(Un)Focused Definition Ep. 59: The Mid-Year Metal Report

I’ll be honest: about half of my trip to Italy was spent listening to Italian progressive rock – mainly the Quella Vecchio Locanda debut, the debut from Le Orme I also picked up while at Discoteca Laziale in Rome, and some mid-70s Banco del Mutuo Soccorso. Another quarter was spent listening to David Bowie live albums, and then the last few days was a mad escapade trying to sort my mid-year report for Nine Circles. Usually I do nine records as part of our Nine Circles ov… series, but something happened. Turns out I loved metal this year. I think it gave me a lot of comfort in times of great stress and depression. So not nine, not even a baker’s dozen…but 32 albums, a tasting of which is presented for your perusal, enjoyment, or distress below.

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(Un)Focused Definition Ep. 36: The Inevitable One With Dream Theater

I really wanted to get at least one more review out this week, but life is insane with, well…(gestures at pretty much everything). When the world is an absolute garbage fire there are few places of solitude and solace to be found, and I found it…in Dream Theater. Yeah, I got my copy of Parasomnia a week early because I’m that kind of nerd (and use LaserCD for my prog and Japanese Jazz needs) so I’ve been soaking myself in progressive metal and trying to shut everything else out. I also have been knee deep in discovering a new favorite director, so even though it’s not music I urge you to check out the films of Abbas Kiarostami if your unfamiliar and want t0 see a true master play with the form without sacrificing any of the nuance or insight into the human condition. Seriously, he’s been a revelation to me in these troubled times. Enough moping; let’s get into the music.

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