SkyTalk, Days in the Sun

A new prog band, SkyTalk, debuts on the recent EP Days in the Sun (self-released). It's Jordon and Talor Steinberg, twin brothers, plus Dan "Ello" Costello. Ello plays the drums, the brothers guitar and bass. They met at SUNY Purchase and found they meshed quickly and well. They wrote the five songs on the EP as they jammed and further refined each their own role in the band.

The result is some elaborately stunning prog with some excellent guitar-bass-drum interactions. The songs get elaborate prog arrangements, some great guitar solos and a sound that hearkens back to classical prog but does NOT sound like any of it exactly. This is original.

The vocals do what they do appropriately but I am very much taken with what the instrumental parts are about, especially.  This is quite nicely done. SkyTalk may be poised on the edge of something very great. As it is they are a band to take notice of. Check out this EP!

Dreadnaught, Have A Drink with Dreadnaught

Dreadnaught's 2001 album was front-and-center on these pages a couple of days ago. They are back some 13 years later with an EP, Have a Drink with Dreadnaught (Red Fez).

What applied to their first album is ditto here. They play a well-arranged kind of prog metal that has the markings of a musical vision that stands within the "tradition" of such music but goes beyond it into original territory.

The guitar work will get your attention, but bass and drums are busy and very engaged too.

The vocals do the job they intend. Songs may not be radio charters but the point is in the elaborate group sound, to my mind, and in that realm you are well served to check this out. If the first album has a slight edge over this one in my mind, this is an EP so of necessity covers less territory.

Nice band!