Farid Aslanov - "Planetary Shift" [2012]

Artist: Farid Aslanov

Title: Planetary Shift
Genre: Ambient/Electronic, Soundtrack
Country: Azerbaijan
Release date: 2012

Track List:

1. Passive
2. Long Journey
3. Lost In Time
   

The latest release from Farid Aslanov up to date, this time more "cosmic" in atmosphere (as opposed to his previous EP, "War With The Z", which was intended to resemble a soundtrack for a zombie movie). As for me, it's too soundtrack-like, which makes it a little boring for ordinary listening, but I can't blame Farid for this - I understand he has a family and a lot of work which leaves little time for making music, plus he lives in a country where underground music scene barely exists. Perhaps I should try to contact him once again and ask him about his future plans and the current state of his main project, Mechanic Fist (I heard they've split up...)

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Abu Lahab - "As Chastened Angels Descend Into The Thoracic Tombs" [2011]

Artist: Abu Lahab

Title: As Chastened Angels Descend Into The Thoracic Tombs
Genre: Noise / Avant-Garde / Industrial Black Metal
Country: Morocco
Release date: 2011

Track List:

1. Sentient Graves
2. A Ripple of Matricide
3. Prayers of the Kyphosis
4. Fear-Induced Faith
5. To Stab a Pregnant Sun
6. Bismih

Very, very strange release from North Africa that definitely won't appeal to everyone. However, I found this (anti-)music actually interesting and carrying that atmosphere of insanity that most generic noise/PE/BM releases lack. Just look at the tracklisting - the music is just as weird as these song titles. Certainly not an album for everyday listening, but a good addition in a collection of weird/avant-garde DIY stuff from obscure countries. As for the moniker "Abu Lahab", it means "Father of Flame" and probably comes from the Islamic mythology where it's a nickname of Muhammad's uncle who later became one of his most staunch enemies.

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ID:VISION - "Destination Cybermind" [2011]

Artist: ID:VISION

Title: Destination Cybermind
Genre: Industrial Metal
Country: Belarus
Release date: 2011

Track List:

1. Enter The Cybermind (Intro)
2. Human Hazard
3. Zarathustra XXI
4. Eschato-Logics
5. World Wide Wrath
6. Pandora's Box
7. Destination Cybermind
8. Hi-Tech Knell
9. X-Ray Sun
10. Seven Days Before The Fall (Prelude)
11. Vośmy Dzień
12. The Man
13. Sic Transit Gloria Mundi

One more Belarusian band, one of whose members used to post on "M-Forum" ~10 years ago. Back then, he seemed to be quite immature (your typical "trve black metal" fan), but junging from this album, he grew up into a good musician. The best track on "Destination Cybermind" is probably "Zarathustra XXI", but the whole album is quite good and definitely recommended to every fan of industrial death/black metal (and what's important - it's officially FREE for download).

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Pulsar (BY) - "Civilization" [2005]

Artist: Pulsar

Title: Civilization
Genre: Power Metal
Country: Belarus
Release date: 2005

Track List:

1. The Voice of the Earth (intro)
2. Civilization
3. Fire & Ice
4. Eternity
5. Путь к фортуне
6. Солнце Бессмертных
7. Пегас
8. Орден Креста
9. Моя любовь, моя печаль

One more band named Pulsar, this time from Belarus and playing power metal. First I heard about them was circa 2003, when I used to read the "M-Forum" (probaby the only Belarusian metal forum back then). They were quite unpopular among the users of said forum (because it was considered "cool" to listen to BM and brutal death metal, not gothic or power metal), but I personally liked some of their promo songs ("Civilization" and "Eternity") very much, even though I couldn't find their first and only full-length album anywhere. Now I found it, and I have to say that the 2 songs I mentioned are indeed the best. "Fire & Ice" isn't bad either, but the rest of the tracks (with lyrics in Russian) are just generic power metal, and the album cover image is so stereotypical it hurts. "Civilization" and "Eternity" are very beautiful songs, though - a good example of power metal that's about more serious topics than fantasy and dragons. The vocal work isn't perfect, though, as well as the overall quality of production, but it's good enough for an underground metal band from the ex-USSR.

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Pulsar - "The Strands Of The Future" [1976]

Artist: Pulsar

Title: The Strands Of The Future
Genre: Progressive Rock
Country: France
Release date: 1976

Track List:

1. The Strands Of The Future
2. Flight
3. Windows
4. Fool's Failure

Second album by Pulsar, which is in my opinion better than their debut "Pollen". Excellent progressive/space rock, would be a perfect soundtrack for some French sci-fi movie or cartoon like "Les Maîtres du Temps" (I don't like its original soundtrack, except for the closing theme). After "The Strands Of The Future" Pulsar released one more album called "Halloween" (which wasn't as popular as their first two albums due to rise of punk rock scene, which seriously diminished the fanbase of classic rock), and then split up. Personally I found "Halloween" not as interesting as either "Pollen" or "Strands of the Future", but it's still definitely worth listening (won't post it here, though).

