Into the Maelstrom (album)

Last updated

Into the Maelstrom
Bigelfmaelstromartwork.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 3, 2014
Genre Progressive rock, psychedelic rock, progressive metal
Length62:20
Label Inside Out Music
Bigelf chronology
Cheat the Gallows
(2008)
Into the Maelstrom
(2014)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Thrash HitsStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Into the Maelstrom is the fourth studio album by American psychedelic/progressive rock band Bigelf, released in Europe on March 3, 2014, and in North America on April 1. It is their first album since August 2008, their longest non-album gap, and the first since the departure of long time members Steve Frothingham and Ace Mark. They have since been replaced by guitarist Luis Maldonado and guest drummer Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater fame. [2] The album comes in a limited edition with a bonus CD containing remixes and demo versions, as well as a 2LP vinyl edition with the full album on CD. [2]

Contents

Into the Maelstrom is Bigelf's first album released by the record label Inside Out Music, which specializes in progressive rock. [3]

Vocalist, keyboardist and frontman Damon Fox has stated that he was unsure of this future in music, but after keeping talks with Mike Portnoy since his departure from Dream Theater, he was convinced to carry on with Bigelf. [4]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Damon Fox.

No.TitleLength
1."Incredible Time Machine"3:57
2."Hypersleep"5:38
3."Already Gone"3:29
4."Alien Frequency"4:15
5."The Professor & the Madman"6:00
6."Mr. Harry McQuhae"6:14
7."Vertigod"3:58
8."Control Freak"2:52
9."High"7:11
10."Edge of Oblivion"6:34
11."Theater of Dreams"4:02
12."ITM"
  • "I. Destination Unknown"
  • "II. Harbinger of Death"
  • "III. "Memories"
8:10
Bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
13."Control Freak (Freak Mix)"3:09
14."Control Freak (Remix)"2:51
15."Alien Frequency (Remix)"4:15

Personnel

Related Research Articles

Dream Theater American progressive metal band

Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to concentrate further on the band that would eventually become Dream Theater. Though a number of lineup changes followed, the three original members remained together until September 8, 2010, when Portnoy left the band and he was replaced several months later by Mike Mangini. James LaBrie has been the lead singer of Dream Theater since 1991, replacing Charlie Dominici who had left the band two years earlier. Dream Theater's first keyboardist, Kevin Moore, left the band after three albums and was replaced by Derek Sherinian in 1995 after a period of touring. After one album with Sherinian, the band replaced him with current keyboardist Jordan Rudess in 1999.

Transatlantic (band)

Transatlantic is a multinational progressive rock supergroup consisting of Neal Morse, Roine Stolt, Pete Trewavas and Mike Portnoy. They formed in 1999 as a side project to their full-time bands, but disbanded in 2002. They then reunited in 2009.

Liquid Tension Experiment American progressive metal supergroup

Liquid Tension Experiment (LTE) is an American instrumental progressive metal supergroup, founded by Mike Portnoy, then Dream Theater's drummer, in 1997. The band has released two albums through Magna Carta Records. A third album, with the absence of John Petrucci was released in 2007 under the name "Liquid Trio Experiment". A live album with the absence of Jordan Rudess (mostly) was released in 2009 under the name "Liquid Trio Experiment 2". Three live albums and two videos were released in 2009 by the complete band.

<i>Office of Strategic Influence</i> (album) 2003 studio album by OSI

Office of Strategic Influence is the first studio album by American progressive rock band OSI, released by Inside Out Music on February 18, 2003. The album was recorded in June 2002 and mixed in August 2002 at the Carriage House Studios in Stamford, Connecticut.

Neal Morse Musical artist

Neal Morse is an American singer, musician and composer based in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1992, he formed the progressive rock band Spock's Beard with his brother Alan and released an album which was moderately successful. In 1999, he joined Dream Theater's co-founder and then drummer Mike Portnoy, together with Flower Kings' Roine Stolt and Marillion's Pete Trewavas they formed the super-group Transatlantic. In 2002, Neal Morse became a born again Christian, left Spock's Beard and began a Christian rock solo career, releasing many progressive rock concept albums about his new religious faith. In the meantime, he continued to play with Transatlantic and formed three new bands with Portnoy, Yellow Matter Custard, Flying Colors and The Neal Morse Band.

Mike Portnoy American musician

Michael Stephen Portnoy is an American musician and songwriter who is primarily known as the former drummer, backing vocalist, and a co-founder of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. In September 2010, Portnoy announced his departure from Dream Theater after 25 years, with Mike Mangini taking his place as drummer of the band. Since his departure Portnoy has remained active, with a variety of bands and projects, including Adrenaline Mob, Transatlantic, Yellow Matter Custard, Flying Colors, The Winery Dogs, Liquid Tension Experiment, Metal Allegiance, Sons of Apollo, the Neal Morse Band and BPMD.

<i>Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory</i> 1999 studio album by Dream Theater

Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory is the fifth studio album and first concept album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, released on October 26, 1999 through Elektra Records. It was recorded at BearTracks Studios in Suffern, New York, where the band had previously recorded their second studio album Images and Words (1992) and the EP A Change of Seasons (1995).

<i>Images and Words</i> 1992 studio album by Dream Theater

Images and Words is the second studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, released on July 7, 1992, through Atco Records. It is the first Dream Theater release to feature James LaBrie on vocals. Since its release, the album has maintained its position as the band's most commercially successful studio album, and the song "Pull Me Under" has the distinction of being the only Top 10 hit the band has had to date. This particular song has also had more recent success as it has appeared in the 2008 video game Guitar Hero World Tour.

