CD Top 22 of 2022

2022 was a good year for almost all genres I love. Making a top 22 turned out to be pretty hard therefore. Still not making a list was no option as by reading other people's lists I always discover some gems that I simply missed, due to a huge number of releases each month. A quick thanks to Matt Manofmuchmetal, Andy DPRP, Aardschok, iOPages and Angry Metal Guy is needed as some of the new bands on my list I might have missed alltogether, So thank you very much indeed. Main target of this list is that one person checks out one album he or she missed. As I found a good blend of known names and deep underground bands I guess that should be possible. Here's my favorite 22 of 2022 (well 23 as I did a Pardo at one point)

22. Black Swan - Generation Mind

Robin McAuley once again shows he aged best after Glenn Hughes of all vocal heroes from my past. If the band than is made up by Reb Beach, Jeff Pilson and Matt Starr quality is guaranteed. Great songs I can hear anytime, anywhere to speak with mr McAuley.

21. WAIT - The End of Noise

Yet another Max Phelps highlight. With Exist comrade Alex Weber and Charlie Eron on guitars. Progressive Death Metal it says, but with the amount of clean vocals definitely accessible to many.

20. An Abstract Illusion - Woe

This was a fastest ever. Reading Matt's review, listening on bandcamp, ordering the album immediately after and the next day confirmed for PPE 2023. Am I looking forward? yes lots a highlight of the festival guaranteed if they can come even close to the album on stage.

19. Kings of Mercia - Kings of Mercia 

A year without Fates Warning never had so many releases with members of the band pleasing me. Here Jim Matheos and Steve Overland found each other and Joey Vera helped out. One of the best melodic rock metal albums in a long time. Probably Jim Matheos can't do average.

18. Saxon - Carpe Diem / Satan - Earth Infernal

Here is my double (Pardo - Sea of Tranquility) pick. NWOBHM can not be absent in any best of list. I missed White Spirit so far but Saxon and Satan both came with very strong albums like they always seem to be releasing. Missed them live, loved their albums

17. Tribe of Names - Evolver

Sometimes I feel like playing something different. Often Simon Godfrey knows what I  mean. First with Tinyfish, than Shineback and solo, followed by Valdez. Now here is Tribe of Names. Progrock without keyboards, lots of great guitars and just happy music.

16. Voivod - Synchro Anarchy

Somehow I never got into Voivod like I should. I lost Angel Rat and Nothing face in my 1995 apartement robbery and loved The Wake. Now they confirm being as solid as ever. Missing their show due to FNAC messup in Lisbon I will be there at Prognosis and not miss a second.

15. Marillion - An Hour Before It's Dark

Yes they did it again. Where I thought of losing them when 15 years ago they released Somewhere Else and Happiness their two worst albums in a row. The last three releases corrected that dip and this is pure poetry again. Noone can sing about Covid like Steve Hogarth can. 

14. Trial  - Feed the Fire

I thought that losing Linus Johanson on vocals would be hard to get over. I was wrong. Vessel my favorite album of 2015 can never be topped, but here Trial show again why they are my favorite Heavy Metal band of the past decade. Come back to Holland please.

13. Parius - The Signal Heard Throughout Space

13-11 are albums I got so recent they are hard to rank, but definitely among my 2022 favorites. Parius bring a form of progressive metal with a Sci-Fy story. Luckily no Ayreon in sight, so really good and far from boring. Surprise tip by iOPages this was. Will be played lots.

12. Threshold - Dividing Lines

Threshold never disappoint. This one sounds a lot like the Mac years and is filled with catchy hooks and songs. Glynn Morgan possibly showing his best vocals ever. Waiting for them in de Boerderij.

11. Disillusion - Maya

Only received this week, but two spins convinced me that this is one of the 2022 highlights. Their best with their debut probably and already curious for their set at Prognosis.

10. Chaos Frame - Entropy

When Aardschok tips bands for ProgPower it usually is Metal Mike and he likes his prog to be metal. This being their third album I missed the first two, but this is just good old progmetal as it maybe always should have stayed. So PPE are you readig along? Some of the older generation would love this band in Baarlo indeed.

9. O.R.K. - Screamnasium

I am so pleased to see that this band got confirmed for Prognosis. First they are awesome, but second they deserve to get exposure to wider audience in Holland. Funny how Colin Edwin was not invited for the Porcupine Tree reunion and than released a much better album. 

8. Ard - Take Up My Bones

Thanks Matt for the tip. The album I played most in spring after purchase. History lessons included. Absolute masterpiece of melancholy and atmosphere. Interesting how my favorite doom album of the year did not come from the Candlemass/Sorcerer school this time.

7 Karcius - Grey White Silver Yellow & Gold.

Thanks Andy, what a wonderful album. According to Prog Archives they belong under the jazz rock/fusion banner. Well I hear progmetal and hard prog in the blend. A wonderful collection of songs which should please fans of progressive rock and metal alike.

6. Obsidious - Iconic

Is there live after Oscura? Well yes there is and what an album Obsidious gave us. One of those that after one spin at bandcamp I bought and my favorite Techdeath release of the year (never heard Persefone). Vocal performance of the year? Prognosis promises to be good in 2023. 

 

5. Toxik - Dis Morta

Toxik came back with their first proper full album since the two eighties classics World Circus and Think This. Again bordering between thrash metal and tech metal Toxik delivers. Ron Iglesias was good live, on album even better. And now a five-piece, they always convince on stage. See ya on tour.

4. Figure of Speechless - Tunnel At The End Of The Light

Glenn McMaster was unknown to me as well. When he writes one the best progmetal albums of the year and asks for some help of Derek Sherinian, Tony Franklin, Brian Tichy, Ron Bumblefoot Thal and my favorite vocalist Ray Alder we have a winning team. Love it from start to finish.

3. Lillian Axe - From Womb to Tomb

Some bands never disappoint and Lillian Axe is one of them for me. My favorite melodic metal band, who this century managed to match their high level of the eighties/nineties every time again. From Womb to Tomb their first album after ten years is another hit. Anyone with the slightest interest in melodic metal should have this.

