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New Music Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal, AOR, Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal
Recent Reviews
November 2023
- High Spirits: Safe On The Other Side
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- Soledriver: Return Me To Light
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- Seventh Crystal: Infinity EP
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October 2023
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September 2023
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- Seventh Wonder: Mercy Falls (Reissue 2008/2023)
- Seventh Wonder: The Great Escape (Reissue 2010/2023)
August 2023
- Hurricane: Reconnected
- U.D.O.: Touchdown
- Streetlight: Ignition
- Sarayasign: The Lion's Road
- Neal Morse: The Dreamer - Joseph - Part One
- Rian: Wings
- Icon Of Sin: Legends
- Lancer: Tempest
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- Dark Sky: Signs Of The Time
- Hell In The Club: F.U.B.A.R.
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Nick D'Virgilio Neal Morse Ross Jennings: Troika
DMJ: Troika
Melodic Acoustic Rock
4.5/5.0
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InsideOut Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 23.02.2022 | Released: 18.02.2022
Once more we revisit with Neal Morse, the accomplished songwriter, musician, and producer known for his solo work but also many collaborations from Spock's Beard to Transatlantic to Morse/Portnoy/George. Now he arrives with a new partnership: Nick D'Virgilio Neal Morse Ross Jennings and their debut album Troika, three musicians working together.
Nick D'Virgilio Neal Morse Ross Jennings: Polaroid dudes.
As the tale is told by Morse, in 2020 some of his songwriting was leaning to the inclusion of multiple vocalists which were also songwriters. Wherein he invited Nick D'Virgilio (formerly Spock's Beard) and Ross Jennings (Haken) to the recording. Both fans of acoustic and vocal harmony, both singers were on board. That last sentence essentially describes the musical character of the songs within Troika. The songs are written around acoustic guitar and vocal harmony. Without making DMJ sound old, but a listener might think of this musical conception as an intersection of CSNY and Simon & Garfunkul, both outfits known for their vocal harmonization. If you're looking for some of Morse's progressive melodic rock, this is not the album. Nevertheless, the acoustic guitar lines and vocal harmony of the song arrangements are lively and gladly self-evident within Julia, If I Could, What You Leave Behind, and Another Trip Around The Sun. A personal favorite arrived with A Change Is Gonna Come. Reminding of Dylan's culture upsetting song from 1964, the lyrics are inspired by Martin Luther King's statement, "the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." While Troika may not necessarily be a "rock" album, DMJ get peppy, even heavy, with King For A Day and Second Hand Sons, which has some quite strong guitar riffs working. Most things considered, if you put a premium on songs with strong vocal melody and harmony, look to Nick D'Virgilio Neal Morse Ross Jennings's Troika and you will be pleased. Easily recommended.
The Take Away
Most things considered, if you put a premium on songs with strong vocal melody and harmony, look to Nick D'Virgilio Neal Morse Ross Jennings's Troika and you will be pleased. Easily recommended.
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We haven't had a new studio album from Brazil's Angra since prior to the COVID pandemic, 2018's Omni. But the quintet has been busy. In 2021, they released Omni Live in Japan where they have a huge fan base ... [ Read More ]
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