Into Eternity To Release New Album

Century Media Records has set an August 25 European release date for "The Incurable Tragedy", the new album from the Canadian progressive metal titans INTO ETERNITY. The band's first conceptual offering will be released in North America on September 2. "The Incurable Tragedy", marks the band's first recording effort with Justin Bender (guitars) and Steve Bolognese (drums), who came aboard shortly after the group finished Gigantour '06. This CD was inspired by the deaths of Tim Roth's (guitar, vocals) two best friends, brothers who succumbed to cancer within two months of one another. To make matters worse, Roth's father was diagnosed with cancer as well. Showing no mercy, the disease claimed his life last year, just 10 days before Christmas. Roth channeled his emotions into a moving and riveting album which is sure to propel the band to new heights within the genre. "The Incurable Tragedy" features a slew of tracks with the band's trademarked heavy grooves, stop-on-a-dime time changes, reflective lyrics, memorable choruses, shredding solos, and vocals that range from guttural growls to soaring harmonies.

Jazz Pianist Esbjörn Svensson Killed in Scuba Accident

From The Guardian

Esbjörn Svensson, the genre-defying Swedish jazz pianist and composer, has died in a scuba diving accident, his manager said yesterday.
Burkhard Hopper, manager of the Esbjörn Svensson Trio (E.S.T.), said that Svensson died on Saturday in Sweden's Stockholm archipelago. He was 44.
According to the website allaboutjazz.com, he had been swimming near a jetty with several other divers when the accident occurred; he was found "severely injured" on the seabed, and resuscitation on land was unsuccessful.

According to the Guardian's jazz critic John Fordham, Svensson was a rare phenomenon in the jazz world: "A hero to the hardline critics, and a bankable international star."
A string of 13 albums won critical acclaim and commercial success for his blend of contemporary jazz crossed with rock, pop and electronica.
Yesterday, Hopper told the Reuters news agency: "Musically, he was the light that lit the world, because in what he did he was pushing boundaries.
"Himself, he said he was following the music inside himself. His music inspired people in all corners of the world."
Formed in 1993, E.S.T. was the first European group to be honoured on the cover of the prestigious US jazz magazine Down Beat, in 2006.
In 2006, the group - with Dan Berglund on double bass and Magnus Öström on drums - won the European Jazz Award and the BBC Jazz Award.
Svensson is survived by his wife and two children.

John Ford To Headline Power Of Prog Festival

(New York) -Friday, 27 th June 2008, marks the inaugural year and date for the Progressive Rock Hall of Fame Award Ceremony and Concert. This very special event is being hosted by Melodic Revolution Records and the Power of Prog Festival.
John Ford will headline Day 2 on Sat., 28th June 2008 - 9:00-10:30PM, of the three day Power of Prog Festival - June 27-28-29, 2008, at the historic Kirkland Arts Center on the Village Green in Clinton, NY, located near the beautiful Mohawk Valley in upstate New York. The Kirkland Arts Center, a former church cathedral lends itself to some fantastic acoustics, as a performance venue. John Ford's setlist will feature songs off his forthcoming album, 'Big Hit In India' and other favourites from his extensive catalogue, including 'Part of the Union,' penned during his early days with the Strawbs band which also included Rick Wakeman - keyboard extraordinaire, who later went on to join the group, YES.
John Ford will be performing with some members of his backing band. There may be a Special Guest appearance by Strawbs' keyboardist, John Hawken although this has not been confirmed. On Sunday, 29th June 2008, as of the Power of Prog Festival draws to a close, from 5:30 to 6:30 PM there will be the Inaugural 2008 Progressive Rock Hall of Fame Inductee Awards Ceremony. John Ford will be amongst the presenters, bestowing a 2008 Inductee Award to the band, KANSAS, at the 2008 PRHOF Presentation Awards Ceremony, to be followed by additional performances from other artists to end the final day of the Power of Prog Festival. Visit John Ford of The Strawbs website & MySpace: http://www.johnfordmusic.net http://www.myspace.com/johnfordofthestrawbs