ARENA: Double Vision (2018). My Review...

  It’s almost 3 years since the release of The Unquiet Sky and Arena returned with a new album. Double Vision was released a few weeks ago, and as it seems, it is the best album the band recorded since Contagion (2003).

  In Double Vision Arena re-discover their musical identity, and present an album that totally worth its money. Personally speaking, I didn’t like the two previous albums as much as their older ones, so I had no idea what to expect with this new one. 

You can read the review I wrote about The Unquiet Sky (2015) here: http://gfreedomathina.blogspot.com/search?q=arena+the+unquiet+sky

  In my opinion, this album can be characterized as Arena’s come back! With the heavy riffs of  John Mitchell’s guitar, the beautiful passages of Clive Nolan’s keyboards, the nice melodic turns, the very good compositions and the excellent overall performance of the band, it is definitely a good album!

  Double Vision includes 7 songs, all of them good ones, and has a total running time of almost an hour. It begins with Zhivago Wolf, a rather powerful song, (which I didn’t like so much to be honest), but right after that, the rest of the album is a real treat for the ears and the soul.

  The album is closing in the best way possible, with the 22-minute-long epic The Legend of Elijah Shade, a really strong composition, which is going to be loved by every Progressive Rock fan, with its endless turns and changes.

  Favourite songs (so far): The Mirror Lies, Scars, Red Eyes, Paradise of Thieves, The Legend of Elijah Shade.

  Although it is kind of early yet, I believe that Double Vision has very serious possibilities to be included in my Top-10 album list of 2018.

  This is a very serious piece of work and I recommend it to all the Progressive Rock and Neo Prog fans. Give this album a try and you won’t regret it!

                   My Rating: 4.5 (out of 5.0) stars.
 By clicking on the following YT link you will be able to listen to the song The Mirror Lies and get a first idea.

ARENA: The Mirror Lies

Prog n Roll Radio Show, incl. The Listener's Happy Hour (27/5/2018). The complete playlist.

Hello all!
  Last night, the last Prog n Roll radio show of  May was on air, at  the usual time in the usual internet radio station. Because it was the last show of the month, it included the Listener's Happy Hour, where we played the song requests from our listeners. This time I decided to participate as well, and my choice was the show's last song that we call as epic, because it is always a long one.
  It was a fun and musically interesting show I think, and I believe that our listeners enjoyed it.
Here's the playlist from the show:
Part 1: THE BEATLES: Get Back / THE KINKS: The Village Green Preservation Society / THE WHO: Substitute / NEIL YOUNG: Cinnamon Girl.
Part 2: JETHRO TULL: We Used to Know / FANTASY: Just a Dream / LOVE SCULPTURE: Seagull / CAT STEVENS: Sad Lisa.
Parts 3 & 4 - The Listener's Happy Hour:
IRON CLAW: Pavement Artist / STEVE HARLEY & COCKNEY REBEL: Make me Smile (Come up and See Me) / BLUE OYSTER CULT: Astronomy (Live) / WINTERHAWK: Free to Live / QUEENSRYCHE: Breaking the Silence / DREAM THEATER: Space Dye Vest / FLYING COLORS: Forever in a Daze / INNERWISH: Needles in my Mind / MAIDEN UNITED: Empire of the Clouds (Parts 1-4).
  I would like to thank all those who participated in the Listener's Happy Hour once more and to all those who listened to our show. Prog n Roll will be back on June 3rd with a special show, that will be including special guests and the presentation of a new album. But more on that later.
Thank you all!

GFreedom's Juke Box No.226

Hello all!
  One more difficult week is over, and now it is time to post here my weekly Top-5 song list for you.
  I listened to many songs during this week, both new and older ones, and finally decided that the following ones deserve a place in my Top-5.
IRON MAIDEN: Empire of the Clouds (The Book of Souls - 2015)
KAYAK: Walk Through Fire (Seventeen - 2018)
CHRIS DE BURGH: Lonely Sky (Spanish Train and Other Stories - 1975)
CASTLE CANYON: The Poison Heart (Decameron: 10 Days in 100 Novellas - 2011) 
PROCOL HARUM: Whaling Stories - Live (In Concert with the Danish National Concert Orchestra & Choir - 2009)
In case you are interested, you can listen to the songs in my list by clicking on the following YT links:
IRON MAIDEN: Empire of the Clouds
KAYAK: Walk Through Fire
CHRIS DE BURGH: Lonely Sky
CASTLE CANYON: The Poison Heart
PROCOL HARUM: Whaling Stories - Live
Enjoy the music and have a wonderful weekend!
Thank you!

Prog n Roll Radio Show incl. the presentation of Seas of Change by Galahad now available in Mixcloud!

