Welcome to The Progressive Souls Collective (TPSC):
A very exciting adventure dedicated to the love of heavy progressive music!
With the upcoming debut album "Sonic Birth" to be released via Metalville Records (Rough Trade distribution) featuring session musicians who were involved in bands like Dream Theater, Black Country Communion, Angra, Haken, O.S.I. and many more, this is a new kind of
creative venture in the progressive music genre.
CHAPTER I: CREATION OF THE DEBUT ALBUM "Sonic Birth"
How do you approach an album if you initially think that this could be your one and only shot at heavy progressive music? Well, you go for it and try to get the expertise of the finest players in the scene. Written entirely by guitarist Florian Zepf, TPSC’s debut album, Sonic Birth, is an album of thrilling and highly dynamic progressive metal.
To bring his creation to life Florian sought out the very best musicians in the progressive metal genre and they were all
immediately captured by the spell of TPSC:
Drummer Aquiles Priester (ex-Angra, Tony MacAlpine, W.A.S.P., fill-in touring drummer for DragonForce on their 2020 tour) was contacted
first. Actually, Aquiles was driving to a tour rehearsal with W.A.S.P. in Los Angeles during the first phone conversation with Florian.
After listening to the first song demos, Aquiles immediately said: “Count me in!”. Keyboard extraordinaire and virtuoso player
Derek Sherinian (Sons of Apollo, ex-Dream Theater, Planet X, Black Country Communion, Billy Idol etc) was contacted next and agreed
to be a special guest on this album, and later Florian found himself jamming with Derek in his Beachwood Manor Studios in Burbank,
and of course many files were sent back and forth online in order to finish the album. Percussionist wizard and music legend Luis
Conte (Phil Collins, Eric Clapton, Julian Lennon, Madonna, and many more) was also contacted for providing his magic on a few
select tracks (you will definitely hear when Luis is doing his thing!).
Next, Conner Green (Haken, live bass placer in Mike Portnoy’s Shattered Fortress) added his wonderful bass talents during his
downtime from touring commitments. And, as a very special feature on this album, Kevin Moore (O.S.I., Chroma Key, ex-Dream Theater),
who is an absolute extraordinaire in the sound design and loop programming world, provided samples and loops on some of the
songs. In fact, the TPSC debut album is the only record currently around to feature two ex-Dream Theater keyboard players
together on the same the songs (with Derek Sherinian playing keyboards, and Kevin Moore being responsible for loop programming).
Finally, how to proceed in the vocal department? When writing progressive music with that kind of complexity and finesse, you
know that you need a vocalist with a huge range, destinctive style, and, above all, a person that can get the right emotions across.
Vladimir Lalic, a trained opera singer and frontman of the Serbian progressive band Organized Chaos was contacted by Florian, and,
once you listen to the music, you will hear and understand why Vladimir was selected for this exciting collective. In fact, when
Florian listened Vladimir’s cover version of Steve Vai’s song “Touching tongues” on Youtube he was more than impressed by
Vladimir’s outstanding vocal abilities. And so, the rest is history….:-)
In a nutshell, each of these legends and upcoming talents in the field of progressive music was invited to contribute their superlative
skills on this album because they are master progressive musicians in the purest sense - they all have a progressive soul.
Musically, the debut album Sonic Birth blends the power and strength of progressive metal, with the inquisitive, playful nature of
progressive rock to create endlessly fascinating songs. As the album progresses the listener is taken on an utterly enthralling
musical journey, becoming completely immersed in the Sonic Birth experience. You can feel the exuberance in the performances,
the joy as the musicians explore the world that Florian has framed within his writings and compositions. Conceptually, this album
explores a society where technology has infiltrated every aspect of human existence – our society. Science constantly pushes
at the boundaries of what can be done and what should be done. It has become an inextricable force within our belief systems,
our perceptions, even our emotions. Do we find happiness through science and technology? Or do the two things stand in
opposed camps? Sonic Birth takes a pioneering lyrical approach, using the language of various disciplines such as chemistry,
medicine, mathematics, physics, biology, law and finance to examine our complex relationship with technology, and to express
the importance of our relationships with each other, of love and intimacy in a world of science.
Having reached out to the finest musicians to bring TPSC to life Florian also wanted the best when it came to mixing and mastering,
employing the exceptional skills of Adair Daufembach (Tony MacAlpine, Dirk Verbeuren [Megadeth, ex-Soilwork, ex-Devin Townsend
Project etc.]) were used to apply the final polish.
More than just an assembly of great musicians, more than a single, wonderful album, TPSC represents a fresh approach to progressive
metal with a bright future. This is the birth, the Sonic Birth, of a new exciting adventure in progressive music.
Chapter II: CREATION OF THE ALBUM "Sonic Rebirth"
How do you approach your second album after a debut that has received such high acclaim by fans and critics like "Sonic Birth" ? Well,
you link in with a group of musicians you know very well and who can deliver complex progressive music in both live and in the studio setting.
