Sunday, December 31, 2017

Colin Tench has passed away... R.I.P

Where to begin?
 I am VERY sad and devastated by the horrid news of Colin's death, which I received an hour ago.
 I was proud to call him friend and I feel blessed that I had the opportunity to meet him during my visit to London. It was truly a gift that I had the chance to get to know this friendly, funny, talented and smart character; This artist... 
  During the last couple of years he was an occasional guest on Prog n Roll's chatbox on the radio, a friend we met on Skype always with pleasure and a gifted musician of Corvus Stone and Colin Tench project. 
 The thing that saddens me even more, is that we were trying to find a date to speak on skype lately, but we couldn't arrange it because either he or I was busy; and finally we never made it.
  Me, my wife and Prog n Roll's co-host Nihal, and all the producers of Just in Case Radio, would like to render our condolences to his family; and as his friends, it is our duty and pleasure to keep his memory alive by enjoying and playing his music at every given opportunity. 
Rest in peace Colin, we will miss and treasure you for always.

P.S: Tonight's special Prog n' Roll will begin with one of his songs. I hope that Colin will be somewhere there to listen to it with us. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X6OetdSjcM




Saturday, December 30, 2017

GFreedom's Juke Box No.210

Hello all!
This is the last 'Juke Box' post for 2017.
It includes the list with the 5 songs I chose as best ones for this last week of the year.
Right after my list, you will find the YouTube links with the songs that are included in my list, so if you are interested you can listen to them right away.
Enjoy!
RAINBOW: Stargazer (Rising - 1976)
EVERSHIP: Silver Light (Evership - 2016)
CHRYSILIA: The Menalon Trail (Et in Arcadia Ego - 2017)
RUSH: Tom Sawyer (Moving Pictures - 1981)
PORCUPINE TREE: Arriving Somewhere (Fear of a Blank Planet  -2005)
RAINBOW: Stargazer
EVERSHIP: Silver Light
CHRYSILIA: The Menalon Trail
RUSH: Tom Sawyer
PORCUPINE TREE: Arriving Somewhere

Special Prog n Roll radio show on New Year's Eve. (31/12/2017)


Hello all!
  I would like to inform you about tomorrow night's very special Prog n Roll show that we are preparing.
  After a massive request from our listeners, we decided to make a show tomorrow night, although we had nothing like that in mind to be honest. Since tomorrow night is New Year's Eve, we thought of doing something slightly different than usual, especially for the occasion.
  So, tomorrow night, Prog n Roll will begin at 21.00 UK time, and it is going to last for at least 3 hours; during which altogether we are going to change the year in 3 different time zones. At 22.00 UK time, we will begin with Greece and Turkey, at 23.00 UK time we will change the year in Italy/Germany/France etc, and we will finish at 24.00 UK time, when the new year will reach UK.
  We will celebrate each of those year changes with a long epic song, which will begin a few minutes before the change of the year, and it will finish during the first minutes of 2018.
  We prepared a joyful, happy and slightly powerful playlist, including songs by very famous bands and artists. Because it is going to be a radio party after all!
So, if you will be indoors tomorrow night, tune in and listen to our special show!
I am sure that you will not regret it.
I would like to remind you that Prog n Roll is a live bilingual broadcast which will begin - especially for the occasion - at 21.00 UK time. (22.00 Germany, France, Italy and 23.00 Greece, Turkey).
Also, don't forget to join our warm and fun company on the shoutbox. 
This my friends, will be a night to remember! :-)

Friday, December 29, 2017

GFreedom's 2017 Top-10 album list (Part.1)

  Since we are on the last day of 2017, I thought that it would be a good idea to begin writing my annual Top - 10 album list. This year, my list will be divided into 3 or 4 parts, and at the end there will be an extra one, including the 5 albums that didn't make it to the list, but they reached the final draft.
 Since January, I have listened carefully to 68 albums, and based on those I prepared my list. I am sure that there are many more good albums out there, but as I said, my list is based on the ones I was able to listen.
 Also, have in mind that my list is in alphabetical order, and on each entry I will include a couple of YouTube links, so you can have an idea immediately.
I hope you will enjoy it!

BIG BIG TRAIN: Grimspound

  Grimspound was the 10th studio album of the English band Big Big Train and it was released on the 28th of April 2017. In my opinion it is not as good as their albums English Electric Pt.1 & Pt.2, but it is a very good work. Here you can read the review I wrote for Grimspound a few months ago: http://gfreedomathina.blogspot.gr/search?q=big+big+train
Here's a couple of songs from this album:
BIG BIG TRAIN: Brave Captain
BIG BIG TRAIN: Meadowland

