Few bands mark their territory as clearly as Seven7 do. Fusing brutal intensity with seductively exotic scales and topping it all off with harsh, unyielding vocals while channelling and challenging the likes of Dream Theater and Alter Bridge, these guys are nothing if not ambitious. Read more…
Chronographs are one of my favourite bands of right now. Their current project – writing, recording, and releasing a song a month for a year – is, in my opinion, more relevant to modern life than the more traditional album release cycles still employed throughout the record business. Each time Chronographs release a track it describes precisely how they feel right now – or have felt very recently. Read more…
I’m not sure if it’s too early to compare a band to Lostprophets, but I’m going to do it anyway. Until recently, that band was one of my favourite acts ever; regardless of what was cool at the time, Lostprophets were always able to blend it all into a fresh sound with a unique edge. Tigers Of Junction Street do much the same thing – and it’s completely won me over. Read more…
This album is so awesome, I reviewed it twice. There’s a long version, and a short version. Read more…
Prog is known for going over the top, stuffed to splitting point with pomp and circumstance. Epic-length albums, EPs, and even songs are more or less the norm. But prog is really about much more than that. It’s about thinking differently; being progressive. Read more…
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There are three kinds of bands: Those who sound good on record, those who sound good live, and those who do both. Ideally, every band would fit the third mould – but even if that were the case, Black Peaks would still stand out by a dozen country miles. Read more…
Chronographs are a recent discovery, and they’ve made a real impact in a very short time. I’ve written a lot recently about how I try to offer constructive criticism where possible; but I just can’t think of any way to improve this band. Chronographs are like a firework with a lit fuse. Your best course of action is to stand well back, and watch them go. Read more…
Given his status as one of the world’s top drummers, it’s safe to say that Marco Minnemann is a bit of a legend. Whether drumming for Joe Satriani, recording and performing as one third of The Aristocrats alongside Guthrie Govan and Bryan Beller, or working with the likes of Jordan Rudess, Tony Levin, Alex Machacek, Mike Keneally, Terry Bozzio, Nina Hagen, Necrophagist, Kreator, Buddy Rich Big Band, and Steven Wilson, Marco never fails to bring his A-game to each and every project he throws himself into. While most players would be content to hit one of the above achievements and then rest on their laurels, Marco Minnemann is clearly not.
In addition to his long list of collaborative victories, Marco Minnemann is also an immensely talented solo artist in his own right. On his latest release, EEPS – which drops today, and can be previewed and ordered via the links at the end of this post – Marco wrote and performed every note and lyric and even got involved with the production, alongside Lazy Bones Recordings head honcho Scott Schorr. In an increasingly DIY-oriented industry, Marco Minnemann is showing every up-and-coming solo artist exactly how it’s done.
In our very first Artist Interview, Marco tells TMMP about EEPS, the future, and the importance of good sex. Read more…
The Bellerophon Project certainly know how to pack every last microsecond with something, whether it be hyper-distorted, none-more-syncopated riffage, elegantly soaring synthetic layers, jazzy and serene clean tones, or even – on occasion – silence. Read more…
This EP is a triumph.
Yearbook are masters of syncopation, turning bars of 4/4 inside out and making common time sound as uncommon as it gets. These tracks aren’t so much “songs” as they are guided tours through Yearbook’s collective musical consciousness, unorthodox constructions laced with elements of the familiar and, yes, catchy. As with Yearbook’s live shows, there’s an ever-present middle finger raised in the direction of compromise and comfort zones; if Coheed and Cambria decided to take on the world of math-pop, they would sound as Yearbook do right now. Read more…