splinter

 John Boegehold’s synth work is a genuine slap to those keyboardists who think they’ve exhausted their style.

 Ted Leonard’s voice shines here, with songs seemingly crafted to enhance his melodic and ringing vocals.

Pattern-Seeking Animals, a side-project from Spock's Beard members, emphasizes melodic prog rock with smooth, accessible songs. The keyboard work by John Boegehold stands out for its inventive synth textures, while Ted Leonard delivers an engaging vocal performance. Although longer tracks feel stretched, the album shines in its shorter, refined pop-rock moments. A fresh, well-produced work showing great teamwork and a promising future. Listen to Pattern-Seeking Animals now and explore the melodic side of modern prog rock!

 It’s impossible not to appreciate, for example, the guitar peaks and the scream in the chorus of "Lost," the pounding bass with funky rhythm in "Crown of Thorns," the delicate and refined touches of "Some Days," the melancholic tones of "The Road."

 Class is not lacking, but self-referentialism abounds.

Ray Alder’s first solo album, What The Water Wants, revisits the melodic and lighter sound of early '90s Fates Warning, especially resembling the Parallels and Inside Out era. While it lacks originality and some guitar and vocal moments fall short of expectations, the album delivers effective and enjoyable melodies. Fans of that period and style will find much to appreciate, even if the album is not groundbreaking. Overall, a good, mannered release but not an essential listen. Discover Ray Alder’s melodic solo journey—listen to What The Water Wants now!

 "Pitfalls is an incredibly courageous album, possessing the kind of courage every band should have to experiment without fear of negative judgments."

 "Among the albums that kept me company in 2019, this is certainly the most varied and unpredictable; it even earned the top spot in my year-end top 10."

Leprous' album Pitfalls takes a bold step into new musical territories, mixing pop, funk, and progressive rock with strong emotional expression. The band's willingness to experiment results in a varied and unpredictable collection of tracks. Vocal performances are subtle and emotional, supported by melancholic strings and refined drumming. The album balances accessibility with artistic integrity, earning high praise as one of 2019's best releases. Discover the bold and inventive sounds of Leprous' Pitfalls—listen now and explore their musical evolution!

 This time there’s really no excuse not to love Opeth in a prog-rock guise…

 The vigorous orchestral arrangements are perhaps the true revolutionary element of the album.

Opeth’s thirteenth album, In Cauda Venenum, strengthens their prog-rock identity with gritty guitars, powerful orchestration, and renewed melodic balance. The band adjusts rather than overhauls their approach, blending classic prog influences with original ideas. Key tracks showcase a mix of acoustic beauty and robust progressive riffs, highlighting the group’s musical maturity. While not revolutionary, the album rewards repeated listening and affirms Opeth’s evolution. Explore Opeth’s In Cauda Venenum and experience the powerful blend of prog rock and orchestral intensity.

 "Third Degree is a more markedly progressive album."

 "This album contributes to making Flying Colors even more mysterious and difficult to label."

Flying Colors' third album, Third Degree, marks a notable shift towards progressive rock with longer, complex tracks. Balancing prog influences with classic rock and pop sensibilities, the album showcases the band's musicianship without fully abandoning their light rock roots. While some tracks explore extended instrumental passages and varied rhythms, others maintain direct, catchy melodies. The reviewer appreciates this balanced evolution and the band's unique identity amid prog influences. Dive into Flying Colors' Third Degree and experience their bold prog-rock transformation today!

 Billie Eilish imposes herself on the scene as an original and unconventional personality.

 This debut album gets full marks, but I fear she might soon sell out to easy melodies.

The review praises Billie Eilish's debut album for its originality, delicate vocal delivery, and well-crafted production. Influenced by Thom Yorke’s endorsement, the author appreciates its departure from mainstream pop noise and highlights sophisticated experimentation. The album’s variety keeps listeners engaged, while Billie’s unconventional image challenges industry norms. Despite strong support, the reviewer expresses concern about potential future compromises amid commercial pressures. Listen now to Billie Eilish’s debut and explore why it stands out in modern pop music!

 When making a solo album, it’s often done to freely showcase what one can’t always express with their band.

 The main aim of this solo work is precisely to delve deeper, in every sense, to take certain aspects of his own band and push them to the extreme.

Richard Henshall steps out from Haken to deliver The Cocoon, a solo album that pushes his prog and fusion influences to new heights. Blending progressive metal, jazz fusion, and post-rock, the album features top-tier guest musicians and surprising elements like rap sections. The record is technically impressive and emotionally engaging, offering a fresh perspective on Henshall’s creativity. Though not essential, it's one of the best prog releases of 2019 with hopes for a follow-up. Dive into Richard Henshall’s The Cocoon to experience a progressive fusion journey beyond Haken’s sound!

 Fear Inoculum is simply a continuation of a conversation that started with Lateralus and continued with 10,000 Days.

 The band surely knows better than us when to take it—they probably felt that making a bold move after 13 years wasn’t the best option.

Fear Inoculum marks Tool’s long-awaited return after 13 years, continuing the musical journey from previous albums. The band retains their signature dark, psychedelic, and progressive style with long, intricate tracks. While it offers few surprises and some tracks feel familiar, fans will appreciate the craftsmanship and atmosphere. The album balances calm passages with powerful outbursts without venturing into extreme metal. It's a satisfying comeback promising more to come. Explore Tool’s Fear Inoculum—listen now to the long-awaited progressive rock journey!

 Melodies certainly well constructed with delicate guitars and harmonious vocal lines, very delicate and atmospheric keyboard layers, but everything never goes beyond or takes off.

 The main disappointment, however, is Zonder; ... here instead he offers a stingy drumming, overly minimalist, often resorting to fruitless electronic percussion that does not do justice to his name.

Mark Zonder and Gary Wehrkamp's collaborative album 'If It's Real' offers well-constructed melodies and delicate instrumentation but falls short of expectations. The project departs from their progressive metal backgrounds toward lighter, melodic music with minimalistic drumming and dull production. While pleasant and easy to listen to, the album lacks memorable moments and ultimately feels indifferent in impact. Fans hoping for a stronger effort will be left wanting more. Explore 'If It's Real' and decide if this melodic collaboration resonates with your music taste.

 The change of vocalist has incredibly changed things.

 The Verdict is a cheeky album to the max, an album I could define as safe, comfortable, exploiting an obsolete and overused idea knowing that way they can’t go wrong.

Queensrÿche's The Verdict continues the band's return to their classic melodic hard rock sound with new vocalist Todd La Torre. While the album is well-produced and satisfying for fans of traditional heavy metal, it plays safe without pushing musical boundaries. The review appreciates the energy and quality but questions if the band risks stagnation by avoiding experimentation. Overall, it's a solid album but lacks the boldness some longtime fans desire. Discover Queensrÿche's latest album The Verdict and decide if their classic sound hits the mark for you!