2. Imminent Sonic Destruction - The Sun Will Always Set 

Thank you Matt for this new discovery. Progressive metal they play according to Metal Archives, but more of the all over the place kind. Some songs are progrock, some melancholic and grunts appear occassionally as well. I loved this album from the beginning and when you still go back to it frequently that always is a good  sign. Discovery of the year fo rme, as they already had two albums before.

1. A-Z - A-Z

Technically a new band, but with Alder Zonder completed by Philip Bynoe, Vivien Lalu and Joop Wolters no new names. And yes, this is not a progmetal release, but given the musicianship and the song it has been the album I played most this year,  Zonder and Alder proving to be a class on their own, packed in catchy songs always makes this a joy to play. Even the Apple- Zebra artwork is great, now Mark Zonder spoke the magic word: touring. Please bring them to Holland.

 

Albums that (just) did not make it to my Top 22 of 2022

2022 was a great year for music. So when I started looking into my favorites I quickly found I had more than 22 albums I really liked this year. So in the spirit of the losers flight from the Dutch Olympic Comittee  during the Rio Olympics I gathered all losers in a row (not flight). Don''t think you don't need to check these albums out, they made my year better as well. Just...

So before passing some categories with good albums I did buy, first the ones I missed all together. I still don't do spotify as a man of principle. So some albums I never heard. Main reason my hopping between Holland and Portugal. Some albums were released shortly before I would be away for a month. The low this year I had when albums I ordered took so long in the mail, that I was not home to receieve and since you have to pay bloody taxes as high as the CD price at times they were returned to sender. So on first thinking the ones I missed so far are by: Queensryche, Riot City, Arena, MSG, Pattern Seeking Animals, Cosmograf and Martyr. Martyr have this habit of playing nearby when I am not around. For 2023 they already announced a festival at Musicon during PPE. So without me, and no Vinnie at PPE. But you can run, you can not hide as I will see Planet Metalhead in January in Baroeg when they open for Jag Panzer. The albums I did get, enjoyed but not making it to my list are the following.

Bands that released a good album but not their best ever:

Zero Hour, Oceans of Slumber, Giant, Soilwork, Wilderun and Porcupine Tree. All released albums in teh range decent to very good, but their problem is that they set their own stadard ridiculoudsly high in the past. So from change of style (Oceans of Slumber) to surprise comeback (Giant, Zero Hour) and even somewhat disappointing given their past (Wilderun, Porcupine Tree) these all were good enough albums, but not shocking me like my top 22 would.

In the progrock genre Stuckfish was very good again, Big Big Train I did not get due to the sad loss and Galahad was returned to sender. The best news came from Dec Burke, but Darwin's Radio is expected in 2023 now (I hope)

On the progmetal front I liked the Vass/Katsionis album a lot. Kandia made me tick the box of female vocalist (live at Comendatio very good) and Compass the melodic variant. All very nice albums to check out.

On the edge of Melodic and heavy metal I liked Edge of Forever a lot, especially after seeing them live. Ironflame was one of the True metal highlights this year to me and Spirits of Fire is my number 23 of 2022. Until this afternoon I tried to swap them with one of my top 22. The only failure on this masterpiece by Fabio Lione, Chris Caffery, Steve DiGiorgio and Mark Zonder is that it would be even strong if lasting only some 45 minutes with eight songs. Highly recommended still

On the other genres I loved the albums releases by Eight Bells (classy doom with female vocals), Sacred Son (my favorite Black Metal album is again from the UK, cover of the year for me) and instrumental Spaniards Toundra with Hex (pity I missed their show at DB's).

So if these are the losers, wait for the winners tomorrow. As I said 2022 was a good year for music, if you like it heavy or proggy that is. The rest was as poor as a worldcup in Qatar. 

Live concerts Top 11 of 2022

2022 and at times it looked like Covid was never here. Unfortunately also at times it looked different as I caught the bastard late April. Therefore I missed two shows for which I had tickets and both likely to score high. MSG in de Boerderij and Riot City / Seven Sisters in Kavka Antwerp. Still I visited some damn fine shows. Being away half the year, made me miss a fair share as well. In the end I was far too little times in my favorite places for Live Music: Musicon, Baroeg, Nobel and Little Devil. Due to the limited number of shows no top 22 of 2022, but a top 11. Here we go.

11. Scar Symmetry - de Gigant Apeldoorn 4 November

Headliner of the first evening at Brainstorm. A wonderful show where the double vocals worked very nice to me.

10. Edge of Forever - Bel Air Breda 11 March

A proper meodic metal show in Bel Air. One of Alessandro's many bands and I loved his voice live.

9. Porcupine Tree - Ziggo Dome Amsterdam 6 November

The Tree are back, with a half decent album and an impressive live show. Only the setlist could have been so much better to me. Still pure class on stage

8. Bütcher / Wound Collectror / Alcatrazz - Musicon The Hague throughout the year.

I was far too few times in Musicon this year, but these three were my favorite bands hitting the most sympathetic stage in Holland.

7. Flotsam and Jetsam / Death Angel - Cacaofabriek and DMF Helmond and Eindhoven

Two bands you can see almost every year live and they refuse to disappoint. Bring them on in 2023

6. Mastodon - 013 Tilburg 9 June

Mastodon touring their Hushed and Grim album in great style. 

5. Toxik / Heathen - de Pul Uden 16 June

My pedal to the metal brought me to Uden. Toxik again and Heathen frst time for me, both giving us a great show. 

4. Opeth - Sala Tejo Lisbon 26 November 

What a careeer overview was this. Even much better than what I hoped for. 13 albums, 13 songs, one from each album. The perfect set showing that their career is great from the early years till today.

3. Iotunn - Sjiwa Baarlo 1 October

When a new band that released one of my favourite 2021 albums is invited for ProgPower hopes are high. They surpassed my expectations. And yes in Gigant they might have been tighter (drums more at home) but this first experience being blown away I shall long remember.

