The Socceroos may not have gotten far in the recent World Cup, but in our humble opinion on Progtopia, Australia is destroying the competition in 2014 when it comes to progressive music. Teramaze, Anubis, and Voyager have already been featured in interview or Friday Finds episodes this year, and now, Hemina has returned with an even stronger effort than their debut Synthetic. The ten songs on Nebulae (due out 19 August) are connected to the concept of lucid dreaming, and stylistically the band is now incorporating elements of funk and 80s pop with their brand of progressive metal that's full of lush vocal harmonies and multiple dimensions. Host Mark Ashby spoke with guitarists/vocalists Doug Skene and Mitch Coull, and bassist/vocalist Jessica Martin (also pictured, keyboardist/vocalist Phil Eltakchi) about what's been happening since we last heard from the band in Episode 005, the connections among all Hemina's albums (including one that's not even finished yet), and the story behind the making of the video for their song "Freedom." You'll also hear the world premiere of the track "Strength"! Find the band online at www.hemina.com.au.

Featured songs/excerpts:
"Before"
"Lust"
"Freedom"
"Strength"
"Soulmates"

To listen to Hemina's first Progtopia appearance from April 2012, click here: http://progtopia.libsyn.com/episode-005-and-now-to-find-hemina

"Like" Progtopia on Facebook (www.facebook.com/Progtopia and www.facebook.com/groups/1380357308874546/) and follow Progtopia on Twitter (@Progtopia) to send a message about the show and to receive news about current and upcoming interviews. Please also visit our partner stations IAAM Radio at www.itsallaboutmusic.net and PRM Radio at www.progrockandmetal.net, where you can listen to and request songs hundreds of bands in the genre, including Hemina. Thanks for listening!

It's been a few years since Swedish power-metal quintet Seventh Wonder released their most recent album The Great Escape, but Johan Liefvendahl (guitar), Andreas "Kyrt" Söderin (keyboards), Tommy Karevik (vocals), Stefan Norgren (drums), and Andreas Blomqvist (bass) are about to take ProgPower USA by storm. At the fourteenth installment of the Atlanta festival, as part of their set, Seventh Wonder will perform their classic 2008 album Mercy Falls in its entirety, with plans for a DVD release to follow. Long recognized as among the most-respected bands in the genre, they've also put out a new video for a song called "Inner Enemy," and a full album is in the works. Host Mark Ashby talked with Blomqvist about the band's origins and move toward progressive elements, the emotional impact behind Mercy Falls, the way the band handled Karevik's induction into Kamelot while remaining Seventh's Wonder's singer, and more. Find them online at www.seventhwonder.se, and ProgPower USA at www.progpowerusa.com.

Featured songs/excerpts:
"The Angelmaker"
"One Last Goodbye"
"Unbreakable"
"Welcome to Mercy Falls"
"The Black Parade"
"The Great Escape - VI: A New Balance/VII: Death of the Goddesses"
"Alley Cat"

"Like" Progtopia on Facebook (www.facebook.com/Progtopia and www.facebook.com/groups/1380357308874546/) and follow Progtopia on Twitter (@Progtopia) to send a message about the show and to receive news about current and upcoming interviews. Please also visit our partner stations IAAM Radio at www.itsallaboutmusic.net and PRM Radio at www.progrockandmetal.net, where you can listen to and request songs hundreds of bands in the genre, including Seventh Wonder. Thanks for listening!

Originally posted 20 August 2014

Now that the dust has settled from the lawsuit surrounding veteran rockers Queensryche and the parties involved can go their separate ways, former singer Geoff Tate is back for his second appearance on Progtopia. Host Mark Ashby talked with him about his feelings in the aftermath of it all, plans for new material with a hoped-for release date of early 2015, the music-history-meets-comedy Rock and Vaudeville show that he's a key part of, and if he ever considered his and Queensryche's music "progressive" (including some of the influences he grew up with). Fans have one last chance to catch Tate's version of the band in concert during August with the month-long "Farewell to Queensryche" tour. Find out if it's coming near you by visiting www.queensryche.com. You can also catch up with Tate online at www.geofftate.com.

Featured songs/excerpts:
"Freiheit Ouverture"
"Suite Sister Mary"
"Eyes of a Stranger"
"The Hands"
"The Weight of the World"
"Resistance"

To listen to Geoff Tate's first Progtopia appearance from June 2013, go to http://progtopia.libsyn.com/episode-032-in-the-hands-of-geoff-tate

"Like" Progtopia on Facebook (www.facebook.com/Progtopia and www.facebook.com/groups/1380357308874546/) and follow Progtopia on Twitter (@Progtopia) to send a message about the show and to receive news about current and upcoming interviews. Please also visit our partner stations IAAM Radio at www.itsallaboutmusic.net and PRM Radio at www.progrockandmetal.net, where you can listen to and request songs hundreds of bands in the genre, including Queensryche. Thanks for listening!

