September-November 2016 Album Anticipation (Video)

I didn't make a video speculation, etc..possibly in the next few days/weeks or after the wedding.

Of course Blackfield V will be on next year's list.

2: Nousound - Scintilla

9:
The Dear Hunter - Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional
Local Natives - Sunlit Youth
Oddland - Origin

23: 
Emanuel and the Fear - Primitive Smile
Warpaint - Heads Up
Kansas - The Prelude Implicit
Marillion - FEAR

30:
Opeth - Sorceress

October
7: Archive - The False Foundation

November
18: Blackfield - Blackfield V

Gojira - Magma (2015-2016)

5/20/16 5:56PM

"Silvera"..nice solo in the middle.



5/7/16 9:22AM
New album being released on June 17th from this French Extreme Metal band, whose music in the past I've definitely enjoyed, namely From Mars to Sirius.

The 1st single "Stranded" below, is rather memorable and impressed me more than I would have expected.

1 thought I wonder though is if any of this is inspired/influenced by the Terrorist event in December in Paris. Maybe not given when that happened and when this likely was written, but given they are french and their aggressive nature towards political and social things, it wouldn't surprise me.

Regardless, that new track "Stranded" is outstanding and it really has me more intrigued by this album than I likely would have.



1. The Shooting Star
2. Silvera  
3. The Cell  
4. Stranded
5. Yellow Stone  
6. Magma  
7. Pray  
8. Only Pain  
9. Low Lands  
10. Liberation

2015-2016 Midseason

Okay, here's the list. I'm not really going to place numbers or even star-ratings, but you could say it's a relatively/somewhat temporary vague order.

And I'll fully admit, many of these records I've only checked out once or twice, but just based on the few times, I know how I feel about it right now (for now, lol).

The Seeker from Cloud Cult is clearly my favorite record thus far, and it would be weird for it at least not to be near the top by the end of the year in November. It's just a moving record without a moment that I'd remove or get bored by. Although its greatest or my favorite part, the song "You Never Were Alone" gets me in tears every bloody time, so in a sense, it's an album and song I can't find myself going back to constantly, like the 1st week I got to hearing it.

And it's also fair to say, having seen the film it gives it an additional amount of love and memorability.

That being said, it is just 1 of their best records, and I've come to conclude Cloud Cult are as consistent and creative a band over the last decade, and I have almost come to expect greatness from them every time around (I would probably rate 2013's Love a bit higher even now).

But to summarize/cover others on this list, Textures, Vektor, Hands of Despair, SikTh, Gracepoint and Obscura all made Metal albums I am enjoying a lot, and anticipate more headphone time soon. Textures has to be the unexpected highlight and comeback of the year so far as that kind of came out of nowhere to impress the hell out of me. And the Vektor record is Vektor, and a band style I can enjoy a ton without caring how varied it is. We'll see, and it's quite a long record, but unlike Obscura I suppose, I get a little more from their style to warrant more repeated play. Also "Collapse" is incredible. Love the emotions and juxtaposition of vocal style and moods.

I also might add, there's a new Gojira track I found really good and should share soon hopefully; but as for Metal for this year, that record may be one to factor in certainly.

-Brooke Waggoner I enjoy. British Theatre I am liking. Falling Up as well
-The Mercury Tree I have only checked out once, but enjoyed, but haven't had the time to go back to. But I enjoy it enough to include it relatively high.
-Rare Futures I can say the same about.

-Long Distance Calling I checked out finally earlier today and really enjoyed, probably more than I expected to. Why I could see wanting to listen to it a fair amount more from now until November. It could be a bit of a sleeper actually.

-Protest the Hero I also enjoy, but it's not extensive being an EP. And kind of par for their course, which just has me only listening to them when in the mood.

-Snarky Puppy and some others down the list are also kind of lower feelings/expectations but I'm not ruling out.

The stuff I haven't heard? Ihsahn is 1 I meant to check out. The others? meh..including Dream Theater sadly. I did listen to about half of the 1st disc and honestly never felt the desire to go back. I don't anticipate many opportunities to have 2.5 hours to spend with it it at work, all that often. And then I am considering what it is, the reviews, the styles, and how many ballads and concept, and I just doubt it'll warrant my time anytime soon. But, who knows. I may just find the need to check out the best of the non-ballads at some point.

