Aardvark - Tuntematon Sotilas ($17.99)
Titles are arranged alphabetically with the latest additions highlighted in yellow.
Aardvark - Tuntematon Sotilas ($17.99)This 2006 release is the second album by a Finnish symphonic prog quintet singing in Finnish. Aardvark can also be heard on the Kalevala various artists 3CD, though their lineup has since changed. This is wonderful 1970s-style progressive rock similar to Finnish prog bands of that decade such as Kaamos, Nova, and Nimbus. If those bands are unfamiliar, the first three albums of Swedish band Kaipa (forerunners of The Flower Kings) are a good reference. Work on the album began in 2003, and though all the members are Finns, theyre scattered around the globe. They relied on the Internet, with the drums recorded in Singapore, the keyboards in New Zealand, and the guitar, bass, and vocals in three separate studios in Finland. Youd never know though, as it sounds cohesive. Another musician guests on accordion on two tracks. Here is a RealAudio excerpt from the track Kaikkitietava ja kaukaa viisas.
A.C.T. - Silence ($14.99) out-of-stock 
A.C.T. - Todays Report ($14.99)InsideOut has reissued the CDs of A.C.T., Swedens best kept secret. A.C.T. may no longer really be much of a secret in Europe. They play symphonic progressive with the addition of strong pop songwriting along the lines of Queen, Kayak, Saga, and ELO. They marry English-style progressive and pop extremely well, with a lush, dense sound and plenty of complexity to go with a knack for catchy melodies. These 2006/2007 editions of Silence (2006, 64-minutes), Last Epic (2003, 67-minutes), Imaginary Friends (2001, 63-minutes), and Todays Report (1999, 62-minutes) all have bonus audio and/or video tracks and expanded booklets.
Adventure - Beacon of Light ($17.99) Beacon of Light (2009, 73-minutes) is the second CD for Adventure, who are sort of the Norwegian counterpart to the Swedish band Black Bonzo in that they blend retro-style symphonic prog with the heavier Uriah Heep style. Adventure have two male lead vocalists, one of whom sings in a more pompous, affected style, and female backing vocals. Their sound features vintage keys, flute, and guitar that sticks mainly to early-70s tones. The sympho-prog side of their style is vaguely in the vein of The Flower Kings or Camel. Read reviews here.
The self-titled CD is Adventures 2000 debut. This is the 2006 re-edition on the MALS label.
Ageness - Songs from the Liars Lair ($15.99) Ageness is a symphonic neo-prog band from Finland singing in English and generally sounding very English. The band was founded in 1991, though it evolved out of the band Scarab, who released an album in 1983. Ageness was very active in the 1990s, releasing three CDs that decade, and was probably the best known Finnish prog band at that time.
After a long downtime, Ageness re-emerged with Songs from the Liars Lair (2009). Their sound is still somewhere between Genesis and early Marillion, often with similar melodrama, while new guitarist Speedy Saarinens style is at times more aggressive, taking some of the music closer to Arena. Its an excellent comeback album that will appeal to a majority of symphonic prog fans. To aid in determining which tracks at Ageness MySpace page are from this CD, the track list is: Entering, Martial Arts, The Lie and the Liar, Why Dont You Go Away, Sons of Madness, The Lament of Ghosts, Liars Lair.
Agents of Mercy - The Black Forest ($19.99) 
Agents of Mercy began as a low-key acoustic project that Roine Stolt of The Flower Kings set out to do in 2008, but after getting singer Nad Sylvan of Unifaun on board to do a few guest vocals, it turned into a full-production prog album where Nad got more involved and did most of both lead and backing vocals. Songs got longer, more elaborate and more symphonic, and Roine and Nads common love of early 1970s progressive rock is all over The Fading Ghosts of Twilight (2009, 77-minutes, digipack). A few favorite drummers tracked drums: Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson, Tuner), Zoltan Csrsz (TFK, Karmakanic), and Jimmy Keegan (Santana, Spocks Beard live). The eccentric Biggo Zelfries (Walrus Farm) did most of the piano and analog keyboards, and TFK bassist Jonas Reingold added some fretless bass.
Dramarama (2010, 72-minutes, digipack) is their second. As Roine says: In its true retro-spirit, it was rehearsed and recorded live in Varispeed Studios in Sweden, with very few overdubs. The concept was to find the roots of our inspiration and the sounds we love, so theres an obvious late 60s and early 70s feel. 12 titles that focus more on melody, storytelling and drama than technical delivery, not withstanding the fact that the band houses some of the most skilled hi-profile musicians in the present prog scene. Huge rumble and swoosh from drums, fuzzy grinding & thunder bass, Wurlitzer piano, Hammond swirls and adventurous Moog ornaments, Telecaster twang and vintage Vox tubes, all there to support our swinging psychedelic-dramadelic 60s trip-back. Plenty of symphonic rewards for the diehard fans of TFK or Transatlantic style prog... The new album is a big leap towards a more complete classic (prog)rock band feel, whereas the first album stayed firmly in very pastel and mellow, contemplative yet demanding modes.
The Black Forest (2011, 57-minutes, digipack) is a concept album, as Roine puts it: one mega-tune cut into easily-digestible slices. The music this time is a more rock-oriented path weve taken, for good reasons - we are a R&R band at the core, but we sprinkle in bits of symphonic, ethno, jazz, medieval, and folk. Guitars and drums have moved forward in the soundscapes, but the gnarly Moogs and Mellotrons are still present, this time a bit more haunting and angular. The tunes are longer and more elaborated (prog) but sometimes with a iron fist of raw power riffage that resembles Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, or early King Crimson rather than Yes or Genesis. Dont fret - in this 57-minute journey, there is plenty of symphonic bombast too - in fact, we think there is even more than on previous albums, so youll get your fix of that ol tron, Moog, and Taurus bass.
Jimmy gren - Close Enough for Jazz ($7.99) SALE!Guitarist/vocalist Jimmy grens 2003 solo album is here because he is a member of The Mats/Morgan Band, and the album features Morgan on drums. Despite the title, its an album of blues-rock, though done in somewhat novel fashion. Digipack.
Airbag - All Rights Removed ($15.99) Airbag are a five-man prog band from Oslo, Norway. Classic Rock Magazine hit the nail on the head when they described their 2009 debut Identity as: Prog at its most chilled, honeyed and soothing... reminiscent of Coldplay doing Pink Floyd covers. Believe us, thats a recommendation. Airbag are also reminiscent of Porcupine Tree at their most sensual, as well as Gazpacho, RPWL, and modern Marillion. The music is lush and dripping with atmosphere, with omnipresent synth pads and some of the guitar work sounding like EBow, plus top-notch vocals. Gorgeous, melancholy stuff.
All Rights Removed (2011, digipack) is their second. Read the review at Dantes Prog Blog Inferno.
Ampera - A Vulcanized Mingle ($14.99) No, we cant make sense of the title either. Maybe its something a software translator came up with. Ampera is a Norwegian progressive rock band and this is their 2007 debut. They are both instrumentally and alphabetically close to Anekdoten, a mix of King Crimson (Starless) and a more modern guitar style, overlaid with Mellotron strings and some Minimoog. They have a female vocalist (singing in English) with a cold, somewhat dispassionate style that is more often associated with alternative than progressive. Its this juxtaposition that makes Ampera unique.
Antidepressive Delivery - Chain of Foods ($15.99) Antidepressive Delivery are a Norwegian band who debuted in 2004 with an album that alternated classic progressive rock and an aggressive metal style, and the less said about the latter style the better. But the band had at least demonstrated that they are quite capable of playing real progressive rock. Their second CD Chain of Foods (2008, digipack) jettisons the metal of their first album in favor of a more mature and cohesive musical approach. Chain of Foods is purely 1970s styled, a mix of early 70s progressive and hard rock with touches of early jazz-rock, with the bulk of the keyboard work on Hammond organ in a style similar to classic Deep Purple. Among the tracks is a short tribute entitled We Will Crimson You. On that first album, it was difficult to establish much in the way of melody and hooks when the band couldnt go more than a couple minutes without inexplicably switching to tuneless metal. But the cohesive tracks of Chain of Foods allow for plenty of melody and hooks, so with this CD, Antidepressive Delivery can now stand alongside Magic Pie and Five Fifteen, two Scandinavian bands with a similar style. ADD are not the only modern-day band that can play symphonic hard rock in a typically vintage manner, but their performance mastery as well as ability to overstep the limits of the idiom raises them quite far above most of their contemporary brothers in style. [Progressor]
Finn Arild - Testament ($15.99) Finn Arild is a Norwegian multi-instrumentalist who lists his influences as Genesis, Yes, Marillion and Transatlantic. Testament (2010) is the proggier of these two CDs; Serendipity (2005) is mix of pop and prog. Read the Sea of Tranquility reviews of Testament and Serendipity and the DPRP review of Testament.
Aspera - Ripples ($11.99) 2010 Norwegian prog-metal album on InsideOut.
Beardfish - Mammoth (CD+DVD, $12.99) 
Beardfish - Sleeping in Traffic: Part One ($14.99) 
We didnt think anyone made records like this anymore. Beardfish are an outstanding Swedish progressive band blending many 1970s prog styles. There are elements of Swedish 70s bands (Trettioriga Kriget, Bo Hansson, Made in Sweden, Kaipa), the great Dutch bands Supersister and Focus, Gentle Giant, the Canterbury Bands, Frank Zappa, King Crimson, and much more. And yet there are contemporary elements too. Theres so much good stuff here, its hard to know where to begin when attempting to describe it all.
Beardfishs sixth studio CD Mammoth (2011) comes with a bonus DVD (NTSC, all-region) containing both an hour-long concert (Live at De Boerderij) and a 44-minute documentary (The Making of Mammoth) that also includes some live footage. If youre a fan of Beardfish, stop reading now and just go get this album... Mammoth is Beardfish at their creative peak. This is an album by a band that knows what they want and how they want to sound and know how to achieve it. [Hanging Sounds] Read the full review, also the reviews at Prog Sphere and DangerDog.
Destined Solitaire (2009, digipack) is their fifth studio CD. Sleeping in Traffic: Part Two (2008, 74-minutes) is their fourth, and Sleeping in Traffic: Part One (2007, 66-minutes) is their third.
The double-CD The Sane Day (2005) is their second. This is the 2007 edition on Progress Records. Read reviews here. Frn en plats du ej kan se (From a place you cannot see) is their 2003 debut. This is the 2007 remastered edition on Progress Records, which includes two bonus tracks and an expanded booklet.
Check below for the related band Gungfly.
Black Bonzo - Sound of the Apocalypse ($13.99) Black Bonzo are a melodic Swedish retro-prog band whose sound is locked into the early 1970s. Their 2004 debut Lady of the Light had a bit of the hard-rock-with-organ style of Uriah Heep and Deep Purple, but the bulk of the album is progressive rock a la early Yes, the first King Crimson album, and The Moody Blues. Sound of the Apocalypse (2007, digipack) is even better. Here Black Bonzo are influenced by Jethro Tull (Thick as a Brick era) and Yes, among others. In fact, the result is close to The Flower Kings when TFK are going for the sound of that era. The keyboards are dominated by Hammond, with Mellotron and piano in support, and just a little synth. Good stuff!
Tomas Bodin - Sonic Boulevard ($14.99) Flower Kings keyboardist Tomas Bodin has made one great album after another. Sonic Boulevard (2003, digipack) is his third CD, with the other Flower Kings and several other musicians helping out. This is a very satisfying, mostly-instrumental symphonic progressive album. Relative to The Flower Kings, Bodin has the freedom here to do some more peaceful and classically-inspired pieces, and there is much more of a Swedish flavor that comes through, reminding one more of 1970s Kaipa than The Flower Kings. At the same time, Bodin is able to use drum loops and other modern accouterments here and there, so the music is both more retro and more modern than his parent band.
Brighteye Brison - The Magician Chronicles Part I ($16.99) 
Brighteye Brison are a melodic Swedish symphonic progressive band that you can file alongside The Flower Kings, Carptree, Twin Age, Ageness, Spektrum, and Magic Pie. Following a 2001 demo EP and a 2003 debut CD (out-of-print), Stories (2006) has much better production and every aspect of the music is improved. The primary influences are 1970s Genesis and Yes, a little Beatles and possibly Kayak, and they use only vintage analog keyboards. One of their signature sounds is their harmony vocals, something of a lost art in modern rock, progressive or otherwise. This really is an outstanding sympho-prog album. Their melodic sense is excellent and their overall sound unique enough that this should have great appeal to a large segment of the prog rock audience. Read reviews here.
Believers & Deceivers (2008, 68-minutes) is not only Brighteye Brisons best album to date, this album alone could be used to argue that the Swedish progressive scene is the strongest in the world now. Their sound is pure classic symphonic prog with a solid melodic foundation. The commonality with The Flower Kings, Moon Safari, Maze of Time, etc. is immediately obvious, and yet all these Swedish bands have a distinct sound. On Believers & Deceivers, Yes is the major influence, and whether early Kayak is an influence or not, some of the music certainly has that style. The Genesis and Gentle Giant passages are easy to spot. Brighteye Brison have two keyboardists, and both stick to vintage keyboards. Three band members sing, and the Yes-like ensemble vocals are a big part of their sound. That is one thing the current crop of Swedish and Norwegian prog bands embrace while the rest of the world seems to have forgotten how. An essential CD. Read reviews here.
The Magician Chronicles Part I (2011) revisits the mythology of the character who shares a name with the band and who first appeared in The Battle of Brighteye Brison on the Stories CD. The story unfolds through three long tracks featuring Brighteye Brisons symphonic sound of analog synths, Mellotron, intricate arrangements and dazzling harmonies.
The Brimstone Solar Radiation Band - Smorgasbord ($15.99) Smorgasbord (2009, 55-minutes) is already the third CD for this Norwegian prog band. How can they be less than famous? As with Magic Pie, Von Hertzen Brothers and other current Scandinavian bands, The BSRB do a modern, proggier take on classic early 1970s rock, with influences extending back into the late 1960s. The first clich that comes to mind is a breath of fresh air, but that occurred to at least one of the reviewers linked to below, so no need to repeat it. Some of the music is what used to be called rural rock, with CSN&Y style vocals, but done up in proggy arrangements that result in what well call feel-good prog because of the sunny, summer mood. And some of the music is more overtly proggy; it feels even better than the feel-good prog. If none of that makes much sense, read the reviews at Prognaut and Sea of Tranquility.
Brother Ape - A Rare Moment of Insight ($17.99) 
Brother Ape - Shangri-la ($17.99)Brother Ape are another great Swedish prog band that dont sound like any of the other Swedish prog bands. On their debut On the Other Side (2005), they are a quartet (guitars/vocals, keys, bass, drums) with excellent vocals in English, somewhere between Saga/Rush and Genesis/Yes, but dont take that too literally as Brother Ape dont sound much like any of those bands, except on the title track that ends this album. This 8-minute track is the highlight, a wonderful slice of Yes and Genesis-inspired euphoria. Interestingly, this track was recorded ten years earlier than the others and excavated from the vault for this CD. Are there any others like this in there? Read reviews.
