• New Music Reviews
• |
• Archives
• |
• News
• |
• Submissions
• |
• About
• |
• 
• |
• 

April 2024

• Vanden Plas: The Empyrean Equation Of The Long Lost Things
• Praying Mantis: Defiance
• King Zebra: Between The Shadows
• About Us: Take A Piece
• Blue Oyster Cult: Ghost Stories

March 2024

• Cruzh: The Jungle Revolution
• Whom Gods Destroy: Insanium
• The Prog Collective: Dark Encounters
• Lords Of Black: Mechanics Of Predacity
• Lipz: Changing The Melody
• The End Machine: The Quantum Phase
• Stargate: Escaping The Illusion
• Turbulence: Binary Dream
• Sonata Arctica: Clear Cold Beyond
• D'Luna: Monster
• Big Big Train: The Likes Of Us
• Benjamin Croft: We Are Here To Help

February 2024

• Traveler: Prequel To Madness
• Lionheart: The Grace Of A Dragonfly
• Honeymoon Suite: Alive
• Durbin: Screaming Steel
• Smoking Snakes: Danger Zone
• Revolution Saints: Against The Winds
• Striker: Ultrapower
• Show N Tell: The Ritual Has Begun
• Robert Hart: Circus Life

January 2024

• Corvus: Immortals
• Caligula's Horse: Charcoal Grace
• Grand: Second To None
• Neal Morse: The Restoration - Joseph - Part Two
• The Rods: Rattle The Cage
• Gotus: Gotus
• Metalite: Expedition One
• Cobrakill: Serpent's Kiss
• Jack Russell & Tracii Guns: Medusa
• Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 1
• The Grandmaster: Black Sun

[ More Music Reviews ]

Atropos Project: Equator

(Instrumental) Progressive Rock/Metal

4.5/5.0

Website (BandCamp) Facebook
Unsigned / Self-released
by Craig Hartranft,  05.04.2013

Atropos Project is the effort of one musician, John Quarles who composed, performed, recorded, and produced, with the help of some guests, all the songs on his debut album, Equator. It's an album of instrumental melodic progressive rock. Frankly, the album doesn't need any words as the music does all the talking here. Quarles has some serious talent, first in song composition and then in his skillful playing. The arrangements are quite intriguing and satisfying, blending elements of rock, metal, ambient, and even jazz fusion. The songs are lively and engaging, keeping you interested, and sometimes even keep you guessing. Quarles is also a deft musician, not least of his skills is his striking guitar work. It's combination of clean rock lines and experimentation. While prog music, especially instrumental prog, can be either elusive or self-absorbed, Equator is neither. It's engaging, interesting, and a great listen. Fundamentally, the songs simply sound great. Quarles should be proud of this work. Top picks: Spiralling, A Curious Trip, Drudgery, and And ... Lift, thanks to pedal steel, dobro, and slide guitars provided by Gary Richardi. Very recommended.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

John Quarles's Atropos Project and Equator is engaging and intriguing melodic progressive rock and simply a great listen.

Alphabetical Index

Three years have passed since Sweden's Cruzh dropped their second long-player, Tropical Thunder, also introducing their new singer, Alex Waghorn. Now the band returns with The Jungle Revolution ... [ Read More ]