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Waterclime - The Astral Factor
West, Andy with Rama - Rama 1
Wetton, John - Live: Chasing The Dragon
Winterlong - Metall/Technology
Winterlong - s/t
Without Warning - Making Time
Without Warning - Step Beyond
Wolverine - Fervent Dreams
World of Silence - Mindscape

Waterclime - The Astral Factor
Lion Music
(2006)

As you see that Lion Music's new release onslaught has just started even from the beginning of January, 2006. Waterclime is a new project of extreme metal Vintersorg's leader, Mr.V. To be honest with you, I've never tried out the music of Vintersorg before, but surprisingly Waterclime's music sucessfully combines the elements of symphonic progressive rock with folky and trad music influences from Norway. Somewhat, the album of The Astral Factor sounds in the vein of early White Willow and some other notable progressive rock bands from Scandinavian regions. Yet, the music of Waterclime has managed to create their own atmospheric sounds and ambients with complex arrangments. In addition, each song has etherial and soothing effects to satisfy retro-prog rock fans. It's quite interesting to see that so-called European extreme metal and death metal groups have made fantastic symphonic rock or vintage sounding prog rock music like Opeth and Dan Swano. I have no idea why such bands/musicians residing in extreme or death metal bands sometimes release and make astonishingly fabulous prog rock and symphonic keyboard oriented albums. Yeah, I think there are some good enough reasons or motivations behind such great music to perform. The instrumentation through the entire album is really solid and beautiful enough for prog listeners to enjoy. Recommended for atmospheric and ambient prog rock music fans. The Astral Factor is one of fresh retro-sounding sympho prog albums done by modern-day's extreme metal musicians.

Andy West with Rama - Rama 1
Magna Carta
(2002)

Ex. The Dregs bassist, Andy West, released his latest solo album in 2002. Rama 1 features lots of great musicians, such as Mike Kennealy, Toshi Iseda, Mike Portnoy, Kit Watkins, and many many others. Stylistically, intense rock instrumental tunes and bit quarky types tunes are featured in this cd. Even though Rama 1 is made of Andy West's main ideas, each song evolved from the collaborations of each musician's ideas featured on Rama 1, esp., Mike Kennealy and Toshi Iseda. In my case, I really enjoy fantastic guitar solos of Toshi Iseda and strange guitar/synthetic phrasings of Mike Kennealy. Someone considers that Rama 1 is hard to describe, but there are several magical and bit strange musical world displayed. Definately, unique rock instrumental album. If you like Zappa, Vai, and The Dregs with some strange twists, then it would be for you. It is one of most original and unique works in Magna Carta catalog.

John Wetton - Live: Chasing The Dragon
Mesa/Bluemoon
(1994)

Chasing The Dragon is a recorded live album featuring John Wetton's live gig in Osaka & Tokyo, Japan in 1994. As long as I listen to this album carefully, Chasing The Dragon captures quite nice song-oriented selections of U.K., King Crimson, Asia, and his solo albums. This live album features the performance of John Beck (keyboardists, e.x. IT BITES), Bob Dalton (drums), and Andy Skelton (guitar), and of course John Wetton (singer/bass/guitar). John Wetton's passionate voice/bass and acoustic performance are really shining and incredible. As you know that Wetton is a great singer who had participated in U.K., K.C., Asia, and tons of others. All songs featured in this album has own charming and musicial treasures in prog and rock history. Personally, the tracks of U.K. and Asia are always very tasty and enjoyable to listen to every time. John Wetton is definately one of most important rock songwriters in this scene. His fans are very enthusiastic during live performance. If you like song-oriented catchy tracks, go for "Heat of The Moment", "Don't Cry", "Thirty Years", "Only Time Will Tell", "Hold Me Now", excellent "Book of Saturday", nice "Open Your Eyes", "Battle Lines", and "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes." Proggers are going to enjoy "Rendez-Vous 6:02" and "In The Dead of Night" featuring furious synth leads and nice keyboard works of John Beck. In my case, yeah I am very into his live version of U.K. tracks and Asia tunes with atmospheric and soulful "Opean Your Eyes", and memorable "Book of Saturday", and "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes". Even though Chasing The Sun is live album, this one is quite good start if you want to give a try to John Wetton related music.

Winterlong - Metal/Technology
Lion Music
(2006)

After having released three neo-classicaly laden powerful metal albums, Winterlong has morphed into a different entity on this latest album, Metal/Technology. Suprisingly, you can not detect any neo-classical metal factors at all. Winterlong's leader/guitarist Thorbjorn Englund has dived into new territory that sounds more modern and different metal music. Winterlong's previous album was quite heavy, comparing to other neo-classical metal bands. But Metal/Technocalogy album sounds definitely heavier than their predecessors. Surprisingly, this album was almost made and done by Thorbjorn Englund himself. Gone are melodic and authentic metal sounds and his fellow musicians this time (except for drummer Leif Eriksson) , but T. Englund seems to enjoy inject and put new elements like programming and experimental sounds on each song. Personally, this album appeals to my taste more than the albums Winterlong got involved. I do not say this is the ground-breaking metal album, but this new approach with T. Englund's complex and fluid guitar lines is quite effective to satisfy metal listeners who are looking for new sounds and different music. On the other hand, people who have enjoyed Winterlong's previous three albums would be quite disappointed with new album's direction. Metal/Technology is a kind of love and hate type album, but I believe T. Englund himself is proud of what he has accomplished on this latest album.