Brother Ape are a trio on their second album Shangri-la (2006, 58-minutes), and yet it is a significantly stronger album. There actually is a small amount of music here that could qualify as jazz-rock (and there is now fretless bass), but as on their debut, there is a jazz-rock flavor to some of the other instrumental work that is very refreshing and that sets Brother Ape apart from many other contemporary prog bands. Peter Dahlstrom, who sang 70% of the songs on the first album, has deserted and guitarist Stefan Damicolas has taken over lead vocals on all tracks. Hes a very good singer whose voice actually creates a proggier feel, as the frequently soft vocals (lead and harmony) give the music a solid 1970s flavor. And most of the influences heard here are 70s prog bands, including the pastoral side of Genesis, yet the music is not consciously retro as with a band such as Anglagard. This album is likely to give those who grew up with the original progressive rock bands a warm feeling that doesnt always happen with contemporary bands. Read reviews. Here is an mp3 of the complete track New Shangri-la.
Brother Apes third CD III (2008) is just a brilliant album, cementing Swedens position at ground zero of the current progressive rock world. Brother Apes style has gelled. It is fresh, contemporary, full of energy, and distinct from other prog bands. They have excellent lead vocals as well as the harmony vocals that many of the current Swedish bands excel at. Their sound is symphonic but not retro, energetic but not heavy by todays standards, full of that summer breeze quality one can also hear in Moon Safari. Can we say brilliant again?
With their fourth album Turbulence (2009, digipack), Brother Ape continue to develop a style that is both classic and modern at the same time, in a fairly unique way. Many of the tracks on this CD contrast the soothing vocal style with a very energetic, driving rhythm section. Its actually the less frenetic tracks that are the standouts here, where everything meshes perfectly. All the styles heard on the previous three Brother Ape albums are present to some extent, but the band are still expanding their style and distinctiveness. Read reviews.
Brother Apes fifth album A Rare Moment of Insight (2010, digipack) was written shortly after Turbulence while the band was still on the same creative high, thus it is similar in style to Turbulence. Read reviews. Here is a full-length (9:06) mp3 of the track Echoes of Madness.
The Carpet Knights - Lost and So Strange Is My Mind ($15.99) This 2005 release on Record Heavens Transubstans label is consistent with the labels focus on bands with a retro and often psychedelic progressive sound and a 1970s production aesthetic. This Swedish band could be likened to Anekdoten minus the cello and Mellotron. Except on the 11-minute final track, they use no keyboards but they do use flute on occasion. After Anekdoten, one might mention a similarity to early Jethro Tull in spots. Because the two guitarists wisely avoid over-distorted metal tones and typical lead guitar wankery (had to make up a word just now), the music flows beautifully and seduces the listener with its generally melancholic mood.
Carptree - Nymf ($16.99) 
Carptree - Superhero ($14.99)This Swedish bands second CD Superhero (2003, 61-minutes) is a symphonic prog masterpiece. The core of the band is Carl Westholm on keyboards and singer Niclas Flinck, while seven other musicians in the No Future Orchestra handle guitars, bass, drums, and backing vocals. Carptrees lineage may be Genesis and Peter Gabriel (though one song, the excellent Host vs. Graft, has a chorus straight out of the Pendragon songbook), but unlike the 1990s Swedish bands, Carptree are not retro and in fact get high marks for inventiveness and all-around cleverness. The old Genesis melodrama is here, and every song is just a little bit quirky, which only increases Carptrees appeal. Westholm generally plays in the classically-inspired styles of Tony Banks or Ton Scherpenzeel (Kayak), and his arrangements and orchestrations are superb. Niclas Flincks vocals sometimes suggest Max Werner (Kayak). We thought this level of songwriting, melodic sensibility, and emotional impact had all but disappeared from progressive rock. This is the MALS label edition, produced under license from the band.
Carptrees 2001 self-titled first CD (57-minutes) leans a bit more toward progressive-pop than Superhero, but the potential that is fully realized on Superhero is very evident. So start with any of their other CDs and youll probably come back for their first CD as well. This is the MALS label edition, produced under license from the band.
Man Made Machine (2005) continues Carptrees trend of making each CD darker, heavier, and more powerful than the last. Flincks singing style now sounds more like Fish. This is a stunning symphonic progressive album, more serious sounding than their previous albums, full of the old Genesis grandeur but not really retro sounding, at least not when compared to Swedish bands such as Anglagard or Anekdoten. But if you married the power of those two bands with the vocals and melodic sense of Galleon, Cross, or Twin Age (keeping this within Sweden for the moment), youd have something like Man Made Machine, the best of both worlds.
With their fourth CD Insekt (2007), Carptree put it all together and cemented their position in the first echelon of active symphonic progressive bands. In addition to the elements and influences on previous albums, there are some female backing vocals, and the final song is very Roger Waters / Pink Floyd influenced. Its a testament to the Swedish progressive scene that, even though there are quite a few bands today and progressive rock is a mature style, the bands all have distinct styles. Read reviews here.
What we said about Insekt applies to Nymf (2010, digipack). The music is comparable to Marillion circa Fugazi in terms of its weight and darkness, but it is more symphonic and classically-influenced, more brooding and even more dramatic. By weight we mean that Pink Floyd quality; the music has weight but is not heavy (metallic). Amid the symphonic gloom there is always a ray of light, and the tension finally resolves beautifully on the final track, which calms the listener down and tucks him/her in for the night.
Cross - Wake Up Call ($16.99)
Cross - Secrets remastered ($16.99) 
Cross - Paradox (CD-EP, $7.99)
Cross - Uncovered Heart ($12.99)Cross is a Swedish neo-progressive/neo-symphonic band with excellent English vocals and an accessible style. The band says that with Wake Up Call (2012, digipack), Cross deliver their most symphonic sounding work to date. The guys are partly back to the somewhat heavier sound found on Secrets and Playgrounds, with dashes of the softer approach of The Thrill of Nothingness. But there is also the fresh element of multilayered string sections and a true symphonic feel in the overall soundscape. This is not totally new to Cross, but this time they have pushed it to the fore and merged it deeper into their music. Guests include Mats Bender of Introitus (keyboards), Jock Millgardh (lead and harmony vocals), and Hannah Sundkvist (electric violin). Listed as a bonus track is the 10-minute Now, a version of which appears on the Spektrum CD. This song was initially written for Cross back in 2001, but at the time drummer Tomas Hjort was living in New York, and the 9/11 incident forced them to postpone recording a new album, and Hansi Cross donated it to Spektrum instead. Hansi always wondered how it would have turned out had Cross recorded it, and now they have. Listen to the songs Human Resolution, Remembrance, Falling Beyond, and Racing Spirits on YouTube.
This is the limited double-CD digipack edition of The Thrill of Nothingness (2009). This edition adds the 42-minute bonus album The Thrill of Somethingness, containing songs recorded during the same sessions but which the band felt didnt fit with the concept of the main album. Concept, schmoncept, well take the extra songs. The band feels this album is a logical continuation of Secrets and Playgrounds, with a slightly more 1970s sound. The specter of late-70s Genesis is never far away, though often the feel is closer to Mike Rutherfords Smallcreeps Day or Tony Banks A Curious Feeling. Song tempos stay in the moderate, Pink Floyd range, and there is a Pink Floyd influence in other aspects as well. Tomas Bodin (The Flower Kings) guests, and while Cross style is distinct, most fans of The Flower Kings will enjoy this album too. Here are mp3s of the tracks Universe Inside and Blckfisken, the latter only on the 2CD. Read reviews.
Playgrounds (2004) further develops the style heard on Secrets (2000) but relates even more closely to the 2003 Spektrum CD, and all the Spektrum members guest on Playgrounds. The mid-to-late 1970s Genesis influence is present, particularly in the keyboards, and Cross style is now close to Galleon as well as Jadis and other melodic symphonic prog bands. Read reviews. This is the U.S. edition on ProgRock Records.
This is the 2008 remastered edition of Secrets, which was originally released in 2000. The music is quite similar to Jadis, maybe a bit heavier and more progressive, and a sure bet for neo-prog fans. Read reviews.
Visionary Fools is from 1998. Gaze was originally released in 1996 and remastered in 1999. Gaze is now deleted, last copy. Paradox is a 1994 CD-EP (18:13) in a digipack, containing a single track of excellent instrumental symphonic rock, using samplers and electric guitar. Changing Poison Into Medicine (1993) is their 77-minute long third CD. Uncovered Heart (1988) and Second Movement (1990) are the first two Cross CDs.
DAccorD - Helike ($15.99) DAccorD are a Norwegian quintet along the lines of Black Bonzo, trying to recapture the essence of early 1970s progressive rock, with an authentic sound. Amongst their weaponry are such diverse elements as fear, surprise, flute, Hammond, Mellotron and sax. The band mention Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, Queen, Deep Purple, and Uriah Heep as some of their influences. On their 2009 debut album DAccorD, there is also an obvious Genesis influence on the first track, later a short section where Van der Graaf Generator comes to mind. Read reviews at Prog Archives.
Helike (2011) is their second, containing just two side-long pieces of music (20:44 and 23:30). If this thing could reference vintage seventies prog any more than it already does, it would have a Roger Dean logo on the front... it is the collective sound of DAccord summoning the ghosts of prog past that make Helike so likable. Read the rest of the Sea of Tranquility review and the ProgNaut review.
Dungen - Skit I Allt ($11.99) 
Dungen was initially sold to the alternative crowd as Nordic psychedelic rock. On the earlier Dungen albums, that was accurate enough. The third Dungen album Ta Det Lugnt (2004) was their international breakthrough album, and while it had a lot of Hendrix-style freak-outs, it was progressive around the edges thanks to a lush palette featuring keyboards, fiddle, and flute.
Tio Bitar (2007) fits nicely between Ta Det Lugnt and Dungens 2008 album 4, with equal amounts of the psychedelic rock of the former and the early 70s prog style of the latter. Less freak-out, more focus.
Regardless of what the alternative press labels it, Dungens fifth album 4 (dont ask us about the numbering scheme) is Swedish progressive rock (which by any other name wouldnt sound as sweet). Sung in Swedish but heavily instrumental, 4 has some psychedelic elements, but by and large this is pastoral, organic-sounding, 1970s-style prog dominated by piano, flute, and strings. Digipack.
Dungens sixth album Skit I Allt (2010, digipack) continues to advance the progressive direction of 4. Theres nothing Hendrix-y here. There is some psychedelic flavoring blended with the dominant style of breezy, warm, pastoral early-70s Swedish prog. The instrumentation is guitars, flute, strings, piano, organ, bass and drums, plus Gustav Ejstes soothing Swedish-language vocals, with enough space in the mixes to allow the music to breathe. Wonderful stuff, and little short of amazing to see music with Swedish vocals selling in the U.S. -- its hard enough to find rock sung in Swedish in Sweden. Here is an mp3 of the track Marken Lag Stilla and a video of the title track.
Dynamo Bliss - 21st Century Junk ($15.99) From Aerodynamic Records, the label that released the latest Galleon CD, comes the 2010 debut of Swedish band Dynamo Bliss, who MuzikReviews.com described as The Beatles meet Marillion in a time warp and stop to pick up Be Bop Deluxe along the way absolutely brilliant! This really is blissed-out prog with a strong pop foundation. It seems the Swedes, more than any others right now, are keeping alive the art of harmony vocals and vocal arrangements, Moon Safari being one obvious example. Dynamo Bliss have harmony vocals descended from The Beatles, The Beach Boys, ELO, and early Queen, and its a major attraction of their music. There is also some Pink Floyd flavor as well as 10cc and Stackridge, and something more symphonic than that which well just call Genesis. Its a retro-flavored but not a retro album -- Dynamo Bliss extrapolate their influences forward to the present. Its hard to think of anyone else making music quite like this today, so well second the absolutely brilliant comment. With the volume of music coming through here, its rare any CD gets a second listen, but this one went twice back-to-back!
Eldberg - Eldberg ($16.99) Eldberg (2011, digipack) is the debut for this retro, early-1970s style prog band from Iceland. Eldberg sing in Icelandic. (Even the language is retro; it resembles 12th century Norse). The music is comparable to Trettioriga Kriget on the self-titled album and Krigssang, though the Eldberg members are too young to have been around when those albums were made. Pretty incredible to hear younger musicians so successfully capture the spirit of that music, though the Scandinavians are unusually adept at it. YouTube has a video of the song Enginn friur.
Fejd - Eifur ($13.99) The Swedish band Fejd formed in 2001 through a merger of the folk music duo Rimmerfors and a couple members of metal band Pathos. Rimmerfors played folk music with medieval undertones, performing on contemporary instruments, and together with their childhood friends of Pathos, they transformed into a refined band with the best of both worlds. Despite the metal background -- three of the five members also currently play in metal bands, and the CD is on a metal label -- its hard to say theres any metal on Eifur (2010) when there are no electric guitars. There is a little skull in the lower right-hand corner of the cover though. Other than that, the only metal aspect is that the drummer is definitely a metal drummer, so there is a fair amount of bashing going on. But apart from some Very Loud Drums, the real lineage of Fejd is Garmarna and Hedningarna (two older Scandinavian bands who combine Nordic folk and rock). Fejd have more rock energy and bigger production though, so theyve succeeded in giving Scandinavian folk-rock a more expansive, heavy rock sound while stopping short of Viking-metal silliness. As a rock band interested in medieval folk music, Fejd fit right in with the German Mitteralter bands in what is an important genre in Germany. The major difference is the unique melodic language and inherent sadness of Nordic folk music, as well as instruments such as the Moraharpa (keyed fiddle), Swedish bagpipes, willow pipe, and cow antler. (More cow antler!)
Five Fifteen - Death of a Clown ($13.99) This Finnish band blends progressive with a 1970s style accessible hard rock (not metal) in a unique way. Youd never know they werent British. While borrowing their hard rock aspects from the likes of Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, The Who, Led Zeppelin, or Jethro Tull, their vocal melodies are closer to The Beatles. You cant help but be hooked by their majestic choruses, often over Mellotron chords; this is where the prog rock aspect of their music comes to the fore. The songwriting is excellent and their humor and enthusiasm is such that its really hard not to like these guys. Death of a Clown is from 2001. This is the remastered second edition of ...Camembert (2000), which alters the track order and adds four bonus tracks (three studio, one live).
The Flower Kings - The Sum of No Evil ($14.99) |         |
A Tribute to The Flower Kings: A Flower Full of Stars (4CD, $49.99)This massive 4CD set contains 34 The Flower Kings tracks interpreted by the likes of Abarax, Argos, Chris, Final Conflict, Flamborough Head, Forgotten Suns, Mist Season, Pandora, Phaedra, Roz Vitalis, Sky Architect, Soniq Circus, Tabula Smaragdina, Tinyfish, Unitopia, Yesterdays, and 18 more. See Prog Archives for the complete list of tracks/bands. Counts as 2.5 CDs for shipping.
The Foundation - Departure ($15.99) Reissue of an excellent and rare 1984 Swedish melodic symphonic progressive album plus two bonus tracks. For those who know the Swedish band Tribute, this is similar. For those who dont, The Foundation lean most heavily in the Genesis direction, but distinguish themselves through the use of Chapman Stick and occasional cello. The bonus tracks total over 21 minutes and are as good as the rest of the album.
FreddeGredde - Thirteen Eight ($15.99) This is the CD that White Knight Records (co-founded by Magentas Rob Reed) have been champing at the bit to let the world hear. The FreddeGredde debut Thirteen Eight (2011, 71-minutes, digipack) is the work of Swedish wunderkind Fredrik Larsson, assisted by a drummer. As the story goes, the young artist initially rose to prominence in the early days of the viral video revolution where his great musicianship gained attention on YouTube and generated millions of views on some of his most popular videos. Larssons YouTube channel quickly became the number one subscribed channel in Sweden. But Larssons real dream is represented by this CD. The first thing that strikes the listener is the voice. The first generation of prog bands had some great singers, but the best singers of later generations by and large did not join prog bands. So male vocals of this quality are not common in todays prog. The music is energetic modern symphonic prog that is both complex and accessible. Larsson may be young, but he knows the 1970s bands -- watch his video cover of Queens Killer Queen on his YouTube channel. This is one of the best debuts by a prog artist this millennium, and assurance that the future of prog is in good hands. The fastest way to preview the CD is via this video.
