It is not unusual for me to do things in a strange manner, so having heard Rob Harrison’s second album I then listened to his debut, and it is only now that I am moving onto the first Z Machine album which was released in 2023 (I hear the second is due soon). What we have here is a Welsh jazz rock/progressive rock quintet featuring Lester Greenhalgh (drums & percussion), Rob Harrison (saxophone, flute), Kristian Rees (bass) and guitarists Gareth Piper and Owen Rosser. The first thing that stands out from their sound is that there are no keyboards (which is not a total surprise in that these guys are so tight they could not fit in another instrument) and that they have far more in common with a “straight” jazz band than rock, but they are very much a rock group.
It is not unusual in jazz for a saxophone to be the main melodic lead working with a very technical rhythm section who do way more than just provide a foundation, but what is unusual here is the use of twin guitarists who can provide beck and call or just crunch the riffs. I think I expected much more in the way of pronk given Rob’s solo releases, and I confess I am having something of a difficulty in deciding if they are jazz band moving into prog, or the other way around, but what I do know is that it is fascinating and endlessly inventive. I have no idea if this was recorded live in the studio as is the case with many jazz acts, but it would not surprise me at all if it were, as it has that bounce, feel and togetherness which only comes from everyone playing off each other.
The result is something which is far more jazz combining with rock than jazz rock fusion and is quite different from many bands working in their field, so much so that even jazz purists may find this interesting. All I can say is that this a fascinating take on different musical forms and anyone who enjoys discovering those pushing boundaries while somehow also staying listenable the first time around would do well to seek them out. 8/10 Kev Rowland
It’s that time of year again where we talk to as many bands as we can who are raring to blow you away at Catton Park! Plymouth metalcore outfit Carrier will be bringing their raw, aggressive riffs and dark, immersive staging to the Stowford Press New Blood Stage on Friday at Bloodstock 2026. We previously … Continue reading Road To Bloodstock 2026: Carrier
There was a time when a new Yes album was a cause for great celebration, but I must confess that like many I have become somewhat jaded over the years and there is a large part of me which thinks that Yes without Anderson isn’t really Yes at all, especially with Chris Squire no longer around either. But, although I may not have been a huge fan of the recent albums, I did enjoy Davidson singing when Yes came to NZ twice (when both Squire and White were still there), and thought he was great in Glass Hammer so maybe it was just me?
I think, and I could well be wrong as I often am, that this is the first time in nearly 40 years when there has been a line-up which has produced two albums together, and I am sure that has greatly helped in what is easily their most consistent and enjoyable release since 2011’s ‘Fly From Here’. Is it the Yes of the Seventies? No, of course not – none of the bands from that era are the same, either in line-up or musical style, but is it still an album which progheads will enjoy playing? Yes. I am probably not alone in thinking that Downes has always been best when in a group with strong songwriters and when he has been able to dominate then the results have rarely been as good (e.g. pretty much any Asia album not involving Wetton), and it is interesting to note he has had very little input into the writing of this release, with Davison having a much bigger impact as he moves away from being the “stand-in” to recognising he has a genuine part to play.
I thought long and hard about what I would rate this album at, and I am sure this is because it has the name “Yes” on the cover as if it was any other band I would have found it much easier, so perhaps the issue is not with the music but with the person listening to it. This is a thoroughly enjoyable, if somewhat lightweight Yes album, with Schellen and Sherwood clearly demonstrating they are also up to the task, while the ageless Steve Howe still has the delicate touch we have all admired for so very many years. I was worried about this release, so much so that I very nearly didn’t search for it, but I am very glad I did. 8/10 Kev Roland
Every year, ArcTanGent offers something a little different. Whether it’s discovering your next favourite band on one of the smaller stages, watching long-awaited reunions, or simply soaking up the atmosphere alongside one of the friendliest crowds on the festival circuit, it has become a staple of the UK alternative calendar. This year, however, is especially … Continue reading We’ll Be There: ArcTanGent 2026 – Farewell to Fernhill Farm
Every week the Stereogum staff chooses the five best new songs of the week. The eligibility period begins and ends Thursdays right before midnight. You can hear this week’s picks below and on Stereogum’s Favorite New Music Spotify playlist, which is updated weekly. (An expanded playlist of our new music picks is available to subscribers on Spotify and Apple Music, updated throughout the week.)