Hello all!
  I would like to inform you that, I just uploaded the special show we did on the 13th of May on Prog n Roll's page on Mixcloud.     
  That show was including parts of the interview (mixed with music), that we conducted with Stu Nicholson, the band's leader and singer,  plus the whole epic Seas of Change, the new album of Galahad.
  In case you are interested, the only thing you'll have to do is to click on the following link: https://www.mixcloud.com/ProgandRoll/prog-roll-radio-show-presents-seas-of-change-by-galahad-and-welcomes-stu-nicholson/
  You can also "follow" our Mixcloud page if you want, and get informed about the shows we are uploading there from time to time. Also, take a look around, you might find some interesting stuff to listen to.
Thank you!

Prog n Roll Radio Show (20/5/2018). The complete playlist.

Hello all!
  Last night, one more Prog n Roll Radio Show was on air as usual. This time we had nothing special prepared; no special guests, no presentations, no quizzes; just some good music.
  Once more, we divided the 2-hour-show into 4 shorter parts and during each part we played different styles of music. We included many bands/artists that we don't play often and some that we played for the first time.
The result was a very interesting show, which our listeners enjoyed.
Here you can take a look at the playlist:

Part 1: SPOOKY TOOTH: Waiting for the Wind / FREE: Wishing Well / MOTHER SUPERIOR: Love the One you’re With / JOE COCKER: Something to Say / STONE THE CROWS: Don’t Think Twice.

Part 2: RIVERSIDE: Cybernetic Pillow / TOOL: Vicarious / FAR FROM REALITY: Waiting / CYRCUS FLYGHT: At the End of all Time / GRETA VAN FLEET: Safari Song.

Part 3: HORSLIPS: Blindman / THE ROLLING STONES: Dead Flowers / QUEEN: ’39 / ELTON JOHN: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road / JOHN LENNON: Watching the Wheels / VAN MORRISON: Brand New Day.

Part 4: THE ROME PRO(G)JECT: Of Fate and Glory / SPRIGGAN MIST: The Good Ship Polyphemus / DELUSION SQUARED: Necessary Evil / ARENA: Sirens.

I would like to thank all those who listened to Prog n Roll once more. It is very important to know that many people are there for us on every Sunday evening, waiting for the show.

Thank you all!

GFreedom's Juke Box No.225

Hello all!
One more difficult and busy week reached at an end, and because of my busy schedule I couldn't listen to as music as I would like once more. I found a couple of new releases, but I couldn't pay too much attention, so my weekly Top-5 song list is based on classic and older stuff.
So, for this week, here's my Top-5 song list:
VAN MORRISON: Brand New Day (Moondance - 1970)
STONE THE CROWS: The Touch of Your Loving Hand (Stone the Crows - 1969)
ELTON JOHN: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - 1973)
MADRUGADA: Higher (Industrial Silence - 1999)
IRON MAIDEN: Rime of the Ancient Mariner (Powerslave - 1984)
In case you are interested, you can listen to the songs by clicking on the following YT links.
Enjoy the music and have a great and relaxing weekend!
VAN MORRISON: Brand New Day
STONE THE CROWS: The Touch of Your Loving Hand
ELTON JOHN: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
MADRUGADA: Higher
IRON MAIDEN: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

Prog & Roll's special show, incl.Galahad's Seas of Change presentation and lots of musicians on the chatbox. (13/5/2018)

Hello all!
  Last night Prog n Roll radio show was on air once more, this time with a special show, incl. the presentation of the new album of Galahad, Seas of Change. (The album consists of one very long suite, divided into 2 major parts).
 We had the pleasure and honor to have on the chatbox musicians from many bands among our audience, such as: Mike Kershaw, Stu Nicholson and Dean Baker of Galahad, Ben Bell and Stefan Hepe of Gandalf's Fist, Pat Sanders of Drifting Sun and Karl Groom, the leader of Threshold, who also did the production of Seas of Change.
 From our behalf, in order to thank them for supporting our show, we played one song from each of their bands. Further than that, we played some parts of the interview we conducted with Stuart Nicholson a few days ago, and played the whole Seas of Change album.
  But that wasn't all! We also had a music quiz prepared, and the winner took as prize a copy of Seas of Change, signed by all the members of Galahad! Just for the record I should mention that the winner was Sarah Barker from UK. Congratulations Sarah!
 I believe that it was very good and interesting show and I hope that our listener's enjoyed it.

Here you can check the complete playlist:
1st Part: THE SAMURAI OF PROG: Growing up / KAYAK: Love, Sail Away / Interview with Stuart Nicholson Pt.1 / PATCHWORK CACOPHONY: Maybe / MIKE KERSHAW: Guardian.
2nd Part: GANDALF’S FIST: Winter’s Mourning / Interview with Stuart Nicholson Pt.2 / GALAHAD: Richelieu’s Prayer / DRIFTING SUN: Wings of Hope / THRESHOLD: State of Independence.
3rd Part: GALAHAD: Mein Herz Brennt (Music Quiz) / Interview with Stuart Nicholson Pt.3 / Seas of Change Pt.1.
4rth Part: Seas of Change Pt.2
  I would like to thank Stuart Nicholson and Dean Baker for being there last night, for the interview and for the CD that they offered. A special thanks to all the member of our "musical community" for supporting this show during all those years. And finally, a very big thanks to all our listeners, who are there on every Sunday evening, listening to Prog n Roll and with their love and support are giving us strength to carry on.
Thank you all!