Originally posted 25 July 2014

In a testament to the idea of following one's muse, the Burlington, Vermont-based Elephants of Scotland (Adam Rabin [keyboards, vocals], Dan MacDonald [bass, vocals], John Whyte [guitar, vocals], and Ornan McLean [drums]) have defied the jam-band ethos of their area and forged ahead with their progressive sounds and memorable tunes. With two albums already in their discography and a live album planned, the group played this year's RoSfest in Pennsylvania and are looking to perform more widely, especially in Montreal. Host Mark Ashby talked with MacDonald, Rabin, McLean, and lyricist Greg Skillman about the reasons behind the fast pace of album releases, what old and new prog bands have commanded their attention, and how an encounter with the singer from Toad the Wet Sprocket inspired a track from their newest work Execute and Breathe. They can be found online at www.elephantsofscotland.com.

Featured songs/excerpts:
"Starboard"
"Home Away from Home"
"Geograph"
"The Other Room"
"Mousetrap"
"Boxless"

"Like" Progtopia on Facebook (www.facebook.com/Progtopia and www.facebook.com/groups/1380357308874546/) and follow Progtopia on Twitter (@Progtopia) to send a message about the show and to receive news about current and upcoming interviews. Please also visit our partner stations IAAM Radio at www.itsallaboutmusic.net and PRM Radio at www.progrockandmetal.net, where you can listen to and request songs hundreds of bands in the genre. Thanks for listening!

Originally posted 21 July 2014

As Arjen Lucassen has proven, you can indeed make a career out of concept albums. With three works under their belts, Australia's Anubis is well on its way to doing the same. The seven-piece monster (Dean Bennison [guitar], Martyn Cook [wind instruments], David Eaton [keyboards], Robert James Moulding [vocals], Steve Eaton [drums], Douglas Skene [guitar], Anthony Stewart [bass]) released their most recent album, Hitchhiking to Byzantium, in May 2014, and while not plot-driven like their previous efforts 230503 and A Tower of Silence, it is still a series of connected songs, as host Mark Ashby learned in his interview with Moulding, David Eaton, and Skene. They also talked about the night of drinking that led to the initial idea for honoring a lost friend that became 230503, why they choose to write thematically, and upcoming live shows like their supporting slot with Anathema. You can find them online at www.anubismusic.com.

Featured songs/excerpts:
"A Room with a View"
"Partitionists"
"Leaving Here Tonight"
"Hitchhiking to Byzantium"
"A King with No Crown"
"Dead Trees"

"Like" Progtopia on Facebook (www.facebook.com/Progtopia and www.facebook.com/groups/1380357308874546/) and follow Progtopia on Twitter (@Progtopia) to send a message about the show and to receive news about current and upcoming interviews. Please also visit our partner stations IAAM Radio at www.itsallaboutmusic.net and PRM Radio at www.progrockandmetal.net, where you can listen to and request songs hundreds of bands in the genre, including Anubis. Thanks for listening!

Originally posted 6 July 2014

While by no means a common instrument in progressive circles, the violin has still been part of many influential bands over the years as more than just occasional coloration. A good case in point is the UK band Curved Air, whose 1970s lineup included violinist Darryl Way as a key contributor. While Way has since moved on from the group to projects like his classical band Verisma, he's also released a couple of solo projects in recent years that showcase his talents in different settings: 2013's Ultra Violins being more of a traditional classical work, and this spring's Children of the Cosmos a return to his progressive roots. Way spoke with host Mark Ashby about his earlier years as member of Curved Air, his collaborative projects with the likes of Sting and Tim Rice, how he views composition in the various genres he works in, and more. He can be located online at www.darrylway.com.

Featured songs/excerpts:
"Lagan Love"
"Children of the Cosmos"
"It Happened Today" (Curved Air)
"Polovtsian Dances"
"Spooks"
"Summer of Love"

"Like" Progtopia on Facebook (www.facebook.com/Progtopia and www.facebook.com/groups/1380357308874546/) and follow Progtopia on Twitter (@Progtopia) to send a message about the show and to receive news about current and upcoming interviews. Please also visit our partner stations IAAM Radio at www.itsallaboutmusic.net and PRM Radio at www.progrockandmetal.net, where you can listen to and request songs hundreds of bands in the genre. Thanks for listening!

Originally posted 22 June 2014

If you take the musicianship of Anubis Gate, the soaring themes of Vanden Plas, the accessibility of Rush, and the vocal stylings of Peter Steele, you might find yourself listening to the Australian quintet Voyager. With the impending release of their latest album V, the power-prog-pop metal band (Scott Kay [guitar], Alex Canion [bass/backing vocals], Daniel Estrin [keyboards/lead vocals], Ashley Doodkorte [drums], and Simone Dow [guitar]) is once again taking the world by storm with their instantly-memorable melodies and lyrics. They'll tour the major Australian cities in July, play ProgPower Europe in October, and hopefully more of the world in the months to follow. Host Mark Ashby spoke with Canion about the new release and the accompanying video for "Hyperventilating," his transition from fan of the band to a member, and why it's not a problem for him when critics claim they're "too pop" for a metal band. They're online at www.voyager-australia.com.