And of course the anticipation list at the bottom. From the Calendar dates, to some with titles and no release dates, to of course the potential including many which seem still very likely given the Social Media acitivities.



Cloud Cult - The Seeker


Textures - Phenotype


Vektor - Terminal Redux


Brooke Waggoner - Sweven


British Theatre - Mastery


Falling Up - Falling Up


The Mercury Tree - Permutations


Hands of Despair - Bereft


Mutemath - Vitals


SikTh - Opacities


Rare Futures - This Is Your Brain on Love


Steven Wilson - 4 1/2 [EP]


Long Distance Calling - Trips


Gracepoint - Echoes


Protest the Hero - Pacific Myth



Josh Benash - The Body Light [EP]


Obscura - Akroasis


David Bowie - Blackstar



iamthemorning - Lighthouse


Radical Face - The Family Tree: The Leaves


Mayer Hawthorne - Man About Town


Snarky Puppy - Culcha Vulcha


Hiromi - Spark


O'Brother - Endless Light


Black Mountain - IV


The Besnard Lakes - A Coliseum Complex Museum


White Denim - Stiff


Ulver - ATGCLVLSSCAP


Jeff Buckley - You and I


jennylee - Right On!


Field Music - Commontime


Memoryhouse - Soft Hate

haven't heard...

The Mute Gods - Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me
John Grant - Grey Tickles, Black Pressure
Eight Bells - Landless
School of Seven Bells - SVIIB
Gloria Morti - Kuebiko
Ihsahn - Arktis
Dream Theater - The Astonishing
Bloc Party - Hymns
Musiq Soulchild - Life on Earth
Is Tropical - Black Anything

May
13: Revere - Man of Atom [EP]
27: The Jelly Jam - Profit
27: The Monkees - Good Times!

June
10: Fitz and the Tantrums - Fitz and the Tantrums
17: Gojira - Magma
21: Joey Eppard - Word to the Wise
24: Jon Anderson and Roine Stolt - Invention of Knowledge

July
1: Fates Warning - Theories of Flight
8: Biffy Clyro - Ellipsis

September
9: Marillion - F*** Everyone and Run

TBA:
Pain of Salvation - In the Passing Light of Day
Emanuel and the Fear - Primitive Smile
Oddland - Origin
The Woods Brothers - The Woods Brothers
Klimt 1918 - Die Sentimentale Jugend

Hoping for (NEWS ABOUT ALBUM TITLES AND RELEASE DATES SOON/BEFORE LIKE LATE SEPTEMBER)
22
Anakdota
The Reign of Kindo
Pepe Deluxe
Fjokra
Dream the Electric Sleep
Tiny Giant
Journal
The Family Crest
Moonloop
The Faceless
Bullet Height
Neverending White Lights
Ours
Local Natives
Subterranean Masquerade
Small Leaks Sink Ships
Spencer Ludwig
Major Parkinson
Sculptured
Diablo Swing Orchestra
Blackfield
Karnivool
Brice Plays Drums
Painted in Exile
Opus Dai
Genders
Ramona Falls
East of the Wall
House of Fools
Spawn of Possession
Disillusion
The Dissociatives
The Barnum Meserve
Bubblemath
Between Two Skies
Lehto and Wright
RisingSide

Vektor - Terminal Redux (2015-2016)

5/5/16 10:26PM
Stream Album on YouTube

5/4/16 3:17PM

Another new track ""Pteropticon""



4/2/16 9:37AM 

"Pillars of Sand" the unison section-> guitar solo that starts at 2:42 is wonderful.


3/3/16 6:49AM

Opening track. Yes, I like. A connection between this and the final track off Outer Isolation, even lyrically it seems.

link


2/14.15 9:23AM
Preorder

rel May 6, 2016


1. Charging the Void
2. Cygnus Terminal
3. LCD (Liquid Crystal Disease)
4. Mountains Above The Sun
5. Ultimate Artificer
6. Pteropticon
7. Psychotropia
8. Pillars of Sand
9. Collapse

10. Recharging the Void

11/11/15 6:21AM

thumbs up.



