guitarrero


 a bit too "one coloured" for my taste though

I do have to agree with this though, and it reminded me of Transatlantic's "The Whirlwind" cover when I first saw it, but other than that, it's great! Thanks for the new desktop background!

Monkey killing monkey over pieces of the ground.

Well, I specifically asked for that color scheme to match the web site.  There are other reasons for the color scheme that I don't want to get into just yet.

It's not possible to please everyone with anything as subjective as music or art.  The vast overwhelming majority of people who have seen the artwork love it, and I love it, and that's good enough for me.

But more importantly, I think we have a really cool album that a lot of people will enjoy.

KirksNoseHair
But more importantly, I think we have a really cool album that a lot of people will enjoy.

You said it, man! And don't get me wrong: I really really dig the Artwork and if it suits the music that's even better! :) But at the first look i think it could also look great with some other colors... but you know how it is: The "Better" is the archenemy of the "Good" ;)

Sounds cool, KNH, I'll definitely get a copy when you put it out. The history geek in me's really excited about the epic. Rome, the Viking period, and Egypt are three areas of history that I only have a cursory knowledge of, so maybe this will be a springboard to learning about three awesome periods of history.

Album artwork, as has previously been mentioned, looks very Ayreon-esque. First thing I thought of was "a busier Human Equation."

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guitarrero

KirksNoseHair
But more importantly, I think we have a really cool album that a lot of people will enjoy.

You said it, man! And don't get me wrong: I really really dig the Artwork and if it suits the music that's even better! :) But at the first look i think it could also look great with some other colors... but you know how it is: The "Better" is the archenemy of the "Good" ;)

It's all good, man, I totally respect and EXPECT different opinions on every aspect of the album from the lyrics to the music to the artwork.

DTAggie


Sounds cool, KNH, I'll definitely get a copy when you put it out. The history geek in me's really excited about the epic. Rome, the Viking period, and Egypt are three areas of history that I only have a cursory knowledge of, so maybe this will be a springboard to learning about three awesome periods of history.

Album artwork, as has previously been mentioned, looks very Ayreon-esque. First thing I thought of was "a busier Human Equation."

That's cool man, if you are a history geek, then you will REALLY enjoy the music, because ALL of the lyrics were meticulously researched and are 100% historically accurate.

Martin is one of my all-time favorite cover artists!   Very much looking forward to hearing the music... Lots of extremely talented musicians!

Digging on that solo KNH!!!   I'm really excited for this release.    I promise to pick up a copy when I'm back to work.

" Better the pride that resides in a citizen of the world
Than the pride that divides when a colorful rag is unfurled" - Neil Peart
My Facebook page

Thanks again for all of the support.  I won't bump this thread again until we have some better samples and a significant update.

KirksNoseHair

I won't bump this thread again until we have some better samples and a significant update.

But I will, because I feel stupid for having missed it amidst all the threads about my own project
and then asking a question in another thread that was perfectly answered in this one already.

LOL, no problem dude

Update please :)

That looks good, but does not amaze me.
I'm not bashing you, only telling what I feel.

Yeah, like some said, a bit of colour would have been great, but some things are done on purpose, I don't know if it's the case but if you have a reason for this that's fine!

Also, the cover shows world-known monuments and an apocalyptic feel to it... I don't know but I've got over all this kind of thing and I don't think that anyone could bring something new, original to this, as it has been used many many times. If you do, bravo!

So that was my "review" of your album's artwork! I know it has surely been a lot of work, getting the pictures and all melting them together, and I'm not really good on photoshop (I don't even have it!). I'm not here to praise nor bash anyone, it's only my own tastes! :)

Keep up the work though, your concept album thing caught my curiosity and I'll probably check this when some songs are available.

On the brink, a boy learns to run

Update...hmm, ok.

Brick Williams, mastermind of "Album of the Year" winners on Perfectprog.com, Hourglass just laid down three guitar solos for us over the weekend.  Jaws will be dropping.  The solos are amazing.

The title track is now written and the first version demoed.  Think: Kansas meets Dream Theater.  Very nice track, that showcases our incredibly talented keyboardist's piano, moog, mellotron and hammond playing.

Lee Abraham, who is doing the mixing and mastering, has also graciously agreed to lay down some bass tracks for the two "short" tracks on the album "Fly" and "Carpe Diem"

Chris Harrison, who is in the ONLY "officially sanctioned Iron Maiden tribute band" (Hi-On Maiden) just laid down two killer guitar solos for one of the epics, "Vikings"

Josh Sager (www.joshsager.com) who is 1/2 of the most excellent prog outfit Din Within (check out their 2007 masterpiece "Awaken The Man" I guarantee fans of symphonic prog will lap it right up!) is in the process, this week, of laying down some guitar solos for the BIG epic, Egypt....he was busting my balls yesterday about having to solo over a 9/4 groove LMAO!! (why do you think I asked YOU to play the solo over that part, chief?  LOL)

um, what else....let's see....

