2025 Work in Progress..ive

[nicola]

Hi friends

2025 Work in Progress..ive




The best tracks of 2025 as new albums come out

one track per band or artist...

which can change over the course of 12 months and which can also

be replaced by better tracks from other artists


at the end of the year it will be easier to create

favorite playlist of 2025



the year should start off well with albums of some substance with
Dream Theater, IQ, Lunatic Soul, Steven Wilson,Jethro Tull
provided they don't move the release of their albums

[nicola]

AMPLIFIER








ABOUT

AMPLIFIER

...AMPLIFIER
From Official Website

Biography

Amplifier once got referred to as “Veterans” – It sucks when you’re now the old dudes when once you were the hot new thing.

​
That’s right – believe it or not at the turn of the century we were something bright and shiny and since that point we’ve put out 7 albums and countless EPs, each one as titanic and epic as the last, without ever compromising our integrity, dedication to the rock and maintained the eternal pursuit of the most excellent riff.

​
That elusive hunt has lead us to many weird and wonderful places – from countless kind peoples’ living room floors in the furthest flung regions of the UK back when we were living out of a transit van, all the way to the main stage at Download. We've been found slumped in every kind of dressing room across the continent and you can catch a ride with us on tour buses which are on fire or are upside down on the verge of the autobahn or even those with toilets where the kitchen is which is also where you sleep.

​
We have been apprehended countless times by German Highway patrols (always completely innocently) and Swiss Border guards (we always pay our tax at the border) who seemingly like to sport with us in an eternal game of terrorise the English band.


We are and will always be good sports and good sirs . Join us on our journey.


Glory. Glory.


















Hi friends

2025 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2025


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

Invader-AMPLIFIER-Gargantuan



























Invader-AMPLIFIER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhmR5P2bZgI





GOOD LISTENING

[nicola]

DREAM THEATER








ABOUT

DREAM THEATER

Biography
Dream Theater was formed around 1980 in Long Island and, after a difficult beginning, gained international visibility in 1992, with the release of the album IMAGES AND WORDS. It was the beginning of a successful artistic and commercial exploit, continued with AWAKE – in 1994, the live A CHANGE OF SEASON containing material recorded live at Ronnie Scott's in London, FALLING INTO INFINITY – in 1997 - and another live, the double ONCE IN A LIFE TIME. In 1999 came the concept SCENES FROM A MEMORY, which talks about the murder of a young woman that took place in 1928 according to the eyes of a modern man accused of that crime. This was followed by LIVE SCENES FROM NEW YORK in 2001, which was reprinted with a new cover, since the original was due to be released on September 11th and had the Twin Towers engulfed in flames as its image. The band then continued its path towards progressive metal with the next work SIX DEGREES OF INNER TURBOLENCE, followed by TRAIN OF THOUGHT in 2003 and OCTAVARIUM in 2005. In 2006 it was the turn of SCORE: XOX made with a twenty-nine-piece orchestra. The following year SYSTEMATIC CAOS was released.
In 2008 the band entered the studio to record the new album, scheduled for the following year; in the meantime the live CHAOS IN MOTION: 2007-2008 was released. In 2009 it was the turn of BLACK CLOUDS & SILVER LININGS; in 2010 Mike Mangini joined the band, after the departure of Mike Portnoy, who left the band in September. In June 2011, A DRAMATIC TURN OF EVENTS was released, which anticipated the new album that bears the band's name and was released in September 2013. Three years later, the new album THE ASTONISHING was released, a rock opera developed on two albums, with a concept set in a dystopian future. (Nov 20, 2017)
On February 7, 2025, the new Dream Theater album was released, entitled "Parasomnia", the first studio work of the band with Mike Portnoy in the lineup again.

















