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EGDON HEATH

Neo-Prog • Netherlands


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Egdon Heath picture
Egdon Heath biography
Symphonic neo-prog featuring heavy melodic keyboards that compare favourably with ARENA, PENDRAGON and SHADOWLAND without actually aping them. Most of their material relies heavily on standard yet finely crafted pop structures. Formed in 1981, they have released five studio albums and one farewell live cd in 2000 before officially disbanding - it is said that at least four of their six members plus a new drummer continue making music under the name TYRO.

Their first album, "In the City" (87) contains short but powerful tunes reminiscent of IQ and PALLAS. The highly symphonic "The Killing Silence" (91), however, is 60 minutes of prime prog and is considered their masterpiece, somewhat akin to CAMEL's "Dust and Dreams"; it also features a new and outstanding vocalist in the person of Jens van der Stempel. "Nebula", a close runner-up, contains eight tracks of pure sympho and is perhaps their most mature, with particular care given to the production. As for "Live at Last", it is a fairly good piece of memorabilia showcasing songs (some of the old ones re-arranged) from all eras and previous line-ups. Its sound is crisp and the selection first rate.

"The Killing Silence" and "Nebula" will both appeal to fans of CASTANARC, GALAHAD, MAGELLAN, COLLAGE, and to a certain extent LANDBERK.

: : : Lise (HIBOU), CANADA : : :

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EGDON HEATH discography


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

2.79 | 25 ratings
In The City
1987
3.36 | 43 ratings
The Killing Silence
1991
2.92 | 34 ratings
Him,The Snake And I
1993
3.37 | 33 ratings
Nebula
1996

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

3.24 | 6 ratings
Live at Last
2000

EGDON HEATH Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

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

3.67 | 3 ratings
Rarities
1999

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

EGDON HEATH Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 The Killing Silence by EGDON HEATH album cover Studio Album, 1991
3.36 | 43 ratings

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The Killing Silence
Egdon Heath Neo-Prog

Review by apps79
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

3 stars ''In the City'' was just the beginning of a succesful career for Egdon Heath with the band supporting IQ for their Dutch concerts.What was hard to deal with on the live performances was the fact that the lead vocals were handled by the two keyboardists of the band.So soon enough they recruited a lead vocalist, Jens van der Stempel.In 1991 their debut was reissued in CD format together with Egdon Heath's sophomore album ''The Killing Silence'', recorded at the RDS Studios in the small Jubbega village and released on the Dutch label SI Music.

While ''In the city'' was a rather uneven album, consisting of strong and weaker tracks, the new Egdon Heath effort is definitely more consistent, rockier and balanced.However it lacks the killer tracks of the first album, as all of the compositions here sound good and satisfying with no weak points but also without any masterful moments.The band sounds a bit rougher and darker than on the debut, playing Neo Prog with strong TWELFTH NIGHT and PALLAS overtones, featuring grandiose keyboard passages and beautiful guitar parts, both on lead and solo parts, with the new singer being well-tight with the rest of the crew.But Egdon Heath never forget about their more sensitive side, throwing in a couple of decent ballads with emotional content, good guitar solos and elegant piano work.The rockier tunes though remain the driving force of the new CD, having a nice symphonic sound in many instrumental parts, a few well-executed breaks and a sufficient alternation between different emotions.

I certainly can see why this one is regarded the best of the first two Egdon Heath works.Its consistency throughout and the more atmospheric style is warmly praised by prog fans, but personally I miss the couple of the monster moments of ''In the city''.The second album by this Dutch crew already belongs to the collection of most Neo Prog fans out there and is still warmly recommended to the rest of the prog audience.

 Live at Last by EGDON HEATH album cover Live, 2000
3.24 | 6 ratings

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Live at Last
Egdon Heath Neo-Prog

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

3 stars This is a special album for EDGON HEATH fans as it is a double live recording of their very last concert before they called it a day. And the fact this concert was held in their home town only adds to the appeal. I haven't heard any of the studio albums from this band so i'm not sure how this compares, although I was told by a fan that if your going to get one recording from this band get "Live At Last".