Bloody hell!!! How good is FreddeGredde??!!! Totally bloody amazing! What a voice! [Jem Godfrey of Frost]
Hasse Frberg & Musical Companion - Future Past ($14.99) Hasse Frberg is known to prog fans as singer/guitarist of The Flower Kings since 1997. With TFK taking most of 2009 off, Frberg had the opportunity to assemble his own band, and Future Past (2010) is the result. The labels description: Hasse Frberg has put together a stunning debut album, 72 minutes of stellar performance, top notch production and catchy songs within a progressive environment. Some would say it sounds like Yes, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, The Flower Kings. some just say HFMC. Amazing guitar performance by young gunslinger Anton Lindsj throughout the CD reveals the raw talent of this new kid on the block from Sweden. A classy classic/progressive rock CD from the land of the midnight sun.
Ive found it thoroughly entertaining and addictive from start to finish. The band play together like seasoned vets, but the tenor of the whole has a zest and freshness thats impossible to deny or ignore. Admittedly, now Ive spent some time with it, I would say there are five truly wonderful songs married with four good songs that have wonderful moments or sections, but taken as an entity, Future Past is peppered with breathtaking musicianship and songwriting that blends the best of the old with the best of the new to stand as a paean of whats possible in modern rock. Whats more, the production is devastatingly good and creates a unique and original sound for the band to cohere around. I find it difficult to find fault with this wonderful piece of work that stands out as one of my albums of the year. [DPRP] Read the full review.
Funin - Unsound ($16.99) Unsound (2010, 50-minutes, digisleeve) is the debut for Norwegian band Funin who are up to seven members for live performances (not everyone plays on every track on this CD), covering vocals (mostly female), guitars, keys, bass, drums, flute, violin, cello, and a few other instruments. We enjoyed this CD immensely. The label describes Unsound as a wonderful mix of symphonic rock, folk and jazz with a distinctive sound... Imagine a mix of Canterbury prog, Radiohead and Bjrk, then you are close to Funins sonic universe. Some of this could be considered an extension of Kate Bushs The Dreaming or of Jane Siberrys early, progressive work (during her Synclavier phase). Some tracks show the bands electronica roots, keeping the sound sparse enough to allow the listener to appreciate the eerie, detailed textures behind the vocals. Other tracks are lush and make good use of the strings and flute. Funin are demonstrating one possible way for progressive rock to break new ground without finding itself at odds with what it originally was. Here are videos of the songs Everything and Inch of Me. Actually, stop what youre doing now and watch the Everything video. Counts as only one-half CD for shipping.
Galleon - In the Wake of the Moon ($15.99) 
Galleon - Beyond Dreams ($16.99) 
Galleon - Heritage and Visions ($15.99)Galleon are a Swedish neo-progressive/neo-symphonic band whose music is derived from Genesis no doubt, and falls in the Pallas and Pendragon camps, keyboard-dominated, with strong, clear English vocals. From Land to Ocean (2003) is a 2CD set with the second CD taken up entirely by the 52-minute piece The Ocean. It goes without saying that this is their most ambitious album to date, and although Galleon havent changed their style all that much from album to album, this one improves on all their previous albums. To extend the Pallas reference, From Land to Ocean is Galleons The Sentinel. (The cover concept is rather similar too.) Beyond Dreams is from 2000. This is the 2005 remastered edition of Mind Over Matter (1998). King of Aragon (1995) is their third CD; this edition was remastered in 1999. Heritage and Visions (1994) is their second CD and Lynx (1992) is their first.
Galleon have had a fairly consistent style since their first album, and while Engines of Creation (2007) is not a radical departure, it is probably the biggest evolution in their sound between any two albums. It had been four years since From Land to Ocean, and in that time, they seem to have discovered a new energy. While Galleons core sound on Engines of Creation is still similar to Pallas, there is a new Rush-like energy, greater complexity, even a touch of fusion in a couple spots. Its the least neo-sounding of Galleons CDs and shows that after 15 years, this band still may not have reached their peak. Here is an mp3 of the complete 7:04 title track.
For their ninth album In the Wake of the Moon (2010), Galleon have moved to Aerodynamic Records, a new Swedish prog label, who warn that parts of this album will give the listener permanent goose bumps. If that would be a liability in your professional or personal life, you should listen to this CD at a safe distance.
Gallery - Jas Gripen ($16.99) Jas Gripen (2007, digipack) is the debut CD by Norwegian band Gallery (who sing in English), and yet another example of the quality of progressive rock coming out of Scandinavia these days. The title refers to the fighter plane manufactured by Saab. Ultimately this falls in the modern prog category, but it isnt clear cut, as there are also many aspects of early 1970s progressive rock. The melancholy vocal style feels contemporary, and the lead guitar style and tone is often in the grungier modern style, though this is balanced by cleaner, lyrical guitar lines in the classic mode of Andy Latimer and others. The keyboard sounds are all vintage: Mellotron, gritty Hammond, piano. All told, the result is fairly close to recent Anekdoten, though Gallerys melodies are better. The enthralling melodies move between solid guitars and flying keys, with a firm foundation of precise drums and flawless bass playing. Surprising, catchy and infinitely confident, the debut record of Gallery is an untouchable piece of progressive rock that would be a shame to miss out on. [Monster Magazine]
Gazpacho - London (2CD, $15.99) 
Norwegian band Gazpacho originally allied themselves closely with Marillion. One can assume they took their name from the Marillion song and not from a love of cold soup, and the title of their first full-length album Bravo is only a vowel shift away from a well-known Marillion album. They were on Marillions label for a time and have supported Marillion on tour. Certainly their style shares a lot with Marillion from Brave on. Their music is in the serious-sounding, deliberately-paced post-progressive style that emphasizes atmosphere, texture and melody over demonstrative playing. Other bands frequently mentioned as reference points are Porcupine Tree and Radiohead. Gazpacho came of age with 2007s Night, at which point the guest violinist of the previous three albums had been promoted to a full member, while another guest musician adds several acoustic instruments, further broadening Gazpachos sound. Their fifth album Tick Tock (2009) is a natural evolution from Night and of equal quality. Read the roundtable DPRP reviews.
After initially releasing Missa Atropos (2010) in Germany, Gazpacho signed to Kscope who released this digibook edition. Missa Atropos is described as a concept album dealing with the ever-popular themes of death, fear and loneliness. Consequently the music is darker than their previous two albums, while still displaying the Gazpacho trademarks, including ambient passages, violin and classical influences, and elements of world music. Read the DPRP roundtable reviews.
The double-CD London (2011) captures Gazpachos gig on their Missa Atropos tour at the legendary Dingwalls venue in Camden. Classic Rock Presents Prog described the evening as sublime, going on to state, with new album Missa Atropos to draw from as well as a catalogue of songs that draw favourable comparison with both Radiohead and a more sedate Muse, they fill the best part of two hours with invention and brio.
Ginger Trees - Along with the Tide mini-LP ($15.99) This is the 2011 second release by Swedish band Ginger Trees. The label says it has influences of Porcupine Tree, Uriah Heep, Kula Shaker, Pink Floyd and everything in between. Sea of Tranquility says: think The Doors, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Pink Floyd, Iron Butterfly, Jefferson Airplane, and the Vanilla Fudge, complete with haunting vocals, swirling Hammond organ, and bluesy hard rock guitar work. Read the full Sea of Tranquility and JerryLucky.com reviews. Many more reviews should be found on the bands MySpace page (mp3 icon above). This is the mini-LP (cardboard) sleeve edition on the MALS label.
Grand Stand - Tricks of Time ($17.99)Grand Stand make a huge leap forward on Tricks of Time (2002), their second CD. Grand Stands sound has moved much closer to The Flower Kings, though there are still passages directly inspired by Genesis. This album would sit comfortably alongside The Flower Kings CDs. Aside from one 4-minute track, the next shortest track is 9:34! Though still heavily instrumental, this album has English-language vocals, and with the energy level and production markedly improved from their debut, this CD should boost Grand Stands popularity significantly. Here is a 1:43 mp3 album sampler.
Groovector - Darklubing at Tavastia ($15.99) This Finnish prog band debuted in 2000 with Ultramarine (currently unavailable). That album was instrumental, full of long tracks, Groovectors sound dominated by keyboards (piano, Rhodes, Hammond organ, synths) and flute, plus acoustic & electric guitars, bass and drums. There are influences of Camel (The Snow Goose), Kaipa, Focus, and early King Crimson, but the bulk of what they do is their own take on classic progressive rock. It all has a magical feel, suggestive of the Finnish forests. Enigmatic Elements (2003) is their second CD. Groovector added vocals on this album, though half the tracks are still instrumental. It is generally keyboard-dominated, with elements of fusion and space-rock, all executed with great finesse.
Darklubing at Tavastia (2005) is a 74-minute live album recorded in 2001 and 2002. At the time of these recordings, the band was a quintet with a dedicated flute player who left the band prior to the recording of Enigmatic Elements. This is an outstanding album, mostly-instrumental with vocals in English. The music comes closest to early Camel, with touches of Pink Floyd and early King Crimson. The way they employ flute is often closer to the way PFM did in their early days, so youd be forgiven for thinking at times that Groovector is an Italian progressive band. Good sound quality too.
Gungfly - Lamentations (CD+DVD, $19.99) Gungfly is the side project of Beardfish leader Rikard Sjblom. Lamentations (2011, digipack) is the second Gungfly album, following the well-received Please Be Quiet. Lamentations comes with a DVD (PAL, all-region) of Gungfly in concert in 2009 (67-minutes). Gungfly is similar to the shorter, vocal-oriented Beardfish songs (but not all Gungfly songs are short). Watch the DVD concert opener on YouTube. Read the DPRP review.
Hagen - Corridors of Time ($15.99) On this 2001 album, Swedish band Hagen play an excellent fusion of old folk melodies and heavy rock, their sound centered around the electric violin of Anders Rosen, seemingly played through a fuzz box to achieve a guitar-like sound. They are also notable for having Kaipa keyboardist Hans Lundin as a member. The old guys are joined by several younger musicians for a rock band that spans a couple generations of progressive rock. Think of a modern, heavier version of Kebnekaise.
Bo Hansson - Music Inspired by Watership Down ($15.99) 1977 fourth solo album for keyboardist Bo Hansson, who was one of the pioneers of progressive rock in Sweden. This was his final album before resurfacing in 1985 with an atypical album. Hansson collaborated with guitarist Kenny Hkansson (Kebnekaise) on Music Inspired by Watership Down (released as El-Ahrairah in Sweden), which also features a number of other excellent musicians on bass, drums, and flute. It is flowing, dreamy, instrumental symphonic rock that generally has a different feel than Hanssons previous albums, in part because he uses synthesizers instead of organ. It still has that evocative Nordic atmosphere though. This remastered edition includes an 11-minute bonus track recorded live in the studio in 2004 by Hansson and Hkansson. The 12-page booklet includes an extensive biography by Mark Powell.
Anders Helmerson - Triple Ripple ($15.99) Swedish keyboardist Anders Helmerson first made his mark in the progressive rock world with his 1981 LP End of Illusion, which achieved cult status. He wasnt heard from again until 2002s Fields of Inertia, recorded with Brazilian musicians at a time when Anders was living in Rio de Janeiro. He calls London home now, and Triple Ripple (2010) was mastered at Abbey Road Studios, but it was recorded in Nashville and New York. Here Helmerson is joined by bassist Bryan Beller (Mike Keneally, Steve Vai, many more) and drummer Marco Minnemann (UKZ, Mike Keneally, many more). Triple Ripple is instrumental, and while Helmerson gets symphonic sounds from his synths, the music is closer to fusion than symphonic rock. The rhythm section is as good as it gets, and the sound quality is superb. Helmerson has his own style that cant be compared to any one other keyboardist. There are aspects of Emerson, Moraz, Jobson, Sherinian, etc, but Helmerson also has some Vangelis-like sounds (think Albedo 0.39) in his arsenal.
Indisciplined Lucy - About the Black Eyed Girl ($15.99)A Swedish seven-piece neo-progressive band, unique in that their sound is dominated by violin and cello, in addition to the usual guitars, keys, bass and drums. The lighter tracks on About the Black Eyed Girl (1999) sound like an extrapolation of Eleanor Rigby into progressive realms, but they also get heavier and more powerful than that. The music is vocal-heavy, with English lyrics.
In the Labyrinth - One Trail to Heaven ($12.99) In the Labyrinth are a fairly unique Swedish band who mix Indian and Middle Eastern motifs with symphonic rock, medieval sounds, and elements of Swedish folklore. The instrumentation is diverse: Mellotron, sitar, flutes, mandolin, violin, accordion, woodwinds, zither, assorted ethnic percussion, not to mention vocals, electric & acoustic guitars, and bass. The music itself is still largely western and conventionally melodic, its just the instrumentation thats unique. While the music is heavily instrumental, the warm male vocals in English and beautiful female vocals are a strong point. About the only reference that comes to mind is a more proggy Dead Can Dance. Mystical, melancholy, mesmerizing, magical stuff that will have you transfixed.
One Trail to Heaven (2011, 60-minutes, digipack) is a compilation, but the music has been remastered, resulting in significant sonic improvements, and about 40% of the CD is previously-unreleased. This CD draws from the previous ITL CDs: The Garden of Mysteries (1994), Walking on Clouds (1999), and Dryad (2002). Three of the tracks are actually different versions than what appeared on those CDs, and there are two previously-unreleased tracks plus a cover of The Moody Blues Cities.
Introitus - Elements ($16.99) Introitus are a superb Swedish progressive rock band centered on married couple Mats and Anna Jobs Bender, with two of their children in the band. There are quite a few other musicians appearing on their debut CD Fantasy (2007, 73-minutes), while the core lineup of seven persons recorded their second CD Elements (2011, 67-minutes, digipack). Anna sings lead vocals and has a lovely voice, though the music is about half instrumental. Mats plays keyboards and writes most of the music, and you can tell the music is written by a keyboardist because, with a few exceptions such as Steve Hackett, guitarists dont create symphonic architectures like this. Fantasy is full of symphonic prog in the Genesis, Hackett, and Yes veins, though Introitus have a very distinct personality. On Fantasy, they add accordion, cello, fiddles, sax, flute, and Swedish bagpipes in spots, the pipes and fiddle adding Celtic melodies when they appear, and there are touches of Vangelis-style electronics. Some of Mats compositions are 30 years old, so the ties to classic prog are stronger than one might expect. Read the Progressive Land review. First released by the band, this is the 2011 remastered edition of Fantasy on Progress Records.
Fantasy caught the attention of the Progress Records label (Magic Pie, Brother Ape, etc.), who signed Introitus for Elements. Elements is also full of symphonic prog in the Genesis and Yes veins and a bit heavier than Fantasy; guess the youngsters in the band are asserting themselves. Elements still features flute and a small amount of cello, though we do miss those additional instruments found on their debut. On the other hand, two other band members are helping out with the keyboard workload, which features some skillful electronics touches. The final track is 17-minutes long and a grandiose conclusion to the album, sounding like a stirring movie soundtrack done up prog rock style. Read reviews.
