Glass Нammer

Michael Baryshnikov написал(а) к All в Oct 18 17:00:39 по местному времени:

Нello All!

Залит GlassНammer/(2018)Chronomonaut

В своём поршлом обзоре, посвященном Стеклянному Молотку, я написал нечто вроде "хорошо, что они, наконец, стали звучать так, как им изначально полагалось - как Йес".
В своем новом альбоме Хромонавт они к звучанию Йес прибавили ещё Пинк Флойд, Джентл Джайнт и... Битлз. Вот, когда ирают "как Йес" - чертовски здорово и интересно, а вот, когда по-другому - уже не так интересно. Энивей, альбом интересный, достойный, полный до краёв отличными, прекрасно исполненными композициями. Единственная претензия - мудрят-мудрят и, иной раз, перемудривают...
ВЕСЬМА ВЕСЬМА РЕКОМЕНДУЮ!

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Glass Нammer releases another solid epic with Chronomonaut. Much more melodic and lyrical, the progressive rock elements may remain a bit muted, but the song writing and orchestration is excellent. Added instrumentation, winds and strings, add another layer to their repertoire. Track 4 "The Past is the Past" stands out as a longer more progressive work that I keep going back to. Enjoy the variety of vocals and guest artists, Matthew Parmenter (vocals) and Chris Нerin from Discipline is a pleasant surprise. Glass Нammer led Fred Schendel and Steve Babb continue to craft some great stories with music, excellent tone painting, yet they continue to evolve and change, not settling for old formulas. I may be partial to the Cor Cordium and Perilous era, but sometimes you don't need something that heavy musically, the melodic elements are very strong with this release. Buy it, dissect it, enjoy it!

(c) OldSchoolProg, PA
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This is another excellent release from Glass Нammer, and it is recommended for progressive rock fans. They get an A+ for production and musical direction on Chronomonaut, and this may just be the most ambitious release they have ever done. The sax and horns makes this their jazziest release, with a ton or prog and a sliver of blues. I love the direction that Glass Нammer is taking with this release, and feel they should continue on these lines with more of a jazz-rock vibe like a proggier Chicago. There are no bad tracks on Chronomonaut, and it takes the listener on an eclectic adventure with a ton of variety. "1980 Something" is a standout track that features Susie Bogdanowicz on vocals, and starts with some static to take you back in time to your 1980 LP years. It has some excellent guitar strumming and solos, as well as the excellent performance by Susie. The last track is the 10 minute "Fade Away" with Matthew Parmenter on vocals, which is an amazing ending to Chronomonaut. Overall, there is so much to enjoy here, and I have no issue calling this the best Glass Нammer release on ambition alone.

(c) javajeff, PA
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Line-up / Musicians

- Susie Bogdanowicz / lead & backing vocals
- Fred Schendel / guitars, keyboards, backing vocals
- Steve Babb / bass, keyboards, backing vocals
- Aaron Raulston / drums

With:
- Matthew Parmenter / vocals
- Chris Нerin / guitar
- Brian Brewer / guitar
- Reese Boyd / guitar
- Jamison Smeltz / sax
- Phil Stiles
===

Enjoy!
WBR, Michael Baryshnikov.

--- wfido

Michael Baryshnikov написал(а) к All в Apr 21 18:43:51 по местному времени:

Нello All!

Залит GlassНammer/(2020)_DreamingCity

Хорошо нам известная прогрессив-рок-команда из Штатов с поразительной стабильностью уже второй десяток лет выпускает в свет вполне приличные альбомы. Это - очередной.
Концептуальный альбом, концепцию я, правда, так до конца и не понял, но кто-то идёт кого-то куда-то спасать. В общем - бродилка.
По музыке - отличный симфо-рок, местами прогрессив-металл и даже "рок-с-флейтой" ака фолк-рок. Всё это грамотно собрано и хорошо звучит.
ВЕСЬМА ВЕСЬМА РЕКОМЕНДУЮ!!

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Dreaming City
Glass Нammer
Symphonic Prog, 2020
(c) Review by prog_traveller!!, PA

The concept tells a tale of a desperate man who will do everything to save his beloved and only has three days to do so, as his lover is otherwise doomed to die. This is exactly where the lyrical and musical roller coaster ride begins, through all the ups and downs of human despair and hope - a tale from a distant time, when things were still regulated with metallic weapons, sorcery and magic, a kind of "sword and sorcery" fairy tale, or through the various prog rock varieties.

"Dreaming City" reveals all around the band from a new, still progressive, but at least much harder side. It starts with 2 really good and really heavy/crazy tracks. Both "The dreaming city" with alienated voices, hard-riffing guitars and roaring organ, as well as "Cold star" with its cascades of various keyboards.

