Album Rating: 4.0

@e21; It must have been nice to see Portnoy and DT live. Powerful...Pure energy! Lucky you! If you saw them 3 times, it proves that you had big time there. Which albums did they cover? Which tour I mean...?

Album Rating: 5.0

The first time was in Lisbon and the concert was Dream Theater & Guests, in June 2009. I'm not sure if it belonged to a tour. The first part was made by Pendragon, who substituted Frost*, the band initially invited by them.

The second time was in Porto, in the same year but in October, and it belonged to the tour Progressive Nation 2009. The first part was made by three bands, Unexpected, Bigelf and Opeth. I think it was in their world presentation of their album "Black Clouds & Silver Linings".

The third time was also in Porto in July 2011. This time their were no guest bands and I think it was their world presentation of "A Dramatic Turn Od Events". This time with Mangini already on board.

What I can tell you is that the Libon concert was really great. The comunion between the band and public was astonishing, especially with Portnoy. Sometimes it seemed that him commanded all things. The performance of Rudess was also incredible. It was especially from that day that I started respecting him even more and started considering him one of the great keybordists ever. I also loved the performance of Pendragon. The guys were able to enthusiast a public with an appetite for a more heavy style, that usually their music doesn't provoke.

The other two concerts were also great but haven't particularly memories of them, except could have see Opeth for the first time, but for a short time, for my taste. I also liked of the other two bands, especially Bigelf.

Album Rating: 4.0

It's all of an experience man! I own the Dream Theater's DVD Live At Budokan and I have the same impression you have about Portnoy being the boss. Before embarking the stage, he was the one who encouraged the band, and on stage, he sometimes acted like a chef d'orchestre, and he was the one who established the biggest contact with the audience. I know a little bit of Bigelf, they're an ok band of what I remember. Pendragon never impressed me, but I haven't listened to them very much. Do you have a suggestion for a starting point? Also, lucky you about Opeth even if it was a short appearance. You must have assisted to a lot of shows. It's not my case, but I'm satisfied with the ones I've seen.

Album Rating: 4.0

Stop being humble, Nag ;)

No, I haven't heard Theories of Flight, but I will change it now that you make me curious about it. Will also revisit and give another chance to Awaken the Guardian. I've listened to it once, and wasn't impressed but if I want to check out John Arch, it's an obligatory passage...

Album Rating: 5.0

No Portnoy, no party!

Album Rating: 4.0

It's DT-lite without him, basically.

Album Rating: 5.0

About Pendragon, I really like them. They're one of the founders of neo-prog and one of the best bands of that genre. I have all their studio albums and I also have many of their live albums. The guys have essentially two musical periods. A phase more symphonic in the vein of Genesis, more melodic, until "Believe", and a phase more heavy from "Pure", until now. This isn't so strange if we know that their producer became to be Karl Groom, the leader of the prog metal band Threshold. So, from their first phase I think "The Window Of Life", "The Masquerade Overture" and "Not Of This World", are the best place to start. From their heaviest phase, I think "Pure" is their best work to check. One of these days I need to review some of their stuff. The problem is that I have to much stuff to review.

About that I must have assisted to a lot of shows, it's not true my friend. For a guy with my age, they're not so much. From what I can recall, right now, in the 70's, I only assisted to live shows from Peter Gabriel, Camel, Supertramp, Barclay James Harvest, Roxy Music, Pulsar, Tantra, Stranglers and Durutti Column. The last two aren't prog bands. In this century I only assisted to live shows from Dream Theater, Riverside, Symphony X, Eagles and in the last month Kraftwerk. So, as you can see there's not much live stuff in my curriculum.

About Portnoy, did you know that was him who got the idea of to form Transatlantic? And because we talked about Fates Warning, did you know that the initial idea for the guitarist of that band that was suggested by him to Neal Morse, was Jim Matheos? The thing never happened because Matheos had no time for that. So, the invitation to Roin Stolt was a second choice suggested by Morse because he had known him alrready from some live venues. Did you know that was Portnoy who sugested the name of Trewavas for the band too, because he always felt that he was always underappreciated on Marillion.

So, as you can see, for me, Portnoy always was one of the greatest prog artists, in many ways.

And you, my friend. What were the bands you saw live? What you think about neo-prog? I know you love Marillion, at least in Fish era. But, what are your favourite neo-prog bands?

Album Rating: 4.0

@Nag; Theories of Flight is a sort of prog metal I really dig. Could you suggest me something similar ? I thought Leprous were at some point compatible, but what else? Alder's vocals are more mature in there. They are not whiny or plaintive anymore. They are convincing and are delivered with confidence. They are a bit similar to the ones found into Psychotic Waltz to me. On the other hand, John Arch does a great job for their first albums style (I find them albums sounding dated), but I think Alder is more appropriated for the Zonder era. I detect some similarities with Arch and James LaBrie vocally. They seem to reach the same amount of octaves, and both are forcing too much when they hit high pitch, so they can ''miss'' these notes.

