My Thoughts on the ProgPower XVI Lineup

[thegreatsouthernbrainfart]

I'm definitely not an expert when it comes to ProgPower bands but next year will be my first ever ProgPower Festival. Some of you may know me from the metal blog that I run called The Great Southern Brainfart. I've been a metal fan for well over 25 years and while I've been known to love some Prog bands, I've never been to a ProgPower festival. I watched the ProgPower XVI Roster video and compiled my own thoughts on what I saw. This was posted at my blog today but I figured I'd share it here just to see if anyone could confirm or convince me to thing otherwise!

Taken from: http://thegreatsouthernbrainfart.com/?p=13637

The lineup for ProgPower USA XVI was announced on Friday, September 12th just after a headlining set by Seventh Wonder. While the roster itself seems to lack any real “huge” names it does seem to have some really strong bands to boast. One of the things I’m really looking forward to this year is seeing every one of these bands for the first time. As a music lover and a lover of going to concerts in general, I can’t think of anything more exciting than seeing bands for the first time live. It’s even more exciting when you know nothing about said bands and they just really blow you away.

The only bands on this lineup that I am really familiar with is Anathema and Denmark’s Anubis Gate. Anubis Gate alone is enough reason for me to attend this two day festival right here in my home town of Atlanta, GA. I decided to watch the ProgPower XVI announcement video and below I have listed my first impressions on each band that will be performing. It will be interesting for me to go back and revisit this after the festival to see if my opinions change or are confirmed. ProgPower XVI will take place on September 11th and 12th, 2015 at Center Stage Theater.

Keep in mind that this “preview” was written solely on the music clips offered in PPUSA Roster video and the videos that I picked to watch by each band.

Without further adieu, here is the run down for ProgPower XVI here in Atlanta, GA.

Friday, September 11, 2015 Lineup:

Hibria

Ok, so these guys sound pretty bad ass. It’s like Prog Thrash and right out the gates I felt pumped just listening to them. Their singer totally had a NWOBHM kind of sound and musically they just sound epic. I think I’ll totally get behind these guys. We’re off to a good start.



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Anubis Gate

YES! I can’t even tell how fucking excited about this I am. Hearing “Golden Days” in the preview video gave me chills and nearly brought a tear to my eye. I can’t remember the last time I was so ecstatic to see a band. I never thought I’d get the chance to see Anubis Gate so I’m DEFINITELY not going to pass this up. This band is going to kick so much fucking ass that I feel really bad for any band that has to follow them.



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Morgana Lefay

So this band is not at all what I thought they would sound like based on their name. These guys almost have a kind of black metal sound to them but damn I love this song that they picked for this video. It’s really dark and really heavy yet classic sounding. I think I’m going to dig these guys.



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Voyager

This is some really technical sounding stuff. They kind of remind me of Fates Warning a good bit. It’s really melodic sounding but I’m not sold on the song they chose to represent them. Maybe I’ll have to dig a bit deeper and see what they’re about.



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Falconer

So this band seems to be getting a lot of praise from the PPUSA crowd but I’m just not feeling this band. They sound so drab and just kind of unexciting. The vocals are just so plain and just unmoving as is the music. Again, maybe this wasn’t the best choice of a preview song but these guys might be one that end up passing on. I’ll give them a chance but this may be when I make my beer and merch run on Friday night.



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Anathema

I’ve never been a fan of Anathema. I’ve always thought that they were the Cure of progmetal. They’re just so whiney and just so blah. I never got the love that this band got as I just think they’re lame. Maybe if Falconer blows me away I’ll stay for them and then just leave before Anathema starts and go find a party or get some pizza and breadsticks from DiVinci’s.



Saturday, September 12, 2015 Lineup:

Helker

I felt like Beavis and Butthead as I just went, “YES!” This shit kicks some fucking serious ass. Helker kind of has this classic heavy metal sound that has a groove and just lays down a kick ass foundation. Just with this song they had me captivated and wanting to hear more. I really dug the hell out of this and definitely want more.



