KYLVER – The Island – Vinyl/Cassette Release

First put out in October 2016 as a self released album both digitally and on CD; ‘The Island’ by North East Progressive Rock/Metal four piece Kylver is getting a re-release on 12” vinyl via Newcastle label ‘Inverted Grim-Mill’ and also on cassette through Colorado based label ‘Graven Earth’ on the 6th of July 2017.

Kylver is made up of guitarist Jonny Scott, Bassist James Bowmaker, Drummer Barry Micherson and Organist Neil Elliott. They have crafted their take on the progressive genre by mixing slow and heavy doom riffs, odd time signatures, atmospherics of post-rock and Hammond tones of the 70’s with a classic rock and metal sound.

Inverted Grim-Mill Recordings is a small independent label based in Newcastle upon Tyne, established in 2012. Acts working with the label are mostly gathered from the local and regional music scene, with releases and live events aimed at helping artists take the next logical step for their music.”

Graven Earth Records was born in the summer of 2016 in Denver, Colorado as a fiercely independent effort to support the best of the metal underground. The label has thus far worked with bands both local and abroad, issuing limited edition cassette releases with plans to expand to vinyl releases in the near future.

‘The Island’ is the follow up to their 2015 debut release ‘The Mountain Ghost’. ‘The Mountain Ghost’ is a forty-minute long concept album consisting of four tracks that follow the fictitious tale of a spirit who inflicts torment on the residents of a village that lies in the shadow of his mountainous home. The success of this first self released album lead the band to be nominated in the ‘Limelight’ (best newcomer) category of the 2016 Progressive Music Awards which was followed in the same year up by seeing ‘The Island’ listed in the Prog Magazine Critics Choice listings and Prog Magazine Readers Poll.

The Story of ‘The Island’ Goes…. “In November of 1703, a privateer ship and its crew set sail in search of a mythical island that was said to hold a portal to another dimension or another world in space and time. But from the outset, the journey was doomed to never reach its destination. After a day or two at sea the ship was wrecked in a great storm, losing all on board with the exception of one sole survivor. It was as if by fate that he was washed ashore on the very island that the expedition had been searching for, with nothing but a pendant around his neck which contained a strange undecipherable map. As the confused mariner made his way deeper into the heart of the island he was accompanied by an eerie feeling that he was not alone. It was a feeling that he was being ushered along the trails of the island by its shadows, shadows that lured him towards a cave inhabited by an unfamiliar yet familiar stranger. The sibyl of the island showed him the meaning of the pendant’s contents before showing him what and where he was searching. Upon his arrival at the ancient monoliths he found himself greeted by four hooded figures who were members of The Great Race. They proceeded to transport the weary traveller to an abyss where no man should venture. The sojourner begged that he be sent back to where he came from as the strange environment he found himself in was turning his mind into something he could not fathom. To this The Great Race agreed but not before they had removed all recollection of how and when this all happened from his mind. But The Great Race added a curse to protect their knowledge even further. He awoke in his world on the eve before the ship was due to set sail and from then on the rest of his life was a perpetual loop, with the same journey continuing to happen over and over again with no end…”

ANATHEMA ANNOUNCE DETAILS OF UK HEADLINE TOUR FOR SEPTEMBER

Who is the optimist? Elements of our psyche? Of yours? The part of us that secretly yearns for escape? For meaning? For a reason? Would you like to know more? Well why don’t you come and find out?” – Daniel Cavanagh, Anathema

Following a phenomenal set at this weekend’s Download Festival, Anathema have announced their headline tour of the UK in September, in support of their brand new album ‘The Optimist’. The band will be joined by be accompanied by French blackgaze pioneers Alcest ( www.facebook.com/alcest.official ).

The full UK tour is as follows with tickets on sale from Friday 16th June

September

22 – Glasgow Garage

23 – Belfast Limelight

24 – Dublin, The Academy

26 – Manchester, O2 Ritz

27 – Sheffield, Plug

28 – Bristol, The Marble Factory

29 – Exeter, Phoenix

30 – London, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Anathema, led by brothers Daniel and Vincent Cavanagh, along with drummer John Douglas, singer Lee Douglas, bassist Jamie Cavanagh and drummer/keyboardist Daniel Cardoso recorded ‘The Optimist’ in the winter of 2016 at Castle Of Doom studios in Glasgow with producer Tony Doogan [Mogwai, Belle & Sebastian, Super Furry Animals] at the helm and was mastered at the legendary Abbey Road Studios.

