Brace yourself for an exhilarating musical expedition as HeKz unveils their latest single, the energetic ‘Terra Nova.’ The accompanying video seamlessly weaves together electrifying moments from the band’s return to the live stage at the Underworld in Camden (September 2023) and the album launch spectacle at the Cart & Horses (November 2023), capturing the raw energy and intensity of these unforgettable performances.
“’Terra Nova’ is a perfect example of HeKz’s distinct fusion of intricate musicality and raw emotion,” explains singer and bassist Matt Young. “It kicks off the live show with a blast of energy and everyone on the stage gets their chance to shine – we really love to play this one and hear the audience shouting that anthemic chorus along with us! It’s one of the highlights of any performance.”
Check out the video:
Young, alongside Mirko Fadda (guitar), Lucia La Rezza (violin), and Jerry Sadowski (drums), will be performing live throughout 2024, commencing with a co-headline performance at The Black Heart in Camden on Saturday, 27th January, alongside the metallurgical talents of Primitai and Toledo Steel. HeKz will be onstage at 8:40pm.
Catch HeKz at these venues in 2024:
– Saturday, 27th January – The Black Heart, Camden, UK
2023 has been a fantastic year for music with an absolute plethora of superb albums that I have reviewed. It’s always very difficult indeed to pick out my favourite twenty releases from such a stellar year but here are the ones that have really left a mark for me.
They are in no particular order for the first nineteen but I have debated long and hard about my number one album so read on and find out what has taken the honour for 2023…
This Winter Machine – ‘The Clockwork Man’
‘The Clockwork Man’ is modern, neo-tinged, progressive rock at its finest and most involving, perfectly created and performed by a band who have found their feet after three accomplished releases and have delivered their finest work yet. This Winter Machine now stand at the forefront of modern neo-progressive rock and can be rightly proud of a concept album that can stand the test of time with some of the best that have gone before.
One Sided Horse – ‘My Favourite City At Night In The Rain’
So, there you have it, ‘My Favourite City At Night In The Rain’ is quite possibly one of the most important albums you will listen to this year. If you want an example of why music is so wonderful and moves people in so many ways then you cannot pick a better example than this utterly triumphant work of art, Mark Whiteside and OneSided Horse please take a bow, I thank you from the bottom of my heart…
Well, what can I say, I knew that a new Hekz album would be something pretty good but I had no idea it would be this special. With ‘Terra Nova’, Hekz have given us the ultimate involving musical thrill ride and I just don’t want to get off. To tell the truth, it’s the best progressive-metal album I’ve heard in many a year and, if this is the future of the genre, I’m completely sold!
‘Threnody For A Dead Queen’ is Comedy Of Errors at their very, very best, the music builds, almost as if alive, it has moods and emotions and captivates from the very first note. This band just get better and better with each wonderful album they create and, without exception, this release is up there with the very best of the year so far. Hell, in my opinion, it is Comedy Of Errors’ best yet, their Magnum Opus if you like and you should just go out and buy it!
‘The Author and the Dreamer’ connects with you in your sub-conscious, the songwriting and performances are second to none and Zeelley Moon’s innate Englishness and idiosyncracies are what make this music so appealing and enjoyable and one of my albums of 2023. Do yourselves a favour and get your hands on it as soon as you can!
Released 20th November, 2023.
Download and streaming on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music and the usual others.
Physical Album sales available on Discogs.com or direct at zeelleymoon@yahoo.co.uk.
The Round Window – ‘Everywhere & Nowhere’
Everywhere & Nowhere’ takes everything that was great about the band’s debut and just lifts it several levels. It is lush, classy, insightful and so melodically impressive and is an album that The Round Window should be mightily proud of. Difficult second album? not for these highly accomplished musicians!
Music has the power to move you and impact on your life in a positive manner and, with ‘Himlabacken Vol. 2’, Moon Safari have delivered the most wonderfully uplifting collection of songs I have heard this year. A joyous, mood enhancing release that just makes this world we live in a better place to be, if only for a short time. Trust me, you need this album in your life!
