Chris McGarel
Latest articles by Chris McGarel

The roots of Robert Ramsay’s silly and serious solo album, Confound And Disturb
By Chris McGarel published
The self-described “Chief Audience Abuser” with Tinyfish and Shineback explored the idea that he might be a musician on 2017 release – but also expounded his theories on the nature of reality

“To get an award from the prog world meant a lot to me because prog rock was in our blood when we started." The story of Voivod and The Wake
By Chris McGarel published
As Voivod celebrated their 35th birthday and release their 14th album, Prog met the Canadian progressive metal legends to look back over their career.

“People assumed we couldn’t be bothered to be there, which just wasn’t the case”: Martin Barre’s take on the Jethro Tull Grammy upset with Metallica
By Chris McGarel published
Guitarist’s wife staged a last-minute midnight party to mark “the one little window where we had a good album, we were fairly important in the music world, and people recognised us”

Gong at 50: how they made The Universe Also Collapses
By Chris McGarel published
In 2019, Gong approached their 50th anniversary with The Universe Also Collapses. We found out how they navigated their first release without any input without the late Daevid Allen

Gong, Stonehenge and hemp packaging: we get inside the mind of Ozric Tentacles' Ed Wynne
By Chris McGarel published
Ed Wynne has released 15 albums with Ozric Tentacles, has collaborated with Amon Düül UK and Eat Static and, in 2019, issued his first ever solo record, Shimmer Into Nature. Prog catches up with him to reminisce about playing at Stonehenge, opening for Gong and why he decided it was time to make another Ozrics album

Voivod's Dimenison Hatross Hypercube session review
By Chris McGarel published
Canadian prog metal pioneers Voivod performed their groundbreaking fourth album Dimension Hatross at Quebec's Hypercube

Voivod's Nothingface Hypercube session review
By Chris McGarel published
Canadian prog metal pioneers Voivod performed their groundbreaking fifth album Nothingface at Quebec's Hypercube

Gazpacho: Fireworking at St. Croix caught live
By Chris McGarel published
Norwegian proggers Gazpacho aired their latest album Fireworker live online yesterday

Gazpacho - Soyuz album review
By Chris McGarel published
Not yet ratedGrand themes examined in a microcosm generate cosmic emotion

Temples On Mars at The Black Heart, London - live review
By Chris McGarel published
Not yet ratedThe band formerly known as Agent relaunch themselves in Camden

Knifeworld at The Lexington, London - live review
By Chris McGarel published
Not yet ratedKnifeworld: plugged and unplugged

Jane Weaver at Islington Assembly Hall, London - live review
By Chris McGarel published
Not yet ratedBritish singer-songwriter wows London with her sonic architecture

King Crimson - Sailor’s Tales 1970-1972 album review
By Chris McGarel published
Not yet ratedAll aboard for this 27-disc round-up of In The Wake Of Poseidon, Lizard and Islands! Just watch out for sea-sickness, biscuit weevils and 30-plus versions of Groon.

Deadly Circus Fire at The Black Heart, London - live review
By Chris McGarel published
Not yet ratedDeadly Circus Fire team up with Tacoma Narrows Bridge Disaster for charity fundraiser

Meet IT, the band bringing politics to prog
By Chris McGarel published
London prog collective IT take aim at the London riots on new album We’re All In This Together

Meet Golden Caves: The Dutch band on a collision course between prog and pop
By Chris McGarel published
Not prog, not pop: meet the Dutch fivepiece who "sit in the middle of two fanbases or two genres"

Ufomammut: "The two bands we all agree were great are The Beatles & Pink Floyd"
By Chris McGarel published
Introducing Ufomammut, the Italian trio who specialise in psychedelic space rituals and progressive sludge

Maschine at the New Cross Inn, London - live review
By Chris McGarel published
Not yet ratedMaschine brave the wiles of south London

Magma - To Life, Death And Beyond, The Music Of Magma DVD review
By Chris McGarel published
Not yet ratedIn thrall to the great French proggers, Magma – but missing some essentials

Voivod at The Underworld, London - live review
By Chris McGarel published
Not yet ratedCanadian prog metal pioneers Voivod wow a small but loyal following in Camden

Robert Ramsay: "I’m about as dangerous as a cheese sandwich"
By Chris McGarel published
Robert Ramsay’s new album, Confound And Disturb, is about as aptly-named as they come. The Tinyfish/Shineback man reveals all...

Magenta at the Boston Music Rooms, London - live review
By Chris McGarel published
Not yet ratedA new-look Magenta welcome Alan Reed for a legendary evening

Plini at the Borderline, London - live review
By Chris McGarel published
Not yet ratedAustralian guitar whizz teams up with Disperse and David Maxim Micic at headline London show
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