9/22/15 10:28PM

I'm pretty excited to hear new music from these guys again. Vektor, a band I've only grown to enjoy more with time. Stylistically, they make progressive/technical Metal that includes as much Thrash as band I've ever gotten into. But I suppose part of what makes them appeal to me so much is they have these incredibly fast sections.

I enjoy their debut album Black Future a lot, but I'll admit their 2nd record Outer Isolation from 2011, I got more attached to.

They used to based in Arizona, but they have migrated to Philadelphia in recent years and plan to do touring soon, which I think they have done here and there since moving. But they are going on tour in Europe for the 1st time per This Post, which sounds like a pretty big deal.

Hopefully they'll find their way to the Upper Midwest at some point soon as well, but in the mean time, Terminal Redux is certainly a record to look forward to.

Per the post below, it's expected in early 2016.


Facebook link

GREETINGS, LOYAL VEKTONAUTS.
The final phases of our master plan are now complete....
The sonic wavelengths of guitars, bass, drums, and vocals have now been committed to the astral plane....
Once the mothership has examined our data, once central command has documented our progress, it will not be long yet.....
Until the 0111001001101001011001100110011001110011 of TERMINAL REDUX reach the fragile ear bones of your human skull!!

SCI-FI OR DIE!
-VEKTOR-

Cloud Cult - The Seeker (Video Review, 9 mins)

A relatively brief review of the album and film. Warning: a few spoilers for the film, but it was kind helpful/important to include.

Mayer Hawthorne - Man About Town (2015-2016)..("Love Like That" Streaming)

2/17/16 11:23PM

edit: the next single "Love Like That" now streaming


The release date is now April 8th, but the title "Man About Town" rings a bell or 2, which for myself I suppose it is Kevin Gilbert and the song "The Ballad of Jenny Ledge" from his band Toy Matinee:

Tempted by half-Elvis, half man-about-town

But as far as the track list and artwork, etc. I expect it to be good, even though it's hardly a long record clocking in at just under 34 minutes (per the iTunes track times, Amazon has it at 34:02).

The fiancee will want probably 1 of the big bundles and a tour hopefully will follow with a date in Minneapolis (preorder page on his site mentions a headlining tour). I think this album would be a huge deal right now to her, but with The Monkees album, it may take a little bit of a backseat, which could be interesting to find out how she feels about it vs The Monkees album (2 of her favorites in the same year; for me it might be like when dredg and The Dear Hunter came out the same year..or Marillion and Fates Warning, etc).

http://store.mayerhawthorne.com/
Facebook Post (with all the preorder links)


1 Man About Town 0:41
2 Cosmic Love 3:13
3 Book of Broken Hearts 3:31
4 Breakfast in Bed 4:07
5 Lingerie & Candlewax 3:37
6 Fancy Clothes 4:05
7 The Valley 3:32
8 Love Like That 4:06
9 Get You Back 3:36
10 Out of Pocket 3:22

1/14/16 2:00PM
Yet to be announced titled new album coming in April. 1st single "Cosmic Love" streaming:

Story

Cloud Cult - The Seeker (2015-2016) [Album+Film] 1st Single 10/23/15

2/12/16 10:19AM
I just wanted to bump this as the album is released finally today.
Here's Amazon's link

And I saw the film actually the other night at The Riverview Theater, which was beautiful yet incredibly heart-wrenching.

Per time of course, I should try and film a video or 2 about Cloud Cult, 1 about The Seeker album and especially the film.

The other, hopefully about their history/my history, which is somewhat well documented in this blog, but obviously not on YouTube.

This new album and the film has gotten me back thinking about them the last few days. I'd say maybe what I just wrote on their Facebook Wall has something to do with that.

here

hey, I just wanted to congratulate you guys on Album release day today. And seeing the film the other night. I honestly cannot get many parts of it out of my head. Namely "You Never Were Alone," totally gets me every-time I hear it now. That scene in the film where Grace is running and seeing her dad is breathtaking. I was in tears at the theater the other night, and still find myself in the same way when listening to it. You guys may have written and filmed one of the saddest/most melancholy things I've ever come across.

