DRIFTING SUN: Planet Junkie (2019). My review...

  I discovered Drifting Sun with the release of Trip the Life Fantastic (2015), and I have been following them since then. I don't know how they do that, but with every new release, they become better and better. 
  The band's new album is Planet Junkie, which, in my ears sound different than their previous works. Maybe one of the reasons for that is the absence of Peter Falconer, the band's singer. I don't know why, but suddenly Drifting Sun left without a lead singer. 
  Pat Sanders, the band's leader, decided to invite some singers he already knew, in order to participate in Falconer's place. Three of them accepted the invitation, so Planet Junkie includes three lead singers instead of one; which add a lot in the album's dynamic. 
  The album is separated into 3 major parts, and on each part, there is a different lead singer. These 3 parts are divided by an instrumental piece. So, Planet Junkie includes 9 songs and 2 instrumental pieces.

  As far as I know, Pat Sanders faced many difficult situations in his personal life lately, and many of those situations are reflected in Planet Junkie. The album is filled with wonderful and melancholic melodies, which, in my opinion, has always been the strong point in their music. Pat is a skilled composer and musician, and he is able to write some heartbreaking melodies which I adore, and this album is not an exception.

  But the album is not only about melancholy and drama. It also includes some uplifting songs, like Planet Junkie and Within Your Bones, for example, which are excellent.

  I'm sure that the fans of the band will enjoy this album a lot, but because this is not a typical Drifting Sun album, you should listen to Planet Junkie, even if you never liked their music before. Maybe you will be pleasantly surprised by its quality. Just listen to the album and form your own opinion.

 As far as I know, the album will be available on CD and as a digital download. For more info on the subject, visit the band's webpage: http://www.driftingsun.co.uk/

Also, you can check their bandcamp page: 

https://driftingsun.bandcamp.com/

Favourite songs so far: Within Your Bones, Missing, Night Time Sorrow, Planet Junkie, Stay with Me.

My Rating: 4.5 stars. (Out of 5.0)

Here's a couple of songs from the album:

Missing 

Planet Junkie 

Night Time Sorrow

 

GANDALF'S FIST: The Clockwork Prologue (2019). My review..

  A couple of years ago, Gandalf’s Fist surprised everybody with the release of the excellent - but kind of ambitious - The Clockwork Fable. It was a really interesting triple concept album that introduced us to the underground city of Cogtopolis and its bizarre inhabitants. With that album they increased their fame and the band begun to play at various festivals, such as HRH Prog in North Wales for example, where they were the headliners on the 2nd stage.

  This year they returned with The Clockwork Prologue, which works as a prequel, if I got it right. The band now includes two more members in comparison with The Clockwork Fable; Keri Farish on vocals and Ben Bell on keyboards, bass, guitar and vocals.

  Although The Clockwork Prologue is similar with The Clockwork Fable, it is slightly better in my opinion. Not only because it includes all the elements that we enjoyed in the previous album, like for example the theatrical narration parts that work as a “bridge” between the songs, but also because it is shorter, therefore less “chaotic”, and it can be appreciated better and faster.

  There are lots of wonderful melodies throughout the album, strong guitar riffs, beautiful changes, and let’s not forget the really interesting story, on which, both albums have been built.

   At the very beginning of this post, I wrote that with the release of The Clockwork Fable, Gandalf’s Fist surprised everybody. I’m afraid that the element of surprise is not going to work this time, mostly because now people know what to expect. But that doesn’t make the album less enjoyable!

  So, to sum up, The Clockwork Prologue is a great album and without a doubt a very serious piece of work! Definitely one of the best releases of 2019 so far. And as far as I’ve heard, this time it will be available in vinyl edition as well. Good things are happening to good bands…

  Congratulations to Gandalf’s Fist once more, not only for releasing really good albums, but for their hard work and for keeping their quality at very high standards.

Favorite tracks (so far): Solar Huntress, Wanderer, Supplies for the Festivities, The Clokkemaker, Blackening.

                        My Rating: 4.5 stars

SOEN: Lotus (2019). My "review"...

  After the release of the very good Lykaia (2017), SOEN returned with an even better album.

  I added the album in my collection almost a month ago and I keep listening to it on a rather often basis. Yes, I will agree with all those who are stating that SOEN sound like a mix of Tool and Riverside on many occasions, but that’s not the case. Every band in our days is influenced by other bands, and that is something not very easy to hide.

  The feeling I get when I listen to Lotus is that this time SOEN tried to move away from their usual Tool-like sound, and create something new and more personal. Have they succeeded? Well, not exactly. Still, their influences are present and obvious, but the band seems to be heading into a new musical direction. And that is something good in my opinion.

  The album includes lots of powerful moments, and a few melodic ones, like for example the wonderful title song.

  Every fan of this style of music will definitely find some songs to like in Lotus, but speaking for myself, the songs I like the most so far are: Lunacy, Covenant, Martyrs and of course Lotus.

  I am not going to get into details for each song separately, because my opinion doesn’t really matter, since each person has its own point of view. But I strongly recommend to listen to this album, but not only once. Give it some time and be sure that it will grow on you.

  For me, Lotus is one of the best releases of 2019 so far.