Winterlong - s/t
Lion Music
(2005)

This is the third album of Swedish neo-classical power metal band. Stylistically, their music reminds me of a cross between Dream Evil and Yngwie Malmsteen. Very fast guitar solos and shred keyboard solos are also evident. I thought Winterlong is one of typical neo-classical metal music, but what they have been playing is slightly different from others I think. This album offers really thick and heavy powerful metal sounds at the same time. This album features both pumping faster tunes and powerfully hard driving solid performance with hard edge. The singer of this band is really powerful, and soars like Mike Boals. I think the guitar player of Winterlong has previously contibuted for Lion Music's tribute and compilation albums several times, and his meticulous neo-classical fast guitar solos and vibratos would really impress guitar maniacs. He could be a new neo-classical guitar hero in the near future. I wish the rhythmic sections would pull off more complex ensemble a lot. Mainly, this band's main focus is definately the lead guitarist's guitar solos and melodic Swedish neo-classical styles. I am not sure that Italian keyboard wizard called Mistheria is a full-time member of Winterlong, but trade-off solos and unisons between guitars and keyboards are really amazing on this self-titled third album. Mistheria adds his trade-mark technical keyboard solos to enhance the music more dynamic. I am not sure how many prog power metal fans would be into their music, but neo-classical metal/hard rock fans would enjoy this kind of bombastic solos and faster tempo tracks.

Without Warning - Making Time
Zero Corporation
(1993)

Without Warning is east coast based U.S. melodic prog metal band. Making Time is their first full length album originally released in 1993, from Zero Corporation that has been out of business since late 90s. I know that some friends abroad asked me if this one is latest album or the album that never saw the light, but indeed this one is their 1st album. Without Warning released Making Time at first, then followed by their second album called Believe, and lastly Step Beyond is their last album so far. In Japan, Making Time and second album have been distributed pretty well. On the other hand, their 3rd album, Step Beyond, has never been officially released in my country. What an ironic situation it is! Anyway, going back to the review of Making Time. Making Time is slightly different from the music on Step Beyond. If you are into their second album, Believe, then you will find some similarities and differences between Making Time and Believe. Stylistically, I would describe that Making Time is their most straight-forward melodic prog metal offering with lots of memorable hookliness and hard driving energies putting together. This album features both melodic song-oriented tracks and instrumentally semi-complex compositions with excellent guitar solos and tasty synth leads. Hopefully, this album will be easier to get for the fans who are struggling to find. I strongly feel that Making Time album deserves to get attentions toward prog metal fans all over the world, because Making Time has lots of shining and fresh moments.

Without Warning - Step Beyond
Progressive Art Music/Inside Out

Step Beyond is a bit step out of melodic Prog Metal with AOR elements on their debut album released from now dysfunct legendary Zero Corp.Records. Ok, at a glance, Without Warning has explored more prog sounds than before. Some heavier keyboard and distorted organ sounds stand out with intricate and complex prog metal sounds with nice guitar chops. Well, probably mixing of the sounds on this album might be minor complaints for the listeners though, I personally do not care about that much mixing problems. Rather, I highly enjoy so much. There might does not have standout tracks like "Making Time" from 1st disc, however entirely each song on this Step Beyond album has been really well-balanced. Hopefully, they continue such direction with cathier elements bring more listeners. Fairly good prog metal album they made on it.

Wolverine - Fervent Dreams
Zizania/DVS Records
(1999/2001)

Wolverine is a unique Swedish Prog Metal band featuring the vocalist who does the roles of growl voice and clean voice. Basically, what they play on Fervent Dream is fairly complex and moderately heavier prog metal with keyboards. Not really comaring to any other prog metal contemporaries, but on some parts they remind me of Pain Of Salvation without quirkey parts and calm & atmospheric elements from prog metal giant, Fates Warning. Fervent Dreams shows they are promising acts. In the future, they will release new album from DVS Records, so stay tuned.

World of Silence - Mindscapes
Black Mark
(1998)

Mindscapes is their second album from Swedish melodic prog metal band World of Silence. Compared to their first album, they are focused on playing song-oriented melodic prog metal style with the hints of neo-progressive music a la Antares and Arena, but they sound heavier than the British neo-prog bands. Each member of World of Silence comfortably does their own job and dramatize the music effectively. There are also some complex and intricate sections that most prog metal groups usually are doing good at. From today's standards of prog metal music, the sound production might not be superb enough; however I do not get bothered at all from the sound production. They balance out relatively good on the department of production. Very pleasant and tasty melodic prog metal music for the fans.