12/4/15 6:21AM
Stream "Through the Ages"

Really good tune. I haven't been able to even see every update via the Pledgemusic campaign that I should have due to time and discipilne, but I mean, namely during the week I have off coming up in a little over a week. But I'm pretty excited for this record and film, more than I was before.

10/23/15 6:10AM
Story with Stream to "No Hell"

It also says Josh Radnor of How I Met Your Mother, will be in the film, which has no dialogue. I imagine it'll be a bit like the Marillion Brave film, with the music on with the actors going through the story. That story has some quotes from Craig Minowa and the story or concept behind The Seeker being about the life of a girl.

Josh Radnor of course, is a noted big fan of Cloud Cult, so that doesn't come as a huge surprise.

"No Hell" of course, also is download-able with a preorder/pledge.

10/22/15 2:07PM


The Seeker, Looks and sounds intriguing, I doubt it has any reference to the song by The Who though. The Seeker is coming out in multiple formats, including for the 1st time ever, VINYL (recycled..CC have been noted as to against Vinyl per the environmental issues that the manufacturing can create, but maybe Recycled is more friendly?..I'd love to see/purchase a lot of their more recent albums, on recycled vinyl at least..Light Chasers namely).

A New song is coming tomorrow 10/23, so I'll have to bump/edit this entry when that happens tomorrow.

February 2016 is when this sucker drops though. I did *love* a number of tracks on their last record Love from 2013...Pretty excited.

http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/cloudcult


Preorder “The Seeker” and you'll get weekly downloads from our forthcoming album and film starting now! http://www.cloudcult.com/seeker

Cloud Cult presents “The Seeker”, a new studio album and feature length fiction film coming February 2016. But those who participate in our Preorder Campaign will get an “All Access Pass”, where every Friday, starting now until the release date, you will get one song from the album and/or get to watch one “chapter” of the movie in chronological order and gradually watch the story unfold. Also see behind the scenes footage, and buy exclusive Preorder merch not available anywhere else: Signed props from the film, one on one time with the band, autographed recycled vinyl records, handwritten lyric sheets and more… Profits of the preorder are donated to environmental charities.
Preorder “The Seeker” and get your All Access Pass now! 
www.cloudcult.com/seeker

2015-2016 Albums Anticipation Videos

Not perfect, but also a lot of ground covered in a reasonable amount of time. Many of course I didn't include, and the 3rd actual preview entry likely will include many artists/titles that I failed to mention (Protest the Hero for example)

2015-2016 Anticipated Albums ********Part 2********

Okay, so here's the 2nd part, of 3 about anticipated albums for 2015-2016. Most of these seem pretty likely to come out, although no guarantees of course, both on the time frame and if the manage to be released by next Halloween.

But if most of these do, I'm certainly looking at some pretty big blue-chip releases. Of course with most years though, many albums are highly anticipated, and don't fully end up being as addictive as I hoped, while a bunch of other artists I have never heard of, or are new, or I didn't have a clue would be releasing a new album, totally come out of that nowhere place to win me over (see Small Leaks Sink Ships from 2014-2015 for example).

Probably/Likely

22 - You Are Creating

22'sTwitter 

It's been anticipated for a number of years, and likely would have been released in 2014 or early 2015 had their singer not left. I recall the Summer of 2014 they posted some updates more or less ready to drop the record. But when they made the announcement of their singer leaving, they included that the album would be re-recorded (or even re-written).

Their social media presence has been sparse over the last year, but that doesn't mean they aren't moving to finally putting this long anticipated 2nd record.

We'll see, but I certainly am hoping it does come as I really love more or less all of their music. And their debut record Flux is catchy and addictive as hell.

Anakdota

Israeli duo making piano-driven progressive rock, a bit in the vein of The Reign of Kindo. The singles they released the last couple of years are awesome, and they confirmed they are working on their 1st full length album last Summer. So don't be surprised to see the Anakdota debut album to drop in 2016.

