Year : 2018
Style : Symphonic Progressive Rock , Female vocals
Country : United States
Audio : 320 kbps + front
Size : 169 mb
Bio:
Glass Hammer is an American progressive rock band from Chattanooga, Tennessee. They formed in 1992 when multi-instrumentalists Steve Babb and Fred Schendel began to write and record “Journey of the Dunadan”, a concept album based on the story of Aragorn from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. To their surprise, the album sold several thousand units via the Internet, The QVC Shop-At-Home Network, and their own toll-free order number. As such, Babb and Schendel were convinced that the band was a project worth continuing. The stage was then set for a successful career that now includes numerous albums, DVDs and an enthusiastic, world-wide fan base that continues to grow at a steady rate.While many musicians have appeared on Glass Hammer albums over the years, Babb and Schendel have remained the core creative force of the band. Both play a variety of instruments, but Babb is better known as the bassist while Schendel is the primary keyboardist. And though they also sing, a number of other vocalists (most notably Michelle Young, Walter Moore, Susie Bogdanowicz, Carl Groves and Jon Davison) have also handled lead vocal duties.Lyrically, Glass Hammer is inspired mostly by their love of literature (most notably Tolkien, C. S. Lewis and John Krakauer) and Babb’s love of Victorian prose and medieval mythology. Musically, they lean towards 70′s driven symphonic rock, focusing on epic-length songs anchored by Babb’s distinctive bass guitar work and strong keyboard playing from Schendel; specifically Hammond organs in the tradition of ELP. They have a superb melodic flow to the music they make, encapsulating real power and dynamics without ever becoming overpowering. Their most apparent influences are Yes, ELP, Genesis, and, to a less noticeable extent, Camel. Fans and critics are usually quick to attest that Glass Hammer have managed to combine those influences into a unique style all their own.Critically acclaimed albums have continued to flow from the Glass Hammer studio, with the most successful and noteworthy being “Chronomtree” (2000), “Lex Rex” (2002), “The Inconsolable Secret” (2005) and “IF” (2010). Vocalists and fan-favorites Carl Groves and Susie Bogdanowicz took a temporary hiatus from the band after 2009 and vocalist Jon Davison took over as lead vocalist for three studio albums; “IF”, “Cor Cordium” and “Perilous”. Kamran Alan Shikoh joined the band at the same time taking on the role of guitarist.Both Shikoh and Davison remain in the group currently, though Davison has also assumed the role as front-man for Yes. This led to Carl Groves rejoining the Glass Hammer in 2013 for live performances and recording. Aaron Raulston joined at the same time as drummer for the group. Susie Bogdanowicz rejoined in late 2013 and is slated to appear along with Raulston, Groves and Shikoh in 2014 concerts.Glass Hammer’s “Ode To Echo” release for 2014 features performances by many of the band’s vocalists, including Bogdanowicz, Young, Moore and Davison, though Carl Groves is handling the lion’s share of the vocal duties for the band. The current official lineup for Glass Hammer is Babb, Schendel, Groves, Shikoh, Raulston, Bogdaniwcz and Davison.Other prog musicians and rock artists have made contributions to Glass Hammer projects, including Jon Anderson of Yes, Arjen Lucassen, Rich Williams and David Ragsdale of Kansas, Rob Reed of Magenta and Randy Jackson of Zebra. Glass Hammer has also appeared with The Adonia String Trio and performed two concerts (2006-2007) with 120 plus member choirs from Belmont University and Lee University.
Album:
American prog band Glass Hammer continues its 25th anniversary celebration with the release of a new live album featuring their performance at last fall's 2 Days + 1 Prog Festival in Veruno, Italy. "It's mostly live because Fred Schendel actually played and re-recorded the guitar back at our studio", reveals bassist Steve Babb. "The Veruno tracks represented an opportunity to do something really unique with our 'Valkyrie' album material: adding some new ideas to the mix while preserving the integrity and energy of the live show. 'Mostly Live In Italy' represents our first-ever concert in Italy and we were determined to create an incredible memento from that experience that our fans would love!" Nearly the entire "Valkyrie" album is included in this performance along with approximately twenty minutes of other Glass Hammer classics including "If The Sun".
Line Up:
Susie Bogdanowicz (lv, bv)
Kamran Alan Shikoh (g, electric si)
Fred Schendel (k, g, bv)
Steve Babb (b, k, bv)
Aaron Raulston (d)
Tracklist:
01. The Fields We Know
02. Golden Days
03. No Man's Land
04. Nexus Girl
05. Fog Of War
06. Dead And Gone
07. Eucatastrophe
08. Rapturo
09. Glass Hammer Medley (Chronos Deliverer / If The Sun)
10. Hyperbole
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