Oh, yeah, there is a little bit of spoken narration in the song "Vikings" and that was recorded yesterday by our Executive Producer, his daughter Hannah and his friend Chris Higgins.

And final guitar tracks will probably be recorded over the next month.

Drum tracks are in progress.  Two songs are done, one is very close, the others need some tweaking.

Violin parts are moving right along.  (there are just a few) Violin_Theater, who posts here is doing a killer job on that for us.

We may have room for ONE MORE guitar solo if anyone is interested, send me a PM.

Still pretty much on target for a hopeful late spring (May/June) release.

And I am absolutely going to lose my ass on this thing financially.  I've already spent about 3 grand and I haven't even talked to anyone about pressing or duplication.  Ahh, fuck it, I'm not doing it for the money anyway.  But I'll be very lucky to break even.

That's about it for now, thanks for your interest.

KirksNoseHair

The title track is now written and the first version demoed.  Think: Kansas meets Dream Theater.  Very nice track, that showcases our incredibly talented keyboardist's piano, moog, mellotron and hammond playing.
Violin parts are moving right along.  (there are just a few) Violin_Theater, who posts here is doing a killer job on that for us.

Thanks for the update, Kirk! I'm really excited to get my hands on this when it is released. Kansas meets DT and violins has me intrigued already. This is gonna be one amazing Prog record.

http://www.last.fm/user/newThreefanatic

Saw the cover and thought 'meh' (sorry), but heard the clip and if its anything to go by, you can expect an order from me and exhortations to everyone I know to order too.
very very nice!

Kirk...

This is the first time I read your thread...
What can I say, man... I'm amazed. Everything looks and sounds very promising.
It seems you are very excited realizing this thing and very "nitpicking" that this will be a perfect piece of music.

So... All the best wishes that you can finish this project in the near future without ruining yourself finanically


And then switch over quickly to the other project!!!

postproggist


That looks good, but does not amaze me.
I'm not bashing you, only telling what I feel.

Yeah, like some said, a bit of colour would have been great, but some things are done on purpose, I don't know if it's the case but if you have a reason for this that's fine!

Also, the cover shows world-known monuments and an apocalyptic feel to it... I don't know but I've got over all this kind of thing and I don't think that anyone could bring something new, original to this, as it has been used many many times. If you do, bravo!

So that was my "review" of your album's artwork! I know it has surely been a lot of work, getting the pictures and all melting them together, and I'm not really good on photoshop (I don't even have it!). I'm not here to praise nor bash anyone, it's only my own tastes! :)

Keep up the work though, your concept album thing caught my curiosity and I'll probably check this when some songs are available.

heh, the only "work" I had to do for the artwork involved emptying my wallet

Don't let the artwork talk you into what the album is about.  Artwork can be deceiving sometimes

van Furlay


Kirk...

This is the first time I read your thread...
What can I say, man... I'm amazed. Everything looks and sounds very promising.
It seems you are very excited realizing this thing and very "nitpicking" that this will be a perfect piece of music.

So... All the best wishes that you can finish this project in the near future without ruining yourself finanically


And then switch over quickly to the other project!!!

Well, I don't think we will achieve perfection.  Does anyone?  But we do want to try to put out a quality product.  I know that the production will be stellar.  There will be some killer performances from the musicians, we have really, really great lyrics.....I guess the question will come down to whether or not I wrote good songs.  I've let a few of my close circle of friends hear some of the demos and the response has been very positive so I'm encouraged.  I know you can't please everyone, and I expect plenty of criticism, which will be taken very seriously and constructively so that we can improve with the next album, which is already in the planning stages.

Yeah, of course... I meant "perfect" in the kind of way that you advocate that this record will be as good as possible. I know... Everybody tries exactly this, but as far as I can assess it from what I can hear, see and read in this thread what you'll come up with will be on another level than other people's outputs...

Makes sense that you are wondering how the reactions will be and that you are a bit sceptical, if the people will like what you created, when this record is so dear to your heart.
But I guess you'll have to wait and see relating to this thing...

Anyway...
I keep my fingers crossed that everything will work as you want it to work!

Thanks, Dennis, I appreciate that.

No problem... You're always welcome, Kirk.

But I wouldn't say it, if I don't mean it...

Bring it on!

Yeah, so anyway, a quick update here:

I got the guitar solos back from Hourglass's Brick Williams (Brickglass here on the forum) and all I can say about them is they are absolutely STUNNING! 

We gave Mr. Williams a chance to demonstrate both his melodic playing as well as his more shredding style, and he really rose to the challenge!

Also, another update:  We are pleased to welcome Stefan from "Relocator" to the project.  Stefan will be playing a couple of guitar solos in the "flagship" track on the album, the closing 24 minute epic "Egypt"

   I'm getting more STOKEDDDD for this CD, I can't even imagine how good the musicianship is gonna be on this!!!!

http://www.last.fm/user/newThreefanatic