With ‘The Cycle Undone’The Twenty Committee have not only returned triumphant, they have also delivered one of THE musical experiences of 2023. Highly emotive songwriting allied with musicianship of the utmost quality, the band’s sophomore release builds on the enormous promise of their debut all those years ago. It may be ten years after but, boy, what a way to make a comeback!
‘Cautionary Tales’ is one of the freshest sounding albums you will hear this year, it is prog-metal for the thinking music fan and has real heart and soul at its core. I for one am intrigued to see what this talented duo come up with next.
A Southern Empire record is always just more than an album release, it’s a hugely significant occasion and one that I await with bated breath. Their music has been a soundtrack of my more recent years and is very, very important to me on a musical and emotional level. ‘Another World’is an absolute masterpiece of musical theatre and, possibly, the band’s Magnum Opus, one of the best albums you will hear this or any other year, and the perfect accompaniment to my life.
It’s not often we hear a truly progressive release nowadays but, almost from out of nowhere, John Greenwood has entered the fray with one of the finest releases of 2023. The musicianship and songwriting are top notch and, like all the best albums, I find this on almost permanent rotation, it is, to put it simply, utterly superb!
There is nothing better than music that connects with you at a basic level, music that moves you and music that almost becomes part of you and Ross Wilson and Blue Rose Code create music that is all that and more. This collection of B-sides, varieties and singles is something that should be cherished and I, for one, cannot wait for 2024 and a new album from this incredible musician. Ross Wilson, my friend, I wish you peace in your heart…
There’s no weak link on this album, it just ebbs and flows beautifully, although the last three tracks go together so well. They’re possibly the best triumvirate of songs that the band have ever done back to back. With the Skallagrim series Glass Hammer proved themselves masters of the dynamic and grandiose and ‘Arise’ gives the impression that the creative skills of Steve Babb have gone into overdrive, is there a better storyteller in modern progressive music?
I chose ‘The Last Great Adventurer’ as my album of the year for 2022 and, in a fast paced world that never stands still, Galahad haven’t rested on their laurels. They have returned with ‘The Long Goodbye’, another wondrous musical journey that mesmerises and bewitches from beginning to end, and even surprises in places. Could this be another contender at the end of the year, I definitely don’t see why not!
Beatrix Players return triumphant with the mesmerising ‘Living & Alive’, a collection of songs that are bewitching and compelling and leave you in no doubt of their stature in the music industry of today. The sublime voice of Amy Birks and outstanding musicianship on show have created one of the most outstanding releases of 2023 and one that should be on your list of must buy albums, it really is that good!
One of the things I love about music is when it surprises you and this debut release from The Anchoret has been a revelation. ‘It All Began With Loneliness’ is an astonishingly good album, in fact jaw-droppingly so, and is already up there as one of my favourites of the year. As prog-metal albums go, it doesn’t get much better than this!
When you listen to as much new music as I do, it takes something truly special to stand out and ‘Mad & Killing Time’ is just that, Ebb delivering a musical highlight of the year and one that is totally unique to this incredibly talented bunch of artists. Go seek it out, you will not de disappointed in any way at all.
Riverside are a band who have always gone their own way and been proud to defy convention and after the dark melancholy and sadness of recent releases, the band have returned with a brightly shining beacon of light. ‘ID.Entity’ is a generally uplifting album that puts a huge smile on my face every time I hear it and one that, I’m sure, will still be lighting up people’s lives for years to come.
The Tangent – ‘Pyramids, Stars & Other Stories: The Tangent Live Recordings 2004-2017’
Ah, to reminisce is a joy we should always hold dear and this wonderful live release from one of the UK’s most venerated prog bands is a sentimental journey down memory lane and one that will remind you why The Tangent are held in such warm regard and also why live music is something worth cherishing and preserving. We, the fans, hold it in our hands to make sure music stays live so albums as brilliant as this can still get made!