Anathema’s eleventh full-length The Optimist was released on 9th June through Kscope, where the ambient rockers revealed some of the darkest, most challenging and unexpected music the sextet have put their name to and has garnered some incredible reviews from the UK media:

“The album of their career thus far.” Prog Magazine – Album Of The Month

“The Optimist showcases the blissful chemistry that now exists within this particular line up” Classic Rock Magazine

“The Optimist delivers on every level” Metal Hammer Magazine

“‘a band finding new ways to be magnificent so far into their career” Kerrang! Magazine

“a record that makes the world better for its existence – and you can’t ask for more than that” Planet Rock Magazine

“Anathema really do cement their title as one of the UK’s most revered rock bands” Drowned in Sound

“The band are surely one of the country’s most innovative and imaginative rock bands around today.’ Musipedia of Metal

“this could well be their greatest work to date”  Ghost Cult

Fans can check out the song “Springfield” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y1ROzCUpbU

The Optimist is available on CD / CD + DVD / Blu Ray / 2 LP / DL / Ltd ed. 4 disc deluxe hardbook from http://found.ee/The_Optimist

Steven Wilson releases new track ‘Song of I’, announces additional tour dates

“I’m truly sorry but/this is my addiction…”

Steven Wilson released a new track from his forthcoming fifth album To The Bone yesterday.

Song Of I is a story of unrepentant obsession set to a sharp-as-a-tack rhythm track and an orchestral sandstorm – the third track taken from ‘To The Bone’ (following Pariah and The Same Asylum As Before), it is another tantalising musical curveball thrown by the UK’s biggest underground artist.

The video for Song Of I features performance artist Maya Petrovna and has been directed by Steven’s long time visual collaborator Lasse Hoile and will be available on Vevo from Saturday 10thJune.

Steven Wilson plays a previously announced UK tour in spring 2018 – two extra dates have just been added due to huge demand. The tour dates are:

Thu 15th Mar                       Warwick Arts Centre (NEW DATE)

Sat 17th Mar                         Belfast Mandela Hall

Mon 19th Mar                      Dublin Olympia Theatre

Wed 21st Mar                      Cardiff St David’s Hall

Thu 22nd Mar                      Birmingham Symphony Hall

Sat 24th Mar                        Glasgow Clyde Auditorium

Sun 25th Mar                       Gateshead Sage 1

Tue 27th Mar                       London Royal Albert Hall (sold out)

Weds 28th Mar                    London Royal Albert Hall (NEW DATE)

Sat 31st Mar                         Manchester Bridgewater Hall (sold out)

Sun 1st Apr                          Manchester Bridgewater Hall (NEW DATE)

Tickets are on sale now from usual agents.

Steven Wilson website / online shop / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram/ Spotify complete discography

BE PROG! MY FRIEND ANNOUNCES FINAL BANDS

FESTIVAL WHICH HIGHLIGHTS THE WORLD’S BEST PROGRESSIVE BANDS COMPLETES THIS YEAR’S LINE-UP WITH THE DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT, LEPROUS & JARDÍN DE LA CROIX.

30th June – 1nd JULY 2017 – BARCELONA

Since its inception in 2014 the Barcelona based festival Be Prog! My Friend has played host to the likes of Opeth, Steven Wilson, Anathema, Devin Townsend, TesseracT, The Pineapple Thief, Magma, Agent Fresco, Camel, Meshuggah, Katatonia, Riverside, Ihsahn and Alcest.

Taking place in the beautiful open air surroundings of Poble Espanyol – a huge stone built architectural museum – the site is one of the most important and striking landmarks of tourism in Barcelona. Whilst by day the Catalonian hotspot may play host to some of Barcelona’s most interesting historical articles, by the end of June to the start of July it will instead play host to some of the world’s finest progressive bands. Last year saw the festival co-headlined by Steven Wilson and fellow progressive heavy weights Opeth.

So far for 2017 Be Prog! My Friend have announced legendary headliners Jethro Tull and Marillion alongside Norwegian music collective Ulver, Anathema, Animals as Leaders, Mike Portnoy’s Shattered Fortress and Caligula’s Horse.

Now Be Prog! My Friends line-up for this year is complete with the addition of the Devin Townsend Project, Leprous and Spain’s Jardín de la Croix.

Devin Townsend returns to Be Prog! My Friend for an exclusive performance of his 1997 album ‘Ocean Machine: Biomech’ in full to celebrate its 20th anniversary. Devin himself describes ‘Ocean Machine’ as ‘a labor of love that was born more out of adversity than almost anything else. I’m very proud of this album, and has a very obvious ‘blue’ feeling to me’

Joining Devin will be one of the best progressive metal acts in the world, Leprous. The festival organisers comment: we were stunned by their technical genius, the absorbing personality of frontman Einar and their almighty live shows’. At Be Prog! My Friend their performance will be a ‘By Request’ show, where all fans of Leprous can vote. The songs with the most votes will be played at the festival.