2. Lillian Axe - Nightrain Bradford 24 August

When my favorite melodic metal band comes to Europe I will be there (well if I can and timing suits). A perfect evening warmed up by very good Kaine and Riot Act. The latest formation of Lillian Axe passed the classics and walked us through their career. New album on sale, which now still needs to be toured in Europe!!

1. Angel - Baroeg Rotterdam 21 August

The perfect mix of nostalgia and a band in topform. Live Without a Net was one of my favourite live albums from the seventies/eighties. I saw them only once before a few years ago in Liege. Then in a bad mood, now completely loving it on stage'also as the audience was (very) loud. Lost my voice for a few days, more than worth it. Shouting along so many classic songs of my youth was a joy. Never would have thought this band at that location being such a perfect match. Pity their awesome white shirt only was available in M size, which I last could wear when Live Without a Net was released February 1980.

So now Friday closing 2022 live music in Musicon with René's Bday party, but coverbands won't surpass the above. Bring on 2023

Opeth & Voivod - Sala Tejo Attice Arena, Lisboa 26 November 2022

Opeth celebrating 30 Years of existence and touring their whole discography. Online fans had the chance to vote for one song from each album and the most voted songs would be played on this short tour.  Last weekend they played a double in Utrecht but I was in Portugal and opted for Lisboa.

Before I start about the concert a small rant as the performance of the combi Attice Arena / FNAC was far under par. No worries as when I get to the musical part things did and will improve dramatically. A few weeks ago I decided I would attend this show and tried to get a ticket online directly froom the venue. Well that worked until hitting the payment bottom. Than I realized that FNAC also sells tickets for events and shows in Attice Arena are among them. So I bought my ticket and got my email with two attachments and the explanation I needed to either print the attachment or show it on my phone. On the day itself the time schedule was never shared with us by the venue. So by phone we were informed through a ticket seller that the doors would open at 20:00 and show starting at 21:00. I told Josie I doubted that and asked Attice Arena by email for a time schedule, also looking at last metros home. So I went early and arrived around 19:35 at the veue. A queue was formed and people were already entering the venue. When it was my turn it turned out I printed an invoice. I showed on my phone the email with the two attachements and instructions, but guards were not impressed with me coming over from Holland to see this and told me it was an invoice I had, not a ticket. So I received two invoices. One being called Final Invoice and the other one invoice and ticket holding a QR code. Why would I need two invoices and one with a QR code FFS. So I was told to pass by the FNAC store in the shopping mall next to the venue and sort my ticket. Arriving at FNAC I told my story as friendly as I could, since I knew Voivod would start before 21:00. The girl at the desk however told me that I bought online and the store could not help. I should ask for help by email. I told her she worked for the same foking shop, so they should sort it and fast. Well I spoke over the phone with FNAC helpdesk and found your IQ should be below 80 to get a job there. I was getting slightly pissed off with everything Portugal and asked Josie to call the same guy as she was less emotional on the topic. Nothing sorted I returned to the venue, just giving it another shot after wasting far too much time at shithole FNAC. Suddenly the queue got really long as apparently most people were not bothered with the support band. I never get that attitude and when the support is Voivod I even think people should look for help when snobbing the support. Then again, maybe these people  only followed the official timing and matters were supposed to start at 21:00 hrs. Now being close to nine it was my turn and again I could not get in. Turned out that meanwhile I was not the only one with this problem, so I was direcetd to a guy from the venue who would call FNAC with my order number. End good all good, well not really. In Portugal they still seem to think  that metal fans are violent, so the police were hired to check all at security. Losing some more minutes I finally got into the venue, knowing I missed most of the Voivod show.  

Voivod 

Can I write something of a show that I missed for the bigger part? Well what I saw sounded and looked great. Planet Eaters came first and only Fix My Heart and Astronomy Domine would follow. I felt sorry for myself and downed a few beers to get into the mood. Seeing Voivod end on a high before an enthusiastic participating audience did help me feeling better. Beers at 3.00 Euros were pricy for Portugal and the second one costing  3,50 made me frown. Turns out cups are returnable and cost 50 cents, while the first guy probably did not feel like expalining that to a gringo. Meanwhile Magchiel sent me an app that Messi was playing with a save the planet armband while playing in an airconditioned stadium. The band should read fok Qatar 2022,but I'm drifting off while just getting more positive.

Opeth

After an intermezzo filled with calm music and no metal Opeth came on at 21:45 in an almost sold out (my guess) Sala Tejo. This hall is part of Attice Arena where the main hall can hold some 12.000, the smaller Sala Tejo holds 4.000 people. Those who came were in the mood tonight as the Opeth chant between songs came back often and also the whole career seemed to be appreciated. Opeth would play one song of all their albums and just the start with Ghost of Perdition made all realize we would be in for a treat. Sound, Light, dry humored intermezzos and the setlist were a joy from start to finish, making this one of the best shows I attended this year. As a highlight you can not pass the epic twenty minute Black Rose Immortal. It almost made me buy the White Morningrise T-shirt, but my size was sold out on the last date of the tour. I was somewhat surprised that from their classic Blackwater Park the song Harest was played, but my favorite Still Life was represented by The Moor in superb style. The mix of Blackish Death starts to progrock current times worked wonderful and it showed how Opeth changed over time., but manages to stay at top levels. Even the disappointing album Hertiga passed the test as The Devil's Orchard was played. This was one fine evening of everything Opeth indeed and I hope Mikale Akerfeldt soon catches up with Steven Wilson again. Tell him how to make a setlist, as where Porcupie Tree were Beautiful but a bit cold, Opeth did touch on emotions for everyone in, no matter your favorite period in their career. They even found time fo rtwo covers on this long night. Napalm Death's You Suffer twice gave us an extra 20 seconds. Opeth even managed to make me forget the amateuristic start of the evening and I will go see them again on the next tour. Voivod I definitely want to see soon again as well, so two out of two make up for one fine evening.

