Watchtower

 

Artist:  Watchtower

Origin:  Austin, Texas USA

Genre:  Heavy Metal, Progressive Metal, Technical Thrash Metal

Original line-up:

Jason McMaster:  Vocals

Dough Keyser:  Bass

Billy White:  Guitar

Rick Colaluca:  Drums

Watchtower is an American Progressive Metal Band from Austin, Texas, formed in 1982 by Jason McMaster (Vocals), Dough Keyser (Bass), Billy White (Guitar), and Rick Colaluca (Drums).

Title:  Concepts Of Math:  Book One (Limited Edition) (2020)

Genre:  Heavy Metal, Progressive Metal, Technical Thrash Metal

Label:  Prosthetic Records

Rating:   *****

Format:  LP (EP)

Tracks:

 1.  M-Theory Overture (3:48)

 2.  Arguments Against Design (4:12)

 3.  Technology Inaction (6:20)

 4.  The Size Of Matter (4:51)

 5.  Mathematica Calculis (9:54)

Personnel:

Alan Tecchio:  Vocals

Ron Jarzombek:  Guitar

Dough Keyser:  Bass

Rick Colaluca:  Drums

Concepts Of Math:  Book One is the first EP by Wacthtower, originally released on October 7, 2016 by Prosthetic Records, remastered and reissued on December 4, 2020 by Prosthetic Records.  Limited Edition of 250 Copies on Clear Blue Wax Vinyl.

Spock's Beard

 

Artist:  Spock's Beard
Origin:  Los Angeles, California, USA.
Genre:  Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal, Neo-Progressive, Hard Rock, Art Rock

Original line-up:

Neal Morse:  Lead Vocals, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Guitar
Alan Morse:  Vocals, Guitar
Dave Meros:  Bass, Vocals, Keyboards
Nick D'Virgilio:  Drums, Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards

Spock's Beard are an American Progressive Rock Band formed in 1992 in Los Angeles by brothers Neal Morse (Lead Vocals, Keyboards) and Alan Morse (Guitar, Vocals), teamed up with Dave Meros (Bass) and Nick D'Virgilio (Drums).  The band plays Progressive Rock with much influence from Yes and Genesis, also well known for Multi-part Vocal Harmonies.

Title:  Octane (20th Anniversary Edition) (2025)

Genre:  Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal, Neo-Progressive, Hard Rock, Art Rock

Label:  InsideOut Music

Rating:  ***

Format:  LP

Tracks:

LP 1:

Side 1:

 1.  The Ballet Of The Impact (5:34)

       I.  Prelude To The Past

       II. The Ultimate Quiet

       III.  A Blizzard Of My Memories 

 2.  I Wouldn't Let It Go (4:53)

 3.  Surfing Down The Avalanche (3:43)

 4.  She Is Everythng (6:46)

      I.  Strange What You Remember 

      II.  Words Of Forever 

Side 2:

 1.  Climbing Up That Hill (3:31)

 2.  Letting Go (1:52)

 3.  Of The Beauty Of It All (4:53)

      I.  If I Could Paint A Picture 

      II.  Into The Great Unknowable

LP 2:

Side 3:

 1.  NWC (4:16)

 2.  There Was A Time (4:58)

Side 4:  Bonus Tracks:

 1.  When She's Gone (5:41)

 2.  Follow Me To Sleep (5:39)

 3.  Game Face (4:10)

 4.  Broken Promise Land (4:45)

 5.  Listening To The Sky (3:08)

Personnel:

Alan Morse:  Guitar, Theremin, Saw, Backing Vocals
Dave Meros:  Bass, Vocals, Keyboards
Nick D'Virgilio:  Lead Vocals, Drums, Percussion, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar

Ryo Okumoto:  Keyboards

Additional Musicians:

Eric Gorfan:  Violin

Daphne Chen:  Violin

Leah  Katz:  Viola

Richard Dodd:  Cello

Gina Ballina:  French Horn

Jonnie Corno:  French Horn

Ramon Flores:  Trunpet

Octane is the eighth studio album by Spock's Beard, originally released on January 25, 2005 by InsideOut Music, remastered and reissued on May 16, 2025 by InsideOut Music.  20th Anniversary Edition, including 5 Bonus Tracks, Gatefold 2 LP.

The Tangent

 

Artist:  The Tangent
Origin:  Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK
Genre:  Progressive Rock, Art Rock, Neo-Progressive Rock

Original line-up:

Andy Tillison:  Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals
Sam Baine:  Keyboards, Piano, Vocals
Roine Stolt:  Guitar, Vocals
Jonas Reingold:  Bass, Vocals
Zoltan Csorsz:  Drums

The Tangent is a Progressive Rock Group formed in 2002 by Andy Tillison (Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals Ex Parallel, 90 Degrees), Sam Baine (Keyboards, Piano, Vocals Ex Parallel, 90 Degrees), and  The Flower Kings:  Roine Stolt (Guitar), Jonas Reingold (Bass) and Zoltan Csorsz (Drums).

