Progarchives, the progressive rock ultimate discography

GALAAD

Eclectic Prog • Switzerland


From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Galaad picture
Galaad biography
Founded in Moutier, Switzerland in 1988 - Disbanded in 1997 - Reformed in 2016

GALAAD makes a keyboard driven music, and the vocals (in french) stand out pretty much as well. Songs are of full of shifting moods, aggressive singing, complex rhythms, soaring guitar solos, fantastic Moog lines, and beautiful pastoral flute and piano duets. Another group in the new wave of French neo-progressive bands. They are a band to watch!

GALAAD Videos (YouTube and more)


Showing only random 3 | Show all GALAAD videos (1) | Search and add more videos to GALAAD

Buy GALAAD Music


GALAAD discography


Ordered by release date | Showing ratings (top albums) | Help Progarchives.com to complete the discography and add albums

GALAAD top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.86 | 37 ratings
Premier Février
1992
3.62 | 45 ratings
Vae Victis
1996
3.88 | 32 ratings
Frat3r
2019
4.04 | 44 ratings
Paradis posthumes
2021

GALAAD Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

GALAAD Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

GALAAD Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

GALAAD Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

GALAAD Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Paradis posthumes by GALAAD album cover Studio Album, 2021
4.04 | 44 ratings

BUY
Paradis posthumes
Galaad Eclectic Prog

Review by alainPP

5 stars GALAAD is releasing its 4th CD at the start of the year; after founding in 1988, dissolving and reuniting they may have found their musical Nirvana with age. I say no more because I have already reviewed their penultimate! Keyboards, Moog, guitar solos and expressive vocals in French, aggressive lyrics about man's eternal struggle against his destiny, flirting with prog metal, grunge and finally crossover with reminiscences progressive 80 '; an epic metallic sound, pop at times and an amazing groove atmosphere. Fragile as hard, delicate as abrupt, the musical oxymoron is on the other side of the border, let's see if it stays in the footsteps of "Frat3r" or returns to the fundamental "Vae Victis". A sound originally smelling good of GENESIS, MARILLION or ANGE, there more muscular-prog crossover like a musical bomb filled with emotions; this latest album is a snub to death, to the sad fate, to the battered fate of humanity. Stan W. Decker cover for info.

"Terra" for a devastating, original, punchy, progressive intro; it oozes everywhere, it's symphonic, dithyrambic, innovative and majestic that's all of it. "Apocalypse" drives the point home, in a neo-prog and prog-metallic way; bass power, attention-grabbing melody, energetic PyT voice accompanying the various instruments; metallic and rhythmic prog drawer, on overboosted MINIMUM VITAL, on degreased ETERNITY X, a little RIVERSIDE, a lot of MARILLION especially for the Rotheryenne guitar; there is an emphatic side that goes well with this title that allows Molière's language to be magnified here. "Moments" and a monolithic keyboard starting with the voice flirting with that of Leonetti from LAZULI; a slightly soaring mid-tempo, Rothery is behind the stage, the orgasmic vocal rise gives a ... romantic moment of ecstasy and drowns in the notes, the guitar solo engulfs the last recalcitrant who reads this note. "The dream of unity" basic synthetic entry and marillionian guitar then ouh the ANGEL is not far away, the katana, the riff, the crazy keyboards of Father Décamps ... Gianni holds the ramp well; a bit of ARRAKEEN, in short the slap continues in less than 5 minutes with the voice and the languid guitar. "Amor vinces" and the ACCEPT riff like "Breaker", we are familiar with heavy metal; the rhythmic base with Laurent and Gérard prints a hard-hitting tune, the shifted chorus makes me smile as I remember my 6 years of Latin, in short, it continues with its feet to the ground, but I repeat to you that love will conquer.