Porcupine Tree - Ziggo Dome Amsterdam, 7 November 2022

Porcupine Tree are back, announcing a tour and a new album. When that news hit us over a year ago I was excited. After all Porcupine Tree was always a guarantee for class and in the end I did not see them playing live that often. To set the ballpark here's my history with the band. I heard of them very early and even tipped friends to not miss them at Vlietpop 1994, when I was at Roskilde. The first album I bought was either Coma Divine or the Sky Moves Sideways. Then my personal best phase of their career started with Stupid Dream, Lightbulb Sun and In Absentia. Hereafter they turned slowly a bit heavier but I had other bands to cover that corner. Even so, all albums remained very good. By this time the band also got more popular and their shows would sell out. Now I was travelling unpredictably for work those days, which made me stop buying tickets way in advance. Result I missed out on their later tours. Maybe their last show I attended was the Ligtbulb Sun tour at Bospop 2001. So yes I wanted   to see Porcupine Tree live on stage once more. As a final reference I did a ranking on Porcupine Tree as well last year (the only rankings that do matter and help you to be properly introduced to a band) My top three was at the time 1. Stupid Dream 2. The Sky Moves Sideways 3. In Absentia

So when 7 November came I was pleased to go to Amsterdam's Ziggo Dome for the very first time. After all which bands that I love can fill a hall this size? Porcupine Tree can and in a way that is weird. They could not so before they went on hiatus. Steven Wilson mentioned this fact and I guess he counts his blessings that the band got cult and grew bigger in absentia. Already at entering the Ziggo Dome I bumped into the first ProgPower regulars, who turned out to be in by large numbers this evening. So my smalltalks before the show and at the break were covered. Now while waiting the Ziggo Dome slowly got busier and I found in the end it all being a bit too much. Not that with my height I have sight issues of the stage, but walking around freely was impossible and during both sets I saw a fainted person being dragged out. I realized again why I like small venues so much better.  

In the end I was here for the music, so what about that? Starting with a positive the band had asked to not film or photograph anything during the show. Being the law abiding citizen myself the picture above shows what I shot. Interested in pictures? go buy yourself the DVD that was shot this evening. I noticed it was a relief to see a band opening a set, without the annoying lights of hundreds of telephones filming. Pity I did not take lots of pictures as the stage and movies were astonishing throughout. The band itself was in topform as well. I forgot the names of the new band members, but they did a fine job and the old trio were as if they never stopped playing together. So yes I do understand the general comments on how awesome this show was throughout the tour and Porcupine Tree are defintely back at their peak.

But I can't stop here as I am from The Hague the capitol of complaining. The setlist was (very) disappointing to me. I do understand that when you play for 3 hours your latest album of 48 minutes will be fully included. Problem is that it holds some songs that are just not all that good. For me Harridan, Dignity and Herd Culling were valuable additions to the live set, with great movies to accompany them. The other four songs not so much and Walk the Plank on CD is bad, live it did not get much better with all the electronics. The only thing to do during that song really was watching and listening to Gavin Harrison on drums, a joy in itself as what a beast/machine he is. The remainder of the set was basically build around In Absentia and Fear of a Blank Planet. my number 3 and 4 of the already mentioned ranking, but there is more to the band than those two albums. When Steven Wilson at a certain moment said that they would play a really old song as they came for years to Holland I was hoping for a Dislocated Day or Radioactive Toy for instance. They played Last chance from Lightbulb Sun. On a discography of now 11 albums, your sixth album is not very old Mr. Wilson. So the psychedelic years were fully snubbed and my beloved Stupid Dream only had Evenless played. Well at least that meant they played their best song ever. A further note was that when the mood went up by a heavier song a ballad like calm song would always follow. Best example hear was Fear of a Blank Planet, which was amazing. Why not make it a run of four upbeat songs in a row?

So maybe it seems I was disappointed in the evening, which I was not. Fact is that I would have loved it when Porcupine Tree would have done an Opeth, meaning playing at least one song of all your albums. Now being back after so many years they ignored a large chunk of their own discography which I love too. Well that is for next time and if in Ziggo Dome again I take a seat said the old man.

Brainstorm Festival - Gigant Apeldoorn, 4&5 November 2022

Brainstorm Festival celebrated this year 15 years of existence. I only had been twice before for one day (Fleshkiller day plus In Mourning/Darkwater day), but the line-up for 2022 showed on both days two bands I definitely wanted to see, so a weekend ticket with hotel was booked.Now Brainstorm is different from most festivals as the binding factor is not a specific musical genre.  A a result of this factor, it is not likely that you like all bands very much, but as mentioned before for me there were plenty of reasons to attend both days.This meant that I was not walking around Holland Heavy Festival, with old skool Dutch HM bands, nor in Baroeg for some Dutch Doom Days. Gigant it was and after struggling with the complicated garderobe system for some 28 minutes I was ready for the first bands, IPA in hand.

Vetrar Daugurinn had the honour to open the festival. This band plays doom, with female vocals. The latter not always being my thing this mix worked OK. I saw them before and if around I would go see them again in two weeks time in Musicon. Just for a good night out meeting some friends and having decent music to join you. Not shocking for me, but a welcome opener, but why such a hard to remember band name?

Next on were Wytch Hazel the first band that made me take a train to Apeldoorn. Now I had some personal issues as when the show started I got a message from Josie informing that all who we met for lunch a week before and herself were suffering from Covid. So I was worried about spreading the disease, did not shout along and left after they finished soon to find myself a self-test at AH and call Josie. She only had a cold, not positive and my test was negative as well. So resuming not ideal circumstances to get into the mood and I watched from a distance. I have one of their albums on CD and pretty much like their Thin Lizzy inspired seventies hardrock. Live these men in medieval white lacked some balls for me, but maybe also due to distance issues. They might like balls, they did not lack religion as lyrics, crosses and open hands were pretty much around. Now I am a strong believer in science, but for me music is always about the music itself. So nothing offputting here. I mean noone takes the dragons in Powermetal, or the devils in black metal very serious either (I hope). Resuming I need to give Wytch Hazel another fair chance when timing is better.