And so it all comes down to this, the one album that just about reared its head above all others to be my favourite of 2023. It’s not a default decision, this release has really moved the game on for one of the UK’s most influential underground bands…
The Fierce And The Dead – ‘News From The Invisible World’
News From The Invisible World’– true fans will love it, there’s real maturity and creativity in this album, The Fierce And The Dead shift effortlessly between different styles to show they are no one trick ponies. You could say that this is a case of a band reinventing itself but staying close to their roots but it’s more than that, this is band raising their game to the highest level and that is really where they belong…
Thank you if you have made it this far and thank you for supporting Progradar through 2023, I don’t have a crystal ball but I’m pretty sure that 2024 is going to be another fantastic year of music so hang around for the ride, it’s going to be exciting!
HeKz is a progressive rock band that stands at the crossroads of heavy metal legends and the luminaries of the prog rock genre.
Their journey began with their debut album, ‘Tabula Rasa’, which laid a strong foundation for their distinctive sound. Building on this, their sophomore effort, ‘Caerus’, saw the band ambitiously fusing the contrasting elements of their musical identity. This effort culminated in their third album, ‘Invicta’, where HeKz masterfully blended their influences to create a more homogenised sound that showcased the best of their past while venturing into new and exciting territory.
HeKz’s fourth album, ‘Terra Nova’, promises to be their most ambitious project yet. The band’s lineup consists of lead singer and bassist Matt Young, guitar virtuoso Mark Bogert (known for his work with Knight Area and Magoria), the enchanting Irina Markevich on violin, the rhythmic powerhouse Moyano el Buffalo (formerly of 5th Avenue Hamburg) on drums, and a special guest appearance by keyboard maestro Adam Holzman (noted for collaborations with Miles Davis and StevenWilson).
‘Terra Nova’ is a concept piece that weaves a tale of ambition, duality, and the relentless fight to conquer the darkest parts of one’s personality to become the person you were born to be.
So that’s the background out of the way, now let’s see what this new album is actually like…
Well, everything starts off with an almighty bang as album opener, and title track, Terra Nova hoves into view like a wild stallion on the rampage. Adrenaline fuelled musical mayhem with glorious vocal melodies and a riff hewn out of granite, if the rest of the album is anything like this then we are in for an incredible treat! It’s like the best hard rock and metal from the late 70’s and early 80’s blended with some progressive nuances to deliver something jet propelled and gob smacking. Matt’s super-funky bass and Moyano’s thunderous drums are the foundation for Mark’s fluid guitar and the subtle interjections of Irina’s violin are really clever. That focused energy flows straight into the monumental Sabotage which takes on a more glam metal feel with its truncated riffs and drum beat. Adam delivers some stellar Hammond organ-esque keys and Matt’s gloriously bombastic vocal is reminiscent of Justin Hawkins at his best. There’s an inctricate instrumental section in the middle which is pure prog and then Irina’s soaring violin takes us on a completely different tack, if only for a brief second before the afterburners are lit and off we go again with a blazing guitar solo from Mark, bloody hell, can I please catch my breath guys! A passionate guitar opens Horizons before things calm down a little (not much though!) and we are treated to a superb hard rock composition that really reminds me of that era of hair metal and glam rock, think Poison, Whitesnake, Bon Jovi and the like, only done with more panache and vivacity! Irina’s violin makes another welcome appearance but this song is just pure rock and roll and will put a huge grin on your face, check out Mark’s ever so 80’s solo and you will know exactly what I mean, it’s all just brilliantly over the top!
Matt’s funky, dirty bass opens the rocking rollercoaster ride that is Mayday, a thunderous thrill ride of perfect progressive metal where Mark’s guitar has that low down and dirt edge to it and Moyano’s drums have gone all primeval. Add in some funky keys from Adam and another shot of Irina’s amazing violin and you get something unique and totally captivating and entertaining. Welcome to the most addictive music you will hear this year, I just can’t get enough! Finally things do calm down with the wondrous haunting ballad So Far Gone, you can tell this is an amazing track as I immediately pressed repeat after the first time I heard it. Adam’s graceful piano combines with Irina’s ethereal violin to deliver music that will touch your soul and Matt gives a subdued but ever so passionate vocal performance, especially on the ever so impressive chorus. Mark enters the fray with an elegant guitar, the drums are perfectly judged so as not to intrude and Adam’s keyboard solo is bewitching, it’s all just magical!
