Hackett Reveals New Album and Tour Dates

Music pioneer Steve Hackett has announced the release of his new solo album Wolflight. According to the man himself, this "wild pack of tracks - starting with a wolf cry" will be released on March 30th, 2015.

Wolflight is Steve's first original solo studio album since Beyond the Shrouded Horizon in 2011. Primal and orchestral, it retains the Hackett trademark as electric guitar runs right the way through with a regular sprinkling of acoustic.

The ten tracks take the listener through a journey in space and time looking at the different faces of the endless fight for freedom. Hackett explores contemporary and ancient cultures, from Greece (Corycian Fire) to the Far East (Wolflight), the USA and Martin Luther King (Black Thunder), but also his very own childhood memories (The Wheel's Turning) and the unresolved drama of domestic violence (Love Song to a Vampire).

Guest Musicians include long time collaborators Roger King (Keyboards & programming), Gary O'Toole (drums), Rob Townsend (sax, duduk), Nick Beggs (bass & stick) and Amanda Lehmann (harmony vocals). Malik Mansurov on tar and Sara Kovaks on didgeridoo add an extra exotic element, plus YES bassist Chris Squire plays on Love Song to a Vampire and Hugo Dagenhardt plays drums on Dust and Dreams. The innovative song writing team includes Steve Hackett, his wife Jo Hackett and also Roger King.

Wolflight track list:

1- Out of the Body

2- Wolflight

3- Love Song to a Vampire

4- The Wheel's Turning

5- Corycian Fire

6- Earthshine

7- Loving Sea

8- Black Thunder

9- Dust and Dreams

10- Heart Song

The album will be released in the following formats:
Special edition CD & Blu-Ray mediabook
2LP & CD Gatefold vinyl
CD Standard Jewelcase
Digital Download

Steve will also embark upon his Acolyte To Wolflight with Genesis Revisited Tour in October 2015, with 19 UK shows. Celebrating 40 years since the release of Voyage to the Acolyte, culminating with his latest release and revisiting old Genesis favorites.

Steve Hackett Acolyte to Wolflight with Genesis Revisited - The Total Experience
UK Tour October 2015

6 October - GLive, Guildford
7 October - O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London
9 October - Derngate, Northampton
10 October - St David's Hall, Cardiff
11 October - O2 Guildhall, Southampton
13 October - The Anvil, Basingstoke
14 October - Barbican, York
16 October - Music Hall, Aberdeen
17 October - The Sage, Gateshead
18 October - Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow
20 October - Town Hall, Leeds
21 October - Venue Cymru, Llandudno
23 October - Philharmonic, Liverpool
24 October - de Montfort Hall, Leicester
25 October - The Lowry, Salford
27 October - Regent Theatre, Ipswich
28 October - Colston Hall, Bristol
30 October - Symphony Hall, Birmingham
31 October - Cliffs Pavilion, Southend

Merry Christmas and Merry Progmas!

We are coming close to the end of 2014, and what a year it has been. Progressive Rock has once again bettered itself, with new releases coming from every part of the world.

40 years ago, 1974 brought us Genesis' The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, King Crimson's Red, Yes' Relayer, Gentle Giant's Power and the Glory as well as many other classics from The Strawbs, Peter Hammill, Magma, PFM, Focus, Gong, etc. All classic albums, and still enjoyed today.

So what did 2014 bring? And are there albums in 2014 that we will cherish as much as those from 1974? In the coming weeks I will post my Top 20 albums of 2014. And if you feel so inclined, leave me your own list of best albums, here in the comments section.

Have a great Christmas holiday!

Karnataka Announce Secrets of Angels and Tour in 2015

Karnataka are very pleased to announce the release of their new studio album Secrets of Angels in March 2015.

Recorded at Real World Studios, Box, Wiltshire and Quadra Studios in London, the new album features 8 stunning new tracks including the 21 minute opus and title track Secrets of Angels.

The album features guest musicians Troy Donockley from Nightwish (Uilleann pipes and low whistles), Irish harpist Seána Davey, Rachel van der Tang (cello) and Clive Howard (viola) from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

The album is now available to pre-order from the Karnataka website online shop. Pre-orders will be shipped in the latter half of February.

