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While not all religious experiences lead to conversion, there are those powerful enough to merit artistic exploration. Ergo Northodoxian, a project that’s been specifically put together by Estonian promoter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Lauri Laubre after witnessing devotion so intense from followers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church that it left him profoundly shaken. Visiting southern Ukraine […]
Tags: Issue 149
If anything has come to define Finnish prog-metallers Psychework, then it has to be the undercurrent of optimism battling against the odds that runs through their music. Across three albums – //The Dragon’s Year// (2016), //Karelian Hills// (2018) and 2023’s //Spark Of Hope// – the sextet of singer Antony Parviainen, guitarists J-V Hintikka and Juha Takanen, Otto […]
Tags: Issue 148
Transplanted to Berlin, the Czech musician rediscovered her mojo after an injury forced her to change instrument. “I had some issues with my hand,” sighs Petra Hermanova. “I had to stop playing guitar 12 years ago, so when I started thinking about what instrument could I have in my private life. There weren’t that many […]
Tags: Issue 147
Even before they’d recorded a note of music, TRYO (Chile) found themselves opening for prog royalty Yes at the prestigious Quinta Vergara Amphitheater in the coastal city of Viña del Mar. “It was a big honour!” beams band manager Ignacio Carvajal, who acts as translator for his charges. It was also the culmination of seven […]
Tags: Issue 146
The worst thing that can happen when sending a speculative mail is reading the word “no”, but fortunately for Dutch singer Sanne Rambags the answer was in the affirmative. Approaching seasoned jazz drummer Joost Lijbaart and experienced guitarist Bram Stadhouders to work with, the two musicians readily agreed. “Eight years ago, she was selected by […]
Tags: Issue 145
Formed in Prague the late 1990s and having undergone a variety of line up changes across four albums, Czech hard rocking proggers Votchi have stabilised both their membership and sound while looking beyond their borders. Founding member Mirek Mužík (keyboards/vocals) is now augmented by singer Alex McBeat, guitarist Martin Smejkal, bassist Dominik Vozobule, drummer Jan […]
Tags: Issue 144
Peruvian folk-metal-proggers are striking out with selected English language versions from their back catalogue. Though they’ve made an impact across South America, Flor De Loto are aiming to reach a wider global audience with their new album, Lines Of Nasca. Fusing Andean folk music with progressive rock and the power of heavy metal, the Peruvian […]
Tags: Issue 143
Taiwanese brothers mix up their native culture with western electronics and global psychedelia to blur genres. The brothers Hom Yu and Jiun Chi who make up the Taiwanese experimental band Mong Tong are pondering the differences between local and western funerals. “I think some of the funerals here are actually not sad,” ventures Hom Yu. […]
Tags: Issue 142
“Getting enough people to attend the show is tough, because there’s so much music out there.” Prog can be a pretty insular place, even at the best of times, but Ocean Districts guitarist Martin Lepalaan says that that’s especially true in his hometown, Tallinn. “It’s small: 400,000 people,” the band’s founder tells us over a […]
Tags: Issue 141