"As soon as it was announced (and fans finished pinching themselves to make sure they weren’t dreaming), Liquid Tension Experiment 3 became perhaps the most heavily anticipated progressive metal album of 2021. After all, it’s been over twenty years since the instrumental quartet—bassist Tony Levin, keyboardist Jordan Rudess, drummer Mike Portnoy, and guitarist John Petrucci—released their last studio collection; despite all of the great stuff that they’ve done (separately or together) over the years, devotees still clamored for a proper follow-up to 99's LTE 2.

The result is a sequence that, if not outright better than its predecessors, certainly ranks alongside them and meets any expectations admirers might have. Liquid Tension Experiment 3 is a remarkable return for one of progressive metal’s greatest instrumental troupes. It delivers exactly what band enthusiasts expect—no more and no less—with eight pieces that constitute some of the most dauntingly intricate, endearingly colorful, and/or calmly melodic passages the foursome have ever penned." JB-MI

"The album is recorded by engineer James “Jimmy T” Meslin (Dream Theater, John Petrucci) and he delivers once again. Portnoy’s drums have never sounded better. Petrucci’s signature sound is unmistakable. Levin’s work on the bass and Chapman stick are as clear and rich (no pun intended) as ever. Rudess’s endless variety of sounds and effects are timely and smooth. Master mixing Jedi, Rich Mouser (Spock’s Beard, Transatlantic, Neal Morse Band), delivers his usual clear, pristine, dynamic, and powerful style which makes this a great listening experience to the most seasoned audiophile. There is breath, width, clarity, and precision which really raises this album to a new level. Every instrument is perfectly grooved in their sound spectrum which delivers a top notch sound experience in every variety of style LTE3 brings." VJG-TPR



Essential Track: "Unsurprisingly, the album wastes no time dishing out some intimidatingly complex aggression via the appropriately named “Hypersonic.” Its opening moments alone offer a tirade of speedily synchronized rhythms and riffs whose dizzying ascensions and descensions would seem like self-parody if they weren’t done so damn masterfully. (Of course, Rudess’ trademark quirky timbres come into play, too.) As usual, its nonstop abrasiveness distinguishes it a bit from the more dynamic and fanciful instrumentals of the members’ myriad other projects." JB-MI



Read the full reviews on Metal Injection and The Prog Report.

Listen and watch the videos on YouTube and buy the CD from Inside Out Music or wherever fine Prog Music is sold .

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Click on the following link for a complete list of bands that have played for the NewEARS Art Rock Series

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2021-05-20
The Musical Box - A Genesis Extravaganza Volume 2 at Tupelo Music Hall - Derry, NH at 08:00 PM
Rescheduled to December 2nd

2021-05-21
The Musical Box - A Genesis Extravaganza Volume 2 at Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield, CT at 08:00 PM
Rescheduled to December 1st

2021-05-23
The Musical Box : A Genesis Extravaganza Vol. II at The Wilbur Theatre - Boston, MA at 08:00 PM
Rescheduled to November 30th

2021-06-25
Consider The Source at Arch Street Tavern - Hartford, CT at 08:00 PM
TBD

2021-06-26
Consider The Source at Soundcheck Studios - Pembroke, MA at 08:00 PM
$25

2021-09-10
The Machine performs Pink Floyd at The Cabot Theatre - Beverly, MA at 07:00 PM
TBD

2021-09-11
THE MACHINE performs Pink Floyd at The Flying Monkey - Plymouth, NH at 07:30 PM
$34

2021-10-04
Todd Rundgren – The Individualist, A True Star at Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield, CT at 08:00 PM
$90

2021-10-05
Todd Rundgren – The Individualist, A True Star at Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield, CT at 08:00 PM
$90

2021-10-16
THE MACHINE performs Pink Floyd at Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield, CT at 08:00 PM
$50

2021-10-22
The Machine performs Pink Floyd: Unplugged at TCAN (The Center for Arts Natick) - Natick, MA at 08:00 PM
$35 - $40

2021-10-23
The Machine performs Pink Floyd: Unplugged at TCAN (The Center for Arts Natick) - Natick, MA at 08:00 PM
$35 - $40

2021-10-29
Mary Fahl (of October Project) at TCAN (The Center for Arts Natick) - Natick, MA at 08:00 PM
$30 - $35

2021-11-28
The Wizards of Winter at Tupelo Music Hall - Derry, NH at 07:00 PM
$40 - $55

2021-12-11
Kansas - Point of Know Return at Lowell Memorial Auditorium - Lowell, MA at 08:00 PM
$49 - $299 (VIP)

2021-12-15
Genesis The Last Domino? Tour at TD Garden - Boston, MA at 08:00 PM
TBD

All Events ...>>

NIGHTWISH TO START ”HUMAN. :II: NATURE.” WORLD TOUR IN VIRTUAL REALITY

The band offers fans a unique experience by inviting them to a shared adventure at The Islanders Arms, a tavern built in virtual reality.