The Barnum Meserve

UK-based chamber rock band put out their Self-Titled debut album in 2015, which I enjoyed and found new fans. But when they announced the info about it, they also talked about how they had written their 2nd album and were working on their 3rd. And that info came out many months before the debut record did.

So logically, the already written (and possibly recorded?) 2nd record could also come out in 2016, to mark a 2nd LP in as many years.

Blackfield

The 5th Blackfield album, which it has been a few years since the release of their last record. And the most recent update confirmed it was coming, and it would involve Steven Wilson again, maybe more than their last couple of albums. And guests, which include Alan Parsons.

I guess my feeling about Blackfield right now is, their last 2 records I don't even remember much about. But 2012 was their last album, so it's been 4 years, and I could go for getting back into them. But if this record doesn't do much for me, it's not a big deal. At the same time, I wouldn't be surprised if this album was pretty good. Perhaps that could have to do with Steven Wilson being more involved again.

British Theatre

British Theatre's Twitter ("Numan" a working song or album title)

Mike Vennart "Something excellent this way comes, January 26th. X" 

With the success of Vennart's record The Demon Joke in 2015, the 1st full-length from British Theatre seems to have more intrigue. And Mike mentioned more than once in interviews in 2015 that British Theatre has a full-length album in the works.

And so he kind of hinted at something there. And I can also include that per The Demon Joke Pledgemusic page, a new Pledgemusic campaign will be launched for British Theatre's debut album soon (likely on the 26th?).

So I suppose the only thing that may prevent this from coming in 2016 would be timing. But it seems like it'll come out relatively soon. And I'm definitely enticed by that, per loving Vennart's work and enjoying the 2 EP's they made previously a lot.

Edit: per another update/email, January 26th (next Tuesday), the campaign is coming.

Bullet Height

Jon Courtney, formerly of Pure Reason Revolution, new band. With a female vocalist, along with his own vocals as well. The 1st single "Bastion," they released recently sounded a bit like some of PRR's last record industrial/electronic rock style. Which I certainly am curious about.

The female vocalist is Sammi Doll, who per Wiki, had done some work with alternative/dark wave/industrial band IAMX, which kind of fits with the initial impression from Bullet Height.

Also interesting how they plan to release a debut record on Superball Music, which PRR had been with along others like Oceansize and now Vennart (and British Theatre perhaps?).


 
Diablo Swing Orchestra

DiabloSwing on Twitter

They posted frequent updates in 2015 from the studio recording. Many over the Summer I recall, or possibly in the Fall. Per their next album seems to be nearing release.

Another band who we haven't heard from in a few years, the last being 2012's Pandora's Pinata, an album I remember being lengthly, but still enjoying a fair amount of it's style of jazzy/dance/quirky prog metal of a sort.

Dream the Electric Sleep

I was pretty won over by this Kentucky-based progressive rock band late in 2014 with their record Heretics. Their singer, almost reminded me of Jimmy Gnecco or maybe closer, Judah Nagler from The Velvet Teen.

And last June? I want to say, they posted about working with Nick Raskulinecz, whose maybe best known for working with Rush on some of their recent records.

So their's multiple reasons to look forward to their next album, which if that was last June, this album could very easily drop in 2016 sometime.



The Faceless

TheFaceless-Twitter

This may be a comeback album for me, as my interest in The Faceless dropped a bit from their last couple of records, after loving their debut record Akeldama.

But I say that per the 1st single, "The Spiraling Void" totally working for me. I think it may be in part from the return of their original singer Derek Rydquist

Also per Wiki, I just noticed a possible title to this upcoming record is "In Becoming a Ghost."

The Family Crest

I was totally won over by the band in 2014, after seeing them open for Mother Falcon at 7th Street Entry, and then picking up their new album Beneath the Brine. And that album ended up being in my top 5 records for 2014.

But after seeing them live a few times since and conversing with some of the members after those shows, they began and have been working on their next work since.