Pulsar - "Pollen" [1975]

Artist: Pulsar

Title: Pollen
Genre: Progressive Rock
Country: France
Release date: 1975

Track List:

1. Pulsar
2. Apaisement
3. Puzzle / Omen
4. Le Cheval de Syllogie
5. Pollen

And one more classic progressive/space rock release that may appeal to those who liked "Martian Chronicles" by Solaris. Listen to the whole album on youtube:

P.S. If you want to have "Pollen" on your HD as MP3, just use Google blogs search - I'm sure it was already posted in a lot of blogs.

Hidria Spacefolk - "Symetria" [2007]

Artist: Hidria Spacefolk

Title: Symetria
Genre: Progressive Rock
Country: Finland
Release date: 2007

Track List:

1. Symetria
2. Futur Ixiom
3. 322
4. Flora/Fauna
5. Radien
6. Sine

This Finnish band is often recommended to those who want something more in the vein of "Martian Chronicles" by Solaris. However, I think they're closer to bands like Ozric Tentacles in terms of sound, although the melancholic and "cosmic" feel is definitely present in their music too. They're also compared with such Hungarian bands as Korai Öröm and ColorStar, but I don't like both of said bands (or maybe I should give their albums one more listen?..) Can't say "Symetria" is a masterpiece (compared to "Martian Chronicles"), but it's certainly very good.

Solaris - "Marsbéli Krónikák (The Martian Chronicles)" [1984]

Artist: Solaris

Title: Marsbéli Krónikák
Genre: Progressive Rock
Country: Hungary
Release date: 1984

Track List:

1. The Martian Chronicles I
2. The Martian Chronicles II-III
3. The Martian Chronicles IV-VI
4. M'ars Poetica
5. If The Fog Ascends
6. Apokalypse
7. Prelude In E Minor
8. Undefeatable
9. Solaris
10. The Planet Of Orchids (Bonus Track)
11. The Yellow Circle (Bonus Track)

It'd be very hard for me to write a proper review of this album, because it's one of my all-time favourites, and definitely included in my personal top-5. In short, "Marsbéli Krónikák" present everything what I love Hungarian prog-rock for: catchy and beautiful melodies, atmosphere of bright sadness, excellent musicianship, analog synthesizers from the 80s, and the influence from sci-fi classics like Ray Bradbury and his "Martian Chronicles". Even though the album is entirely instrumental, it accurately reflects the mood of "Martian Chronicles" and a lot of other "hard" science fiction of the 20th century. That probably what The Martians would listen to, if they were born half a century later :) I should also note that Solaris is progressive rock, but not avant-prog; so it's sophisticated enough, but isn't hard for listening at all. A true masterpiece, perfect example of good Eastern European prog-rock sound.

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After Crying - "Megalázottak és Megszomorítottak" [1992]

Artist: After Crying

Title: Megalázottak és Megszomorítottak
Genre: Avant-Prog
Country: Hungary
Release date: 1992

Track List:

1. A gadarai megszállott
2. A kis hős
3. Noktürn
4. Megalázottak és megszomorítottak
5. Végül

After Crying are probably the most well-known Hungarian avant-prog band, often considered to be the best RIO-influenced band in their country. Personally I heard only two albums out of their considerably big discography, and here's my favourite one. I think the album cover says all about the music - the atmosphere it creates is as quiet and melancholic as winter forest at night. Don't know how to express it better...

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Vágtázó Halottkémek - "Semmi Kapuin Dörömbölve" [1992]

Artist: Vágtázó Halottkémek

Title: Semmi Kapuin Dörömbölve
Label: Alternative Tentacles
Genre: Folk Rock, Avant-Prog
Country: Hungary
Release date: 1992

Track List:

1. Hunok csatája
2. Aláírhatatlan történelem
3. Az én lőrései
4. Feltámadt kép
5. Ősvilág
6. Álmodom
7. Botrányos probléma
8. Örökkévalóság
9. Halló, mindenség! II.
10. Nincs más megoldás

Vágtázó Halottkémek aka VHK, formed in Budapest in 1975, were one of the most unique and innovative Hungarian progressive rock bands. There's a lot of bands in Hungary whose music is inspired by Hungarian (and Uralic/Altaic in general) mythology and epos, but VHK really stand out even among them, being a very dedicated concept band.

While I haven't heard anything of VHK been influenced by Rock In Opposition or similar movements, their music is quite hard to get into, quite comparable to most of RIO bands in this regard. Their style ranges from shamanic/psychedelic rock (this album, the most-well known release of them) to hardcore and even metal (some of their earlier releases), but the influence of Hunnic culture and pantheistic beliefs (Tengrianism?..) is always evident. Very original and sophisticated music, but definitely not for everyday listening.

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