PROG & ROLL welcomes GALAHAD! (13/5/2018)

Hello all!
  I am writing this piece in order to inform you that on this Sunday (13/5/2018) we will have the honour and pleasure to have on Prog n Roll's chatbox Stu Nicholson, the singer and leader of Galahad.
  Stu was the first musician that ever appeared on our chatbox, almost 4 years ago, and we are very glad to have him back once more. But he will not be the only musician there. We are expecting a bunch of musicians, including Karl Groom, the leader of Threshold, members of Galahad, Gandalf's Fist and Drifting Sun, to name a few.
  From our behalf, we prepared a very interesting playlist, including songs from the bands I mentioned above, as a small "thank you" to all these guys who are supporting our show during these years. We will also play some parts of the interview we conducted with Stu a few days ago, and finally, we will present Galahad's brand new album Seas of Change. ( In case you are interested, you can read the review I wrote for Seas of Change here: http://gfreedomathina.blogspot.gr/search?q=galahad+seas+of+change ).
 Also, one of our listeners will have the chance to win a copy of Seas of Change, signed by all the members of Galahad.
 So, if you think you are interested, tune into Sunday's Prog n Roll radio show. Our show is a bilingual live broadcast, and it begins at 20.00 UK time. In order to listen, just click on the following link: www.justincaseradio.com
I hope to "see" you there!
Thank you!

MAIDEN UNITED: EMPIRE OF THE CLOUDS (2018). My review...

I am sure that many people aren’t familiar with the name Maiden United, so I will begin this post by providing some info about them.

  Maiden United is not a band; is an acoustic side project, including musicians from many English and Dutch bands. They are driven by the charismatic singer Damian Wilson (ex-Threshold, Ayreon) and the guitar player Ruud Jolie (Within Temptation). They are active for almost a decade now and their discography consists of 4 studio albums, with Empire of the Clouds being their brand new one.
  As you can understand from their name, they are some kind of an Iron Maiden tribute band, but they sound like no other. For the needs of the project, many musicians from different bands joined together to play an all-acoustic tribute to Iron Maiden; but all the songs are played with new arrangements. In their live performances, they have a very big list of guest musicians, including Paul Di’ Anno, Blaze Bayley and Anneke among others.
   This year, they decided to record an extended version of Iron Maiden’s epic Empire of the Clouds, which became a 24-minute long song, divided into 4 parts and it includes a dramatic narration. The result is simply wonderful! 

  The song tells the dramatic (and true) story of the R101 airship, which crashed on its maiden voyage in northern France on 5 October 1930. The narration parts help us understand what exactly happened back then, and they add a lot to the song’s dynamic.
   Empire of the Clouds is available in digital format and a double-CD edition. For the vinyl lovers there is also a vinyl edition available. 

  The first CD includes all 4 parts of Empire of the Clouds. The 2^nd CD includes again the same song, but in a wonderful live version, that was recorded in Amsterdam and includes lots of guest musicians. The last track of this double CD is a very interesting cover version of Killers, which is totally changed and really difficult to recognize.

  I think that this is a very interesting, enjoyable and rather unique release, which I recommend not only to the fans of Iron Maiden, but to all the fans of Rock music. Now I have to find their older releases, because these guys totally worth it!

                  My Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 Stars.

 

Prog & Roll radio show (6/5/2018). The complete playlist...

Hello all!
  Last night one more Prog & Roll radio show was on air as usual.
This time we had a smaller crowd than usual and the conversations on the chatbox were cool and easy going.
  I think we had a good playlist prepared and as it seemed the people enjoyed it.
  From today and on I have to begin preparing next Sunday's show which is going to be a very special one and it will be including some guests. I will inform you it during the following days.
Here you can take a look at last night's playlist:

1st Part: DIFFERENT LIGHT: A St. Martin’s Summer / TRANSATLANTIC: Black as the Sky / CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX: Rise up & Fight / PURSON: The Sky Parade / BLUES PILLS: Little Boy Preacher.

2nd Part: RORY GALLAGHER: Secret Agent / RAINBOW: Self Portait / UFO: Martian Landscape / WHITESNAKE: Here I go Again.

3rd Part: ADVENTURE: A Crack in the Ice Pt.2 / MARILLION: Blind Curve / GALAHAD: Termination / ARENA: Medusa.

4rth Part: ROGER GLOVER & DIO: Love is All / ALICE COOPER: Welcome to My Nightmare / PAICE,ASHTON,LORD: Ghost Story / LUCIFER’S FRIEND: Spanish Galleon.

Thank you for listening to Prog & Roll.

You know that we are always trying to do our best!

Thank you!