After my rush to supermarket, selftest, negative in hotel room and return I arrived just in time to pick up the early songs of Signum Regis, from Slovakia this time. They play Power Metal and trying to stay away from cliches in Power Metal is a near impossible task. Signum Regis showed some classical poses, but headed by a masterful guitar they gave us a good set, which I pretty much enjoyed. Not so much that I rushed out getting their CD's, but entertaining they were and rather popular as well with the crowd. Talking about the crowd, there was something different from most metal shows I attend, but hard to put your finger on. Maybe the God's Squad patches were part of it, but overall this festival shows that metal is for all and everyone.

Than the Friday came to an end with the first total highlight of the weekend Scar Symmetry. The band with the two vocalists, two guitarists, one drummer and no bassist gave us a show to remember. Even if you are not into their melodic death metal, you must love the enthusiasm and top quality of their show. I do like their music as well and managed to miss them so far live at PPE or Patronaat. So I was blown away by the lively presentation, where the clean vocals seemd to be coming from Jeff Scott Soto's twin brother. As hectic as both vocalists might be, the true star of the band is Per Nilsson. Why is ths man not often quoted among the world's guitar heroes? Actually second guitars by Ben Ellis were almost as good. This band made the day, if not the festival and were a joy from start to finish. After they finished I shared some beers with Jean Paul and his friend (whose name I never asked, shame on me) until the bar closed at 01:00 and a very good Friday evening came to an end. 

Saturday morning meant waking up in Hotel de Paris. I could not get a very late check-out as a certain Ron and Astrid were on their way to Apeldoorn, taking over my room. They would come for the Saturday only, like many people I know based upon two bands. Iotunn and Swallow the Sun. Before these two would prove us right, first other bands would come. Sáwol from Finland being the first. They only got some 30 minutes, but their doom/death was welcome to my ears. The vocalist proved the clichee that Fins are more at ease playing music than talking, but they were pleased to play for us. And I was pleased to hear them. So one fine start of the Saturday.

Next on were Fallen Sanctuary an Italian/Austrian band with Georg Neuhauser from Serenity fame on vocals. Now I am not Serenity's biggest fan and it turned out nor will I be Fallen Sanctuary's one. Their Power Metal was to me formualic and did not do much for me. A plus was that  they lived by the rule that God does not approve of cheating, so backing vocals were actually sung and not from tape (unlike several other bands this weekend). Result was that it was not always pure, but it was honest.  Now that I found that I was not so impressed with Fallen Sanctuary I realized gaps in the program appeared  as Fallen Sanctuary would be back for an interview first ad later an acoustic slot in the Theater.

While the theater was discussing 15 years of Brainstorm the hall was starting to buzz. After all Iotunn would be on next and those who saw them at ProgPower this year knew we would be in for a treat. And so we were! Moving most upfront for the weekend I found my spot close to the stage and let Iotunn blow me off my socks. As they had a slightly shorter slot than PPE, they played their full album minus one song this time. And yes they did keep the high level of performance we now seem to be getting from them always. If you like their album, you simply must love their show. I can only hope the world sees what I see and Iotunn will keep on rising to great heights. Their music is for many and their performance is ace, so bring on that new album and conquer continents. This time I also was so smart  picking up my XXL tee upon arrival, going for the longsleeve in the end, as by now the weather turned shitty in Holland. I just saw a picture of the band with the crowd after their set. I turned into avatar/smurf on that one beautifully covered in blue stage light. 

Next on would be an unknown band to me in Sleeping Romance. So with Willem, Ron and Astrid we decided on a proper dinner break outside, since we were not in for elephant burgers. This meant I only saw the last two songs of the band with the weird name. Some words describing the band: Power Metal, Italian, Female vocals. This meant they would be fighting an uphill battle to win me over. I did see an enthusiastic hall, but this style of music is not for me to go wild on. 

My closing band for the weekend would be on next and a guarantee for success: Swallow the Sun. Their latest album Moonflowers is another masterclass in melancholy and several songs would pass by tonight. Swallow the Sun are not here to go wild on stage, but to present us dark and moody metal of teh highest class. Almost all of them hooded on stage their doom ruled over de Gigant. Obviously a band of topclass it was impossible not to be impressed by their performance. For me a great way to end one fine weekend in Apeldoorn. Firewind woud still be coming on, but as I saw them a few monmonths ago at Dynamo and the train home would be long I called it a weekend. Meeting several friends over the days, enjoying many good shows and one fine atmosphere throughout the weekend proved that my choice for Brainstorm this weekend was the right one. After a short scare even the Duvel got back on tap to make Ron happy, while I liked my Brand double bockies. So beer and metal and for some a bit of religion were a fine combination indeed. 

ProgPower Europe - Sjiwa Baarlo, 30 September 1&2 October 2022

 

Back in Baarlo!! I guess that is what counted most for all the regular visitors of Progpower. This festival managed to become more than just watching some bands to most of us, so the simple return to Baarlo put a smile on our faces. This is that weird place where you can see British people hug. Mind you also not naturals like the Dutch, Germans and Scandinavian. This year visitors came from 26 different countries, which could have been 27 if Andrew managed to bring his wife not only to Baarlo, but actually inside Sjiwa as well. Back to Baarlo for us starts at camping de Berckt. Caravans booked and Friday afternoon arrival commemorated by our traditional range of bockbeers. This year the camping had a German popduo performance for the Saturday, so note to selves was stay at Sjiwa and its basement until late that day. A direct result was that we were surrounded by Germans, but what is worse not by our English PPE camping friends. Apparently they did not find good original new outfits for their Sunday dress up affair, so Lee David and Mark see you in 2023.
 

