Mini review

Drunkelweizen is an American band. They call their style ‘Drunken Folk Metal’. Their debut album, ‘Pioneers of Alcohol’, will be released September 6th. The lyrics are about historical (legendary) figures whose lives were intertwined with alcohol. The instrumental ‘Moonshine Overture’ is followed by ‘Robinhood of Moonshine’, an ode to a folk hero who fought against … Read more, available in English and Dutch

Quantum Fantay recently launched ‘Oneironauts’, this consists of two Greek words: ‘oneiro’, meaning dream, and ‘naut’ meaning sailor. This instrumental concept album is about two lovers, they have the talent to travel deliberately through their dreams. You’ll hear more synthesizers, soundscapes, and sound effects than on their previous albums. But bass and guitar are certainly … Read more, available in English and Dutch

Fans of Swedish metal band Dream Evil have had to wait six years for their seventh album, titled ‘Metal Gods’. This opens with the rousing title track. The backing vocals in particular make you automatically sing along loudly with the words ‘Metal Gods’. There isn’t just delicious screaming guitar playing, the heavier sounds of (bass) … Read more, available in English and Dutch

‘Spirals in the wider space’ is the fifth prog-rock album by Mindgames (Belgium). The songs are about humanity and the world. Is the urge to want to conquer the world a circle of recurring suffering? Is society becoming more individualistic or are we becoming more caring towards each other? In ‘Godlike Strangers’, among others, you … Read more, available in English and Dutch

‘Eternal Snapshots’ is the sixth studio album by Hasse Fröberg & Musical Companion (HFMC). This time, no gorgeous epic(s) lasting more than ten minutes. This concept album is about whether our personality is predestined, or determined by fate. You might have to get used to one of the opening track’s first unexpected twists. ‘Deserve To … Read more, available in English and Dutch

Multi-instrumentalist Leon Alvarado is also an award-winning designer of album covers/tour posters (for Yes, Genesis et al). ‘The Changing Tide’ features two covers of Pink Floyd. Their influences can also be heard in Leon’s own songs.In the background of ‘The Equilibrium Of Time’, time ticks, in the foreground a clock is striking. There are interactions … Read more, available in English and Dutch

‘Shelter’ is the sixth album by Norwegian band ‘Laughing Stock’. This album tells of a journey to ‘Shelter’. In this light, peaceful world, people (along with Shelter’s Master) live in harmony with nature. The title track has a peaceful atmosphere, the mysterious words and music (with violin playing) forming a whole. ‘Roots Go Deep’ has … Read more, available in English and Dutch

‘The Horn of Plenty’ is the second album by Dutch symphonic prog rock band The Boxx Orchestra. The opening track, ‘Daybreak’, has a retro feel. Ria Mulder sings narratively and quite monotonously here. The repetitions in the percussion snatch too much attention away from the compelling guitar playing. The symphonic elements come out a bit … Read more, available in English and Dutch

The basis of ‘The Long Lost Songs’ are tapes of bluesy demos from some 30 years ago, played in by Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon) and Robert Soeterboek (The Cotton Soeterboek Band). Robert’s voice has a pleasantly mild rough rasp. The quality of the backing vocals are good, but occasionally a bit sweet in sound. The predictable … Read more, available in English and Dutch

‘Self-Education’ is the second solo instrumental album by multi-instrumentalist Theo van Niel Jr. The extraordinary ‘Introduction’ makes me curious about ‘Anxiety Express’. In this up-tempo track, blackjazz plays saxophonist Jørgen Munkeby. This forms a beautiful combination/alternation between the rock/metal. The atmosphere in ‘Sierra’ is very different, more summery. Again, there are unexpected twists and details. … Read more, available in English and Dutch