Under the Radar Music

I wasn't sold at first on the 3rd album by this Norwegian band. The first track sounds like Candlemass and 'Astro Tongue' has all the trappings of a typical Stoner album. While those two genres are welcome here, it's not something I'm on the lookout for. I have plenty already and will likely trim some off the collection. Ah, but not so fast. Things get much more interesting on the proggy 'The Day the Sky Exploded', where keyboards and meter and thematic changes add a whole new dimension to their sound. The other two tracks on side one are pre and postludes. Fortunately all of Side two maintains the momentum, and there's even some Iron Maiden like riffing. The album sits at the border of hard rock and metal, with more than a nod to progressive rock. The difference maker is keyboardist Mags Johansen who brings a raft full of vintage keys, most notably mellotron and Hammond. The band's image is also mixed - the album cover demonstrating psychedelic prog, whereas the fonts and titles are Stoner all the way. The hype sticker is misleading as well, where it states this album is for fans of: Rush (huh?); Rainbow (que?); Iron Maiden (yes, but only Side 2); Opeth (well maybe, I know little about this band beyond Blackwater Park). In addition to the fine cover, there's a 4 page insert with band photos, lyrics, and album credits.

3/5/22 (review)

10/14/23 (new entry)

April 5, 2026

Trion ~ Netherlands

Progressive rock

Bandcamp (label)

Latest: Terra Tiempo (2026) Mar 30

Yet another band making a return that I thought was long gone.

UMR review page for Trion

2/8/11 (new entry)

March 29, 2026

Agusa ~ Sweden

Retro prog

Facebook

Bandcamp

Latest: Panacea (2026). May 22

UMR review page for Agusa

5/10/14 (new entry)

French TV ~ USA ~ Louisville, Kentucky

Avant prog; Canterbury styled; Jazz fusion

Facebook

Bandcamp

Latest: The Spanish Caper (2026). Apr 24

UMR review page for French TV

9/30/11 (new entry)

March 22, 2026

The Cosmic Dead ~ Scotland

Space rock; Krautrock styled

Facebook

Bandcamp

Latest: Beyond the Beyond (2026) Apr 17

UMR review page for The Cosmic Dead

6/1/13 (new entry)

March 2, 2026

Telegraph ~ Israel

Retro prog

Facebook

Bandcamp

Latest: Topography of Mind (2026). Digital only though they mentioned they are considering a CD and / or LP.

UMR review page for Telegraph

6/18/20 (new entry)

Blues Pills ~ USA / Sweden

Blues rock; Hard rock

Facebook

Latest: Birthday Live (2026)

I quite liked their first album, not so much the second. I need to revisit that first CD and get some notes down while continuing to explore their other works.

Albums heard: Blues Pills (2014); Lady in Gold (2016)

7/6/24 (new entry)

Tusmorke ~ Norway

Progressive rock; Prog folk

Facebook

Bandcamp

Latest: Balderdom (2026). March 20.

UMR review page for Tusmorke

1/25/13 (new entry)

February 9, 2026

Hadal Sherpa ~ Finland

Space rock; UK Festival styled psych

Facebook

Bandcamp

Latest: Memoria (2026). Jan 22

This album is dedicated to the founder Vesa Pasanen, who died unexpectedly in 2025. At this point, it appears the band is calling it quits after this recording.

UMR review page for Hadal Sherpa

7/18/18 (new entry)

February 2, 2026

Agropelter ~ Norway

Retro prog

Website

Bandcamp

Latest: The Book of Hours (2025)

UMR review page for Agropelter

2/2/26 (new entry)

January 31, 2026

Corima ~ USA ~ El Paso, Texas ~ Los Angeles, California

Zeuhl

Facebook

Bandcamp

Latest: Hunab Ku (2026). Feb 16

UMR review page for Corima

10/3/12 (new entry)

January 4, 2026

Hällas ~ Sweden

Retro prog hard rock

Facebook

Bandcamp

Latest: Panorama (2026) Jan 30

UMR review page for Hallas

10/14/23 (new entry)

December 27, 2025

Secret Saucer ~ USA ~ Cleveland, Ohio

Space rock

Facebook

Soundcloud

Latest: Space Chamber Live (2025) Dec 15

UMR review page for Secret Saucer

2/8/11 (new entry)

December 14, 2025

Minimum Vital ~ France

Progressive rock; Folk rock

Facebook

Latest: Le Royaume (2025). 12/12

Released ahead of schedule. Was originally planned for 2026.

UMR review page for Minimum Vital

7/24/11 (new entry)

November 29, 2025

Grovjobb ~ Sweden

Retro prog; Neo Psychedelic

Facebook

Bandcamp

Latest: Nallebjörn är Död (2025) 11/28

Here's another band I didn't think we'd ever hear from again. Lots of 20+ year reunions going on!

UMR review page for Grovjobb

11/29/25 (new entry)

November 24, 2025

Aufklärung ~ Italy

Neo prog

Bandcamp (Ma.Ra.Cash site)

Latest: Nell'idea De Un Tempo Che (2025) 9/30

Following on the heels of Tale Cue comes another band that I thought was long gone. I did manage a review last year, placed in the journals (below). If I get a chance to hear the new album, I may spin up a UMR page for them.

De La Tempesta… L'Oscuro Piacere. 1995 Pickup (CD). Collection revisit (Sep). Yet another obscure 90s prog CD languishing in the collection that hasn't been touched in over 20 years. Much praise was heaped onto Aufklarung's debut on release, as it offered more than the usual Marillion styled neo prog / arena rock coming from Italy. Their sole album possesses quality songwriting and challenging segments, but does suffer from a typical 90s production. Singing in English takes away from the "Italian" edge, and some of the music falls flat. As you'll see repeatedly below, it was "good for its time" but hasn't aged as well as some of the albums I've recently featured in UMR from this same era.

11/24/25 (new entry)

Aufklarung (for searches)

Tale Cue ~ Italy

Neo prog

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YouTube

Latest: Eclipse of the Midnight Sun (2025). 11/16

UMR review page for Tale Cue

10/7/24 (new entry)

November 16, 2025

Par Lindh Project ~ Sweden

Progressive rock

Website

Bandcamp

Latest: Nagelfar (2025) Nov 21.

Here's another artist I thought had long hung it up. He's back! I still own Gothic Impressions, which I bought new directly from him at ProgFest years ago. I haven't reviewed it on UMR yet.

11/16/25 (new entry)