Sonic Perspectives

Throughout its almost forty years of existence, change has been the only constant in VOIVOD’s trajectory. From their punk beginnings, evolving into thrash, incorporating prog influences, odd time signatures and melodic sensibilities, they seem to be always on the move. The release of 2018’s “The Wake” finally brought them much deserved recognition, with the band [...] The post VOIVOD’s Singer SNAKE Talks Recent Live Album and Memories of Opening for RUSH: “We Returned Backstage to Find a Bottle of Champagne and a Sweet Note Signed by NEIL, ALEX and GEDDY” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Much has been written about the impact 2020 will have in both the near and distant future, and live music fans have certainly felt its sting since March at least. We’ll leave more cerebral analysis to the experts and instead cap off a grueling year with an hour of thoughts and observations from Sonic Perspectives [...] The post Armageddon in Retrospect: SONIC PERSPECTIVES Looks Back at 2020 appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

The casual observer could be forgiven for thinking that multi-instrumentalist virtuoso Vikram Shankar‘s recent rise to prominence in the prog-metal scene happened overnight. He did, after all, recently appear on Redemption‘s long-awaited live album, which documents his live debut with the band. And very soon after that, he’s also released the debut from the absolutely [...] The post SILENT SKIES / REDEMPTION Keyboardist VIKRAM SHANKAR Talks Recent Album: “The Best Thing A Songwriter Can Do Is Honor The Song’s Soul” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

IRON MAIDEN… Arguably the most seminal heavy metal band in the annals of music history. The solely mention of its name strikes joy in the hearts of millions of metal fans, and immediately your mind takes you back to one of their gigs, with of giants columns of pyro, Spitfire planes flying overhead the frenzy [...] The post IRON MAIDEN’s Guitarist ADRIAN SMITH Discusses Recent Book and Life Lessons: “I Don’t Think I Was Grateful for My First Tenure In The Band, And I’m Glad I Got a Chance For a Second Wind” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Whenever a metal band chooses to go off the beaten path, it always causes polarizing views: old school fans refuse to embrace it, while a younger generation is quicker to give it a chance. From a combination of the powers of Frédéric Leclercq (Kreator, Sinsaenum, ex-Dragonforce) and Saki (Mary’s Blood) comes Amahiru, a band that [...] The post KREATOR’s Bassist FRÉDÉRIC LECLERCQ Talks His New Project AMAHIRU: “I Like to Work with People I Connect with On A Human Level” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Guitarist, songwriter, vocalist and producer Jakko Jaksyzk has experienced an amazing career which has culminated this past decade in his joining King Crimson. Filling the shoes of such legends as Greg Lake, John Wetton and Adrian Belew is not for the faint of heart but Jaksyzk has the talent and experience to be able to [...] The post KING CRIMSON Guitarist JAKKO JAKSZYK Talks “Secrets and Lies” Album and More: “FRIPP Would Say: ‘I Love This! This Is an Ideal Track for Your Solo Album” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Throughout his lengthy career as a multi-platinum mixer, sound engineer and producer, Richard Chycki has helped to materialize the sonic visions of artists such as Rush, Dream Theater, Mick Jagger, Aerosmith, Jeff Healey and many more. Known for his pioneering mix work in multichannel audio, prog legends Rush entrusted Chycki to remix the multi-million selling [...] The post RUSH and DREAM THEATER Engineer RICHARD CHYCKI on The Surround Remixes Of RUSH’s Back Catalogue: “The Intention Was NOT To Reinvent The Wheel” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons are back with another killer release, the boldly titled “We’re the Bastards”. What started as an excuse for Phil to play with his sons soon evolved into its own entity, and the band has moved from playing a set of covers in the afternoon slots at European summers to [...] The post Singer NEIL STARR of PHIL CAMPBELL AND THE BASTARD SONS Reflects On The Band’s Writing Process: “We Don’t Feel Restricted to Writing a Certain Style of Music. There’s A Lot of Variation on This Album.” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

There are many album widely considered like masterpieces of progressive rock, however you may not know that “Unfolded Like Staircase” by DISCIPLINE. is world renowned with a cult following since its release in 1997.    DISCIPLINE. formed in 1987 in Detroit Michigan, a far cry from progressive rock music.  The band had been writing progressive rock [...] The post MATTHEW PARMENTER of DISCIPLINE. Talks About Band’s Progressive Rock Epic Album ‘Unfolded Like Staircase’: “We Did Feel We Were Doing Something Unique” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

From hard rock, to heavy metal, punk, progressive rock and AOR, Jeff Scott Soto has done it all. The singer, who has more than 85 albums under his belt along with numerous collaborations and recordings, has established himself as a consummate professional who manages to expertly deliver with his vocal performances across multiple musical genres. Soto’s [...] The post Iconic Singer JEFF SCOTT SOTO Dives Deep Reflecting On His New Solo Album: “This Is The Best Record In My Solo Career In Which I Wasn’t Hands On, And It Came Out So Great Because I Got This Connection And Chemistry With ALESSANDRO DEL VECCHIO Like If We Were Separated At Birth” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