Hi friends

2025 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2025


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

Invader-AMPLIFIER-Gargantuan

Night Terror-DREAM THEATER-Parasomnia
























Night Terror-DREAM THEATER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IPT60hvGw4




The Shadow Man Incident-DREAM THEATER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVyk...0Zl6Md&index=8




GOOD VISION and LISTENING

[nicola]

GHOST OF THE MACHINE








ABOUT

GHOST OF THE MACHINE

...GHOST OF THE MACHINE
From Official Website



Charlie Bramald
Lead Vocals and Flute

Charlie brings his dramatic vocal stylings to the otherwise familiar line-up of Ghost of the Machine.

Prog has been an essential part of Charlie’s life since he was first introduced to Genesis at the tender age of 4 by his older brother. It left a permanent impression, with both Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins becoming huge inspirations. This early prog education has fully manifested itself in Charlie's thrilling and theatrical stage performances with Ghost Of The Machine.

This is not Charlie’s first time working with his Ghost Of The Machine colleagues; eagle-eyed fans may recall his stand-in appearance on vocals with This Winter Machine at The Slade Rooms in Wolverhampton, December 2019.

Since releasing Scissorgames in 2022, Charlie has gone on to be one of the most in-demand frontmen in Prog Rock, appearing on projects such as Shadows On Mercury with fellow Ghost Of The Machine Bandmate Scott Owens, as well as Age Of Distraction, Nine Skies, Nova Cascade, KariBow, Checking For Echo Project, and more!

Graham Garbett
Guitars and backing vocals

Graham has had a love of music from a very young age and has played in bands with Mark Hagan and Stuart McAuley throughout his life.

In Mark and Graham's guise as SAND, they played shows with the mighty Marillion and John Foxx (original Ultravox frontman) with the pair writing prolifically over the years.

Regarding Graham's formative love for music, 'Shang-a-lang' (the TV show with The Bay City Rollers) was the starting point. He says, "I used to run home from school to watch it, and pretended to be them with my toy electric guitar!"

Later, his sister got an acoustic guitar, and was having lessons at school, but she wasn't that interested, whereas Graham was! He used her chord sheets to learn and made steady progress, but it wasn't until he started listening to Rush and Marillion that his skills really took off; he found out he could play their material and developed his own style from there: "I think the way I play now is a combination of Steve Rothery and Alex Lifeson, with a bit of Johnny Marr picking and jangling thrown in!"

He prefers guitar melodies over solos for the sake of them, and always tries to have a structure to guitar breaks, as he believes they are an integral part of the song's structure - most of the time, anyway!

Mark Hagan
Piano and keyboards

Mark has been around since he was born. His love of the ivories began aged 9, when he was writing concertos on his beloved Bontempi.

Mark's first band was Atmosphere, a soft rock covers and originals band. He played his first gig aged 14 in February 1980. He went on to synthesize his way through the 80's in Session 4 (new wave, punk), Sarcasm Kings and Geneva. It was in Geneva he met up properly with Graham and Stuart after sessioning for them on an EP. Geneva became SAND (Mark and Graham). They went on to support Marillion and John Foxx.

From 2003 SAND went on a 17 year hiatus whilst Mark murdered cover songs in Working Mens Clubs and holiday parks, home and abroad.

Mark was a founder member of This Winter Machine, until a sideways move with his bandmates formed Ghost of the Machine.

Mark claims that his greatest talent is enthusiastic gusto. He hopes to see many of you at future gigs to chat and drink beer. He is very exited by the music coming from the new band and believes you should be too.

Gear used: Roland Fantom 8, Jupiter 50, RD 300gx, D50, SC33 module, SH 201, Access Virus Ti, Alesis Fusion 6HD, Novation Mini nova, Korg Kross, Micro Korg, M1, Triton.

Stuart McAuley
Bass, Moog pedals and Mellotron

A former bass player with This Winter Machine, Stuart now adds his distinctive low-end noodling and drive to Ghost of the Machine.

As a prog fan since the late 1970s, Stuart’s first album purchases were Yes - Tormato, Genesis - Foxtrot and Pink Floyd - Relics. From then on, it has been much more of the same, although in later years he has listened to a lot of German Berlin school synth music, jazz and fusion, all of which has added to his playing style and approach.

