For those who don't know, Iona is a progressive Celtic band from the UK.  They are AMAZING and it's appalling that so few people have heard of them.  I think they're actually more well known outside prog circles, but not given much attention on this site, which is a shame because they're one of the best bands on PA.  Singer Joann Hogg has a stunning and versatile voice, and guitarist Dave Bainbridge is one of the best in the business (check out "Inside My Heart" from the live album Heaven's Bright Sun to get an idea of what I'm talking about).  I love the melodic, uplifting style of his playing.

I've heard a few albums and I plan to check them all out in the near future (I think they have seven studio albums).  Right now my favorite is Heaven's Bright Sun (live); it was my introduction to the band and it's complete audio perfection.  Has anyone heard their new album, Another Realm?  I want to get it but it's only available in Europe (I live in the US) and I keep myself on a tight budget so I might wait until it's available on this side of the pond (which hopefully will be soon).

Let's get the word out about this amazing band!

(I'm waiting for you, Mellotron Storm, we need collaborators and prog reviewers to give an authoritative opinion!  So far we've got one...)

The album Veil of Gossamer by Bainbridge is an instant classic.  Quite the talent and genius...

 

Just read it Thomas and even though you were disappointed the review makes me want to get it.Go figure ?
I'm a big fan as well and enjoy pretty much all of their stuff but especially Open Sky.

Are you saying that my writing style induces fans to get albums even though they may be insipid?  Darn it, I should be in marketing!   Er....I am ......

Knowing your likes and dislikes, I wager you will agree with my comments.

Hey i thought you must be in sales or something. You tell it like it is but i still want to buy from you.

 

 

I am a HUGE Iona fan, Beyond These Shores is my second favorite cd of all time.   However, I must agree that Another Realm is a bit of a let down for me as well.  I love the cd from a lyrical standpoint, however musically there's not much new here and overall it is nowhere near as powerfully as the previous cds.  It's not a bad cd, it's just not up the the extremely high standards of their previous work.  There are some great songs like "Clouds" and "White Horse".  "Let Your Glory Fall" is AMAZING!  I love Dave Bainbridge, he is one of my top ten favorite guiatr players and he has some nice solos on the cd.  Joanne Hogg's vocals are great as usual.  The new wind/ pipes player is great.  All that being said something is missing and I can't quite put my finger on it.  I would still recommend the cd to Iona fans.  I know for myself for whatever reason it took me a long time and a whole lot of plays to really get into the last two Iona cds, Open Sky and The Circling Hour, so I am open to Another Realm growing on me in time.         

I read the lyrics and was surprised to hear them talking about "revival" and such.  Lyrically, I really prefer their more Christo-centric material like "Chi-Ro" and "Wisdom," but I've always liked all their lyrics.  I listened to the songs on Youtube from the new album and liked them, but they didn't really strike me on the first listen.

 

 

I love the fact that the lyrics are more overtly Christian on Another Realm.  I had a slight issue with the fact that on Open Sky the lyriccs were covertly Christian.  My issue with Another Realm is the songwriting.  The songs do not seem as strong as their previous work. 

This is actually my first post to prog archives forums. I stumbled here while googling info about Iona's new release "Another Realm".  I just acquired it tonight and have listened to the first CD. On first impressions, it seems some pretty powerful stuff. 

I've been a lover of Iona since they started or became known at all in the US in the early 90s. I've never seen them live and have periodically looked at their tour schedule but have been disappointed to not see them in the US. I see their schedule for this tour so far but see nothing on the West Coast which is from where I hail.  I wonder if they are going to add any more dates? 

Perusing the threads here I have discovered another outstanding band tonight who I am sampling on youtube right now, Mostly Autumn. Nice. 

I have loved Iona because they speak to the kind of way God has always wired me. I tend to be of a mystical bent.. not really what one would consider "charismatic" but more contemplative, relating more to the ancient Christian mystics. This type of Christian expression had seemed to all but have died out and really Iona has always been my sole connection to that kind of expression. I use their music in my personal prayer and meditation time and was transported to "another realm" of tears while listening to "An Atmosphere of Miracles" tonight. This is what Iona accomplishes in me. Always has.  Hoping this revives my love of them as it has kind of cooled in recent years. I've never really connected to their albums of the '00 decade such as "Circling Hour" and "Open Sky".  Maybe I haven't sat down and contemplated them enough, I don't know. Just never really grabbed me. 

