Author: Team Uber

The Flower Kings – ‘Islands’ (InsideOutMusic)

The Flower Kings – ‘Islands’ (InsideOutMusic)

Posted by | Oct 27, 2020 | ,

Just a year after the group’s much celebrated ‘Waiting For Miracles’, much loved prog merchants The Flower Kings are back with a new album ‘Islands’. Due to the Covid-19-pandemic, the album comes out quite a bit sooner than originally planned. With festivals and live shows obviously not possible, rather than sit on their collective backsides the band decided to plough ahead with a new album, created remotely by sending files back and forth from their different bases in the USA, Italy, Austria and Sweden, resulting in this mammoth double album of 21 songs clocking in at a huge 92 minutes.

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Spirit Adrift – ‘Enlightened In Eternity’ (Century Media)

Spirit Adrift – ‘Enlightened In Eternity’ (Century Media)

Posted by | Oct 27, 2020 | ,

If there was band for whom it could be argued that 2020 seemed destined to be year for consolidation and building on previously established momentum, then it could well be Spirit Adrift. Not only were they riding on the back of a breakthrough album, last year’s stunning ‘Divided By Darkness’ but they were destined to undertake not one but two ÜK tours which would undoubtedly have cemented their reputation in this particular corner of the Überverse. Said tours, first with Corrosion Of Conformity at the start of the summer and subsequently supporting Orange Goblin on the latter’s planned 25th anniversary jaunt, would have book-ended the release of this, their latest album. But we all know what happened…

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Solitary – ‘The Truth Behind The Lies’ (Metalville)

Solitary – ‘The Truth Behind The Lies’ (Metalville)

Posted by | Oct 26, 2020 | ,

The ongoing lockdowns arising from the beer bug pandemic may well have all killed off the live music scene, both here in the Über Kingdom and across the Überverse as a whole, but that does not mean that quality music has been sparse on the ground. In fact, far from it, as 2020 has proven to be an extremely productive on many fronts, not least for bands from these ‘ere islands, who have soldiered on regardless and thrown their all into producing seriously quality punk, rock and metal. Another characteristic of the year, which I have written about on several occasions, is how the “old guard” of the metal brigade have been more than holding their own against the legions of young pretenders who have come up through the ranks… which brings us neatly to this, the latest album from ÜK thrash veterans Solitary…

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Surma – ‘The Light Within’ (Metal Blade)

Surma – ‘The Light Within’ (Metal Blade)

Posted by | Oct 26, 2020 | ,

John B knows you hear this every time he gets sent a symphonic metal album but he is going to say it again: he loves symphonic metal! Few other genres can portray the same level of emotion and passion as you get with the big sweeping sound you get from symphonic metal. As far as metal genres go it is one of the most uplifting and naturally optimistic. There is so much range and creativity that can be done thanks to the scale of instrumentation that is at the artists’ fingertips, There is everything from soft sweeping movements to big powerful swells that can take your breath away. Our man is delighted to report Surma’s ‘The Light Within’ is an excellent example of the genre…

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Visions of Atlantis – ‘A Symphonic Journey to Remember’ (Napalm Records)

Visions of Atlantis – ‘A Symphonic Journey to Remember’ (Napalm Records)

Posted by | Oct 26, 2020 | , ,

There’s been a bit of a string of high-profile live album releases in recent weeks which has been a bit of a bittersweet experience. While it’s great to be able to relive the live experience, it sure does make you long for that feeling of being back amongst the crowd. But alas, for now this is all we’ve got so we’d better make the most of it! This live release from Visions of Atlantis promises to be something a little bit special as well, so Jonny B guessed he’d better let himself get taken along with this “Journey to Remember”…

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