Under the Radar Music

November 8, 2026

Glass Hammer ~ USA ~ Tennessee

Progressive rock

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Bandcamp

Latest: Black Light (2026)

UMR review page for Glass Hammer

10/8/18 (new entry)

Lizard ~ Poland

Progressive rock; Prog metal

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Website

Latest: Tonquebraker (2026)

It's been a long time since we heard from these guys!

UMR review page for Lizard

10/18/16 (new entry)

October 11, 2026

Dawn ~ Switzerland

Progressive rock

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Bandcamp

Latest: Melancolia (2026) Oct 30

UMR review page for Dawn

10/31/23 (new entry)

Arabs in Aspic ~ Norway

Progressive rock; AOR; Hard rock

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Latest: Sorgens Kapittel (2026) Oct 21

UMR review page for Arabs in Aspic

9/4/13 (new entry)

October 10, 2026

Nexus ~ Argentina

Progressive rock

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Latest: 1042 (2026). Oct 2

Another long running band (since 1999) that I need to spend more time with.

10/13/23 (new entry)

Free System Projekt ~ Netherlands

Berlin School electronic

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Bandcamp

Latest: Omega Nebula (2026) Nov

As noted by Bas in the comments, we finally have a new album from FSP! Features two long tracks.

UMR review page for Free System Projekt

The below are not in UMR as of yet.

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)

October 4, 2026

Flowers Must Die ~ Sweden

Space rock

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Latest: Tystnad (2026) Sep 25

UMR review page for Flowers Must Die

2/14/13 (new entry)

September 28, 2026

Zero Hour ~ USA ~ Pleasanton, California

Prog metal; Tech thrash

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Latest: No Man's Land (EP) (2026). Oct 16.

I need to spin up a UMR page. Next time I hear one of their albums, I'll do just that.

Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond (2006)

This CD is what made me think of the band in the first place. I haven't heard any Zero Hour in many years, and these CDs (I have four of them) are gathering dust on the shelf. I had this one rated as the lowest. Well, then, I guess I'm in for a treat when I get back to the other three! The best comparison I've read about the band in general is that of Watchtower meets Meshuggah. You get the technicality, melodicism, and high pitched voice of the former with the sheer heaviness and calculating rhythms of the latter. Nothing sits still for too long, and the music will challenge your synapses.

---2/3/24

Other albums heard: The Towers of Avarice (2001); A Fragile Mind (2005); Dark Deceiver (2008)

2/3/24 (new entry)

M-Opus ~ Ireland

Progressive rock

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Latest: Negatives (2026) Sep 29

Apparently this is their homage to 1982, and the tracks are radio length. A lot of great music came out of the early 80s, but for the more known bands, they all went pop rock. The album is on Bandcamp for the curious. I'll dig in at some point.

UMR review page for M-Opus

5/1/15 (new entry)