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KONCHORDAT

Neo-Prog • United Kingdom


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Konchordat biography
Hailing from the UK/Kent area KONCHORDAT started in 2008. Multi-instrumentalists Lee Harding and Steve Cork started the project, influenced by several rock and prog bands like Yes, Genesis, Queen. Together with Stuart Martin (guitars, vocals) and other guest artists they could release their debut album 'English Ghosts' in 2009. The songs feature significant elements of progressive rock presented with a gentle, sometimes symphonic edge. KONCHORDAT's line up changed when Harding was substituted by Martin. Their sophomore album 'The New Crusade' came out in 2011.

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KONCHORDAT discography


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

2.89 | 32 ratings
English Ghosts
2009
3.56 | 54 ratings
The New Crusade
2011
3.15 | 20 ratings
Rise To The Order
2016

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KONCHORDAT Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 English Ghosts by KONCHORDAT album cover Studio Album, 2009
2.89 | 32 ratings

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English Ghosts
Konchordat Neo-Prog

Review by kev rowland
Special Collaborator Honorary Reviewer

3 stars Konchordat were formed in 2009 by Steve Cork (bass, piano, keyboards, acoustic guitar) and Lee Harding (vocals, piano, keyboards, acoustic guitar, drums, programming) and with some guest guitarists set about recording 'English Ghosts'. But, when listening back they realised that the quality was so poor that it was pretty much unusable, so Steve asked one of those guitarists, Stuart Martin, if there was anything he could do to salvage it. Eventually they realised that a remix wasn't going to achieve anything so Stuart and Steve set about re-recording most the album again, apart from some of the keyboard parts, and this is the result. In some ways, it is quite surprising to realise that this release is as late as it is, as in many ways this feels that this is from the early Nineties. It is good solid neo prog, with some lengthy numbers (the title cut is nearly twenty minutes long).

What lets this down though, are the vocals. They just aren't strong enough, and the impression is that this would be a much stronger band altogether if they had a real singer, and it is of little surprise to me that Lee hasn't been involved in the band since this release. Musically they have been paying close attention to bands from the early Nineties, and while Citizen Cain are one of the bands that are obvious, as are IQ, the most obvious is Galahad. There are signs of real promise within the music, but there is always the feeling that this isn't the full article and there are things that could have been done to make it better, but given the issues they had suffered during the recording it is amazing they got it out at all. Solid, with some good points here and there, but not essential.

 The New Crusade by KONCHORDAT album cover Studio Album, 2011
3.56 | 54 ratings

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The New Crusade
Konchordat Neo-Prog

Review by Conor Fynes
Prog Reviewer

3 stars 'The New Crusade' - Konchordat (5/10)

Konchordat received some recognition a couple of years ago when they released their debut, 'English Ghost'. A band that certainly knows what it wants, this dual partnership is intent on letting the now-aging sounds of neo prog live on. Certainly inspired by bands like Pendragon and Marillion, there is a sure audience for Konchordat, but the lack of innovation and cheesy execution results in a fairly mediocre impression from me.

From start to finish, the two main ingredients in Konchordat are the synthesizers, and the vocals of Stuart Martin. The 'neo prog' scene has always been heavy on keyboards, but Konchordat almost entirely centers their sound around them. Adding the melodic aspect to this band's music are the vocals, which perform in a fairly straightforward neo-prog fashion; anthemic, highly theatrical, and brooding. What this results in is a sound that is best described as 'dramatic', but also rather thin, and cheesy. Throughout the course of 'The New Crusade', listeners are barraged by the same passe synth textures, and Martin's nasal voice is not strong enough to leave me wanting more.

The album does begin off on a pleasant note; the epic title track has a tense vibe to it that fits the album and song's title perfectly. There are moments where the arrangement is further fleshed out as well, which is all to the band's credit. The synths sound rather thin still, but times where harmonies are used give Konchordat a somewhat classical feel. For fans of dramatic, very British melodic prog rock, 'The New Crusade' should do well, but as a relative outsider to this sort of music, I am seeing so many bands doing this sound better than Konchordat. There is strength here, and though Martin sounds too much to me like a disciple of Genesis, his vocals should not disappoint the majority of listeners. The music is good, but tame by today's standards, hence a lukewarm rating.

