Paralydium - Universe Calls (Frontiers Music Srl)
Oh we are so back! Universe Calls is the second album from Swedish progressive metal band Paralydium. Beginning as a Dynazty off shoot, since their name change from The Paralydium Project, they released a debut album Worlds Beyond, which was given a 9/10 by yours truly and now they return with new singer Alexander Lycke formerly of Astrakhan. His flair for the dramatic in his past band and Paralydium themselves going back to their more progressive roots means that Universe Calls is longer and more epic than the debut.
Band mastermind John Berg (guitar/keys) alongside Georg H Egg (drums), Jonathan Olsson (bass) and Mike Blanc (keys) wanted to differentiate this album from any of their other projects while also making it more grandiose and cinematic than before. Consider the job done as I'll say it here that Universe Calls took my breath away, I listened to it three times in a row and every time it got better and better.
Musically invoking the prog metal sounds of fellow Swedes Evergrey and Seventh Wonder but also Dream Theater and Shadow Gallery. They don't try to shift towards the more populist prog metal sound, sticking to the one that influences as many power, melodic and death bands as they do prog bands. Guitars and keys duel between each other on the very DT-like two-parter The Arcane Exploration and the opening Prelude.
With Caught In A Dream and Sands Of Time, there's more of the influence from Evergrey. Huge orchestrations sweep through the epic tracks while Alexander is the ideal find behind the mic, his rough but soulful delivery doing wonders for the emotional resonance of this record. Carrying the various theatrical changes in Forging The Past well. I'm in love with this album, for me it's a massive improvement on their debut, which I loved so this is perfect. 10/10
Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks - True (Frontiers Music Srl)
Are you of the opinion that Yes is nothing without Jon Anderson? Well then you should check out True by Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks, the album was announced as Jon and his band are on tour in the USA playing a Yes classics, epics and more tour. So I'd assume this al in was written in prep for that tour so it's no wonder that all the songs sound like Yes. Acoustic guitars are everywhere, the very Roundabout beginnings Make It Right, but especially on the 16 minute Once Upon A Dream which also has dreamy keys, sweeping atmospheres, dramatic shifts and Anderson's perfectly pitched vocal.
It's also the penultimate track of a near 60 minute musical journey through all the progressive musical brilliance of the band Jon will always be so closely associated with. The rest of the album is also heavily inspired by the band True Messenger having the classic Yes feel while Shine On comes from the Trevor Rabin-eras, there are also several facets of Anderson's solo career featured as it weaves through the many offshoots with other members of the Yes mothership. Of course the music could be terrible of it wasn't for the extremely talented band behind him.
Led by Richie Castellano’s bass/guitar/keys/vocals and co-production, his Chris Squire bass playing is spot on while Andy Ascolese has the feel and exploration of Alan White. Andy Graziano’s guitars are beautiful on tracks such as Build Me An Ocean and Still A Friend while there’s plenty of keys from Christopher Clark and Hammond Organ from Robert Kipp. It’s a masterclass of Yes-style progressive music and probably the best Yes album for a long time, shame it’s not actually by the band, but some Band Geeks instead. 9/10
The Georgia Thunderbolts - Rise Above It All (Mascot Records)
As much as Rock N Roll Record would like you to think that the entirety of Rise Above It All sounds like Bad Company, there's only a few moments, such as Moonlight Play where Mr Rodgers and Co can be heard, there is thankfully some rock n roll on the album too, the title track for instance is a Black Stone Cherry-like heavy rocker with squealing guitar solos.
Much of this second album stays with blues/country/Americana influences, though with their debut coming during the pandemic, the massive amount of touring after the pandemic focuses this record towards being played live. It's a bit more grandiose, more experimental but also more emotional. TJ Lyle digging deep into his own blue collar heritage and the bands days of busking in gas stations around Georgia.
A soulful track such as Crawling My Way Back To You comes from those lamp-lighting country troubadours, written while in the depth of depression, it's about never giving up the fight, something we can all associate with. On the other hand She's Gonna Get It is a sleazy Southern rocking Logan and Riley trading off 80's rock riffs on a track that sounds like a lost Don Henley track, It Ain't Easy takes a bit of stomping blues fused with a dub guitar line.
TJ's voice is killer as is his harmonica and keys, Zach's bass driving a groove on Stand Up which is influenced by tour mates Black Stone Cherry, his voice adding harmonies to TJ's. Locking everything down is Bristol on drums the core part of the rock n roll of Pricetag. So Rise Above It All is a rock n roll record, one that has a lot of different branches to it but sees The Georgia Thunderbolts rapidly ascending to the top of the Roots Rock tree. 8/10
Rising Insane - Wildfires (Long Branch)
Well this is all very modern. German metalcore band Rising Insane take the blueprint of what is popular in the metal world and recreate it step by step. Angsty, emotive cleans, cathartic shouts, anthemic choruses, grooving breakdowns and electronic processed beats on track such as Carousel, this is the modern metalcore sound 101.
I'm trying not to be cynical but I do sometimes want a metalcore band to say sound like Killswitch Engage or post hardcore like Silverstein or Hawthorne Heights. Still Wildfires has a lot of upsides if you're a fan of Bad Omens or BMTH, then you'll enjoy the album that is a statement of change. 7/10
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