Title:  The World That We Drive Through (2004)

Genre:  Progressive Rock, Art Rock, Neo-Progressive Rock

Label:  InsideOut Music

Rating:   *****

Format:  CD

Tracks:

 1.  The Winning Game (11:09)

 2.  Skipping The Distance (8:55)

 3.  Photosynthesis (7:39)

 4.  The World We Drive Through (12:57)

 5.  A Gap In The Night:  The Ant-Room/Time For You/Troubled (18:28)

 6.  Exponenzgesetz (14:28)

Personnel:

Andy Tillison:  Keyboards, Organ, Piano, Synthesizer, Vocals
Sam Baine:  Keyboards, Piano, Synthesizer, Vocals
Roine Stolt:  Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Vocals
Jonas Reingold:  Bass, Vocals
Zoltan Csorsz:  Drums, Percussion

Theo Travis:  Flute, Saxophone

The World That We Drive Through is the second studio album by The Tangent, was released on October 12, 2004 by InsideOut Music.  Excellent Album.

Machine Head

Artist:   Machine Head
Origin:  Oakland, California, USA
Genre:  Heavy Metal, Groove Metal, Thrash Metal, Nu Metal, Death Metal, Progressive Metal

Original line-up:

Robb Flynn:  Lead Vocals, Guitar
Logan Mader:  Guitar
Adam Duce:  Bass
Tony Costanza:  Drums

Machine Head is an American Heavy Metal Band from Oakland, California, formed in 1991 by Robb Flynn (Lead Vocals, Guitar Ex Vio-lence), Adam Duce (Bass), Logan Mader (Guitar), and Tony Costanza (Drums).  The band's first album, Burn My Eyes, was a big success in Europe.

Title:  Unatoned (2025) 

Genre:  Heavy Metal, Groove Metal, Thrash Metal, Nu Metal, Death Metal, Progressive Metal

Label:  Nuclear Blast

Rating:  *****

Format:  LP

Tracks:

Side A:

 1.  Landsape Of Thorns (0:31)

 2.  Atomic Revelations (3:41)

 3.  Unbound (3:56)

 4.  Outsider (3:56)

 5.  Not Long For This World (3:30)

 6.  These Scars Won't Define Us (3:32)

 7.  Dustmaker (2:10)

Side B:

 8.  Bonescraper (3:36)

 9.  Addicted To Pain (3:10)

10. Bleeding Me Dry (5:36)

11. Shards Of Shattered Dreams (3:28)

12. Scorn (4:16 )

Personnel:

Robb Flynn:  Lead Vocals, Guitar
Reese Scruggs:  Guitar
Jared MacEachen:  Bass, Backing Vocals
Matt Alston:  Drums, Percussion

Unatoned is the eleventh studio album by Machine Head, released on April 25, 2025 by Nuclear Blast.  Clear Vinyl includes 12-Page Booklet.

W.E.T.

Artist:  W.E.T. 
Origin:  International
Genre:  Hard Rock, Melodic Metal, Heavy Harmonies, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Neo-Classical Metal

Original line-up:

Jeff Scott Soto:  Lead Vocals, Keyboards
Erik Martensson:  Rhythm & Lead Guitar, Backing & Lead Vocals
Robert Sall:  Keyboards, Guitar, Backing Vocals

W.E.T. is the collaboration between Jeff Scott Soto (Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards Ex Danger Angel, Eyes, Lita Ford, Human Clay, Mitch Molly, Yngwie Malmsteen, Michael Schenker Group, Axel Rudi Pell, Tailsman, Takara, Soul Sirkus, Jeff Scott Soto), Erik Martensson (Guitar Ex Brazen Abbot, Eclipse, Jimi Jamison, Lionville, Shining Line), Robert Sall (Keyboard, Guitar Ex Chasing Violets, Grand Illusion, Lionville, Newman, Paris, Work Of Art).  W.E.T. come from 3 bands name (W from Work Of Art), (E from Eclipse), (T from Tailsman).

Title:  Apex (2025) 

Genre:  Hard Rock, Melodic Metal, Heavy Harmonies, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Neo-Classical Metal

Label:  Frontiers Music

Rating:   *****

Format:  LP

Tracks:

Side A:

 1.  Believer (3:37)

 2.  This House Is On Fire (3:04)

 3.  What Are We Fighting For (4:03)

 4.  Love Conquers All (3:58)

 5.  Where Are The Heroes Now (5:25)

Side B:

 1.  Breaking Up (3:33)

 2.  Nowhere To Run (3:34)

 3.  Pay Dirt (3:36)

 4.  Pleasure & Pain (3:40)

 5.  Stay Alive (3:56)

 6.  Day By Day (4:34)

Personnel:

Jeff Scott Soto:  Lead Vocals

Magnus Henriksson:  Lead Guitar
Erik Martensson:  Rhythm & Lead Guitar, Keyboards, Backing 
Robert Sall:  Keyboards, Guitar, Backing Vocals

Andreas Passmark:  Bass

Jamie Borger:  Drums

Apex is an album by W.E.T., released on March 28, 2025 by Frontiers Music.  Excellent Album.