 The New Crusade by KONCHORDAT album cover Studio Album, 2011
3.56 | 54 ratings

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The New Crusade
Konchordat Neo-Prog

Review by taurus

4 stars I think I could best describe 'the new crusade' as 'prog with muscle'. You get just under an hour of hard hitting, edgy heavy prog that seems to fall into a nice area of between neo prog and hard rock. The keyboards are quite in your face at times, but not over powering. The first song is 'the new crusade', a 14 minute epic beast of a song full of power and fanfare. 'A coming of age' seems to be the sole venture into classic neo prog rock. Influenced VERY heavily by genesis i think. 'Panic room' is the fastest and heaviest song on the album with a monster opening riff and more time changes than i can remember and finishing with a beautiful, stirring guitar solo. 'Heavens gate' and 'Scars inside' are the shorter and probably my least preferred songs on here. Then finally we are blessed with a masterpiece of modern progressive rock. 'Time to go' is simply wonderful. Very emotional to the point of me needing to turn it off the first time i heard it. A beautiful delicate piece of music that simply builds and builds into an ending to die for. Choral, majestic and VERY moving. I simply love this song. 'The New Crusade' deserves to be a massive success, but I fear it won't get the exposure that it deserves as many of our best bands don't. You owe it to yourself to at least give them a listen. I don't think you'll be disappointed. A very well deserved 4.5 out of 5
 The New Crusade by KONCHORDAT album cover Studio Album, 2011
3.56 | 54 ratings

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The New Crusade
Konchordat Neo-Prog

Review by lukretio

2 stars If you love your neo/symphonic prog to death, then you should probably stop reading and go get the new Konchordat now. Otherwise, better spend your money more wisely.

Don't get me wrong, I don't loathe this album, it is a decent, professional effort. I can listen to it and occasionaly enjoy one or two passages in the songs. But, overall, I find the music rather uninspired and boring. And hardly original - these songs sound like they have been recorded 20 years ago but released just now. Add to this some weaknesses in the vocals department, a rather monotonous choice of keyboard sounds, and a general flatness in the execution from all instruments and you have an album that I'll be surprised if anyone but the die-hard fans of the genre will dig.

 The New Crusade by KONCHORDAT album cover Studio Album, 2011
3.56 | 54 ratings

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The New Crusade
Konchordat Neo-Prog

Review by Rivertree
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Band Submissions

4 stars Before writing this down, of course I had to check my copy of their 'English Ghost' debut from 2009 again. I still find it a good starting shot, however a bit conventional though. Now considering them on 'The New Crusade' with an updated line up there is some obvious improvement to state. Overall this sophomore album comes more professional, the sound is clearer. Musically I find this less pathetic, more lively - visually it diverges from the debut's rather dark mooded appeal, the cover art appears quite typical for genre albums now.

KONCHORDAT's core are Steve Cork and Stuart Martin on this occasion. They have produced this album on their own, supported by Liam Green using Roland V drums, he makes a great job too by the way. The guitar is often focussed on riffs, which are serving a heavier edged backing. Keyboards are lushly deployed, often dramatic so to say, not that virtuoso as known from typical symphonic productions, but definitely a strong element nevertheless. Furthermore Stuart Martin is responsible for the vocals, more expressive and this consequently implies another positive change concerning the whole production.

The title track is an epic with shifting time signatures and moods, definitely entertaining. It all starts with ambient/psychedelic appeal - causing suspense definitely - and then changes to a typical uptempo groove alternating with vocal dominated episodes. 'Through the years we learn to face our fears' - with A Coming Of Age they are obvisiously reflecting their life experience coupled with some wise advices - addressed to the younger, by the look of it. And this song now shows the guitar coming out of hiding with more initiative.

I especially like the swirling organ and acoustic guitar shining through on Heaven's Gate where Panic Room rocks in particular, featuring some heavier Riverside sentiment - and at the very first time I really thought Mariusz Duda is shouting in between. Some reminiscences which are thoroughly legitimate I would say. This also applies to the nice terminating song Time To Go which - excellent sentimental (solo) guitar work inclusively - comes close to IQ in my opinion.

Apart from that 'The New Crusade' is an independent neo prog production for sure which grows with every spin due to the multi-variant compositions and an extra portion of melody. There is every indication that Stuart Martin has a large share here concerning this successfull effort. Although running shorter as the debut, the songs are more essential, well balanced. I've listened to a bunch of stylistically related music in the meanwhile, however this is still enjoyable - keep it up, folks!

 The New Crusade by KONCHORDAT album cover Studio Album, 2011
3.56 | 54 ratings

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The New Crusade
Konchordat Neo-Prog

Review by amazingwilf

4 stars Konchordat's first album, English Ghosts, showed a lot of promise, though was not without its flaws - with The New Crusade the promise is fulfilled, and the flaws all but dispelled.

The sound is clean, bright and contemporary - hence, I suppose, the 'neo' tag, but as the band would tell you themselves that's where they come from, having been involved in progressive rock bands during the 'second coming' in the 1980s. Stuart Martin takes over on lead vocals, with a much more 'rock' voice than the departed Lee Harding, and that dictates the tenor of the whole record. Guitars and keyboards mesh seamlessly, without one overwhelming the other, underpinned by a tight rhythm section of (mostly) sampled drums and the rumble of Steve Cork's Rickenbacker. If I've one criticism of the production it's that the 'drumming' is a little robotic in places, but it's hardly a major problem, and doesn't detract from the overall feel.