“The demos were so exact that we all knew exactly what we needed to do,” says longtime Fates Warning vocalist Ray Alder from his flat in Madrid. “I usually record with either Bobby or Joey, but this time I was living in a police state.” Alder speaks at length about the unorthodox process by which [...] The post FATES WARNING Singer RAY ALDER Talks New Album: “The Demos Were So Exact That We All Knew Exactly What We Needed to Do” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Every once in a while a band emerges seemingly out of nowhere and provides a debut album that surprises you with depth, skill and musical landscapes filled with imagery. Such is the new band RUBBER TEA hailing from Bremen Germany having just released their album RUBBER TEA. RUBBER TEA is a progressive rock quintet who [...] The post German Proggers RUBBER TEA Talk About Their Excellent Debut Album “Infusion” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Amidst a sea of cancellations and delays in both shows and album releases, most artists have hunkered down to wait out the storm that 2020 became. Yet true to a reputation for embracing the unorthodox and conquering the nigh impossible, the eponymous Devin Townsend has spend these last six months busier than ever. Over the [...] The post DEVIN TOWNSEND on Upcoming “Empath” Live Album and Quarantine Releases: “What I Bring to the Table is Music, That’s What I Can Do” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

With their 40th anniversary just around the corner, Armored Saint is ready to unleash their eight full-length album, entitled “Punching the Sky”. Written and recorded in the last two years, it’ definitely a step up from its predecessor, 2015’s “Win Hands Down”. A diverse, attitude-drenched collection, it’s everything the band’s faithful have come to expect [...] The post JOHN BUSH Reflects on ARMORED SAINT’s New Album and Work Ethic: “We Work at A Slow Pace; For Us It’s Always About Quality And Not Quantity” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

With 2020 being an absolutely devastating year for live concert shows, we’re happy to say the good folks over at ProgStock Festival are doing their best to keep the live music happening. ProgStock Festival is American Northeast only progressive rock music festival, especially now that RosFest has moved down to Florida. They’ve been keeping the [...] The post TALKING PERSPECTIVES: PROGSTOCK 2020 Goes Virtual – Hear What’s in Store from Festival’s Mastermind THOMAS PALMIERI appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

There are few mainstays in the world of extreme metal who have been as consistent in their quantity and quality of releases, yet as varied in style, as Norwegian vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Ishahn. Though Ihsahn may be best known for his role in founding Emperor and for the legacy he built as a cornerstone to [...] The post IHSAHN Speaks To Style Contrast Between EPs “Telemark” and “Pharos”: “I Felt I Could Go Further In Each Musical Direction Than I Would Have In A Full-Length Album” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

In 2017 Ayreon released ‘The Source” which revisited the ‘Forever/Planet Y’ saga, and now three years later it is time for something completely different… “The year is 1884, these are dark, troubled times, fraught with greed, envy and prejudice…” begins our narrator and storyteller, Tom Baker… The brand-new sprawling and epic studio album “Transitus” is built [...] The post ARJEN LUCASSEN Talks Concept Behind AYREON’s New Album “Transitus” and Picking Illustrator FELIX VEGA: “Every Panel is a Little Painting” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Music has become more important than ever in recent times. As a result, the triumphant return of AMARANTHE feels particularly timely. The Swedish six-piece have spent the last decade establishing themselves as a formidable, positive and fervently melodic force for metallic good. From their explosive self-titled debut in 2011 to the more sophisticated, streamlined likes [...] The post AMARANTHE’s Frontwoman ELIZE RYD Talks New Album: “I Don’t Get Why Some Metal Fans Won’t Accept Our Music Because They Can’t Deal with Us Sounding Different” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

If you’re a prog metal fan and haven’t been living under a rock for the last few months, you know that Dream Theater’s John Petrucci has a new album out. Available on all digital platforms since August 28th, “Terminal Velocity” comes fifteen years after John’s first album, “Suspended Animation”, and consists of eight tracks which [...] The post DREAM THEATER’s guitarist JOHN PETRUCCI talks working with MIKE PORTNOY on his recent solo Album: “We knew it was going to happen, it was really a great thing and there was a lot of positivity behind that decision” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

“Whoosh!” is Deep Purple’s twenty first solo album, and judging by the energy it exudes, there’s no end in sight for these British rockers. Their third collaboration with producer Bob Ezrin honors their lengthy history, and broadens their musical palette, with songs like “Man Alive”, “Throw My Bones” and “Nothing At All” being added to [...] The post STEVE MORSE Talks DEEP PURPLE Recent Album and Band’s Longevity / Willingness to Carry On: “The British Guys in the Band Seem to Have a Life Span of 300 Years!” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.