The engrossing ten minutes of The Tower are the first time that we see the progressive being more than the rock on this amazing album. Almost musical theatre in places, especially Matt’s ardent, eloquent vocal, this song is a slow burning masterpiece that pulls you in before unleashing its inner darkness, check out that dark and dirty riff! A mesmerisingly convoluted section follows where everything seems to have gone completely mad, like you’re suffering from musical psychosis. It’s like something from Dream Theater’s heaviest album ‘Train of Thought’ and I bloody love it. Like a dystopian horror story, it ebbs and flows between the darkness and the light and you can barely keep up with the labyrinthine plot, this is music that tells a story, okay, in this case a very disturbing one but it is utterly magnificent, bombastic and completely over the top! A song to calm the nerves after that sinister thrill ride, Lifeline opens with subdued feel engendered by Matt’s vocal before it opens up into something more passionate and dramatic, this song could have come from an early Queen album with Matt’s towering vocals and a soaring guitar solo that Brian May would be very proud of. Add in Irina’s beseeching violin and it’s a very compelling way to close out Disc One of the album.
“Disc One?” I hear you shout! Oh yes, didn’t I say? This album is so long it is actually a double album!
Disc Two opens with Too far Gone and we are back to thunderous hard rock as the amazing intro reminds us. Mark then fires a superb riff at the skies and Irina’s violin adds to the majesty. Matt’s vocal has a more subdued feel at first and Moyano keeps the drums in support. Pre ‘Slippery When Wet’Bon Jovi is the vibe I’m getting here, before they went all hair metal and, controversial opinion, wrote better songs. Cue the high pitched vocals, flowing guitar solo and dynamic keyboards, the blue touch paper is lit and we are definitely off! Progressive metal for the primeval, I Am The Thrall hits you right in the solar plexus like a two ton heavy thing. A leviathan of the genre with it’s brooding atmosphere where the tension just build and builds, Irina’s violin is used to perfection. Matt’s harder edged vocal and Mark’s monstrous guitar add the drama and the intrigue as this heavier than lead song continues its inexorable progress. You can feel the guitar and the drums as they pummel you into submission and Adam’s ever so slightly evil keyboard solo adds the requisite maniacal grin, it’s ever so joyously wicked like a musical guilty pleasure and I love it!
We now come to the album’s properly epic epic! The Silent Man takes all that was great about early Dream Theater and Haken, adds in a dash of some serious Symphony X style progressive metal and then takes the band’s own inimitable style to create something quite remarkable and iconic. There’s something just right about a twenty-four minute song, especially when it shows the middle finger to mainstream music like this one, strap in and enjoy the ride because you are going to love it. Matt’s marvellously grandiose vocals are a joy to behold and Mark’s guitar is as ostentatious as you’d want on a track of this calibre. You think it can’t get any better than Adam’s meticulous, euphuistic keyboard solo and then Mark comes along and delivers a guitar solo that is utterly rhapsodic, add in Matt and Moyano, who are proving themselves to be a rhythm section to die for, and things are near perfect. Don’t take my word for it, you have got to hear this song as it is as brilliantly overblown and dramatic as they come. The album ends on a high and hopeful note with the gorgeously wistful Terra Nova II. Irina’s violin has been making superb guest appearances throughout the album so far but, finally, she gets to really shine on this beautiful, uplifting and ultimately optimistic piece of music. Imbuing a sense of beatific calm, this elegant track leaves traces of wonder as it passes, Matt’s vocal is tender and poignant and both Adam and Mark deliver their most evocative solos yet. This all combines to deliver the most emotive piece on the whole album and one that leaves you in a much better place than when you started.
