The Goddess Of Darkness

Absolute Prog freak - Composer - Writer - Addicted to Megaman Zero aesthetics - Favorite bands are Ars Nova (Jap), Solaris (Hun), Lost Horizon (Swe), Scythelord (USA), Quarteto 1111 (Prt)

[thegoddessofdarknessan]

Progvemember 28

Here is my little collection of Prog merch. I got the biggest classics. The only slightly obscure one is that Heldon vinyl.

-Stand By by Heldon vinyl

-Red by King Crimson vinyl

-Three Sides Live by Genesis CD

-The Lamb Lies Does On Broadway by Genesis CD

-We Can't Dance by Genesis CD

-ELP Logo shirt

-Discipline Logo shirt

-The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway shirt

-King Crimson keychain

[thegoddessofdarknessan]

Progvember 24

Oh, I’ve been waiting for this one alright. My own freakishly insane monster of a Prog supergroup. My love for keyboards and Japanese prog is gonna be on full display. And while I’m at it, why not create many supergroups!?

Supergroup 1 – Onslaught

-Keith Emerson (ELP) – Keyboards

-Keiko Kumagai (Ars Nova [JAP]) – Keyboards

-Nobuo Endoh (Social Tension) – Keyboards

-Toshio Egawa (Gerard [JAP]) – Keyboards

-Jannick Top (Magma) – Bass

-Christian Vander (Magma) – Drums

What’s better than four absolute keyboard juggernauts going ham on Hammonds and synths, while one of the best rhythm sections in Prog backs them up? I imagine the four keyboardists taking turns at soloing to their maximum capacity; the menacing aura of Jannick Top’s bass and Keiko Kumagai’s synths, the virtuosity and epic nature of Keith Emerson and Nobuo Endoh’s playing, the gigaton rhythms and meteorite-like soloing of Christian Vander… This would just be my personal heaven of a supergroup.

Supergroup 2 – Rotten Hyacinth

-Robert Fripp (King Crimson) – Guitar

-Suma Kunio (Bi Kyo Ran) – Guitar

-Nicklas Berg (Morte Macabre) – Bass

-Tozé Almeida (Tantra [POR]) – Drums, Percussion

Robert Fripp and Robert Fripp but japanese, these two guitarists are pretty similar, and are both absolutely god-like. Trying to find a rhythm section that would fit, I found Nicklas Berg, an awesome guitarist, with some of the most inspiring riffs I’ve heard since Jannick Top compositions graced my ears. To finish it all, I found Tozé Almeida to be a good choice, great grooves to accompany the bass, and absolutely masterful playing, matching the guitarists in intensity and madness.

Supergroup 3 – Rugh Di Ëktah

-Alain Ballaud (Shub Niggurath) – Bass

-Jean-Luc Hervé (Shub Niggurath) – Piano, Organ, Harmonium

-Kirt Rust (Weidorje) – Drums

-Jean-Luc Manderlier (Magma) – Piano, Organ

-Takahiro Hizutani (Happy Family) – Guitar

-Himiko Paganotti (Magma) – Vocals

-Antoine Paganotti (Magma) – Vocals

With a name like “The Goddess Of Darkness”, I just couldn’t resist making a Zeuhl band. Starting with the band that has made, quite literally, the darkest music I have ever heard in my entire life, Shub-Niggurath; especially the bassist and keyboardist, who work with each other perfectly to create the musical equivalent of opening the gates of hell (especially in one of my favorite songs, Cabine 67). But I decided that it was better to stray away a little from the avant-garde genre, and go back to a more comprehensible Zeuhl, therefore I picked Kirt Rust, for his simplistic yet powerful drumming, perfect to complete the rhythm section, along Takahiro Hizutani’s crunchy and violent guitar. Not enough power, not enough darkness… Needing more Zeuhl, I turned to the classics, Magma. I chose the keyboardist from the timeless MDK, who, to me, strikes a good balance between the elements I am looking for. To finally seal the deal, I added two of Magma’s vocalists; vocals are a staple of french Zeuhl, after all.

Oh, by the way, Rugh Di Ëktah is Kobaïan for “Crush the Hero”, I gotta be edgy like that.

Supergroup 4 – Polar Easterlies

-Thijs Van Leer (Focus) – Keyboards, Flute

-Attila Kollár (Solaris [HUN]) – Keyboards, Flute

-Kazuhiro Miyatake (Pageant) – Flute, Acoustic Guitar

-Hiroko Nagai (Pageant) – Vocals

-Mike Sergeant (Quarteto 1111) – Bass

-Ramon Galarza (José Cid) – Drums

Whew, after the insanity of the three previous bands, here’s one to catch a little break. I remembered calm and beautiful songs by Focus, like Janis, Love Remembered; by Solaris, like Ha Felszáll a Köd, Moment Of Truth… But a two man band making cute little songs isn’t interesting enough, therefore I decided to have some symphonic Prog members join in. I chose Pageant members, because I couldn’t resist having a third flute (I almost added a fourth flute, but calmed down), as well as one of my favorite vocalists ever, Hiroko Nagai, adding an incredible epic atmosphere to any composition. Now I just had to complete the band, therefore I looked for the thing I love most after japanese Prog: portuguese Prog. I looked no further than the bassist on my favorite song ever, Cantamos Pessoas Vivas, and the drummer on an album my nerdy-sci-fi-loving-self can’t resist listening to over and over.

And here we go, that’s all of them. Handpicking musicians and throwing them in a blender together sure is fun. I try to make it so every band sort of made sense, but I didn’t care that much for realism; having a good time dreaming is fun.

[thegoddessofdarknessan]

Progvember 15

The 80′s, huh. Not a great time for prog. To get some good progressive rock in the 80′s, it’s good to look abroad, away from all the acts that had to turn pop to survive. I’m going with full albums this time.

Discipline, Beat, Three of a Perfect Pair - King Crimson

La Mosaïque de la Rêverie, The Pay For Dreamer’s Sin - Pageant

Macbethia, It Reminds Me of Those Days - Social Tension

Gerard, Empty Lie Empty Dream - Gerard

Martian Chronicles - Solaris

Les Morts Vont Vite - Shub-Niggurath

Symphonie pour le Jour où Brûleront les Cités, Les Espaces Inquiets / Phase IV - Art Zoyd

Gammapolis - Omega

Ki - Kitaro

Castle of Noi - Terutsugu Hirayama

Algazara - Piirpauke

Lexikon, Lexikon 2, Ikarosz - László Benkö 

[thegoddessofdarknessan]

Progvember 12

Prog that scares the hoes. I tried to get some of my favorite (and sometimes obscure) prog bands which are classics, and that made people go “What the hell is that!?” when I played it in voice chats.

Salvador Syndrome - Ars Nova

De Futura - Magma

It Reminds Me Of Those Days - Social Tension

Incipit Tragaedia - Shub-Niggurath

Los Angeles 2026 - Solaris

Orpheus - Gerard

Rod of Asclepius - Scythelord

Holocausto - Tantra

Part V - Jannick Top

Jälleen on meidän - Haikara

Helvet Sttröi - Dai Kaht

A Violent City - Bi Kyo Ran

Villna - Weirdorje