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As a rising star of the 1960s, she dated Paul Simon, brooded with Nick Drake and drew Barbra Streisand’s envy. Then she sank into an abusive marriage.

It’s safe to say The House Beyond the Fires has been an absolute triumph for The Virginmarys. Having road-tested its songs for a number of years on the lead-up to its recording and release and now, eighteen months on, those songs show no sign of wearing thin. In that time, there’s been some relentless touring … Continue reading Album Review: The Virginmarys – Beyond the House of Fires

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Periphery – A Pale White Dot (May 15th, 2026)

With A Pale White Dot, Periphery return with their eighth studio album and a follow up to 2023’s Periphery V: Djent Is Not a Genre. Once again produced and mixed by Adam “Nolly” Getgood, the album finds the band maintaining their trademark heaviness while taking a more streamlined approach to songwriting, with every track clocking in under five minutes. Songs like “Mr. God” and “Subhuman” rank among the heaviest material the band has released, while tracks such as “Blackwall” and “Carry On” lean into electronic textures and more accessible melodic hooks. Elsewhere, “Neon Valley” and “Everyone Dies Alone” strike the balance that Periphery have perfected over the years, combining soaring melodies with extreme metal intensity. Vocalist Spencer Sotelo delivers some of his most varied performances to date, moving effortlessly between aggressive screams and melodic passages. Longtime fans should find plenty to enjoy here, while listeners who may have been intimidated by the band’s longer and more complex material could find A Pale White Dot to be one of the most approachable entry points into the band’s catalog.

Order here: https://go.mhe.fm/p_apalewhitedot

Tracklisting
1. Obsession (3:18)
2. Talk (5:18)
3. Mr. God (2:59)
4. Heaven on High (4:20)
5. Unlocking (4:29)
6. Subhuman (feat. Will Ramos) (2:52)
7. Blackwall (4:07)
8. Malevolent (4:01)
9. Carry On (3:30)
10. Neon Valley (5:02)
11. Everyone Dies Alone (4:36)
12. A Pale White Dot (3:09)

Spencer Sotelo / lead vocals
Misha Mansoor / guitar, synthesizers, programming
Jake Bowen / guitar, synthesizers, programming, backing vocals
Mark Holcomb / guitar
Matt Halpern / drums, percussion
Adam “Nolly” Getgood / bass

 

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Bruce Soord – Ghosts in the Park (May 15th, 2026)

Bruce Soord delivers his most personal and unguarded solo work to date with his new album Ghosts In The Park. Best known as the founding member and principal songwriter of The Pineapple Thief, Soord crafts an album shaped by loss, memory, and reflection, capturing the feeling of life continuing to move forward while everything else seems frozen in place. Despite its heavy themes, Ghosts In The Park ultimately feels more hopeful than despairing. Soord once again demonstrates his gift for weaving addictive melodies into subtle and unexpected arrangements, creating songs that quietly reveal their emotional weight over repeated listens. The single “Pillars” stands as another strong example of the understated songwriting that has defined much of his career. While fans wait for the next release from The Pineapple Thief, Ghosts In The Park offers a rewarding and deeply human listen that more than fills the gap.

Order here: https://brucesoord.lnk.to/Ghosts_In_The_Park

Tracklisting:
1. Concepcion (1:25)
2. Meet Me on the Downs (3:05)
3. Pillars (3:10)
4. You Made a Promise (2:56)
5. Our Predicament (3:43)
6. Day of Wrath (4:21)
7. Stared Down (4:33)
8. Kept Me Thinking (6:34)
9. Ghosts in the Park (12:52)

Bruce Soord / vocals, all instruments
With: Jon Sykes / bass (8)

 

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Geoff Tate – Operation:Mindcrime III (May 3rd, 2026)

Twenty years after the release of Operation: Mindcrime II, Geoff Tate returns to the iconic concept series with Operation: Mindcrime III. Since parting ways with Queensrÿche, Tate has continued performing the original Operation: Mindcrime live in its entirety, and this latest installment expands the story further by serving as a prequel centered around the rise of the villainous Dr. X. Musically, Operation: Mindcrime III stays faithful to the sound and atmosphere established by the previous two albums, blending melodic hard rock and progressive metal with cinematic storytelling. Tate’s vocals remain impressively strong throughout, carrying much of the album’s dramatic weight. While the material was never likely to reach the towering heights of the original classic, the songs are consistently well constructed and entertaining. Tracks such as “Vulnerable,” “The Devil’s Breath,” and the single “Power” stand out among the strongest moments, while the closing track “Monster” provides a solid finale, even if it brings the album to a somewhat abrupt conclusion. Time will tell whether this album surpasses Operation: Mindcrime II, but it is certainly strong enough to be part of the conversation.

