Tag Archives: Arjen Lucassen

Degrees of Truth – Alchemists (2023) – Review

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The RMR crew’s first interaction with Degrees of Truth was back in 2016. The Reins of Life was the piece’s name – and it didn’t quite register with us back then. We should probably have shown that piece some better love. And contrite RMR admits that this old record of them truly deserved better than a puny little blurb of badly managed wordsmithing. But hindsight is always 20/20 and now it’s too late. Also, for some reason, DoT‘s 2019 album didn’t register over here. A trail of missed opportunities and skeletons in the backyard? Somewhat.

Now, luckily and thanks … [...] Click to raid more!

Guilt Machine – On This Perfect Day (2009) – Review

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The album On This Perfect Day from Arjen Lucassen‘s Progressive Metal project Guilt Machine feels vaguely familiar. It constantly plays stuff we may have heard somewhere. Bits of sound that waft over here from the past, ideas that float by like long gone echoes of things that are not quite tangible. Yet, they never really manifest themselves and show their colors.

So, could it be that it is the concept and this retro coloring of technologies long out of fashion that gets us this impression?

Because this record is much more complex than just simple tunes strung together. In fact, … [...] Click to raid more!

Haken – Vector (2018) – Review

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A variety of currents and undercurrents exist in the Progressive Metal universe. You get the thoughtful ones, those hauling emotion around like a shitload of bricks. The Reticent comes to mind. You have the experimental dudes like Wilderun, walking down the steps, towards alternative and avant-garde laden pastures.

And then you get the djent division.

Those who think that good prog inevitably must be stuffed with a goodly measure of djentability. Leprous or Vvon Dogma I are somewhat of an extremist example of those. And you’ll find many others of the same ilk, and their ardent supporters. 

Haken kind … [...] Click to raid more!

Karma Rassa – Talks to Innerself (2016) – Review

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It sometimes seems, as if we preferred the heavy, blackened thumping of any extreme metal flavor throughout the RockmusicRaider office landscape.

But not so!

At times something more laid back is in order. And for that, we have the folks from the Progressive and Avantgarde field. 

Now, you usually find well-known bands like Leprous, Steven Wilson, or the gang around Arjen Lucassen on your radar. But these guys are only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. The community is huge. 

Whilst this is so, you will find loads of them progressive folks out there just djenting away until there is no tomorrow. And many of those often sound … [...] Click to raid more!