The Hiet Is On
Prog is not that visible in Finland... but it has a lot of fans!" chuckles Marko Hietala, whose love of all things progressive goes back to a formative experience as a kid in the sub-Arctic Finnish town of Kuopio. "My dad used to be a jazz freak, but he got hooked on Jethro Tull's acoustic music, and after that he started listening to guitar solos. You know, the more the mainstream becomes more about simple music, the more that people who like complex music will move away from it. Maybe it's the same in the UK as well?" It's very much the same, we tell him which is a great thing on this side of the Baltic for Hietala's new album, Roses From The Deep, a hard rock collection with strong prog elements all over it. Highlights include The Dragon Must Die, a prog-metal anthem featuring polyrhythms and celtic melodies; a duet with Charon frontman Juha-Pekka 'JP' Leppäluoto on the anti-war Two Soldiers; and a song called Proud Whore that we ask Hietala to explain.
"That one is about me!" he says with a laugh. "Maybe it's a bit of a controversial title, but that's what we performers are. There's a certain pride in it, even though a lot of people think that we should get a proper job and a haircut. You still encounter those granny attitudes here and there, but you know what? When we go onstage, people go, 'Ooh, great, yeah!' with grins on their faces.
Do you think you'd get the same response if you put a politician or a preacher up there? I don't think so."
Roses... is the second solo release from Hietala, who cut his chops in the metal bands Tarot and Sinergy, the latter of which is wellknown to headbangers worldwide for the presence of Alexi Laiho, the late guitar hero who also founded Children Of Bodom, Finland's second-biggest metal band.
Bu hikaye Prog dergisinin Issue 157 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye Prog dergisinin Issue 157 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
SOLSTICE
Since their formation in 1980, Solstice have been led by guitarist Andy Glass through various hiatuses and line-up changes. It took until 2020 and the start of the Sia trilogy to truly find their feet, but this strange route to success has left them in an interesting position.
SAVATAGE
It's not entirely accurate to use the word \"reunion\" if a band never broke up in the first place, but semantics aside, it's fair to say that American progressive/ power metal trailblazers Savatage have spent the better part of the past two decades far away, in a land caught between time and space.
Against The GRAIN
US veterans Glass Hammer have ripped up their own rulebook - yet again - on Rogue, an hour-long concept album that takes the listener on a journey of self-discovery via life's highs and lows. Bassist and co-founder Steve Babb takes Prog on a deep dive into its themes, its innovative recording process and the global mix of musicians involved in the project, and explains why, after more than 30 years in the saddle, his fire for creative reinvention still burns as brightly as ever.
JOHN LODGE
It’s lovely to be here,” says John Lodge. “In fact, it’s lovely to be anywhere,” he adds, adapting the old joke and explaining that just over a year ago he had a stroke. Yet with “Prayers, love and good vibes,” he continues, “here we are.”
True Or False
Aband featuring members of Porcupine Tree and King Crimson were always going to be considered a prog supergroup, but O.R.k are continuing to prove there is much more beyond the label. With fifth album Firehose Of Falsehoods another impressive addition to the quartet's catalogue, Prog catches up with bassist Colin Edwin to find out more.
HATS OFF GENTLEMEN IT'S ADEQUATE/ GHOST OF THE MACHINE
The new album by modern prog mainstays Hats Off Gentlemen It's Adequate is an expansive, polystylistic release centred on Heisenberg's uncertainty principle.
DIVIDE AND DISSOLVE
Sax, drone and rock'n'roll with an anti-colonial message.
SALLY POTTER
The avant-garde musician, filmmaker and activist on exploring the human connection, staying optimistic in the face of uncertainty and her memories of brother and VdGG bassist Nic.
BLIND CONVERGENCE
Ambitious ambient solo project from Thieves Kitchen guitarist Phil Mercy.
Chris Squire: "The greatest bass player in prog rock history." - his 30 greatest performances
He was one of the most influential and creative rock musicians, who transformed the way the bass was viewed. Chris Squire's impact on the world of progressive rock is still felt to this day, as is the music he played a major role in creating. Prog asks former bandmembers, collaborators and musical fans to share their favourite songs from his back catalogue. Is yours among them?