Order here: https://www.geofftate.com/product/geoff-tates-operation-mindcrime-iii-album-usa-pre-order/

Tracklisting:
1. The Scene Of The Crime
2. You Know My F–king Name
3. The Answer
4. Vulnerable
5. I’ll Eat Your Heart Out
6. Do You Still Believe?
7. The Devil’s Breath
8. Ascension
9. Set You Free
10. Descension
11. Power
12. You Can’t Walk Away Now
13. A Monster Like Me

Geoff Tate – lead vocals
Kieran Robertson – lead guitar, backing vocals
John Moyer – bass, backing vocals
Dario Parente – guitar
Amaury Altmayer – guitar
Rich Baur – drums
Clodagh McCarthy – support vocals

 

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Poly-Math- Something Deeply Hidden (April 10th, 2026)

On their fifth studio album, Something Deeply Hidden, Poly-Math continue pushing their sound into more experimental territory. Across seven tracks, the band blends elements of Ethio-jazz, classic progressive rock, math rock, and post rock into a dense and constantly shifting instrumental experience. Recorded at Brighton Electric with producer Mark Roberts, the album leans heavily into jazz fusion, layered arrangements, and intricate rhythmic interplay. Rather than focusing on technical shredding, Something Deeply Hidden thrives on atmosphere, abstract polyrhythms, and unpredictable compositions. Inspired by physicist Sean M. Carroll and his book Something Deeply Hidden: Quantum Worlds and the Emergence of Spacetime, the album embraces a similarly complex and disorienting energy. “One/Two/Three/Four Body Problem” feels chaotic and frantic in the best possible way, while “No Such Thing as Now” explores a smoother jazz fusion direction. Other standouts include “Spectral Dis/Order,” which captures the band’s balance of technical precision and adventurous songwriting, and “Terror Management Theory”, the album’s longest and heaviest track. While there are clear influences from bands like King Crimson and The Mars Volta, the results still feel fresh, adventurous, and innovative.

Order here: https://wearepolymath.bandcamp.com/album/something-deeply-hidden

1.The Universe as an Engine 03:31
2.One/Two/Three/Four Body Problem 04:10
3.No Such Thing as Now 07:33
4.Euthyphro Dilemma 05:55
5.Spectral Dis/Order 06:28
6.Chronostesia 03:56
7.Terror Management Theory 08:05

Joe Branton – Bass
Josh Gesner – Keys
Tim Walters – Guitar
Chris Woollison – Drums

The post New Release Spotlight: Periphery / Bruce Soord / Geoff Tate / Poly-Math appeared first on The Prog Report.

Brian May features on the Daniel Pemberton composition Eternia

The group enjoyed a bevy of hits in the '70s. Continue reading…

Bryn Athyn deliver an emotionally charged and uplifting dose of alternative rock on Sunrise, a track that balances heartfelt lyricism with soaring melodic energy. Built around driving guitars, dynamic rhythms, and passionately delivered vocals, the song captures the feeling of pushing through darkness toward renewal and clarity. There’s an earnest, unpolished charm to the band’s sound that gives Sunrise its emotional pull, blending indie-rock warmth with anthemic momentum. Sincere, vibrant, and full of forward motion, Bryn Athyn craft a powerful reminder that even the longest nights eventually give way to light.

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You may not know Fatoumata Diawara yet, but once you experience her exceptional talent, you’ll be an instant fan. Her guitar work is a direct line to the source. Mali gave the world the DNA of the blues, and Fatoumata electrifies that legacy with raw, self-taught power. Her playing merges traditional Wassoulou rhythms with modern […]

Martial Arts channel urgency, tension, and razor-sharp social observation on Before The Fire, a gripping slice of indie and garage rock lifted from their upcoming debut EP From The Burnoff. Fueled by wiry guitars, relentless rhythm, and emotionally charged vocals, the track captures the anxiety of modern British life with striking clarity, balancing personal frustration with broader political unease. Produced with the raw immediacy of the band’s explosive live shows firmly intact, Before The Fire burns with both grit and intelligence. Fierce, anthemic, and emotionally restless, Martial Arts sound ready to erupt far beyond the underground.

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London-based avant-garde metal duo The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara (TCOMAS) have released their blistering third single, “Lucky Ducker”, available to stream on all platforms now. The track serves as the latest preview from their forthcoming fourth studio album, Misantropi, which is set to unleash its unfiltered aggression on 12th July 2026. Pre-order the 12″ … Continue reading The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara share blistering new single “Lucky Ducker”

Alina Bzhezhinska and Tulshi see Journey Home transformed into a cosmic, jazz-infused electronic voyage through the hands of Cosmic Analog Ensemble. The remix balances celestial ambience, hypnotic downtempo grooves, and shimmering harp passages with remarkable elegance, creating a soundscape that feels both deeply meditative and rhythmically alive. Ethereal textures drift effortlessly around organic percussion and analog warmth, while Alina Bzhezhinska’s harp work remains the emotional centerpiece throughout. Sophisticated yet transportive, this reimagined version of Journey Home glows with late-night Balearic beauty and cosmic jazz spirituality.