"Time gentlemen, please: prog’s great warrior-poet Fish bows out with a career-capping masterpiece.

It’s been five years since Fish announced that his next album – this one – would be his last. At times it looked like he’d never even make it this far. The catalogue of woes which have plagued the big man since 2013’s A Feast Of Consequences are enough to fill an entire volume of his oft-mooted autobiography: ailed romances and family bereavements, hand surgery, spinal operations, writer’s block, two bouts of sepsis, one near-death experience and a full-blown global pandemic.

All that bedevilment could have scuppered Weltschmerz a long time ago. Instead, it’s conspired to produce the best album of his solo career, one that is lush and expansive yet intimate and personal, sometimes angry, sometimes dejected, but never anything less than magnetic.

Fish has said that Weltschmerz is an album informed by “the pain of the world”, as the rough English translation of the title suggests. In fact there’s so much pain of the personal, political and societal varieties going on that it’s impossible to cram it onto a single album, hence its 10 songs are spread over two discs. But neither an epic running time nor existential heaviness weigh it down: Weltschmerz is leaner than any 85-minute album has a right to be." DE-PM



Essential Track: "The album’s 17-minute centrepiece, Rose Of Damascus, ties together geo-political upheaval, religious fundamentalism, terrorism, immigration and Fish’s newfound passion for horticulture (at least half of the album’s songs reference flowers or gardening). It’s a grand suite of a song, built on shifting musical and emotional sands, but it’s a world away from the bloated self-regard that sometimes comes with the territory." DE-PM



Read the full reviews on Prog Magazine and Prog Archives.

Listen to samples and buy the CD directly from Fish Music.

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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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2020-11-13
The Musical Box - A Genesis Extravaganza Volume 2 at Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield, CT at 08:00 PM
Reschuled to May 21, 2021

2020-11-17
The Musical Box - A Genesis Extravaganza Volume 2 at The Wilbur - Boston, MA at 08:00 PM
Rescheduled to May 23, 2021

2020-11-20
The Musical Box - A Genesis Extravaganza Volume 2 at Tupelo Music Hall - Derry, NH at 08:00 PM
TO BE RESCHEDULED

2020-11-29
The Wizards of Winter at Tupelo Music Hall - Derry, NH at 07:00 PM
TO BE RESCHEDULED

2020-12-09
Geoff Tate Empire 30th Anniversary Tour at Tupelo Music Hall - Derry, NH at 05:00 PM
$55

2020-12-09
Geoff Tate Empire 30th Anniversary Tour at Tupelo Music Hall - Derry, NH at 08:00 PM
$55

2020-12-27
The Machine performs Pink Floyd at The Cabot Theatre - Beverly, MA at 07:00 PM
TBD

2021-01-09
THE MACHINE performs Pink Floyd at The Flying Monkey - Plymouth, NH at 07:30 PM
TBD

2021-02-05
The Machine performs Pink Floyd: Unplugged at TCAN (The Center for Arts Natick) - Natick, MA at 08:00 PM
$35 - $40

2021-02-06
The Machine performs Pink Floyd: Unplugged at TCAN (The Center for Arts Natick) - Natick, MA at 08:00 PM
$35 - $40

2021-02-07
Todd Rundgren – The Individualist, A True Star at Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield, CT at 08:00 PM
$90 - $150 VIP

2021-02-08
Todd Rundgren – The Individualist, A True Star at Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield, CT at 08:00 PM
$90 - $150 VIP

2021-03-21
THE MACHINE performs Pink Floyd at Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield, CT at 08:00 PM
$50

2021-04-21
Martin Barre performs classic Jethro Tull at Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield, CT at 08:00 PM
$49.50 - $104.50 (VIP)

2021-04-22
Martin Barre performs classic Jethro Tull at Tupelo Music Hall - Derry, NH at 08:00 PM
$45 - $60

All Events ...>>

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2020-10-19: MIT Review: Jon Gomm - The Faintest Idea (for fans of proggy acoustic guitar songs)
Jon Gomm may probably be an unfamiliar name - he certainly was for me, until the Kscope label signed him up and released his new album The Faintest Idea last week. If you're into the kind of acoustic guitar style of classic J

2020-10-19: How Rush Embraced a Nuts-and-Bolts Style for ‘Counterparts’ Cover
A decaying puppet king in front of a demolished house, a nude ballet dancer on a brain, a disoriented boy trying to control his window with a remote control — Hugh Syme brought grand conceptual designs to his early work with

2020-10-19: TOTO ANNOUNCE NEW LINEUP AND LIVESTREAM SHOW
Steve Lukather and Joseph Williams have revealed a new lineup of Toto, with plans to premiere the new members with a livestream concert on Nov. 21. Joining the two band veterans are bassist John Pierce (Huey Lewis and the New

2020-10-18: RIP: GORDON HASKELL (King Crimson)
Gordon Haskell's Facebook page has announced that Gordon has died. No further details are available at the moment... Gordon briefly joined King Crimson in 1970 after appearing as a guest vocalist on In The Wake Of Poseidon si

