DreamTheaterForums.org Dream Theater Fan Site

General => General Music Discussion => Topic started by: Crow on September 12, 2011, 11:29:45 PM

Title: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: Crow on September 12, 2011, 11:29:45 PM
I'm shocked that there's no thread about this awesome project yet.
Here is the band site (https://samvallen.com/). Listen to the first track of the album, then download it for a name your price deal. (You can download it for free if you want, and you'll probably enjoy it enough to want to pay money for it!)

Vallen is an amazing guitarist, and the songwriting is phenomenal. Each song is unique, no soundalikes, and they're all great in their own way. At least check out the first track before dismissing the group as "just another prog metal band". This disc has seen probably 20+ plays from me in the past month alone - it's just that good.

Yeah I'm raving, yeah nobody here knows me, oh well. Get over it, click that link, but don't bother thanking me because you're already welcome.

...oh, and he has another band, Quandary, but I don't like that band's album nearly as much, though it's not bad.
Title: Re: Sam Vallen/Caligula's Horse (Prog Metal)
Post by: Crow on September 14, 2011, 05:32:49 PM
Bumping, because it'd be a real shame if this group didn't get the attention they deserve.
Title: Re: Sam Vallen/Caligula's Horse (Prog Metal)
Post by: DarkEternalNight on September 14, 2011, 06:21:56 PM
This is fantastic. Thanks.
Title: Re: Sam Vallen/Caligula's Horse (Prog Metal)
Post by: Crow on September 14, 2011, 10:39:12 PM
Tell all your friends.

ALL OF THEM.
Title: Re: Sam Vallen/Caligula's Horse (Prog Metal)
Post by: Crow on September 16, 2011, 03:04:26 PM
bump.
keeping this one the first page. seriously guys check out this awesome band you will not be disappointed d(''d)
Title: Re: Sam Vallen/Caligula's Horse (Prog Metal)
Post by: Crow on September 22, 2011, 08:27:08 PM
bumping this as a PSA

because guys
if you like dream theater (I'm sure at least 90% of people here do)
you will love this band.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - The Tide, The Thief & River's End Out Now!
Post by: Crow on October 15, 2013, 08:41:23 AM
holy christ bump.

these guys just released a new album, and it's pretty fantastic, check it out here~
https://welkinrecords.bandcamp.com/
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - The Tide, The Thief & River's End Out Now!
Post by: Crow on November 18, 2015, 05:31:47 PM
Their third album, Bloom, came out about a month ago and I have it in the mail right now, pretty excited for this one, these guys haven't let me down yet.

You can listen to the songs here on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKcoga_WERY6ikDZ69FrfVIbSjNz2AtHv
(I haven't actually listened to most of these yet but I figured I'd share/revive this thread 'cause why not  :P )
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Bloom Out Now!
Post by: sneakyblueberry on November 18, 2015, 07:14:57 PM
great guitarist, awesome legato style. 

sounds like what I know of Tesseract/Periphery etc but a little less all over the place and more melody.  cool stuff.

they're from Brisbane, heh. 
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Bloom Out Now!
Post by: Crow on November 18, 2015, 07:16:49 PM
they've always had slight djent leanings to their music without it being overbearing which is probably one of the biggest draws for me :lol
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Bloom Out Now!
Post by: LordCost on November 20, 2015, 01:28:28 AM
The only song I don't like yet off the new album is Turntail, the rest is really good!
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Bloom Out Now!
Post by: Train of Naught on November 20, 2015, 03:45:56 AM
I'll come back to this after round 3 results   ;)
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Bloom Out Now!
Post by: Crow on November 20, 2015, 09:18:10 AM
The only song I don't like yet off the new album is Turntail, the rest is really good!
don't make me have prejudgments yet, this isn't gonna arrive in the mail until early next week for me  :P
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Bloom Out Now!
Post by: LordCost on November 20, 2015, 11:08:39 AM
I don't like it yet because it's in the middle-end of the album and I don't remember its melody yet, I chose to listen more to single songs that I liked more at first listen. My opinion about that song is not so relevant ;)
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Bloom Out Now!
Post by: Mebert78 on December 23, 2015, 12:25:21 PM
I'm currently listening to The Tide, The Thief and The River's End.  Wow, so far!  Sometimes I like to pull up the list of 100 top-ranked progressive metal albums on ProgArchives and listen to the albums and bands I've never heard.  This fell into that list.  I'm surprised this band doesn't have more of a following on here.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Bloom Out Now!
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on December 23, 2015, 08:14:56 PM
I only remember listening to Bloom once, and while I wasn't wowed, there was certainly a lot of greatness in there. One of the band's biggest draws for me is Grey as a vocalist. The guy's got a good pair of lungs on him. :metal

He's also the vocalist for Arcane. Their new album that came out this year, Known - Learned, may well be one of my favorite prog albums of the year, so anyone into Caligula's Horse should check that out if you want more saucy goodness. :biggrin:
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Bloom Out Now!
Post by: Dark Castle on December 23, 2015, 08:35:40 PM
Arcane's calling it dunzo.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Bloom Out Now!
Post by: Crow on December 23, 2015, 08:41:09 PM
Yeah, I don't think Bloom is as good as their previous, but it's still pretty good.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Bloom Out Now!
Post by: LordCost on December 24, 2015, 04:50:36 AM
Bloom + Marigold is an awesome start but overall I prefer the previous album. Water's Edge and Into The White are currently my favourite songs, but also the opener and the closer are really good
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Bloom Out Now!
Post by: LordCost on December 31, 2015, 02:16:17 PM
Everything on The Tide album is awesome, not only 4 songs, I was wrong!
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Bloom Out Now!
Post by: Elite on December 31, 2015, 03:10:56 PM
This album is fantastic.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Bloom Out Now!
Post by: twosuitsluke on July 10, 2017, 02:50:49 PM
Anyone else pumped for their next album? Just listening to Bloom for the first time in a while and I forgot how good it was. Still need to check out their first two efforts  :blush
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Bloom Out Now!
Post by: Crow on July 10, 2017, 03:27:49 PM
I still would call the second my favorite but the other two are good

I honestly can't get super hyped about standard prog metal stuff much these days but I'm sure I'll be picking up the new album anyways so
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Bloom Out Now!
Post by: gazinwales on July 10, 2017, 10:10:52 PM
Yes already pre-ordered exclusive Australian red vinyl and will see them in Sydney in September.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Bloom Out Now!
Post by: twosuitsluke on August 04, 2017, 04:21:48 PM
New single, Will's Song (Let the Colours Run), is out on Spotify now. Listening right now, I really do like the vocals when it comes to this band. Feels pretty standard for Caligula's Horse but I don't think that's a bad thing at all, I'm digging it.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Bloom Out Now!
Post by: Mebert78 on September 11, 2017, 11:29:36 AM
Stumbled across the two new songs from the upcoming release, In Contact, thanks to a write-up in Prog magazine.  I literally can't stop listening.  Already pre-ordered and eagerly awaiting this disc!
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Bloom Out Now!
Post by: Mladen on September 11, 2017, 11:35:21 AM
I discovered these guys last month. Their second album is fantastic, but I didn't like the other two that much. I still haven't listened to the singles from the upcoming release, I'd rather wait for the full album.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Bloom Out Now!
Post by: Elite on September 11, 2017, 12:47:44 PM
I like their third album best and am eagerly awaiting my copy of their fourth :)
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Bloom Out Now!
Post by: Crow on September 11, 2017, 01:07:36 PM
Third album wasn't as good as the first two imo and the singles for the new one aren't making me too excited but I'll definitely at least give it a listen
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Bloom Out Now!
Post by: LordCost on September 11, 2017, 03:22:27 PM
I can't get into the first album, while second and third are really good I'm curious about their 15 minute song of the next album!
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Bloom Out Now!
Post by: twosuitsluke on September 15, 2017, 11:11:16 AM
I've not listened to the new album yet (getting on that and the new Arcane Roots tomorrow) but surprised we have no discussion going on?? I've been looking forward to it for a while.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Bloom Out Now!
Post by: Elite on September 15, 2017, 11:19:55 AM
Mine was supposed to arrive yesterday and it did.. but I was not home. Got it delivered to a UPS Service Point, so I can pick up tomorrow. I'll definitely play it in the car tomorrow :)
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Bloom Out Now!
Post by: Sir Walrus Cauliflower on September 15, 2017, 11:40:58 AM
I tried searching for a band thread earlier and didn't see one, but I guess I missed this. I actually just posted about it in the "what album are you listening to" thread. I'm definitely surprised there isn't more discussion. I love this band and every album seems to get better than the last. I'm really digging In Contact so far  :metal :heart :heart
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Bloom Out Now!
Post by: ? on September 15, 2017, 01:03:52 PM
I'm a newbie to CH and decided to check out and review the new album (https://www.musicalypse.net/2017-caligulas-horse-in-contact-english/). I'm not totally sold on it, but may have to give the older stuff a listen.
Title: Caligula's Horse - In Contact - 2017 New Album out Now
Post by: MinistroRaven on September 18, 2017, 06:46:21 PM
(https://i2.wp.com/www.metalinjection.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Caligulas-Horse-In-Contact.jpg)

01. Dream The Dead (08:11)
02. Will's Song (Let The Colours Run) (04:42)
03. The Hands Are The Hardest (04:26)
04. Love Conquers All (02:21)
05. Songs For No One (07:43)
06. Capulet (03:23)
07. Fill My Heart (06:42)
08. Inertia And The Weapon Of The Wall (02:57)
09. The Cannon's Mouth (05:56)
10. Graves (15:31)
11. Atlas (Revisited) (05:10)

Man, I think I just listened to MY favorite album of the year. I must confess that I've never heard of this band before, and was introduced to it by a friend in Mexico. What a blast I've just had.

