The Professor’s Picks: New Prog, Fusion, and Metal Releases for June 7, 2024
Join Pete Pardo & Ken Golden for news on the Lasers Edge new releases that are hitting each Friday in the genres or progressive rock, prog-metal, power metal, and fusion.
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@seaoftranquilityprog
April 27, 2026 at 10:28 pm
lasercd.com
CDs and Video
Age Of Distraction – A Game Of Whispers
Airbag – The Century Of The Self
Bible Black II – Message From Moonbase
Bible Black – same
Edgar Broughton Band – Gone Blue
DarWin – Five Steps On the Sun
Evergrey – Theories Of Emptiness
Gjenferd – same
Izz – Collapse The Wave
Laughing Stock – Shelter
Maneige – Live A L’outremont
Robin Trower – Bridge Of Sighs 50th anniversary
Witherfall – Sounds Of The Forgotten
Yes – Talk
BGO – New Titles and Restocks
Billy Cobham – Magic/Alivemuthaforya
John McLaughlin – Electric Guitarist/Electric Dreams
Janne Schaffer – Katharsis/Earmeal/Presens
Schon & Hammer – Untold Passion/Here To Stay
Styx – Equinox/Crystal Ball
Styx – The Grand Illusion/Edge Of The Century
Dixie Dregs – Free Fall/What If/Night Of The Living Dregs
Dixie Dregs – Dregs Of The Earth/Unsung Heroes/Industry Standards
Wishbone Ash – same
Wishbone Ash – Live Dates
Vinyl
Herbie Hancock/Carlos Santana – Live Under The Sky 1981
Pekka Pohjola – Heavy Jazz
Tasavallan Presidentti – Live At Ruisrock 1971
Witherfall – Sounds Of The Forgotten
Ken
Ken Golden
Cheap Shit
Gato Barbieri – Fiesta Caliente Live ’76
Miles Davis – Live 1960 Manchester Free Trade Hall (2CD)
MIles Davis Quintet – Live At Ronnie Scott’s
@charlesnolan7602
April 27, 2026 at 10:28 pm
Hey guys!
KEN, I agree about Bridge of Sighs!
I bought my first Bridge of Sighs on July 3, 1974!
@PatKennedydon
April 27, 2026 at 10:28 pm
I would love to be able to buy from Ken but the taxes and duties added here in Ireland are just crazy.
@perfclubworks7037
April 27, 2026 at 10:28 pm
Schon/Hammer stuff suffers from the production values of Jan's drumming. He loved that big, open snare that I find too "wet" sounding. These records, with a really tight fusion drummer like Simon Phillips, could have been epic. Neal's vocals are also just so-so. But when he rips, he really rips like on "I'm Down" for instance. Still worthwhile despite the warts
@perfclubworks7037
April 27, 2026 at 10:28 pm
IMHO DarWin is outstanding. Great line up. Matt Bissonette is Greg's brother and is a bass player but is the principal lead vocalist on the DarWin projects. Melodic prog/metal with strong production values. I believe Derek Sherinian might play keys on this latest release.
@garykelly9475
April 27, 2026 at 10:28 pm
Ears pricked at Age of Distraction. Saw This Winter Machine with Stuckfish in Glasgow couple of months ago, and impressed enough to buy some CD's on the night, so a pedigree linked to TWM is certainly of interest
@kormos35
April 27, 2026 at 10:28 pm
Ken, are you going to be getting the new Barock Project CD Time Voyager? Pete, I think you would like this group and I surprised they've never been mentioned on your site. They remind me of Kansas in spots…great band!
@manuelper
April 27, 2026 at 10:28 pm
Airbag is excellent. And yes, they are greatly influenced by Radiohead, hence the band name after a Radiohead song. Highly recommend them.
@MajorStark7064
April 27, 2026 at 10:28 pm
Any chance you’ll get more Bible Black?
Couldn’t find any listing for either one on the website
@85salt
April 27, 2026 at 10:28 pm
Gents, thanks for sharing. Agree Ken that Bridge of Sighs is one the top guitar albums of all time. Will definitely look at the box set. Will have to check out Age of Distraction- I have all four This Winter Machine cds and they are a vastly underrated prog band with soaring melodies, fluid guitars and keyboards. Highly recommend their first three, the most recent is more hard rock.
