco provide the foundations and Clive Nolan’s elegant keyboards the added layers of class. The bright and breezy 360 Degrees sees Pendragon go all folk on us and is a track full of joy and bonhomie that will have you singing along at the top of your voice and leave you with a big grin on your face with its addictive chorus and rhythm.

Next along comes the shimmering charm and refinement of Soul And The Sea, a graceful composition where ethereal strings and Clive’s superb keyboards combine effortlessly before the track breaks open with an uplifting guitar riff and a dynamic rhythm section to deliver grandeur and splendour. One of my personal favourites in an album full of excellence is the scintillating radiance of Eternal Light. Once again the band have created a wonderful journey composed of epic components that combine together to deliver something quite wondrous, the inspiring chorus is just divine and transcendent. Every time I come away from this song feeling overwhelmed with joy and exultation.

Water is as uber cool, insouciant and laid back as they come, the free and easy feeling that the song engenders is utterly hypnotic and truly habit forming. Nick’s vocals glide along without an apparent care in the world and the music gives the song a properly jazzy aura, pure class. Wistful, contemplative and nostalgic, that just about sums up the sumptuously refined tones of Whirlwind, lose yourself in its gentle embrace for five minutes and forget about the world.

You want power, pomp and circumstance? Then listen to the intense magnificence of Who Really Are We? A song that epitomises what a truly dynamic progressive rock track should be all about. Clive’s keyboards fire warning shots all over the place, Nick’s guitar answers them with some primeval riffs and Peter and Jan provide upstanding backing. The vocals are direct and potent delivering a perfect statement of intent, an utterly compulsive and immersive drama. Sadly, the time has flown and we are at the end of this prodigious achievement as the album closes out with the thoughtful and slightly melancholic Afraid Of Everything which finishes with a delightful, thought provoking instrumental section.

Intelligent and insightful lyrics and four musicians at the very top of their game are great ingredients to have when you create a new album, however Pendragon have added a dash of magic that is rarely seen in modern music nowadays. There is no such thing as the perfect record, musicians are always striving to concoct something better than has gone before but “Love Over Fear” is as close to perfection that you can get, the best album of the last twenty years in fact and, in my humble opinion, and that is a very rare beast indeed!

Released 14th February 2020

Order “Love Over Fear” in any of its many guises from The Merch Desk:

https://themerchdesk.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=136_202

Featured image by Willem Klopper.