If you haven't check them out, do yourself a favor and go get it.

Website: https://caligulashorse.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/caligulashorseband/?ref=br_rs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYWD1abgKI8
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact - 2017 New Album out Now
Post by: Crow on September 18, 2017, 06:51:21 PM
Already a thread for this band.
https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=27693.0
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact - 2017 New Album out Now
Post by: MinistroRaven on September 18, 2017, 06:54:33 PM
Already a thread for this band.
https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=27693.0

Oh I am sorry, I should have used the search tool, my bad.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Bloom Out Now!
Post by: MinistroRaven on September 18, 2017, 06:54:59 PM
Man, I think I just listened to MY favorite album of the year. I must confess that I've never heard of this band before, and was introduced to it by a friend in Mexico. What a blast I've just had.

If you haven't check them out, do yourself a favor and go get it.

Website: https://caligulashorse.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/caligulashorseband/?ref=br_rs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYWD1abgKI8
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: WebRaider on September 25, 2017, 02:42:18 PM
I really like it. I think I'm a bigger fan of singer Jim Grey's -now defunct- band Arcane at least as far as song writing goes. The guitar work here though is awesome and adds a dimension I hadn't really got a lot of out of Arcane.  If you enjoy this definitely check out Arcane's last album "Known/Learned". I like "In Contact"  a lot initially and will listen to it more to see how it grows on me overall. Good stuff! :metal
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: Crow on September 25, 2017, 02:44:48 PM
I did listen to that Arcane album at some point but honestly was not a fan, felt way too long & bloated with filler

I'm also not huge on the new album here if I'm being honest, feels like they pushed too far into djent and I don't get the same emotional power as I do from earlier stuff, especially their second album
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: Samsara on September 25, 2017, 03:15:10 PM
I read about this band in PROG a week or so ago. I have the new record on order. It should be here tomorrow. Quite looking forward to it.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: LordCost on September 26, 2017, 12:22:45 PM
Somehow I've always in mind that Caligula's Horse is a great but secondary band in the prog metal scene today, but today I've relistened their second album and it's perfect.

It's not the first time I realize it and I don't know what makes me still think that they don't belong in the same league of Haken or Leprous but a step below.
I still have to give more time to judge In Contact.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: Crow on September 26, 2017, 12:30:32 PM
I'd say they don't belong in the same league because they only have one really great album so far but I still like their debut a lot too so they're prob at least close to Haken
And both CH & Haken's latest albums are better than Leprous', so  :corn

I will probably pick up the new one out of obligation tbh but I mean it's at least solid & may grow on me
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: LordCost on September 26, 2017, 01:51:12 PM
I'd say they don't belong in the same league because they only have one really great album so far but I still like their debut a lot too so they're prob at least close to Haken
And both CH & Haken's latest albums are better than Leprous', so  :corn

I will probably pick up the new one out of obligation tbh but I mean it's at least solid & may grow on me
Bloom has no bad songs and they are all really good too. Maybe I underrate them because I can't find any song that can be defined as their best, but The Tide.. and Bloom are a sequence of songs around 9/10 following your roulette grading score, one after the other. And they flow really well, some transition between tracks make the start of the following one more powerful than listening to it alone.

The second reason is that aren't as innovative as other contemporary bands. It's a style of prog metal that is not groundbreaking, but the songs are so good. I can't call them only solid. Today I had regrets over my choice for Tac roulette for most songs from the second album I just finished to listen  :lol
 
I overlooked the first album but I plan to give it more listens. I like and remember only the opener and Equally Flawed
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: Crow on September 26, 2017, 03:38:44 PM
Equally Flawed is the worst track on the debut imo but they're all pretty good

Bloom has some good stuff but it has some kinda dull stuff too (both long tracks drag a bit)
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: TAC on September 26, 2017, 03:59:15 PM
Today I had regrets over my choice for Tac roulette

That's why I have a Wild Card available.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: Crow on September 26, 2017, 04:13:52 PM
I intentionally didn't use it this round so I could force you to listen to East of the Wall  :corn
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: TAC on September 26, 2017, 04:16:26 PM
I intentionally didn't use it this round so I could force you to listen to East of the Wall  :corn

The east side was fine, it was the west side that let it down. Results tonight.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: Mebert78 on September 28, 2017, 01:22:24 PM
I received In Contact last week, but so many prog albums have come out this month that it's hard to keep up!  Currently listening to the closing track "Graves," and it's awesome!  Oh, man!  I might need to go back and buy their previous albums as well.  This album is my introduction to Caligula's Horse. 
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: Samsara on September 28, 2017, 02:09:47 PM
I received In Contact last week, but so many prog albums have come out this month that it's hard to keep up!  Currently listening to the closing track "Graves," and it's awesome!  Oh, man!  I might need to go back and buy their previous albums as well.  This album is my introduction to Caligula's Horse.

Me too, Mike. I need to listen to the record in-full. Just haven't gotten to it quite yet. This weekend...
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: twosuitsluke on September 28, 2017, 03:38:49 PM
Listening through In Contact for the second time. I definitely love this band but other than knowing that Bloom is my favourite I feel like most of their output is at roughly the same level. I like the new album a lot but it does feel like more of the same, that's not a bad thing as I love what they do, it's just an observation.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: Podaar on September 28, 2017, 03:59:29 PM
I've listened through In Contact once and enjoyed the experience. I really dig the musicianship and the vocals feel appropriate to the music, even though I find my tastes are currently more toward baritones than tenors. I'm going to need another listen or two to really absorb it but my ears need a break. I usually like to hear a little more variety, some ups and downs, in an album experience. The album is relentlessly...lush. Not that that's a bad thing but I'll listen again tomorrow to get a good feel for if I'll stick with it.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: Mebert78 on September 29, 2017, 11:25:32 AM
Somehow I listened to the final song, "Graves," before the rest of the album, lol.  I think I got sidetracked only to resume listening on the last song.  Now I can't stop listening to that song over and over.  The last few minutes of are the best minutes of progressive metal I've experienced all year.  So delicious.  Still need to work my way back with the rest of the album though!
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: ich bin besser on September 29, 2017, 11:38:52 AM
I like the album a lot. And the vinyl version looks great, btw!  :hat
Saw them live this summer for the first time. Very entertaining, funny announcements from the singer.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: LordCost on September 30, 2017, 05:17:56 AM
Dream The Dead and Songs For No One are my favourites now, but I already like all the songs, except Graves because I still don't know it well.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: Mladen on September 30, 2017, 05:20:14 AM
Will's song, Songs for no one and Dream the dead are my favorites. Graves is a bit too much, but the last two minutes are tremendous. A solid album overall. The guys have potential, even though they've already peaked with their second album as far as I'm concerned.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: Samsara on October 03, 2017, 09:32:48 AM
After living with this for a while, and spinning it a bunch, I really like it. Will pick up Bloom down the line...
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: Mebert78 on October 31, 2017, 01:28:22 PM
Ok, I am officially obsessed with In Contact.  Took me a while to finally sink my teeth into this album, because I was really hooked on the Contortionist's Clairvoyant album and then went off on a King's X tangent.  But the past week I've been exclusively spinning this disc, and it's absolutely fantastic.  Every song is wonderful.  I feel like it will probably end up making my list of my 100 all-time favorite albums.  I'll likely be working my way back through the band's discography in the coming months.  From what I read, the older albums are not as progressive metally, but I'm sure I'll still like them!
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: portnoy311 on October 31, 2017, 01:33:32 PM
I love this album and band. The spoken word track is the only one not doing it for me. The rest I'm all for. I love Jim Gray's vocals.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: Mebert78 on October 31, 2017, 01:49:24 PM
I love this album and band. The spoken word track is the only one not doing it for me. The rest I'm all for. I love Jim Gray's vocals.