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Persefone

Um, ok, here we got. Another diarehea of the fingers prog band. The minute this song kicked I n I just rolled my eyes. Yay you! You can play all the notes. So much notes. Wow. Much fast. Such playings. Oh, there are vocals? Well, after hearing them, I could totally do without this. This might be a beer run for me.



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Dynazty

Ok, I loved the fuck out of this. The only way I can describe this band is that it’s like Glam Prog Metal. They look like Skid Row but they play like Blind Guardian. Their singer is off the fucking charts good and they sound so melodic. I’m really excited about this band and can’t wait to hear more from them.



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Riverside

Nine Inch Nails meets Enigma meets Tool. This is definitely not my cup of tea but I can see how this has the potential to be kind of cool in a live setting. Maybe with some visuals and some cool lights and what not. I’m totally not into this but it doesn’t suck. It’s very unobtrusive but just not my bag.



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Royal Hunt

So these guys are billed as headliners playing their album “Paradox” in its entirety. I nearly nodded off during this song clip. Again, it doesn’t suck but it just sounds so unexciting and uninspired. Not much more to say about this band other than they just seem to be kind of “meh” to me.



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Angra

Now this band definitely piqued my interest. They sound just like any other symphonic metal band to be honest but this band has a good 20 year history under their belts so one might even consider them one of the leaders in this genre. The band sounds pretty amazing live and the energy level that they put out seems to be really up there. They also seem to kind of sound a bit like Helloween which I fucking love. I think this band will be one that will either blow me away for get old after like 3 songs. I’m intrigued enough at this point to definitely check them out.



So there you have it. The roster for ProgPower XVI here in Atlanta on September 12 and 13, 2015. Tickets for this go on sale on Friday, October 4, 2014 via Ticketmaster.

 

[The Protagonist]

Interesting.

You know that Seventh Wonder wasn't the headliner, right?

 

[No Username]

Make sure we meet when you show up next year, so I can strangle you for living in Atlanta and missing it 14 times!

 

[nailz]

Persefone

Um, ok, here we got. Another diarehea of the fingers prog band. The minute this song kicked I n I just rolled my eyes. Yay you! You can play all the notes. So much notes. Wow. Much fast. Such playings. Oh, there are vocals? Well, after hearing them, I could totally do without this. This might be a beer run for me.

Alright, I hate condescending criticism but fuck me if I didn't laugh like I was being tickled by dick feathers at this.

 

[thegreatsouthernbrainfart]

Alright, I hate condescending criticism but fuck me if I didn't laugh like I was being tickled by dick feathers at this.

 

[thegreatsouthernbrainfart]

Make sure we meet when you show up next year, so I can strangle you for living in Atlanta and missing it 14 times!

I've only lived here for 5 years and in my defense, I have been to two kick offs in a row. Baby steps duder... baby steps.

 

[JenniferLynn]

Make sure we meet when you show up next year, so I can strangle you for living in Atlanta and missing it 14 times!

That's what I thought.. How could next year be the first time you'll be at ProgPower and it's in your hometown!?!?!?!

Mind
blown
and not in a good way

 

[ixrayu]

First, I would like to say that atleast you pointed out your opinion is solely on the roster video. Also, ANY schmo with a computer can have a blog, so not sure if you think that makes your opinion more important or something, however, what it should do is make you a little more savvy to know that making uneducated(self admitted) public opinions on things without having all your "homework done" can cause a bit of a backlash. I enjoy reading a lot of the opinions of the people who post on this forum, though I disagree with a LOT of them, I'm not one to point out when I think they are dead wrong. I can understand a "first impression" off of limited information, but jumping to conclusions off the roster announcement video is a bit of a stretch. I really don't know how long it takes to produce the announcement video, but I'm sure it is quite tedious and time consuming and I for 1 am damn glad they do it. I'm sure Glenn would love to hear about how they could do it better since you don't like the songs they chose for the up coming bands.(Sarcasm)
As far as your take on the bands, I have NO doubt in my mind that if you take the time to actually research a little and listen to more than a little clip, you would find out how amazing several of the bands you greatly criticized are and probably would do a 180 on at least 2 or 3 of them. Especially, Voyager and Falconer.
I think once you have experienced the festival as a whole you will also learn that it is just that, an experience.

