The idea of a new Nektar album in 2020 is not really something I’d have expected. After the sad death in 2016 of Roye Albrighton, founder guitarist and much-loved character, it seemed that the band would probably fade away, remaining…
View More Nektar – The Other Side
Infringement is a new young progressive band from Norway, Alienism is their second release, and I have to report straight off that it has entertained me over repeated listens, and I think they have a bright future. Their style tends…
View More Infringement – Alienism
Birmingham Town Hall Wednesday, 11th December 2019 In October 1969, Frank Zappa released an album which was to have a massive impact on the rock music world, still being felt fifty years on. The innovative blend of rock and jazz…
View More Dweezil Zappa plays Hot Rats
A couple of hours ahead of Insomnium’s gig at Islington Assembly Hall on 19th January, TPA’s Graham Thomas caught up briefly with drummer and founder member of the band Markus Hirvonen in the bowels of the venue to chat about…
View More Markus Hirvonen – Insomnium
Islington Assembly Hall, London Sunday, 19th January 2020 No Sleep ’til Islington So these Fins have been making fairly regular incursions into our fair isles since around 2011. In past raids, they have tended to limit their marauding to the…
View More Insomnium
The Musician, Leicester 29th November to 1st December 2019 For the uninitiated, Danfest is a prog festival invented, curated and promoted by Danny Mayo, so how the festival gets its name is a complete mystery! But seriously, any fans of…
View More Danfest 9
Long Distance Calling are a post-rock band from Germany and are well into their second decade of existence. I was introduced to them by my son-in-law, an ardent death metal and doom fan, but I was immediately interested when he…
View More Long Distance Calling – Stummfilm: Live from Hamburg
Big Big Train English Electric Full Power – 2013 Originally issued as two separate albums and an EP, but clearly intended as one cohesive work, English Electric is simply my favourite album of the last ten years. Quintessentially English both…
View More The Decade in Review – Graham Thomas
Well, what a pleasant surprise this release is! I’m not particularly an aficionado of RPWL, so whilst I might have reasonably expected some sort of Floydian feel to frontman Yogi Lang’s second solo effort, I wasn’t ready for what I’m…
View More Yogi Lang – A Way Out of Here
So who or what are Eiemel? Eiemel is the name of what is essentially a solo project of one Ariel Martin Loza, an Argentinian musician who’s best known as being the ex-bassist in symphonic prog band Laquesis. For the last…
View More Eiemel – Eiemel