Isildurs Bane - Cheval: Volont de Rocher ($14.99) One of the most important and adventurous Swedish progressive bands, Isildurs Bane released their first album at the beginning of the 1980s and havent stopped since, though their music has continued to evolve. The band believes their fifth album Cheval (1989) can be seen as the beginning of the second period of Isildurs Bane, but stylistically, it feels more like the start of a third period. Isildurs Banes first two albums were traditional Swedish symphonic prog, while their third and fourth were upbeat symphonic jazz-rock. Cheval features a chamber orchestra and guest appearances by Jan Schaffer and flute virtuoso Bjrn J:son Lindh and is more classically influenced and challenging. This is the MALS label edition.
Its the End - same ($15.99) The 2009 debut by this Norwegian instrumental band contains inventive progressive jazz-rock, at various times similar to Allan Holdsworth, Frank Zappa, Mats-Morgan, and King Crimson, but more modern, varied and experimental. One track features metal guitar pounding away on the same note for minutes on end; that explains Meshuggah being on the bands list of influences. But with a playing time of 79-minutes, use the skip button and you still have a very long CD.
Jeavestone - 1+1=OK ($15.99) 
Jeavestone are the new Finnish prog sensation. They are a progressive rock band that start with a jam band sound palette, though Jeavestones songs are composed and structured. They add flute, terrific harmony vocals, other woodwinds and string arrangements here and there, an organic sound where acoustic instruments are important just as they were with the classic progressive rock bands. They have an obvious sense of humor and sound like theyre having great fun. Playful prog for when you just cant take another melancholy band. Jeavestone have similarities to Magic Pie, Von Hertzen Brothers, Umphreys McGee, Wigwam, Moon Safari, Yes, Genesis, Gentle Giant, Zappa, Jethro Tull, Caravan, and Echolyn. They are closest to the first three in that list but at present are proggier than any of the three.
This is the Presence Records re-edition of Jeavestones first full-length CD Mind the Soup (2005), which includes videos of two songs. Mind the Soup is more of a prog & roll album. Spices, Species and Poetry Petrol (2008, digipack) is more progressive and is a significant step forward, but Mind the Soup is no slouch. Hopefully Presence Records will get around to manufacturing more Spices, Species and Poetry Petrol CDs before long. And Jeavestones third album 1+1=OK (2010, digipack) is the proggiest of all.
Jupiter Society - Terraform ($13.99) Carptree keyboardist Carl Westholm goes the Ayreon route with his Jupiter Society project, creating epic space operas using different vocalists and musicians on different tracks. Most of the musicians have a metal background, and to some extent the music sounds like a heavier, more metallic Carptree. While Jupiter Society tends to stay more grounded in symphonic rock than similar prog-metal projects, the metal aesthetic still dominates in the doomy melodies, the invariant plodding tempo, and the generally ponderous feel. First Contact Last Warning is from 2008, Terraform from 2009.
Kaipa - In the Wake of Evolution ($12.99) On In the Wake of Evolution (2010, 70-minutes), Kaipa pick up where they left off, with the same lineup as on Angling Feelings plus guests on recorders and violin. Its a fantastic sympho-prog album with many similarities to Yes. Read the peoples proclamations at Prog Archives.
Kaipa - Angling Feelings ($14.99) out-of-stock 
Kaipa - Notes from the Past ($14.99)Kaipa was the top Swedish 1970s symphonic prog band, featuring keyboardist Hans Lundin and guitarist Roine Stolt, later of The Flower Kings. Relative to The Flower Kings, Kaipas music is more purely Swedish, their symphonic rock colored by the centuries-old Swedish choral and folk music traditions. Keyboardist Hans Lundin reformed Kaipa for 2002s Notes from the Past (79-minutes), and as reunion albums go, this could hardly be any better, as it is faithful to the original Kaipa. Keyholder (2003, 78-minutes) is the second and Mindrevolutions (2005, 79-minutes) the third album for the reformed Kaipa. In addition to Lundin and Stolt, the lineup is Morgan gren (Mats/Morgan) on drums, Jonas Reingold (The Flower Kings, The Tangent) on bass, and Patrik Lundstrm (Ritual) and Aleena Gibson on vocals. The results are very good, a mix of the Kaipa and Flower Kings styles, with lots of Hammond and Mellotron. The main difference between Kaipa and The Flower Kings is that Hans Lundin does all the writing in the current Kaipa. Aleenas vocals are a new element of course -- she has a childish voice similar to Tracy Hitchings -- but otherwise this is very faithful to the original Kaipa, and more 70s-oriented than The Flower Kings.
Angling Feelings (2007, 64-minutes) sees one change in the lineup, with Per Nilsson taking Roine Stolts place on guitar. Kaipas mastermind and keyboard player Hans Lundin and Per are old friends and worked together recording the Hagen album Corridors of Time several years ago. Stolt is not missed, as this CD is every bit as good as the other Kaipa CDs from this decade, and still ends up inhabiting the same territory as The Flower Kings. Brilliant 70s-style progressive rock with fusion and folk touches.
Kalevala: A Finnish Progressive Rock Epic def. ed. (3CD, $34.99)This is the 2008 Remastered Definitive Edition of this triple-CD that was first released in 2003. It has not only been remastered, it has improved artwork and one bonus track from the band Viima.
The Finnish magazine Colossus asked 30 progressive bands from around the world to illustrate moments of Kalevala. Kalevala is the Finnish national epic, made up of old Finnish ballads and lyrical songs, a complex and diverse cycle of legends that inspired Tolkien as well as the composer Sibelius, among others. The idea of the project was to use vintage 1970s instruments to get the old feeling needed by the story. (No programmed drums either.) The result is nearly four hours of progressive rock in all its glory. The bands: Haikara, Overhead, Simon Says, Sinkadus, Moongarden, Il Castello di Atlante, Magenta, Submarine Silence, Metaphor, Clearlight, Orchard, Greenwall, Revelation, Scarlet Thread, Mad Crayon, Museo Rosenbach, Leviathan, Malibran, Sofia Baccini, Elegant Simplicity, Qadesh, Cantina Sociale, Grand Stand, Germinale, Aardvark, Thonk, Groovector, Whobodies, Randone & Tempore, and Cafeine. This comes in a fat 2CD case and counts as 2 CDs for shipping.
Karmakanic - In a Perfect World ($11.99) Whos the Boss in the Factory is the 2008 third CD from the band led by the busy Jonas Reingold (The Flower Kings, ex-The Tangent). Guests include Andy Tillison (The Tangent), Theo Travis (The Tangent, Gong, Porcupine Tree), and Tomas Bodin (The Flower Kings). The album is of the style and quality one would expect from the personnel involved. Most of it is in the Spocks Beard and The Flower Kings styles, though the two-part Eternally that concludes the album is more personal and moving, Reingolds eulogy to his late parents. After their first album which was marred by some metal, Karmakanic are now committed to progressive rock, and this is their best work to date.
In a Perfect World (2011) is the new Karmakanic CD. It includes some bonus material: a radio edit of one song and a 22:34 video of Send a Message from the Heart, the epic from the previous album. Read the Sea of Tranquility and Dangerdog reviews.
Kataya - Voyager ($15.99) Kataya is a band formed by three veteran Finnish musicians. Their 2008 debut Canto Obscura is stunning, a very atmospheric progressive rock, instrumental with wordless female vocals and, on one track, male spoken word. As the band says: The inspiration for this album comes from the deep, wild forests of Finland. Being amongst the last pure and clean, untouched spots of nature on our planet, the Forest is and has always been a church and sanctuary for us Finns. There are also numerous legends, myths and folklore about the creatures living in these woods. Although mostly instrumental, this album is a storyteller in the spirit of these old tales. Think of a collaboration between Ralph Lundsten, Mike Oldfield, and Camel. (Ralph Lundsten is a Swedish electronic musician who made a number of albums evoking the mystique of the Nordic forests, particularly his Nordic Nature Symphonies series.) Kataya occasionally incorporate folk instruments and melodies the same way Oldfield does, but lest you think this is an album of ambient or folk music, Kataya use electric guitar, bass and drums, and the music is frequently full-blown symphonic rock. The early albums of French band XII Alfonso are somewhat similar, otherwise this is quite a unique album, spellbinding and magical, one that can transport the listener to somewhere theyve never traveled. Veteran prog reviewer John "Bo Bo" Bollenberg chose Canto Obscura as the best album of 2008!
After almost 35 years of listening to prog rock, it still happens that I am pleasantly surprised by new, unique and genuinely progressive (rock) music; in this case its Kataya with their wonderful blend of folk, ambient and prog... What a beautiful and captivating effort to translate pure nature into pure progressive music! [Erik Neuteboom]
Voyager (2010, digipack), Katayas second, has all the charms of Canto Obscura without repeating it. For one, Voyager was composed in a different manner, and secondly, it has an outer space rather than a forest theme. Again almost entirely instrumental, Voyager is a bit spacier and a bit more Pink Floyd-ish while sacrificing little of the pastoral and magical feel of the first album. Not many modern prog bands can maintain this strong a connection to the first-generation progressive rock bands of their own country (or region) while simultaneously creating something new.
Kerrs Pink - Tidings ($15.99) 
Kerrs Pink - Mellom Oss mini-LP ($15.99) Kerrs Pink are one of the most famous Norwegian progressive rock bands. Their music is in the early Camel vein, blending in elements of Scandinavian folklore a la Kebnekaise or early Ragnark. The CD reissue of their self-titled 1980 debut album adds the two tracks from their first single. Mellom Oss (1981) is the reissue of their second album plus six bonus tracks. The album tracks are re-recorded versions -- the originals were crudely recorded on only four tracks, so it is an improvement over the LP. The band was inactive for a time before resurfacing with A Journey on the Inside in 1993. The mini-LP editions are the 2009 limited editions released by the MALS label under license from Musea, which come in heavyweight cardboard sleeves (gatefold for A Journey on the Inside).
Tidings (2002) is their fifth. The band added a new lead singer and female backing vocalist (both singing in English), plus a second keyboardist. This may well be their best work. The production and playing are now completely professional, yet the music retains its freshness and sincerity. Stylistically, we are in Camel and Kaipa territory, also Genesis, Yes, and Pink Floyd, melodic and flowing symphonic rock with long tracks and ambitious arrangements, beautiful melodies, lots of keyboards, and lyrical guitar solos. Kerrs Pink are at their best when they integrate Scandinavian folk melodies -- the 8:30 Tidings from Some Distant Shore is sublime in that regard. Highly recommended.
Khatsaturjan - Disconcerto Grosso ($15.99) Aramed Forces of Simantipak (2006, 68-minutes) is the first official album for a Finnish quartet that excels at everything except maybe choosing band and album names. This is a wonderfully elaborate and inventive symphonic prog epic sung in English. The band is certainly influenced by classical music. There are lots of keyboards, some cello, and with all four members singing sophisticated choral parts, Khatsaturjan sound like the house band for a monastery of the Progressive order of monks. Its definitely continental European; no English or American band could produce this album. Its one of the great rock symphonies ever. Read the DPRP and Proggnosis reviews.
Disconcerto Grosso (2010, 63-minutes) is Khatsaturjans second, and if prog fans dont start paying more attention to this criminally-underappreciated band, arrests will start to be made. The vocal arrangements continue to be the most outstanding feature of the music, which draws from the likes of Genesis, early Kayak, PFM, and so on, but its not mere mimicry. Read the DPRP and Proggnosis reviews, with which we wholeheartedly concur.
Klotet - Det Har Aldrig Hnt Och Kommer Aldrig Hnda Igen ($15.99) Klotet is a Swedish quartet in existence only since 2004, and yet their albums could have come straight out of the first generation of Swedish progressive rock, as Klotets music leaves few clues that it wasnt made in the early-to-mid 1970s. Klotet are from Uppsala, the old university town that seems to be the birthplace of Swedish progressive rock. Their music is instrumental, the instrumentation restricted to vintage keys (mostly organ and Rhodes) and guitar tones. Those who know and love the music of Bo Hansson, Samla Mammas Manna, Kebnekaise, Trettioriga Kriget, Flsket Brinner, etc. already understand the special flavor of this music. The band even mention Harald Hedning; hows that for an obscure reference? En Rak Hger is their 2008 debut, while Det Har Aldrig Hnt Och Kommer Aldrig Hnda Igen (2010) is their second. Much of Det Har... is played at breakneck speed -- imagine a Swedish B-52s or Devo playing instrumental prog (if those bands could play like this).
Koi - In Tomorrow Hid Yesterday ($16.99) This is the 2010 debut by a young Swedish prog quintet along the lines of Liquid Scarlet. This is the Progress Records edition, which follows an initial release by the band. Koi belong to the legion of modern prog bands because mood and texture are paramount, while vocals and instruments are purposely somewhat indistinct, blended together into a wall of sound that makes Phil Spectors seem like more of a thin veneer of sound. If youve heard Godspeed You Black Emperor, you know the aesthetic. Among the other influences Koi list are Gazpacho, Oceansize, Porcupine Tree and Radiohead, so theres little debate about which prog camp Koi fall into. But their style overlaps some with the later Anekdoten albums, especially when the cello appears, and there are beautiful, nuanced passages of acoustic guitars that are borderline Genesis. Its a lovely and lush noise Koi make, full of what sounds like Mellotron and other sustained keyboard pads, and of course distortion on the guitars and reverb on everything, filling up every possible frequency throughout the midrange. And it wouldnt be Swedish without some attractive melodies. If pressed for time, at least audition the first two songs: The Rabbit and Woodnote. Read reviews.
Esa Kotilainen - -51C ($15.99) Keyboardist Esa Kotilainen has been involved in the Finnish music scene since the 1970s, best known for his tenures with Wigwam, Tasavallan Presidentti, and Karelia, as well as his 1977 solo album Ajatuslapsi. Turquoise Planet (2009) and -51C (2010, digipack) are his latest solo works and are in a symphonic/ambient style that would be perfect as the soundtrack to a non-narrative film of Nordic landscapes, varying from enchanted summer forests to ominous snow-swept vistas. There is a Scandinavian flavor that one can also hear in the work of Ralph Lundsten. Kotilainen uses electronic keyboards ranging from vintage (Moogs, ARP, Mellotron) to modern, but also accordions. One of these albums is colder and bleaker than the other; we leave determining which as an exercise for the reader. Read the Eurock review of Turquoise Planet. At the time of this writing, there is one track from -51C on the Presence Records MySpace page.
Kundalini - Asylum for Astral Travellers ($15.99)This 1997 CD is by an offshoot of Holy River Family Band (itself an offshoot of the band Spacious Mind), in more of a fusion direction. Mellow Records description: Jazz-rock, progressive rock, psychedelic and ethnic music go into the uplifting and mind-blowing works of Kundalini from Sweden. A guitar/bass/drums trio that goes beyond this format and introduces traditional instruments from India and Tibet into their music. Reminiscent of Allan Holdsworth without the keyboards. 71-minutes.
Kundalini is able to transcend the usual sonic realms of the progressive rock trio, creating an exotic soundscape with the augmentation of unusual instruments... Kundalini is a supergroup in the truest sense, a creative marriage of immense talent, innovative instrumental songwriting, and a willingness to explore uncharted musical terrain through breathtaking and inspiring improvisations. One wonders how future releases can live up to, much less exceed, this most promising beginning. [Joe Pettit, Jr., All Music Guide]
Kvazar - A Giants Lullaby ($15.99) A Giants Lullaby (2005, 64-minutes) is the second album for this Norwegian progressive band, and its a huge improvement over their first: more original, more diverse, more imaginative. The core trio employ a number of other musicians here and feature a lot of Mellotron, plus Rhodes, flute, sax, 12-string guitar, and mandolin. There are elements of Pink Floyd, early King Crimson, Anglagard, Camel and others, with a few jazzy sequences. This sounds like a lost gem from the early 1970s, a beautiful symphonic progressive album balancing lively instrumental interplay with an overall dreamlike or hallucinogenic feel. Vocals in English. Read the ProgPlanet and DPRP reviews. Here is a video of the track Choir of Life.