 

[zinescene]

I'm still in the infancy steps of checking out the bands for next year. So far Dynazty has really blown me away and I think my wife even digs them

Listened to Persefone - Spiriual Migration today and I'm really really digging the music but having a hard time with the vocals at times. I really really want to like this. Thinking this will really grow on me.

Helker - Only heard a few songs of Somewhere IN The Circle but sounds very promising
Hibria - Only heard a few songs from Silent Revenge but what I've heard hasn't overwhelmed me.
Voyager - V FUcking LOVE the song Hyperventilating. What I've heard of V though that's the stand out track. Still need to give the rest of V a spin.
Falconer - Not one of those bands that really stuck with me when I heard them on CD but saw them at BWBK and they killed it on stage. Great live performance! Singer was a great guy off stage, he'll fit right in with the ProgPower crowd.
Morgana Lefay - So far they haven't done anything for me. Saw them at Chicago Power fest in 2005 and didnt do anything for me then either.
Anubis Gate - Really like what I've heard. More impressed the more I listen
DC Cooper - Loved his solo album and saw him live before. He rules!
Anathema - So far nothing I've heard excites me.
Royal Hunt - Not familiar with the whole catalog but love what I've heard so far.
Riverside, Almah, Dragonland -I dont know enough about them to comment.

Anyway, got lots of listening to do.

 

[MelbCro]

Pretty sure Anathema are a 'huge' band. And maybe you should listen to stuff from their death doom era then come back to me about them being whiney.

 

[djjello]

No "huge names"? Beer and merch run during Falconer? Dude, we need to talk. All criticism aside, this lineup is a home run and Glenn knows this. Dig down into the catalogs of these fine bands STAT. And please, update your original post after you get going. I'd love to see how your opinion changes. No more baby steps, time to go "all in" Brother!

 

[AngraRULES]

The thread starter clearly knows how to live up to his name...

 

[MelbCro]

I'm still trying to work out how Morgana Lefay has a "black metal sound"

 

[KingsGene]

I'm definitely not an expert when it comes to ProgPower bands but next year will be my first ever ProgPower Festival....

....and I'll give you my "expert" opinion anyway based on 2 minutes of each band.

 

[nomisofsiman]

The thread starter clearly knows how to live up to his name...

 

[nomisofsiman]

I'm still trying to work out how Morgana Lefay has a "black metal sound"

Thrashy? Yes. Black metal? Hell no.

 

[TENTH DREAMER DECEIVER]

....and I'll give you my "expert" opinion anyway based on 2 minutes of each band.

It's obvious that it's click bait for his site.

 

[PromisedLand]

No Volbeat reference? ;-)

 

[TwizstedJesus]

On Fridays show...perfect time for dinner is Falconer, followed by beers at the bar and a drive home during Anathema. Its always great to get out a little early on Friday night to prepare for Saturday, and these 2 bands closing Friday give me a perfect "out", which in turn makes the wife happy, which in turn makes me happy, dig?

If you don't like the bands, theres always something to do at the venue besides watching them. I convinced myself a few times that the lineup wasn't strong enough for me to attend, and I kick myself every time I think about it. I'll be there unless I'm dead

 

[dcowboys311]

Pretty sure Anathema are a 'huge' band. And maybe you should listen to stuff from their death doom era then come back to me about them being whiney.

Their 'death/doom' era is 20 years ago, doesn't matter in the year 2014. This is like using 'Of Darkness' as the baseline for modern day-Therion.

Whiney Anathema is better than death/doom Anathema anyway.