"Peace Of The Brave" builds as the synths swirl. A beat takes over after 2 1/2 minutes and the vocals join in. It settles with spoken words before 6 minutes then it kicks back in. "Gringo" opens with vocals and a laid back sound that does build fairly quickly but contrasts will continue. "No Second Faust" features prominant drums and guitar early.Vocals before 2 minutes and it picks up at 3 minutes. Synths galore after 6 minutes. "Secret Fence" is experimental sounding as drums then synths join in.Vocals follow. "Slightly In Despair" opens with reserved vocals and a laid back sound.The vocals do get passionate at times. Some great sounding guitar later on. "1000 Stories" opens with vocals only before synths then a full sound kicks in.The tempo keeps shifting. A calm after 4 minutes.

Disc two begins with "Head In The Sand" which has a catchy and laid back intro then here we go ! Vocals 1 1/2 minutes in. We get some sax in this one that will trade off with the guitar for a while. "Hail To Your Heart" opens with synths and some heaviness then the vocals come in just before a minute. It settles before 4 minutes. Heavy again 6 minutes in then we get vocal melodies followed by synths before 7 minutes. "On A Beach" opens with piano as reserved vocals join in.The guitar starts to cry out before 2 minutes. It starts to pick up a minute later.Sax and guitar lead 5 minutes in. "Run For Life" settles before a minute and the vocals are reserved. It's fuller after 2 minutes as contrasts continue. It's an okay song. "The Killing Silence" kicks in after a minute briefly as outburts continue. A fuller sound around 2 minutes and vocals follow.Tasteful guitar before 5 minutes. It settles again as this song twists it's way for over 18 minutes.The band members are introduced by the singer at 13 1/2 minutes then it kicks back in late and we get a powerful ending. What a way to end the night.

3.5 stars and one that Neo-Prog fans should definitely check out.

 Nebula by EGDON HEATH album cover Studio Album, 1996
3.37 | 33 ratings

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Nebula
Egdon Heath Neo-Prog

Review by ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer

2 stars This is the last album from this Dutch neo band. And neo it is, believe me!

If ever you would like to discover what the combination of "Marillion", some "Yes" feel and Freddie Mercury on the vocals could have led to, the shortest way to find out is to listen to the opening number "Hail To Your Heart". If you would set aside these "characteristics", there is nothing else to add. I guess that you get the idea?

But the worse is yet to come: a very heavy "Yes" oriented song ("90125" period). One option of course: press next as soon as you can to avoid some collateral damages.

This album is not precisely a good one: the average tracks are following one after another. Borderline prog metal and without conviction ("Peace Of The Brave").

"Buried Inside" is vaguely reminiscent of the new wave and reminds me of the early "Ultravox!" but less appealing of course. After a loose middle part, the mood gets into the neo territories for a while. Vocals are Foxx oriented. What a change: from Freddie to John. But they were genious. I can't say the same about "Egdon Head".

This is an album which lacks of personality; highlights are not to be found (at least I couldn't) and the chaotic "As Ripley Would Say?" is not any better. It holds some metal lines here and there, and to be honest a good finale featuring spacey guitar.

The whole doesn't score over two stars in my book. Average at best.

 Him,The Snake And I by EGDON HEATH album cover Studio Album, 1993
2.92 | 34 ratings

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Him,The Snake And I
Egdon Heath Neo-Prog

Review by ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer

2 stars I have read that each album released from this Dutch band was different from one another. Well, to my opinion; there are all alike. It holds the same sort of neo-prog music based on keys and featuring average vocals.

Nothing wrong here but nothing great either. An upbeat instrumental to open the album, a decent neo-prog tune as follow-up ("Gringo"), a classic "Witness" which opens like a "Genesis" song while they were four, but that quite soon is diverted into poor territories.

I'm afraid that his album doesn't go in the good direction with "Mother's Dream": definitely not a nice dream: that's how I feel when listening to this heavy song. With some sort of a bolero like intro. The Oriental mood is not too bad, although the whole is also on the heavy edge.

As usual, some titles do represent quite well the content of a song. You can add "Slightly In Despair" to these. Do I need to add anything?