My verdict is that Alder is a better vocalist overall, and it seems he keeps on improving from an album to another.

Album Rating: 4.0

@e21; Neo Prog has never been my favorite subgenre of progressive rock. It looks attractive at first glance, because it borrows a lot to the vintage sound of symphonic prog of the 70's, except for the modern use of the synthesizers and the keyboards that are predominant, so the quality of a neo prog band lies in the use of them keyboards. I prefer by far a Neo Prog band that is influenced by the 70's, over Neo Prog bands directly influenced by other Neo Prog bands.

The genre sometimes presents either hard rocking sounding or pop leanings. We can also hear drum machines and electronic samplings. In short, Neo prog can experiment to the point the band can have hard time to build their proper sound and identity. I will tell you about my principal Neo Prog bands and the live shows I've assisted later.

Album Rating: 4.0

Theories of Flight is a sort of prog metal I really dig. Could you suggest me something similar ?

Alder's vocals are more mature in there. They are not whiny or plaintive anymore. They are convincing and are delivered with confidence. They are a bit similar to the ones found into Psychotic Waltz to me. On the other hand, John Arch does a great job for their first albums style (I find them albums sounding dated), but I think Alder is more appropriated for the Zonder era. I detect some similarities with Arch and James LaBrie vocally. They seem to reach the same amount of octaves, and both are forcing too much when they hit high pitch, so they can ''miss'' these notes.



My verdict is that Alder is a better vocalist overall, and it seems he keeps on improving from an album to another.

Album Rating: 3.0

Theories of Flight is a sort of prog metal I really dig. Could you suggest me something similar?

Despite the stupid name (IMO) Caligula's Horse would probably work for you if you like Theories of Flight and Leprous. Their album "Bloom" is good, but their upcoming album "In Contact" is even better.

Album Rating: 4.0

@Nag, It's cool that LaBrie appeared in an Alder's era song, but I did not express myself clearly I'm afraid; I was talking about the vocal similarities between Arch and LaBrie more specifically ;)

Arch vocals are more acute, more vivid though.

I didn't know FW was a favorite band of yours. I will try to run through their entire discog to see their progression. Thanks for bringing the temptation, Nag.

@ Willie, thanks a lot. Will try your rec soon.

@e21, here I go with my top neo-prog bands; Marillion comes first, Agents of Mercy, Arena, Comedy of Errors, Frost, Galahad, IQ, K2, Pallas and The Watch. And Fish maybe. I don't like or know all the bands equally.

About the band I've seen live; Maneige (2), Chick Corea and Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Walter Rossi, Pat Benatar, Rush (3), Genesis without Gabriel (2), Peter Gabriel (3), King Crimson (2) Jethro Tull (2), Supertramp, Jean-Luc Ponty and Marillion. These came off the top of my head. So you see, I don't have many by my side. Would have loved to see Yes one time in my life.

Album Rating: 4.0

Haha, read it wrong, my mistake. Yeah, I liked them the first time I heard them, but over the years I've only come to love them more and more. You're welcome ;)

Album Rating: 5.0

@ Jethro

As my comment is too long, I'll split it into four parts. Sorry about that.

About neo-prog, I can see your point. I know that many prog heads dislike this style. Personally, I haven't any kind of problems with it. I even like it very much. There are great albums in it. For me, neo-prog is nothing more than the symphonic prog sound of the 70's, more melodic, simple and commercial, with a more emphasis on keyboards, and in the last years with a small touch of metal, in many of the cases.

About the bands mentioned by you, they're some the best representatives of the genre. As probably I know the genre and those bands better than you, I'll give you my opinion about them and their better albums.

Marllion is probably the most important of all and is my favourite too. Still, I mean Fish's era. I know some things in Hogarth's era but I'm not an expert. I clearly prefer Fish's era. As you know all their four first albums are great and even the band have great live albums on that era too.

IQ is my second choice. They don't have really weak albums since their album "Ever", with the exception of "Seven Stories Into 98" a release mostly devoted to their earlier works. So, "Ever", "Sbterranea", "The Seventh House", "Dark Matter", "Frequency" and "The Road Of Bones" are great stuff. I particularly like the way how Peter Nicholls sings. Somehow, we can do a parallelism between Dream Theater with Fates Warning and Marillion with IQ. Fates Warning and IQ continue their prog path evolving and creating something new, in opposition Dream Theater and Marillion are sitting comfortably using their old worn formula.

Album Rating: 5.0

Pendragon can be my third choice, but I'm not very sure about that choice. They never made a real masterpiece but they always had a very consistent career. As I talked about them on my other comment I only say now, in addition, that for the four albums mentioned by me, "The World", "Passion" and "Men Who Climb Mountains" are very good albums too.

