Progressive rock
Latest: Case a Chocs 2014 (2024). Live album.
As of July, they are still working on their third album.
---8/12/24
They are still promising to release their third "old school prog" album sometime soon.
10/31/23 (new entry)
October 1, 2025
Free System Projekt ~ Netherlands
Berlin School electronic
Latest: Archives Volume 2 (2025)
It doesn't appear that FSP are active anymore, but they are in the process of emptying the vaults. I'm sure there's plenty of great music in these archives. Apparently there will be a 3rd archival release by year end.
UMR review page for Free System Projekt
Passenger 4 (2004) w/Dweller at the Threshold
Probably the least inventive of the FSP albums. Not only is it influenced by Rubycon, it's almost a cover version of the album. Which doesn't make it a bad effort. But given how many albums I already own in the style, including by Tangerine Dream themselves, this album comes off as "too much of the same thing.". Gotta go, Joe.
---2/19/24
Pointless Reminder (1999)
Of all the current bands playing in the retro Berlin School of sequencer based electronic music, Dutch ensemble Free System Projekt may be the closest in imitating the original pioneers. Especially the Tangerine Dream variant circa 1976 to 1977. For some, Free System Projekt are no doubt likely to irk purists, and state they are nothing more than plagiarists. But I don't feel that way strangely enough. The style of music that TD laid down 35 years ago is open in nature, one that can be explored in a variety of different ways. I've heard most of FSP's official releases (including collaborations), and I'd probably rate this first album as their best. But they're all very good.
---2008
7/20/11 (new entry)
September 29, 2025
Minimum Vital ~ France
Progressive rock; Folk rock
Latest: Le Royaume (2026). Scheduled for Jan.
Found this browsing their Facebook page while enjoying their first two albums from the 80s. Great to see them still going.
UMR review page for Minimum Vital
7/24/11 (new entry)
September 28, 2025
Tusmorke ~ Norway
Progressive rock; Prog folk
Latest: En Pakt Med Naturen (2025)
Missed this one but it was released on May 9.
1/25/13 (new entry)
September 15, 2025
Secret Saucer ~ USA ~ Cleveland, Ohio
Space rock
Latest: Eclipsed (2020)
Secret Saucer is still active and are talking about releasing a recent live concert.
UMR review page for Secret Saucer2/8/11 (new entry)
September 10, 2025
Bi Kyo Ran ~ Japan
Progressive rock
Latest: Bloodliners (2025)
Here's a band I had no idea was still around. They don't maintain a traditional social media presence. So how did anyone know they had a new album? Disk Union's updates. Here's what they say about the new album, translated by Google: "Japan's leading progressive rock band, Bikyoran, has finally completed their new album, "Bloodliners"! This album approaches modern and alternative sounds, while maintaining the sharp, thrilling sound and incredible performance ability that make Bikyoran Bikyoran, reminiscent of King Crimson's "Sun and Terror" period!"
I'm going to guess that "Sun and Terror" period is Larks Tongues in Aspic to Red, which is what all Bi Kyo Ran albums are patterned after. I didn't know that Bi Kyo Ran meant Beauty Madness until now either.
UMR review page for Bi Kyo Ran
9/10/25 (new entry)
August 30, 2025
Accordo dei Contrari ~ Italy
Retro prog; Jazz rock; Neo Italian prog
Latest: untitled 6th album. TBD
UMR review page for Accordo dei Contrari
7/25/11 (new entry)
French TV ~ USA ~ Louisville, Kentucky
Avant prog; Canterbury styled; Jazz fusion
Latest: The Spanish Caper (2xCD). TBD
9/30/11 (new entry)
August 4, 2025
Ring van Möbius ~ Norway
Retro prog
Latest: Firebrand (2025). To be released Oct 3.
Well they said they were finished. And now they have a new album proclaiming they are done... done. Really, no really.