His first venture into a prog band was with Paragon along with Graham Garbett and Dave Hopton with whom he recorded one album in 1987. Stuart then played in the prog power trio Still Life, again with Garbett. It was in this time that he also started the long association with Mark Hagan who played on some Still Life recordings in 1992, which never saw the light of day.

Stuart, Graham and Mark then played together in the melodic rock band Geneva. It had originally been conceived as pop/rock but over time morphed into more proggy areas.

In addition to his bass playing in GOTM, Stuart also releases ambient module music under the name Mr Verloc's Hat.

Stuart is looking forward to releasing Empires Must Fall and a new slate of live performances. He may even get a new hat!

Andy Milner
Drums

Andy felt the calling of the drums from a young age and finally picked up the sticks in his early teens. He studied avidly under a few good tutors whilst cutting his teeth in both covers bands and original projects. He studied for four years at Leeds College Of Music and performed in jazz ensembles and trios.

After a wilderness, he finally returned to his love: loud rock music! And for the next two decades has played up and down the country, in Europe and even the Far East. For three years he occupied the drum chair in This Winter Machine. Now, comfortably ensconced with his Ghost Of The Machine bandmates, this latest incarnation offers the opportunity of exciting new material, as shown in the debut album Scissorgames and the upcoming Empires Must Fall.

"Watch this space… it's gonna be good."

Scott Owens
Guitars

Scott has always been into guitars/music, since his very earliest memories of running his toy cars over his father’s acoustic guitar. After years of begging them, his parents finally bought him a Squier Telecaster, and he proceeded to spend the next year posing in front of the bedroom mirror, miming along to various soundtracks. Eventually, he thought he may as well learn how to play the damn thing and the guitar obsession began!

At this point in time, Scott also got into the recording side of music, after purchasing a 4 track tape machine, and would spend hours playing demos and song ideas into the machine. His passion for recording never stopped, and is just as prevalent these days.

Scott’s first real interest in music, was back in ‘80/81 when he first heard Adam and The Ants (Kings Of The Wild Frontier album). However, he listens to most guitar-based bands from 1970’s bands (Fleetwood Mac, The Band etc), through to the present day Rock/Prog bands.

He was first turned on to Prog Rock, after watching a VHS Cassette of Marillion’s gig at the DeMonfort Hall, Leicester 1990. It was like a light bulb moment! He rushed out the following day, purchased the album Seasons End, and never looked back since. He still returns to that album regularly, but is also a fan of the Fish era album Clutching At Straws.

Having played in various local cover bands for many years, (and continues to do so with Angel Fire), Scott has always been part of an ‘originals’ band, and eventually landed the role of guitar player with This Winter Machine in 2017 until departing in 2020. Now, rejoining his former-TWM bandmates as part of Ghost Of The Machine, he is excited to be working with the guys once again to create and record fantastic new music, and is looking forward to get back on the road, playing the new material live, and meeting both the die-hard, and new fans alike.



















Hi friends

2025 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2025


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

Invader-AMPLIFIER-Gargantuan

Night Terror-DREAM THEATER-Parasomnia

Panopticon -GHOST OF THE MACHINE-Empires Must Fall

























Panopticon -GHOST OF THE MACHINE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktNJ...rv=gzby-WmmkyI




GOOD VISION and LISTENING

[nicola]

THE JOHN IRVINE BAND











ABOUT

THE JOHN IRVINE BAND

...THE JOHN IRVINE BAND
From Official Website


I initially trained as a classical guitarist, studying at Dartington College of Arts for two years after leaving school, and then at the Royal Scottish Academy Of Music & Drama (Glasgow) where I studied with Phillip Thorne, gaining a BA in Music Performance (1989) and winning the Guitar Challenge Prize (1988).

Following a Post-Grad Certificate in Performance (1990), I began a PhD in music composition, with Nigel Osborne at the University of Edinburgh, in 1992. This was completed in 1999. At this time, I was also working in Scottish theatre where I wrote music for over 40 productions, 20 of which were for the Traverse Theatre (Edinburgh).

