TALKING PERSPECTIVES: "Unknown Band Deserving A Bigger Audience / LANCE KING - ReProgram / DEVIN TOWNSEND

With a career that spans back to the early 80s, Minnesota-based singer Lance King has gained global recognition for his impeccable timbre, mile-wide range, and towering persona while fronting such luminary bands as Pyramaze and Balance of Power. Fresh off the release of his second solo album, ReProgram, King was a good enough chap to join semi-regular Talking Perspectives panelist Austin Kokel and humble host Gonzalo Pozo for another lengthy chat about life, music, and everything.

The trio discusses artists whom they believe deserve a bigger audience, and the names mentioned range from Scottish black metal natureboys Saor, Christian-themed Danish rockers Phonomik, and the Argentine tango master Astor Piazzolla. The three also recommend Vitral, Chaos Frame, and Aeternam before King Lance gives us the lengthy skinny on his storied career, going into detail on his guest appearance at Crimson Glory‘s magical Tribute to Midnight at ProgPower X, which saw him share the stage with Mark Boals of Royal Hunt and Yngwie Malmsteen; Sean Peck of Cage; Chris Salinas of Zero Hour and Power of Omens; and many, many others. We also get to hear him sing the praises of former Iced Earth frontman Matt Barlow, who succeeded Lance in Pyramaze.

Austin and Gonzo then pick Lance’s brain about the material, inspiration, and writing process of ReProgram, a laudably focused and varied record that Austin saw fit to award an 8.5 in the Sonic Perspectives album review section. Lance discusses how his personal philosophies, fronting bands with two lead guitarists, and a close encounter with death helped shape the sound and identity we hear on ReProgram, and somehow manages to force our bewildered panel to defend the concept of sex robots. But you’ll have to listen to get the juicy details.

This episode’s panel then wraps things up with an analysis of Devin Townsend’s monstrous new record Empath, citing the mastery of composition, performance, production, and marketing that have made what was literally supposed to be a pop album impossible for retailers to keep in stock. So pop open a brew, start rewiring your house, and brace yourselves for another Talking Perspectives that clocks in at over two hours after several rounds of editing.