The final band that completes the line-up for Be Prog! My Friend 2017 is Jardín de la Croix described by the festival as ‘one of the most beloved bands in the Spanish rock scene at the moment. With their excellent live shows they are definitely one of the best instrumental rock bands in Spain at the moment.  We proudly welcome them to the festival and hope you enjoy Jardín de la Croix with us!’

The complete line-up for Be Prog! My Friend 2017:

JETHRO TULL / MARILLION

MIKE PORTNOY’S SHATTERED FORTRESS / ANATHEMA / THE DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT / ULVER / ANIMALS AS LEADERS / LEPROUS / CALIGULA’S HORSE / JARDÍN DE LA CROIX

Tickets are on sale now at the fixed price of 130 Euros:

http://www.ticktackticket.com/entradas/goto.do?claves=.127248&origin=TTT&codIdioma=ING

 Press for Be Prog! My Friend festival 2016:

‘And so Prog finds itself in love with Barcelona, the delightful weather and everything that Be Prog! My Friend has to offer’ – Prog Magazine

‘The leading festival for progressive music in Spain, showcased avant-garde music in a magnificent location’ – The Independent

‘Set in the hazy sunlit square of Barcelona’s historic and quite stunning Poble Espanyol, it certainly beats the sodden mud of the British festival season’ – Total Guitar Magazine

‘If nothing else, it proves that prog is alive and kicking. Especially in Catalonia’ – Classic Rock Magazine

http://www.beprogmyfriend.com/

facebook.com/beprogmyfriend 

Be Prog! My Friend takes place in the heart of Barcelona and with an airport only 12km away, regular, cheap flights make it an easy festival to get and from the UK. Bands will start playing from mid/late afternoon each day which will also mean visitors have plenty of time to explore the stunning city of Barcelona while they are there.

http://www.barcelonaturisme.com

Exclusive hotel deals for Be Prog! My Friend attendees are available here:

http://www.beprogmyfriend.com/17/en/nearby-hotels/

Gandalf’s Fist Begin Pre-Orders of “A Day In The Life Of A Universal Wanderer” Special Edition Re-issue

Gandalf’s Fist have announced a special deluxe re-issue of their 2013 space-rock offering “A Day in the Life of a Universal Wanderer”.

The expanded album has been fully remixed and remastered from the ground up, utilizing new performance takes and bringing the release firmly in line with the sonic palette of 2014’s “A Forest of Fey” and 2016’s “The Clockwork Fable”.

The record also features new and re-recorded narrative tracks from British Actor Mark Benton, who had previously worked with the band on last year’s Triple-CD album release.

Completing the package is the brand new, exclusive track The Stowaway and the Endless Night, an 11 minute opus originally omitted from the original release, as well as brand new cover art commissioned from German artist Thomas Huth, the man reasonable for the band’s sleeves on the last two releases.

Gandalf’s Fist front man, Dean Marsh, commented:

“This is the album people seem to have been desperate for us to re-release on CD format and we were reluctant to do so until we could finally do it right and do it justice. This is not a pointless ‘CGI-Yoda’ retrospective tinkering, we’ve retained the main core of what we originally created, but now with a bit more sheen and more energy.  It now works as a cohesive piece. A real thrill for me was to hear the synth violin sections being re-recorded by orchestral musicians, It’s those little touches that have lifted the record to another level. I think we’ve finally got it to a stage where we’re proud to let it sit on the shelf next to our last two albums!”

“A Day in the Life of a Universal Wanderer (Special Edition)” will be released on 18th September 2017. Pre-orders for the album are now available, including limited edition t-shirt packages exclusive to official pre-orders.

Pre-order ‘A Day In The Life OF A Universal Wanderer’ direct from the band.

 

 

Only Echoes Remain share new track ‘Of Stone and Stars’ / For fans of Sigur Ros, Yndi Halda & Karnivool

Only Echoes Remain are a London-based 4-piece that blend the classic ‘wall of guitar’ sound of This Will Destroy You with post-metal elements a la Russian Circles/If These Trees Could Talk, the atmospheric prog-y math of Karnivool with the emotions of Sigur Ros or Yndi Halda.