I have taught at St Mary’s Music School (Edinburgh) and The City of Edinburgh Music School and lectured at Edinburgh Napier University, where I was asked to redesign their ‘Music, Creativity & Communication’ course for the BA in Popular Music. I currently work as a PSA in Edinburgh Schools.

I’m the author of three sci-fi novels comprising ‘The Smith Chronicles’ series of books, and I’m also a published poet and short-story writer, having had works included in several journals and web-zines such as Poetry Scotland, The Open Mouse, Blinking Cursor, Essence, Ink, Sweat & Tears, A Handful of Stones, South and Streetcake Magazine, amongst others.

I formed The John Irvine Band in 2011…

about "HERE COME THE ROBOTS!"

The 8th John Irvine Band album is the final part of the 'End of Days' trilogy of progressive jazz-rock concept albums
The album pays homage to the Greek musician and composer Vangelis Papathanassiou, who died in 2022
Mastered by Andrew Rankine at Black Cave Recordings, Edinburgh
Mixed by John Irvine at JIB Headquarters
Drums recorded by Andrew Scott at Owl Shed Studios, Edinburgh
Artwork by Sam Hayles at DOSEprod Graphic Design Studio





















Hi friends

2025 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2025


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

Invader-AMPLIFIER-Gargantuan

Night Terror-DREAM THEATER-Parasomnia

Panopticon -GHOST OF THE MACHINE-Empires Must Fall

The End of Days Suite: 1. The City Lights at Twilight -THE JOHN IRVINE BAND-HERE COME THE ROBOTS!
























The End of Days Suite: 1. The City Lights at Twilight -THE JOHN IRVINE BAND
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyEkLUOKA7I




The End of Days Suite: 3. An Aerial Cage -THE JOHN IRVINE BAND
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfWpey_0rf8




GOOD LISTENING

[nicola]

MOTORSPSYCHO









ABOUT

MOTORSPSYCHO

...MOTORSPSYCHO
From Official Website

https://motorpsycho.no/bio-2023/

















Hi friends

2025 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2025


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

Invader-AMPLIFIER-Gargantuan

Night Terror-DREAM THEATER-Parasomnia

Panopticon -GHOST OF THE MACHINE-Empires Must Fall

The End of Days Suite: 1. The City Lights at Twilight -THE JOHN IRVINE BAND-HERE COME THE ROBOTS!

Lucifer, Bringer of Light -MOTORSPSYCHO-MOTORSPSYCHO





















Lucifer, Bringer of Light -MOTORSPSYCHO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTY-...Q5aj&in dex=1




GOOD LISTENING

[nicola]

CHEAT THE PROPHET









ABOUT

CHEAT THE PROPHET

...CHEAT THE PROPHET
From progarchives.com


CHEAT THE PROPHET is a progressive rock project involving the core members of a former band called NEPENTHE, which split up in December 1999 after releasing just a single album in 1997.

Multi-instrumentalist brothers Matt and Todd Mikenzo, along with drummer Jamie Boruch, have been making music together for a long time, beginning in the early 1990s with some gigs in the New York/New Jersey club area playing a mix of Euro Pop and Neo Prog under the name ARS NOVA, and releasing an album called 'Turning The Tide' in May 1993, before changing the name of the band to NEPENTHE and releasing an album called 'Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt' in March 1997.

They have been joined by other musicians at various stages of their musical journey - some for longer than others - but the core of the group has remained intact throughout. Just before the turn of the century however, despite some critical success as NEPENTHE, it seemed that commercial success would forever elude the trio, and the stresses of life began affecting them both physically and mentally. Patience and tempers began to wear thin, and they found that the bond they once had as a bunch of twenty-somethings had begun to wane.

Despite this, they stayed in touch, saw each other from time to time, and kept making music individually. Then, towards the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jamie and Matt met up in Idaho for a weekend of mountain biking, and they decided that many of the changes that had occurred as a result of Covid meant it might be worth them taking another shot at making music together as a trio, despite them living many miles apart from each other. Todd subsequently agreed, leading to the beginnings of what eventually became CHEAT THE PROPHET.