Funny you mentioned that.  You're the third person I've seen who disliked that track -- the first was the reviewer for Prog magazine, then a reviewer on ProgArchives, and then you.  Ironically, I read an article in which the band said they put a lot of work into the spoken-word track and were hopeful it would be received well, lol.  Guess that hasn't happened, but maybe it will grow on people.  I actually like the passion in it and I like the chance they took with it, although I haven't taken the time to digest it's meaning yet.  It reminds me of something from Meatloaf's Bat Out of Hell albums.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: me7 on October 31, 2017, 02:33:47 PM
I love that track.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: Crow on October 31, 2017, 08:55:55 PM
i dislike spoken word tracks on principle because i am hear to listen to music, not poetry.
sikth ruin all their albums with it & it's not appreciated here either
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: Mladen on November 01, 2017, 05:24:51 AM
I also didn't like the spoken word piece, but I believe the bands are aware that people are divided on songs like that. Those are bound to be both loved and hated.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: pfillion on November 13, 2017, 02:04:08 PM
Great album \m/
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: twosuitsluke on November 18, 2017, 03:22:51 PM
I've listened to In Contact at least 4-5 times now. Although I do think it's a good album (they haven't released a bad one as far as I'm concerned), I don't think it stands up to the highs they achieved on Bloom. I keep waiting for it to hit me. I think it feels a bit samey and none of the songs REALLY do it for me.

Maybe it will eventually hit me but at this point I'd probably rank:

Bloom
The Tide, The Thief and River's End
In Contact
Moments from Ephemeral City


I'd love to see them live some time in the next few years. Not sure how often they tour the UK so who knows??
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: LordCost on November 19, 2017, 02:19:47 AM
In Contact is as good as their other albums but I don't listen much to it. Dream The Dead is among their best songs and every song of the album has its moments and great melodies. Maybe I prefer the sound of Bloom and The Tide, The Thief and River's End.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: Mladen on November 19, 2017, 02:37:35 AM
I'd rank them like this:

The Tide, The Thief and River's End
In Contact
Bloom
Moments from Ephemeral City
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: ProfessorPeart on November 25, 2017, 04:44:48 PM
So this thread made me check out samples of Caligula. I went to Amazon and bought the cheapest CD they had at the time and that was Bloom. Just finished listening to it and I loved it.

They feel like a beefier Haken. Can't really explain it better than that. Jim's vocals are excellent. I will be picking up the rest of the catalog.

I also ordered Arcane's Known/Learned. Still waiting on that to arrive but what I heard on Bandcamp has me really excited.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: Crow on November 25, 2017, 04:49:37 PM
i've been spinning the tide the thief and river's end again recently and it's genuinely just as good as it always had been even as my tastes have changed. kind of makes bloom seem weaker in comparison now. still need to give the new one some spins proper but i don't think it'll match up to TTtTaRE either
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: WebRaider on February 02, 2018, 01:38:17 AM
"In Contact" really has grown on me more and more and more. I love how they are able to really create melodies vocally that are great and stand out from the melodies from the guitars but those are also excellent. I'll catch myself either humming guitar lines or singing along parts all the time. Really has turned into a monster for me. I listed Mastodon's "Emperor of Sand" my top album for 2017 but atm I'd probably move this one in its place.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: Elite on February 02, 2018, 02:46:41 AM
The double-punch of The Cannon's Mouth and Graves is such a fantastic way to end the album. The relentless groove in the last two minutes of Graves have got to be some of the best the band has created. It still doesn't get tiring, even after having heard that song so many times over the past year. It's an instant 'turn up the volume and rock out' moment.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: LordCost on February 02, 2018, 10:59:26 AM
Excellent album. My initial favourites were Dream The Dead and Songs For No One, but recently I enjoy a lot Fill My Heart and the last two tracks.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: twosuitsluke on July 26, 2018, 12:58:22 PM
You know, I've just been listening to In Contact and I think Graves could've really been a great 'epic', and my favourite track on the album. It has most of my favourite moments from the whole album in those 15 minutes. It just feels too disjointed, to me, and doesn't keep it together for the full song. It's a real shame as listening to it just leaves me wishing it just did more to keep me interested throughout.

Just my current thoughts...

In related news though, I've just been paid so I'm going to buy tickets to see them in November  :metal

Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: Samsara on July 26, 2018, 01:39:22 PM
I need to get back to these guys. I bought In Contact and Bloom, and I liked them, but didn't spend the time necessary on them. Will go back. Just so hard with all the new music that has, and is coming, out.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: Crow on July 26, 2018, 01:55:18 PM
The first 4 minutes of graves is fantastic, the rest is just solid

aside from the sax ofc which is great
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: Elite on July 29, 2018, 06:55:56 AM
The first 4 minutes of graves is fantastic, the rest is just solid

aside from the sax ofc which is great

The last two minutes of Graves are the best part of the album though
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: Crow on July 29, 2018, 10:03:30 AM
the last 2 minutes are good yeah but absolutely nothing on the album can top WHAT IF HE'S JUST LIKE MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: Mladen on July 30, 2018, 10:33:01 AM
Count me in as another person that loves to rock out to the ending of Graves.  :metal
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: YtseJamittaja on August 01, 2018, 03:07:01 PM
Yeah, Graves intro and outro are so damn good. HANDS SHAPE STONE :2metal:
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: The Walrus on September 17, 2018, 07:53:15 PM
First, greetings to EthanWild24! Welcome to the forum, my friend, and the Caligula's Horse thread.

Second, Caligula's Horse were announced for ProgPower next year, and thanks to my roulette earlier this year I heard two of their albums and enjoyed them quite a bit. Very excited to see them in 2019!!
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: twosuitsluke on October 27, 2018, 02:46:44 PM
Can't wait to see these guys in just over a week. Graves has become one of my favourite epics and I really hope they play it live. It seems like they generally have been, so that's good
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: LordCost on October 27, 2018, 06:43:06 PM
I've seen them 2 weeks ago in Milan. Great concert because they have spectacular songs, but I feel bad for all the three bands because there were 60 or 70 people at best. I don't know if in the rest of Europe the situation will be different. After the gig I believe that In Contact is their best album, I have less doubts about it. I don't even know how they can top it if they do not change more their style with respect their two or three latest albums.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: jammindude on October 28, 2018, 04:56:59 PM
I've seen this thread bounce around a bit.   As a result, I'm listening to Graves for the first time right now. 

Not bad.  Worth another spin to process fully. 

This is part of that newer sound many post-millennium prog rock bands have.   New Anathema, The Dear Hunter, and a few others.   They incorporate that "post rock" sound into their material.   

Just an observation, not a criticism.   
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: romdrums on October 29, 2018, 06:55:49 AM
I've seen this thread bounce around a bit.   As a result, I'm listening to Graves for the first time right now. 

Not bad.  Worth another spin to process fully. 

This is part of that newer sound many post-millennium prog rock bands have.   New Anathema, The Dear Hunter, and a few others.   They incorporate that "post rock" sound into their material.   

Just an observation, not a criticism.

I don't know that I hear any hints of post rock in their style.  To me, it's more or less straight up prog metal with some killer lead guitar work.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: mike099 on October 29, 2018, 07:36:07 PM
I could not get into the first 2 albums but Bloom is stunning, beautiful and flows really well.  I also love In Contact
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: me7 on October 30, 2018, 12:57:37 AM
Do yourself a favour and give the second album another chance.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: ariich on October 30, 2018, 01:55:09 AM
Yeah the last three albums are all excellent, this band is on such a great run. I do think each one is slightly better than the last, but they're all great.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: jammindude on October 30, 2018, 08:36:50 AM
I've seen this thread bounce around a bit.   As a result, I'm listening to Graves for the first time right now. 

Not bad.  Worth another spin to process fully. 

This is part of that newer sound many post-millennium prog rock bands have.   New Anathema, The Dear Hunter, and a few others.   They incorporate that "post rock" sound into their material.   

Just an observation, not a criticism.

I don't know that I hear any hints of post rock in their style.  To me, it's more or less straight up prog metal with some killer lead guitar work.

A lot of bands are doing it now....but anytime there is even a small section where there's a slow beat and a guitar playing high notes super fast, that's a textbook "post rock/shoegaze" signature move.   And I've heard a lot of current progressive rock bands borrow that technique.   The last few Anathema albums are a great example.    I'm not saying it as a bad thing.   I noticed it after I started listening to bands like Explosions in the Sky et al.   
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: twosuitsluke on November 07, 2018, 03:46:37 AM
Caligula's Horse were pretty good last night. The venue was criminally small for a band this good but they didn't seem to care. They played a pretty 'In Contact/Bloom' heavy set but I'm fine with that as they are my favourite albums. The vocalist is really good live but he comes across a bit pretentious. The rest of the band seemed to really be enjoying themselves (especially the two guitarists). Highlights were definitely Graves and Bloom/Marigold. They just fucking killed. Graves is becoming one of my all time favourite epics, it's just awesome and the finale of that song live.....wow.