Kevin Moore Musical artist

Kevin Moore is an American keyboardist, vocalist, composer, and founder of the Chroma Key music project. He is also a former member of the American progressive metal/rock band Dream Theater, co-founder of the progressive rock supergroup O.S.I., and a composer of film soundtracks. Throughout his career, he has become known for his emotional music and lyrics, nomadic lifestyle and use of spoken word samples.

John Petrucci American guitarist, composer and producer

John Peter Petrucci is an American guitarist, composer and producer. He is best known as a founding member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. He produced or co-produced all of Dream Theater's albums from Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory (1999) to A View from the Top of the World (2021), and has been the sole producer of the band's albums released since A Dramatic Turn of Events (2011). Petrucci has also released two solo albums: Suspended Animation (2005) and Terminal Velocity (2020).

<i>When Dream and Day Unite</i> 1989 studio album by Dream Theater

When Dream and Day Unite is the debut studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, released on March 6, 1989, through Mechanic/MCA Records. The album is composed mostly of material that originally surfaced during the band's early years as Majesty, and it is the only Dream Theater album to be recorded with their full original lineup. James LaBrie replaced Charlie Dominici as the lead vocalist on all subsequent albums.

Derek Sherinian American keyboardist (born 1966)

Derek Sherinian is an American keyboardist who has toured and recorded for Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, and Joe Bonamassa, among others. He was also a member of Dream Theater from 1994 to 1999, is the founder of Planet X and also one of the founding members of Black Country Communion and Sons of Apollo. He has released eight solo albums that have featured a variety of prominent guest musicians, including guitarists Slash, Yngwie Malmsteen, Allan Holdsworth, Steve Lukather, Joe Bonamassa, Billy Sheehan, Zakk Wylde and Al Di Meola.

Inside Out Music is a German independent record label originally based in Kleve, North Rhine-Westphalia, and dedicated to the publication of progressive rock, progressive metal and related styles. In 2009, it formed a partnership with Century Media Records and moved its base of operations to Dortmund, also in North Rhine-Westphalia. In August 2015, Century Media was acquired by Sony Music and became its premier label for progressive music.

<i>Systematic Chaos</i> 2007 studio album by Dream Theater

Systematic Chaos is the ninth studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater. Released on June 4, 2007 in the United Kingdom and June 5, 2007 in the United States, Systematic Chaos was the band's first release through Roadrunner Records, which was sold to their previous label Atlantic Records, through which the band had released their previous studio album Octavarium (2005). The album was recorded from September 2006 to February 2007 at Avatar Studios in New York City, after the band's first break from summer touring in ten years. The lyrics of the album were written by John Petrucci, James LaBrie, and Mike Portnoy about fictional, political, and personal topics, respectively.

<i>Chaos in Motion 2007–2008</i> 2008 video by Dream Theater

Chaos in Motion 2007–2008 is a DVD from the progressive metal band Dream Theater. Released on September 30, 2008, the DVD contains a compilation of live concerts from the band's Chaos in Motion Tour, in support of their 9th studio album Systematic Chaos. This was also the band’s last official live album to be released with their founding member and drummer Mike Portnoy before his departure from the band in September 2010. The tour, which lasted from June 3, 2007, to June 4, 2008, contained 115 shows throughout 35 countries. Two forms of the DVD were released, a 2-disc set and a 5-disc special edition. The special edition was limited to 5,000 copies.

Bigelf

Bigelf is an American progressive rock/progressive metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1991. They have since released four studio albums.

<i>A Dramatic Turn of Events</i> 2011 studio album by Dream Theater

A Dramatic Turn of Events is the eleventh studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, released worldwide in September 2011 through Roadrunner Records. It is the band's first recording to feature drummer Mike Mangini, following the departure of founding member Mike Portnoy in September 2010. The album was written, recorded, mixed, and mastered between January and June 2011 at Cove City Sound Studios in Long Island, New York. It was produced by guitarist John Petrucci and mixed by Andy Wallace. Two singles, "On the Backs of Angels" and "Build Me Up, Break Me Down", were released in promotion of the album.

Flying Colors is an American supergroup composed of Mike Portnoy, Dave LaRue, Casey McPherson, Neal Morse, and Steve Morse. The band's mission, chartered by executive producer Bill Evans, is to combine complex music with accessible songwriting. Flying Colors, on Mascot Label Group, has released three studio albums, and three live albums, to commercial success and critical acclaim.

<i>Live at Luna Park</i> 2013 live album by Dream Theater

Live at Luna Park is the seventh live album and video by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, released on November 5, 2013, through Eagle Rock Entertainment. The concert film was produced by Over The Edge Productions and directed by Mike Leonard. The album is available as a two-disc DVD, single-disc Blu-ray, 2DVD/3CD, Blu-ray/3CD, and a deluxe edition box set including all three formats with a 40-page book. Both the album and video are also available as digital downloads.

Tiles is an American progressive rock band from Detroit, Michigan, United States. Tiles have released several albums on Inside Out Music and toured internationally since the release of their first album in 1994.

References

  1. Karma Bertelesen (April 4, 2014). "Album: Bigelf – Into The Maelstrom". Thrash Hits. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
  2. 1 2 "BIGELF: 'Into The Maelstrom' EPK Available". Blabbermouth.net . February 21, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  3. Camargo, Diego (February 2014). "News: Bigelf Return With Their New Album Into The Maelstrom". Progshine. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  4. Kielty, Martin (January 24, 2014). "Bigelf's Maelstrom Details Released". Prog. Archived from the original on March 9, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2014.