"Pain" for a sweetness, a vocal appetizer bordering on fantasy, it is dreamlike world-music as LAZULI knows how to do so well; it whirls, it twirls, the voice moans, howls creating a musical atmosphere, it comes down with a verse that does not disturb; the voice fits better with the instruments, a little boring then this hypnotizing and explosive sound that puts you in a trance, yet another strong, bluffing and energetic piece; this is the word that will come out of this column.

"The instinct, the instant" with piano at the opening, PyT sets in motion, a melody that takes you by the throat, stung by the snake? Synths magnify musical osmosis, give more sound and meaning to the melody; GALAAD is doing GALAAD here and doing it well; the guitar of which you know greasy and squirting; we believe in a long crescendo but not the SUPERTRAMP piano returns to the middle and accompanies this inimitable voice which speaks without breathing on an endless chant; choirs at the very end of the course that stretch a bit for a long time. "Your enemy" and I start listening and recording the lyrics, to an aria by Philip GLASS or Klaus SCHULZE, the choice is yours; majestic beauty highlighted by top-notch text. The spleen guitar from the FISH era of the MARILLION with a little more on the emotional, on the 'Forgotten Sons'; the strong percussions give another way to this title and I am glued to the belching words, me who does not listen to the lyrics in general; GALAAD has just released an OMNI and I chronicle them, like a catchphrase from OLDFIELD then MARILLION again, this title is a pure pleasant danger! "Posthumous paradise" and the radio title edit, voice and instruments give each other the same, softer, pop-rock, choirs that sink, a keyboard that reminds me from afar the 'Follow You, Follow Me', Sébastien shows here by twice he has a nice touch filled with feeling, progressive atmosphere here. "Sidereal day" for the main title: a bit of William SHELLER in the background, one minute for the start-up then it goes and it rises, the crescendo is especially valid for the texts and the high-pitched voice of PyT; hey, it smells like LIGHT DAMAGE for a few moments then MARILLION; it is the keyboard that separates these two groups with a more ... synthetic side! It goes again and you close your eyes because the 'Forgotten Sons' comes back to the fore, but just go to the end of your story and join the sky because it is worth it. "Divine" or the end of story prayer to once again bring out Pyt's voice, an orgasmic nod to the great Christian for those flowery words.

GALAAD is releasing an album with texts in divine French, on a metal and groove variation, on a current neo, a pinch of pop, would the future bite into this fusion? An energetic album at the top much better than 'Frat3r', an essential album which gives back its letters of nobility to the French language, thank you Swiss, thank you GALAAD, buy it and remember, those absent are always wrong.

 Frat3r by GALAAD album cover Studio Album, 2019
3.88 | 32 ratings

BUY
Frat3r
Galaad Eclectic Prog

Review by Tarcisio Moura
Prog Reviewer

5 stars Oh my god! This is neo prog heaven! I did not know this swiss band previous works during the 90´s but, boy, did they come back in 2019 with a blast! You know a good CD when it is sung with a language you don´t really understand (in this case, french) and still the music moves you deeply. Everything you could expect from a neo prog band is here in spades: great melodies, emotional delivering of both vocal and instrumental parts, superb performances. I was knock out by their strong material and playing, specially by Pierre-Yves Theurillat unique and sensitive interpretations. The guy knows how to put emotion on a song! While most proggers here on PA may criticize the band for the lack of long instrumental jams or unusual , zany stuff, to me this is exactly their forte. The band writes great compact songs that don´t overstay their welcome. Everything fits right in. Most important, they sound like no one else, having their very own style. Their early stuff might be a little derivative, so I heard. But here they have produced some very original music.

Backed by a crystal clear production, Frat3r is a superb CD, easily one of my top 3 albums of 2019. Ok, some songs are better than others, but none is below the very good mark. And at least two tracks, Kim and the 9 minute Stone are simply brilliant tunes that I can never get enough of them. They are worth the price of the record alone. One of the few albums lately that I like to hear from star to finish with almost the same pleasure throughout.