"Him, The Snake and I" is not my cup of tea for sure. There are very few moments of truly great (good) music available on this album. Easy listening neo-prog is the style. Two stars is my rating.

 The Killing Silence by EGDON HEATH album cover Studio Album, 1991
3.36 | 43 ratings

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The Killing Silence
Egdon Heath Neo-Prog

Review by ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer

2 stars I guess that it has all been said after the opening number: each of the neo prog aspects has been tackled here. With skills for sure. But without passion. That's what I feel while I listen to this album.

There no real weak track but one ("TTC"). But I'm still looking for any brilliance at all?It is not the epic "Killing Silence" that is going to change my mind. This Dutch band plays music like tens of similar ones. No big deal really.

The first moment of interest is the good guitar break during "Message" which is the sixth song featured on this album? OK, "The Killing Silence" is not bad either. But this is not enough to prevent the two stars rating for this (long) below average neo prog moment.

 In The City by EGDON HEATH album cover Studio Album, 1987
2.79 | 25 ratings

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In The City
Egdon Heath Neo-Prog

Review by apps79
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

3 stars One of the strongest progressive rock scenes should be considered the Dutch one with a variety of bands and styles.EGDON HEATH are a neo progressive band which draw their influences from the early 80's brittish new wave of prog rock.Actually,if you aren't aware of the band's origin, it's kind of difficult,not to say impossible,to imagine that this band doesn't come from the UK with all these influences and the perfect brittish-accented vocals of the singer...

Every british popular of the 80's can be detected in this album...Starting point ''Pyromania'' is heavily influenced by early PENDRAGON of ''The jewel'' album,while in ''Echoes...'' the band tries to create the dramatic atmosphere of MARILLION's ''Garden party''...''Secret fence'' is close to PALLAS' ''The sentinel'' with emphasis on expressive vocals and a nice atmospheric synthesizer ending theme...''Coming out'' has a more personal ballad-like sound but in my ears it sound uninspired...''When all is said'' is the only instrumental track of the album in the vein of symphonic IQ or PALLAS,but it lasts too long and gets you a little boring on the way...In ''Run for your life'' the band tries again a more dark neo-proggish atmosphere based mainly on FISH/GEOFF MANN-like vocalization,decent effort...''Losing a friend'' is the ballad of the album but,despite the depressive vocals,the track is the weakiest of all,the musicianship is just absent...

So far we have to deal with an almost decent work with some good moments,some bad ones and a rather feeling of mediocrity as a result,a 2.5 star rating is the most appropriate of all,leaving me with the dilemma of the collector's fan or good album...So far,beacuse the band has left the best for last...The self-titled track of the album is an excellent neo/symphonic piece of music in the vein of IQ and TWELFTH NIGHT with groovy rhythm,haunting symphonic keyboards,amaing guitar soli and a decent violin passage...Excellent outro for this work...

This last track saves the work from mediocrity and pushes my rating up to 3 solid stars...So this work comes recommended for neo prog/symphomaniacs who also like the traditional british sound of PENDRAGON,MARILLION or PALLAS...The rest of you should check out some music samples first before buing...

 The Killing Silence by EGDON HEATH album cover Studio Album, 1991
3.36 | 43 ratings

BUY
The Killing Silence
Egdon Heath Neo-Prog

Review by DaremoS

3 stars I was ready to kill Egdon Heath and all the confusion about their style and manly their vocalist (gosh! this is really a problem for this band)... I did follow the suggestion from other fans in order to avoid their first album In the City then I go directly to their best rated release Him, The Snake And I and I found a truly progressive band (not neo in any way) with a little drawback: the lead singer sung all the time in the verge of be out of tune.

Listening this mix of styles which is The Killing Silence ranging from pop/neoprog tunes like Tell Me to really catching a bit avant-garde like The Killing Silence I did never get really comfortable with what I was listening, in fact, the singer, once again in the boundaries of be out of tune, have me all the time asking myself if this new member have really fit into the band. Anyway the is well done by good musicians, including great keyboards part, cut and changes a-la Genesis and good sound and guitars a la Marillion.