Shout out to Circles as well. They didn't sound quite as good but all the songs they played off their new album were great. I need to give it a few more listens as some of the choruses are really catchy and it'll likely end up in my top 20 albums of the year.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: ariich on November 07, 2018, 04:28:51 AM
That's awesome. Interesting you say that about the venue size - I only discovered they were touring here when you mentioned it earlier in the thread, by which point the London show was sold out.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: DoctorAction on November 23, 2018, 04:02:06 PM
Really slow to get to this. I kept seeing it mentioned and tried it a few times but wasn't quite in the mood. Being super excited about DoT led me to try it again and, wow, very impressed. It's almost between classic DT and Haken but has its own thing going on. Cracker.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: twosuitsluke on December 02, 2018, 10:29:22 AM
Listening to In Contact for the first time since seeing these guys live. This is one of those great instances where seeing these sings performed live has given me a greater appreciation for them. For the first time I think In Contact has overtaken Marigold and become my favourite album! Love it.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: DoctorAction on December 02, 2018, 12:25:10 PM
I love this album and band. The spoken word track is the only one not doing it for me. The rest I'm all for. I love Jim Gray's vocals.

Funny you mentioned that.  You're the third person I've seen who disliked that track -- the first was the reviewer for Prog magazine, then a reviewer on ProgArchives, and then you.  Ironically, I read an article in which the band said they put a lot of work into the spoken-word track and were hopeful it would be received well, lol.  Guess that hasn't happened, but maybe it will grow on people.  I actually like the passion in it and I like the chance they took with it, although I haven't taken the time to digest it's meaning yet.  It reminds me of something from Meatloaf's Bat Out of Hell albums.

I think it's very powerful and effective. I am NOT a fan of poetry in general but i think he delivers this beautifully. It's absolutely a highlight on the record for me.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: cramx3 on January 15, 2019, 09:49:17 AM
Joining this thread.

Been on my list to check out for ProgPower bands and watched/listened to some music videos on yotube which I enjoyed but haven't really come back to them until now.  Been listening to In Contact and I really enjoy it.  This singer reminds me of someone I knew from high school and was an awesome singer.  I've got to start digging more into this band and actually getting to know this album because I am definitely enjoying it.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: cramx3 on January 20, 2019, 08:24:32 AM
Watching some music videos with my coffee and this came up, Marigold https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C5qnG0GLfI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C5qnG0GLfI) and is just blowing me away right now.  Awesome fucking song  :metal :metal :metal I gave in Contact a bunch of listens at work this week and really liked it and now hearing this track from another album.... yea I think these guys are fantastic so far.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: me7 on January 20, 2019, 11:24:27 AM
I wonder why they get so little attention in the prog world. Still hope to catch them live at some point.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: WebRaider on January 20, 2019, 04:48:55 PM
The band is incredible and I think they've just started to get much more attention outside of Australia over the last couple years particularly. Also cramx3 and others who may be discovering CH now; once you get through CH's work feel free to check out singer Jim Grey's work with Arcane. Arcane's  2015 double album farewell release "Known/Learned" is excellent in my opinion as well.


Arcane - Keeping Stone: Sound on Fire
https://youtu.be/vxHp-jTZo68


Edit: just remembered I'd already kind of plugged this release earlier in this thread but it is really good stuff that I'd imagine newer fans of CH would be interested in given Jim Grey's connection. Regardless, again Caligula's Horse is quite awesome and talented :D
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: me7 on January 21, 2019, 02:40:10 AM
Sounds like I need to check out Arcane soon :metal
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact - 2017 New Album out Now
Post by: cramx3 on September 07, 2019, 04:24:13 PM
Awesome album, and if you check my youtube channel in about an hour or so (uploading is so slow here) you'll see their performance of Graves from progpower (also Songs for No One  :metal), they just finished and it was absolutely amazing and they got a huge reception.  Big mosh pit too surprisingly for a prog band, but it looked awesome from my seat.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact - 2017 New Album out Now
Post by: The Walrus on September 07, 2019, 05:14:09 PM
Sweet baby Jesus that set was good. So happy Parama Cereal introduced me to them. They just went from good to amazing.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: ariich on September 07, 2019, 11:47:44 PM
Sweet baby Jesus that set was good. So happy Parama Cereal introduced me to them. They just went from good to amazing.
I think you'll find it was me who more successfully introduced you to them, as you preferred the album I sent. :P
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: Crow on September 08, 2019, 12:16:24 AM
i introduced the entire goddamn forum to them, as per the first post of this thread :P
not my fault y'all slept on them until bloom
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: King Puppies and the Acid Guppies on September 08, 2019, 01:37:09 AM
i introduced the entire goddamn forum to them, as per the first post of this thread :P
not my fault y'all slept on them until bloom
Heh, I've been in to them since Arcane released their ...Ashes album way back in 2007 and then followed along when Jim Grey formed Caligula's Horse.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: cramx3 on September 08, 2019, 08:56:24 AM
The band was super chill at the signing session, all were very chatty and they signed my In Contact album cover.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: FlyingBIZKIT on September 08, 2019, 08:57:07 AM
I followed them since each band member was born.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: King Puppies and the Acid Guppies on September 08, 2019, 10:37:20 AM
I followed them since each band member was born.
:neverusethis:
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: The Walrus on September 08, 2019, 10:48:04 AM
Sweet baby Jesus that set was good. So happy Parama Cereal introduced me to them. They just went from good to amazing.
I think you'll find it was me who more successfully introduced you to them, as you preferred the album I sent. :P

Oh yeah.  :lol Thank you! Seriously.  I cannot believe they played Graves. Omfg.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: ariich on September 08, 2019, 12:13:26 PM
Sweet baby Jesus that set was good. So happy Parama Cereal introduced me to them. They just went from good to amazing.
I think you'll find it was me who more successfully introduced you to them, as you preferred the album I sent. :P

Oh yeah.  :lol
I see my performance in that roulette made a big impact on you. :lol

Quote
Thank you! Seriously.  I cannot believe they played Graves. Omfg.
Such a ridiculously great song. :metal
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: Lethean on September 08, 2019, 01:36:06 PM
Caligula's Horse blew me away at ProgPower.  I was expecting to like them, but they took it to another level.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: cramx3 on September 08, 2019, 04:27:07 PM
Their reception was fantastic, seemed they won the crowd over.  They did also say they were working on a new album and would be back (hoping that means a US tour, not just another PP appearance)  :metal :metal

Also, here's the link to Graves Live (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uslgwQ9lMMI)  :metal
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: Train of Naught on September 09, 2019, 02:47:59 AM
I got straight up goosebumps hearing the crowd shout "HANDS SHAPE STONE" in sync :metal I don't really like In Contact, but the ending to Graves is fantastic.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: Lethean on September 09, 2019, 01:47:12 PM
I like In Contact a lot.  But yeah - that was a really special moment.  Also, I thought he sounded better in person than he does on that video.  I don't care if it's because I was too excited during the show - the show was fantastic.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: cramx3 on September 09, 2019, 02:01:16 PM
"A whole new world...."

I think hearing his short bit of sound check right before hitting the stage was epic.  He was singing bits of A Whole New World from Aladdin and I Want it That Way by the Backstreet Boys  :rollin  I told him how awesome it was during the signing session and he seemed surprised anyone noticed, and then we began singing it together right there  :metal "I want it that way... tell me why" How fucking epic is that?  Mentioned the Aladdin song was a perfect choice being their first time in the US, it essentially is a whole new world for them.

Also, Jim seems to be quiet the comedian, made a lot of impromptu jokes talking with the crowd between songs.  He seemed like a perfect front man.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: King Puppies and the Acid Guppies on September 09, 2019, 05:38:10 PM
"A whole new world...."

I think hearing his short bit of sound check right before hitting the stage was epic.  He was singing bits of A Whole New World from Aladdin and I Want it That Way by the Backstreet Boys  :rollin  I told him how awesome it was during the signing session and he seemed surprised anyone noticed, and then we began singing it together right there  :metal "I want it that way... tell me why" How fucking epic is that?  Mentioned the Aladdin song was a perfect choice being their first time in the US, it essentially is a whole new world for them.

Also, Jim seems to be quiet the comedian, made a lot of impromptu jokes talking with the crowd between songs.  He seemed like a perfect front man.
I didn't see, but are they going to be back next year?
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: The Walrus on September 09, 2019, 05:45:49 PM
I play "I Want It That Way" on piano all the time and now I wish I had sung it with Jim.  :lol
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: Tomislav95 on September 10, 2019, 12:50:23 AM
I think I already said it just when I saw them (a year ago), they were awesome! And after the show we had a chat, super nice guys, they signed my In Contact :D and I was so glad more of them noticed my Agent Fresco shirt, I think they share a manager or something.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: cramx3 on September 10, 2019, 04:12:20 PM
I think I already said it just when I saw them (a year ago), they were awesome! And after the show we had a chat, super nice guys, they signed my In Contact :D and I was so glad more of them noticed my Agent Fresco shirt, I think they share a manager or something.

The drummer noticed my Iron Maiden shirt and said that was the best show he'd ever been to when they played out in Australia, I then apologized and said they are actually my favorite band which the guy said no problem and agreed.  :lol so down to earth and chill

I didn't see, but are they going to be back next year?