Rating: 4,5 stars, no less. If you´re into killer melodies and not caring for musicians showing off, this is highly recommended!

 Frat3r by GALAAD album cover Studio Album, 2019
3.88 | 32 ratings

BUY
Frat3r
Galaad Eclectic Prog

Review by alainPP

3 stars GALAAD speaks of Moloch, the Swissie music programmer fate of discs account shows or dropper, that it is I who say !! GALAAD is a Swiss group born in '88, released in 1992 with "First February" and "Vae Victis" in 1996, two discs extraordinary ... but unfortunately short-lived. The singer released two albums solos well as the PYT and the squad will be a bridge until "Frat3r" beautifully crafted. The sound draws on neo-prog MARILLION way, especially for synths and guitars quite present, a bit of PINK FLOYD for intermediate atmospheres. The rocky and quite heavy voice PYT provides a novel aspect in the Francophone world where we can actually also listen to the voice! GALAAD is otherwise expected to lace to finally give her valuable to the progressive sphere in general.

"The Machine" sets the tone with an epic piece combining solos, sensitivity, tortured soul and voice of rock and finally imposing melody nod to Pink Floyd and Marillion for the finest solo album and I use words !!! And siren end to introduce the only instrumental, "Moloch" progressive piece almost "heavy" after a rise of piano and synth energetic; it is strong, rhythmic and air. There's melancholy and joy, putting them choirs to give more force to the sound that has evolved after 23 years break! "Kim" tumbles with a title pop giving more room for the voice, as a little back to the prog sounds. "Stone" happily arrives with a prog title as we always like: intro, instruments in place, progressive climb to an air frankly prog metal. It starts on interesting solos keyboards to BANKS and a guitar "Rotheryenne". A moment of pure happiness with a softer end to gradually get out of the trance. "Justice" gives a genre more pop, more "groove", most agreed, it goes into the 80's, with a voice before it must absorb the risk of missing, disappointment there! "Thank you [pure]" changes direction, a good and wise idea for the Middle East, India and a synth to ALAN PARSONS PROJECT; we believe, little resemblance matter rhythm that can LAZULI. " Again! "Comes together in fact the second largest title. Level I orchestration funds, the voice level is harder, the vocals and drums are too metronomic, jerky! From the point of asking if the French voice goes well with this genre! Too bad, the intro is superb and foreshadowed good things; Fortunately the middle, prog development as we like with atmosphere and all that goes with it. The synth repetitive air, greasy and furious guitar solo that starts and never seems to stop ... a real gem! "Frater" for a title again in the background, a nice title but lacking emotion, scope, and too much text in which we forget a little too instruments!

Returning to our prequel with 2 CDs 92 & 96 may be too good for the time, back to what a lot disk itself, even very good at times especially during the instrumental developments. Let us return to what we want a little bit to see if we can be disappointed, disappointed to have a lack of creativity after 23 years, a semblance of copy / paste, taste a little bitter waiting . So beware no descent flame, work, commitment, the production are impeccable, I mean just that spark inside me when I immerse myself in the prog world and is missing here too. Neo-prog of good quality with a bit of rock-pop, ah that one becomes hard these days!

 Vae Victis by GALAAD album cover Studio Album, 1996
3.62 | 45 ratings

BUY
Vae Victis
Galaad Eclectic Prog

Review by b_olariu
Prog Reviewer

3 stars Galaad, one of the most intresting neo prog bands ever came from Switzerland, done a good job in the '90s when releasing two albums, debut in 1992 and in 1996 saw the light the second offer named Vae Victis. The debut was more then ok in neo prog realm, the second album was coming to confirm the quality of their music. Theatrical neo prog, taken influences from Mona Lisa, Ange but melting with their own twists and turns. Very much like the vocals provided by Pyt (Pierre-Yves Theurillat), and aswell guitars and keyboards goes hand in hand. The songs are full of shifting moods, quite complicated arrangements, lot to offer in neo prog zone, example La Danse De La Perte (Maybe We Are Brothers) or La Loi De Brenn among others. All in all definetly a band to watch, even all works well, they disbanded around 1998 but they reunite around 2015 and have a new album in 2019 named Frat3r, also excellent. Vae victis has that 90s production and atmosphere, but all is well done and worth to be discovered, from me 3.5 stars, solid effort of one of the better bands of the genre.