As good as the sound it's the songs that matter, and this is where The New Crusade shows a real advance on the first Konchordat album. Steve and Stuart demonstrate that they're masters of both the epic (Time To Go, Panic Room and the title track) and the shorter song (Heaven's Gate, in particular), packed with killer tunes that stick in your head and make you smile.

4.5 stars, if I could award halves!

 English Ghosts by KONCHORDAT album cover Studio Album, 2009
2.89 | 32 ratings

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English Ghosts
Konchordat Neo-Prog

Review by robert45

2 stars After hearing good things about this album I finally bought it to see what all the fuss was about. The album kicks off with a short piece 'Prelude', nice but only ok. 'The human element' has some nice lyrics and interesting sections but seems to lack any real substance. 'Consequences' is next, and for me is far better. Long, interesting and powerful. Track 4 'No words' can only be described as forgettable, by far the weakest point on an already average album. The next is the title track 'English ghosts' which is at times great but I feel is stretched out way too long. Maybe by 5 or 6 minutes. Next up is 'Motion' which I think is the best track on the album. Seems to be about evolution. Some wonderful lyrics and beautiful guitar work. 'The road goes ever on' contains smatterings of Yes, but unfortunately only the commercial 90125, Big Generator era Yes. Finally is an instrumental 'Coda' which is basically a few minutes of widdly guitar soloing, very nice but thats about it. Not a great production, a weak vocalist and average songs. All in all, a bit of a let down for me.
 The New Crusade by KONCHORDAT album cover Studio Album, 2011
3.56 | 54 ratings

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The New Crusade
Konchordat Neo-Prog

Review by xxarie

4 stars I accidently found the website of Konchordat andi had there the opportunity to listen to two of the tracks from this album. I pre-ordered the CD instantly.

In other reviews of this album i read that this album is seen as solid Neo-Prog with no new influences. In a way this is true. But this music touched me in a very nice way. And that is what music is all about: touch your emotions.

The first track is a nice mix of neo-prog and pieces of hard rock, with an epic end. It is the longest track of the album, but i enjoy every minute of it. Then, almost fluently, the second track "A Coming of Age" starts. The tempo is a little higher and there is a nice mixture of guitar and keybord. The third track "Panic Room" is absolutely insane and for me the best of the album, with a fantastic rhythm. With "Heaven's Gate" the music goes again in a mix of neo-prog and hard rock. "Scars Inside" is for me the track that least impressed me, but good nontheless. This track makes me hope that their next album contains a bit more atmospheric sections, combined with the rougher sections in the music. The last track "Time to Go" is again a piece of music that touches me as very nice and a worthy end to this beautiful album.

Four stars, and well earned.

 The New Crusade by KONCHORDAT album cover Studio Album, 2011
3.56 | 54 ratings

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The New Crusade
Konchordat Neo-Prog

Review by robbob

3 stars This album is definitely for neo prog lovers.

But neo classic prog .

Simple neo prog..with no surprises...no touches of the modern prog(atmospheric...some crossover ,some RIo... all musical or rhythmic additions that the modern neo prog bands are incorporating)

This album is quite beautiful ...but as I said nothing original here.

If you like Knight Area you will like this one ..but in the level of an average album of Knight Area.

Nice songs and arrangements...some bombastic keyboards...good singer (similar voice than KA singer).

So a repeated formula for the traditional neo prog artists but a good work nevertheless.

Influences: Pendragon,IQ,and specially Knight Area

3 stars(3,5 stars really).

Take a look.

 The New Crusade by KONCHORDAT album cover Studio Album, 2011
3.56 | 54 ratings

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The New Crusade
Konchordat Neo-Prog

Review by toroddfuglesteg

3 stars Another good band from the homeland of neo prog.

It is no doubts neo prog is a deriative from symphonic prog, with some added spices. Something it seems like Konchordat has taken to their hearts. Their brand of neo prog has taken a lot from symphonic prog bands like Yes and Genesis. But the sound is still unmistaken neo prog and is based in the 1980s scene. Pendragon is a major influence here.

The music is also pretty heavy at times and that is another neo prog dna profile. Their reliance on the verse-refrain-verse formula at times is also a give away. But there is also a lot of free form symph prog here.

The best song on this album is the Panic Room epic. That is a good piece of symph meets neo. The rest of this album is also very good. I have a bit of a gripe with the 1980s sound and the vocals which I am not a fan of. I am also missing some cracking superb songs here too. But by all means; this is a very good album which all neo prog fans should really check out. This band is onto something and I have put them down on my notepad as a band to follow.

3.5 stars

Thanks to rivertree for the artist addition. and to toroddfuglesteg for the last updates

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