The festival itself this year was to me one of the editions, where I would know only few bands on forehand. Further my participation at the chat and listening session of the Progfiles, made me somewhat worried about the lightness of it all. I started calling this to myself PPE 2022, the Progdreams edition as in my ears some of the bands would better play de Boerderij, than the sacred stage of Sjiwa. As such not a problem as I do like my progrock as well, but on forehand I did miss a franctic tech metal band waiting to blow us away. From what I knew of the bands playing I realized I probably would like Saturday night and Sunday afternoon best.I also do realize that this must have been the hardest year to complete a line-up as the uncertainty until spring on possibilities and the large amount of last minute cancelled tours by mainly US bands did show that a mix of corona and rising costs put our concert going future into uncertainties. Finally what annoyed before we could get started was the direct competition of prog related shows in The Netherlands at exact the same dates. Both Soen and Vola did show the finger to their earliest and loyal fans who received them with open arms, before they were known by the rest of the country. Small excuses of delayed tours by covid can be given, but in my book a progmetal band that was first appreciated in Baarlo should never book two Dutch shows during the very weekend PPE is held. Geoff Tate doing same is less of an impact, as I saw that tour earlier in the year and I already adviced that noone needs to see Geoff Tate and his playbacking coverband playing Queensryche. So only if he starts playing new own material I will go see him again. Looking at my own wide range of musical taste, I could (or should) have gone to Keep It True, where no less than twenty bands were playing that I have on CD and many I never saw live before. That would be in Germany, where also that annoying Euroblast keeps on programming in the same weekend, fishing in the same progmetalish fan-pool. But to me PPE is above any competition and not going was simply no option after the two year draught.  One of the results of this competition was that we lost 2 out of our 12 people 2019 group to Soen. We further lost 2 due to postponed holiday trips falling over this weekend and 1 due to work and one due to a reason noone really knows. So back to twelve years ago we were with six again. Still all looking forward more than a bit to a return to Sjiwa and Peter with recovering broken foot even had a barstool available upon request, so a first thanks to organization, before we even got started. Before I start commenting on bands it is 2022 so a disclaimer is needed. These are just my thoughts of the bands and I do realize that in some cases bands could be hugely successfull, but not my cuppa. The other way around can happen as well.
 

Friday kicked off with Mother Of Millions. I knew of their name, not of their music. When they came on I did recognize the vocalist though as I saw Poem before. Mother of Millions was slightly more moody and postrocking than that band, but opened the festival in style with a good set. For people like me not knowing their albums maybe a bit repetitive in their songs. What struck most is that the response of the audience was massive for an opening band. For me not one that made me run tot the merch table afterwards, but one to get in the right PPE mood again. The observing man in me also noted that back in Baarlo facial hair on stage is popular and even the seventies porn moustache is today acceptable again apparently.
 

The Friday headliner was Von Hertzen Brothers a band that managed to stay very much under the radar in The Netherlands. Years ago I subscribed Prog Magazine, where they were one of the 25 bands often hyped. That did not make me dug into the band, so another one where I started blanco. The good thing here was that I noticed throughout the set, that I moved more and more forward. What a great live band these brothers (and friends) turned out to be. At the start their combined high vocals reminded me of Styx and I do like Styx. When their third song was a single that Rune posted before (All Of A Sudden You’re Gone) I was won over. As they told themselves, their serious songs needed to be mixed with more upbeat light songs. Result of that was that I loved every minute of it and they did win over many new fans. Not as many as Mother of Millions did, as for some this was not the perfect headliner of the first night. For me they were and I got already confirmed why PPE is so good for discovering new bands. Question now is if they become slightly bigger than before in The Netherlands. I will go and see them again, if they return to Holland that is.
 

Saturday started with some sun, oh no rain, no sun again. So strategic planning of your cycling trip into town was needed, or you would be soaked. Inhalo opened the day. All I knew from them was that the vocalist used to sing in A  Liquid Landscape. He mentioned this and I was surprised we saw that band already 10 years ago. Inhalo were all fine and smooth, but for me not overly exciting as I missed some speed at times. The playing was flawless, but a typical half hour band , meaning that after a fair chance, good impression and half hour I went outside to catch up with friends.
 

Smalltape are from Germany, so why did they start ten minutes late? Technical issues solved this turned out to be interesting, but at the same time lost at the wrong stage. No power whatsoever, Smalltape play progrock. Pretty decent too and when the mainman starting joining drum rhythms the Brazilian in me (yes he exists) felt like singing Neeeense. As noone would understand that declared love for Fluminense I did not. Also as I can do so the coming month. Drifting back to the music, I felt after a while attentions moving elsewheer, so another 30 minute band to me. If they ever play de Boerderij in the future I might go and see them.
 

Feather Mountain was the next completely  unknown outfit to me. For starters they looked more like a metal band, but what’s that about the flowers? Nice stage lighting they brought along and a fine hour of djenty progmetal. At times going double loud at vocals, with a grunting bassist. The vocalist himself had a good voice, but was not overwhelmingly enthusiastic. Better at ease while singing, than talking. I did stay the full hour and pretty much liked the set throughout.
 

After dinner (or tosti in my case) Godsticks were on. I did not know them until recently, when in August I saw them at Comendatio Music Fest in Portugal. That was a positive surprise, since live they are pretty heavy all the time and there is some bulldozering rhythm coming at us. Tonight Godsticks were as good and with less technical issues in an even better flowing set. This was the first real highlight of the day to me and Godsticks proved they need to be seen again if returning to Holland.
 

Iotunn coming next and I was getting excited, like many others who loved their 2021 album Access All Worlds. For me one of the best CD’s of 2021 so would Iotunn be able to be as convincing live on stage. Here I can be short, they bloody well were. Everything fell tinto place and we got a mysterious presentation, a truly heavy sound and some amazing guitars. Vocalist Jón Aldará is one of the best voices in metal, as he seemingly effortless can move from clean powerfull singing to deep grunts. I saw him before with Barren Earth and Clouds and now I almost saw him with Iotunn, since a hoody did hide his face. That fitted the whole presentation, which was Black metallish. So no smalltalk inbetween songs, just letting the music do the talking. And the music spoke out loud. Completely overwhelmed this show goes straight into my top ten of Progpower performances ever. Nothing to complain? Well the T-shirts did not come in biggest sizes, but I hope to correct that when I will see them again at Brainstorm Festival next month.
 

