Operation: Mindcrime – Resurrection (2016)

Resurrection is the second studio album of Geoff Tate’s project named Operation: Mindcrime, and is also part two of a trilogy story. The music is very catchy rock and metal, alternated with more progressive moments and twists, and contains the recognizable voice of mister Tate. The production isn’t too good sadly. Most of time it sounds very “clogged” when it comes to the mix, like you suffering from an ear infection that clogged up your ears, but somehow some bits and pieces sound fresh and more open. Too bad, because the music itself is good and enjoyable. The bass is heavy and present, which I quite like. It reminds me a bit of Queensrÿche’s early 2000’s music. It’s quite a long album because it’s over one hour long.

An underappreciated album: Steven Wilson – Insurgentes (2008)

When someone says “What do you think about Steven Wilson’s solo albums?”, you will probably hear conversations about the albums Hand.Cannot.Erase, Grace For Drowning, or The Raven That Refused To Sing… But, there’s also another solo album from sir Wilson, named Insurgentes. His first “sort of” solo album, that was released a year before Porcupine Tree’s last album The Incident, which is the year 2008.

The Pineapple Thief – Your Wilderness (2016)

I know, I’m a bit late with this one, but I just wanted to write a review of this beauty, which was released in August this year. I also reviewed Bruce Soord’s solo album which was released earlier this year (you can read my review here), but I think that Bruce is way better in his element in his band The Pineapple Thief.

Ash Ra Tempel – Le Berceau De Cristal (2016 reissue)

An album that was originally released back in 1994, and recorded in the year 1975. The music is made for the movie Le Berceau De Cristal, which was released in 1976. All music is recorded in Studio ROMA, except the title track Le Berceau De Cristal, which was recorded during a live concert at Palais du Festival in Cannes. The CD has a booklet where the complete story of the making of the album is written.

Porcupine Tree – Stupid Dream (1999)

Yes, I know… Another review of an old Porcupine Tree album, but I just couldn’t resist! Released back in the year 1999, the album that came out three years later after my favourite album Signify.

Must have album: John Wesley – a way you’ll never be (2016)

A new studio album by the one and only John Wesley. His eighth it seems, while he also worked (and still works) with a lot of different artists/bands as guest or tour musician. Busy guy! I really like his previous studio album named Disconnect, so I was very curious about this one!

Circle Unbroken – Vincere (2016)

A debut album from a Belgian female fronted gothic metal band. A tough genre to stand out from the crowd, because there are tons of female fronted metal bands out there (you can read another review of a female fronted metal band here). Most of the tracks on Vincere are quite up tempo, and are around three or four minutes long. The album itself lasts forty minutes, so it’s not a long album.

Steve Thorne – Island Of The Imbeciles (2016)

You would say this would be a punk rock album by looking at the album sleeve, probably because of the steampunk-like British flag and the graffiti text on it. I never heard of this artist before, and I actually should be ashamed of it, because I found out this is music that I really enjoy listening to. This isn’t punk, but pure and wonderful prog rock/pop, and very accessible too. Some tracks could be even filed under soft prog, or something like that. It doesn’t contain long prog epics, but songs between three and seven minutes long.

Crashride – Crashride (2015)

Crashride is a debut album made by French Canadians Jean-Sébastien Côté (composer, sound designer) and François Therriault (guitarist, composer), and has different musicians contributing on several tracks. The sleeve looks very interesting, it reminds me of a microscopic cluster of plant cells. The music itself is mostly instrumental. It is dreamy progressive and electronic music, with lovely ambient and soundscape moments, which I find very beautiful. Twelve tracks that are between three and six minutes long, which sound very good. Keyboards/synthesizers, guitars, bass, Chapman stick and v-drums are mostly presented. Frédérike Bédard provides vocals on some of the songs. This is a tough album to review track by track, because the instruments you hear are often merged together perfectly, making it one gamut of musicality.

Must have album: TILT – Hinterland (2016)

In early May, I received an email from a certain guy named Steve Vantsis. He asked if I was interested in reviewing his album that was going to be released in late June. Not knowing who Steve was, I was interested in this album he was talking about. I should be ashamed, because I didn’t know that Steve is the bassist of Fish’s band! Stupid me! … Anyway, let’s talk about the album!