Featured songs/excerpts:
"I am the ReVolution"
"Breaking Down"
"Iron Dream (In Memoriam - Peter Steele)"
"Hyperventilating"
"The Morning Light"
"The Meaning of I"

"Like" Progtopia on Facebook (www.facebook.com/Progtopia and www.facebook.com/groups/1380357308874546/) and follow Progtopia on Twitter (@Progtopia) to send a message about the show and to receive news about current and upcoming interviews. Please also visit our partner stations IAAM Radio at www.itsallaboutmusic.net and PRM Radio at www.progrockandmetal.net, where you can listen to and request songs hundreds of bands in the genre, including Voyager. Thanks for listening!

Originally posted 26 May 2014

Who says the bass player gets no respect? Certainly not Julie Slick and Marco Machera, otherwise known as J + M, who will be releasing their first album - Fourth Dementia - within the next month or so. Slick, member of the Adrian Belew Power Trio and the Crimson ProjecKt, has teamed up with Machera (previously featured on a Progtopia Friday Finds show) to create eight instrumental tracks that span progressive, jazz, and experimental styles that often remind a listener of King Crimson but also contain much that is unique to this talented pairing. Host Mark Ashby talked with both bassists about how their long-distance partnership came to be, what it's like to be a part of the Crimson family tree, and if there's a glass ceiling in the rock music business or not. Their websites are www.julieslick.com and www.marcomachera.com.

Featured songs/excerpts:
"Esteem"
"Infinity x 1"
"Feck You Op"
"1986"
"Krush"

"Like" Progtopia on Facebook (www.facebook.com/Progtopia and www.facebook.com/groups/1380357308874546/) and follow Progtopia on Twitter (@Progtopia) to send a message about the show and to receive news about current and upcoming interviews. Please also visit our partner stations IAAM Radio at www.itsallaboutmusic.net and PRM Radio at www.progrockandmetal.net, where you can listen to and request songs hundreds of bands in the genre. Thanks for listening!

Originally posted 10 June 2014

Flutes and yodels don't find a home in many genres, but luckily for fans of those musical expressions, prog rock is open to them, perhaps never exemplified better than in the music of Dutch quartet Focus. Having been around for over 40 years with some breaks in between, the current lineup consists of Menno Gootjes (guitar), Bobby Jacobs (bass), Pierre van der Linden (drums), and Thijs van Leer (keyboards, flute, vocals). They've just released an album of reimagined takes of past songs called Golden Oldies (though some aren't so old), and they're touring this year in support of it. Host Mark Ashby talked with original member van Leer about the making of their iconic song "Hocus Pocus," influences from classical and classic rock musicians, and why only one band really counts as progressive rock in his view -- and it's not his own. Find them on the web at www.focustheband.com.

Featured songs/excerpts:
"House of the King"
"Focus 1"
"Hocus Pocus"
"Sylvia"
"Aya Yippie Hippie Yee"
"Brother"

"Like" Progtopia on Facebook (www.facebook.com/Progtopia and www.facebook.com/groups/1380357308874546/) and follow Progtopia on Twitter (@Progtopia) to send a message about the show and to receive news about current and upcoming interviews. Please also visit our partner stations IAAM Radio at www.itsallaboutmusic.net and PRM Radio at www.progrockandmetal.net, where you can listen to and request songs hundreds of bands in the genre. Thanks for listening!

Originally posted 6 May 2014

Many classic bands, prog and otherwise, got their start in the late '60s; very few have made a continuously successful run from then until now. Among those fortunate and talented few are the UK quartet Wishbone Ash, whose latest studio album Blue Horizon has recently been released. The foursome (Joe Crabtree [drums], Muddy Manninen [guitar], Bob Skeat [bass], and founding member Andy Powell [guitar]) are mounting a tour of parts of the US beginning on the 15th of April in support of the album. In advance of that, host Mark Ashby spoke with drummer Crabtree about his arrival in the band several years ago as someone who had been alive less time than the band had been active, the diverse styles exhibited through their catalog and even within one album, and the recently-decided lawsuit against former member Martin Turner, among many other topics. Find the band online at www.wishboneash.com and Crabtree at www.joecrabtree.com.

Featured songs/excerpts:
"All There Is to Say"
"American Century"
"Warrior"
"Take It Back"
"Being One"

"Like" Progtopia on Facebook (www.facebook.com/Progtopia and www.facebook.com/groups/1380357308874546/) and follow Progtopia on Twitter (@Progtopia) to send a message about the show and to receive news about current and upcoming interviews. Please also visit our partner stations IAAM Radio at www.itsallaboutmusic.net and PRM Radio at www.progrockandmetal.net, where you can listen to and request songs hundreds of bands in the genre. Thanks for listening!

Originally posted 10 April 2014