Demos and songs in various stages of completion were swapped via Google Drive, and the collection of samples was eventually whittled down down into the basis of just six songs. Two years or so later, the songs were finally finished, which might seem like a long time, but after waiting twenty years to even begin the project in the first place, maybe it wasn't after all. The album was called Redemption firstly because the trio felt to some degree that their final recordings and shows from twenty years earlier weren't as good as they might have been. They also thought that they'd left what was possibly some of their best material unrecorded, and decided it would be a shame to leave those songs unfinished.

The 'Redemption' album was released on 7th February 2025.


















Hi friends

2025 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2025


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

Invader-AMPLIFIER-Gargantuan

Night Terror-DREAM THEATER-Parasomnia

Panopticon -GHOST OF THE MACHINE-Empires Must Fall

The End of Days Suite: 1. The City Lights at Twilight -THE JOHN IRVINE BAND-HERE COME THE ROBOTS!

Lucifer, Bringer of Light -MOTORSPSYCHO-MOTORSPSYCHO

Marvelous World-CHEAT THE PROPHET-Redemption

























Marvelous World-CHEAT THE PROPHET
https://cheattheprophet.bandcamp.com...-losing-season




GOOD LISTENING

[nicola]

EYE 2 EYE










ABOUT

EYE 2 EYE

...EYE 2 EYE
From official website


The Story
Eye 2 Eye is a French progressive rock group from the Paris area, created by Philippe Bénabès (Keyboards) and Didier Pègues (Drums and Keyboards) at the beginning of 2003, following the dissolution of their previous group, ADN.


Three musicians also orphans of their ex-group, Limelight, come to lend them a hand: Benoit Derat (Vocals and guitars), Médéric Colas (Guitars) and Cécile (bass). Médéric Colas quickly left the group for personal reasons and was replaced initially by Bruno Pègues, brother of the drummer then at the beginning of 2004 by Amirouche Ali Benali.
The first efforts of the group are based around a cover of a title by David Gilmour, guitarist of Pink Floyd, entitled "Near the End". This piece will be used for a cover album in tribute to Pink Floyd: "None of us is Pink", at the beginning of 2006. During this period, the group is offered to participate in an album in tribute to the Dutch group. Ayreon. Eye 2 Eye decides to cover "Back on Planet Earth", from the album "Actual Fantasy", released in 1996, in a more "ambient" mood than the original track.
This same cover will be used on the group's first album, "One in Every Crowd", which will be released on October 26, 2006 at Musea. Benoit Derat and Cécile will leave the group, shortly before the release of this album.


In 2007, new compositions were put in place. A new bass player was found in the person of Aymeric Delteil in May, then in December of that same year, Jack Daly became the new singer.
Texts are quickly written and recording continues.

During 2008, the group, initially called Eye to Eye, was forced to change its surname slightly,
following the request of another homonymous group.

A version of "You", taken from the first album is re-recorded at the end of the year, with the voice of Jack.

"After All ..." was released on February 9, 2009, at Musea.
As soon as it left, the group enjoyed glowing reviews. The group will even be named at the Prog Awards in Italy, in the category "Best foreign album".
EYE 2 EYE decides to start writing a concept album whose working name is "Wax", on an original idea from Jack. But opinions diverge and finally, Jack decides to leave the training to pursue a solo career.
Djamel Zaidi (Leader of Transperception) comes to offer his services to the group in December 2009.

EYE 2 EYE decides to continue with the idea of ​​a concept album. They embark on an adaptation of Oscar Wilde's novel: "The Picture of Dorian Gray".

In early 2011, this album is being mixed and "The Wish" was released on December 9 of that same year at Musea. Etienne DAMIN replaced Aymeric DELTEIL, late 2011. Djamel Zaidi left the group in May 2012 for other musical projects ...