He said new album next year and they will be back but didn't say when or where.  He said this after Graves which is in my video here (timestamped the end where he says this): https://youtu.be/uslgwQ9lMMI?t=940 (https://youtu.be/uslgwQ9lMMI?t=940)
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: Ben_Jamin on September 10, 2019, 05:26:59 PM
Just listened to Graves. Such a good song.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: The Walrus on December 19, 2019, 12:55:04 PM
Bump! NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES!

(https://i.imgur.com/br9S1mg.jpg)
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: Crow on December 19, 2019, 01:02:52 PM
El Corazon Babyyyy
Not a fan of Moon Tooth and never heard of the last one but sure why not
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - In Contact Out Now!
Post by: cramx3 on December 19, 2019, 03:08:12 PM
Yea baby!  Definitely excited for this, Ill be at the NYC show  :metal :metal
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Crow on March 12, 2020, 04:50:01 PM
new album coming on May 22nd:
https://www.omerch.com/shop/caligulas-horse/products/caligulas-horse-rise-radiant-digipack-cd
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: The Walrus on March 12, 2020, 04:52:26 PM
This definitely makes up for my decision earlier today to not go to the show in May. Dope
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: cramx3 on March 12, 2020, 04:55:02 PM
This definitely makes up for my decision earlier today to not go to the show in May. Dope

How does this make up for that?  I do hope the tour actually still happens at this point.  May is some time away, hopefully enough time away
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: The Walrus on March 12, 2020, 04:56:47 PM
This definitely makes up for my decision earlier today to not go to the show in May. Dope

How does this make up for that?  I do hope the tour actually still happens at this point.  May is some time away, hopefully enough time away

It's a new album?  :lol Haha, better than getting nothing. I don't care too much about missing the show since I just saw them in September. (My decision had nothing to do with the virus btw, I'm just not gonna go.)
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: cramx3 on March 12, 2020, 05:01:01 PM
Ohh I was thinking you heard something from the new album and it turned you off, but I didn't see any clips so wasn't sure what you meant.  They were so good at PP, I definitely want to get out and support those Aussies if they still come around.  Hopefully meet them again too.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: The Walrus on March 12, 2020, 05:02:41 PM
 :lol Nope! I just won't be able to make it is all.

And you can listen to the first single, The Tempest! Cyril left that bit out :neverusethis:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNc5PT645sU
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: cramx3 on March 12, 2020, 05:04:42 PM
Oh snap, yea I'm gonna check that out... now
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Crow on March 12, 2020, 05:08:56 PM
:lol Nope! I just won't be able to make it is all.

And you can listen to the first single, The Tempest! Cyril left that bit out :neverusethis:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNc5PT645sU
it was literally put up on youtube -after- i posted, shut up  :lol
sorry for being TOO fast
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: cramx3 on March 12, 2020, 05:10:30 PM
 :metal :metal awesome song, heavier than I expected and a cool solo.  Jim's vocals may be a bit too low if anything negative to say.  I also love the artwork of the album.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: King Puppies and the Acid Guppies on March 12, 2020, 05:16:13 PM
This sounds good. Can't wait! :corn
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: romdrums on March 12, 2020, 07:32:18 PM
Color me excited.  I loved In Contact.  Thinking I’ll preorder in case the tour gets shut down.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: lonestar on March 12, 2020, 09:15:21 PM
Killer fucking track, so stoked for this album. Also thankful there US tour isn't till June, hopefully that's late enough to escape the Corona Cancellations.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: The Walrus on March 13, 2020, 06:11:32 AM
I actually didn't play the song until just now. Wow, what a killer guitar solo. Great song. Really excited for this record!
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: lonestar on March 13, 2020, 07:14:50 AM
I actually didn't play the song until just now. Wow, what a killer guitar solo. Great song. Really excited for this record!

Guess we found our musical intersection point.  :lol
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: NoFred on March 13, 2020, 07:50:37 AM
Pretty good song!
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: The Walrus on March 13, 2020, 08:44:12 AM
I actually didn't play the song until just now. Wow, what a killer guitar solo. Great song. Really excited for this record!

Guess we found our musical intersection point.  :lol

It's like you forget we both love IQ.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: King Puppies and the Acid Guppies on March 13, 2020, 09:12:46 AM
I actually didn't play the song until just now. Wow, what a killer guitar solo. Great song. Really excited for this record!

Guess we found our musical intersection point.  :lol

It's like you forget we both love IQ.
IQ is awesome!
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Evermind on March 14, 2020, 03:43:45 AM
Really liked this song and will definitely buy the album. Good artwork too.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Train of Naught on March 14, 2020, 04:14:51 AM
I love reading the first page of this, no one seemed to care for this band and Cyril just desperately trying to shill them, and just as people start discovering he's like 'eh not really into this kind of prog anymore these days' YEARS later. :lol

I thought the new single was pretty good, but I likely won't be getting the album but probably will at least listen to the album when it comes out. In Contact still had a couple of good songs!
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: pfillion on April 09, 2020, 06:27:55 PM
New video

https://youtu.be/bNlUJgP3Lwk
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: cramx3 on April 09, 2020, 06:36:27 PM
 :metal I like Tempest better but this is pretty solid
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Mister Gold on April 10, 2020, 08:05:29 AM
Both released songs sound terrific. Looking forward to seeing how the rest of Rise Radiant turns out! :metal
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: pfillion on May 07, 2020, 05:50:15 PM
New single

https://youtu.be/S7dJeSCAv_8
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Nick on May 07, 2020, 06:30:17 PM
Alright, so keep in mind I have no point in reference in this band other than the new album, but I've been digging it a lot.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: cramx3 on May 07, 2020, 06:40:38 PM
New single

https://youtu.be/S7dJeSCAv_8

 :metal :metal awesome song on first listen

Alright, so keep in mind I have no point in reference in this band other than the new album, but I've been digging it a lot.

The three singles are all good, their last two albums are stellar.  Definitely a band on the rise IMO, should have been seeing them in 20 days  :sadpanda:
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Elite on May 08, 2020, 01:37:15 AM
I'm deliberately not listening to this stuff until I get my hands on the album (assuming the physical format will even ship in these times). Three singles released already and the reactions I've seen on social media seem very promising. I bet this is going to be great.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: me7 on May 18, 2020, 03:57:58 PM
The singles were nice, but they don't do Rise radiant justice. I like how the band developed their heavy side on the last two albums but I also missed the finely crafted soft sections from Tide, Thief & River. Rise radiant offers everything from the band's repertoir in a brief 45min runtime without ever appearing rushed or tonally inconsistent.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: ProfessorPeart on May 19, 2020, 10:28:03 PM
Avoided the singles. My import digipak with the bonus tracks shipped from Laser CD today. Hoping to get it by the weekend but the USPS has really lost the plot these last few weeks. I had a CD go back and forth up the Atlantic coast for almost 10 days before they finally sent it the right way. Worse yet, once my stuff hits Chicago, it's been taking 6-8 days to go the final 60 miles to get to me. It's usually a day, 2 tops.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: The Walrus on May 20, 2020, 05:43:54 AM
I've avoided the singles too. Friday's gonna be fun.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: cramx3 on May 20, 2020, 05:46:01 AM
Looking forward to Friday as well.  I loved the singles but only listened a couple times each to not get too familiar with them. 
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Crow on May 21, 2020, 10:45:49 PM
well, this album sure exists
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Evermind on May 22, 2020, 07:03:28 AM
Modern well-known prog band with clean vocals: releases a new album

Cyril: this album sure exists

:biggrin:
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Elite on May 22, 2020, 07:06:52 AM
well, this album sure exists

eh, first impression isn't too flattering for me as well. Certainly good moments, but nothing that stuck on first listen at all. Will listen again tomorrow!
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Train of Naught on May 22, 2020, 07:10:19 AM
Finished my first and probably last listen this morning, mehhhhhh, I doubt this band will ever top Thief Tide / Bloom
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: The Walrus on May 22, 2020, 07:13:12 AM
Wow bunch of poo-pooers in this thread. I find this band to be one whose records grow after the first listen, they're not immediately satisfying. Looking forward to checking it out in about an hour. Their live show made me an even bigger fan of them, really excited for this one.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Elite on May 22, 2020, 07:14:50 AM
Wow bunch of poo-pooers in this thread. I find this band to be one whose records grow after the first listen, they're not immediately satisfying. Looking forward to checking it out in about an hour. Their live show made me an even bigger fan of them, really excited for this one.

Not at all, I think they're a great band and I want to like it (which is why I pre-ordered it), so I will listen again tomorrow.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: ariich on May 22, 2020, 07:29:55 AM
Wow bunch of poo-pooers in this thread. I find this band to be one whose records grow after the first listen, they're not immediately satisfying.
Indeed. First listen sounded very solid but not all of it was particularly immediate, so it'll take more listens. But it definitely sounds up there with their other albums.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Train of Naught on May 22, 2020, 07:45:14 AM
I think music boards where only positive comments are allowed wouldn't make for very interesting conversation to be honest, but I can elaborate sure.

