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November 2024

• Voodoo Circle: Hail To The King
• Lionville: Supernatural
• Starchaser: Into The Great Unkown
• Empires Of Eden: Guardians Of Time
• Lonerider: Down In The Dust
• Seventh Crystal: Entity
• Neal Morse & The Resonance: No Hill For A Climber
• Beardfish: Songs For Beating Hearts
• Impellitteri: War Machine
• Brothers Of Metal: Fimbulvinter

October 2024

• Casandra's Crossing: Garden Of Earthly Delights
• DGM: Endless
• Daytona: Garder la Flamme
• Fate: Reconnect 'N Ignite
• Frost*: Life In The Wires
• Aries Descendant: From The Ashes Of Deceit
• Fans Of The Dark: Video
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September 2024

• Sinner's Blood: Dark Horizons
• Serious Black: Rise Of Akhenaton
• Eclipse: Megalomanium II
• SteelCity: Reverence
• Hydra: ReHydrated
• Heartwind: III
• Gabrielle De Val and the Dragonlords: Tiger
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• The Nail: The Nail
• Timeless Fairytale: A Story To Tell
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• Phil Mogg: Moggs Motel
• Pure Reason Revolution: Coming Up To Consciousness
• Jordan Rudess: Permission To Fly

August 2024

• Siege Perilous: Creation's Call EP
• Paralydium: Universe Calls
• Mike Tramp: Songs Of White Lion Vol. II
• Bite The Bullet: Looking For Paradise
• All For Metal: Gods Of Metal (Year Of The Dragon)
• Hammerfall: Avenge The Fallen
• Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 2

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District 97: Trouble With Machines

Progressive Rock/Metal

4.5/5.0

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The Laser's Edge
by Craig Hartranft,  06.28.2012

Reviewing their first album Hybrid Child, there was a question I wanted to ask, but never did. How did vocalist Leslie Hunt go from an American Idol finalist and cutting an album of basically pop rock to singing in a prog rock band? The inquiry is rather moot at this point since Hunt had a rather impressive performance on D97's first effort, and does again on their second release, Trouble With Machines. I would imagine she might find the prog context a greater challenge to her abilities.

District 97: no leather body suits for the guys?

Fundamentally, Hunts vocals work well with the melodies and complexities of District 97's progressive rock. They effortlessly compliment each other, which is quite striking. Back and Forth and The Perfect Young Man (featuring Asia's John Wetton) are perfect examples of this smart union.

Like its predecessor, Trouble With Machines is probably best heard as crossover prog, offering also the popularity of melodic rock. By example, shorter tunes like Open Your Eyes or Who Cares, while still intriguing, are not overly complex, and play with some friendly accessibility. Then, on the wonderful Read Your Mind, all these elements combine in a perfect package. This song also features Chicago Symphony Orchestra cellist Katinka Kleijn who also played on Hybrid Child.

In the end, Trouble With Machines is still an album of modern progressive rock, and a very good one at that. Quite recommended.

District 97's Trouble With Machines is an album of modern melodic progressive rock, and a very good one at that. Quite recommended.

Alphabetical Index

eviewing my archives, I was pleased to find that I have had the privilege to review every Lionville since their self-titled debut in 2011. Formed by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer and guitarist based in ... [ Read More ]