With "The Light Bearer" (Musea, 2017), EYE 2 EYE finally emerges from a silence that lasted five years. The neo-progressive influences of yesteryear are less obvious, to make way for others, more symphonic. The song, now held by Michel CERRONI, turns out to be deep and lyrical, while the arrangements are always more careful. A string quartet also brings something new...

​

The track, initially called "Ghosts" inspired them, and quickly needed a sequel. The title became “Ghosts – Pt.1”, and it was decided the following album will tell the following parts of that story. EYE 2 EYE began to work on it just before the release of “The Light Bearer”, and ideas came quite quickly.

But the following year, Michel CERRONI decided to leave the band during July, because of professional obligations. Fortunately, Jack DALY decided to rejoin the band in September. When he heard the demos, he became motivated as never before. From there, the recording sessions continued. Some new guests came to help: Thierry LALET (Feadog) and Claudine ISTRIA (Backing Vocals) from HELIANTHE, and Marie Pascale VIRONNEAU (Violin).

The recording sessions finally ended, in the beginning of 2020. The mixing sessions had to begin, when the Covid stopped everything...

Etienne DAMIN decided to mix the album in his own new mixing Studio during the spring lockdown. And in the beginning of July, all the tracks were sent to PROGRESSIVE PROMOTION RECORDS in Germany. The Label decided to sign EYE 2 EYE and the Band is proud to tell you the new Album, called “Nowhere Highway” will be released on December the 4th!!....

​

In the end of 2020, Djam ZAÏDI and Didier PEGUES worked on a brand new version of the long time sold out album "The Wish". They totally remixed and remastered the album, and add some new parts on it.

Djam ZAÏDI re-recorded the voices, the Bass parts and the Guitar Parts. The drums were boosted too...

On February 2021, this New Album is called "The New Wish", and was re-edited by PROGRESSIVE PROMOTION RECORDS.

​

A brand new album began to be composed and written at the same period...

When Jack DALY heard the demos, in the end of 2022, he was enthusiastic. Everything seemed ok...

But when the recording sessions started everything went from bad to worse...

Jack DALY could not find the time to record his voices, and a few months later, Etienne DAMIN decided to leave the band, in the middle of the recording process, around April of 2023....

EYE 2 EYE had no singer (once again) and no Bassist....

The remaining members tried new singers, but were not really satisfied of the results...

Anyway, Elise BRUCKERT came back to put her magical violin on the new tracks, And Djam ZAÏDI accepted to do the lacking bass parts.

​

In the beginning of July 2023, Didier PEGUES talked of that singer problem with a long time Band Friend : Paul "Hilrant" TILLEY. Paul was a long time fan and was on charge to correct the Lyrics since "The Light Bearer". He also has a huge solo career under the name of "HILRANT".

He naturally proposed Didier to put his voice on that new album...

EYE 2 EYE not only found a singer....They also found an incredible Storyteller as Progressive Rock needs !!!! Paul lives the Lyrics he sings, and everyone in and around the Band was positively surprised !!

​

Recording sessions continued and in the middle of 2024, everything was recorded.

Djam ZAÏDI proposed the band to mix and master the album which was over in November 2024.

​

Audio Files and all concerning the cover was sent to PROGRESSIVE PROMOTION RECORDS in the beginning of December 2024.....

​

The Album "Lost Horizon" has been released on Friday, February the 28th !!

​

To be continued....

















Hi friends

2025 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2025


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

Invader-AMPLIFIER-Gargantuan

Night Terror-DREAM THEATER-Parasomnia

Panopticon -GHOST OF THE MACHINE-Empires Must Fall

The End of Days Suite: 1. The City Lights at Twilight -THE JOHN IRVINE BAND-HERE COME THE ROBOTS!

Lucifer, Bringer of Light -MOTORSPSYCHO-MOTORSPSYCHO

Marvelous World-CHEAT THE PROPHET-Redemption

The-Shoreline-EYE 2 EYE-Lost Horizon
























The-Shoreline-EYE 2 EYE
https://eye2eye1.bandcamp.com/track/the-shoreline




GOOD LISTENING