I believe the band got stuck in a loop in my opinion, they became much more reliant on the vocals since everything else blends together a ton for me since the In Contact album. Actually, since Bloom already, but that one had a bunch of strong melodies that I believe the next two are lacking a bit. To be fair, In Contact still had some really strong moments though whereas this one fell completely flat for me. If I can take away any kind of positive experience I never hesitate to revisit albums though, I don't easily discard stuff if I have the feeling I'll like it more.

But at least it's an objectively better album than the latest Green Day and Blink-182 albums :metal
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: The Walrus on May 22, 2020, 07:46:24 AM
I never, ever said only positive comments were allowed. It was a cheeky comment, sheesh  :lol
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: ariich on May 22, 2020, 07:58:38 AM
I think music boards where only positive comments are allowed wouldn't make for very interesting conversation to be honest
Nobody said that. :lol
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: lonestar on May 22, 2020, 08:37:22 AM
Loving the first spin, such a sublime output. :heart
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: cramx3 on May 22, 2020, 08:40:53 AM
Just got the digital download on amazon, I'll report back when I have an opinion to share but I'm hopeful regardless of the few meh responses so far.  Prog albums don't tend to click on first listen for me so if it doesn't I won't equate that to a poor release, just will listen a bit more before I come to that conclusion.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Crow on May 22, 2020, 09:28:40 AM
it didn't even sound like a "prog" album to me tho. it's like an alt-metal album that occasionally has proggy moments.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: The Walrus on May 22, 2020, 09:30:37 AM
Yeah this is fantastic imo. Maybe it's just because I'm accustomed to their sound now, saw 'em live etc. but the first impression of this record is better than the others I've heard (I think there's still 1 or 2 albums I need to go listen to). I really like Rise Radiant!!
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: cramx3 on May 22, 2020, 09:47:44 AM
it didn't even sound like a "prog" album to me tho. it's like an alt-metal album that occasionally has proggy moments.

Yea, that makes sense because they've got that alt-metal in them all along too.  First listen in and I enjoyed it, but can't comment more.  Maybe it's also because I LOVE Jim Grey's vocals that it doesn't need to be all proggy, alt-metal with him singing would still be awesome to me.  However, the album still has some prog in it, but maybe not enough to be an all out prog album, but that also fits me better too for what I like.  I am putting it back on now.  :metal
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: ariich on May 22, 2020, 10:22:41 AM
Salt is so damn great.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: cramx3 on May 22, 2020, 10:25:20 AM
Salt is so damn great.

Yea, that stuck out on my first two listens.  Im definitely enjoying this.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Evermind on May 22, 2020, 10:40:04 AM
it didn't even sound like a "prog" album to me tho. it's like an alt-metal album that occasionally has proggy moments.

I mean I don't know, I haven't even listened to it yet :)

Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: 425 on May 22, 2020, 11:55:52 AM
I really can't speak to how other people listen to music, because clearly a lot of people experience it very differently from how I do, but there are a ton of albums that I don't even have much of an impression of after one listen. This was definitely true of Bloom and In Contact.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: ariich on May 22, 2020, 01:51:06 PM
In Contact was somewhat immediate for me, but Bloom took ages to grow on me. This one sounds somewhere between the two.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Crow on May 22, 2020, 03:59:33 PM
Relistening to In Contact after this one and yeah In Contact was a lot better/more vibrant & powerful than this new one

but GOD that spoken word track is so terrible.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: ariich on May 22, 2020, 04:11:56 PM
but GOD that spoken word track is so terrible.
We are not a match.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: cramx3 on May 22, 2020, 04:17:34 PM
In Contact took time to grow but Bloom was more immediate for me, I think because it starts so damn strong.  This album will take time to grow but I can't find anything immediately poor about it to complain about. 

Also, since my job let us log off at noon today and I had been working on getting clips ready for a call of duty music video, figured why not put it to Valkyrie, seems appropriate plus that's a good short rocker. 

Caligula's Horse - Valkyrie (Unofficial Lyric Video) to Call of Duty Warzone Highlights (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct8Kee9lOOg)

but GOD that spoken word track is so terrible.

I think it works alright in context to the next song and his emotion is good in the way he speaks, but I also have no desire to ever want to listen to it
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Crow on May 22, 2020, 04:20:13 PM
but GOD that spoken word track is so terrible.
We are not a match.
It's maybe a 1.8
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: ariich on May 22, 2020, 04:21:11 PM
but GOD that spoken word track is so terrible.
We are not a match.
It's maybe a 1.8
You're maybe a 1.8
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: NoseofNicko on May 22, 2020, 04:24:35 PM
I really can't speak to how other people listen to music, because clearly a lot of people experience it very differently from how I do, but there are a ton of albums that I don't even have much of an impression of after one listen.

Same here. For example I didn’t even think much of Images and Words on first listen and now it’s my favorite album.

Anyway I think I’m gonna give this band a try.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: 425 on May 22, 2020, 04:42:09 PM
but GOD that spoken word track is so terrible.
We are not a match.

Most spoken-word parts on albums are usually lacking in either writing or delivery, and I tend not to like them. But I think this one is actually pretty good. The writing is solid and the delivery is really excellent (aided by how they produced it to add effects to certain words and phrases without going too over-the-top). I think the album would actually be poorer without it, which is not something I'd say of many spoken-word sections.


I really can't speak to how other people listen to music, because clearly a lot of people experience it very differently from how I do, but there are a ton of albums that I don't even have much of an impression of after one listen.

Same here. For example I didn’t even think much of Images and Words on first listen and now it’s my favorite album.

Anyway I think I’m gonna give this band a try.

Definitely recommend them, especially if you like anything at all of more modern-sounding prog metal. I'm hardly the expert, since I only know two of their albums, but I think there's much to enjoy on either Bloom or In Contact (the latter seems not to be super popular on DTF, but on other sites, like the /r/progmetal subreddit, seems to get rave reviews).
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: NoseofNicko on May 22, 2020, 05:03:20 PM
Got their new album so gonna start with that but gonna give In Contact a listen even if I don’t like the new album.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Crow on May 22, 2020, 05:08:57 PM
listen to The Tide, The Thief, and River's End, it's their best album by not a small margin
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: The Walrus on May 22, 2020, 05:21:58 PM
listen to The Tide, The Thief, and River's End, it's their best album by not a small margin

K but u rong doe
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: King Puppies and the Acid Guppies on May 22, 2020, 05:24:49 PM
listen to The Tide, The Thief, and River's End, it's their best album by not a small margin
You misspelled Arcane's Known-Learned
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: me7 on May 22, 2020, 05:30:04 PM
listen to The Tide, The Thief, and River's End, it's their best album by not a small margin

I also have a soft spot for that album.
What I enjoy most about Rise is how Salt and Autumn/Ascent have some of that feeling, that has been absent on Bloom and Contact IMO.

Your response to Rise baffles me.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: King Puppies and the Acid Guppies on May 22, 2020, 05:39:55 PM
OK, just started listening through the album. I'm noticing a couple of things. The production is.....weird? Also this is lacking in the beautiful melodies that their previous albums had. There's way too much chuggachuggachugga/djenty guitars.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: TAC on May 22, 2020, 06:58:02 PM
I gave up on this album about 5 minutes through the third song.


I've dropped the needle on this band before and nothing has ever stood out. I thought I'd give their new album an honest spin, but I can't hang.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: cramx3 on May 22, 2020, 07:06:08 PM
Definitely not up your alley Tim, but at least you gave it a try knowing their previous work wasn't your thing
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: LordCost on May 23, 2020, 03:31:07 AM
I have been listening it for some days. It doesn't beat In Contact, which was hard to top (I think it's their masterpiece in a great collection of albums, as The Mountain for Haken, I am surprised it's not regarded as their best by many people in the comments before), but it's still an excellent album on the level of Bloom and The Tide, The Thief.

I smiled at first listen noticing some parts sound a lot like Leprous and Haken. 4:03-4:22 part in Salt made me think of Haken, and Autumn vocals in chorus could have easily be written and sang by Einar.
The guitar part of The Tempest intro reminds me a bit of The Price too. This one I got it later after having found other feelings of Leprous sounding moments.

I still have no opinion on The Ascent, after 5 listens I can't recall anything from it, and people say it's one of their best. I hope it will grow on me.

Salt and Autumn are my favorites at the moment, while The Tempest, Slow Violence and Valkyrie are really catchy and memorable from first listens. Oceanrise is still a bit behind those three other tracks with a similar style.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Elite on May 23, 2020, 02:39:47 PM
listen to The Tide, The Thief, and River's End, it's their best album by not a small margin

Yes.


Probably.






