Quote from: erik on Sat, 2024-02-10, 19:55:29I recently bought his previous two albums and have been enjoying them. Not prog really but really good. On my way now to see him live, together with Galahad - the latter was the main driver for going but look forward to his set as well and will pick up the new album.

Quote from: erik on Sun, 2024-02-11, 11:28:52Thanks Teunis, it was a great evening! Really enjoyed both sets. Gildenlow played his new album and three older tracks. With three guitarists it really sounded great and the new album is playing here now.

Galahad were on fire from the start with the track Alive, with the massive synth sounds of Dean Baker setting the scene. It was great to see them after all this time and the setlist was excellent with Guardian Angel, Empires Never Last, Sleepers, The Last Great Explorer, Shadow In The Corner, This Life Could Be My Last, The Long Goodbye and Seize The Day. Underrated band IMHO that are still going strong.

Sounds great!

It tried getting into Galahad, but I never succeeded. The first album I heard was "Empires Never Last". Which was intriguing, but never clicked with me. Nevertheless I have bought three albums: "Battle Scars", "Beyond The Realms Of Euphoria" and "Seas Of Change". I tried multiple times, but it never clicked. On paper it should work, but I don't know. What am I doing wrong? Should I be in a certain mindset? Is there something I need to focus on?

Quote from: Teunis on Sat, 2024-02-10, 19:58:26Have fun

pp: Moon Safari - Himlabacken - Vol. 2

np: The Pineapple Thief - It Lead To This

Also listened to The Pineapple Thief's latest album. Not bad! Will listen again!
I was also wondering where you bought your "Himlabacken Vol. 2" album. It's very hard to find a place to order it.

Today I also listened to LEAH - "The Glory And The Fallen". Anyone ever heard of her? Her music can be compared to bands like Delain, or Epica or something like that. But it's very easy metal. Very light, not heavy at all. It has a Celtic sound to it. It's female fronted (duh!).

According to Wikipedia:

QuoteSometimes referred to as "the metal Enya",McHenry has, in addition to Enya, been compared to Loreena McKennitt, Hayley Westenra, Liv Kristine and Kristine's band Leaves' Eyes, Sharon Den Adel, Moya Brennan (a sister of Enya), Tori Amos, and Blackmore's Night. Her genre is described as symphonic and Celtic metal mixed with folk and world music, as well as folk metal, world music, gothic metal, gothic rock, symphonic gothic metal, power metal, and symphonic power metal, with progressive metal, New Age, and Middle Eastern influences. On Ancient Winter, she shifted away from symphonic metal further into folk rock and world music, including medieval music. During her childhood, she listened to gospel and choir music as well as blues and rock music, such as Jimi Hendrix and The Doors. In her teens she discovered metal music, starting with Dream Theater and then bands such as Symphony X and Nightwish. She considers her discovery of Celtic music and then European symphonic metal to be when she musically found where she belonged. She credits her focus on Celtic music and music of the Middle East evoking the Roman and Persian eras to listening to Loreena McKennitt and Enya, as well as her Celtic ancestry, specifically Irish and Scottish. Other influences on McHenry include Jesse Cook, Enya, early Lacuna Coil, early Within Temptation, "old school" After Forever, Devin Townsend, Nightwish, and Clannad.

Interesting! Impressive list of influences.

Today:
Steve Lukather - Bridges
Gazpacho - Fireworker
Genesis - Duke
Soup - Remedies
Soen - Memorial
Mystery - Redemption

np: Teramaze - Her Halo

Overhead - Haydenspark

My ten favourites in random order: Giant Sky, Dream The Electric Sleep, Mystery, Galahad, Pallas, Bend The Future, Peter Gabriel, Steve Wilson (skipped the previous two but this album did lure me back), Blackbriar and Dominic Sanderson.

Also really enjoyed: Exploring Birdsong (Ep), Pendragon (Ep), Hackberry, Pledge of Healing, Marek Arnold (Artrock Project), Edward Reekers (Liberty Project), Downes Braide Association, Cyan, Tiger Moth Tales, Karmamoi, John Lönmyr, Jordsjø, Dave Kerzner, Madlen Keys, Black Cat's Eye, Residuos Mentales, Lumsk, Seven Reizh...