“You know who you really are…”
Well, what can I say, I knew that a new Hekz album would be something pretty good but I had no idea it would be this special. With ‘Terra Nova’, Hekz have given us the ultimate involving musical thrill ride and I just don’t want to get off. To tell the truth, it’s the best progressive-metal album I’ve heard in many a year and, if this is the future of the genre, I’m completely sold!
HeKz breaks new ground with their latest single release, ‘Sabotage’. This powerful, anthemic track showcases the band’s unique approach to progressive rock, which blends elements of classic and contemporary influences.
From its thunderous opening to its climactic finale, ‘Sabotage’ is a sonic rollercoaster that is a testament to HeKz’s ability to fuse intricate musicality with raw emotion. Combining soaring vocals, intricate guitar riffs, and a rhythm section that drives like a locomotive, ‘Sabotage’ showcases the band’s mastery of their craft.
Fronted by the charismatic and dynamic lead vocalist Matt Young, HeKz delivers an impassioned performance that captivates from start to finish. Guitarist Mark Bogert shows that his command of the instrument is awe-inspiring, whilst violinist Irina Markevich’s contribution to the track showcases her singular voice as a musician and cements her role as an integral part of HeKz’s sound. With an unwavering sense of precision and impeccable timing, drummer Moyano el Buffalo creates a rhythmic foundation that propels the song forward with relentless energy.
The song features a surprise appearance by special guest Nic Weaver, who provides a full brass section to ‘Sabotage.’ Weaver’s arrangements elevate HeKz’s sound to new heights, and his performance on ‘Sabotage’ is sure to leave a lasting impression on listeners.
The lyrics of ‘Sabotage’ depict a protagonist caught in the depths of their own struggle, yearning to break free from the shackles of their tumultuous reality and desperately yearning for a rejuvenating new beginning. Young’s versatile voice delivers the intense and introspective lyrics with conviction and depth. Inspired by Jules Verne’s timeless classic “Around the World in 80 Days,” the lyric video for “Sabotage” is a visual journey which begins in the suffocating grip of an oppressive city before soaring high in a vibrant hot air balloon, then finally venturing into the unknown in search of a fresh start. The video perfectly captures the essence of breaking free from the confines of everyday life and embracing the exhilarating possibilities of a new beginning.
With a growing fan base and a reputation for delivering captivating live performances, HeKz has established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the progressive rock scene. ‘Sabotage’ further solidifies their standing as a band that refuses to be confined by musical expectations, carving their own path with a distinctive and recognisable sound. ‘Sabotage’ is now available for streaming on all major platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp. This captivating new single will satisfy the cravings of listeners hungry for fresh progressive rock that they can bang their heads to!
Hard-hitting rock with a progressive flair, featuring a lineup of international talent.
What life gives with one hand, it can take away with the other. How do you keep your head, and your heart, when everything starts to crumble around you?
HeKz evoke these feelings of chaos and resilience with dramatic and intense performances on their new single ‘Mayday’ – the first release from the forthcoming double album ‘Terra Nova.’
An overdriven bass riff introduces the song and sets the tone for what will follow – the mesmerizing guitar work of Mark Bogert, the relentless drums of Moyano el Buffalo and the enchanting violin of special guest Lucia La Rezza, with the commanding voice of vocalist / bassist Matt Young leading the charge.
“‘Terra Nova’ is a concept album,” explains Young, “The elevator pitch for the story is along the lines of ‘running towards your ultimate goal won’t help you to outrun your demons, so find a different way.’ In the song ‘Mayday’ we find ourselves in a very challenging position. The song is about how we cope when our plans fail and, if everything is lost, you can go down fighting!”
On Lucia La Rezza’s contribution to the song, Young continues, “HeKz were invited to perform at the Hard Rock Hell festival in 2021. At the time, it wasn’t going to be possible for Irina [Markevich, violin] to join us for the concert, and Lucia came highly recommended. I was amazed to see her covers of Iron Maiden and Dragonforce songs, all played on the violin at full tilt!”