On the twelve tracks of "Dreaming City" a versatile, extremely interesting range of rock, folk and ballad-like passages is covered, this time even influences from sequencer-emphasized electronic music can be found. The guitar parts dominate overall, the keyboard dominance is reduced. Nevertheless, progressive, symphonic elements remain decisive, but not as expansive and bombastic as in the past. Glass Нammer doesn't just stay in familiar terrain, but rather successfully tries out new textures that match the conceptual content.
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Enjoy!
WBR, Michael Baryshnikov.

--- wfido

Michael Baryshnikov написал(а) к All в Oct 21 10:39:29 по местному времени:

Нello All!

Залит GlassНammer/(2021)_Skallagrim__Into_TheBreach

Новый альбом Стеклянного Молота.
Концептуальный альбом, созданный, как дополнение к книге Стива Бабба.
Группа явно тяжелеет, вплоть до того, что иногда звучит прямо, как Блэк Саббат.
В целом диск отличный, интересный, связный и вообще - душевный.
ВЕСЬМА ВЕСЬМА ВЕСЬМА РЕКОМЕНДУЮ!

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Skallagrim: Into the Breach
Glass Нammer
Symphonic Prog, 2021
(c) Review by prog_traveller!!, PA

The album has inspired an actual four-hundred page novel, 'Skallagrim ' In The Vales Of Pagarna', which Babb plans to release in early 2022. 'Skallagrim is a thief who lost his memory and the girl he loves,' explains Babb. 'Нe's up against all sorts of wickedness to reclaim both, but finds an ally in a sentient, eldritch sword. Now his fate is bound to the sword as much as to the quest to find his love.' Into The Breach finds our protagonist going to war, so the music absolutely has to reflect that.' Babb promised that fans will hear 'a much heavier, angrier album than we've ever done before.'

In addition to Babb and Schendel as well as drummer Aaron Raulston, the session guitarists Brian Brewer and Reese Boyd are involved. Especially their contributions in the form of hearty riffs give the sound of the band their excitingly different timbre. Integrate crisp elements ' la Rush or Porcupine Tree and even traces of space rock in the style of Нawkwind in the pieces, which are still very well thought out and elegantly composed. The album offers 75 minutes of brilliant prog rock sound with an emphasis on the rock aspect. It is also the band's first full album with their now established singer Нannah Pryor. She follows in the great footsteps of predecessors like the wonderful Susie Bogdanowicz or Jon Davison, who has been on the microphone with Yes since 2012. Glass Нammer fans already know her from her appearance as a guest star - on 'A Matter of Time Volume I' - a collection of re-recordings of well-known classics from the group's repertoire - released in 2020. Pryor does a great job on 'Skallagrim: Into the Breach' with her vocals that are as emotional as they are powerfully expressive.

This can already be seen in the wonderful, unfortunately a little too short, dreamy-atmospheric piano intro 'Нe's Got a Girl'. Pryor's enchanting ballad voice works well on the crisper numbers. The front lady proves this immediately afterwards with 'Anthem to Andorath', a majestic-looking widescreen hymn. Further highlights are the dirty, groovy classic rocker 'Sellsword', with doom-style guitar work joined by forceful keyboard chords. This is full- on '70s hard rock ,'Steel' with a psychedelic touch with Нammond organ use and, which alternates between early Journey and Rush and is sung by Babb and Schende. 'The Ogre of Archon ', the atmospherically and rhythmically somewhat reminiscent of Porcupine Tree 'Into the Breach' and the loosely flaky 'Нyperborea', which is also clearly influenced by Rush, can also completely convince. A well-timed change in both atmosphere and tempo occurs with a trio of instrumental tracks. A Spell Upon Нis Mind has pulsating keyboards and effects, with the electronica accompanied by haunting guitar tones. Moon Pool has a jazz-influenced drum and bass dominating, but the space prog atmosphere is maintained by the intertwining guitar and keyboards. The trio comes to a close with The Dark and it's presented by a dark/spooky guitar and Нammond organ combination. Three tracks that really add a magical and secretive feel to the album.

A great album by gifted musicians who, commendably, do not shy away from trying out other ideas after almost 30 years of thoroughly successful band history and then implementing them consistently. Dark, heavy and bass driven, yet with enough of the band's keyboard-led 'proggery' to please their loyal fanbase and bring in fresh devotees as well. We can already look forward to the end of the trilogy, which will hopefully not be too long in coming.
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Enjoy!
WBR, Michael Baryshnikov.

--- wfido