SERAFIN – NO PUSH COLLIDE
Released in 2003, this heady mix of punk and psychedelia was missed completely by the music press. This earthy album spawned two fine singles but made no impact. A fine rock album by anyone's standards. Get it into your collection now.
GOODBYE MR. MACKENZIE - GOOD DEEDS AND DIRTY RAGS
Quite possibly one of the greatest albums of all time, and yet somehow everybody missed it. Musically diverse and always engaging, Martin Metcalfe and the rest of the gang produced a late eighties masterpiece which only reached 26 on the UK album charts. Shirley Manson went on to better commercial success with Garbage but could never hope to better this excellent slice of rock.
PHILIP JAP
PRESSURE POINTS - REMORSES TO REMEMBER
A powerful combination of death metal and progressive metal, Pressure Points took on the Opeth mantle and added to it. The influences are there for all to see but this is a fine album. Released in 2010, this is a must have for every metal fan's collection.
SHAOLIN DEATH SQUAD - FIVE DEADLY VENOMS
A wonderful band from Texas release a wonderful album. How many folks buy it? Not enough, that's how many. If you're a fan of Mr Bungle and Faith No More and you have not got this album, what is wrong with you? Excellent slice of progressive metal that deserves more sales. Go and put it right.
TRANSATLANTIC - BRIDGE ACROSS FOREVER
As super groups come, they do not come more super than this. Take one member each from Spock's Beard, Dream Theater, The Flower Kings and Marillion, then put them in a studio and this is what you get. A brilliant with only four tracks on it. Sweeping, pompous, very long tracks that combine to form a glorious melodic progressive masterpiece. Definitely for fans of Pink Floyd, Yes and music of that ilk. Recommended!
THE ICICLE WORKS - THE SMALL PRICE OF A BICYCLE
Released in 1985 in the United Kingdom. The album was not released in either the US or Canada. Arista rejected it, calling it "punk-rock demos". Quite where Arista got that view from is impossible to discover. Small Price was their second album and was significantly edgier than their debut album. It retained the melodic focus of the first album but had a much harder rock sound. Ian McNabb's wonderfully deep vocals grace a driven rock sound. Check it out.
THE FIXX - SHUTTERED ROOM
The Fixx released Shuttered Room back in 1982 and had some success in the singles charts on both sides of the Atlantic with "Stand of Fall" and "Red Skies". A rock band emerging from the new wave genre, their songs often had doomy overtones. The crisp and clean production adds to the progressive pop feel of the album, and as such, this is a very underrated piece of music.
KILLING JOKE - KILLING JOKE (2003)
Not the earlier self-titled album but the 2003 version. This one features Dave Grohl on drums, who fits in perfectly with the wall of rage generated by the band. Coleman's guttural vocals add to the menace and this record positively growls at you. Brilliant!
RPWL - WORLD THROUGH MY EYES
Clocking in at one hour and twenty-three minutes long, you might be forgiven for thinking there must be a lot of filler on this album. Thankfully, that is not the case at all. The German prog rockers manage to produce an engaging album, full of different styles. Beautifully melodic and diverse, as you might expect from a band that started life as a Pink Floyd cover band, a must have for anyone who likes crafted and thoughtful music.
