Fields/The Church Of Broken Glass

AWESOME local mix of prog, folk, (proper) classic rock, and Heavy Metal. These are 2 albums that were released together (and I think tied lyrically/thematically).

Features members of Ludicra, Old Grandad & Amber Asylum. Hammers have been running since around 2001 with Ludicra’s John Cobbett (guitar, vocals) being the permanent fixture. All of the members past & present have been super talented-especially the one here (along with the even more recent one with Leila of Vastum/Amber Asylum).

Weirdly in places it comes off as a far superior & way more rockin’ version of Kansas and some bits of Atomic Rooster & Coven but for the most part they’re on their own in creating this great mix of influences that transition seamlessly and escapes the trap of the usual “prog-metal”. HUGELY RECOMENDED!

Fields 1-6

((((1))))) Fantastic minor chord keyboards/organ mixed with great heavy riffing & drumming. Vocals come in late but work well.
(((((2)))))) Nice swirling organ sound, tempo/moods that sway back & forth from hard rock to a classic prog/folk sound with great vocals from Jesse.
((((((3)))))) Rockin’ prog with some killer wailing guitars that match very well with the organ as does Patrick Goodwin’s lead vox.
((((4)))) Ethereal, short interlude of vocals and flutes.
((((((5)))))) Big rockin’ riffs and great vocals harmonies/melodies. More rad jams on the organ, too.
(((((6))))) Very NWOBHM guitar gallop, Thin Lizzy/Maiden harmonies, very nice organ & super catchy vocals, great drumming, too.
((((7)))) Mid-paced very 70’s proggy sound pushed into the modern age. Straight ahead riffs/organ sound gets more complex & metallic in the middle but jumps around enough to keep it fresh.

The Church of Broken Glass 7-11

(((((1))))) Metal-ish prog intro of the highest order. Airy, folk-type vocals countered with NWOBHM-ish riff more. Redundant chorus but the playing works so well it overrides it.
((((((2)))))) Epic tune, doomy riffs and dark, brooding organ parts. Awesome, very clear vocals mixed with some pleasant folk strums & piano then back to the doom.
((((((3)))))) Holy Emerson, Lake & Palmer! (As in the good early 70s stuff). Fantastic mix of guitars & organ, zig zaggin’ tempos. Great melodies that would easily fit on a Queen record.
(((((4)))))) Great mix of classic rock balladry and folk melodies.
((((((((5)))))))) Straight up Heavy Metal tune with a pretty sounding Damon & Naomi style break!?! Otherwise totally rockin’ and should-be classic Heavy Metal style.