Finnish Turku-based melodic death metal band Frostbite Terror released their debut album “Into The Frozen Depths’ on July 24th 2026 via Inverse Records. Into The Frozen Depths is a compilation of various real life and fictional events. A wanderer wades through the snows to take a sauna as hot as Hell itself, enters the depths and rides […]
The Pete Roth Trio release their new single “Full Circle” today, July 17, 2026! This is the first single from their upcoming live CD/DVD album Group Chat. This song is one of the first the Trio produced when they first started two or three years ago, and it’s the first track on the album. Unusually for Bill, it’s in a very common 4/4 groove! “Full Circle” also appears on the accompanying live DVD.
The Pete Roth Trio return with Group Chat, a striking new CD/DVD release that captures the spontaneity, interplay and fearless musical conversation at the heart of this exceptional band. Led by guitarist Pete Roth, alongside bassist Mike Pratt and legendary drummer Bill Bruford, Group Chat is Roth’s third major album and a release of particular significance, marking Bruford’s eagerly awaited return to headline performance after a 13-year hiatus, as well as his first appearance on new material in 19 years.
Produced by Pete Roth and Bill Bruford for Winterfold Records, Group Chat presents a trio that thrives on intimacy, risk and connection. Rooted in jazz but never constrained by it, the music moves fluidly through funk, contemporary classical influences and spontaneous improvisation, with nothing treated as untouchable. Original compositions such as Full Circle, Dancing With Grace and Original Sin sit alongside collaborative pieces including Part Of The Charm and Looking Forward To Looking Back, while the trio’s inspired Improvisation on the Largofrom Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 underlines the breadth of their musical imagination. The result is a record that feels adventurous, immediate and alive – music made in the moment by three musicians listening as deeply as they play.
The release is presented as a two-disc digipak CD/DVD edition, complete with a booklet containing extensive notes and group photographs. Alongside the nine-track audio album, the package includes a bonus 35-minute DVD offering further insight into the trio’s world, with performances, an introduction, and a special spoken segment from Pete Roth.
The music press reaction’s have been emphatic. “The Pete Roth Trio is a band of equals, clearly loving the opportunity to improvise and have musical conversations,” wrote Biff Bam Pop!, while Innerviews praised the music as “rich with nuance, invention, and telepathic rapport.” Dr. Jazz Talks described the album as “a feast of rhythm and melody,” and Make Weird Music summed up its appeal succinctly: “I wish more jazz was this much fun.” Another review captured the trio’s balancing act perfectly, calling it “loose enough that it could fall apart and tight enough that it grooves.”
Pete Roth brings to Group Chat a background that spans blues, rock and jazz, shaped first in Germany and then refined through his studies and career in the UK. Mike Pratt, a highly regarded bassist, composer and producer with deep roots in jazz fusion and groove-based music, brings both harmonic imagination and rhythmic authority to the trio. For Bruford, whose career has encompassed groundbreaking work with Yes, King Crimson, Earthworks and a host of major jazz collaborators, Group Chat reflects a continuing commitment to the innovative, the unusual and the unlikely. Together, the three musicians create an experience that reshapes expectations of the guitar trio format, making space for melody, texture, groove and surprise in equal measure.
Group Chat is a vivid document of three distinctive musical voices in open conversation – intimate, exploratory, witty and deeply alive.
