"Time gentlemen, please: prog’s great warrior-poet Fish bows out with a career-capping masterpiece.

It’s been five years since Fish announced that his next album – this one – would be his last. At times it looked like he’d never even make it this far. The catalogue of woes which have plagued the big man since 2013’s A Feast Of Consequences are enough to fill an entire volume of his oft-mooted autobiography: ailed romances and family bereavements, hand surgery, spinal operations, writer’s block, two bouts of sepsis, one near-death experience and a full-blown global pandemic.

All that bedevilment could have scuppered Weltschmerz a long time ago. Instead, it’s conspired to produce the best album of his solo career, one that is lush and expansive yet intimate and personal, sometimes angry, sometimes dejected, but never anything less than magnetic.

Fish has said that Weltschmerz is an album informed by “the pain of the world”, as the rough English translation of the title suggests. In fact there’s so much pain of the personal, political and societal varieties going on that it’s impossible to cram it onto a single album, hence its 10 songs are spread over two discs. But neither an epic running time nor existential heaviness weigh it down: Weltschmerz is leaner than any 85-minute album has a right to be." DE-PM



Essential Track: "The album’s 17-minute centrepiece, Rose Of Damascus, ties together geo-political upheaval, religious fundamentalism, terrorism, immigration and Fish’s newfound passion for horticulture (at least half of the album’s songs reference flowers or gardening). It’s a grand suite of a song, built on shifting musical and emotional sands, but it’s a world away from the bloated self-regard that sometimes comes with the territory." DE-PM



Read the full reviews on Prog Magazine and Prog Archives.

Listen to samples and buy the CD directly from Fish Music.

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Click on the following link for a complete list of bands that have played for the NewEARS Art Rock Series

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2020-11-13
The Musical Box - A Genesis Extravaganza Volume 2 at Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield, CT at 08:00 PM
Reschuled to May 21, 2021

2020-11-17
The Musical Box - A Genesis Extravaganza Volume 2 at The Wilbur - Boston, MA at 08:00 PM
Rescheduled to May 23, 2021

2020-11-20
The Musical Box - A Genesis Extravaganza Volume 2 at Tupelo Music Hall - Derry, NH at 08:00 PM
TO BE RESCHEDULED

2020-11-29
The Wizards of Winter at Tupelo Music Hall - Derry, NH at 07:00 PM
TO BE RESCHEDULED

2020-12-09
Geoff Tate Empire 30th Anniversary Tour at Tupelo Music Hall - Derry, NH at 05:00 PM
$55

2020-12-09
Geoff Tate Empire 30th Anniversary Tour at Tupelo Music Hall - Derry, NH at 08:00 PM
$55

2020-12-27
The Machine performs Pink Floyd at The Cabot Theatre - Beverly, MA at 07:00 PM
TBD

2021-01-09
THE MACHINE performs Pink Floyd at The Flying Monkey - Plymouth, NH at 07:30 PM
TBD

2021-02-05
The Machine performs Pink Floyd: Unplugged at TCAN (The Center for Arts Natick) - Natick, MA at 08:00 PM
$35 - $40

2021-02-06
The Machine performs Pink Floyd: Unplugged at TCAN (The Center for Arts Natick) - Natick, MA at 08:00 PM
$35 - $40

2021-02-07
Todd Rundgren – The Individualist, A True Star at Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield, CT at 08:00 PM
$90 - $150 VIP

2021-02-08
Todd Rundgren – The Individualist, A True Star at Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield, CT at 08:00 PM
$90 - $150 VIP

2021-03-21
THE MACHINE performs Pink Floyd at Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield, CT at 08:00 PM
$50

2021-04-21
Martin Barre performs classic Jethro Tull at Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield, CT at 08:00 PM
$49.50 - $104.50 (VIP)

2021-04-22
Martin Barre performs classic Jethro Tull at Tupelo Music Hall - Derry, NH at 08:00 PM
$45 - $60

All Events ...>>

October 30th @ 9PM October 31st @ 10:30PM Hanging with the Storm Surgers

Join Joe Deninzon, Jason Gianni, Paul Ranieri, Michelangelo Quirinale, with special guests Rachel Flowers, Michael Sadler from Saga, Fernando Perdomo, Ruti Celli, and our videographer David P. Levin as we discuss the creation of our new song/video, "Storm Surge," feature recent projects from all our guest artists, and discuss the future of music and life as we know it! Hang out and ask us questions. Hosted by Nick Katona from Melodic Revolution Records.