The band are set to release their debut album ’The Exigent’ on 16th June. Recorded at the Abbey Road Institute, ‘Of Stone and Stars’ is the second track that the band have shared from the record. The band comment:

‘Of Stone and Stars is the final song on the album, and where many of the previous tracks are fraught with danger, loneliness and loss, this last song suggests a degree of hope. Here big guitar riffs and high-energy sections, punctuated by moments of delicate reflection, tell the story of one lone explorer’s battle for survival. While he may well succeed in the short term, ultimately he finds himself stranded on a strange and unfamiliar world – how long can he really last?’

Listen here:

The Exigent’ is very much a concept record with a full narrative running throughout. The band add ‘being a concept album, ‘The Exigent’ follows a cohesive narrative throughout, telling a story both physical and deeply emotional.’ 

Within their first year of forming Only Echoes Remain have already had the pleasure of sharing the stage with the Her Name is Calla, Totorro, Vasa, Poly-Math, Toska, Dialects, A-Sun Amissa and Waking Aida, to name but a few. UK tour dates will be announced soon but the band have confirmed they’ll be performing in London on Friday 23rd June at Brewhouse.

Pre-order ‘The Exigent’ – https://onlyechoesremain.bandcamp.com/

 falling somewhere between the glacial post-rock of Sigur Ros and Karnivool style prog’ – Clash Music

Facebook: www.facebook.com/onlyechoesremain

Anathema announce exclusive 5.1 playback of new album ‘The Optimist’

Anathema, who are set to release their darkest and most challenging album to date, ‘The Optimist’ on 9th June via Kscope have announced an exclusive 5.1 playback session of the record will take place in London on Monday 5th June. Held at the Courtyard Threatre in Hoxton/Shoreditch in association with Classic Album Sundays the album will be played back in full through a KEF 5.1 system.

Limited to just 90 tickets the event will also include a live interview and Q & A session with Daniel and Vincent Cavanagh from the band hosted by Kerrang/Planet Rock journalist Amit Sharma, giving fans an opportunity to put their questions to them as well as hearing the album ahead of its release. Vincent adds:

‘We’re really looking forward to this. Listening to the album on a high end 5.1 audio system is a new experience even for us. The night isn’t just a preview of ‘The Optimist’ but it’s also a chance for people to gain a unique insight into what this album is all about. There’s a lot to take in, especially with all the artwork/visual side of the story. It’ll be cool to hang out and meet everyone.’

Tickets are available from: eventbrite.co.uk

Anathema, led by brothers Daniel and Vincent Cavanagh, along with drummer John Douglas, singer Lee Douglas, bassist Jamie Cavanagh and drummer/keyboardist Daniel Cardoso recorded ‘The Optimist’ in the winter of 2016 at Castle Of Doom studios in Glasgow with producer Tony Doogan [Mogwai, Belle & Sebastian, Super Furry Animals] at the helm and was mastered at the legendary Abbey Road Studios.

The album can be pre-ordered now: http://found.ee/The_Optimist

classicalbumsundays.com

Bent Knee Releases Live Video for “Holy Ghost” – Headlining Tour Begins June 1 in Brooklyn, NY

Land Animal’ Available June 23 via InsideOutMusic/Sony.

“It’s very rare that an artist or band comes along that changes your perspective on music and art…Bent Knee have done just that.” – Substream
“Mind boggling… the grandest and subtlest ideas are on the table” -NPR
“The silo-smashing Bent Knee’s unique mix is equal parts ingenuity and deliciousness” – The Wall Street Journal
“Bent Knee breaks new stylistic and temperamental ground” – The Boston Globe

Genre-bending art-rock band Bent Knee have revealed a gripping live video for their single “Holy Ghost”. The track is the second to be released from their forthcoming album, Land Animal, out June 23rd via InsideOutMusic/Sony. The collection combines myriad influences from across the rock, pop, minimalist, and avant-garde spectrums into a seamless, thrilling whole.

You can watch the video here:

Following a North American tour supporting Thank You Scientist, Bent Knee will embark on a select run of tour dates in June, beginning in Brooklyn, NY and making stops in Washington DC, Philadelphia, Chicago and more.
Bent Knee Tour Dates:
^with Great Caesar
6/3          New Haven, CT @ Café Nine^
6/5          Boston, MA @ Great Scott
6/6          Philadelphia, PA @ Kung-Fu Necktie
6/7          Pittsburgh, PA @ The Fun House/Mr. Smalls
6/8          Washington, DC @ Black Cat
6/9          Milwaukee, WI @ Shank Hall
6/11       Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern
6/12       Chicago, IL @ Schubas

 

 

NEW TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED FOR THE PINEAPPLE THIEF, FEATURING GAVIN HARRISON

The Pineapple Thief have announced the second leg of their European tour in support of the critically-acclaimed album Your Wilderness. The new dates will see the band venture into Poland and Switzerland along with shows in Germany, Czech Republic, The Netherlands and UK. See a full list below.