As a consequence of the corona pandemic there was no tour for further promoting the TPSC debut album in the live environment. However,
TPSC performed a one-off show at the 2022 Artrock Festival in Germany and also recorded a live-album on this special night. Logistics
and travel restrictions prevented to have the line-up from the "Sonic Birth" studio album. However, this was not a barrier for TPSC: Together
with TPSC lead vocalist Vladimir Lalic guitarist and producer Florian Zepf was joined by the exceptionally gifted bass player Jamie Powell, keyboardist Gerald Peter (known for his work with Dream Theater's Jordan Rudess on his Rockestra project and Cirque du soleil), and drummer extraordinaire Tim Korycki (Tomorrow's Eve) who was highly recommended to Florian by Kamelot-drummer Alex Landenburg. This live
line-up delivered a top-notch evening of progressive metal on that very night, captured on both audio and video for a future release, and it
served as the absolute proof that this band could deliver such complex and progressive material on every level.
Following this show and the highly positive feedback on the TPSC live performance the bunch went back to the studio and recorded
a lot of material in the following. In November 2023 TPSC released a cover-version of the song “The Trick Is To Keep Breathing” with
guest singer Megan Burtt on lead vocals as well as with Alex Landenburg (Kamelot, Cyhra) on drums as a tribute to the exceptional
band Garbage and serving as an interim release until the next full length studio album.
And now TPSC are back with full force:
“Sonic Rebirth” begins where the first album ended, both musically and lyrically. Vocalist Vladimir Lalic once again begins with the words “I Am Here”, which also mark the first and last words on “Sonic Birth”. The new release can once again be characterized as progressive metal with a range of elements of the entire progressive genre, this time with even more prog, more catchy melodies, but also more metal and heaviness. “Sonic Rebirth” marks the logical continuation of its predecessor “Sonic Birth”, and can be understood as the second part of a musical, lyrical and overall sonic concept. With this record to already be the second concept album released by TPSC listeners can find elements they might recognize from the first album such as quotes, references, motifs and melodies besides a lot of new elements.
Thematically, both “Sonic Birth” and “Sonic Rebirth” touch on the topic of human development and technology, visually characterized
by the robot embryo as a major part of the artwork on both album covers.
The musicians involved are once again top notch: Vladimir Lalic (TPSC, Organized Chaos) once again performs his charismatic, operatic
and diverse lead vocals. Keyboard leads are delivered by virtuosos Gerald Peter (known for his work with Dream Theater’s Jordan
Rudess as part of the Rockestra project) and Zsolt Kaltenecker (Special Providence). In the bass department Jamie Powell
(known to fans from the TPSC live line-up) and Simen Borven from Leprous as a guest on one track provide an organic and
grooving foundation for the overall sonic sound of the album. Drummers Tim Korycki (TPSC live drummer & Tomorrow’s Eve)
as well as Adam Marko (Special Providence) on one song provide some mighty and catchy work behind the kit. Luis Conte
(know from the TPSC debut, Phil Collins & Eric Clapton) once again provides his unique flair in the percussion department.
Female guest vocalist Megan Burtt (solo artist & Gingerbomb) who is already know to TPSC fans from the first album
(duett “You And Me Alone”) and the current single release “The Trick Is To Keep Breathing” (Garbage cover) also appears on the
fifth track “Talk To Me” together with Vladimir Lalic. Mastermind and guitarist Florian Zepf once more was in charge of all
compositions and the production. As regards mastering, „Sonic Rebirth“ received it’s final touches by world-class engineer
Reuben Cohen from the multi-Grammy Award winning Lurssen Mastering team in Burbank (USA), and who is known
for his work with greats such as Metallica and many others.
Conceptionally „Sonic Rebirth“ consists of a total of eight parts. The tracks are simply entitled Parts I-VIII, but they also have their
individual song titles attached. The tracks blend into each other so that the listener can get immersed into futuristic soundscapes
and has an uninterrupted and progressive listening experience. As regards running time „Sonic Rebirth“ is a bit shorter in duration
(approx. 45 minutes) in comparison to it’s predecessor “Sonic Birth” (63 minutes). Like on the debut album there are some unusual
instruments on various tracks that you normally wouldn’t expect on a progressive metal album. Damiano Della Torre (known for
his work with Joe Cocker, Pavarotti, Tom Jones or Terence Trent D’Arby) plays accordion on „Talk To Me“ (Part V), accompanied by
pedal-steel- and resonator-guitars performed by Florian Zepf and who also plays banjo and mandolin. On two songs there’s a
Duduk performed by Aneesh Kashalikar, and Isaac Alderson (also known from the TPSC-debut „Sonic Birth“) provides hypnotizing
Uilleann Pipes and whistles on the opening track „I Am Here“ (Part I).
Because many of the musicians on this album have played together as TPSC in a live setting „Sonic Rebirth“ has a both organic and
at the same time futuristic character in terms of it’s overall sound, but the album also has some more heaviness and metal elements.
There’s also even more prog when compared to the debut, as for example on Part VII („The Core“) on which Tim Korckyi and
Jamie Powell prove to be a unit totally in sync. The artwork of „Sonic Rebirth“ also follows the visual concept of the debut, this time
with a white robot embryo on a black background whereas the debut has an inverse approach. Therefore, the continuation from the
first album and the overall concept once again become visible on every level of “Sonic Rebirth” so that old and new fans can get
immersed into this sonic listening experience.
„Sonic Rebirth“ is an organic prog-metal album and the logical continuation of the debut with a new generation of top musicians
from the prog genre. TPSC are back!