“Since the plan was to perform this music on stage together, we invited Lucia to contribute to a couple of the new songs. Unfortunately, the festival show was cancelled but I’m grateful we have this recorded collaboration. Lucia and Irina have very different approaches to the violin, and the music of ‘Terra Nova’ is all the richer for it.”
Written and recorded by the musicians in their home studios in the UK, Spain and the Netherlands, ‘Mayday’ was produced and mixed by Matt Young and mastered by Tom S. Ray (Audio Unity, Scotland). Artwork by Dmitris Tzortzis [Immensa Artis].
HeKz – Mayday [Official Video]
L-R – Lucia La Rezza, Mark Bogert, Moyano el Buffalo, Matt Young
HeKz’s fourth album ‘TERRA NOVA’ will see lead singer and bassist Matt Young joined by a new line up of international talent.
“HeKz has always been a musical chimera, fusing elements of heavy metal, hard rock and progressive music,” explains Young. “The new line up reflects that perfectly – we’ve got a prog guy, a metal guy and a rock guy. On paper, that’s an odd mix but the chemistry is undeniable. This album is the next logical step in the band’s evolution.”
Pieter Beemsterboer – pic by Arthur Haggenburg
The new guitarist cannot yet be revealed due to contractual reasons, and ‘TERRA NOVA’ will see Pieter Beemsterboer (ex-Black Rabbit) on keyboards and Moyano el Buffalo (5th Avenue Hamburg) on drums.
Moyano el Buffalo – Pic by Jesus Figueirido
“Working with this new line up has already been so rewarding. The guys have so much talent, but also the taste to hold back when necessary. Everybody plays to serve the song, and when they get their moment, it’s quite extraordinary to behold!”
A concept piece, ‘TERRA NOVA’ was written by Young over a two year period. A familiar story with a unique flavour, the album weaves a tale of ambition, duality and the desperate fight to overcome the darkest parts of your personality in order to become the person you were born to be.
“We’re making a double concept album in 4 different countries, working remotely and all during a pandemic. It’s completely mad but tremendously exciting. We’re proud to share this first taste of new music and can’t wait to take you on this journey with us.”
The first part of the album will be released as an EP in late 2021, with the full double album to follow in early 2022.
The first single from ‘TERRA NOVA’ will be released in Spring 2021.
Welcome to the third edition of my Progradar recommendations, this time around we have the new albums from HeKz, Emperor Norton, Malady and Subsignal…
HeKz – Invicta
From the first notes of album opener Quetzlcoatl it is apparent that the rising stars of UK prog-metal, HeKz, have gone balls out on new album ‘Invicta’. This mighty powerful five piece from Bedford certainly know how to turn the amps up to 11. The Brian May-esque guitar and Matt Youngs flamboyant vocals that slot somewhere between Freddie Mercury and Justin Hawkins combine to take you on a thunderously wild ride of progressive metal pomp and circumstance.
For Our Lives is a adrenaline fueled rock anthem with totally excessive ( and utterly addictive) riffage and vocal harmonies aplenty, this band know how to give the audience what they want. There’s a couple of ballads and The Devil’s Coin is a properly progressive fifteen minute track to prove they have the chops but, overall, what you get is an thoroughly enjoyable blast that will blow the cobwebs out of your hair and leave a stupid, inane grin on your face for quite a long time.
I have a sneaking suspicion that HeKz will be an awesome proposition live and these dynamic and energetic tracks certainly deserve to be let out of the studio and onto an unsuspecting listening public, ‘Invicta’ is a musical tornado that will flatten everything that comes before it and leave you asking for more.
Every now and again an album comes along that makes you reconsider your musical principles and stands out among a river of repetitive and formulaic releases and the eponymous debut from York’s Emperor Norton is proving itself to be one of those gems.