Nightwish – one of the world’s leading symphonic metal bands and Finland’s most successful music export – sets the stage for an exquisite interactive experience in May 2021. In ”An Evening with Nightwish in a Virtual World”, the band will perform at The Islanders Arms, a tavern built in virtual reality. The event takes place on two nights, Friday and Saturday, May 28-29th, 2021.

On both evenings, the audience can expect an unforgettable 90-minute performance, and will get to hear songs from the latest album ”Human. :II: Nature.” live for the first time. The setlist has variation for each night.

Released in April amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, ”Human. :II: Nature.” has not been performed live yet. Having had to postpone their world tour in 2020, Nightwish decided to create something unforeseen to lighten up the dark times.

A full-length live experience that reaches magical dimensions will be set in virtual reality – The Islander Inn tavern. During the evening, both the band and the audience can dive into diverse imaginary 3D worlds. The technical production is led by Zoan, whose Burst Live platform also powered Finnish rap superstars JVG’s May 1st virtual reality show that attracted more than a million viewers last spring.

For an interactive virtual show experience, members of the audience can create avatars and join the show on their computers or mobile devices. The audience can react by gestures, cheers or emojis, and chat with other fans. One can also dress up their avatar with Nightwish merchandise.

Nightwish is Finland’s most successful band globally, touring prominent arenas around the world and having sold over 10 million albums worldwide. The band’s most recent album ”Human. :||: Nature.” is their ninth studio album.

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2021-05-17: ProgStock Ready to Rock Again at UCPAC, October 1-3, 2021
ProgStock Festival, the American Northeast’s Only International Progressive Rock Festival, will triumphantly return to the stage for its fifth year in 2021. As the world is still emerging from the pandemic, ProgStock 2021 has

2021-05-17: Long Earth - Summer
MB: Getting nearer to Summer, so here is Long Earth's "Summer" from their critically acclaimed 2020, album, Once Around the Sun. Summer. Available from https://longearth.bandcamp.com/album/... Also available from itunes.

2021-05-17: LYLE WORKMAN Uncommon Measures (Blue Canoe Records) interview (and album review)
A most gifted composer and top-flight guitarist, Lyle Workman’s illustrious career has covered a lot of ground. Perhaps best known for his roles as renowned Hollywood film soundtrack composer (The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Super

2021-05-17: How Big Big Train broke through with The Underfall Yard
The inside story of Big Big Train's 2009 album The Underfall Yard, their first with singer David Longdon and drummer Nick D'Virgilio. Big Big Train do detail like few others. In repackaging their sixth album the group’s goals

2021-05-17: Colorado prog trio Source release video for False Prophet
US prog rock trio Source have released a visualiser video for their latest single False Prophet, which you can watch below. False Prophet is taken from the band's upcoming album Ethereal Self which will be released on May 25.

2021-05-17: New prog radio show launches on Total Rock
Tom Gillitt's 21st Century Prog Radio Show has returned to the air on the online station Total Rock Radio. The new two-hour show airs on Thursdays between 1pm and 3pm (UK time) and is repeated again at midnight on Sundays. Th

2021-05-16: Stan Whitaker- (Happy The Man, Oblivion Sun, Pedal Giant Animals) on SOAL Night Live
For Episode #90 our guest was Happy The Man guitarist Stanley Whitaker. He has a new prog solo album in the works we got the scoop on. We also took a look back at his years with Happy The Man including early touring and the

2021-05-16: JB Review: Mariusz Duda - ‘Claustrophobic Universe’
Claustrophobic Universe is another victorious Duda dive into electronic music. Last year’s Lockdown Spaces proved that Polish musician Mariusz Duda can excel within virtually any genre. After all, he’d played around with impr

2021-05-16: Frost* - Day And Age Review
You want it darker? Jem Godfrey’s modern prog mavericks return to gleefully rail at the world, dripping cynicism, contempt and some of the most galvanising tunes you’ll hear this year. As openings go, it’s arresting. Drop the

2021-05-15: The Forgotten Earth by Jeffrey Erik Mack
Melodic Revolution Records is thrilled to announce the long-awaited solo album by Scarlet Hollow bassist and composer Jeffrey Erik Mack. The albums being released on CD, and in both 16-bit and 24-bit Hi-Res digital. When you

2021-05-15: Loyal Fans of Yes & Related Music New Facebook Group
If you want a place to interact with loyal Yes fans who don’t take sides or bad mouth our Yes (Official) friends, I created a new FB fan group. It’s public and open to join. We like, respect or at least support all things Yes

2021-05-14: New Marillion Album on the Way
Here are the guys talking about the new record they're currently working on: The band bring us up to date with news on the forthcoming Marillion studio album. They reveal how the music is shaping up and what H has in mind for

2021-05-14: Crimson's Most Impossible Song- Failure To Fracture w/Anthony Garone on SOAL Night Live
For Episode #89 we caught up with author & guitarist Anthony Garone to discuss his new book, "Failure to Fracture- Learning King Crimson's Impossible Song". The book chronicles his 20+ year journey as he dissected and learne

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