On another note, another Christian prog band I have discovered a new love of this last year is "Glass Hammer"... oh wow!!. Their album "An Inconsolable Secret" has had immeasurable impact on me and is where I get my user name here. I totally see myself as Lirazel and that album connects me to the love of God my father like no other. I'm currently working on a lyric sheet for that album containing Bible verses and passages alongside the text because I find as I'm listening I keep thinking of ones that go along with the ideas being sung about. 

Hope to find some friends and kindred spirits here. 

Lirazel

I didn't know Glass Hammer were a Christian band.  I've been checking them out, I'll try to pay more attention to the lyrics.  I don't know of many more Christian prog bands to recommend, though, unless you're into metal.  Neal Morse, maybe?

Akacia- Much like Yes and ELP. 
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Ascension Theory- Progressive Rock-leans toward metal at times. Not overtly Christian in lyics but the concepts are there.

http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=2371" rel="nofollow - http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=2371

Dave Bainbridge- Solo stuff from Iona member

http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=1336" rel="nofollow - http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=1336

Unitopia- A musical smorgasbord is what you get from them. They are prog but so many musical styles are woven throughout their compositions. If you love variety, you will love them. They are what I call "Christo-friendly". Not Christain per se but their lyics are kind of feel good hippie type, but more deep and thoughtful than that. Their music brings me closer to God personally, which is MY criteria for  what I categorize as God music. The Garden album is a masterpiece IMO.

http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=4175" rel="nofollow - http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=4175

America Gomorrah- More prog-rock. Overtly Christian and sort of focused on end time themes.

http://www.americagomorrah.com/music.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.americagomorrah.com/music.html

Saviour Machine- Prog-metal- This is the darling of the Christian Goth community. They are epic and they have a bunch of Book of Revelation based concept albums. Lyrically they are pretty dark and focus on the Antichrist a LOT and so I find their stuff kind of oppressive actually.. which is saying a lot cause I'm pretty dark myself and can handle dark themes well. I have a lot of their stuff and actually have an unfinished project going of pulling out their better and lighter more inspiring tracks to put in a compilation CD/playlist.

http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=1036" rel="nofollow - http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=1036

Revelation Project- Another end times focused act. 

http://www.myspace.com/revelationproject" rel="nofollow - http://www.myspace.com/revelationproject

Rick Wakeman has been doing  some great Christian stuff for some time now. I only found that out in the last couple of years. I have his Amazing Grace Album and his collaboration with Jon Anderson in 2010, The Living Tree.

http://www.rwcc.com/" rel="nofollow - http://www.rwcc.com/

BTW. I find a lot of uplift in Jon Anderson's solo stuff even though he does lean towards a New Age worldview. His stuff just makes me feel good and peaceful and paves to road to God for me. 

Also don't forget to check out this link to the CPR (Christian Progressive Rock) website:

http://www.cprogrock.com/" rel="nofollow - http://www.cprogrock.com/

For more Celtic Christian stuff check out: 

Jeff Johnson and Brian Dunning

http://www.alivingdog.com/Music_Celtic.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.alivingdog.com/Music_Celtic.html

Maire Brennan -former lead singer of Clanaad

http://www.discogs.com/artist/Maire+Brennan" rel="nofollow - http://www.discogs.com/artist/Maire+Brennan

Eden's Bridge

http://www.edensbridge.net/index.aspx" rel="nofollow - http://www.edensbridge.net/index.aspx

So now that I've combed through my collection and have given some offerings, I would like to hear some of the music you all have found that boosts your faith and brings you closer to God. A band doesn't have to be marketed as a "Christian Band" to be that. In fact it may be better if they aren't marketed that way. I wonder if once an artist gets put on that "Christian" track then their stuff gets sculpted to fit some record company's idea of what a homogenous Christian populous wants? It may be true for the majority of Christian culture, but not for me, so I've had to dig deep and search heavily. 

I've found some other great stuff that isn't prog but is nonetheless faith inspiring. If anyone is interested I'll post more of what I've found. 

Lirazel