I was.. I was saying... until Egdon Heath throw me in the face the awesome prog ballad entitled T.T.C... It have to be known that I have a weakness for neo-progressive ballads let's say that it's the only reason why I listen bands like Marillion, Pendragon, IQ and specially Jadis. Neo-progressive style provide me sweet and lovely ballads without complications

T.T.C. from the first chord drive nuts... gees! another great ballad to include in my assortment... Mr. Jens van der Stempel sing all the song in tune with exquisite complicity with female voices... grandious and emotive like it should be a prog ballad with the synthesized violins sending chills in my arms. Later they should bring me Message to complete the time spent in this album... once again beautiful female voices. This two songs deserve to buy this album.... an get accustomed to the singer.

 Nebula by EGDON HEATH album cover Studio Album, 1996
3.37 | 33 ratings

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Nebula
Egdon Heath Neo-Prog

Review by robbob

3 stars Well this is a difficult and strange album to qualify. At first time i must say the recording sound ,mixing ,remastering is very good. A very equilibrate interact sounding between instruments.

The vocals:i prefer the guest invited vocals of The Killing Silence.

The songs: Well this album i think is a mix between In The City and Killing Silence.

I prefer much more KS:is a very good symphonic rock album. In this one most of the songs have a strange mix between symph. prog. and easy listening neo prog. There is a mix between Marillion(Fish era),Genesis(PC era)Pallas and IQ in their symphonic moments ,but also and mostly in the vocal parts it seems that we were listening to the most light pop prog of Pallas,some Bauhaus,some Talk Talk,some New Order. When i am listening sometimes i feel very good as i am going to listen very good neo prog but then some poppy material get my confused

I prefer albums in one line of music.

3 stars

 Nebula by EGDON HEATH album cover Studio Album, 1996
3.37 | 33 ratings

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Nebula
Egdon Heath Neo-Prog

Review by b_olariu
Prog Reviewer

4 stars Egdon Heath - gone but not forgotten

The forth album of Egdon Heath from 1996 and the second that i own with Killing silence, Nebula is a step forward in EH's catalog. Why, because is maybe the most matture work they've done and is very well played and composed. Well here we can see a little bit of AOR sound incorporate in their music but this is not a bad thing, still strong. With a new vocalist Maurits Kalsbeek, Egdon Heath trys and most of the time succeded to bring something new in neo prog scene with this album. The sound is to me lighter than on Killing silence, that dark atmosphere from No second faust (the opening track from Killing silence) is gone replaced by a more tighter but lighter sound, just check out Hail To Your Heart or Head in the sand, i swear i'm listning something a la Magnum or Iq from the '90's but in the end is ok. Every piece has a same level so all are good, on some of them them even can hear symphonic orchestration combined with neo elements that gives to the music a new dimension. Less inspiring than Killing silence but awesome again. Still underrated album in my opinion, still strong after excellent Killing silence (well is another album in betwen this two, but that's another story). 3.5 stars rounded to 4. Maybe not recommended but worth to check out if you are a prog devotee.

 The Killing Silence by EGDON HEATH album cover Studio Album, 1991
3.36 | 43 ratings

BUY
The Killing Silence
Egdon Heath Neo-Prog

Review by b_olariu
Prog Reviewer

4 stars Killing silence - the pride of Holland's prog music

Egdon Heath are a very underrated band from Holland that plays mostly neo prog with some symphonic elements here and there. Killing silence is their second album from 1991 and a damn good one, maybe the best they ever done. After many listnings i was very impressed by this album, great musicianship great vocals and ideas. Jens van der Stempel has a stunning voice just check out the first 4 pieces No second faust, Tell Me, the smooth T.T.C. and the elegant Waiting For The Outburst. These four pieces are the best from here and among the best i ever heared from a neo prog bad, excellent music. Great key passages through the album combined very strong with guitar interplays, again excellent. So a big album in my opinion, that for some reason never got worlwide recognition, i wonder why, Killing silence pass the test of time very well and now is among the greatest albums of neo prog scene, at least for me. A big 4 stars for this album, desearve to be heared by any prog music conoseur. Recommended

Thanks to ProgLucky for the artist addition. and to NotAProghead for the last updates

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