To quote the band’s website;
“Emperor Norton promptly donned the musical cummerbund of “Prog” and added “Rock” to sound cutting edge. The very next day, the group discovered – to its astonishment – that it had unwittingly declared allegiance to an underground resistance movement of cape-laden keyboard wizards, fiery plectrum wranglers and lead singers who speaketh like Shakespeare. Emperor Norton felt right at home.”
They bring a freshness to the whole progressive rock genre and almost seem to be the missing link between the bombast of the 70’s leviathans with their overblown Hammonds and jangly guitars and the modern breed of progressive influenced rock artists like Muse, Coheed and Cambria, Mandroid Echostar and Mars Volta.
Take the Steve Howe style guitar on Act I: Portents that along with the thumping bass line and swirling keys transports you back to tracks like Yours Is No Disgrace and the ilk and then segues into Act I: Petrichor with vocals that tip more than a hat to Matt Bellamy and you’ll begin to get my gist.
It’s an incredible piece of work especially considering that this is the band’s first release and, just when you think it can’t get any better, the fifteen minute joyful brilliance of the stunning Act III: Arrow comes along to prove that we really have some genre redefining musicians in front of us.
Do yourselves a favour, buy what is possibly the album of the year already and don’t just take my word for it, have a listen…
“Modern music consumption isn’t built for looking at trees or wandering through mazes. We live in a culture of straight lines and constant motion. Malady ask that you opt out, reclaim your time, and slow the f**k down for once. Trust me, it’s worth it.”
Sage advice from Finland’s Malady, hailing from Helsinki theirs is a sound rooted in the 70’s with fuzzy guitars and Hammond organs swirling like only a Hammond can. With their debut a deserved underground hit the band return with a polished follow up that invokes all of the best things that vintage Scandinavian prog can deliver.
Lush vocals and organic instrumentation abound on title track and opener Toinen Toista, a song that leads us into an album full of questions about being human and the transient nature of things but, don’t worry, this release isn’t asking you to take a PHD course in existentialism or the like, it has strings on it for God’s sake!
Lazy, hazy nostalgic days are invoked by the acid jazz heavy Teidon Kehtolaulu and the fact that the vocals are in Finnish doesn’t detract one bit, in fact they just add to the mystic feel (along with the superb flute playing, you’ve got to love flutes!).
The best is saved for last with the epic twenty-three minutes of Nurja Puoli, one of the best Prog ‘epics’ of recent years. To put this all into context I have actually ordered the vinyl of this superb release and I know it is going to get plenty of play…
Germany’s purveyor’s of powerful and polished progressive rock, Subsignal, return with new album ‘La Muerta’ and (according to the press release), “…sends the listener on a proper voyage of discovery that is as complex as it is eventful. Subsignal have consciously designed the path to “La Muerta” a tad more accessible than was the case with the predecessor…”
Featuring Sieges Even luminaries Arno Menses and Markus Steffen, you get the signature involving songwriting but this time the band have decided not to hold the listener’s hand and, instead, let them make their own voyage of discovery through these eleven impressively crafted tunes. The expected superb harmonies are evident on the brilliant title track and the powerful guitar work of Markus drives the album on throughout.
I was a huge fan of the last Subsignal release ‘The Beacons of Somewhere Sometime’, each track had its place in the unfolding story that was laid before you and the band have tweaked their unique songwriting process to deliver an even more immersive and intoxicating musical journey.
Drowning sees the band baring their soul with a much more pared back approach, one that features the haunting vocals of Marjana Semkina. A beautifully stark piece of music, it will leave a mark on your soul that will stay for a very long time.
With the wonderfully lush production (courtesy of Yogi Lang and Kalle Wallner of RPWL) giving the songs enough air to breathe, ‘La Muerta’ sees the band full of self-confidence and delivering a collection of songs that, while easily able to stand on their own, are a collective force when dealt with as a whole.
Described by Prog magazine as sounding like “Queen having a barney with Dream Theater as Rush and Iron Maiden duke it out on the sidelines,” UK Prog Metallers HeKz have announced that their third album, “INVICTA”, will be released on Friday 20th April 2018 via BMH Audio.
