Eclectic Vibes
by Andrew Frey
Dreamscape - 5th Season
Dreamscape5th Season
Label: Locomotive Records
Progressive metal from Munich, Germany portrayed with theatrics and grandeur. The male vocals are sung with just the right finesse between intense and emotive plus the headbanging grooves are parted with a friendly amount of atmospheric interludes.
• Dreamscape Website • Dreamscape WikiVanishing Point - The Fourth Season
Vanishing PointThe Fourth Season
Label: Locomotive Records
Australian born melodic metal with synth and actual singing. Hints of goth and a mixture of progressive and power metal elements manage to magnificently funnel the guitar riffs into a formidable force that has been seen around the globe.
• Vanishing Point Website • Vanishing Point WikiFreighter - s/t
Freighters/t
Label: Self Released
A Madison trio that knows how to play with metal structures of the past while injecting a contemporary intensity to them. Progressive a-tonal riffs conjoined with plodding, pummeling or explosive beats while hoisting a flair for noisy experimental fringe offerings treated with harsh angst ridden vocals.
• Freighter WebsiteTwisterbait - I Spy
TwisterbaitI Spy
Label: Xacca Sounds
A tasty tornadic EP of hybrid techno metal. The trio of members has the added technocratic blessing of being produced by Simon Hanson (Death In Vegas) who undoubtedly morphed this into the vision of rhythmic pulchritude that it is.
• Twisterbait WebsiteLiquid Jungle - Tiny Heaven
Liquid JungleTiny Heaven
Label: Self Released
Prog rock from Atlanta with a serious funk kick and some interesting quirks. The interplay of vocal harmonies amidst the disparate instrumental aptitudes serves to amplify the slurry of intriguing and beguiling musical intensities.
• Liquid Jungle WebsiteA Tortured Soul - Kiss of the Thorn
A Tortured SoulKiss of the Thorn
Label: Eyes Like Snow/Northern Silence Records
Operatic and progressive old-school gothic metal (ala Priest, King Diamond, Shadow’s Fall) from Milwaukee but signed to a German Label. Shadowy doom protruding from a festering pool of abstract progressions.
• A Tortured Soul WebsiteGiancarlo Vulcano - Vetro
Giancarlo VulcanoVetro
Label: Innova
An instrumental minimalist jazz excursion into mind-tantalizing guitar trysts and technical forays. This recording is the result of the composers involvement with Forecast Music from 2003-2005. For fans of Robert Fripp, Brian Eno, etc.
• Giancarlo Vulcano WebsiteJuno Reactor - Gods and Monsters
Juno ReactorGods and Monsters
Label: Metropolis Records
Genre crossing techno united by a vast array of amazing musicians.
• Juno Reactor Website • Juno Reactor WikiPeter Mathews - Far From Haggersville
Peter MathewsFar From Haggersville
Label: Trinema Meia
Award-winning, Madison-based film maker and musician brings us a soundtrack-type music and film CD with a real life puzzle to solve with actual gold coins as the potential payoff. Very intriguing concept!
• Peter Mathews WebsiteGomers - Mike Zirkel
GomersMike Zirkel
Label: Beeftone
Beloved hometown Madison quirk-nauts spew forth a beguiling array of witty song spins. From utilizing every town in Wisconsin as lyrical fodder to showcasing such guest musicians as Adrian Belew and Robert Fripp, they delight and frolic in the asinine as well as the sublime.
• The Gomers Website • The Gomers WikiDevil's Slingshot - Clinophobia
Devil's SlingshotClinophobia
Label: Mascot Records
A breathtaking Super-Trio comprised of musical luminaries Tony MacAlpine, Billy Sheehan and Virgil Donail. As one would expect, they flex there impressive technical wizardry and musical prowess throughout this instrumental release with style, finesse and maturity.
- Theories of Tension
Theories of Tension
Label: Self Released
A many faceted award winning Madison based metal outfit that throws down some prog rock, math rock and extreme jazz compositions in an aspiring manner. Somehow the recording is loose/rough/thin in a few areas which diminishes the exuberant talent contained here.
• WebsiteView More
Viewing Page 1 - of 7