TRACK LISTING
DISC ONE: CD AUDIO 1. Full Circle 2. Part Of The Charm 3. Group Chat 4. Improvisation on the Largo from Dvořák’s Symphony #9 5. Looking Forward To Looking Back 6. Summertime 7. Dancing With Grace 8. Original Sin 9. Hard Case, Soft Centre
DISC TWO: BONUS DVD 1. Introduction 2. Full Circle 3. Part Of The Charm 4. Group Chat 5. Improvisation on the Largo from Dvořák’s Symphony #9 6. A Word From Pete 7. Hard Case, Soft Centre
It’s that time of year again where we talk to as many bands as we can who are raring to blow you away at Catton Park! Bristol crossover crew Martyrs Saint will be bringing their intense, hardcore-infused heavy metal to the Stowford Press New Blood Stage on Friday at Bloodstock 2026. We previously reported on … Continue reading Road To Bloodstock 2026: Martyrs Saint
Progressive rock outfit LUFEH has released the official video for their new single “End of the Tunnel”, a cinematic and musically intricate piece that captures the emotional and spiritual rebirth at the heart of the track.
“End of the Tunnel” blends shifting atmospheres, fusion‑driven solo sections, and a cyclical guitar finale that mirrors the song’s theme of emerging from darkness with renewed clarity. Lyrically, it reflects on learning from past mistakes, enduring struggle, and finally seeing the light ahead.
Released May 29th, “Overwhelmed” marks LUFEH’s most mature and melody‑driven work to date. Recorded at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles, the album balances technical progressive musicianship with memorable vocal hooks across eight tracks.
Unlike their debut “Luggage Falling Down” (2020), which began as instrumental compositions, “Overwhelmed” was crafted from the vocal melodies first, resulting in catchier choruses, richer textures, and a more fluid listening experience.
The album also introduces Ginny Luke as LUFEH’s new featured vocalist. An internationally recognized electric violinist and singer, Ginny’s performances with Foo Fighters, Britney Spears, and Snoop Dogg bring a powerful new dimension to LUFEH’s sound. Her violin appears on three tracks, “Overwhelmed,” “Feels Like I’m a Ghost,” and “Live the New Today.”
Fans can expect a blend of progressive rock, metal, fusion, jazz, and Brazilian influences, with standout moments including the exotic Bulbul Tarang on “Double Dip,” complex rhythmic structures, and emotionally charged lyrical themes.
LUFEH is a progressive rock/metal fusion group founded by drummer Lufeh Batera, who revived his musical journey after a 16‑year hiatus. What began as a solo instrumental project evolved into a full band defined by a sophisticated, progressive, refined, modern, and intriguing musical identity.
The band’s core members have played together in various forms for over 30 years, creating a deeply collaborative, ego‑free creative environment. Guitarist Deio Tambasco joined in 2025, reuniting with Batera and bassist Duca Tambasco from their early band Anno Domini.
LUFEH’s sound draws from Dream Theater, Rush, Vola, Tool, and Haken, blending technical mastery with emotional depth. Their live performances combine flawless musicianship with immersive lighting and video for a truly unforgettable experience.
Track Listing: 1. He Commands The Sun and The Stars – 4:22 2. Breathe – 4:03 3. Double Dip – 4:39 4. Overwhelmed – 4:30 5. Feels Like I’m A Ghost – 5:43 6. Live The New Today – 4:50 7. War of Emotions – 3:50 8. End of the Tunnel – 4:18
Album and Live Band Line Up: Duca Tambasco – bass and backing vocals Deio Tambasco – guitar and backing vocals Gera Penna – keyboard and backing vocals Lufeh Batera – Drums Ginny Luke – vocals (featuring)
LUFEH is a progressive rock/metal band blending technical precision with emotional depth and genre‑bending influences. Formed by drummer Lufeh after a long hiatus from music, the band now features guitarist Deio Tambasco, bassist Duca Tambasco, keyboardist/producer Gera Penna, and vocalist/violinist Ginny Luke. Their sound draws inspiration from Dream Theater, Rush, Vola, Tool, Haken, and Brazilian musical traditions.
