NZ Prog - Ragnarok

I'd like to check them out too, mainly for the novelty of Kiwi prog really. I've heard Nooks is a pretty good album, haven't managed to hear any though.

I have not heard any of Ragnarok's music either. I have seen the odd vinyl album come up for auction on"Trademe" (a NZ online auction site similar to Ebay). The same goes for Dragon - I never thought the latter as being progressive rock, more pop rock. However, we learn something everyday. Try out these links below - they give great details on each of these groups:

http://www.sergent.com.au/dragon.html

http://www.sergent.com.au/ragnarok.html

If I could get my hands on a recording I would love to hear some of Ragnarok's music and  Dragon's earlier work. Cheers.

livesound wrote: Rob The Good wrote: Has anyone heard any stuff by the band Ragnarok? Possibly the ONLY band to come out of New Zealand (hardly surprising, seeing we produce some of the worst music in the world). I can't find them ANYWHERE! Although I've read a review that said they were worth the trouble....Grr! There maybe a live CD of Ragnarok next year when they have NZ Music mouth,if all goes well,plus maybe the release of both albums on CD,just a matter of getting all to agree.

That news sounds...fantastic. Well I'm definitely crossing my fingers that all bloody-well DO agree. If that comes out then it would seem that a miracle has ocurred. (Not that I agree we produce "the worst music in the world" Rob, as I've said before- some of the obscure stuff we produce is pretty amazing. Stop focusing on the mainstream Scribe/8-Foot Sativa bad-english rap-crap! STOP IT!!) To be honest I spent most of last year looking at the GOOD things on c4s 'Homegrown' programme.......please don't kill me.

Mutton Birds, SJD, Front Lawn= lovely and Goodshirt isn't too bad either. But that's not prog and I'm going off topic. I've yet to hear any Dragon. I should really make a start.

A swedish prog band, a random metal band and a kiwi prog band with the same name: what does Ragnarok mean/stand-for anyway? Hopefully I don't seem *too* ignorant by asking that question. If I had the time I'd be googling it- but it's less hassle just to ask.

.... Norse mythology! (Thanks hotbelly- I'm a boring-old-Aucklander btw. Though I could've been a Wellingtonian for a year but I chose not to move.) That was one of my first guesses as to whereabouts that name came from- as I hear it's quite a popular topic for some Prog bands. I'm new to Prog (got introduced to it about 2 months ago) so I tend to get my facts a bit mixed-up as theres so much to take in. But I'm interested in Mythology- so that's one of the few facts I remember.

I'm interested in it to the extent where I'm shortly going to put on too much make-up, a really cute, STUPID, red outfit and wait to lead a red version of Tiresias on stage in a University of Auckland production of Antigone. "Take a little trip back with father Tiresias..." Sorry, once again I'm going off on a tangent.

Great links valravennz! I'm not being a feminist when I say that it's quite a nice feeling when i see a female lead vocalist in a Prog Band- rare as it is. I currently have Tarja Turunen's gorgeous voice stuck in my head (Nightwish). It might pay to get some of  Lea Maalfrid's solo work- it should be interesting...but hopefully it's not hard to find.

russellk wrote: There are quite a few of us NZers here, aren't there? I'm a Hamiltonian now, but originally from Christchurch. Makes life hard, being born with two heads and one eye. I always wondered about the relative absence of prog rock in New Zealand. I wonder if it has anything to do with our hesitancy and insecurity as a nation. The bombastic excess of prog would be well beyond our national consciousness.

I think the tired old "tall poppy" argument can be used here....New Zealanders tend to frown on excess, broadly speaking. Hence the most popular rock bands are Goodshirt, Shihad etc, who play straight-forward guitar driven rock. Symphonic elements would be ridiculed in the current artistic climate, methinks.