Liquid Scarlet - II ($17.99) SALE!
Another Mellotron-laden Swedish prog sensation. On their self-titled 2004 debut, Liquid Scarlet sound like a cross between Anglagard and Landberk, with influences of 1970s King Crimson and pastoral Genesis, but also some modern influences such as Radiohead. (The band members were all in their twenties at the time of this recording.) A liquid sound indeed! II (2005) is a logical continuation from their debut, with plenty of typical Scandinavian melancholic atmosphere a la Anekdoten or Valinors Tree. They have expanded their sound with accordion and string arrangements, while a couple 10-minute tracks show early King Crimson influence. It is again a very appealing set of dreamy songs that are one moment soft and intimate and the next moment majestic, and although there are influences of vintage prog, this isnt retro but rather something fresh and contemporary. Their songwriting and melodic sense sets them apart from the other Swedish bands mentioned above. Read reviews here.
Killer Couple Strikes Again (2005) is a 25-minute, five-track CD-EP containing one song from the II album plus four previously-unreleased and highly enjoyable tracks, one of which is a tribute to Flsket Brinner. The EP counts as only one-half CD for shipping.
Lynne - Witchwood ($15.99) Bjorn Lynne is a Norwegian musician who has a large catalog of music in both the progressive rock and electronic music genres. This is the 1996 Mellow Records edition of Witchwood, one of Bjorns earliest CDs, which Bjorn describes as an album of calm, serene, and playful music inspired by the Nordic forests and mountains. Appearing on guitar is Ken Senior, who has often been complimented on his warm, melodic guitar style, and he fits perfectly into the melodic music on this album. Also some medieval inspired passages: pastoral, mystic and, well, just different. The mp3 icon above also leads to numerous fan reviews/comments.
Maahinen - Ihmeellinen Iltapiv ($11.99) Ihmeellinen Iltapiv is a solo project by Kimmo Prsti (with 17 different musicians) released in 1997. It includes both instrumental and vocal tracks with elements of symphonic progressive rock, jazz, country and bluegrass, etc. Besides guitars, drums, bass and keys, a wide range of instruments including cello, violin, accordion and woodwinds have been used. The music of Maahinen has been heard in some Finnish television programs even in recent years. Kimmo Prsti is a founding member of both Mist Season and Paidarion, and there are similarities between both those bands and Maahinen.
Made in Sweden - Made in England ($17.99)This is the newly remastered 2009 edition on Esoteric Recordings, known for their superb remastering jobs. Made in Sweden was a trio that featured Georg Wadenius (guitar, vocals, organ, piano), Bo Haggenstrom (bass, Mellotron, piano) and Tommy Borgudd (drums). Wadenius became a well-known guitarist in Sweden. This album was recorded in London in 1970, produced by Colosseum bassist Tony Reeves, and featuring some arrangements by Neil Ardley. This is Made in Swedens best album and is quite good, sounding very British. While not quite as advanced as what the first-tier progressive rock bands were doing that year, it is comparable to most of the early prog bands, those still retaining some flavor of the late 1960s. Read the review at Progressor.
Magic Pie - The Suffering Joy ($16.99) 
Norways Magic Pie have quickly become one of the most talked-about progressive rock bands, especially after performances at both Rosfest 2006 and 2007. Motions of Desire (2004, 75-minutes) is their debut. Circus of Life (2007) is their equally good 64-minute second album. In true progressive fashion, its 46-minute title suite is divided into five parts, of which one part is further subdivided into four parts.
In addition to influences of early 1970s progressive rock bands, Magic Pie incorporate influences of early 70s melodic and hard rock bands, in the same manner as Finnish band Five Fifteen, though Magic Pie are much proggier. With Hammond organ as Magic Pies weapon of choice, Deep Purple and Atomic Rooster could be two of those influences. And with four vocalists, Magic Pie have those great harmony vocals, something that has largely been lost in modern rock. A lot of what Magic Pie do will appeal to fans of The Flower Kings, Spocks Beard, and Transatlantic. Ultimately, Magic Pies greatest success may be that they capture the spirit of earlier bands without copying the style of any of them, and their albums have a positive vibe that will restore the spirits of those whose hearts are in the 70s. Read reviews of Circus of Life and Motions of Desire.
Magic Pies third, The Suffering Joy (2011, digipack), is cause to rejoice. As Sea of Tranquility says: If you can only get one prog-rock CD this year, The Suffering Joy should be that CD. Read the full Sea of Tranquility review, the USA Progressive Music review, and still more reviews.
Masque - Flesh That Understands ($15.99) Flesh That Understands (1992) is the debut by a Swedish neo-progressive band with excellent English vocals who also have some of the early Saga style. Note their 1994 second CD Ten Ways is fairly different in style.
Maze of Time - Lullaby for Heroes ($14.99) Damn if it isnt another great symphonic prog band from Sweden. Tales from the Maze (2006, 62-minutes) is the first full-length album for Stockholm-based Maze of Time, and its full of strong melodies and that know-it-when-you-hear-it Scandinavian quality. There are influences of Genesis, Camel, Yes, Pink Floyd, Kaipa, some neo-prog and a bit of heavy rock. Like The Flower Kings, actually. Overall the style is more soothing than jarring, a lot of that having to do with the softer vocal style and the rich, luxuriant textures.
Lullaby for Heroes (2008, 64-minutes) is their digipack second CD. It seems Maze of Time have made a conscious effort to make their music more accessible, but that no longer means bringing it closer to pop. Today in Europe, it means adding metal. Fortunately Maze of Time stopped well short of damaging the essential progressive character of their music, as there is only a modicum of metal guitar. Overall this is an excellent follow-up, and hopefully were not the only ones to hear a slight similarity to Grobschnitt circa Rockpommels Land in spots.
Mikromidas - Faunus ($15.99) Here is a Norwegian band singing in Norwegian and exploring retro-prog similar to the Swedish band Landberk and, to a lesser extent, Anekdoten and Anglagard. Mikromidas use a lot of Mellotron and Hammond organ. Their arrangements lack the extreme dynamics of Anekdoten and Anglagard though. Faunus (2005) is their second and is a more accomplished work than their debut. The compositions and playing here show greater maturity, and thus the emotional impact is greater. Read the DPRP review.
Mist Season - Reflections ($12.99) 
Mist Season is a Finnish quintet including former members of Kaamos and Tasavallan Presidentti, playing music between fusion and progressive rock that sometimes brings to mind Pekka Pohjola as well as Isildurs Bane during their jazz-rock phase (Sea Reflections, Eight Moments of Eternity). Read the reviews at Prog Archives of Mist Season (2004), Woodlands (2006), and Reflections (2011). If there arent any reviews there yet of Reflections, head to Sea of Tranquility. Mist Season can also be heard on a number of Museas various artists CDs such as Rkstenen, Tuonen Tytr II, Dantes Divine Comedy: Purgatorio and Paradiso, Cani Arrabbiati, and A Flower Full of Stars.
Moon Safari - Lovers End ($15.99) 
This Swedish quintet debuted with one of the freshest, most likeable symphonic prog albums youll hear. The summer in A Doorway to Summer (2005) is apt as Moon Safari display none of the long-dark-winter Scandinavian melancholy and gloom. Instead they have a warm, Yes-like positivism, though their sound here comes closer to England, Druid, or Sebastian Hardie. They have harmony vocals that sometimes reach Beach Boys level, and some Beatles flavoring (closer to Klaatu actually). They use all analog keyboards including Mellotron and lots of acoustic guitar. The openness of their sound and their outstanding melodic sense give the album a 1970s feel and set Moon Safari apart from most of the other current prog bands. Tomas Bodin (keyboardist of The Flower Kings) guests and co-produced, and Moon Safari will almost certainly appeal to fans of The Flower Kings, though their style is distinct. Just five long tracks, one of which is 24-minutes long. Here is an mp3 from the track Dance Across the Ocean. Note the band intend to reissue A Doorway to Summer in late 2011 with one bonus track.
Despite the Swedish title, the double-CD Blomljud (2008) is again sung entirely in English. The title apparently translates to sound of flowers, and so the CD title again gives a clue to the music. Or maybe its an oblique reference to The Flower Kings. The style is a continuation of the first CD, but those wonderful harmony vocals are even more striking here, reminiscent of Queen, Yes, The Beach Boys, and Fireballet (second album). Its almost a lost art these days. The first disc has the lighter, vocal-heavy material, while the second disc tends to have the more energetic material, as if the first disc was warming the listener up for the second. It is all symphonic prog close to Yes with some Genesis influence, the latter felt particularly in the pastoral passages. Its sunny optimism is again in stark contrast to the prevailing mood of darkness, cynicism and metal in todays music.
Lovers End (2010) is Moon Safaris third studio CD. Mike Holmes of IQ and The Lens wrote recently that no progressive bands make summer albums anymore. Mike needs to hear Moon Safari, because Lovers End sounds like vintage Yes infused with the endless summer spirit of The Beach Boys. Speaking of great harmony vocals, Moon Safari are now the new champions: Beach Boys, CSNY, Queen, fuggedaboudit! This is the most powerful anti-depressant you can buy without a prescription, but be forewarned, it is highly-addictive. Watch Moon Safari videos.
Moonwagon - Night Dust ($16.99) Moonwagon are a Finnish progressive space-rock quartet formed in 2008. Night Dust (2010, digipack) is their debut CD. Read reviews at Prog Archives and Psychotropic Zone. Here are YouTube videos for Super-Altar and the non-album track Black Log.
Morild - Time to Rest mini-LP (2CD, $21.99) Time to Rest (2010) is the double-CD debut for Norwegian prog band Morild. This is the 2011 MALS edition, released under license from the band, which comes in a heavyweight gatefold cardboard sleeve. Time to Rest is a truly magnificent and captivating musical statement from beginning to end, which certainly isnt an easy feat considering that the total running time is around 100 minutes... Morild are... creating stellar music that can easily sit alongside todays more established progressive rock bands... Basically if you love progressive rock in any shape or fashion, then you should definitely check out Time To Rest. This is one that is definitely going to be on my top ten list for 2010. [Sea of Tranquility] Read the full Sea of Tranquility review and the Prognaut review.
Nevrlljf - Klusterfloristen ($15.99) The Swedish band Nevrlljf formed in late 2005, and two years later they won a national contest called Musik Direkt. The band then met Beardfish, an encounter that left a mark on their music. Nevrlljf play an instrumental blend of fusion and progressive rock that, apart from some guitar using a more modern metal tone, is true to the 1970s progressive sound and spirit, not far from the style of Samla Mammas Manna. Nevrlljf also have that characteristic Swedish style that can be heard from 70s Kaipa through to nglagrd. Its hard to believe Klusterfloristen (2009) is the debut of a young band. They make the intricate feel effortless, they seem to be bubbling over with musical ideas, and the whole album is a 55-minute roller coaster ride that youll want to hop on again after you catch your breath. One of the best fusion-prog albums in many years.
The New Grove Project - Brill ($16.99) The New Grove Project is a Swedish progressive rock band centered on Ingemar Hjertqvist. They recorded demos in 1983-84 and their first real CD Fools Journey in 1996, which included Roine Stolt, Pr Lindh, and Jode Leigh (ex-England, as in Garden Shed). Brill (2005) is their best work to date, again featuring Pr Lindh and Jode Leigh (who contributed one song), also Hasse Bruniusson (Samla Mammas Manna, The Flower Kings) and several others. The music is melodic symphonic progressive with a wealth of ideas and a good variety of instrumentation, vaguely in The Flower Kings vein. The only thing that keeps this from being on the same level as The Flower Kings are the vocals, which are passable but nothing to write home about. But there is a lot of instrumental content, and with all these great musicians involved, this is a gem that should not be overlooked. 62-minutes, finishing with the 24-minute title track.
Nordagust - In the Mist of Morning ($16.99) Norwegians Nordagust are next in the lineage of Mellotron-drenched Scandinavian prog bands that includes Anglagard, Anekdoten, and Landberk. Originally released as a demo in 2007, this is the 2010 official (remixed/remastered) release on Karisma. This is one of the best discoveries of 2010, and for suckers for alternating calm/tense, dark and emotional music, here enriched by orchestral and folk elements, In the Mist of Morning is an obligatory discovery. Superbly composed and played, I cannot recommend this enough. [Proggnosis (with liberties and guesses taken in translating the near-English into English)] [I was] overwhelmed by the emotion and intensity of Nordagusts music... In the Mist of Morning is the surprise of 2010. [ProgVisions] Read the full Proggnosis and ProgVisions reviews.
No Rules - Where We Belong ($15.99) Theres been a lot of great music coming out of Sweden in recent years, as evidenced by the 2007 debut by No Rules. The band says: Our aim is to make melodic, symphonic rock with an original touch. Our biggest inspirations are bands like Journey, Asia, Dream Theater, Rush, Genesis, Black Sabbath, Saga, Camel, Yes and Marillion. This is one of the most unique and just plain fun combinations of symphonic prog and very melodic hard rock / lite metal. No Rules singer has a dramatic voice that is probably an affectation, but it adds to the exuberance and playfulness of the music, which contrasts with the prevailing melancholy in modern rock. Even if No Rules dont sound exactly like them, the spirit of the music is close to the Finnish band Five Fifteen.
Opus Est - Opus II ($15.99) Opus I is the CD reissue of a little-known record from 1983, one that we anxiously awaited. Opus Est could be considered the Swedish IQ. Given that Opus Est were contemporaneous with IQ, one has to wonder whether they had heard IQ. More likely both bands were inspired by Genesis and ended up in the same general area. In any event, Opus I can stand comfortably alongside or just a notch below Tales from the Lush Attic, though Opus I is not as dark as IQ can be. Singer Hkan Nilsson delivers the English lyrics in a voice with a quality similar to a young Peter Hammill. Three excellent bonus tracks (nearly 20-minutes) have been added.
Opus II is their second album, not released until the end of 2006. Its comprised of a four-part suite composed between 1979-80, recorded partly in 1979 and partly in 2004. There are four more songs composed and recorded between 1983-84, bringing the CD length up to 74-minutes. This album sounds very much like the logical successor to Opus I, and the singers voice and certain signature keyboard sounds give Opus Est a clear identity. This album is more refined and sophisticated though, suggesting Genesis and IQ but standing on its own. Hopefully this is the beginning of the second career of Opus Est.
Orne - The Conjuration by the Fire ($15.99) The debut CD by Finnish band Orne, The Conjuration by the Fire, was recorded in 2005 and released in 2006 by the Italian Black Widow label. In keeping with most of Black Widows releases, this CD has a somber, occult, psychedelic progressive sound straight out of the British early 1970s scene. There is some early Van der Graaf Generator influence. However, the music is more proto-progressive, that is, it isnt as developed as many of the influences listed by the band (e.g., early Genesis, King Crimson). But it is not particularly heavy, and the flute and Hammond organ make for a refined sound that is often quite beautiful in a dark, melancholy way. It feels like a dark prog ritual. Read the DPRP review.
