Amid the realms of Prog Metal all but the ignorant can speak of the lightning-fast ax men Among the most talented of these six-string warriors is Alexandra Zerner. Emerging in 2001 as an audio Engineer, guitar instructor and session musician, her debut 9 Stories was self-released in 2014 and it's oft-underrated follow-up Aspects in 2015 despite also contributing to the all-star-laden Vivaldi Metal Project. Fortunately for you, the wait is over as Zerner has at long last unleashed her most ambitious and, as a result, most truly-satisfying solo effort to date via the ingenious and arguably-'conceptual' Opus 1880.Read More
For better or for worse, I 'identify' as a Metalhead. Despite this, the multeities of my palette has often thrust me into an array of genre-defying misadventures. Among my most rewarding discoveries is Mark Deutrom. After departing from The Melvins, he would embark upon a solo career in 1998, releasing his debut The Silent Treatment in 2001 and The Gate in 2005 and Iraq in 2006 before going on an extended hiatus. Now, with the release of the key The Blue Bird, Deutrom at long last appears destined to receive the critical, commercial and, with enough right momentum, the sales recognitions he deserves.Read More
As a 'Later-Day' Prog Metal fan, I have disposed a massive section of time and effort to the collective works of Dream Theater et al. I have since developed a thirst for artists and/or groups that exist outside the proverbial mainstream. An ideal case-in-point is the Super Group Soen. Formed by ex-Opeth skins-man Martin Lopez, the group issued their debut Cognitive in 2012 and Tellurian in 2014 to international acclaims. Now, with the release of Lotus, their latest--and quite possibly greatest--offerings, I once again find myself over-indulging in the unique lyrical and compositional complexities of their craft.Read More
