Prog Issue 133

Founded by Brian Slagel in 1982, Metal Blade’s aim was simple: to find great bands and get their music out to as many people as possible. In the 80s, the label was responsible for introducing the likes of Metallica, Ratt and Slayer to the public, but as metal has changed in both face and sound, so has the diverse list of artists they work with. Now home to progressive acts including Cult Of Luna, Fates Warning and The Ocean, Metal Blade continues to adapt to the constantly evolving music industry without compromising their fiercely independent origins. “To this day if I really like a band and if the staff really like it then no matter what they sound like we want to work with them,” CEO Slagel explains. “I’ve always liked a…

Founded by Brian Slagel in 1982, Metal Blade’s aim was simple: to find great bands and get their music out to as many people as possible. In the 80s, the label was responsible for introducing the likes of Metallica, Ratt and Slayer to the public, but as metal has changed in both face and sound, so has the diverse list of artists they work with. Now home to progressive acts including Cult Of Luna, Fates Warning and The Ocean, Metal Blade continues to adapt to the constantly evolving music industry without compromising their fiercely independent origins. “To this day if I really like a band and if the staff really like it then no matter what they sound like we want to work with them,” CEO Slagel explains. “I’ve always…

Hello, and welcome to the new issue of Prog magazine. So what’s your favourite Kate Bush song? It’s not as easy a choice as one might think, is it? After much deliberating, I’d probably go with In Search Of Peter Pan from 1978’s Lionheart (along with Hounds Of Love, my favourite KB album). Not an obvious choice, you’re probably thinking. And you’d be right. It didn’t even make our list of the 40 best Kate Bush songs according to her progressive peers (dammit!). But Kate Bush is special: “An extraordinary and unique artist” Eivør tells us, while Gavin Harrison calls her “a national treasure”. They’re just two of the 40 musicians we spoke to who told us about their favourite pieces of Kate’s music and why she’s so brilliant. We also…

Hello, and welcome to the new issue of Prog magazine. So what’s your favourite Kate Bush song? It’s not as easy a choice as one might think, is it? After much deliberating, I’d probably go with In Search Of Peter Pan from 1978’s Lionheart (along with Hounds Of Love, my favourite KB album). Not an obvious choice, you’re probably thinking. And you’d be right. It didn’t even make our list of the 40 best Kate Bush songs according to her progressive peers (dammit!). But Kate Bush is special: “An extraordinary and unique artist” Eivør tells us, while Gavin Harrison calls her “a national treasure”. They’re just two of the 40 musicians we spoke to who told us about their favourite pieces of Kate’s music and why she’s so brilliant. We…

TRANSCENDING MUSIC Thank you for Prog 132 packed full of guitarists. It was quite a feat to have [interviews with] Robert Fripp and Adrian Belew in the same issue and, above all, in so much depth. We had the chance to go beyond the technique of these respectable musicians; you have given us the chance to glimpse their spirit. For example, it is almost moving to read that Robert Fripp considers the transmission of his knowledge as his main objective. This confirms my idea that progressive music has always been a vehicle for manifesting a degree of spirituality and human brotherhood, and not just a display of virtuosity. And your magazine has accomplished this extraordinary mission of bringing together a universe of music and musicians who want to help raise spirits…

TRANSCENDING MUSIC Thank you for Prog 132 packed full of guitarists. It was quite a feat to have [interviews with] Robert Fripp and Adrian Belew in the same issue and, above all, in so much depth. We had the chance to go beyond the technique of these respectable musicians; you have given us the chance to glimpse their spirit. For example, it is almost moving to read that Robert Fripp considers the transmission of his knowledge as his main objective. This confirms my idea that progressive music has always been a vehicle for manifesting a degree of spirituality and human brotherhood, and not just a display of virtuosity. And your magazine has accomplished this extraordinary mission of bringing together a universe of music and musicians who want to help raise…