@arnaudb.7669
April 27, 2026 at 10:28 pm
Great!
Thanks.
@terrymtbnurse4760
April 27, 2026 at 10:28 pm
Received my Black Sabbath box set today. Thanks, Ken, for the good price. I now have over 500 points. Looks like I'm getting the Robin Trower set.
@jimmypage2843
April 27, 2026 at 10:28 pm
Old Man Prog I'm offended you DIDN'T mention Jesus today. 😂
Equinox and Crystal Ball together I understand, but why oh why would they put a turd like Edge of the Century with the Grand Illusion? That makes no sense it should be GI and Pieces of Eight together. 🤦🏼
@RichardXDahl
April 27, 2026 at 10:28 pm
Janne Schaffer is great! Fusion heads need.
@johncook9261
April 27, 2026 at 10:28 pm
Firstly, thank you for including us in this week’s show. Well above average! I’ll take that all day! If you want a promo copy of the CD and the EPK sending over, please let me know. Thanks again. John – Age of Distraction
@JoeChewBaca
April 27, 2026 at 10:28 pm
@ Lasercd I've been eyeing that Janne Schaffer set ever since you put it on the site and you just talked me into it and hopefully I got my order in on time. Garden of Delights stuff… dang! German Fusion, nice. I wish Japanese Fusion titles were cheap. That shipping from Japan kills!!! BTW, What's the word on that J-Jazz book?
@JoeChewBaca
April 27, 2026 at 10:28 pm
@ Lasercd I've been eyeing that Janne Schaffer set ever since you put it on the site and you just talked me into it and hopefully I got my order in on time. Garden of Delights stuff… dang! German Fusion, nice. I wish Japanese Fusion titles were cheap. That shipping from Japan kills!!! What's the word on that J-Jazz book?
@thekivster
April 27, 2026 at 10:28 pm
I can't say I like the no facial hair look.
@TheProgCorner
April 27, 2026 at 10:28 pm
Age Of Distraction!!!
@johnhenfrey5936
April 27, 2026 at 10:28 pm
Big thanks as always, love my Friday Nights with you Both, some of those BGO releases look interesting. buy 2 of them, here in the u.k, and you get free postage.
@griefforest1870
April 27, 2026 at 10:28 pm
Just grabbed my Sabbath box… I wanted to support my local record stores but it's sold out immediately, some of the smaller stores didn't even get it. Of course the price spiked up with the new batch but I don't care. It's Sabbath after all and I of course got most of their stuff.
@metal_maniac_68
April 27, 2026 at 10:28 pm
great show guys..the Evergrey album is incredible! they are so consistent with the music they put out and this is a masterpiece in my opinion. Album produced by Tom Englund & Jonas Ekdahl. Mixed by Adam "Nolly" Getgood from Periphery and mastered by Thomas ”Plec” Johansson. The album is definitely a fitting send off for drummer, Jonas Ekdahl.
@timothytanner3313
April 27, 2026 at 10:28 pm
Bridge of Sighs is my all time desert island disc. I never get tired of it. I'd also recommend his live dvd that just came out. Excellent.
@timothytanner3313
April 27, 2026 at 10:28 pm
The new Evergrey is their best in a long time I think. Gjenferd is really good too. Love your show guys.
@brandonwaynelewis641
April 27, 2026 at 10:28 pm
blackFriday Octoberrock 2024
@kengolden666
April 27, 2026 at 10:28 pm
So I had a brain fart. Joseph Michael replaced Warrel Dane in the reunited Sanctuary – not Nevermore. I'm getting old…
@morten61
April 27, 2026 at 10:28 pm
Gjenferd means ghost
@johnmichaelwilliams6694
April 27, 2026 at 10:28 pm
Thanks once more to The Professor and Pete for this show and for the episode today. A little hard on the personal wallet this week but order placed and once again looking forward to one of Ken's recommendations. Thanks again.