Podcast Interview: Zakk Zedras

Ragman chats with guitarist Zakk Zedras of Serpentine Sky. Ripper!Ragman sits down to chat with Zakk Zedras, guitarist for Serpentine Sky, about the band's debut album and how it all came together, as well as plans for the future. It's a great bit of converstation with an interesting perspective from down under.

And show the band some love if you dig what they're puttin' down by purchasing their self-titled album from MelodicRock Records. HORNS UP!

Featured Tracks: Serpentine Sky - Whole Lotta Love, You're the One, For Love the Way, Nobody's Girl, Flower Dolls, and Midnight

Zakk Zedras Interview

Tiles - Pretending 2 Run

How legit is Tiles? This album cover was designed by none other than the legendary Hugh Syme.I remember when I really got into a progmetal frenzy in the early/mid 90s, looking for any other band than Dream Theater that was making progressive music and learning what labels catered to that sound. That quest brought me to Detroit's Tiles and their amazing CD Presents Of Mind. Their classic progressive rock sound was potent and impressive if not as heavy as DT. But in the ensuing years I sort of lost track of them I'm sorry to say. So for me, their latest album, Pretending 2 Run, is the first I've heard from them in about 20 years. And man is it good to have them back.

Pretending 2 Run is a damn fine concept album that tells the tale of a man blindsided and disillusioned by betrayal and includes every progressive hard rock bell and whistle you could ask for from a quartet of master musicians. This is the stuff, man. Kicking off with the Peter Gabriel-esque title track the lads set the stage for a truly theatrical affair, full of imagery and rich texture without being so atmospheric it forgets to rock you. The usual dynamics are masterfully orchestrated, letting the story build organically. The most straight ahead grooving track early on is Stonewall, which includes guest drum work from Mike Portnoy (you'll likely recognize the Winery Dogs-style riffing in the verses), who is not the only guest artist on this release. In fact, you'll find *deep breath* Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull), Mike Stern (Miles Davis), Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree), Kevin Chown (Tarja Turunen, Chad Smith), and Max Portnoy (Next To None) just to name a few. Instrumental junkies will swoon over Voir Dire's manic energy, while others may be captivated by the choir in the baroque arrangements of Refugium and Meditatio. Ian's throaty flute compliments the exotic beauty of Midwinter which leads into the more introspective second CD. But while there's less out and out prog rocking for about half this second disc, this is where the true talent of the band as storytellers comes to the fore. The development of the story is allowed the necessary space to get you immersed in the protagonist's plight, his mindset. It's the kind of commercial risk most bands don't indulge, leaving it to the more seasoned, adventurous, and (ultimately) proficient musicians such as Tiles. This is just brilliant artistic expression, pure and simple. Bravo, lads!

The Bottom Line: Prog fans rejoice. Tiles is back with over 96 minutes of classic progressive hard rock that takes you on an emotional journey thanks to a little help from their friends. The wait has definitely been worth it for Pretending 2 Run, a statement made all the more clear when you consider this band has only put out six studio albums in their 23 year career. You can't rush genius. Now go get it!

- Genghis would *love* to see these cats play live...

Myrath - Legacy

If you've never heard "Oriental metal", you should check out Myrath's latest.It can never be overstated that one of metal's strongest qualities is its diversity. And Franco-Tunisian progressive power metal band Myrath's new album Legacy is testament to that fact. It would be reasonable to fear that the addition of a Middle Eastern sound would come off as a novelty that ultimately derails what would otherwise be pretty good genre fare. But in fact it breathes new life into it, something the band itself calls "oriental metal", taking us back to my original assertion that metal is like a culinary base for almost any spice to be added to for unique and amazing new flavors to be discovered and enjoyed. The first single, Believer, gives a great taste of the overall album, with some energetic singing from Zaher Zorgati and solid solo work from guitarist Malek Ben Arbia.

From there the album continues on a steady path of heavy, rhythmically sophisticated jams that are catchy enough to be worthy of airplay. What I appreciate is that while the lighter moments are great, the heavier tunes such as The Needle (which features some nice Symphony X-style riffing) are every bit as powerful, if not more so by contrast, proving that the band stands firmly by the balls and chunk mantra of all good progmetal. At the risk of sounding reductionist, I would describe it all as Norway's Ark with Enchant's Ted Leonard singing, all filtered through a Middle Eastern melodic sensibility. However you want to think of it, this is some really good progmetal music that deserves a listen.

The Bottom Line: This is some great progmetal with a different twist on the genre from Tunisia of all places. Myrath manages to give the genre a shot in the arm while avoiding the trap of collapsing under the weight of novelty. Nice work!

- Genghis really digs this band - but doesn't "the Orient" traditionally refer to Asia?

Gygax - Critical Hits

Lovers of Eric Harris' brainchild Gypsyhawk will love Gygax.If you got the chance to check out Gypsyhawk when they were around, you may have succumbed to their mighty groove. I know I did. Their brand of Thin Lizzy-esque, 70's hard rocking made for some of the better music of the whole retro craze that burned through metal acts a few years ago. Luckily for us, from the ashes of that outfit comes a second iteration of OG goodness from the mind of bassist/vocalist Eric Harris. Joined by his erstwhile co-hort Bryant Throckmorton (guitar), Eric has assembled a new quartet of rockers around a core love of fantasy literature and role-playing games, Gygax.

This debut album, Critical Hits (nice), is fantastic, with all of the best bits of inspired jamming from Gypsyhawk taken to the next level of custom van-rocking glory. One of the most telling aspects of the sound is the classic twin guitar attack of Throckmorton and [the oh-so-appropriately named] John Lizzy. There's some sweet, sideburn-heavy vibes here and tracks like World Breaker, Draw Breath, and The Hunter's Heart showcase the might of Throckmorton and Lizzy in galloping rockers that threaten to flare out your skinny jeans to Travolta-esque proportions. And don't discount the fuzzy basswork of Eric Harris whose smoky crooning evokes the great Philo himself. If you don't dig this stuff, you just don't dig rock and roll, man.

The Bottom Line: This is plain and simple, kick-ass, rock and roll in the Thin Lizzy mould. If you were a fan of Gypsyhawk, that spirit continues in Gygax. But if you're new to the band, and dig old school grooves when hard rock was hairy and the bands were hairier, this is your jam. So, twist turn it up!

- Genghis fantasizes (way more than he should) about owning a 70s custom Chevy van...

Podcast Interview: Tracy G!

Right To Rock main man Tracy G is back in the [interview] saddle again with Rags.The one the only, inimitable Tracy G is back to talk face to face with Ragman about his latest projects, as well as previous endeavours, in his own candid style. Join us we enjoy a lively chat with one of our absolute favorite guests and friend of the show.

And by all means check out Tracy G's website to see everything he's got for purchase - including White Horse Rider (Lea Almazan and Tracy Grijalva) and This Device EP (Tracy G Group) - cuz we can't praise his talent enough. HORNS UP!

Featured Tracks: Dio - Black, Tracy G Group - Space Beast, This Device, Red, White, Black and Blue, Leech (World Premiere, unreleased track from forthcoming CD!), and WWIII - Call Me Devil

Tracy G Interview