Taken from the Latin word for “unconquered”, INVICTA is a celebration of perseverance and resilience. The ten songs come together to form a story of betrayal, loss, reconciliation and hope. Far from straying into the realms of fantasy, the songs are rooted in real experiences, reflecting the triumph and defeat that we all encounter on our journey through life and, in the case of the latter, how we can choose to be consumed by it, or fight on and emerge stronger.
“Each time we start a new album, it feels like we learn a little bit more about the DNA of HeKz and, at the same time, find new elements to add to it,” says Matt Young (lead vocals/bass).
“I feel that INVICTA is a great reflection of that, as you’re going to hear all of the things you’d expect from us but with some flavours we’ve never explored before. We’ve drawn on new influences for some of the songs, some of which would seem like an odd combination with the sound we’re known for, but we’ve tackled them in our own way and it blends superbly with what we do to create for some exciting moments in the album.”
“I think that this experimentation comes from allowing ourselves a little bit more time to collaborate on the songs this time, and the results of that combined effort have really lifted the album. I can’t wait for everyone to hear it!”
INVICTA was recorded at Liscombe Park & Visconti Studios, and the band’s home studios in and around London, and was mixed by producer extraordinaire John Mitchell (Lonely Robot, Kino, It Bites, Frost*, Arena) at Outhouse Studios, UK.
The album is currently available for pre-order from www.hekztheband.com, and will be released worldwide on Friday 20 April 2018. Fans who pre-order before Friday 23rd March will receive their copy one month before the official release date.
INVICTA Tracklisting
1. Quetzlcoatl (6:08)
2. For Our Lives (4:13)
3. The Light Fantastic (4:44)
4. To The Lions (5:10)
5. Ultimatum (6:07)
6. Line in the Sand (9:42)
7. Trecena (4:49)
8. Pariah (4:12)
9. The Devil’s Coin (15:03)
10. Victorious (5:39)
HeKz will be performing a select number of live shows to launch the new album:
Friday 23rd March – Parkvilla Theater, Alphen a/d Rijn, Netherlands
Friday 27th April – Winter’s End Festival, Chepstow, UK w/ MYSTERY
To keep up to date with all of this and more, join the band on social media and subscribe to their newsletter at www.hekztheband.com.
Web links:
www.facebook.com/hekztheband
www.twitter.com/hekztheband
www.youtube.com/hekztheband
HeKz are: Matt Young – Lead Vocals, Bass Al Beveridge – Guitars, Backing Vocals Tom Smith – Guitars, Backing Vocals James Messenger – Keyboards Kirk Brandham – Drums
The Gift’s Mike Morton has announced the dates and the majority of the line-up for 2018’s 2-day Resonate, the follow up to the Resonance Festival, an ambitious but ultimately rewarding 4 day musical extravaganza staged in 2014.
Taking place at the O2 Academy Islington on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th September next years, Resonate will see some of the leading lights of the progressive music scene join forces with acts from wider musical genres to deliver an outstanding two days of live music.
About the festival Mike says:
“Resonate (2018) will bring together a diverse group of acts, from progressive to hard rock with steampunk in between! Tickets will officially go on sale from October 31st, at which time the proper ticket link will be published. Also, our Sunday headliner had been confirmed…but they have asked us not to announce them until New Year’s Day! 🙂 Suffice to say they will be another jewel in the crown of this 2 day event. We’ll keep you updated.”
Saturdays Line-up will see Konchordat on stage at 1pm followed by Verbal Delirium, Comedy of Errors, Son of Man, The Gift and headliners Lifesigns.
Sunday opens at the same time with the Tom Slatter Band, Hekz, Jump, Credo, the John Hackett Band and the mystery headline act, a world class progressive-metal act, to be confirmed.
Ticket prices are £25 per day advance or £30 on the door and £40 advance for the weekend or £45 on the door.
Tickets will be available, from October 31st, from:
