Year : 2025
Style : Progressive Metal
Country : United States
Audio : 320 kbps + front
Size : 137 mb
Bio:
Progressive rock / metal band formed by Ted Leonard & Michael Harris...Thought Chamber is a progressive metal supergroup assembled by Michael Harris and manager John Purdom.The band, also featuring vocalist Ted Leonard (Enchant), began through an internet ad placed by Harris. After Michael and Ted spent quite some time crafting the material, they then united with the rhythm section of Haji’s Kitchen (formerly on Shrapnel Records) and Outworld keyboardist Bobby Williamson to form “Thought Chamber”. This group is all about songs and musicianship, with styles ranging from metal to jazz to classical tinged prog. The debut CD is entitled “Angular Perceptions”, which the band has secured a deal for with InsideOut Music, and was released on April 3, 2007 worldwide. The band is presently working on their follow up record.Pyskerion will be released on October 1, 2013. The album will be composed of 16 songs.
Album:
The founder and mastermind behind THOUGHT CHAMBER, the multi-talented and seasoned guitarist/composer Michael Harris (DARKOLOGY, ARCH RIVAL, VITALIJ KURPIJ), began composing music for this project right after the release of his solo album titled “Sketches From the Thought Chamber” (IMF, 2001).The compositions for the debut album, “Angular Perceptions” (InsideOut, 2007) were completed in 2004, and it was two years later that the band THOUGHT CHAMBER was formed. The line-up featured the charismatic Ted Leonard (ENCHANT, AFFECTOR, SPOCK’S BEARD) on vocals, Rob Stankiewicz on drums and Derek Blakley on bass—both from HAJI’S KITCHEN—as well as Bobby Williamson on keyboards, Blakley’s bandmate from EUMERIA.Despite the overall strong reception of “Angular Perceptions” by the prog metal community, it would take a full six years before the second THOUGHT CHAMBER album, “Psykerion” (InsideOut, 2013), would see the light of day. In this release, the revamped line-up—with Mike Haid on drums and Jeff Plant on bass forming the rhythm section, and Bill Jenkins handling keyboards—seemed to better serve Harris’ vision. The boundaries of expression were completely shattered, as masterful technique unfolded through idiosyncratic compositions that, although initially surprising, ultimately won me over completely as a listener.Unfortunately, for the third album, we had to be twice as patient, as twelve years would pass before we finally heard the thrilling news a few months ago about the upcoming release of THOUGHT CHAMBER’s new work, this time through Lion Music.On “Myst Of Lyriad”, the band sees no line-up changes apart from the departure of Ted Leonard. Now 65 years old, Michael Harris—with a solo career spanning over 35 years and a discography dating back to 1986—continues to lead and compose for THOUGHT CHAMBER, handling guitars, keyboards, and contributing vocals. Bill Jenkins (ENCHANT) continues his excellent work on keys, while Mike Haid, with valuable experience supporting demanding guitar virtuosos (DAVID CHASTAIN, JOE STUMP, GUS G.) and a jazz background, delivers textbook drumming. Meanwhile, Jeff Plant matches that standard on bass with equally lofty playing, boasting collaborations with legendary guitarists such as JIMI TUNNEL and MARCELLO BERESTOVOY.On vocals, we find the phenomenal Travis Wills (CRIMSON GLORY, INFIDEL RISING), the multi-talented John Jaycee Cuijpers -who has worked with ANGUS, BATTLEROAR, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, and ARJEN LUCASSEN’S SUPERSONIC REVOLUTION– as well as the great Devon Graves (PSYCHOTIC WALTZ, DEADSOUL TRIBE).Without a doubt, with such names in the line-up, “Myst Of Lyriad” raises expectations sky-high. And it takes just one listen to be convinced that it surpasses them—in the most impressive way imaginable!From the opening “Myst Of Lyriad”, a melodic, multi-layered symphonic prog masterpiece, the album pulls us into its magical world, continuing the thematic thread of “Psykerion”. When a song can dazzle both a SAVATAGE fan and a THRESHOLD enthusiast, that alone is a statement!“Identity Theft” follows with stunning rhythm changes, keeping the tone close to exotic melodies—one of my personal favorites on the album, clearly evoking the classic sound of bands like FATES WARNING and DREAM THEATER. “New Dawn Sun Ride”, softer and more ethereal, showcases impressive orchestration and a clever musical style reminiscent of modern commercial prog rock, while “Rainless”, released just a few days ago as the first single, could single-handedly represent the entire album! Epic in scale and multifaceted, perhaps the standout composition of “Myst Of Lyriad”, a playground of flawless musicianship and technical finesse that not only doesn’t sacrifice emotional depth and melodic drama but enhances and elevates them with masterful brilliance. One of the best tracks I’ve heard this year!Fans of SYMPHONY X, SHADOW GALLERY, CONCEPTION, and PSYCHOTIC WALTZ will rejoice, 70s prog lovers will be elated, and every metalhead who appreciates the so-called “intelligent” side of the metal genre will be ecstatic. Personally, I’d define “intelligent metal” not as mere innovative technical mastery, nor as radical, erudite experimentation, nor even as intricate songwriting and complex forms; but rather as the kind that aims to translate the interplay of virtuoso musicians moving through diverse structures and references, creating a chemistry that ultimately speaks to a more discerning and receptive audience – ready to expand its horizons, not as an end in itself, but as an organic, functional, and experiential process.Tracks like “Here Upon This Earth”, which evokes RAINBOW-like associations (I was enjoyably reminded of DIAMONDS HADDER) in a gorgeous, fresh, almost cinematic take, and also “Shine Again” and “Digitized”, with their familiar yet transcendent AOR hard rock essence mid-tracklist, massively reinforce the album’s consistency and expressive quality.Next comes the instrumental “A Quinkle In Time”, which, although it showcases the band members’ musical talent, doesn’t offer anything particularly special and breaks what had been an astonishing streak of well-placed tracks. However, “Nyctophobia” quickly restores order and proper dimension! Simple, brilliant, inspired—an ideal way to close the album—while the two-minute instrumental “Leaving Lyriad” merely complements it, for a stronger, more striking finale.I’ll dare say that “Myst Of Lyriad” is an album that MUST BE HEARD AND DISCUSSED, as it marks a triumphant return for THOUGHT CHAMBER—a true musical food for thought, but above all, a delightful prog extravaganza!The mixing and mastering was done by Davide Sgualdini at Studio LaMorte (Cagliari, Italy)—a truly exemplary job.“Myst of Lyriad” will be released on August 22nd by Lion Music in digital format.
Line Up:
Michael Harris - Guitars, Vocals, Keyboards (2006-present) - See also: Crucial Velocity, Darkology, Michael Harris, ex-Arch Rival, ex-Counterpoint, ex-Surgeon, ex-Zanister, The Michael Harris Tranz-Fusion, ex-Leather, ex-Vitalij Kuprij, ex-Tyrant
Jeff Plant - Bass
Mike Haid - Drums
Bill Jenkins - Keyboards - See also: Enchant
+ guests:
Travis Wills (lv)
Devon Graves (lv)
John Jaycee Cuijpers (lv)
Tracklist:
01. Myst of Lyriad
02. Identity Theft
03. New Dawn Sun Ride
04. Rainless
05. Here Upon this Earth
06. Shine Again
07. Digitized
08. A Twinkle in Time
09. Nyctophobia
10. Leaving Lyriad
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