So good luck Green Carnation following up on that energetic show. Well it turned out that Green Carnation could. Their music is slow and heavy, but their peformance was ace. When seeing them a few years ago at Prognosis, they turned into my favourite set of the day. I than also realized I have all their albums. Something you tend to forget when a band disappears for years. So again I did recognize the songs and they were good. At the merch table they did have Light of Day, Day of Darkness T-shirts, but we were not that lucky that their 90 minute set, would include that 60 minute song. A fine closer of the Saturday, which proved my advance feelings, that Saturday evening would be ace.
 

After a fine evening, one needs a cooling down. So hallo basement it was, where the metal karaoke made a welcome return. Filled with Dutch courage I also decided to destroy one classic rock song, but a wonderful way to end the Saturday it was. Arrriving back late, there were no more signs and more important sounds of a German Popduo at the campsite, so sleep well.
 

Sunday started early and unknown again. Neverus, are Dutch, while their vocalist is British. This was their first concert ever and that was hard to believe looking at their proffessional performances. Apparently their music is similar to Wintersun, but I don’t know music by that band. What they played today was good. A mix of death and powermetal with symphonic backgrounds. Their presentation was very sympathetic and this made them come over great as I saw many people enjoyng this set, which included even an air guitar. Nice opener of the day.
 

Nero di Marte are Italian and yet again a band I knew no music of on forehand. Some people tipped me that I would like them and they were right. This was one intense show where those trying to clap or bang along were challenged all the time. Nero di Marte mixed the very heavy with the truly progressive and for those getting their point definitely a highlight. Definitely not a band for everyone and I also would not know in which mood at home I would pick up a CD with such hectic and intense music. Finally with good Italian sense of humor they brought their nicest T-shirt only in S size, which means 98% of the crowd are out. So no merchandise support from me, but a really good show it was. Candidate for best comment of the weekend was made by Andrew "I knew their CD's expecting lots and than live they turned out to be a bit commercial".
 

With Vulkan the first band of the day came of whom I actually know music. All songs came from their strong 2020 album Technatura. Openening and ending similar to the album, with a collection of songs inbetween at random order. Partially sung in English and partially in Swedish makes it hard for most to get their concept album. Live as often happens it all sounded a notch heavier and I thought Vulkan great. Even after the two heaviest bands of the day, they stood their ground. Unfortunately for me the T-shirt story repeated itself yet again, as the one with the cover of their album was too small for me. So a beer in the basement was next. Having a dinner during the diner break (as the flyer tells) was no good plan as many people already left during Vulkan’s last songs in order to return in time for the next band.
 

Meer=Less. So I said it. Good band, wrong festival. I gave them an unfair three minute chance and they rubbed me in all the wrong ways. As tactically scheduled time for the  fastest pizzas ever served at Milano. Outside I bumped into other angry white middleaged males, who love their old skool Heavy Metal and wondered what them lot where doing in Sjiwa. Inside some 90% of the audience saw what was for them the finest show of the weekend. Goes to prove that musical taste is nice for discussion, but pointless. Later on talking with Jean Paul he reminded how during the early years A.C.T. were invited and the consensus was that they were probably too soft for ProgPOWER. Well Meer…
 

Avandra are the first band from Puerto Rico to hit the stage. They also were the most typical Progpower band of the weekend. By that I mean they play progmetal with some virtuoso playing and the right amount of heaviness. If you thought the keyboards were of the better level, that was because they brought Vikram Shankar along (known from Redemption, Silent Skies, Lux Terminus among others) Actually the whole band were mastering their instruments pretty well. Only that girl lost on stage? I could not hear her and later learned that people at the other corner also struggled to hear her sing. A nice show and a good band bringing us in mood back to older Progpower years.
 

Seventh Wonder were invited to close the fesstival. There is a certain group of bands that might headline Progpower and Seventh Wonder is among them. Their progmetal all sounds fine and is played very well. For me I liked them more during the early years. When they played Headway some 15(?) years ago and they had Waiting in The Wings as album to support. I think they got both a bit calmer and a bit repetitive of themselves thereafter. So for tired me a good sounding show, but not shocking and after some time I went outside for final talks. Tommy’s presentation shall always be good material for lively debates though.
 

And then it was over, or was it? Back to the eighties for some Hair Metal was scheduled in the basement. Together with Lia’s birthday a good reason to have one final beer downstairs. Again the organization added some fun, with 16 wigs for headbanging. Being bold I tried one to find quickly that wigs in mouth taste pretty disgusting. So horns up to the bold men banging to YMCA and Metal Militia on the stage. Suddenly I felt that also I did get three years older in the meantime. Back to the Campsite it was and one huge thank you for all involved in the organization of this truly magical festival experience ProgPower always is. Got the chance to catch up with so many old friends and vague acquaintances, that I am exhausted now. Maybe a month in Brazil can help getting over this. Now that’s a good plan.
 
 

Compass - Figure of Speechless - Karcius - Kings of Mercia - Soilwork - Speaking to Stones - Trial

Progpower Weekend. Some already arrived in Baarlo, I will only tomorrow. That does not stop me to suggest herewith seven bands that all would make Progpower an even better place.

Compass - Theory of Tides

Two years ago Compass made a positive arrival with their album Our Time on Earth. Now they are back with a concept album around the life of Galileo. Compass is the band where Steve Newmann steps away from his melodic rock band and goes more proggy. Still very accessible and melodic, this is just what you expect by now. Mix some good melodic hardrock and make it longer and more progressive in the songs. If you like both styles (like me) you love this mix.