2020-10-18: Rush Go Back in Time With ‘Missing Tourbooks Collection’
Rush announced new tour programs for their first three album road trips, as none were published at the time the events took place. The Missing Tourbooks Collection includes 16-page titles for 1974’s Rush and 1975’s Fly By Nig

2020-10-18: Pure Reason Revolution discuss The Dark Third
UK prog rockers Pure Reason Revolution have been discussing their acclaimed debut album The Dark Third in a new video which you can watch below. The Dark Third was originally released through the Holograph label through Sony

2020-10-17: EXCALIBUR V
Out the 12/04/2020. A new musical round table! Two years of writing and in the studio! A folk & rock opus to awaken the legend! And tomorrow at 8:00 p.m. the long version trailer. Thanks to all who will share.

2020-10-17: New Glass Hammer Interview on SOAL Night Live
For Episode 43 we catch up Steve Babb (bass) and Fred Schendel (keys) from the modern progressive rock group Glass Hammer, out of Chattanooga, TN. We get up to date on the latest album, which is a reworking of songs from thei

2020-10-17: Devin Townsend releases live video of Why?
Devin Townsend has a released a new live video clip for Why?. The song is taken from Townsend's upcoming Order Of Magnitude – Empath Live Volume 1, released by InsideOut Music on the 23rd October and a document of his Winter

2020-10-17: Rick Wakeman's opens Rick's Plaice with new video
Rick Wakeman has launched Rick's Plaice, a visual version of his old Planet Rock Radio Show, which premieres on November 7 and will be broadcast every Saturday for the following five weeks. A Christmas special will also be br

2020-10-16: Rush’s Neil Peart Celebrated in New Illustrated Quote Book
An upcoming book of illustrated quotes from Rush's Neil Peart will celebrate the late drummer and lyricist's humor, wisdom and literary talents. Neil Peart: The Illustrated Quotes — expected to ship on Jan. 12 — pairs the mus

2020-10-16: Daniel Tompkins streams brand new single The Gift
TesseracT singer Daniel Tompkins has streamed his brand new single The Gift. The track is taken from his upcoming album Ruins, which will be released through Kscope on December 11. The Gift features a guest appearance from Tr

2020-10-16: David Gilmour to release Yes I Have Ghosts as 7" single
David Gilmour will release his first new music for five years when Yes, I Have Ghosts comes out as a 7" vinyl single for Record Store Day on November 27. The song, written by Gilmour and wife Polly Samson, features the voice

2020-10-15: The Reign of Kindo Discuss Why We're Truly "Better Off Together"
Over the past 15 years, New York outfit the Reign of Kindo have risen to be one of the most reliable and remarkable acts in rock music. By infusing bits of funk, jazz, and synthpop into their art-rock DNA, the group rank alon

2020-10-15: Jakko M Jakszyk: The Progarchy Interview
When Jakko Jakszyk was 13 years old, he saw King Crimson play at Watford Town Hall — and it changed his life. Embarking on a globetrotting career that’s crossed paths with, among others, Level 42, The Kinks (he replaced Dave

2020-10-15: Premieres October 15, 7:00 PM ReFrame - I Want To Be More (LYRICS VIDEO)
PB: So tonight 10/15/2020 at 6 pm CST ReFrame andLuminol Records are releasing the second single off of Reaching Revery, the Lyric Video for I Want To Be More featuring Corey Gloverof Living Colour. ReFrame released Reaching

2020-10-15: Glass Hammer - No Man's Land Live in Italy
Enjoy! Glass Hammer is an American progressive rock band from Chattanooga, Tennessee, created and led by Steve Babb and Fred Schendel. Babb and Schendel, who founded the band in 1992, are the only constant members in the line

2020-10-14: OGD: Olivero, Gavin, De Ranieri
Don't miss your chance to own the limited edition clear red vinyl version of The Big Game featuring artwork by Hugh Syme (Rush, Dream Theater) including a 20 page 12"x12" booklet plus opening gatefold with a Hugh image exclus

2020-10-14: Wobbler - Dwellers of the Deep (Album Review)
Numerous are the modern progressive rock bands who emulate the classic sounds of the revered 70s era. Each one has their own spin, however, from Magenta to RPWL to Anglagard to The Flower Kings. When it comes to Wobbler, they

2020-10-14: Jump reveal tracklisting and artwork for new album Breaking Point
UK prog rockers Jump have announced they will release their latest album, Breaking Point, through F2 Music on November 9.Breaking Point is Jump's first new album for four years and their fourteenth over all. “We’re really ple

2020-10-14: Aisles - Red Sector A (Rush Cover)
Our cover of Red Sector A by Rush, recorded from home during lockdown. Stay safe!

2020-10-13: District 97-Ghost Girl (Official Short Film) Premieres 10/13/20
Hi friends. Today promises to be a TREMENDOUSLY SPOOKY DAY. At long last, we'll be premiering the Ghost Girl animated short film. This has has been a labor of love for me all year and I can't wait for you to finally see it

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