Album Recording Credits: • All songs performed by: Duca Tambasco, Deio Tambasco, Gera Penna, Lufeh Batera, and Ginny Luke • All songs written by: Duca Tambasco, Deio Tambasco, Gera Penna, and Lufeh Batera • Produced by: Gera Penna • Mixed by: Adair Daufembach • Mastered by: Adair Daufembach • Album Artwork by: Lufeh Batera
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“Lufeh ‘s music is a beautiful piece of creation, flowing into your brain like one of the best album ever made. A brilliant singer who manage the melodies and different parts like she is the whole music. The intensity and power sounds like the band has been here for years. A masterpiece to own without thinking 100/100.” – The Metal Mag “What grabbed me most on the album, besides the deeply personal approach to songwriting, was the level of talent the band has. We all know that talent isn’t the measuring stick to success, but it never hurts. This band has plenty, but they don’t let it overtake their sound. This was a feel good album with plenty of substance.” – Metal Temple (2026 – Overwhelmed) “My take on the album: I do like that Lufeh do things their own way. For me this is an exceptional album with a fresh take on traditional metal. Ginny is a gem on vocals and the use of instruments is damn good. A flawless album that deserve nothing less than the perfect 10.” – Project Metal Music “You need to take a listen here, and you’ll probably buy this album. Great!” – Melodic.net (2026 – Overwhelmed) “If their debut consisted of showing their instrumental muscles, their next album Overwhelmed (released May 29) seems to focus on purely melodic choruses. It has the complexity of Haken or Rush, but with choruses that really stick in your head.” – Radio Papy Jeff (2026 – Overwhelmed) “With a renewed lineup and a track record of progressive evolution, Lufeh delivers here a disciplined, technically formidable body of work that will satisfy those who take their Heavy Prog seriously.” – Progressive Rock Journal “Very soulful breaks.Like the dynamics. The drummer is very powerful and precise. Like Rush if they were a soul band.” – CFRU 93.3 FM – Planet Groove (Guelph, ON, Canada) “With „Overwhelmed“ LUFEH are opening a new chapter – more emotional, melodic and at the same time more powerful than ever. The title track of their upcoming album combines progressive virtuosity with haunting storytelling and marks an impressive evolution – an intense foretaste of what happened on March 29th. May 2026 is coming.” – Metalogy (2026 – Overwhelmed) “Heavy prog shines with the new single ‘He Commands the Sun and the Stars’ from LUFEH. Dream Theater and Shadow Gallery fans will find a lot to love here including a spotlight performance from featured vocalist and electric violinist Ginny Luke. Musically the band doesn’t disappoint with soaring keys, complex percussion, driving riffs, strolling bass lines…all at a high level, which is what is demanded when you enter the sacred space of progressive rock. Just as much a beautiful performance as it is a breathtaking adventure, this track raises expectations for the new album “Overwhelmed” which can’t get here fast enough on May 29th. Catch LUFEH on your Home for the Best New Rock… W-J-O-EEEE” – WJOE – Findlay’s Home for Rock & Roll (2026 – Overwhelmed) “Overwhelmed‘ may be born from pressure, but its greatest achievement is the way it turns that pressure into motion, melody, and release.” – Infrared Magazine (2026 – Overwhelmed)
“Great prog album, love Feels Like I’m A Ghost song” – The Chill dude on the Couch (2026 – Overwhelmed) “”Overwhelmed” is a strong progressive rock album, full of skill, emotion and smart writing. Lufeh do not bury the listener under endless technical games, which is a good call. The songs have complex parts, odd rhythms, heavy passages and fusion touches, yet the main focus stays on melody and flow. That is where the album wins most of its points.” – Hevay Metal Darkness (2026 – Overwhelmed) “Throw four talented musicians, the sound of Dream Theater and Rush, the songwriting craft of Aerosmith in their glory years, and a singing voice that is somewhere between Leslie Hunt (District 97) and Ann Wilson (Heart) in a blender and the result is ‘Overwhelming’. That is the very appropriate title of the second album by the American LUFEH.” – Progerweld