Second listen of Rise Radiant today was so much better. It actually sounded fuller in my car, which was strange. Some really cool stuff throughout.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: King Puppies and the Acid Guppies on May 24, 2020, 10:48:20 AM
After giving it another listen, Salt and The Ascent are definitely the best songs here, the rest is just kind of there being inoffensively listenable... :dunno:
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: The Walrus on May 24, 2020, 11:03:56 AM
Honestly I think this is my favorite CH album yet. Only The Ascent has yet to click, but everything else is killer imo.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Crow on May 24, 2020, 11:08:17 AM
Y'all have really low standards for prog metal  :lol
I like Autumn but it's not even as good as Thief in terms of "penultimate quiet track" and woops Thief is almost 6 minutes shorter
Salt isn't anything special, the three tracks after it all are Incredibly There I Guess, The Ascent has... some moments but it doesn't justify its length
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: ariich on May 24, 2020, 01:16:10 PM
Y'all have really low standards for prog metal  :lol
Says the guy who 1. told us it isn't prog metal, and 2. loves East of the Wall. :P
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: NoseofNicko on May 24, 2020, 01:25:47 PM
Listening to Rise Radiant right now and really enjoying it. Some of it reminds me of Leprous in a good way.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Elite on May 24, 2020, 01:33:42 PM
The ending of The Ascent is quite cool

Favourite tracks after about three listens are The Tempest, Oceanrise and Salt. The Tempest in particular I think is a very strong track. At the moment, I think this album ranks 4th in their discography, but it's too early to tell really.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Crow on May 24, 2020, 01:33:58 PM
Y'all have really low standards for prog metal  :lol
Says the guy who 1. told us it isn't prog metal, and 2. loves East of the Wall. :P
1. yeah but y'all seem to think it is 2. yeah i do quite enjoy the best album i've ever heard
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: cramx3 on May 24, 2020, 02:04:46 PM
Y'all have really low standards for prog metal  :lol
Says the guy who 1. told us it isn't prog metal, and 2. loves East of the Wall. :P
1. yeah but y'all seem to think it is 2. yeah i do quite enjoy the best album i've ever heard

While it's not 100% prog metal, it still pretty easily would fall under that category as their main genre IMO.

Also, The Ascent is pretty awesome.  Being the longest track, it takes the most listens to appreciate but I'm really enjoying it.  And yes....listen to that intro and tell me CH aren't progmetal  :metal
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: NoseofNicko on May 24, 2020, 02:29:17 PM
I’d give the album a 4/5 on first listen. Very good. Sounds like a mix of Haken and Leprous but more complex. I love the unpredictability of the chord progressions and melodies.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: The Walrus on May 24, 2020, 06:30:32 PM
Y'all have really low standards for prog metal  :lol
Says the guy who 1. told us it isn't prog metal, and 2. loves East of the Wall. :P
1. yeah but y'all seem to think it is 2. yeah i do quite enjoy the best album i've ever heard

Because it is prog metal, you're just salty cause you don't like it much :neverusethis: Mr. Garbage Disposal Music :)
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: The Walrus on May 24, 2020, 06:32:50 PM
Y'all have really low standards for prog metal  :lol
I like Autumn but it's not even as good as Thief in terms of "penultimate quiet track" and woops Thief is almost 6 minutes shorter
Salt isn't anything special, the three tracks after it all are Incredibly There I Guess, The Ascent has... some moments but it doesn't justify its length

I mean you could just enjoy both songs my dude, bands don't always have to top themselves every release :rollin
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Crow on May 24, 2020, 06:47:04 PM
i mean yeah you're allowed to be impressed by bands swallowing their own tail, go ahead  :tup
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: The Walrus on May 24, 2020, 07:15:38 PM
Says the guy whose favorite album sounds exactly like that!  :biggrin: :lol
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Crow on May 24, 2020, 08:00:46 PM
if you say so  :P
it's just really frustrating to me to see a band who used to be great creatively backpedal three albums in a row now
anyways i'm hard to please and i know that so y'all can feel free to continue enjoying the album and ignore me, i don't really care i just like voicing my frustrations sometimes, it's not even that it's a bad album as much as it isn't a good one
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: The Walrus on May 24, 2020, 08:24:24 PM
Saying they're creatively backpedaling is way overly harsh imo. This is a good record. I think it's fine to dislike it but that just doesn't sit well with me
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Crow on May 24, 2020, 08:26:14 PM
even on bloom and in contact there was still a satisfying level of variety both within the songs and on the album as a whole. this one just feels like there's no sense of variety or progression, it's playing it safe without any surprises or emotional highs. it's just lifeless compared to their past stuff. i've given it two spins and gotten basically nothing from it, and i'll be giving it at least one more chance but it's very likely the first CH album i'm going to end up skipping
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: King Puppies and the Acid Guppies on May 24, 2020, 08:33:21 PM
even on bloom and in contact there was still a satisfying level of variety both within the songs and on the album as a whole. this one just feels like there's no sense of variety or progression, it's playing it safe without any surprises or emotional highs. it's just lifeless compared to their past stuff. i've given it two spins and gotten basically nothing from it, and i'll be giving it at least one more chance but it's very likely the first CH album i'm going to end up skipping
Outside of the 2 songs I mentioned earlier, this is pretty much where I'm at with this album. I want to like it more, but I'm just not feeling it. I will be giving it another spin though.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: The Walrus on May 24, 2020, 08:58:32 PM
I'll check it up to the ol' favorite: tastes! A friend of mine just penned the most perfect description of mine, which will forever remain part of my signature now.  :lol
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Nachtmerrie on May 25, 2020, 12:35:30 PM
After three listens I feel safe to say this album is really disappointing.
The songs are quite ok but nothing memorable. The Tempest & The Ascent may me my favorites but none of them beat my favorite In Contact Songs.

The biggest disappointment is the production and overall sound of the album. Some of the heavier parts and mainly the choruses sound like an indefinable wall of sound to me which is almost unlistenable. It feels like guitars, bass and voice fighting for their spot in the same range while the drums are way too much on the background. Choruses of Salt and Valkyrie are some examples.
I'm curious if it's my Spotify in the car or anyone else recognizes this


Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Elite on May 25, 2020, 12:40:22 PM
Absolutely recognised that on my first playthrough on my record player and stereo system. Second time (CD in the car) was a lot better, but still there doesn't seem to be too much dynamic range, which is a shame really.

I want to like it more, but I'm just not feeling it. I will be giving it another spin though.

This is me so far, yeah. TTTTARE is such a cool run, Bloom has several highlights, In Contact has the fantastic closer and some great stuff happening, while this one, to me, in the limited listens I've had yet, feels a lot more bland.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: cramx3 on May 25, 2020, 01:06:51 PM
The biggest disappointment is the production and overall sound of the album. Some of the heavier parts and mainly the choruses sound like an indefinable wall of sound to me which is almost unlistenable. It feels like guitars, bass and voice fighting for their spot in the same range while the drums are way too much on the background. Choruses of Salt and Valkyrie are some examples.
I'm curious if it's my Spotify in the car or anyone else recognizes this

I can agree with this, I don't like this production and the guitars kind of just blend together into a wall of sound which doesn't let the vocals really shine.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: The Walrus on May 25, 2020, 04:10:55 PM
I really hate to look like a contrarian but I don't get the production complaints either...  :lol oh well
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Crow on May 25, 2020, 11:24:54 PM
okay nvm y'all are right salt is pretty good. not great, it has some spots that feel a bit off.

but like all the 4-5 minute tracks here just do nothing for me. they're all paint-by-numbers djent-prog. no surprises and no emotional core to them. the ascent has its moments but it's just moments, it's not consistent the whole way through. autumn is still pretty alright. it doesn't move me but it's pleasant.
the production i can see being a little flat but it doesn't super bother me? it's more just the songwriting that doesn't work for me.
can we all agree that slow violence is the worst CH song to date, btw? besides the spoken word track i can't stand. the worst actual CH song. that intro is so jank, the song is the one that most feels like it's ripping djent/alt-metal tropes, the chorus isn't particularly good, the solo's... ok i guess but it doesn't save the song. mostly it's just the intro tho i think it sounds atrocious

i'm not saying it's necessarily a bad album because it isn't but it's not... very exciting. definitely doesn't feel like their a-game.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: The Walrus on May 26, 2020, 05:23:13 AM
SV is not their worst song

The band always uses djent "tropes" as you put it so I don't see why suddenly SV is this big offense *shrug*
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Buddyhunter1 on May 26, 2020, 02:21:11 PM
listen to The Tide, The Thief, and River's End, it's their best album by not a small margin

I might check this one out since you've specifically called it out - I've heard a few songs from this band when they came up on Spotify but I could not tell you a single thing about them for the life of me. Other than that they sounded vaguely Haken-esque but without like, any of the personality or excitement. They just went in one ear and out the other. Nothing memorably good. Nothing memorably bad. The singularity of modern prog metal averageness. Genetically modified to be as inoffensively passable as humanly possible. I have seen the end
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Elite on May 26, 2020, 02:26:16 PM
The singularity of modern prog metal averageness. Genetically modified to be as inoffensively passable as humanly possible. I have seen the end

:lol
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: cramx3 on May 26, 2020, 02:43:16 PM
The singularity of modern prog metal averageness. Genetically modified to be as inoffensively passable as humanly possible. I have seen the end

:lol

 :lol I think what they do better than Haken or other modern prog metal bands is display an emotion in the vocals and lyrics.  I think, that is what might be missing from the new album.  It doesn't come off as poetic the way Bloom and In Contact do, so I can see how maybe they fall a bit under that description but I think you should give another listen and you may pick up on the things that do separate them from the others.  Also, the more rock sound that isn't prog they seem to have a bit of in them.  Song like Firefly for example that isn't very proggy but has a nice emotional rock feel to it. 
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Crow on May 26, 2020, 02:45:17 PM
i mean, haken used to be good at conveying emotion too - aquarius and the mountain say hello, and visions has its moments too, but affinity-onwards that part of them kinda disappeared  :lol

the mountain and the tide, the thief, and river's end both came out in the same fall of 2013 which was just a really good year to be a 2010's prog metal band i guess
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: The Walrus on May 26, 2020, 02:46:10 PM
I don't know how you don't hear emotion in Jim's singing on this record. There's just as much as any other CH record.  ??? ??? ??? I must have different ears from ya'll...
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: LordCost on May 26, 2020, 02:46:56 PM
To me they didn't change that much since The Tide to Rise Radiant. Every new album I feel they change just the minimum not to be accused to have done the same album as before. I can't see them doing something completely different in future too, Jim Grey vocal lines and voice tends to produce a certain type of music, Sam Vallen guitar work has a recognizable style too.
Can't see how one of the last 4 C-Horse album can be strongly preferred to other ones.

