This Week's Featured Album: Enchant - A Blueprint of the World

Released in 1995, A Blueprint of the World is the debut album from California band Enchant. With a distinct Rush feeling on guitar and a heavy focus on catchy melodies, Enchant has been a favorite of many prog listeners for many years. However, for some newer listeners, it may be easy to overlook this first album.

The fact is, it is definitely one of Enchant's overall strongest albums, evidenced by the fact that they still play many of the songs from this album during live performances. Songs like The Thirst and Oasis are some of the best songs that the band has ever crafted, and even Open Eyes, which the band has called one of its least favorite, songs, is still a very strong, albeit different, track.

While the production isn't perfect, the performances on this album are all very strong, and the lyrics rank among the band's best (though the band has always been incredibly strong lyrically). For listeners new to Enchant, or simply new to this album, it's a disc that won't disappoint.

As always, check out samples and a very easy purchasing option in the sidebar on the right.

This Week's Featured Album: Vanden Plas - Colour Temple (with Accult)

Technically, what I'm featuring this week is the special edition of Colour Temple, from Germany's Vanden Plas. Why, in particular, the special edition?

In 1997, Vanden Plas released an acoustic EP called Accult. The album consists of a variety of acoustic versions of the band's songs--most of them off of Colour Temple, which was released two years earlier. However, the album also has a variety of acoustic covers, and this is where the album really stands out. There's a fantastic version of Marillion's "Kayleigh" (as well as a short intro from ("Pseudo Silk Kimono"), "Georgia on my Mind," and an absolutely amazing recording of "Spanish Rain." The whole package, in my opinion, amounts to one of Vanden Plas' most enjoyable albums.

Now, Accult is only available through the special edition of Colour Temple: a very good album in itself (the band's first full length album, in fact). In all, it's a package that is well worth the money. Check out samples in the sidebar, which will also take you to a handy page for purchase.

News: Consideration Beginning for the Best of 2008

Well, it's getting near the end of 2008 already, and that means that it is time to start thinking about the best releases of this year.

While I have my own candidates in mind, the simple reality is that it is impossible to hear every great prog release every year. I know that there are still plenty of albums that have either flown under my radar or that I haven't been able to get my hands on one way or another.

Because of this, I want to invite the readers of the site to "nominate" albums for the Best of 2008 list. After an album is nominated, I'll do my best to get my hands on it before the end of the year.

To nominate an album (or multiple albums), you can either leave a comment for this post or send an email to santakauz [AT] gmail {DOT} com. If you can provide a link to some samples, even better!

I'll also have a "Readers Best of 2008" later this year, so you can vote for your favorite albums then.

News: Mastercastle Signed to Lion Music

Ready for some female-fronted power metal with neo-classical leanings? Well, Lion Music and Mastercastle will have you covered in 2009, as the label has announced today that Mastercastle has been signed and will release its second album. While the release is still rather far away, you can learn more about the band at the Mastercastle MySpace page.

This Week's Featured Album: Shadow Gallery - Legacy

After Mike Baker's recent and untimely death, I've been thinking a lot about Shadow Gallery and the unique qualities of the band that I'll miss, and I wanted to feature my favorite Shadow Gallery album this week. Legacy, for one reason or another, has always been my favorite of the many great Shadow Gallery albums, and, to me, it encompasses everything that's great about the band.

Cliffhanger 2 is very likely my favorite Shadow Gallery song, as it seems to contain everything that makes Shadow Gallery stand out among all of the progressive rock and metal bands. Gary Wehrkamp has a very unique approach to the guitar, and it is nowhere more evident than on this track. The fastest passages are played with what sounds like such ease, and in the moments that the guitar plays just a supporting role, it does so perfectly. In addition, Mike Baker has an approach to the vocals that differs from many progressive rock bands. When Baker sings, you know it is him, and this might be one of his best vocal performances. Perhaps my favorite part of this song is that it is the shortest 13-minute track you'll ever hear. The great changes and the always-interesting instrumentation make this a track that you just won't want to stop listening too, even after the 13 minutes are up.

The rest of the album is fantastic as well, with only one real blemish: the last track. The track itself is over 30 minutes, but about 10 minutes of that is silence. I've never understood this trend, as it always affects an album negatively.

If you have not had a chance to hear this album, it's one that you absolutely need to hear. While I think many people prefer Tyranny (which is probably my second favorite from the band), there's something special about Legacy, and I'll definitely miss Shadow Gallery's sound.

Check out the album at Amazon in the sidebar--and if you've never heard Shadow Gallery, check out all the rest of the band's albums as well.

News: New Label Axiology to Offer Prog Instrumentals

Axiology is a new record label created to offer prog/fusion instrumental music, starting with a new album from Australian guitar sensation Chris Brooks. That album, entitled "The Axis Of All Things" is set to be released in May 2009. While that's the only planned release from the label at this time, there should be plenty more to look forward to down the road. Here's to the success of a new label: best of luck to you!

In the meantime, you can check out the music of Chris Brooks at the Chris Brooks MySpace page.

News: Mike Baker, Singer of Shadow Gallery, Passes Away at 45

Incredibly sad news from Shadow Gallery today. The band's vocalist, Mike Baker, passed away after a heart attack last week. Baker had been with the band since it's creation over fifteen years ago, and the band made some truly fantastic music together. He was definitely a driving force of the band's sound, and had lent his vocal talents to many other groups along the way, including an appearance on Ayreon's The Human Equation.

There's a great "in memory of" page up at Shadow Gallery's official site right now. Shadow Gallery has always been one of my favorite progressive rock bands, and Mike's singing will be greatly missed, as will his kindness and love of music.

This Week's Featured Album: Magnitude 9 - Decoding the Soul

Upon first listen, Magnitude 9 might appear to be a fairly straightforward progressive metal band. They don't use any unusual instruments or dabble in numerous genres. However, Magnitude 9 does have quite a bit to offer progressive rock listeners--mostly on the guitar. Magnitude 9's brand of progressive metal is very focused on neo-classical guitar styles, with very fast guitar intros on almost all of the songs. In addition, the band's vocalist doesn't quite sound like anyone else in the genre, not reaching the somewhat screechy sound of someone like James LaBrie, but still having a decent range.

Sadly, the band seems to have just faded away. All of the band's websites are incredibly outdated, and there just isn't much information out there about the band. Perhaps we will hear more from this solid band soon. Until then, if you haven't heard them, check out the samples in the sidebar, which will also let you purchase individual songs or the entire album.