Prog Rock
Not Forgotten: Rush – A Farewell to Kings
By 1977, although Canadian progressive power trio Rush had taken the scenic route to commercial success, they were well on the way to becoming one of the biggest bands from the North American continent. Their proverbial last roll of the dice in recording an album, 2112, had finally found the band’s audience of kids who …
Album Review: King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard – Polygondwanaland
God forbid I use this phrase – but the new King Gizzard album in execution is a happening. Believe me, I want to punch myself in the stomach when I wrote that. But it’s very much a statement that sums up exactly what the Australian band have created with this album. Their grandiose gesture of …
Classic Compilation: Frank Zappa – Strictly Commercial
For those of us with somewhat mainstream rock tastes, Frank Zappa can be a fascinating, yet utterly confusing artist. He was so prolific, and his albums were so varied, both in musical style and quality, that his body of work is at best a stylistic labyrinth you can spend decades getting lost in, and at …
Not Forgotten: Manfred Mann’s Earth Band – Messin’
Although never known as being one of the eras key acts, Manfred Mann enjoyed a few sizeable radio hits during the beat boom of the 60s. After the hits dried up, the eponymous keyboard player had flirted with jazz-rock with the ambitious, but dull, Manfred Mann Chapter Three, before deciding to recruit another band and …
Not Forgotten: Marillion – Clutching at Straws
Marillion are one of those acts whose days of commercial success are far behind them, yet whose fanbase remains so rabidly loyal, that whatever they release will be met with no small amount of enthusiasm. They are also a band of contradictions. As a prog rock act in the mid 80s, they found their greatest …
Not Forgotten: Pink Floyd – Animals
In early 1977 the winds of change were blowing. Reflecting the mood of unrest prevalent in the UK at the time, the established old guard of music acts had evolved into largely complacent animals, while the combination of general discontent and the cyclical nature of change meant that they were about to be swept away …
Album Review: Opeth – Sorceress
Since their 2011 album Heritage, prog metal titans Opeth have been exploring their more progressive side. To various reactions from fans, the band have seemingly stood firm in their decision to eliminate the more metal part of their sound. 2008’s Watershed; with its growled vocals and technical death metal style riffing, marks the last time …
Not Forgotten: Rick Wakeman – Journey to the Centre of the Earth
It can’t be easy having been the interesting member of Yes. While the rest of that most hilariously pompous prog-rock act had their heads firmly jammed up their own derrieres, keyboard twiddling cape fancier Rick Wakeman alone was responsible for ‘keeping it real’. Or as real as things can be when your vocalist sounds like …
Classic Album: Electric Light Orchestra – A New World Record
By October 1976 Electric Light Orchestra had managed to morph themselves into a slick prog-pop group, scoring hit singles the world over and releasing a string of increasingly impressive albums. Not only that, but band leader Jeff Lynne was merrily picking up influences from progressive rock, Beatlesque pop and even elements of disco, all of …
Not Forgotten: Rush – Rush
With them having spent the last four decades carving out the most enduring career of all the iconic prog rock acts, hearing Rush’s self titled debut for the first time can come as something as a shock to the newcomer. The only one of their albums not to feature drummer, lyricist and former tractor salesman, …