Ske, Italy

News: Ske has reissued 1000 Autunni as 1001 Autunni and includes a full disc of live and other material. According to Paolo, there will definitely be a "Ske 2", and he has completed about 15 minutes of new music.

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Location: Tradate, Varese (northeast of Milan, near the Swiss border)

Overview: Like some modern groups, Ske seems to have compiled the best parts of what progressive rock has to offer, and reassembles them into a hodge podge of the entire genre.

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R-U Kaiser, Chile ***Inactive***

News: R-U Kaiser are a little known band from Chile, who released one brilliant album back in 2007 called Ocelos. They have now returned with a new album, Desde la Oscuridad, that I'm most anxious to check out. I'll be ordering it soon, once it hits these shores.

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Location: Antofagasta (NW part of Chile)

Overview: About the only modern group I've heard that actually reminds me of Atila's Reviure album. We're talking symphonic cosmic space rock, and the Rolf-Ulrich Kaiser reference (Ohr label founder) is no accident.  A superb album and one of the most promising groups of recent times.

Manilla Road, USA

News: I have been remiss in updating this page. Unfortunately band leader Mark Shelton passed away unexpectedly - after playing a concert in Germany - on July 27th. His presence on the world stage will be greatly missed. Thanks to the artist of the wonderful photo above.

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Location: Wichita, Kansas

Overview: Manilla Road's legacy is now long cemented. Basically they are credited with popularizing, if not inventing, what we now call Epic Metal. My own history with them goes back to while I was still in high school in 1983... so I've got nearly 35 years invested in the band. Not sure there's anyone else with that kind of longevity that has really mattered to me in modern times - well I guess Iron Maiden goes back even further with me - but that's a rare breed. Long ago, a buddy and I even visited Mark Shelton at his house in Wichita in 1991, after he had folded the first phase of the band. He reformed The Road in 2001 with Atlantis Rising and hasn't looked back since. Their second go round has a longer tenure than the first! And they continue to get more progressive as time goes on. Manilla Road are the shining example of how a band should age. If you are only to listen to one Manilla Road album, I highly suggest you seek out The Deluge (1986). All one can say is WOW.

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As I first build out this page, I only have a couple of albums covered. But there's more already written, and plenty to come. I own them all!

Bubu, Argentina

News: After 40 years, Bubu is back with their sophomore effort! Advanced word tells us it's just as good as Anabelas. Wow! So armed with that data, I pulled the trigger on the new album. More to come... (and I've now heard it, and the advanced word was absolutely correct!)

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Location: Buenos Aires

Overview: Bubu have the uncanny ability to mix complexity with melody and warmth, while still rocking hard. Timeless music.

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VAK, France

News: VAK's second album Budo has just been released. The buzz on this one is enormous, so I picked it up right away. Can't wait to hear it!

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Location: Paris

Overview: VAK are a band that is clearly rooted in the Zeuhl movement. The debut favored Eskaton whereas their next release was more dense similar to Jean-Paul Prat maybe. Magma fans everywhere should be rushing out to obtain these.

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Scherzoo, France

News: Scherzoo 04 is out and I have it on the way to me now. The album promises to be more in the Canterbury mold. I'm excited about this, as I wasn't as keen on them moving away from Zeuhl to Avant prog.

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Location:  Lyon

Overview: Scherzoo's sound is somewhere between avant prog and Zeuhl, whereas Thollot's solo works scratch the avant angle and add in some Heldon like electronic rock. Apparently they are now moving into a Canterbury direction.

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