Beneath the Brine, while it gave credits from all the members living in their native San Francisco, also included an incredibly long and detailed list of other musicians from other parts of the States (at least). In other words, they are more or less an rock/pop/folk orchestra of sorts.

But just from the conversations I had, the record they are working on to follow-up BtB is supposed to blow BtB out of the water. Or rather, it's not necessarily going to be a record, but record(s) potentially.

The band I'm sure will come forward in due time about it, but the ambition level seems potentially through the roof, for this next work(s) they put out. It may make Beneath the Brine seem like just a stepping stone.

And how they are making their next records, at least partially, is per their tours and traveling to various towns and working with/recording with different musicians when time allows.

But I almost get the sense this album stylistically may go in many other places, along with just the approach to the subject matter and songs themselves. How they are recorded among other things. A bit like The Dear Hunter's The Color Spectrum perhaps in some ways.

Fates Warning

Midway into this interview Joey Vera mentions Mid-Summer is a projection.

It's well documented how big a fan of Fates Warning I am. And while not every record they've made, I've loved, there is too much history and I suppose admitted fanboy-ism, for me to not be excited for a new album from Fates.

And even with their last record, Darkness in a Different Light, really not including a ton of material I've grown attached to. I do wonder though, as I mentioned in a recent Random Artist Feature about them, how given Jim Matheos (and John Arch) may have wrote the music for the Arch/Matheos Sympathetic Resonance, not too long before Darkness was written; per some of the best ideas Jim Matheos had recently for songs, may not have ended up on Darkness.

But, given it seems Jim's largest focus the last few years has been on Fates, and the band I suppose playing more together, including with Frank Aresti, may make more of a difference in this next record.

And like I wrote there, linked, bassist Joey Vera mentions they are looking to have it out in the Summer.

Fjokra

Fjokra-Twitter 

I have become a mega fan of Fjokra in less than 2 years really.And it could possibly be premature given how limited amount of material to draw from.

But, I was addicted to the Thoughtsteps EP in 2014, and even the Mellowsound Sessions and some of the covers that they have done.

And throughtout much of 2015, Fjokra posted a number of images of recording/collaborating. In NYC I recall, possibly among other places (I forget).

So, I'm hopeful something new will be released from them in 2016. And as a fanboy, I cannot be more excited for it. I would say at this point, there's not another artist who could put out a new album, I'd be more excited for sans for Kevin Gilbert or if Apes and Androids came back.

Rare Futures

I came across this name from memory, in a Reddit AMA Casey Crescenzo did like 9 months ago. I think 1 of the members (the singer?) filled in on a tour with Casey solo or TDH, I forget.

Anyway, I also came to learn of a connection or 2 with this band and the now broken up college-prog band Facing New York, who were a band I liked in the mid 2000's, but never got highly into. But fans of bands like dredg and Kaddisfly I specifically remember loving Facing New York. And then I think they broke up. But I hadn't heard about this band some years later.

And I picked up their 2010 debut disc Dreams of Water in 2015 and enjoyed a good chunk of it. Textured college prog. A bit like dredg or Woven maybe.

And I recall seeing some stuff not long before or after checking that out, about their next record being made on Facebook. So that album shouldn't be too far away.

Edit: So Happy Body Slow Brain is no more, and their new name is Rare Futures (thanks to altprogcore for the update per twitter)

Journal

I grew to love Journal's 2010 debut record Unlorja more and more. They make a really impressive style of progressive metalcore. Like Between the Buried and Me or Painted in Exile (or Native Construct).

I just haven't listened to them a lot since that year, but with fond memories, I certainly will be excited to hear a new album from them, which from some Facebook posts in 2015, it seems likely to happen soon.

Spencer Ludwig 
The trumpet specialist from electronic pop/soul/rock band Capital Cities has a solo debut record coming in 2016. Spencer's trumpet work certainly is one-of my favorite parts of Capital Cities sound, so I'm certainly curious to hear what he may do when he is the main songwriter and center of the songs.

I recall the genre listed on Facebook? was "Trumpet-Pop" which when done well, I'm very much into. I even used to play trumpet myself afterall.