 Frat3r by GALAAD album cover Studio Album, 2019
3.88 | 32 ratings

BUY
Frat3r
Galaad Eclectic Prog

Review by b_olariu
Prog Reviewer

4 stars Trully excellent return of one of the best neo prog bands of the 90s, with a new 2019 album named Frat3r after 20 years pause. Well, the vocals and guitars are killer, check out instrumental Moloch and the superb Stone impressive arrangements. 4 stars for sure, Kim is another highlight and the opener La machine. This is a great come back for prog lovers and is seen/heard in entire album, from the heart , this is no return for cash in, this is for us who love this type of music for years and years. Nice art work and whole booklet . Recommended
 Frat3r by GALAAD album cover Studio Album, 2019
3.88 | 32 ratings

BUY
Frat3r
Galaad Eclectic Prog

Review by TCat
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin

3 stars Galaad is a eclectic prog band from Switzerland that was originally founded in 1988. They released 2 albums in 1992 and 1996 and then disbanded shortly after. The band then reformed in 2016 and finally released their 3rd album in May of 2019. The band returned with the same line up as they did originally with Pierre-Yves Theurillat on vocals; Sebastien Froidevaux on guitars; Gianni Giardiello on synth and piano; Gerard Zuber on bass; and Laurent Petermann on drums and percussion.

Their 3rd album is called "Frat3r". It is available on CD and has 8 tracks totaling 46 minutes. There are 2 longer tracks around 9 minutes, where the remaining tracks stay under 6 minutes. The vocals are in French.

Starting off soft and pensive, "La Machine" builds up intensity each time the verses continue. The vocals are a bit shaky, but get better as the song gets heavier and the melody gets more emotional. The rhythm is moderately slow with a heavy and dark tone. There is also a nice guitar solo in the instrumental break. "Moloch" uses a repeating piano arpeggio pattern while power chords from the guitars, support from synth and drums build up this instrumental, which finally accumulates in an emotional guitar solo.

"Kim" has a laid-back feel to it and the vocals start early. With a simpler melody and a more pop-oriented feel, this one is quite accessible. There is support from high-pitched synths and guitars that build up towards the middle and then smooth out again and finally ending with a lot of emotion. "Stone" is one of the 2 long tracks. It goes back to a dark atmosphere, starting fairly minimal with vocals, a low register synth pattern and effects. After the 2nd verse, drums come in with a moderate rhythm but the music still retaining a dark feeling, and then becoming suddenly more powerful with heavier guitar, slipping into a brighter, major key. As it nears the middle, the progressiveness increases when the instrumental break starts, and the synths take over the spotlight. When the vocals come back in after a while, they are more intense and emotional with the instruments matching that tone. At the end, things soften quite a bit and the track finishes on the more reserved feeling that it started with.

"Justice" begins with a funky synth and bass and vocals and then the band quickly joins in with the first real upbeat track on the album. The song is a more rocked-out track with a good amount of synth and keys supported heavily by the bass. Except for a softer break in the middle, the song continues in the same style throughout, with more guitar added as things intensify towards the end. "Merci [puR]" begins with bongos and what sounds like sitar giving things a mid-eastern flavor at the beginning, but keys take over while the percussion persists and vocals start. When the drums kick in, the moderate tempo is established. Between the verses, there are some nice instrumental passages that follow a recurring melody with a mix of synth and guitar.