The band will again be joined by virtuoso Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree, King Crimson) on drums and Darran Charles (Godsticks) on guitar. As anyone who witnessed the shows earlier this year will attest, the new five-piece line-up has allowed Bruce, Steve and Jon to expand upon their signature sound, enabling the band to truly shine on stage.

For a glimpse of what to expect, fans can watch clips of the band’s sparkling performance at London’s Islington Assembly Hall here:

Tour dates

Wednesday, 6 September 2017 – Dresden, Alter Schlachtof

Thursday, 7 September 2017 – Warsaw, Progesja Music Zone

Friday, 8 September 2017 – Krakow, Kwadrat Music Club

Saturday, 9 September 2017 – Czech Republic Brno – Melodka

Sunday, 10 September 2017 – Munich, Backstage Halle

Monday, 11 September 2017 – Zurich, Dynamo

Tuesday, 12 September 2017 – Stuttgart, Universum

Wednesday, 13 September 2017 – Cologne, Luxor

Thursday, 14 September 2017 – Zoetermeer, De Boerderij

Saturday, 16 September 2017 – London, ULU

Sunday, 17 September 2017 – Bristol, Bierkeller

For more information and ticket details – http://pineapplethief.com/tour

Following a triumphant first leg, with several sold out shows, The Pineapple Thief has emerged as one of the most exciting live progressive rock acts on the circuit and a force to be reckoned with. Prog Magazine described the show as “a dynamic, dramatic experience” while Manchester Rocks commented that it’s “The Pineapple Thief, like you’ve never heard them before”.

“We can’t wait to get back on the road again!” explains band leader Bruce Soord. “Personally, I am really excited that people will have another opportunity to see and hear this fantastic line-up. Darran and Gavin have brought a whole new dimension to this band.”

The band will be performing Your Wilderness plus a string of re-imagined favourites from their back catalogue. These will be the last tour dates this year, and the final opportunity for fans to witness this line-up performing Your Wilderness in its entirety. Special guest support is from Kscope label mates Godsticks, who will be performing brand new material from their upcoming fourth album.

Your Wilderness is the 11th studio album from The Pineapple Thief. For the first time, the band brought in several special guest performers: Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree) contributed drums throughout the album, John Helliwell (Supertramp) some beautiful clarinet parts, and Geoffrey Richardson (Caravan) provided a string quartet. They were also joined by a 4-piece choir and to cap it all off, Darran Charles (Godsticks) added some jaw dropping guitar playing.

One of the most exciting bands to come out of the UK progressive rock scene in recent times, The Pineapple Thief was formed in 1999 by founder and chief songwriter Bruce Soord. The band has steadily evolved and refined its sound with the bass playing of Jon Sykes and the production and keyboards of Steve Kitch vital ingredients of the unmistakable TPT sound.

The Pineapple Thief online:

Website: www.thepineapplethief.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thepineapplethief

Twitter: www.twitter.com/pineapplethief

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thepineapplethief

Spotify: https://play.spotify.com/artist/4lrBMUSk8PiNnCEZfsmPAk

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE6401DB011BD837E

Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/the-pineapple-thief/id278648772

Gandalf’s Fist announce “Fistival” – One-Off Headline Performance in Workington, Cumbria.

UK Progressive Rock act, Gandalf’s Fist, have announced a special one-off headlining performance which they have coined simply as “Fistival”.

Commandeering the Carnegie Theatre in Workington, Cumbria, the 4th August show marks a homecoming for the band, capping off a hugely successful 12 months which has heralded the release of their acclaimed triple album, ‘The Clockwork Fable’; the Abbey Road mastered Vinyl release of ‘The Lamplighter’s Tale’; an unplugged session on ‘BBC Introducing’ and a blistering headline performance of the 2nd Stage at HRH Prog Festival.

Fistival promises to be a unique experience, with ‘the Fist’ promising to build on their “prog-roc-pantomime” with further theatrical shenanigans and full-stage projections.

The band are also offering a free digital download of ‘The Clockwork Fable’; with every ticket purchase. The free download, which features guest appearances from the likes of Arjen Lucassen, Blaze Bayley, Dr Who cast members and even Zach “Billy Peltzer” Galligan from Gremlins, is a stunning 3 hour window into the wacky world of Gandalf’s Fist and is surely the ideal preparation for what is sure to be a memorable performance.

Tickets for Fistival are currently on sale now via  the Carnegie official box office: https://carnegietheatre.ticketsolve.com/shows/873572691