Caligonaut – Magnified as Giants Chalk this up as one of 2021’s unexpected surprises coming out of nowhere. While Ole Michael Bjørndal may already be known to a few through his work with Oak and Airbag/Bjorn Riis, this solo debut will put his Caligonaut project on the map, even as its meaning is translated to “traveler of the mist”. That these four Bjørndal pieces bear a similar resemblance to fellow Norwegian band Wobbler should come as no surprise – several of that band’s members support his vocal and guitar work throughout the album. Wobbler bassist Kristian Hultgren plays a foundational…

“Sweet Mother of Jesus! It’s…Olias of Sunhillow!” Those dry words fell out of the mouth of none other than Roger Dean as he spotted the Olias t-shirt that I was wearing while perusing his gallery. Like a deer caught in the headlights, I quickly realized my faux pas. For, unlike the many Yes albums of the era for which Dean famously created the cover art, he had ultimately NOT been commissioned to design Olias although initial overtures had been made (the album credits thank Dean for “Planting the seed” via the Fragile cover). Perhaps it had left a bad taste…

Chicago-based instrumental metal trio AZIOLA CRY is set to release their third album “The Ironic Divide”, on late March through New Jersey-based progressive metal label Sensory Records. Today we are premiering their single for the track “Hollow Reflections”, which can be seen below. Looking into a mirror, the protagonist begins to appear unrecognizable, as only a fragment of who they once were. The good that once existed is now fading and being replaced with hatred. This is the basis of “Hollow Reflections.” “Intended as a somewhat break in heaviness, this was the last song written for the album. I like to write…