UMR review page for Ring Van Mobius
1/15/19 (new entry)
July 19, 2025
July 18, 2025
Witch Blade ~ Sweden
Heavy metal; NWOBHM styled
No official band sample page, but their albums are available to hear via the labels that released them.
Latest: Månsken (2022)
No activity since the above album was released. Building page since they'll probably pop up again at some point.
UMR review page for Witch Blade
7/18/25 (new entry)
July 15, 2025
Red Sand ~ Canada ~ Quebec
Neo prog
Latest: The Sound of Silence (2025). To be released Sep 15.
6/18/24 (new entry)
Crypt Sermon ~ USA ~ Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Epic metal; Doom metal
Latest: Saturnian Appendices EP (2025). To be release August 8.
UMR review page for Crypt Sermon
6/1/24 (new entry)
Wucan ~ Germany
Progressive rock; Krautrock
Latest: Axioms (2025). To be released August 29.
6/16/23 (new entry)
Discipline ~ USA ~ Detroit, Michigan
Progressive rock
Latest: Breadcrumbs (2025). To be released August 1
UMR review page for Discipline
7/15/25 (new entry)
May 23, 2025
Hadal Sherpa ~ Finland
Space rock; UK Festival styled psych
Latest: Void Weaver (2025). CD to be released Jun 17. Apparently the digital version is available now.
UMR review page for Hadal Sherpa
7/18/18 (new entry)
May 6, 2025
The Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus ~ England
Krautrock styled; Neo Gothic Progressive
Latest: Devotion to a Noble Idea (2025) EP
Beauty Will Save the World (2015)
The Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus' debut Gift of Tears sounded like Popol Vuh and Emtidi met head on with Harmonia - with a big dose of intense spirituality a la Dead Can Dance. The EP Le Liturgie Pour le Fin du Temps sounded like a Krautrock Delerium. Other albums left a big WTF behind. And here we are with their first new album in 20 years. RYM gives it the genre of Avant Folk, the same as Moondog and Catherine Ribeiro (shakes head. Huh?). Anyway, forget it, the band defies categorization. Are they even from here? Earth, that is...
---12/5/15
Other albums I own and still need to review: The Gift of Tears (1987); Mirror (1991); Le Liturgie Pour le Fin du Temps (1993); Paradis (1995)
12/5/15 (new entry)
The Budos Band ~ USA ~ Brooklyn, New York
Jazz funk; Heavy psych
Latest: Budos Band VII (2025). To be released May 29.
UMR review page for The Budos Band
3/6/19 (new entry)
April 28, 2025
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Progressive rock Latest: Bloodliners (2025) Here's a band I had no idea was still around. They don't maintain a traditional social m... -
Progressive rock Facebook Bandcamp Latest: Case a Chocs 2014 (2024). Live album. As of July, they are still working on their third album. -... -
Progressive rock Facebook Bandcamp Latest: Total Edge Effect (2022) Still active and playing live. They state a new album will happen "... -
Unfortunately Mark Shreeve passed away on Aug 31, 2022. To the best of my knowledge, there is no centralized website or Facebook for the ... -
News: Looks like the 3rd album went by the wayside. Right now Phil Naro is dedicating his time to Yessongs (tribute band). Last check: ... -
News: I thought this band were inactive and I'd already archived this page. But they're back with a new live album celebrating the... -
News: There's talk of a second album and the band last validated that in April 2019, but nothing of consequence yet. Last check: Febru... -
Symphonic Prog Facebook Website Latest: An Old Warrior Shook the Sun (2024). To be released Nov 13 Uchi Naru Koe Ni Kaikiseyo (2014) And aft... -
Heavy metal; NWOBHM styled Facebook No official band sample page, but their albums are available to hear via the labels that released them. ... -
Retro prog hard rock Facebook Bandcamp Latest album: The Magic of Sin (2023). Released Dec 1. Pictures in a Dream (2013) Robert Fripp has st...