CELLAR NOISE: Alight
 This was one of the biggest surprises of 2017 for me. Alight is the debut album of the Milan-based band Cellar Noise, who I had the opportunity to meet when I had them as guests in my radio show Prog n Roll. It is a wonderful album, filled with great melodies and very interesting compositions, which you can listen from the first till the last song without having to skip not even one song. This is a band that definitely deserves more attention! Here's the review I wrote for this album almost 6 months ago:  http://gfreedomathina.blogspot.gr/2017/06/cellar-noise-alight-2017.html
Here you can have an idea about them:
CELLAR NOISE: Underground Ride  
CELLAR NOISE: Temple 

CHRYSILIA: Et in Arcadia Ego
The debut album of the Greek Folk/Power Metal band Chrysilia was another huge surprise for me, for many reasons. I discovered the album almost 2 months after its release, and I can't stop listening to it since then. Almost 2 weeks ago, I wrote a rather detailed review for this album, which you can find here if you are interested: http://gfreedomathina.blogspot.gr/2017/12/chrysilia-et-in-arcadia-ego-2017-my.html
You can check some of their songs here:
  CHRYSILIA: The Menalon Trail
CHRYSILIA: King of a Stellar War 

Here ends the 1st part of my annual top-10 album list. 
More parts will follow in a few days.
I hope you will find it interesting and usefull...
Happy New Year Ladies and Gentlemen! 
Thank you!

Monday, December 25, 2017

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I would like to wish to you, your families and your beloved ones Merry Christmas!
Enjoy the holiday season with the people you love.
Also, let's not forget those who are in need. 
Take a look around you; there might be some people who need help...
Thank you!

      MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Monday, December 18, 2017

Prog n Roll's special Christmas show (17/12/2017). The complete playlist and more...

  Well, I have to admit that that show was not so "special" like others we did in the past. But because it was the last one before Christmas, we added a few Christmas songs in the playlist, and tried to play mostly songs by some famous bands.
As it seemed, our listeners enjoyed it, and we had lots of fun on the chatbox once more.
  Prog n Roll will not be online on Sunday the 24th, but we will return for a really EPIC show on the 31st! Yes, you read well! On the 31st we will be online, for a special 3-hour-long show. (More info on that later).
 As for last night, we divided the show into 4 half-hour parts once more, and during each part we played songs from different genres and/or sub-categories.
Here's the complete playlist:

1st Part: Jingle Bells Rock /  THE BEACH BOYS: Slop John B / THE BEATLES: All you need is love / THE ROLLING STONES: Our of time / THE KINKS: Apeman / THE WHO: Christmas.
2nd Part: TRANS SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA: / Christmas Canon / PROCOL HARUM: A whiter shade of pale / THE MOODY BLUES: New Horizons / RENAISSANCE: Northen lights / MADDY PRIOR: Gutter geese / JETHRO TULL: King Henry’s madrigal.
3rd Part: DIO: Gor rest ye merry gentlemen / MANOWAR: Kingdom come / IOMMI: Flame on / SHADOW GALLERY: Room V.
4th Part: THE PROG WORLD ORCHESTRA: Frankincense / THE NEIL MORSE BAND: City of Destruction / ADVENTURE: Fast train / DREAM THEATER: The big medley.
I would like to say a very big thanks to all those who chose to spend their evening with us. Merry Christmas everybody!
Thank you!


Saturday, December 16, 2017

GFreedom's Juke Box No.209

Hello all!
  After a long break my usual Saturday "Juke Box" post is back, with my weekly Top-5 song list.
  I had an extremely busy time lately, so I wasn't able to listen and pay attention to music as much as I would like to. But this week things went better, so I could sit down and enjoy some nice music.
From all the songs I listened to during the week, these are the ones I liked the most:
SIVERT HOYEM: Lioness (Lioness - 2016)
CHRYSILIA: King of a Stellar War (Et in Arcadia Ego - 2017)
THRESHOLD: State of Independence (Legends of the Shires - 2017)
DIO: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (We wish you a Metal Christmas - 2008)
PROCOL HARUM: A Whiter Shade of Pale (Procol Harum - 1967)
If you are interested of listening to the songs in my list, just click on the following YT links:
SIVERT HOYEM: Lioness
CHRYSILIA: King of a Stellar War
THRESHOLD: State of Independence
DIO: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
PROCOL HARUM: A Whiter Shade of Pale
I hope you will enjoy the music.
Have a nice weekend!

Friday, December 15, 2017

Prog n Roll's 'Christmas Special' show, on Sunday the 17th of Decemeber.

Hello all!
I would like to inform you that this Sunday the 17th of December, Prog n Roll will celebrate the Christmas holiday season with a special show. We prepared a rather jolly - and powerful in parts - playlist, including Christmas songs in Rock versions, together with many other famous or not so famous tunes.
Bcause we will not have a show on Christmas Eve, this will be the last one before Christmas.
But we will be back right after Christmas for something really special and epic! But more info on that later on.
 So, if you are in the mood for some good music and a very warm and friendly company, listen to Prog n Roll on Sunday the 17th. The show begins at 20.00 UK time, and it is a live bilingual broadcast.
We hope to "see you" there!
Thank you!