Overhead - And Were Not Here After All ($15.99) Alongside contributions to the Kalevala and both Tuonen Tytr projects, this Finnish quintet has released three CDs, beginning with Zumanthum (2002). Their second Metaepitome (2005) improves on Zumanthum. Overheads brand of symphonic progressive is original and seductive. They tend toward long tracks with plenty of instrumental content that often emphasize 1970s sounds and styles. Something about the lead vocals (which are in English) makes the band sound contemporary, and there is some heavy guitar as is de rigueur today, though thankfully their music is a long way from metal. For references, one might mention Pink Floyd, Eloy, Kaipa, and Jethro Tull (on the few occasions when flute is used). The highlights are the two long suites that open and close the album, the title track (19:40) and especially Dawn (16:22) with its majestic harmony vocals and generally spacey character.
And Were Not Here After All (2008) is their third, and no major changes in style, just slightly more of a contemporary edge. Many different stylistic threads are woven into a modern progressive tapestry that puts Overhead in the league with the best Scandinavian progressive bands. Read the DPRP review. Read reviews of all Overheads CDs. Check our DVDs page for Overheads Live After All DVD.
Ozone Player - Long-Range Influence ($15.99) Ozone Player is a loose musical collective centered on Finnish multi-instrumentalist Otso Pakarinen. Prior to Long-Range Influence (2011, 61-minutes, digipack), there have not only been five previous Ozone Player CDs, Ozone Player also contributed tracks to Colossus/Museas Dantes Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso extravaganzas, Finnish prog tribute Tuonen Tytr II, and Italian movie composer tribute Cani Arrabbiati. The music on Long-Range Influence is mostly instrumental and keyboard-centric, sometimes reminiscent of Bo Hansson if Bo was still making music in 2011. Symphonic prog at its core, it also includes space music, orchestral simulation, bits of synth pop, world music, and epic movie soundtrack styles. Pakarinen plays mostly keys and guitar, while other musicians from Finland, Italy, and the U.S. contribute drums, bass, vocals, hammered dulcimer, violin and viola.
Paatos - Breathing ($15.99) This is the InsideOut release of Timeloss, the 2002 first album by this Swedish band formed by the founders of Landberk and picking up where Landberk left off, though Paatos have a female singer with a beautiful voice who also plays cello. This reissue has a new booklet, extended from 8 to 16 pages, plus a bonus video featuring the album track Hypnotique as a QuickTime file.
Breathing (2011, digipack) is Paatos fourth studio album, following a 2008 live CD released only in Japan. This is Paatos most sophisticated album to date. They have integrated the more progressive aspects of their early work with the beautiful, song-oriented approach of the previous studio album Silence of Another Kind. There is some post-rock flavor, but the angelic vocals of Petronella Nettermalm now sound closer to Annie Haslam than to Bjork. That Scandinavian Mellotronic melancholy has never sounded so sensuous as here.
Paidarion - Behind the Curtains ($12.99) Hauras Silta is the 2009 debut by a 9-person Finnish prog band using both female and male vocals. This is one of Kimmo Prstis bands; Kimmo is also in Mist Season, Maahinen, and The Samurai of Prog. The music of Paidarion is closely related to Mist Season and Maahinen. It is somewhat retro, no question. I hear the echo of Renaissance, chiefly, but then also Jethro Tull, Holdsworth-era Gong, fusion, and even Steely Dan in some of the blistering, crafty, perfectly tailored guitar solos. But Hauras Silta is retro in the clean, appealing sense of the term as we might apply it to, say, Anglagard. In other words, Paidarion takes its genre tradition seriously, resides within it, but then also offers clever interpretations, subtle blends and bends, and the freshness of modern studio embellishment to end with a truly fine album -- the best new prog release Ive heard in a very long time... If more contemporary prog rock scaled these heights, Id be a bigger fan. Read the full review at Progressive Ears.
Paidarion have a new line-up on Behind the Curtains (2011, 60-minutes), the band now a live act and not just a studio project. The lyrics have switched to English, the female vocals courtesy of new member Elina Hautakoski; there are also some male vocals from guest Rob Price (Supernal Endgame). Among the other guests are Americans Michael Manring (bass) and Steve Unruh (violin). The music is about half instrumental, where Paidarion can often be compared to early Isildurs Bane, between the symphonic rock with Scandinavian folk melodies of the first two Isildurs Bane albums and the upbeat symphonic jazz-rock of their third and fourth. There are also moments where an ELP influence can be heard, other moments that recall Pekka Pohjola, while some of the vocals tracks tend toward jazz song. Even with the switch to English, Paidarion sound like a Scandinavian prog band. Their music has a sense of place, of terroir, a quality far less common now than in the first generation prog bands. Read the Progmeister review.
Pain of Salvation - Scarsick ($11.99)The 2007 release by the popular Swedish progressive metal band.
Pax Romana - And the Dance Begins Again ($15.99) Finnish prog quintet Pax Romana share keyboardist Matti Kervinen with the band Kataya. The band began in 1973 when everyone was considerably younger, but no albums came of that first incarnation. The members got back together in 2002 and so far have produced two CDs. They have a 1970s sound, back when it was permissible to leave space in a mix. On And the Dance Begins Again (2010, mini-LP sleeve), their sound is a blend of Camel, Pink Floyd, later Wigwam, Trettioriga Kriget, and... American southern rock. Yes, Pax Romana like to throw prog dogs off the scent by tossing in a bit of Allman Brothers style rock, and Pax Romanas world-weary vocals actually fit OK with that style. (Pax Romana have two singers, both named Matti; one is not so weary.) Guest musicians add violin on one track, sax on another, hurdy gurdy and sitar on yet another.
Trace of Light (2005) doesnt have the American southern rock, though there is a bit of something resembling Dire Straits filling the same role. There are more keyboards on this one, yielding a lusher, more symphonic sound that is closer to a pure Camel/Floyd hybrid, though still with unique aspects. Guests add violin, cello, flute, soprano sax, and more. Normally wed say start with Trace of Light, but we ordered more of the newer one. Read reviews here. You can also hear song samples via iTunes for Trace of Light and And the Dance Begins Again.
The Phase - Reviews ($15.99) Reviews, the first official CD by Finnish prog band The Phase, was recorded between 1998-2007. For the most part, The Phase are very (1980s/90s) Rush-influenced. Without naming names, some Rush-influenced bands are quite tedious to listen to because, though they may be good instrumentalists, they arent nearly the songwriters Rush are, and their songs lack hooks. The Phase however, like Rush themselves, are a fun listen and have some catchy melodies. They write decent songs and have Rushs upbeat energy. 53-minutes.
Pictorial Wand - Face of Our Fathers ($14.99) A Sleepers Awakening (2006) is the double-CD debut project of Norwegian musician Mattis Srum, who recorded the album while attending university. Srum enlisted the help of a large number of musicians for this concept album. The label calls it a symphonic progressive rock album, which it is, but it could as easily be called a prog-metal album. It isnt as metallic as the average prog-metal album, but the heavy guitar appears often enough, and even when the music isnt overtly metallic, it is often weighed down by the typical plodding metal aesthetic and melodic/harmonic restrictions. On the positive side, there are plenty of more refined passages featuring orchestral arrangements, Mellotron, organ, flute, cello, oboe, and violin. There are beautiful female vocals from three different singers, while the main character in this concept album is male and so most of the vocals are male. A more refined take on the Ayreon style perhaps, though less skillfully executed.
Face of Our Fathers (2009, 68-minutes) is the superior follow-up, the result of a few more years experience and musical maturity. Here Srum tones down the metal enough that the more refined and melodic elements can occupy center stage. Srum plays guitar, bass, and keys, assisted by other musicians on drums, keys, flute, violin and cello. Two male and two female vocalists are used, usually singing male/female duets that are a major part of the albums appeal. With all the vintage keyboard sounds, the music has much of the magic of 1970s prog, even if the occasional incursions by heavy guitar yank the music back into modern times.
Pluto and the Planets - 360 of Wonder ($15.99) Pluto and the Planets is a Norwegian group based in Oslo and lead by the guitarist/keyboardist known as Pluto, a prog rock veteran with two solo LPs and one CD to his name. This band emerged for the first time in the mid-1980s as a guitar-based prog band with strong influences of Genesis, Vangelis, Yes and Pink Floyd. On 360 of Wonder (2011, 55-minutes), the current version of Pluto and the Planets maintains this tradition but with much more emphasis on vocal arrangements. The band consists of two guitarists, keyboards, bass and drums, with female and male lead singers and the rest of the band adding backing vocals. Tomas Kobdzey Kaspar, a leading Czech prog rock drummer, joined the band while they were recording this album at Sono recording studio in the Czech Republic. With the female vocals as prominent as they are, the sound often suggests Renaissance/Illusion, blended with a style of symphonic prog with more emphasis on lyrical electric guitar leads. There are similarities to Kerrs Pink, Pink Floyd, Camel, and Genesis/Steve Hackett. Weve long wished for a CD reissue of the Pluto LPs, but in most ways this new album is better. Try to at least audition the songs Wake Up, Ascension, Encounter, and Vacuum.
Pocketful - Sparkling ($14.99) Pocketful is a new Swedish band, but they are really the continuation of the band Masque, ten years on. Sparkling (2005) picks up where Masques final album Ten Ways left off and improves on it. Call this art-pop if you will. Within that framework, there is a lot of innovation, great writing, and attention paid to texture and feel. Pocketful includes a cover of David Sylvians Before the Bullfight, and there is some similarity between the two artists on the more melancholy tracks, except that Pocketful are not minimalist as David Sylvian tends to be, and theyre not nearly as depressed. Vocals in English of course, with some lovely female vocals complementing the male lead vocals. Music like this gives pop a good name!
Pekka Pohjola - The Mathematicians Air Display ($17.99) The most revered Finnish progressive rock musician, Pekka Pohjola was not simply a phenomenal bassist (he was also adept at several other instruments), but a composer extraordinaire, his work ranging from a Scandinavian Mike Oldfield style to progressive big band to classical and more. He passed away in 2008 at age 56. These are the 2010 remastered editions on the Esoteric label of his second and third albums, originally released in the UK by Virgin Records, with fully-restored artwork and a new essay. The Love Records release of B the Magpie (1974) was titled Harakka Bialoipokku; The Mathematicians Air Display (1977) was titled Keesojen Lehto. The latter may be Pohjolas best-known work because it features Mike and Sally Oldfield and Pierre Moerlen and was released under about five different names. Read reviews at Prog Archives of B the Magpie and The Mathematicians Air Display. Here is a page with several YouTube videos embedded, including at least one track each from these albums.
Porcelain Moon - As It Were, Here and There ($15.99) Porcelain Moon is a Finnish band made up of seven young musicians with a common passion for early Pink Floyd and progressive rock. They have a female singer (lyrics mostly in English) and a live, early-1970s sound, with period guitar tones and the keys focused on organ first, synths and piano second. As It Were, Here and There (2011) features seven mid-length tracks with psychedelic and spacey aspects, a bit of wildness, and some of that characteristic 1970s Scandinavian prog style containing elements of Nordic folk music and a Camel or Focus-like flow. At times Porcelain Moon recall female-fronted, organ-heavy 1970s prog bands such as Octopus, Earth and Fire, Sandrose, or Analogy. The north countries have done it again, giving us an excellent retro-prog band that is distinct from other bands operating in the same musical territory.
Positive Wave - Positive Wave ($15.99) Positive Wave (2010) is the first full-length CD by this seven-person Finnish band featuring female lead vocals in Finnish. They play a jazzy progressive rock with an organic, 1970s sound using mostly clean and lightly overdriven guitar tones, while the keyboardist favors electric piano. There is some sax, but its not a major part of their sound (and from the bands MySpace page, it appears the sax player has since left). One might compare Positive Wave to early Edition Speciale (when the latter used vocals), as well as to the Canterbury bands and their 1970s Finnish equivalents. The music is light on its feet, often with a jaunty feel, full of positive vibrations (which now that we think about it, is in the band name). Very nice.
PPRY - Raising the Skeletons of Fire by Hand ($15.99) This is the third album for this Finnish band, though the first under their current name of PPRY. Their previous CD Name Stolen was released under the temporary band name Project. The long song titles of Raising the Skeletons of Fire by Hand (2008, 70-minutes) actually form a sentence when linked together, just not a terribly lucid one. PPRY play a unique style of mysterious and spacey progressive rock. On the one hand, there is a lot of early Pink Floyd influence, some early Tangerine Dream atmospheres and a dose of earlier Eloy as well. On the other hand, there is a refined and melodic progressive style close to early Camel, with both flute and guitar suggesting this association, as well as some of the characteristic Scandinavian prog style. What vocals there are are in English and low-key, again suggestive of early Camel. It all adheres to the early 1970s aesthetic. Without a melodic prog element, pure space rock albums can be one-dimensional; PPRYs blend is far more satisfying.
Project - Name Stolen ($15.99)This CD was originally released in 2002 and re-released in this 2005 edition. Project was a temporary name; this band is now known as PPRY. They are a Finnish progressive band singing in English. Name Stolen is a concept album with a little narration near the beginning of the album, though ultimately the album is more instrumental than vocal. The style blends Pink Floyd with the French band Asia Minor, generally dark and melancholy as is typical for Scandinavian prog bands. It may start a bit slowly, but the album grows on you and ends up being quite a unique one. 60-minutes.
Prime Mover - Imperfekt ($16.99) 
Following a 1999 demo CD-R, the Finnish progressive rock band Prime Mover released the CDs Put in Perspective (2001), Alias Drivkraft (2004), and Imperfekt (2007). Read reviews here. (Descriptions to be added.)
Radiombel - Gudang Garam ($15.99) This is a legitimate CD reissue of a rare 1978 privately-pressed LP of Swedish symphonic progressive rock with psychedelic and spacey aspects, mostly instrumental, with ethereal female vocals in a few spots. The music often relies on string synth pads performing slow chord progressions, something that suggests Pink Floyd, Pulsar, or maybe early Grobschnitt. That characteristic (OK, cheesy) 1970s string synth sound (courtesy of Elka, Crumar, Logan and others) brings to mind a number of other, mostly-obscure European 70s prog bands. Definitely recommended to fans of 1970s symphonic prog whove explored beyond the first and second-tier bands, Radiombel can be grouped with the likes of Akasha, Autumn Breeze, and Mr Brown. Note the master tapes were lost and this CD was mastered from vinyl. The label and every other retailer weve seen conveniently fail to mention this, and apparently every reviewer either has tin ears or didnt think it was important enough to mention. And though it is almost trivial to do today, the label didnt bother with any audio restoration. That said, the surface noise is really only noticeable during the quiet at the very beginning of each side of the LP. Note the mp3 icon above links directly to a single mp3, the complete second track of the album.
Ragnark - Path ($15.99) Ragnark belong to the first generation of Swedish progressive rock, releasing their first album in 1976. Their instrumental music was typical of the Swedish progressive rock of the time, with some Scandinavian folk influences. After their 1983 fourth album, the band vanished, though its leader Peter Bryngelsson could be heard in the bands Triangulus and Urban Turban and as a solo artist. Ragnark reformed in 1991 and released the album Well, but that album was in a different style. So Path (2008) is their real reunion album, with everyone in the lineup having played on at least one of their early albums; even the original engineer is back. Path includes eight instrumental tracks that are soft, low-key and impressionistic, with only sporadic outbursts. The music is based around the two and sometimes three guitarists, playing both electric and acoustic. Keyboards are listed, but you have to really listen to find them. Path does sound similar to Ragnarks classic albums but ultimately falls a bit short of them. Unfortunately, Ragnarks second, third and fourth albums have yet to see a legitimate CD reissue.
