DAYS BETWEEN STATIONS

Days Between Stations is the creative partnership between guitarist Sepand Samzadeh and keyboardist Oscar Fuentes. The duo came together in Los Angeles in November 2003, and named the band after the 1985 novel by Steve Erickson. The band’s sound – Samzadeh calls it “art-rock,” Fuentes labels it “post-prog” – reflects their varied influences, as well as a shared disregard for stylistic boundaries... more

BILLY SHERWOOD

We are much honored this month to have Billy Sherwood (CIRCA:, former YES) as our interview guest. He just released his new CD titled "At The Speed Of Life". Currently, beside his solo projects he is one of the members of the band CIRCA:, formed by ex-YES members Tony Kaye and Alan White, along with Jimmy Haun. They released their first solo album in 2007, followed in 2008 by a live DVD. They are currently in the studio working on their second solo CD...more

Kate BUSH / Never For Ever

1980‘s “Never For Ever” is Kate’s 3rd album. The album was co-produced by Jon Kelly & Kate herself. One of the most interesting things about this album is that it is the first record by a British female artist to top the UK album charts. (Wikipedia). Kate’s progressive approach to music reaches its peak with Never For Ever. She tastefully blends different genres including folk, oriental, rock, classical and jazz. Unlike her first two albums which she wrote on piano, this one was written on synths... more

CAVEAT / RED

Another great band signed to Cyclone Records consisting of four members. On vocals and guitar is Greg Musgrave (ex Black Sky, Rob Spencer Band, Toke, Stonewater & Exit Strategy), Terry Baldwin on bass (Cryptomenesia), Percussions handled by Casey Rogers (Self Control) and former Thorazine axe man Joe Sikorski.

Although the third disc made available by these Great White Northerners, this is the first prog effort, as their previous offerings were accessible, straight ahead metal, they are now breaking the barriers of what is otherwise considered the rules of Prog. Caveat is starting where System of a Down leaves off, providing dark themes combined with surprising time changes and brilliant arrangements. The disc is an assault of furious metal with only one song under 5 minutes (MOB), but that song shockingly has enough diversity in it to give you your fill of prog. These are no amateurs, progressive musicians don't pop out of nowhere, they don't come out of the musical womb knowing syncopation, off beats, counter-point or time changes, they LEARN it - and Caveat have studied hard for the final test, passing with flying colors, showing their respect for the prog fathers that have gone on before them. While heavy, HEAVY sounding doom might not be for everyone, you'd be missing out on the experience of an insanely hard and heavy progressive disc if you passed on this one.

The album title, and also name of the opening track, Red has harmony guitar leads galore. The band proves that dueling guitar solos and harmonizing riffs do not just belong to Iron Maiden or Symphony X. Crossing punk, death and screeching vocals with some cool blood-curdling grit a la Godsmack. The twin guitar attacks can only be this tight if they are locked in like brothers, and these guys seem to be. The bassist (Baldwin) is just ripping right along side of them, never missing a beat. Casey, the bands phenomenal drummer, is convincing us all that this is a tight unit, not just four egotistical members competing for the spot light or writing filler spots to build up to the guitar solo or writing empty spots for a singer to do his part. Obviously Caveat planned their compositions from the beginning with a unified sole purpose of putting forth incredible music, for music's sake.

Full of surprises, like the off the wall interlude that starts out Sin or the freakish guitar dissonance on Within This Weakness, the band tastefully colors the canvas of their music... a not-so-expected element of hardcore bands. I remember reading somewhere that the early Genesis lineup would lock themselves in a rehearsal room and exchange ideas, practice and just basically jam for 10 to 14 hours a day. It wouldn't come as a shock to me to hear that Caveat has done the same thing with their time. Extremely tight breaks, scaling bridges that will make your brain hurt and unexpected endings with musical twists are all the more reasons to be convinced that this band is not stuck in any musical rut. Even if death metal type vocals are not your cup of tea, do not make the mistake of putting Musgrave in a box. The vocals are as diverse as they are ballsy. They've got themselves a dream team band here, all the right members making all the right music.

While the band offers fascinating trips into heavy metal versions of Yes, King Crimson and even Gentle Giant, I'm hard pressed to nail down who these guys sound like - and that's a great thing! Of course at times I can't help but reference parts that remind me of something, like My Messiah, which I envision Rob Zombie sounding like if he turned up the intensity knob to 11.

However, I did notice a couple regressions into their former primitive state when they were not a prog band. Tracks like Sin find the vocalist taking the easy way out with melody lines that simply follow the guitar chord progression. Vicious Circle, which is probably a killer mosh staple in their live shows is nothing short of a metal format from their former years - my least favorite track on the album. The only other thing I'd like to see, taking this band to the next level, are maybe some harmony vocal parts on the clean passages when the band breaks it down and the vocalist is naked.

Even if I've already used this term, I have to sum this album up with the word: diverse. Low passages remind me of Marillion, Narnia, Jane's Addiction - but definitely original and not sounding like anyone else. The heavier, dark sounds are reminiscent of Pantera or Six Feet Deep. Go ahead dismiss all the references to other bands, Caveat is in a league of their own granting us bone crushing metal that pays homage to the prog greats... a fine marriage indeed.

Find them at www.caveatmusic.com and www.myspace.com/caveatsmusic and purchase their CD at: Cyclone Records

DALE JUDAY