Marillion

Per the latest Pledgemusic Campaign Update:


We’re now back in the studio developing the song ideas for M18 (which is still available to pre order at www.pledgemusic.com/marillion). We begin the new year in good shape, listening to the 6 current contenders currently working-titled:
The Leavers 14m 26sec
El Dorado 12m 18sec
Class 4m 58sec
Things Buried 3m 53sec
New Kings 16m 30 sec
Melt Our Guns – 5m 20 sec
If you can add, then you’ll see there’s already an hour of music on the boil. The time references are current song lengths but will lengthen or shorten depending upon creative decisions currently being taken. It’s also possible that songs will be subtracted and added to this list. Song titles may also change, so don’t write to us asking where things came from and went to!
We have another two or three strong ideas queuing up for development which we are on course to have ready for the “backing track final performance” stage which will take place at Peter Gabriel’s “Real World” studio in late February. It’s all coming together nicely now.

Being a huge fanboy, I'm excited again for a new Marillion album, their 18th studio work. Sounds That Can't Be Made and Happines is the Road, I definitely enjoy, but at the same time, don't find as addictive as some of their other recent records. But some of it is just time spent listening to them, as I likely haven't invested as much time as I wish.

The projected track list sounds interesting enough though. "El Dorado" "The Leaves" and "New Kings" all being of epic length. Might this be a double? I guess we'll see, but they have mentioned more than once, the Spring is their goal for it to be released. I guess we'll see, but it should come out in 2016 sometime.



The Mercury Tree
This Portland, Oregon based mathy/prog band won me over rather well with their record in 2014, Countenance. They combine a lot of different styles, to really work well. From mathrock, jazzrock to metal(core), to progressive rock. The dynamics really work well.

And when seeing them for a 2nd Summer in a row in Minneapolis with Brice Plays Drums, they played some of their newest music and mentioned how they had finished most of their next record and were looking to release it in the Fall.

But obviously that didn't happen, but logically it would be close to done and looking to be released sometime in 2016.

From memory, the new music was more technical and heavier at times, which I'm all for as I really was impressed by it. I recall some of it reminded me of the syncopation of early Cynic.

Moonloop

I recall being introduced to these guys a few years ago from seeing That Drummer Guy's End of Year List. This Barcelona-based band makes a very cool kind of atmospheric progressive death metal.  Their last album was in 2012, and just from going to their facebook, I recall they posted about recording and possibly even being finished with the new record.

Edit: they posted about mixing their next album in January.

So, the album probably will follow not long after.

Oddland

Like Moonloop, this is another progressive extreme metal band I was introduced to from That Drummer Guy's end of year list in 2012. They hail from Turku which I guess is in Finland. Their last album from 2012, The Treachery of the Senses I really enjoyed. Just scanning my blurb to refresh, their vocals aren't as much about growling as intensity. Sort of a mix of Opeth and Green Carnation in some ways.

When this album comes out: their most recent post on Facebook on December 1st says their album is done. They just need to get the artwork and I imagine how it will be released. But I imagine that stuff will be announced sometime in the near future.


Ours

One of my long-time favorites, which like some others on this Anticipation list, I have a large fanboy bias about. 2013's Ballet the Boxer 1 I enjoy, although not as much as any of the other Ours records.

But that's hardly a bad thing or a reason not to be highly excited for this. Probably as big of a reason being, many of the songs Jimmy's written lately, he played for the Black Card Holders on live streams, and they were of course amazing.

Some of the titles from the live streams:
Rise
Fallen Flower
New Age Heroin
Miles Away
Ring the Bell/When the Daylight Comes
Cry No More
Got a Feeling
Burn Down the Night

"Cry No More" was certainly one I recall enjoying a lot, as it had this *epic* feel to it.
I guess a word of precaution though given how sparse the info about this record has been the last 6 months. But the last bit I remember was saying the projection was to record it last Summer/Fall in the new "Echowing" studio that was setup in NYC.