Retroheads - Introspective ($14.99) Lets be clear that this Norwegian five-piece band are retro-prog-heads, and despite the album name, Retrospective is their debut, and may have been the best debut of 2005. The band does have a 1970s orientation, focusing their keyboard sounds on Hammond B3, Mellotron, ARP, Minimoog, and Taurus bass pedals. But they may be selling themselves short with the retro tag. They arent as self-consciously retro as some other Scandinavian bands, and they are so inventive that there are only a few passages where another specific band comes to mind. Their influences are probably Camel, Pink Floyd, and Genesis, in that order. At times they remind us of the German band PCock (probably not the most helpful reference), for the way they combine spaciness with sympho-prog. Also there are similarities to RPWL. Though heavily instrumental, there are male and some female vocals in English. 67-minutes.
Retroheads follow-up Introspective (2006, 64-minutes) sees changes in the bands lineup, which now consists of three women and four men. Irishman Mike Mann takes over lead vocals, while Deborah Gurnius has joined on flute and backing vocals and Gry Anett Stordahl on keyboards. Now with an outstanding singer plus the female backing vocals, Retroheads have become stronger and probably even broadened their appeal. This album cant help but sound different from its predecessor, but its just as good, and no point making the same album twice. About the only thing retro in Retroheads music now is the use of vintage keys, and when the sustained electric guitar is soaring over Hammond or Mellotron with these vocals and these melodies, its heaven.
Ritual - The Hemulic Voluntary Band ($14.99) 
Ritual - Ritual ($15.99) The self-titled CD is the 1995 debut album by Ritual, a great Swedish progressive rock band with an original style that includes elements of Yes and Gentle Giant and the Swedish penchant for melody. After an initial release on Musea, this CD was remastered and reissued jointly by Tempus Fugit and InsideOut in 2004. It now has a 24-page booklet.
Think Like a Mountain (2003) and The Hemulic Voluntary Band (2007) are Rituals third and fourth studio CDs. They got away from prog on their second album before deciding to be a progressive rock band again. These are their best albums. Hemulic owes a large debt to Gentle Giant and a little debt to pastoral Genesis. The band augment their sound with bouzouki, hammer dulcimer, recorders, whistles, and nyckelharpa (the Swedish keyed fiddle), while the keyboardist limits his rig to clavinet, harmonium, grand piano and Rhodes. Ritual are never actually playing folk music, but that influence is integrated into what is a very original and adventurous sound and a brilliant style of progressive rock. Note singer Patrik Lundstrm also sings for the reformed Kaipa, so if that voice sounds familiar... Read reviews at Prog Archives.
The Live double-CD is from 2006 and serves as an effective overview of Rituals first three albums.
Riveryman - Magic World ($15.99) Riveryman is the band of Finnish guitarist Tony Riveryman, who also plays keyboards and bass and sings, joined by a drummer on the Riveryman debut CD Magic World (2009, 72-minutes). Tony grew up listening to the standard list of guitar heroes before discovering progressive rock (and good to see Pekka Pohjola on his list of influences, even if one cant hear that influence here). Magic World is almost pure symphonic prog in the Yes and Genesis veins, with some heavier/busier guitar and a wall-of-sound approach. The vocals are multi-tracked in an attempt to produce Yes-like harmonies, but Tony ought to run his vocals through Auto-Tune as his pitch isnt precise enough to pull it off. That aside, there is loads of bombastic Yes-derived sympho-prog here.
Rkstenen: A Tribute to Swedish Progressive Rock of the 70s (3CD, $34.99)This 2010 triple-CD set is another Colossus/Musea various artists project. Here bands from around the globe cover songs by Swedish 1970s progressive bands such as Atlas, Blkulla, Dice, Flasket Brinner, Bo Hansson, Kaipa, Made in Sweden, Ragnark, Samla Mammas Manna, Trettioriga Kriget, and many more. The full list of participating bands and songs/bands covered can be found on Colossus MySpace blog or at Proggnosis. Each disc is 77-80 minutes long, so at a mere $12 per disc for a European import, its quite reasonable, and by now there are probably many prog fans (e.g., those who heard The Flower Kings before they heard 70s Kaipa) who could use an overview of this rich scene. Counts as 2 CDs for shipping.
The Roots of Echo - Nothing Between You and the Sun ($16.99)1997 third CD by a Swedish psychedelic/space-rock band in the early Pink Floyd and Hawkwind vein.
Salva - Thirst ($15.99) 
Thirst (2011), Left to Burn (2007), and A Handful of Earth (2004) are the three CDs released by Swedish prog band Salva, now signed to White Knight Records, the label run by Rob Reed of Magenta and Will Mackie of Hoggwash and Caerllysi Music who say: Salvas unique trademark sound combines symphonic prog, hard rock/metal and folk/singer-songwriter. The bands influences range from the 70s prog of Yes, Genesis, Jethro Tull and Pink Floyd to hard rock/metal by Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and Rainbow to Scandinavian and Celtic folk mixed with pop sensibilities and even the odd splash of jazz for good measure. On the new album, the symph has become grander, the riffs have become heavier, and the melodies are as elaborate and melancholy as always. The combination of compositional and thematic focus, great musicianship and seldom heard variety in both writing and sound makes this a must-have for all lovers of melodic, adventurous and at times heavy symphonic rock. Read reviews at Salvas site.
Scarlet Thread - Valheista Kaunein ($15.99) Scarlet Thread are a Finnish band featuring female violinist and flutist and male guitarist/mandolinist/bassist and drummer, with guest musicians on keyboards and bass. Recorded in 2002, Psykedeelisia Joutsenlauluja is an instrumental progressive rock album with its roots in Scandinavian folk and psychedelia. There are only a few passages where the band is actually playing folk-rock, but the melodies are derived from scales favored in northern European folk music. Given the fuzzed tone of the electric guitar, there is a lineage that traces back to Kebnekaise, the pioneering Swedish folk-rock band. The psychedelic influence is felt mostly in the rhythm section, with grooves that would work on an Ozrics record. But the arrangements are full of symphonic rock elements and classical influences as well, which sometimes brings to mind the instrumentals of the English band Solstice. This first album is only 35-minutes long. (Note how many people selling this record conveniently fail to mention that.) More flute would have been welcome, but the violin soaring over the guitar/bass/drums and the compelling melodies make this an outstanding album.
Scarlet Threads second, Valheista Kaunein (2006) has a lineup of two guitarists, violin, bass & drums, with two guests on flute. The style here is similar but this is the stronger and longer album. Scarlet Thread can also be heard on the various artists compilations Tuonen Tytr - A Tribute To Finnish Progressive and Kalevala: A Finnish Progressive Rock Epic.
Secret Oyster - Straight to the Krankenhaus ($13.99)
Secret Oyster - same ($13.99) The Danish band Secret Oyster was formed in 1973 by members of three other Danish progressive bands: Burnin Red Ivanhoe, Hurdy Gurdy, and Coronarias Dan. Their six albums are progressive jazz-rock classics. These are the 2005-2007 remastered versions on The Lasers Edge. Each of these CDs features new liner notes from Karsten Vogel.
This is the first time on CD for Secret Oysters self-titled 1973 first studio album, which was released on LP in the U.S. as Furtive Pearl. From the press release: At the time the band was hailed as a supergroup of sorts... This was a true fusion album a marriage of rock and jazz. While later albums featured more of a jazz element, this first album featured wild psychedelic guitar leads from Claus Bohling. His frenetic solos were juxtaposed against the stunning sax work of Karsten Vogel and electric piano of virtuoso keyboardist Kenneth Knudsen. The album was recorded on a surprisingly low budget direct to two-track in fact. There is a raw energy that pervades the album that reminds of their contemporaries such as Mahavishnu Orchestra and Return To Forever. The CD features two non-album bonus tracks.
From the press release: Sea Son was originally released in 1974 on CBS and is now considered by many to be the pinnacle of the bands catalog. The fiery interplay between alto/soprano sax player Karsten Vogel, guitarist Claus Bohling and keyboardist Kenneth Knudsen parallel the work of their contemporaries Return to Forever and Mahavishnu Orchestra. With a new rhythm section of bassist Jess Staehr (Burnin Red Ivanhoe) and drummer Ole Streenberg (Coronarias Dans), the band found equal footing in the worlds of rock and jazz. The track Mind Movie offers 9-minutes of pure psychedelic guitar-driven fury from Bohling. In contrast, a string quartet appears on Painforest, presenting a mellower side to the band. Perhaps its the constant tension between the rock and jazz genres and the bands ability to blend both seamlessly that is the reason for their success. The CD features three previously-unreleased bonus tracks.
Secret Oysters 1975 third album Vidunderlige Klling was released on LP in the U.S. under the name Astarte. It was commissioned as music for a ballet. This CD includes three previously unreleased bonus tracks. While often compared to the likes of Soft Machine, Mahavishnu Orchestra, and Return to Forever (wed add Shadowfaxs Watercourse Way), the music here is closer to progressive rock: more structured, melodic, and classically-influenced. The CD features three previously-unreleased bonus tracks.
From the press release: Straight to the Krankenhaus (1976) is considered by many to be their masterpiece a seamless blend of progressive rock and fusion. The fiery interplay between alto/soprano sax player Karsten Vogel, guitarist Claus Bohling and keyboardist Kenneth Knudsen parallel the work of their contemporaries Return To Forever, Weather Report and Mahavishnu Orchestra. The CD features two previously-unreleased bonus tracks.
Simon Says - Tardigrade ($13.99) The Swedish band Simon Says began their career very influenced by 1970s Genesis, adopting most of the same sounds and conventions. Tardigrade (2008, 74-minutes) is their third and is on an even grander scale than their previous CDs. This CD is in that category of if you are a symphonic rock fanatic and can buy only one CD this year. Simon Says have expanded their style well beyond the Genesis base to include influences of Yes, UK, and early King Crimson, plus that trademark Scandinavian organ-driven symphonic rock style. At one point they nearly launch into Holsts Mars. Even if they nearly quote other pieces of music here and there, theyve got so much good stuff crammed onto this disc that its still pretty amazing. One of the few survivors of the early 1990s Stockholm progressive scene, Simon Says may now be the best. Note Simon Says can also be heard on the Colossus/Musea various artists CDs Kalevala and Odyssey.
Soniq Circus - Reflections in the Hourglass ($17.99) The self-titled CD is the 2007 debut album from Swedish quintet Soniq Circus. Consistent with other current Scandinavian progressive rock bands (Magic Pie, Beardfish, A.C.T., Carptree), Soniq Circus blend all sorts of mostly British, mostly 1970s influences in a timeless way. The music is symphonic prog with a bit of 70s hard rock and strong pop songwriting and melodies, sort of Yes meets City Boy, but with a distinct identity. Not only the vintage keys but also the production harkens back to the 70s -- instead of a hyper-real but sterile modern production, this has a bit of welcome grit to it. Here is an mp3 of the complete 9-minute track Chain of Consequences.
There were line-up changes for Reflections in the Hourglass (2011, 60-minutes), including singer. The Progress label says that, compared to this new CD, the first Soniq Circus CD sounds like a well-recorded demo. Musically, there is less of the Saga, A.C.T. or City Boy style now, a reduction of the pop side of the band without sacrificing too much melody. The CD is full of long tracks of fairly complex, melodic symphonic prog notable for guitar work that is often in an energetic hard rock style, not metal (at least not in the modern sense) but rather an upbeat, hard-edged style. Its positive evolution for the band, and apart from a slight similarity to labelmates Brother Ape, Soniq Circus are distinct from the other Swedish prog bands, a reflection of the depth of the current scene. Soniq Circus now deserve some of the success of the better-known Swedish prog bands. Here is an mp3 of the complete track Actor (5:11), or watch the video. Read reviews of both CDs.
Spektrum - Spektrum ($16.99)This is a 2003 CD by a Swedish all-star quintet, featuring Hansi Cross (the main man in the band Cross), key members of Galleon and Grand Stand, and a very good female singer in Lizette von Panajott. In other words, a lot of talent. And this album is one of the best neo-Genesis albums to appear in a long time, as Spektrum draw most of their inspiration from Genesis circa Wind and Wuthering. But the female vocals add a very different twist, and Spektrum manage to make it all sound fresh and exciting. You can hear influences of all three parent bands as well, so fans of those bands as well as fans of The Flower Kings, IQ, Twin Age, and melodic symphonic prog in general should be thrilled to hear this. Here is a 1.0 MB mp3 from the album. Read reviews.
Svarte Pan - Nattvandring ($11.99) This 2004 release is a throwback to the early 1970s blues-based hard rock style of the band November, or if youre looking for a British equivalent, Nazareth and Black Sabbath. The band uses just guitar, bass, and drums, with vocals in Swedish. Hard to find a Scandinavian band not singing in English these days.
Taipuva Luotisuora - IV ($14.99) Taipuva Luotisuora are a Finnish progressive space-rock band along the lines of Quantum Fantay, Ozric Tentacles, and Hidria Spacefolk. Both of these CDs are digipacks, II from 2006 and IV from 2009. Read reviews at Prog Archives. Watch the bands YouTube videos.
Tangle Edge - Serpentary Quarters ($15.99)Long psychedelic jams from this Norwegian band. Tangle Edge have been around since the early 1980s; this is a 2006 album. There are some electronic treatments, but otherwise its just guitar/bass/drums.
Taylors Universe - Return to Whatever mini-LP ($15.99) Taylors Universe is a superb Danish prog band headed by Robin Taylor, who plays guitar, grand piano, Hammond organ, and various analog synths. Joining Taylor on Terra Nova are sax player Karsten Vogel (Secret Oyster, Burnin Red Ivanhoe) and drummer Rasmus Grosell, plus a few guests. Taylor has or had another project with almost the same name, Taylors Free Universe, but that project is entirely different, focusing on improvisation and experimental jazz. And for maximum confusion, Taylor also releases albums under his own name that tend to be more electronic/ambient. Terra Nova (2007) however contains classic 1970s style Scandinavian symphonic progressive, instrumental with some wordless vocals. The music is keyboard-dominated, with Vogels melodic sax adding spice. There is definitely appeal to fans of Secret Oyster and Canterbury music, but while there is jazz influence here, the music is not jazz or fusion. Rather, the music is the stately symphonic prog typical of Focus and the first generation of Scandinavian symphonic bands.
Return to Whatever (2009) is the new one and features a new band lineup that includes electric violin, sax, guitar, bass, drums, and Taylors keyboards, with guests providing Celtic harp, flute, and female voice. The music is again instrumental and 1970s-oriented, but not retro. As always, Taylor favors organ and piano, and there is jazz influence felt primarily through the sax (which is played melodically), but overall this is still stately symphonic prog with strong links to the first-generation Danish progressive and jazz-rock bands. Heavyweight gatefold mini-LP sleeve.
Terraex - Somnia ($15.99) Somnia (2010) is the debut CD by Terraex, a Norwegian band led by Carlos Sanchez (guitar, bass, keyboards), with Maria Toresen (vocals, piano, violin), Gunvar Wie (drums), and Andrea Ummarino (guitar). They describe themselves as an alternative band with a progressive attitude, and at heart they are an indie-rock/pop band with female vocals. But they have a pronounced progressive side; most notably, they use a lot of Mellotron, and not just strings. Marias voice has a different character on different songs, sounding typically juvenile on the fast songs with the grungy guitars, sounding more mature when the music also sounds more mature, even taking on a Kate Bush quality when they slow things down. When Terraex do incorporate the progressive elements, as they do most of the time, the results are very good, highlighted by pretty female vocals and lush symphonic keyboards. Terraex are a rather unique band, and theyve realized that Mellotron makes just about everything better! Check out the song (or video) Honesty, which may be all you need to hear. Read the Background Magazine review.