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2020-10-27: Porcupine Tree detail new The Delerium Years box set
Porcupine Tree have released details of their new Porcupine Tree - The Delerium Years 13-disc box set which brings together all of the band's recordings issued by the Delerium label between 1992-97 and which will be released

2020-10-26: Romantic Warriors - A Progressive Music Saga
Our crowdfundig campaign is still live to raise finishing funds for Krautrock 2. Thank you 111 backers! If you haven't yet, make a contribution today. https://igg.me/at/krautrock2 . We created the Tarot secret perk for you, o

2020-10-26: INTERVIEW Martin Barre on profilprog
Another interesting interview to enjoy ! This time, with Martin Barre who generously answer questions about the brand new upcoming album: 50 years of Jethro Tull ! Cheers

2020-10-26: Genesis reveal brand new behind-the-scenes rehearsal photos
Genesis have allowed Prog Magazine a sneak preview of rehearsals that are underway for the band's 2021 The Last Domino? tour. We bring you some exclusive behind-the-scenes photos taken as the band rehearse for the forthcoming

2020-10-26: On the Raw - Post Rock / Quality music
ON THE RAW is an Spanish progressive rock band from Barcelona consisting of Alex OJEA, Jordi AMELA, Jordi PRATS, Pep ESPASA and Toni SANCHEZ. Members of the group came from an accomplished prog rock background in other Barcel

2020-10-25: New Extensive Echolyn Interview with Ray and Chris
For SOAL NIGHT LIVE Episode #45 we catch up with Raymond Weston (Vocals/Bass) and Christopher Buzby (Keys) from one of the best groups to emerge from the 90s progressive rock renaissance, Echolyn. For the first hour, roughly,

2020-10-25: Martin Barre opens up on the moment Ian Anderson disbanded Jethro Tull
Former Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre has spoken of the moment in 2011 when Ian Anderson told him he'd decided to disband Jethro Tull. Until now Barre has been reluctant to talk of the actual moment, but in a new intervie

2020-10-24: Rain – ‘Singularity’
SB: John Jowitt and Andy Edwards formerly of IQ joined their forces together again in their new band Rain which had just released their first album. It's getting great reviews. The band is completed by Rob Groucutt (son of EL

2020-10-24: The Cyberiam Launch Pre-Order Campaign
Fresh off their slot opening up Marillion’s Couch Convention on September 4, heavy proggers The Cyberiam, are excited to announce the pre-order campaign and release of “Forging Nations LIVE!”. This concert recording captures

2020-10-24: Phoen1x Debut Album Immaterial Witness Now Available
Immaterial Witness is a collection of ten songs written over the last couple of decades that have been recorded by an all-star outfit featuring members of Vertical Alignment, Proto-Kaw, Evership, Time Horizon, Stratospheerius

2020-10-24: Colosseum six-disc BBC sessions set on the way
Pioneering progressive jazz rockers Colosseum are to have a new, fully authorised six-disc collection of their BBC Sessions from 1969-1971 released through Repertoire Records later this month. Transmissions Live At The BBC fe

2020-10-23: VIDEO REVIEW: MELANIE MAU and MARTIN SCHNELLA Shine Brightly with TRANSATLANTIC Rendition of “We All Need Some Light”
We live in dark times. Virus and social distancing and quarantines and isolation. Restaurants and pubs and movie theaters closed. Live, in-person concerts? A thing of the past, for now. Entertainment options are increasingly

2020-10-23: SF Music Scene Fixture EVAN WARDELL Releases His Debut Solo Full-Length Album IN LIKE A LION // OUT LIKE A LIGHT
An export from the island of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, EVAN WARDELL is a musician, producer, and audio engineer now based in San Francisco. Written, performed, produced, recorded, and mixed entirely by EVAN WARDELL

2020-10-23: Riverside announce new live album and release live clip of Hyperactive
Polish prog rock quartet Riverside have released a new live clip of the band performing Hyperactive. It's taken from the band's just announced new live album Lost'n'Found - Live In Tilburg, which will be released through Insi

2020-10-23: Andres Guazzelli To Release Mini Album “Atypical”
Argentinan composer and progressive rock / symphonic soundscape artist Andres Guazzelli will release his first album on October 31st, 2020 the last day of National ADHD Awareness Month. Atypical is a 20-minute musical journey

2020-10-22: ALBUMS: Circuline Comes Alive
A superb glimpse at what makes the progressive/cinematic rock troupe so beloved. For the past several years, ProgStock has served as arguably the best progressive rock festival in America. Run by Tom Palmieri and Ann Rinaldi

2020-10-22: Kaleidoreal - Love's Bright Light
Epic progressive rock from Sweden. Third album Love's Bright Light out on November 5th. S@PE: Really wonderful and melodic Prog Rock with excellent musicianship especially if you like up-front guitar. I suppose it's on the ha

2020-10-22: Keyboard Legend Rick Wakeman’s Live Virtual Television Series “Rick’s Plaice”
In 2005 in a studio far, far away, (Norfolk), an elderly musician would broadcast and stream “Rick’s Plaice” to the world on Saturday Morning. Nobody really knew who he was, but a select few believed him to be the alter ego “

2020-10-22: How Yes’ ‘Fragile’ Inspired a Bachman-Turner Overdrive LP Title
Bachman-Turner Overdrive's 1974 album Not Fragile was fueled by the brawny, melodic hard rock of "Roll on Down the Highway" and the stuttering "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet." And its title was a playful swipe at Yes' oppositely

2020-10-22: Danny Cavanagh Nick Drake tribute album gets vinyl release
Anathema guitarist Danny Cavanagh will release his A Place To Be: A Tribute To Nick Drake album on vinyl through Accelerator Records on December 4. The surprise news comes less than a month after Anathema stunned fans by anno

2020-10-22: Katatonia release new live video of Behind The Blood
Swedish prog metallers Katatonia have released a live clip of Behind The Blood. The track is taken from the band's upcoming live album, Dead Air, which will be released through Peaceville Records on November 13. The 20-song s

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