Best reissue: the Camel box set Air Born, what a feast. And also David Longdon - Wild River, Fish - 13th Star and Marillion - Seasons End.

Particularly look forward to the new Big Big Train album and also the BBT weekend at the Boerderij in September.

Thanks Teunis, it was a great evening! Really enjoyed both sets. Gildenlow played his new album and three older tracks. With three guitarists it really sounded great and the new album is playing here now.

Galahad were on fire from the start with the track Alive, with the massive synth sounds of Dean Baker setting the scene. It was great to see them after all this time and the setlist was excellent with Guardian Angel, Empires Never Last, Sleepers, The Last Great Explorer, Shadow In The Corner, This Life Could Be My Last, The Long Goodbye and Seize The Day. Underrated band IMHO that are still going strong.

Quote from: erik on Sat, 2024-02-10, 19:55:29On my way now to see him live, together with Galahad - the latter was the main driver for going but look forward to his set as well and will pick up the new album.

Have fun

pp: Moon Safari - Himlabacken - Vol. 2

np: The Pineapple Thief - It Lead To This

QuoteAlso listened to that one today. Twas very nice! It's the first time I listen to a Kristoffer Gildenlöw album. Do you know the others? Are they as good?

I recently bought his previous two albums and have been enjoying them. Not prog really but really good. On my way now to see him live, together with Galahad - the latter was the main driver for going but look forward to his set as well and will pick up the new album.

Quote from: PH on Thu, 2024-02-08, 21:13:29It's the first time I listen to a Kristoffer Gildenlöw album. Do you know the others? Are they as good?

'Know' is a big word. I remember listening to previous albums once or twice, but this one seems better indeed. Will listen more often for sure!

Today:
Ayreon - Actual Fantasy
Arena - The Theory Of Molecular Inheritance
Gazpacho - Demon
Leprous - Pitfalls

np: The Pineapple Thief - It Leads To This

On Spotify. Already ordered it, but not in my record shop yet. Sounding great again ...

Quote from: Teunis on Thu, 2024-02-08, 19:55:43Kristoffer Gildenlöw - Empty

Also listened to that one today. Twas very nice! It's the first time I listen to a Kristoffer Gildenlöw album. Do you know the others? Are they as good?

Also played Caligula's Horse again with their latest album "Charcoal Grace". An excellent follow-up to the great "Rise Radiant". The first ten minute song The World Breathes With Me is fantastic!

And I played Haken's "Fauna". Somewhat in the same ballpark.

Also tried something new:
"Plastic Death" by "Glass Beach", which to me sounds influenced by Radiohead.

Wikipedia says:

QuoteGlass Beach (stylized as glass beach) are an American indie rock band from Seattle. Their music has been described as "heavy indie rock", blending influences including punk rock, math rock, and mid-century jazz. They cite some of their musical influences as Jeff Rosenstock, They Might Be Giants, and The Brave Little Abacus.

I don't know any of those artists, although I have heard of the name 'They Might Be Giants'. A nice name I might add.
Anyway, Indie Rock apparently. Not bad, and among the better of the lesser albums I've heard on my 2024 discovery journey.

Another one I tried was "Othervoid" by Transit Method. Not too bad either. The main problem I have with this band are the vocals. Not really a great singer, and it's as if he's screaming the lyrics. There's a little bit of a punk sound in the music as well. At least, I think so, I'm no expert on punk at all...

Their website says:

QuoteThe punk-metal riffs and dueling guitars on [the song] Psychometry evoke Mutoid Man and Iron Maiden, while the vocal harmonies and trad-metal gallop of The Outside recall Mastodon and Thin Lizzy.

Well, there you go.

In the end, it might not end up in my top ten of 2024, but it definitely has it's moments!


I like discovering bands that are balancing on the edge of my favorite genre. Sometimes you come across something nice that you would never have discovered otherwise.

Kristoffer Gildenlöw - Empty