Arena is another excellent band. As you know, their leader, Clive Nolan, is also the keyboardist of Pendragon. I like his keybord style very much. And also as you know, this is band formed latter than the others, a kind of a super-group in the genre, formed by other members from other neo-prog bands, like Mick Pointer from Marillion. All their discograhy is good but I particularly would highlight "The Visitor", "Immortal?" and "Contagion".

Pallas never was a very prolific band. In so many years they never produced many albums. But some of them are great. I'm going to highlight three: "Beat The Drum", "The Cross And The Crucible" and particularly "The Dreams Of Men", which is one of the best albums in the genre.

Album Rating: 5.0

Gallahd is another not very prolific band. In the begining they never paid much attention to be a profissional band. Initially they were a band of covers of several prog bands. They only became professional in the 90's. My favourite albums are their last four. "Year Zero" is a bit a strange album very influenced by the electronic music. It was a very adventurous album, but I like it very much. The others three are all excellent, "Empires Never Last", "Battle Scars" and "Beyond The Realms Of "Euphoria", particularly "Empires Never Last" which is for me another of the greatest albums made in the genre too. I think the real main reason for the explosion of this band is that in the last years they have a new keyboardist Dean Baker. He was abble to bring a new original sound to the band. This is partucularly evident on "Year Zero". Still, I think the production of Karl Groom of Threshold isn't strange to that too.

About Comedy Of Errors I know nothing from them, I only know the band by the name. But for what I've read, I think all their stuff is great. But you can tell me more about the band, if you want.

About K2 we have already talked enough about them.

Album Rating: 5.0

Finally, I want to talk about another band not mentioned by you, Magenta, the most recent of all. This is somehow a different band. For instance, of all tese bands this is the only one with a female vocalist. And as I know that you like female singers, maybe they can satisfy your taste. Their music is perhaps more simple with atmospheric guitars, wonderful keyboard solos and beautiful symphonic arrangements. I think this is a band that can bring to us a certain true colour to the progressive rock. Perhaps their best album be "Seven". But "Metamorpfosis", "Chameleon", "The Twenty Seven Club" and "We Are Legend" are all good too.

Finally, another one last name that came to my mind in this moment, Matthew Parmenter, the leader of Discipline. Perhaps that you know too, that he has also a solo career that is cataloghed as neo-prog too. And as I know that you like Discipline and Van Der Graaf Generator, maybe you can be interested on him. All his three solo albums are good, "Astray", "Horror Express" and "All Hour Yesterdays".

Of course there are many other neo-prog bands, but these bands and albums are enough to can give to you some satisfying moments, I hope.

Finally and ending really, I hope that I haven't been too much boring and professoral with you with a such extensive comment. It never was my intention. But as you mentioned that you don't like or know all the bands equally, neither do I, but, as I perhaps know some of them much better than you, I thought that a more detailed explanation can be more useful to you.

Cheers, bro.

Album Rating: 4.0

Whoa, man, you want to keep me busy for a long while. As I said, neo-prog is not my favorite subgenre. Bands i'm more familiar with are Marillion (especially Fish era), Arena, Comedy of Errors, IQ and The Watch but it doesn't mean I find them flawless. For exemple, despite my high ratings for IQ, there is something about their overall sound that irritates me, especially the repetitive style of keyboard playing and the drums that sound repetitive as well, almost like a beat machine.

Comedy of Errors only have 4 releases up to now, and I know and love their two first very well.I think you would dig them too. They explore the 70's territories and the more modern prog too. I'm sure they are influenced by the Italian prog such as Locanda Delle Fate and the modern prog Finisterre as well. Melodies are their strenght, and they use Mellotrons to a great effect. I think they are on par with Arena to me. According to Prog Archives, Comedy of Errors have similarities with Pendragon of the 80's. Thank you for all your effort in informations and indications for all these bands. I will investigate into some of them, because i'm not that much familiar with them. We must not forget that neo prog was born when classic prog rock was pretty much dying. That surely explains for a huge part the lack of popularity towards it. And bands probably had hard times to find their own identity. Kudos for your knowledge about the bands and the movement.

And while you talk about VDGG and Discipline, I suggest you to try the modern prog band Gargamel - Descending. They also flirt with early King Crimson's sounding.

Cheers mate.

Album Rating: 5.0

You're welcome dude. My only intention was to give you more information about the most important neo-prog bands, in my opinion.

But as I'm going to take out another week of vacations, and due to that, you don't have a review of mine to keep you busy, maybe that can keep you busy for a while, ah, ah, ah.

Thanks for the information about Comedy Of Errors. It seems to me that they can be a great purchase in a a next future.

About VDGG, I only mention their name due to the solo albums of Parmenter, the frontman of Discipline. Since you like both bands, it seemed to me a nice checking for you, in a future, since his solo stuff is considedred as neo-prog too.

Album Rating: 4.5

Beauty