Available for Pre-order in the following formats:

• CD Standard Edition: including 20 page booklet.
• CD/DVD Special Digipak Edition: Secrets of Angels CD complete with bonus DVD. First 500 signed.Deluxe Vinyl Edition: Double vinyl LP in gatefold sleeve. The first 500 will be signed.
• FLAC Download Version: 44.1khz 16bit audio download version. CD quality download. Includes the artwork in PDF format.
• MP3 Download Version: 320kbps MP3 audio download version. Includes the artwork in PDF format.

The band will also be supporting the release with a UK tour!

Secrets of Angels Tour 2015

Feb 27th - The Met Theatre

Feb 28th - Lowdham Hall

March 7th - Derby Flowerpot

March 8th - Bilston Robin 2

March 13th - Edinburgh The Voodoo Rooms

March 14th - Chesterfield Classic Rock Society

March 20th - Bristol BierKeller

March 22nd - Leamington Spa (special guests of Arena)

March 26th - Norwich Arts Centre

March 27th - Milton Keynes The Stables

March 29th - Southampton The Brook

April 12th - Swansea The Scene

April 17th - Leicester Y Theatre

May 9th - London Islington Assembly Hall

Full details on the new band website: www.karnataka.org.uk

Order Pallas' "wearewhoweare" Directly from the Band

Pallas are proud to announce that wearewhoweare is now available to pre-order directly from the band for dispatch on Monday 15th December, now that they have dispatched copies to all their valued Indiegogo crowd funders who made the release possible!

Pallas have two cd versions available. Pride of place goes to the lavishly illustrated 40 page (including cover) digibook version of wearewhoweare featuring artwork from the Russian artist Anton Semenov.

Digibook orders also include a digital version of wearewhoweare. Upon pre-ordering you will instantly get the bonus Megamix featured as the soundtrack to the trailer video (streaming via the free Bandcamp app and also available as a high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more), plus a download of the complete album the moment it is released on Monday.

The album is also available as a value pack cd/download or just as a download.

Orders will be despatched from Monday 15th December to ensure Christmas delivery within the UK and hopefully EU.

Track List:
1. Shadow of the Sun
2. New Life
3. Harvest Moon
4. And I Wonder Why
5. Dominion
6. Wake Up Call
7. In Cold Blood
8. Winter Is Coming

Order wearewhoweare here: https://pallasofficial.bandcamp.com/album/wearewhoweare

And while you are at it, why not also check out the companion release itiswhatitis available as a value pack cd/download or just a download.

This is a unique chance to own instrumental versions of the tracks of the wearewhoweare album along with some demos, including an as yet to be completed track, Ghost In This House.

Upon ordering you will get an instant download of Undiscovered World a demo version of a track from the forthcoming Niall Mathewson Album Eclectic Electric” plus the complete album the moment it's released.

Track List:
1. New Life Prelude
2. Shadow of The Sun (Instrumental)
3. New Life (Instrumental)
4. Harvest Moon (Instrumental)
5. And I Wonder Why (Instrumental)
6. Dominion (Instrumental)
7. Wake Up Call (Instrumental)
8. In Cold Blood (Instrumental)
9. Winter Is Coming (Instrumental)
10. In Cold Blood Piano Demo
11. Ghost In This House Demo
12. Big City/Shadow of the Sun in Development
13. Undiscovered World - Demo from forthcoming Niall Mathewson Album

Order the itiswhatitis here: https://pallasofficial.bandcamp.com/album/itiswhatitis

Pre-Order for The Psychedelic Ensemble New Release

Just over a year ago The Psychedelic Ensemble released The Tale of the Golden King, which found itself on many Top and Best of 2013 charts and polls worldwide, including here.

The Psychedelic Ensemble is now back with a fifth album, The Sunstone. The new release features TPE, vocalist Ann Caren, orchestra, and guest appearances from Michael Wilk of Steppenwolf and others. The Sunstone will be released in January 2015, and The Psychedelic Ensemble has just  announced that pre-orders are now available at their official website.

Visit The Psychedelic Ensemble Official Site for exciting pre-order options and savings.
http://www.thepsychedelicensemble.com/ThePsychedelicEnsemble_TheSunstone_PreOrder.html