Figure of Speechless - Tunnel at the End of the Light

Glen McMaster, I also did not hear of him before. An Australian songwriter guitarist who invited the following names for his album. Ray Alder, Ron Bumblefoot Thal, Derek Sherinian, Tony Franklin and Brian Tichy. All don't need any further introduction. The best news is that this album is as good as the names make you hope for. For me Ray Alder can do no wrong, but here the songs definitely help him shine. The surprise in progmetal this year? possibly so, must hear album.

Karcius - Grey, White, Silver, Yellow & Gold

This is the sixth Karcius album since 2004 and I had never heard of them. A tip from Andy on SFTW made me check them out. At Prog Archives they are filed under jazz rock/fusion, well I don't hear much of that. This album is either progmetal light or heavy progrock. Great songs, and excellent playing make it a joy of a ride through all those colours. Especially those who like bands like Kingcrow or Arena should hear this album. 

Kings of Mercia - Kings of Mercia

Jim Matheos and Steve Overland working together resulting in this self ttled debut album. Melodic hard rock to Jim Matheos probably, prog metalish for Steve Overland (FM) I guess. Completed by Joey Vera and Simon Phillips this band gives us one of the better melodic hardrock albums of recent times. Might need to hear through headphones to discover even more. Very pleasant and returning often in my CD player I guess. One tip: don't read the Angry Metal Guy review as you will hear something you can't unhear. Second tip: Next time don't print orange lyrics on blue pages as my reading glasses need a sudden upgrade.What a year for thsoe who feared a total Fates Warning absence.

Soilwork - Overgivenheten

I bought this album some weeks after the release due to being abroad. After it's release we lost David Anderson the main songwriter on this album, before I heard it. So it is impossoble to go through the booklet and not get emotional when his picture appears next to the lyrics Death, I Hear You Calling. Such a loss as Soilwork keep on getting better to me. For the melodic death metal purists they drifted too far away probably, for me the clean vocals, Night Flight Orchestra melodies next to the heavy Soilwork side work perfectly. This album should be appreciated by many who like any form of metal.

Speaking to Stones - (In)human Error

Speaking to Stones is a band of surprises, or a project by Tony M. Vinci. Their self titled debut album in 2006 was a hit for me and then they disappeared. Six years later Elements gave us five (very) long songs and off they went. Now ten years later we get treated on (in)human error. Again a fine progmetal album with a good mix of heavyness and melody. In the Netherlands released on No Dust, so let them give us more top level prog. Only the vocals sound to me a bit low or hidden in the mix. Now already curious what 2035 will bring us by this band.

Trial - Feed the Fire

The album I was looking out for most is the new Trial one. Vessel made it to my album of the year 2015. Motherless in 2017 was as good and when I saw them live they were wonderful. And then they lost vocalist Linus Johansson an important factor in my love for this band. New vocalist Arthur Andersson was introduced on covers single Sisters of the Moon / Die Young (bonus added here) . That was a relief as all sounded fine. Now we have a full album of new songs and Trial do it again. Their mix of heavy metal with prog and doom influences, make them one of my favorites.. Unfortunately far too few people have discovered the beauty of Trial, so maybe I should invite them over one day. Definitely check them out as their heavy metal offers just a bit more. Pleased to have them back.

Evergrey, Fractal Universe & Virtual Symmetry - Gebr. de Nobel Leiden, 25 September 2022

Evergrey finally making it to de Nobel again, this after several postponed tours. Within this delay they released two new albums, so suddenly they had lots of new music to present. Originally Witherfall would be supporting them on this tour and them being out of the package was a big loss for me. Luckily the two new supports both turned out to be good bands as well. Looking at this bill one week before Progpower did make you realize that this evening's package was more Progpower than Progpower itself this year. So a sort of warm-up show it became, with for me meeting up with people from various different spectra of my metal universe.

Virtual Symmetry opened tonight at what initially looked a very empty Nobel. Luckily that improved with time. This band is from Lugano, the Italian speaking part of Switzerland. I don't know who were Swiss or Italian, but overall the band did remind of several other Italian bands who play accessible prog and power metal (think DGM, Pathosray and Zen). Their playing was good, as was the music. Not shockingly renewing the world of progmetal, but definitely quality. This all topped with an enthusiastic presentation and we can speak of a very nice opener of the evening. 

Next band were Fractal Universe from France. They play the more progressive and technical side of death metal. Last year they released The Impassable Horizon and I checked it out. With my life between two countries I did not order it at the time, since when back home the list of must get albums grew bigger already.Yesterday I made up for that at te end of the evening as Fractal Universe turned out to be great on stage. Next to grunts a fair share of clean vocals and at times I thought of a heavier version of Pain of Salvation. The band were running all over the stage and at the end the vocalist even appeared a few times with saxophone to spice matters up. Well I saw Wound Collector in Musicon this Friday and that band sets the standard for all saxophones in metal, still here it added something as well. I can not call them a surprise of the evening, when expectations were high already, but as good as hoped for and defiitely one to see in Baarlo one day.

And then it was up to Evergrey to conquer de Nobel. Well they have been here before, so that turned out easy. Evergrey to me falls in the category  bands I do go see live, but stop following on CD. So when they toured three new albums I don't know the result was that I did not recognize one song until Touch of Blessing closed the regular set. As such not much of a problem, since their music is accessible at first hearing as well. Tom Englund was good by voice this evening and his understated announcements in Swedish dry style work. The music was very Evergrey which means heavy. They are falling under the progmetal flag, but actually we get a heavy metal show, with power and prog bits blended in at times. The band are around for thirty years Tom said and I saw them first at Progpower again. I remember that I wondered why their bassist wore a leather skirt at that show in 2000. Nowadays they still sound pretty similar and their bassists still looks different. A great show, this time even not at the extreme loud levels I saw them last times, so more enjoyable. Still was it me or was Recreation Day a notch better than the other songs and were Fractal Universe the silent winners of the evening gaining many new fans?