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

CHRYSILIA: Et in Arcadia Ego (2017). My review on a really wonderful abum!

  This is an album that I discovered recently, and I was really surprised by their sound, their music quality and their compositions; not to mention that they are from Greece. Because there is a possibility that their name doesn’t mean anything to most of you, it is better to begin by writing a few info about the band:

  Chrysilia is a Symphonic/Folk Metal band based in Athens, Greece. Initially a concept child by musical actress & Rock performer Chryso and composer/keyboardist Elias Pero (ex-Sovereign), this quickly evolved into the formation of a band consisting six experienced members. A few months ago, they released their debut album Et in Arcadia Ego, which as I wrote above, I discovered almost a week ago.    
  I can’t say that the “modern” Metal scene is my cup of tea, but this album just blew my mind! Where to begin? From the really good compositions; the “catchy” melodies and the great guitar riffs; or the presence of electric violin? Another very important element is the wonderful female vocals by Chryso, the band’s singer, which gives another dynamic to their sound.
  All members of Chrysilia are excellent and professional musicians, that they know their instruments very well, and that is something that becomes obvious when you are listening to this album. Another fact I really liked is that, they draw their themes and inspiration from the vast Ancient Greek mythology, which is very interesting to say the least. (And familiar to me). (For those who may wonder, I should say that Arcadia is a mountain area in the Peloponnese region in Greece).
  If I would have to find a band that Chysilia reminds me of, I would say Nightwish without a second thought. Just replace the Scandinavian themes with Ancient Greek ones, and you are almost there. But further than the lyrics, Chrysilia’s music is more romantic and more mellow in many parts. (Always in comparison with Nightwish).
  But let’s see how the band itself describes this album: [Our music could be vaguely described as soundtrack metal, having influences from different music genres, ranging from folk, jazz and musicals to power metal. The main theme here is having clean-cut, catchy tunes, no matter how heavy or complicated is the musical background. It’s like listening to a motion picture soundtrack, but on the hard n’ heavy side. Lyrically, this is a concept album based on the idea of Arcadia, as this was depicted in the Renaissance as the dreamland that our souls travel in the afterlife or just by achieving a higher state of intuitive enlightenment. Our album, however, has a metaphorical meaning. It is a journey in time and fantasy, myths and reality, fairy tales and politics, life and death itself, through the eyes of a girl growing up: Her name is... Chrysilia].
  Judging from my reaction, there is a great possibility that Et in Arcadia Ego will be included in my Top-10 list with the best albums of 2017. 
Favourite songs (so far): By the Gates of Ypsus / The Menalon Trail / Desperate Wings / Arcadia / Chrysilia / King of a Stellar War (cover).
  This is a really great and enjoyable album! Try to find and listen to it!
Here's a few samples for you: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekb-JytwQHo  
My Rating would be 4.0 - 4.5 out of 5.0 stars.

Monday, December 11, 2017

Prog n Roll radio show (10/12/2017). A small "review" and the complete playlist.

Hello all!
  Well, this was a fantastic and fun show! Many things happened, some of them totally unexpected!
Let me get it from the start:
  First of all, last night's playlist was including songs taken from this year's releases exclusively; some older ones and some others very fresh. It was also included a song that is going to be released next year!
  We had a lot of people listening, including many musicians once more, mostly from UK, Germany and Italy. We also played a fun Christmas charity song, recorded by a project, that includes many musicians who are among our faithful listeners.
  Everything was going fine, up to the point that near the end, we announced that the next show on the 17th was going to be the last one for this year; and then we were going to have a long holiday break. At that point we almost had a rebellion on the shoutbox! So, after talking about it for more than a half hour, and after voting (!) on some things, altogether we decided that Prog n Roll will have a break on Christmas Eve. But, we will return for a VERY special 3-hour show on the 31st, during which, altogether will change the year in 3 different time zones! (More info on that later).
 So, have in mind that Prog n Roll will be online on the 17th, and then again on the 31st. 
I already think about the show on the 31st, because it is going to be EPIC!
Here you can take a look at last night's playlist:

Part 1: LONELY ROBOT: Sigma / ELOY: Early signs… from a longed-for miracle / SILHOUETTE: The flow / GENTLE KNIFE: Fade away.
Part 2: SHITS & GIGGLES: Wake Up / COLIN TENCH PROJECT: Welcome to your world / MARCO DE ANGELIS: Keep Going / DRIFTING SUN: Twilight.
Part 3: MOSTLY AUTUMN: Back in time / GANDALF’S FIST: Winter’s mourning / INNERSPACE: In motion.
Part 4: SOEN: Lucidity / CHRYSILIA: Desperate wings / AYREON: The day that the world breaks down.
A very big thanks to all those who chose to spend their Sunday evening with us. I hope you enjoyed it!
Thank you all!