Chronomonaut

Chronomonaut is the seventeenth studio album by American progressive rock band Glass Hammer, released on October 12, 2018.

Chronomonaut
Studio album by
Glass Hammer
ReleasedOctober 12, 2018
RecordedMay 4–July/August 2018
GenreProgressive rock
Length1:10:30[1][2]
LabelArion Records/Audio Resources
ProducerFred Schendel, Steve Babb
Glass Hammer chronology
Valkyrie
(2016)		 Chronomonaut
(2018)		 Dreaming City
(2020)

A concept album and sequel to the band's fourth album Chronometree (2000), it features the same character, Tom Timely, now struggling to reach success with his progressive rock band The Elf King in the eighties. It was conceived as a stand-alone story rather than a direct continuation of the earlier album.[3][4]

Story

The album follows Tom Timely in the 1980s, after the events of Chronometree. Now the member of a progressive rock band named The Elf King. Together with his bandmates, which include guitarist Dwight -who often misses rehearsals- and vocalist Arianna, Tom tries to reach success and become a "prog god"; the story also involves him travelling back in the time to the golden age of progressive rock in the 1970s, and going missing.[5][6][7][8]

Reception

Progradar stated "Glass Hammer make a bold new statement with Chronomonaut’, a new direction that gives them a definitive sound of their own. [...] While not completely straying from their roots, Glass Hammer have taken a path less trodden and delivered what is, without a doubt, their best album yet and a fantastic new direction of power, precision and downright soul."[4] Roie Avin of The Prog Report called the album "a progressive psychedelic trip with a captivating story and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing throughout. 25 years into their career Glass Hammer continue to take risks and the result here is another gem in their impressive catalog."[9]

Brad Birzer of Progarchy stated "I could review this as a distinctive piece of American culture and Americana; as a treasure hunt and quest; as a progressive rock album; as a philosophical examination of nostalgia; as a theological pondering on the nature of time; or as a fully-blown science fiction tale worthy of anything written by Robert Heinlein or Kevin J. Anderson. In some way, no review of this album can really be faithful to the material if it doesn’t take into account all of these things.", and called Chronomonaut "a majestic album that calls forth all that is best within us. No small feat, especially in our present cultural whirligig of insanity and horrors. In its own madness, Chronomonaut brings order and truth to the artistic and longing soul."[10]

Italian magazine La Gazzetta dello Spettacolo stated "With this new CD Glass Hammer reassert themselves as one of the most interesting and praiseworthy prog rock bands in the world, able to thrill the fans with their music, which is inspired by that of the greats of the genre, but is also rich in various personal inspirations".[11]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Land of Lost Content"Fred Schendel1:54
2."Roll for Initiative"Steve Babb7:43
3."Twilight of the Godz"Babb8:13
4."The Past is Past"Schendel9:56
5."1980 Something"Babb5:51
6."A Hole in the Sky"Babb4:47
7."Clockwork"Schendel2:17
8."Melancholy Holiday"Babb4:27
9."It Always Burns Sideways"Schendel5:49
10."Blinding Light"Babb6:01
11."Tangerine Meme"Babb3:05
12."Fade Away"Schendel10:27
Total length:1:10:30

Personnel
gollark: Guess world hunger is fixed now!
gollark: I wonder how much of global internet traffic is devoted to just shunting encrypted connections around to more favourable places.
gollark: Just use a VPN.
gollark: Once they become better at actually doing things, I think they will be seen as less cute.
gollark: Aaaaaarghwhy

References
  1. "Chronomonaut Track List! Seventy minutes of new Glass Hammer music is on the way :)". Facebook. Glass Hammer. September 3, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  2. "Glass Hammer Video Release: "Melancholy Holiday"". Progarchy. September 3, 2018. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  3. Birzer, Brad (June 22, 2018). "Glass Hammer News". Progarchy. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  4. "Review – Glass Hammer – Chronomonaut – by Progradar". Progradar. June 22, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  5. "In 4 Chronomonaut videos we've learned about Tom's 80's prog band and that he is super psyched about an upcoming gig". Facebook. Glass Hammer. August 16, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  6. "More about Tom's band "The Elf King"". Facebook. Glass Hammer. August 2, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  7. "Where are you now Tom?". Facebook. Glass Hammer. August 3, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  8. Gatto, Chris (September 27, 2018). "GLASS HAMMER: For Now We See (Through) the Glass Hammer But Darkly". Heavens Metal. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  9. "Prog Report review except". Progradar. September 18, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  10. "Calling Forth Our Best: Glass Hammer's Chronomonaut". Progradar. September 15, 2018. Archived from the original on September 28, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  11. "A tu per tu con Steve Babb dei Glass Hammer". La Gazzetta dello Spettacolo. September 18, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  12. Munro, Scott (August 13, 2018). "Glass Hammer announce new concept album Chronomonaut". Louder. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  13. "Michael 'Xaay" Loranc just finished our cover art (and also his own band video)". Facebook. Glass Hammer. August 7, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  14. "Glass Hammer announce new concept album 'Chronomonaut'". The Prog Report. August 13, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
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