Three Seasons - Lifes Road mini-LP ($15.99) Three Seasons are a young Swedish band with a retro, early-1970s sound styled primarily on the blues-based hard and psychedelic rock bands of that time as well as the organ-based heavy and proto-prog bands such as Deep Purple. There are also pastoral passages featuring flute and violin. Amazing that these musicians can recapture the essence of a style of music made before they were born. This is the 2011 MALS edition, released under license, which comes in a mini-LP style cardboard sleeve. Read reviews.
Time Traveller - Chapters III & IV ($15.99) Chapters I & II (2008) is an album out of Finland recorded as the solo project of multi-instrumentalist Juhani Nisula, though he has since formed a quintet for live performance. Chapters I & II sounds like a full band as it is, with a great analog 1970s sound. This is exciting, energetic instrumental symphonic prog with the glory more from the accomplished 70s-style guitar work, but ably blended with an array of vintage keyboards: Hammond; Mellotron; Moog, ARP and Oberheim synths; Clavinet; Crumar string ensemble and more. The bass playing and drumming hold up their end as well, while a guest adds violin on one song. It is really amazing for a solo project to achieve the sort of live energy heard on this CD. The Time Traveller MySpace page used to list Nisulas influences; suffice to say his knowledge of progressive rock runs deep. Read the Sea of Tranquility review.
Chapters III & IV (2011) is the follow-up, which features Nisula on most instruments, a drummer, and guests on keyboards, tenor sax and flute. To date, Juhani Nisulas Time Traveller project has yielded almost eighty minutes of fabulous music that is designed to take the listener back to a period in time (i.e. the 60s and 70s) when classic/progressive/psychedelic music of this nature really flourished. If you really want to find out what Time Traveller is all about, I encourage you to play both albums back to back for a truly mind blowing experience. Kudos to Juhani for once again delivering the goods. This is one reviewer who seriously hopes that Time Traveller continues well beyond the next chapters, because resplendent music of this nature should be considered an ongoing journey, with no destination. Read the full Sea of Tranquility review.
Trettioriga Kriget - War Years (2CD, $17.99) 
Trettioriga Kriget - Hej P Er! ($15.99) 
Trettioriga Kriget (Thirty Years War) is one of the most important Swedish progressive rock bands, cited as a major influence by the 1990s Swedish bands Anglagard, Anekdoten, and Landberk. Trettioriga Kriget have a progressive sound based on Swedish vocals, guitar, bass and drums, with Mellotron, organ, and piano adding spice. The brooding, aggressive sound of the more recent Swedish prog bands has its genesis here.
These are all the latest digipack editions. The self-titled CD is the reissue of their 1974 first LP with three bonus tracks added, bringing the playing time up to 59-minutes. Here there is a hard rock influence that is less present on subsequent albums. Krigsang (1976) is their classic, remastered for this 2004 CD release with three 1977 bonus tracks added. Here the hard rock is downplayed in favor of a more symphonic, melodic and melancholic approach, with more emphasis on dynamics and drama.
Their third album Hej P Er! (1978) found the band on a new label and beginning to streamline their sound, losing the melancholy in favor of a more upbeat sound, less heavy and more melodic. They had added a fifth member on keyboards and sax. Though not the place to start, its still a good Swedish progressive album. Four bonus tracks from 1978-79 have been added.
Elden Av r (2004) is their first album of new material since 1981, and amazingly, it is every bit as good as their self-titled album and Krigsang, more symphonic in fact. I Brjan och Slutet (2007) is perhaps even better. Read the DPRP review.
The double-CD War Years (2008) is the first ever live album from TK. The first CD covers the 1970s-1980s, while the second CD is divided between TKs 2004 ProgDay appearance in the U.S. and a 2007 concert in Sweden. Read the DPRP review.
Trusties - Human Wheel ($15.99) Human Wheel (2009, 70-minutes) is the Rush-flavored third CD for Finnish prog rock band Trusties. Read reviews.
Tuonen Tytr II (3CD, $34.99)Both of these sets are tributes to Finnish progressive rock of the 1970s. The first Tuonen Tytr is a 2CD set from 2000 containing covers of 22 songs by the first generation of Finnish progressive artists such as Finnforest, Haikara, Pekka Pohjola, Wigwam, Kaamos, Jukka Tolonen, Tasavallan Presidentti, Piirpauke, and others. The participating bands include Haikara (who somehow cover themselves), Scarlet Thread, Holy Lamb, Man On Fire, Overhead, Five Fifteen, and more. See Prog Archives for the complete list of songs and bands, as well as reviews. The booklet includes interesting English-language liner notes about the history of the Finnish scene.
Tuonen Tytr II (2009) is a 3CD set with 31 bands contributing 31 tracks. Prog Archives has the list of participants and songs. Both sets come in the old-style fat case and count as 2 CDs for shipping.
Unifaun - Unifaun Swedish edition ($16.99) Unifaun is the band where Roine Stolt found singer Nad Sylvan for his Agents Of Mercy project. As the Progress label says, Unifauns 2008 CD is the stunning 76-minute debut from a Swedish band whose goal is to make the songs that Genesis never did. And they do it with great love and lots of talent. Other Genesis clones may mimic the sonic details perfectly but fall so far short of Genesis in songwriting terms that little of their music is memorable. Unifaun however have a knack for melodic hooks and understand that there was always a song (sometimes several) at the core of a Genesis track. Judging from the number of searches for Unifaun immediately after the release of the CD, this was the most anticipated release of that year, and might have been our best seller of the year if we actually kept track of such things. So there must be a few hungry Genesis fans out there. Cant blame you -- if there hadnt been a 1970s Genesis, there might not have been a Kinesis either. This Swedish edition on the Progress label has a 28-page booklet, while the booklet of the now deleted U.S. edition was scaled down to 16 pages. Read reviews.
Urban Turban - Overtime ($11.99)This is the band formed by Peter Bryngelsson, formerly of Ragnark and Triangulus. Urban Turban have been described as Captain Beefheart meets an Arabian big band in the desert. Their self-titled first album (1994) featured blues-rock played with non-traditional instruments, laced with middle eastern flavors and a bit of Swedish folk. Overtime is from 1996 and is somewhat less bluesy, though it still features several John Mayall tunes.
Viima - Kahden Kuun Sirpit ($16.99) out-of-stock The Finnish symphonic prog band Viima was first heard on Mellow Records Finnish prog tribute CD Tuonen Tytar and can also be heard on several of the Musea/Colossus various artists CDs. Viimas 2006 debut Ajatuksia Maailman Laidalta features beautiful female vocals that add a folky quality that has led some reviewers to reference Mellow Candle, though the music here is really only folky in the sense that early Renaissance or October Project were folky: the inclusion of acoustic instruments and a light, breezy quality rather than folk music per se. Viima play unadulterated 1970s-style Scandinavian progressive rock featuring vintage keyboard sounds and some flute, and as with the best first-generation Scandinavian prog bands, Camel is never far away.
After the release of their first CD, Viima changed lineup, expanding to a quintet and transitioning from female to male singer. It has worked to their advantage, as Kahden Kuun Sirpit (2009) is a more powerful symphonic prog album, without the folky aspects of their debut. There is a Genesis influence on this CD that was not present on their first, plus Camel and perhaps Focus. Keyboards include Mellotron, Hammond organ, Rhodes, and analog synths, and there is flute, soprano sax, and a string quartet. In fact, Kahden Kuun Sirpit is on a par with the best Scandinavian classic progressive bands: Atlas, 1970s Kaipa, Blakulla, early Isildurs Bane, Tabula Rasa, etc. Those bands didnt sing in English either, but we have faith that even our monolingual American customers have advanced beyond beginner-level prog fan and appreciate great music sung in any language, and the greater variety that enables. (English translations of the lyrics are printed in the booklet.) Read reviews of both CDs.
Violent Silence - Kinetic ($17.99) Violent Silence is yet another impressive Swedish progressive rock band. The self-titled CD is their 2003 debut. Hard to compare them to anyone else; it might be heard as a mix of Landberk, King Crimson, and Echolyn, but without guitar. The six-string parts arent missed though. A quartet of vocals, keyboards, bass and drums, they do things a bit differently than the other Swedish bands. For one, the bass is way up front in the mix and is often very percussive, partially usurping the role normally played by guitar. They have a keyboardist who plays lead lines shaped with pitch bend and vibrato, something missing not only from the other Swedish prog bands, but somewhat of a dying art. The English-language vocals are competent and there is more in the way of songwriting than, for example, Anekdoten. Together, these four musicians successfully unite Nordic melancholia and Anglo-Saxon power.
On their second CD Kinetic (2005), Violent Silence has expanded to a quintet with the addition of a second keyboardist (shades of Greenslade). Again, guitar is not missed, and yet the music doesnt seem as keyboard-dominated as ELP or SFF. Kinetic has aspects of both 1970s progressive, with a lot of vintage keyboard sounds, and more contemporary rock, especially in the melancholy vocal lines. Liquid Scarlet does a similar blend, but the two bands sound distinct. This album is an improvement on Violent Silences debut, more energetic, featuring a stellar rhythm section, with several songs driven by fast mallet percussion (which could be coming from a keyboard). The 18-minute Quiet Stalker has a tremendous extended instrumental section in a style between Genesis and UK. This band is something special, having something in common with the other Scandinavian progressive bands while really being quite unique. Read reviews here.
Von Hertzen Brothers - Love Remains the Same ($17.99) out-of-stock This Finnish band of brothers (currently a quintet with three brothers plus two others) is that rarest of phenomena, a progressive rock band who have topped their national charts. After a 2001 debut, their second album Approach (2006, 58-minutes) went gold in Finland and won the Finnish equivalent of a Grammy for best rock album of the year. Love Remains the Same (2008, 62-minutes) spent three weeks at number one in the national sales chart and has also gone gold, and this is an album that opens with an 11-minute track and closes with a 9-minute track! Von Hertzen Brothers have a Scandinavian prog sound sometimes comparable to Magic Pie. They blend various 1970s melodic and hard rock influences into their prog rock, with catchy melodies and a fresh approach, which explains how theyve crossed over to a wider audience. (Lets give the Finnish public credit too.) But there is no doubt they are a prog band, with Yes and Pink Floyd as certain influences. Their three-part vocal harmonies are a big part of their sound, and they have a mystical side as well. [Approach] is one of the best albums that Ive heard in the category of progressive rock... they are one of the most important Finnish progressive rock bands ever. [UltimateGuitar.com] They have created nine epic and beguiling soundscapes which are not only a joy to behold but make the album as a whole a profoundly satisfying experience. It is a rare release indeed which leaves the listener with a feeling of completeness after the final notes have faded. Read the full review at KomodoRock. Love Remains the Same comes in a super jewel box.
White Willow - Terminal Twilight ($13.99) Norways White Willow manage a distinct sound on each of their six albums (many of the U.S. editions are now out-of-print), with lineup changes often a contributing factor. Their debut Ignis Fatuus (1995) had a softer, pastoral sound based upon refined female vocals, Mellotron, flute, and acoustic guitars. They are essentially a pagan folk ensemble that discovered Anglagard and Landberk, producing a melancholy and mystical hybrid. Their sound on Ex Tenebris (1998) becomes darker, heavier, and more gothic, and though there are acoustic timbres, its arguable whether there is any folk here.
Terminal Twilight (2011, digipack) is White Willows sixth album. It finds them with a new lineup, now with Anglagard drummer Mattias Olsson and the return of vocalist Sylvia Erichsen. Tim Bowness (No Man) makes a guest appearance. All of the White Willow trademarks are in place: chiming guitar chords, flute, Mellotrons, and songs about sad people. This North American edition features an exclusive bonus track.
Wigwam - The Lucky Golden Stripes and Starpose ($17.99) 
Wigwam - Being ($17.99) Wigwam was the best known Finnish rock band of the 1970s (Pekka Pohjola was a member early on), their albums ranging from progressive rock to intelligent pop-rock. These are all the 2010 remastered editions on the Esoteric label, with restored artwork, lavish booklets, and a new essay and recollections from Jim Pembroke. Fairyport is from 1971, Being from 1974, and Live Music from the Twilight Zone from 1975. Being is their best album. Keyboardist Jukka Gustavson was largely responsible for this album, making it their most symphonic.
Nuclear Nightclub (1975) and The Lucky Golden Stripes and Starpose (1976) were released by Virgin Records in the UK. The Lucky Golden Stripes and Starpose has two bonus tracks from a 1975 single: Tramdriver and Wardance. These were the first two albums by what is usually considered the second era of the band, during which their English expat singer-songwriter Jim Pembroke became the dominant composer. During this phase, Wigwam were sort of the Finnish Steely Dan. Read the Wigwam overview at DPRP. Read reviews at Prog Archives of Nuclear Nightclub and The Lucky Golden Stripes and Starpose, and the review of the latter at Music from the Other Side of the Room. The unofficial Wigwam Nuclear Netclub site has a wealth of information.
The Windmill - To Be Continued... ($14.99) The Windmill are an excellent Norwegian symphonic prog band formed in 2001, but this 2010 CD is their debut. They use flute and occasional sax in addition to the usual keys/guitar/bass/drums lineup. There are three instrumentals, but the bulk of the album is song-oriented melodic prog, including the albums centerpiece, the 21-minute suite A Day in a Heros Life. Perhaps a good band to file The Windmill next to is Unitopia, for both are strongly melodic with good vocals, while sonically oriented to the 1970s and 80s. And as with Unitopia, you can call it neo-prog if you want, but in 2010 were so far down the road that the neo tag (coined to apply to the 1980s UK prog bands) has become rather meaningless. Click the mp3 icon above not only for audio samples but for links to reviews.
Wobbler - Hinterland ($13.99) Wobbler is a Norwegian band singing in English and debuting with Hinterland (2005), showing a strong nglagrd influence. The instrumentation is similar, a consciously retro sound with loads of vintage keys, especially Mellotron and organ. Wobbler are slightly less dissonant and slightly more melodic and flowing, and they also toss in a bit of Gentle Giant here, a bit of ELP there. Even if Wobbler cant have the impact nglagrd did, its still a very welcome album.
Xinema - Basic Communication ($14.99) Xinema is a Swedish melodic progressive rock band that evolved out of a mid-1980s band called Madrigal, so Xinemas members have been at this for a while. Most of the songs on their debut Different Ways (2002) date from the Madrigal era, though they were recorded more recently. The music is generally in the early Saga style, with clear English vocals and lots of lush harmony vocals reminiscent of Asia.
Basic Communication (2006) could be considered the first genuine Xinema album as it contains all new material. It is again an accessible style of symphonic prog that emphasizes songs, melody, and lush textures. The Rush and Asia influences of the first album have given way to a more purely neo-prog style. Think classic Saga, Marillion old and new, and a symphonic version of U2. We recommend both albums to fans of Galleon, another Swedish band operating in similar territory.
Zello - Quodlibet ($15.99) This is the 1999 second album by a Swedish progressive rock band singing in excellent English. Their sound (and quality) is very close to early Kansas, dominated by violin and organ but without guitar. Mellotron, a few Swedish touches, and a 25-minute track make this an outstanding album.