"Encore!" is the 2nd of the longer tracks. It has a straightforward, moderately fast rhythm and again, an emotional vocal supported by synth and guitar. Just after 4 minutes, there is a sudden increase in loudness with effects and this quickly gives way to a pensive and quiet section with percussive sounds. Vocals soon bring back the band and synths help build up to a guitar break. The music remains pretty straightforward throughout with the longer length being used for the guitar solo and a more lyric heavy song. The last track is the title track "Frater". Starting with only vocals, the band soon start with a moderate and stately sounding song.

This album is mostly quite straightforward and accessible, but unfortunately does not contain a lot of progressiveness to it. As far as being a nice rock record, it does a nice job adding in a good mix of guitar and synth, but mostly comes across as being quite average sounding, with some sections becoming quite emotional. The vocals do falter, but are at their best during the heavier and more emotional sections. Really, only the synth seems to reflect any semblance of progressiveness coming close to a neo-prog sound, but there is nothing really challenging, and the prog sections are too few and far between. In fact, the only part that could be considered progressive is in the instrumental break in "Stone". Yes, it's a pleasant listen, quite accessible, but it stays pretty safe throughout.

 Premier Février by GALAAD album cover Studio Album, 1992
3.86 | 37 ratings

BUY
Premier Février
Galaad Eclectic Prog

Review by apps79
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

4 stars Short-lived Swiss Neo Prog band formed in 1988 and coming from Bern.Galaad were led by charismatic singer Pierre-Yves Theurillat and featured also keyboardist Gianni Giardiello, guitarist Sebastien Froidevaux, bassist Gerard Zuber and drummer Laurent Petermann.Reputedly the band had a self-titled demo out from early-90's, sure thing is their official debut came in 1992 with ''Premier Fevrier'' (1st of February) on Musea Records.

Pretty much a legendary band in my books, their captivating and fairly complex Neo Progressive can only be compared only to the works of bands such as COLLAGE, TRIANGLE, CLIFFHANGER and SAENS.Far from being accesible, their style incorporates elements from ANGE and MARILLION into a demanding, lyrical and very adventurous mix.All compositions feature great structures and a great balance between instrumental madness and vocal-led passages.They are highlghted by the impressive, slightly distorted guitar playing of Froidevaux, both on rhythm and solo guitars, the dreamy keyboard work of Giardiello, featuring some great symphonic parts with evident Classical breaks, and of course the magnificent performance of Theurillat behind the microphone.Coherent arrangements full of shifting moods, keyboard- based instrumentals, alternation between strong and mellow parts and a grandiose atmosphere overall guarantee a massive number of repeated listenings.''Sabliere'' must be among the best Neo/Symphonic Rock compositions to have been written by a band of the style with its dramatic atmosphere throughout.

A pure gem not only for Neo Prog lovers but also for anyone into demanding and highly theatrical Progressive Rock.The rich sound, intricate melodies and deep atmosphere of the album are among the best to be heard in the scene.A milestone for the Neo Prog scene.Add another half star for the genuine composition of ''Sabliere''.

 Vae Victis by GALAAD album cover Studio Album, 1996
3.62 | 45 ratings

BUY
Vae Victis
Galaad Eclectic Prog

Review by Discographia

4 stars the album is sung mostly in French with some English passages. French singing is sweet, powerful and the lyrics are poetic and worked, but also a very strong image of the music. The sound is powerful, the guitars very furious. What is interesting is the song that pushes the limits of the plaintiff to give the bass, which gives a beauty, and the guitars are hard, the rest is very progressive and worked. It is difficult thing to say why I do not consider this album as a masterpiece even though it possesses the necessary qualities, perhaps lacking a touch of madness or an additional additional title that pushes the limits even further.
Thanks to ProgLucky for the artist addition. and to Quinino for the last updates

Copyright Prog Archives, All rights reserved. | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Advertise | RSS + syndications

Other sites in the MAC network: JazzMusicArchives.com — jazz music reviews and archives | MetalMusicArchives.com — metal music reviews and archives

Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.