 

Vitalij Kuprij

 

Artist:  Vitalij Kuprij

Born:  July. 7, 1974.  Volodarka, Ukraine

Died:  February 20, 2024 (Aged 49)

Genre:  Progressive Metal, Neo-Classical Metal, Power Metal, Classical, Heavy Metal

Occupation:  Musician, Composer

Instruments:  Piano, Keyboards

Vitalij Kuprij was a Ukranian-American Pianist, Composer and Music Teacher.  He was a Keyboardist for Ring Of Fire and Trans-Siberian Orchestra.  He resided in Reading Pennsylvania.  

Title:  Extreme Measures (1998)

Genre:  Progressive Metal, Neo-Classical Metal, Power Metal, Classical, Heavy Metal

Label:  Shrapnel Records

Rating:   *****

Format:  CD 

Tracks:

 1.  Prologue (1:03)

 2.  Destination (9:10)

 3.  Extreme Measures (7:31)

 4.  Depression (6:14)

 5.  Chopin Etude #11 In A Minor Opus 25 (3:56)

 6.  Crying In the Shadows (5:02)

 7.  Track On Fire (5:43)

 8.  Chopin Etude #12 In C Minor Opus 25 (2:30)

 9.  Intrigue (4:57)

10. L.V. Beethoven 32 Variations In C Minor (10:32)

11. Epilogue-Improvisation On A Theme By J.S. Bach (5:18)

Personnel:

Vitalij Kuprij:  Keyboards, Piano

George Bellas:  Guitar

John Onder:  Bass

Jon Doman:  Drums

Extreme Measures is a second album by Vitalij Kupprij, was released on July 28, 1998 by Shrapnel Records.  Excellent Album.  For Music Lovers and Music Collectors.

Dream Theater

 

Artist:  Dream Theater

Origin:  Long Island, New York, USA

Genre:  Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Neo-Progressive, Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, Art Rock

Original line-up:

John Petrucci:  Guitar, Backing Vocals

John Myung:  Bass

Mike Portnoy:  Drums, Backing Vocals

Dream Theater is an American Progressive Metal Band from Long Island, New York, formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci (Guitar), John Myung (Bass), and Mike Portnoy (Drums), while they attended Berklee College Of Music in Massachusetts.  They subsequently dropped out of their studies to concentrate further on the band and become Dream Theater.  The band is well known for the technical proficiency of its instrumentalists  Though a number of lineup changes followed, the three original members remained together along with James LaBrie (Vocals) and Jordan Rudess (Keyboards), until September 8, 2010 when Mike Portnoy left the band and replaced by Mike Mangini in 2011.  John Petrucci won many awards from music instruction magazines.  John Myung was voted the greatest Bassist of all time in a poll conducted by Music Radar in August and September 2010.  Mike Portnoy has won 26 awards from Modern Drummer Magazine and to be inducted into the Rock Drummer Hall of Fame.  Jordan Rudess is considered to be one of the greatest Keyboards Players of All Time by Music Radar.  The band's highest-selling album is the Gold-Selling Images and Words (1992).  Metropolis Pt. 2:  Scenes From A Memory was ranked 95 on the October 2006 issue of  Guitar World Magazine's list of The Greatest 100 Guitar Albums Of All Time.

Title:  Parasomnia (Special Edition) (2025) 

Genre:  Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Neo-Progressive, Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, Art Rock

Label:  InsideOut Music

Rating:   *****

Format:  CD 

Tracks:

 1.  In The Arms Of Morpheus (5:22)

 2.  Night Terror (9:55)

 3.  A Broken Man (8:30)

 4.  Dead Asleep (11:06)

 5.  Midnight Messiah (7:58)

 6.  Are We Dreaming? (1:28)

 7.  Bend The Clock (7:24)

 8.  The Shadow Man Incident (19:32)

Format:  LP 

Tracks:

LP 1:

Dream 1:

 1.  In The Arms Of Morpheus (5:22)

 2.  Night Terror (9:55)

Deam 2:

 3.  A Broken Man (8:30)

 4.  Dead Asleep (11:06)

LP 2:

Dream 3:

 5.  Midnight Messiah (7:58)

 6.  Are We Dreaming? (1:28)

 7.  Bend The Clock (7:24)

Dream 4:

 8.  The Shadow Man Incident (19:32)

Personnel:

James LaBrie:  Lead Vocals

John Petrucci:  Guitar, Backing Vocals

John Myung:  Bass

Jordan Rudess:  Keyboards

Mike Portnoy:  Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals

Parasomnia is the 16th studio album by Dream Theater, released on February 7, 2025 by InsideOut Music.  Special Edition CD Digipak, , and Gatefold 180 Gram Black 2 LP+12-Page LP-Booklet.