However, Jimmy and in some cases, the band have done some live dates here and there, which may have impacted the timing. And just to recall some history, back in 2006, it seemed the Mercy record was going to come out, but it was pushed back for the better part of 2 years. Although that had a lot to do with the record label and possibly working with Rick Rubin's schedule. But also the fact Ballet the Boxer 1 sounded like it may have been rushed for the Pledgemusic campaign's promise, etc I'm not sure if Jimmy and the band want to go through that time-conscience process again, as they don't need to really.

In other words, a campaign may get launched again, but even if it does not, I would only hope but not expect it to be coming out early this year. But there still seems like a chance it'll come out in 2016 sometime at least. Whenever it does, I'm hoping for big things again though.


Pain of Salvation

A band I used to highly love. And I still consider incredibly important in my music taste. With the lineup changes and some style changes, my interest in their recent music isn't as high as it once was. However, I still enjoy the Road Salt records and Scarsick enough. And I recall at least 1 quote or account from a forum talking to Daniel and how the music the band are working on now is heavier and more remiscent of their early albums like Entropia and One Hour By the Concrete Lake.

Although Daniel Gildenlow has posted a ton about Star Wars of late, but that could be just mood and him being a huge fan. But if a SW reference showed up in their next record, it wouldn't be shocking.

The last thing they put out, Falling Home, which was a re-arrangement/re-recording of a number of tracks, and a couple of covers. I actually enjoyed that quite a bit. There was even 1 new track from memory, which was the title track I think.

But as far as timing, the actual PoS Facebook page has posted studio pics recently, so there certainly is a chance their next album could arrive in 2016.

Pepe Deluxe

Pepe Deluxe, a band who came out of nowhere in 2012 with their album Queen of the Wave,which totally floored me. Their style of retro psych/prog/classic pop/rock, with a heavy Dick Dale influence among a lot of others.

Their history of evolving sound, organic and analog sounds, tones, textures, etc and large gaps with albums suggests that their next album may still be a ways away. However, it has been 4 years and they have posted a fair amount on Facebook about recording new music, or about their new music, etc in the last year.

I guess I'm very hopeful something may come this year, but whenever it does, I have very high hopes for it regardless.

Tiny Giant

Chloe of Pure Reason Revolution's new band. They have released 1 or 2 singles in the last year, which impressed me a lot.

The 1st 2 singles, "Heavy Love" and the newest "Seeing Everything As Thought It Is Real" are both excellent, emotional and dynamic rock tracks.

"Dream Pop and Future Rock" is what they describe themselves on FB, which makes some sense. I suppose one thing to wonder is how different will their sound be from the last electronic-driven PRR album and even Bullet Height. And I suppose with Chloe doing the lead vocals more prominently, and maybe not so much of a prog influence but maybe more pop and other styles, I dunno.

I suppose their influences are more varied potentially.

Also the fact Mat Collis is a co-member/writer? of this group adds something, having a background playing as a multii-instrumentalist with Steven Wilson and Katatonia among others.

Kaddisfly- Horses Galloping on Sailboats (Vinyl)
This Link should indicate when it's available.

This is for the vinyl for my 2nd favorite record from 2014-2015. And maybe more importantly, a long awaited follow-up album, that having on vinyl, frankly, any Kaddisfly on vinyl, will be awesome. There was of course a few TEST PRESSINGS made that some paid a pretty penny for ($400 or more?). But when this vinyl does finally come out, it will be less than that I imagine. And the pressing is not 2 12-inches, but a 12 and a 10. And some will be colored.

I'm of course curious about the jacket/liner/notes, etc as well.

And in a perfect world, it sells incredibly well and they decide to press Set Sail the Prairie eventually as well. Baby steps, but we'll see.

Also Transatlantic and Spock's Beard vinyls are also coming/just came out which I suppose are worth adding as I just found out about them. I would guess I'll pickup the TA's and maybe some of the Spock's eventually.


Transatlantic - SMPT:e February 12th


Transatlantic - Bridge Across Forever. February 12th.


Spock's Beard - Day For Night February 5th


Spock's Beard - Snow January 15th


Spock's Beard -  The Kindness of Strangers January 15th


Spock's Beard - Beware of Darkness February 5th