Recent Reviews

November 2024

October 2024

September 2024

August 2024

[ More Music Reviews ]


Lance King: ReProgram
Lance King - ReProgram Music Review

Lance King: ReProgram

Melodic Progressive Power Metal
5.0/5.0

Website Facebook Twitter
Nightmare Records
Released: 29.03.2019
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 20.03.2019

Label owner, vocalist, and cosmic spiritual philosopher of heavy metal, Lance King returns with a new solo album, ReProgram. This is only his second solo album in his long career as a metal vocalist. The last, A Moment Of Chiros, was eight years ago. Once again King combines thoughtful lyrics and superior songwriting to create entertaining music. He's aided in this pursuit by like-minded composers, often guitarists, including Rich Hinks, Matt Hodsdon, and Markus Sigfridsson, to name a few.

Lance King Photo - Click For Larger Image

Lance King

King's musical history is a diverse one, drawing from hard rock, heavy metal, progressive, and other genres, both past and present. Most of his vocal appearances, however, have been with progressive power metal bands. So it's no surprise to find King revisiting his melodic progressive power metal roots within ReProgram. After a few spins, some observations rise to the surface.

One is simply that the songs are both dense and lightly complex creating a enfolding wall of sound for the listener. Also, and characteristic of King, his compositions offer both variety and intrigue. For instance, the title track, ReProgram, moves with heavy metal rock. Stand Your Ground twists elements of heavy and power metal with rock groove for a toe-tapping headbanger, wrapped in fine guitar and synth solos. Wide Open has this awesome guitar line that echoes throughout the arrangement. But the drumming is also impressive, offering groove and complexity. And later a fine synth solo rises. Within the progressive power metal rock of Perfect World, you'll find a lingering piano line while the synths also embellish the song's texture.

Finally, another fine element to a King composition is a powerful guitar solo. There are many here, but I point you to just one: Kim Olesen's solo within Technology, another power metal rocker. Nearly two minutes long in the center of the song, Olesen thrills as his fingers caress the fret board for a soaring solo.

Did I mention that King is in fine vocal form? Perhaps it goes without saying, but he sounds terrific. With ReProgram, Lance King has once more presented his fine vocal talents in context of equally impressive and entertaining melodic progressive power metal. Get it. Easily recommended.



Another Dangerdog Review
Bloodbound - Rise Of The Dragon Empire Music Review

Bloodbound: Rise Of The Dragon Empire

Melodic/Heavy/Power Metal
4.5/5.0

I've followed Bloodbound's career with interest from the very beginning. Excepting their first album, I've reviewed all of their albums on this site. Now the Swedish band ... [ Read More ]


CraigHartranft.net - New fiction, crime fiction by Craig Hartranft

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

The Bottom Line

With ReProgram, Lance King has once more presented his fine vocal talents in context of equally impressive and entertaining melodic progressive power metal. Get it. Easily recommended.

Find A Review

Alphabetical Index

a b c d e f g h i j
k l m n o p q r s t
u v w x y z #
New & Notable
Read the Lionville: Supernatural Album Review

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 ]