CLASSIC ROCK SOCIETY: NEW SPECIES - VOLUME VII

Compilation CDs of the sampler variety, most often found as attachments to music magazines of various kinds, is a feature that has become increasingly more common in the digital age, presumably as a selling point for paper publications as they try to add a selling point when competing with uncountable numbers of music news outlets available for free on the internet. The value of such sampler CDs is contested, as many find that they devalue the worth of music in general. But outside of the circles of ardent, dedicated music fans these have proven to be rather popular, as they do manage to be of interest to many, especially more casual fans as well as those who don't take the time to search for new music themselves but rather opts to rely on guidance by others. Playing through such a sampler CD is a time efficient manner in which to discover new music that may be worthwhile getting more familiar with.

"New Species Volume VII" dates back to 2013, and was assembled by the Classic Rock Society, attached to their magazine Rock Society (issue 194). As far as such samplers go it features all the low and high points of such compilations: The songs included are of a generally high quality throughout, but the sheer diversity at hand means that the overall appeal will be something of a hit and miss affair, the number of listeners that will find all the songs of an equally high interest will be finite and limited.

Roughly speaking the tracks from 12 artists included may be described in this manner: - Kompendium: Gentle, symphonic progressive rock with orchestral movements and pastoral sequences. - Kingbathmat: Psychedelic rock with space rock elements and a vintage hard rock undercurrent. John Lawton And Diana Express: Classic 70's piano driven hard rock. - The Room: Early 80's Rush meets early 80's Magnum, with a touch of 80's AOR hard rock thrown in for good measure. - Jolly: Dark, oppressive and bleak progressive metal. - Antony Kalugin's Kinematics Orchestra: Careful, exotic material in an Ozric Tentacles meets symphonic progressive rock kind of way. - Tusmorke: Organ and flute driven 70's progressive rock, not all that far removed from the likes of Black Widow. - Panzerballett: Tight, intense metal combined with jazz and jazzrock on top of a reggae backbone. - The Aurora Project: Majestic and tight classic era progressive metal combined with atmospheric laden neo-progresive rock. Ebony Tower: Tight and distinct folk-oriented rock combined with vibrant hard rock. - Karfagen: Scandinavian and Middle East inspired folk music themes explored in a multifaceted symphonic progressive rock context. - Argos: Playful and whimsical progressive rock with firm nods in the direction of the Canterbury bands, with darker undercurrents and occasional classic era Genesis tendencies.

A lot of variety in other words, not all of it material most would categorize as progressive rock either, but first and foremost a case of great diversity.

Sampler CDs of this kind will often turn up as flea market items at giveaway prices or plain and simply given away by people, some will even throw these in the garbage can. Personally I'd recommend this one, as most others of it's kind, as a CD that is a worthwhile listen, and then first and foremost for those with an interest in discovering new music and new artists. Not everything will be as interesting to everybody, true enough, but the very premise of such productions is to include everything alongside the proverbial kitchen sink, so that as broad an audience as possible may discover some music to their liking. As far as I'm concerned this CD accomplish that very well, and as a person with a fairly broad taste I'll readily admit that this was a CD I really enjoyed giving a spin.