Here's a sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLSh0E0Rikc

                   Totally recommended!

                    My Rating: 4.0 Stars

STEVE HACKETT: At the Edge of Light (2019). My review...

  Earlier this year, the legendary ex-guitar player of Genesis, Steve Hackett, released his 26^th studio album, named as At the Edge of Light. Having enjoyed his two previous works Wolflight and The Night Siren (but mostly Wolflgiht), I didn’t hesitate at all!

  I don’t know how to describe it, but this album begins where the previous ones stopped. It is more or less in the same style, but in my opinion is better than both of them.

  Steve Hackett (as it seems), decided that the style of music he wants to play is this; Progressive Rock with lots of Ethnic influences, and many soft melodic turns. He gave us a first idea of that style with – the very good – Wolflight, he went a step back with The Night Siren, and now it was the time for the killing blow! And that blow came with the release of At the Edge of Light.

  To be honest, I wasn’t so hopeful after The Night Siren, and that’s why I caught by surprise. Because, I still cannot believe how good this album is!

  Steve Hackett managed to “marry” his very rich Progressive Rock heritage with tunes from - mostly - Anatolian traditional music, and the result is simply breathtaking! Of course, the cherry on the cake is his top-notch guitar performance, but that’s not a surprise.

  The listener gets a first idea of what’s going to follow with the 2-minute-long Fallen Walls and Pedestrals, that works as the album’s intro. And then comes Beasts in our Time, one of the album’s finest moments without a doubt.

  But the album’s absolute highlight is (in my opinion) the 11-minute-long, Those Golden Wings, which, constantly shifts between gentle rhythms, orchestral backed vocals to a real ear-worm of a riff, to a Carmina Burana-esque choral section to be finally resolved with a three minute guitar solo.

  At the Edge of Light includes 10 tracks, and to be honest, to only one that I do not like (yet), is Shadow and Flame, because of its strong Indian influences that were never my cup of tea.

  I do not wish to continue writing more things, because there is no point doing that. If you take a look around the internet, read the reviews for this album, and even better, listen to it, you will understand why everybody’s talking about it.

  For me, this is a wonderful album, that shines above most albums that has been released during the last years. As for Steve Hackkett, I believe that this is one of his best works ever!

It is available in CD / DVD / digital format, and in double vinyl (incl. the CD).

Not paying attention to this album would be a huge mistake!

                  My Rating: 4.5 stars (out of 5.0)

If you click on the following YT link you will be able to listen to Those Golden Wings. 

Check it out!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amy5RsEpizI 

THE WINDMILL: Tribus (2018). My Review...

   The Windmill is a Norwegian band that I discovered recently, and to be honest I was impressed. I had no idea about them, until I saw some very good ratings and reviews about their latest album Tribus, and I decided to give it a try.

  Their music style can be characterized as Heavy Prog with a sound that reminds the bands of the 70’s, but in a more modern way.

  The album opens with the 24-minute-long The Tree, which left me speechless! If I would like to describe the feeling I had, I would say that it is as if you enter a train for a long journey, without knowing where it is going to lead you. So, you just sit back and enjoy the ride, with its infinite turns and changes of the landscape, and the peace you find yourself in. When the journey finally ends, you know that you only have to press “repeat” in order to feel it again.

It is one of the album’s “stronger” compositions, but that doesn’t mean that the rest of the songs are just “fillers”. Each of the 5 songs is wonderful in its own way, and creates different feelings for the listener.

  The Tree is followed by the 10-minute-long instrumental Storm. What I wrote about The Tree stands for Storm as well. The only difference is the length of the “journey”. Another excellent track, including flute that permeates a vintage sound, if I can use that expression.

  Dendrophenia that comes next, is a lovely track that could easily fit in any of the old albums of Uriah Heep. A very nice and more “straight forward” track.

  Make Me Feel, the album’s 4rth track, is another highlight! Again, a long – 9.30-minute-long track, is one of the album’s stronger compositions. I didn’t pay much attention to it at first, because I kept listening to the first 2 songs repeatedly; but when I finally decided to continue with the rest of the album, this was the song that stuck with me again.

  Play with Fire is another wonderful tune that concludes the album in the best way possible. A more Folky and happier tune in comparison with the previous songs. Due to the sound of the flute and the singer’s voice, it reminds me of Jethro Tull a little bit, but it cannot be characterized as a “copycat” in any way.

  The things that I loved in Tribus are; firstly the very good and strong compositions, secondly, despite their sophistication, the songs don’t tire you out. Although most of them include lots of changes, they come artlessly and effortlessly. These guys don’t try to impress the listener with their technical skills, (which are very good), but with the quality of their music and their overall performance instead.

  This is a wonderful album that you listen from the first until the last minute, without having to skip not even one song. All the songs are wonderful and they have something to offer.

Stronger tracks: The Tree, Storm, Make Me Feel.

Weaker Tracks: None.

It would be a mistake to ignore this album! Give it a try and you won't regret it.

                         My Rating: 4.5 stars. 

If you click on the following YT link you will be able to listen to the song The Tree.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXYMfuPMo60&index=1&list=PLXfyzjzsaNrr5WhxRsMRVNUaRx8yRjCIy