These five Canadians sure knows how to compose modern, fresh, innovative and complex prog music. There are some prog metal influences here as well and it is a never-ending variety of different moods. One minute the music is big and pompous, the next it's soft and melancholy, then back to the power with some heavy riffs and topped of with some outrageous prog variations and solos. Not a dull moment here. (review by Olov Andersson)

The American prog rockers Hands from the 70's have reunited after 25 years and put together a stunning comeback album. Everything you could ever hope for has made it onto this album. A clear Gentle Giant touch and lots of instrumental variation with cellos, violins and a very nice piece containing a French horn. Every lover of the band will be very pleased with this new CD. It's easily their best work ever and let us hope that they'll stay together for many years and bring us more fantastic music in the future. I totally agree with the review published last month on the missing piece web site.
(review by Olov Andersson)

The interest for progressive rock had, at the time for the release of Holding Pattern's debut album, hit rock bottom and me myself was more into classic symphony music, jazz and the wave of new British alternative rock (Japan, Comsat Angels etc) so it's not that strange that I and many others never heard this one before. Fortunately we now have the opportunity to enjoy this very fine album, since a couple of years released on CD. This is nothing less than a stunning album containing top notch instrumental progressive rock basically based on a rather unique, distinct style with occasional hints of Steve Hackett, Brand X and perhaps also a small amount of Gentle Giant thrown in for good measure. All mixed into something fresh. Holding Pattern was four skilled musicians who put their energy into the essence of the songs based on great song writing (mostly written by guitarist Tony Spada) and a great sense for melodies mixed with occasional, minor show-offs.

I am now listening to it for the fifth day in a row and it still creates a very nice impact on me. Play time is only about 28 minutes, but don't let that scare you, it is nicely mid priced and the 28 minutes we get is brilliant and, in fact, allows repeated listening without getting tiring. A jewel!
(review by Hansi Cross)

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10 seconds into "The darkest hour" I'm totally sold on this record. Peter Nicholls is back as the bands lead vocalist, after, in my opinion two quite weak and boring records with the singer P J Menel as front man. This record not only marks the return of their original lead singer; it also really sounds like IQ to me again. This, I would like to say, is the natural follow up to the brilliant "The wake". Also new for this album is bass player John Jowitt who's solid playing also makes Peter Cook drum better than he has ever done. This is one of the most complex albums that IQ has made and it suits them perfect. The long brilliant number "Further away" features what I think is the most wonderful keyboard solo that Martin Orford has ever played. To this, add Mike Holmes soaring guitar lines and you have a totally perfect record. In mine opinion, IQ at their peak! Highly recommended!
(review by Göran Johnsson)

The masters of the British prog/symph-scene is back with another masterpiece. This is the band that seems to have no boundaries at all. They just keep improving with every album. The new album is no exception to the rule. It's a natural progression from their previous CD "Seventh House" but with a somewhat darker tone and ambience, not unlike their first two albums. The new CD gives us 5 pieces of well-crafted and well-performed modern progressive rock. The opening track "Sacred Sound" sets the mood perfectly and when the last notes of "Harvest Of Souls" fades away you will find yourself wanting to press the repeat button and listen to the CD all over again.

I know that there are people who think that no good prog music was made after the early seventies and of course everybody is entitled to their own opinion. IQ is a good example of classic British symph/prog at its best and I truly think that they should be considered one of the major bands in our beloved genre. I know that a few of you will disagree, but these guys deserve it. This is the one of the few bands that actually improves with every new album and that alone should wet anyone's appetite for new music. (review by Olov Andersson)

"Let's take a walk, calm down, let the silence begin, take a deep breath…" Well, what can I say? The line is taken from my favourite track "Idea" of this new record from Isildurs Bane and for me it says a whole lot of the album, just by these words. Mats Johansson and his band have for this album brought in a young singer. For the last 25 years Isildurs have produced mainly instrumental music so I guess they just wanted to do experiment with some vocals on this album. And how they do it! Singer Christof Jeppsson delivers his lyrics with much passion and maturity and suite perfectly well with Isildurs sound. Although of course the music is written for vocal parts I promise you that you will still be able to recognise them. Influences comes from everywhere and Mats isn't afraid to try out new sounds from his keyboards though I still hear most influences from Frank Zappa and also some traces of King Crimson. A few female singers also appear on the album and add another dimension to the Isildur sound. For me this was my number one album of 2003 and can't do anything but recommend it, highly! So take a walk, calm down, let the silence begin and take a deep breath…
(review by Göran Johnsson)

Been reading several reviews about this album and most of them referring to Spock's Beard turned this into a very pleasant surprise. This is definitely not in any way a Spock's-clone. In the first tracks of the album I associate, regarding the vocals, to Ty Tabor's Beatles-inspired works with hints of King Crimson-like parts in the guitars and some warm, bright and very nice "proggy" keyboards. Melodic, almost "poppy" melodies interpreted by heavier parts in a way that can be compared to Spock's but yet not. This band certainly has strength of their own. As I listen further to this amazing album there are also rather complex and aggressive parts in the vein of…eh…I don't know really…perhaps King Crimson, but again yet not and the next second I'm thrown in to a warm atmosphere, perhaps Yes comes to mind for a second or two, with lovely harmony vocals and some Wakeman-like keyboardwork. And oh! There's a short Spock's-like part with hoarse vocals…and there's some folky stuff. And then…well there's a lot different styles on this, which is not too common, it's very well put together and does not feel shattered at all. The main reason to love this is that it's unique and emotional and I really do love it. (review by Hansi Cross)