Glass Hammer's new album "Perilous" - latest news

Steve tosses us this brief Prog Rock Magazine article via Facebook:

^ yep I might check out that offer as well although I'm not sure when I will be able to wear it as GH never come to the UK.

Aussie-Byrd-Brother wrote: Richard! I know, it's bloody inspiring, to be honest! I was watching the `Live Lex' DVD a week or so ago, and then noticed him on the front of the `Three Cheers' album cover, and the change is unbelievable! Good on him!

I got If and really liked it, contrary to most.  True, it sounds like Yes but the music is great.  I haven't got Cor Cordium yet and am really interested in the new one too.I never bothered getting the Three Cheers album having seen the reviews.  Is it really that bad? 

CCVP! That guy on the front cover of the upcoming album, going by the fact that the band uses a lot of Christian elements in their music, I was kind of assuming he was the Devil! He certainly looks intimidating!

I know what you mean about the Yes comparisons. As much as I love the two most recent albums, I kind of miss the older style of Lex/Shadowlands/the dble Secret album. Still grand and epic classic prog sounds, just not quite as focused on the Yes elements! I'd love some female vocalists again too. But Jon has been terrific with them.

I did think `Cor Cordium' was not as `Yessy' as `If', but the music wasn't quite as memorable. Still good though, I listened to it just today!

`Three Cheers...' is a very worthwhile album! It makes a nice break from their traditional super-long epics (which we all love, I know!), but it's got lots of great vocal melodies, wonderful playing and tasteful arrangements. Sophisticated poppy-prog that's very easy to put on in the background and chill out to.

I think the front cover is a little rubbish, though!   

Aussie-Byrd-Brother wrote: `Three Cheers...' is a very worthwhile album! It makes a nice break from their traditional super-long epics (which we all love, I know!), but it's got lots of great vocal melodies, wonderful playing and tasteful arrangements. Sophisticated poppy-prog that's very easy to put on in the background and chill out to. I think the front cover is a little rubbish, though!

If the new album is strong enough to get people interested then an appreciation thread would have a chance I guess. At the moment it might struggle a bit perhaps although their discography is as interesting and diverse as any modern symph prog band that I'm familiar with.

AE, sounds like a great idea! As I mentioned, I thought `If' was the stronger of the two with Jon, so it you liked `Cor' (which I really do, I don't want it to come across that I don't!), you can't go wrong with `If'!

As for the `pre-Jon' Hammer that I know very well...

`Lex Rex' has a lot of Genesis like symphonic elements, and has got a cracking energy in the keyboard/bass/guitar sound! Some of it is a little rough around the edges, but it's the album that got me into them initially. Blew my mind at the time!

The follow-up `Shadowlands' has a stronger classical sound, hugely aided by the fact they used a proper massive church organ, and it shows - it's so thick and booming! It's very dramatic musically and wistful lyrically, warm male/female vocals too, especially on the long epic finale track.

`The Inconsolable Secret' is a double, and essentially two very different abums. The first disc is comprised of two long epics, while the second disc is a range of shorter folk, classical, orchestral, medieval prog and ballads. I'd maybe go for that one of you don't already have it!

`Culture Of Ascent' is different yet again, with a much heavier guitar sound, lots of hard wailing solos and somewhat darker atmosphere to match the wintery front cover.

And of course the so-called controversial `Three Cheers For The Broken Hearted' is sophisticated proggy-pop with strong female vocals and great instrumentation.

Lots to choose from, and I'm sure others can offer their opinions on which one to try next!

AEProgman wrote: ^ Lex Rex and Shadowlands are the other 2 I have.  Loved Shadowlands on first spin, Lex Rex grew on me and was also my first by them and love it now.  Shooting for "If" and then "Culture" next by them.

Great! Yep, I find the `narration/intro' interludes on `Lex Rex' a little crummy, I guess some of the vocals are a bit daggy, and the album is probably just a little too long, but the quality is outstanding for the majority! Wonderful rich lyrics too, as has become a trademark of all their albums!

Good luck with your next Hammer album!