Still, to disprove my point, a friend that never cared for them before told me today that he liked The Tempest a lot. He likes metal and bands like Alter Bridge, maybe their turn to a less proggy and more direct approach (someone talked about this album is more alt metal than prog) can win them some more fans.


Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Crow on May 26, 2020, 02:49:42 PM
oh i'm not saying the vocals aren't the best part of this album because they 100% are
like i said the longer tracks i all like and the shorter ones aren't bad (mostly) but they're a bit flatter
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: cramx3 on May 26, 2020, 02:56:06 PM
I don't know how you don't hear emotion in Jim's singing on this record. There's just as much as any other CH record.  ??? ??? ??? I must have different ears from ya'll...

I think this goes back to production, and I should say I love his vocals on this so I'm not really ripping him, just saying I think that's what seperates CH from a Haken.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Elite on May 27, 2020, 03:27:36 AM
Song like Firefly for example that isn't very proggy but has a nice emotional rock feel to it. 

Firelight, or Dragonfly? ???
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: me7 on May 27, 2020, 04:02:07 AM
The vocal lines on Rise radiant are indeed less catchy than on Bloom. But I don't find them less interesting, they have a certain weirdness that I usually appreciate in retrospect, sort of a timeless quality.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Mladen on May 27, 2020, 06:17:03 AM
Song like Firefly for example that isn't very proggy but has a nice emotional rock feel to it. 

Firelight, or Dragonfly? ???
I'm pretty sure he meant Dragonlight.

I'm enjoying the new album so far, but I'm having a hard time picking a favorite song. As a whole, it's a nice listen, though.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: cramx3 on May 27, 2020, 08:40:40 AM
Song like Firefly for example that isn't very proggy but has a nice emotional rock feel to it. 

Firelight, or Dragonfly? ???
I'm pretty sure he meant Dragonlight.

I'm enjoying the new album so far, but I'm having a hard time picking a favorite song. As a whole, it's a nice listen, though.

 :rollin actually meant Firelight, love that song.  Nothing against dragonfly, I guess that fits my description too although thats more proggy, Firelight is more like an alt rock song.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: cramx3 on May 28, 2020, 04:44:22 PM
Not sure if anyone's physical CDs or digital downloads included the cover songs, but my amazon donwload did.  Thoughts on those two?  I actually really enjoy them, but I'm not familiar with the originals.  Just think those songs came off pretty well on their own.  Jim sounds fantastic on both and I'm not sure who the female singer is, but I enjoy it.  Nice bonus  :yarr
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: The Walrus on May 28, 2020, 05:08:35 PM
I like 'em! They're far from my favorites on the album, but as bonus tracks, good stuff. More CH is always good in my book.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: cramx3 on May 28, 2020, 05:13:41 PM
I like 'em! They're far from my favorites on the album, but as bonus tracks, good stuff. More CH is always good in my book.

Yea, I wouldn't compare them to the album nor would I rate them higher than the album tracks, but it's pretty enjoyable as bonus songs.  I just think Jim sounds so good on these.  I really hadn't focussed on them initially, but lately I've been listening more and really like them, specially Message to My Girl.  That's really well done.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: The Walrus on May 28, 2020, 05:18:29 PM
Jim is one of those vocalists who never caught my attention much at first, but the more I listen to the band, the more I appreciate him. He's so good!
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Mebert78 on June 24, 2020, 02:59:26 PM
This album is insanely good.  I'm addicted.  I loved In Contact, and this album is just as good if not better.  They followed up a great album with another great album, like DT with Awake following Images and Words.  In my opinion, Caligula's Horse has now cemented a spot among the progressive metal heavyweights. 

All the songs are awesome, but "The Ascent" is such an inspirational/powerful song.  I literally can't stop listening to it.  Amazing lyrics.  And I love the artwork.  I picture it as being a person's happy place that can be reached if you can figure out how to achieve the ascent.

My favorite lyrics from the album:

"The way is forward,
The fall will take form into ascent,
You are the sun,
Rise radiant."

 :metal
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: cramx3 on June 24, 2020, 03:03:16 PM
Yea, I've had many more listens since release and agree that it's a really good and strong album.  I'm really not sure which of the last three I like more, all are very strong from front to back IMO.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Lethean on June 25, 2020, 01:16:35 PM
I pre-ordered this album but didn't listen to it right away.  I've now heard a fair bit and I think it's really strong.  I don't think it's as good as In Contact, but it's possible that could change over time.  I really hope they're able to come tour next year and put on another great show.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: The Walrus on June 25, 2020, 01:28:03 PM
I pre-ordered this album but didn't listen to it right away.  I've now heard a fair bit and I think it's really strong.  I don't think it's as good as In Contact, but it's possible that could change over time.  I really hope they're able to come tour next year and put on another great show.

:2metal:
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: axeman90210 on June 30, 2020, 08:13:00 PM
Hi, my name is Bill, I'm new to Caligula's Horse, and the Rust - Turntail combo has been embedded in my brain for weeks now :metal
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: ariich on July 01, 2020, 02:58:52 AM
Turntail is great, one of my favourites.

Have to say, I'm liking Rise Radiant more and more with every listen. I took a break from almost all non roulette listening so I could focus on my roulette, but returning to the album now and it's pretty fantastic. Still not quite on a par with the majesty of In Contact, but now on a level with the two before that. It has a sort of emotionality to it that's a little different to what they've done before, which I really like.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: cramx3 on July 01, 2020, 08:17:28 AM
I'm a big fan of Turntail, such a fun song
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: axeman90210 on July 01, 2020, 10:41:14 AM
On my first listens there's nothing on Rise Radiant that immediately hooks me like Turntail or Songs For No-One (maybe my favorite song so far), but I do want to spend some more time with it.

Also curious as to people's thoughts generally on the spoken word piece from In Contact? I'm not always in the mood for a three minute spoken word piece, but the delivery of the last few lines going into the next song gives me goosebumps just about every time.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: ariich on July 01, 2020, 10:54:28 AM
On my first listens there's nothing on Rise Radiant that immediately hooks me like Turntail or Songs For No-One (maybe my favorite song so far), but I do want to spend some more time with it.
Rise Radiant is definitely a grower, in my opinion.

Quote
Also curious as to people's thoughts generally on the spoken word piece from In Contact? I'm not always in the mood for a three minute spoken word piece, but the delivery of the last few lines going into the next song gives me goosebumps just about every time.
I know some people (Cyril) hate it, but I absolutely love it. It's so evocative and powerful and the way it leads into the next song is amazing.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: cramx3 on July 01, 2020, 11:29:32 AM
I'm typically not a fan of spoken word but I feel it's really well done on In Contact.  It comes off as pretty powerful and poetic.  Also agree with Ariich that Rise Radiant is a grower but I kind of feel like everything other than Bloom/Marigold was a grower for me. 
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Crow on July 01, 2020, 11:30:52 AM
Yeah I almost never skip songs on albums but I skip that one every time tbh
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: LordCost on July 01, 2020, 03:54:44 PM
I don't think it's a grower honestly, quite the opposite. The only song I took 7 or 8 times before enjoying it is The Ascent, and now it's the one I want to listen the most. I am not spinning much anymore the album honestly.
I probably overplayed Salt and Autumn, while the 4 alt-metal tracks are still very enjoyable when I listen to them, even if not so frequently.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: gazinwales on April 07, 2022, 07:17:33 PM
Australian Tour Dates in April, will be my first gig since Opeth in November 2019, can't wait.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: cramx3 on April 08, 2022, 09:01:50 AM
 :metal :metal that's great, they have a new guitarist now?  I hope they can reschedule that US tour, would love to see them again
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: lonestar on April 08, 2022, 09:15:40 AM
:metal :metal that's great, they have a new guitarist now?  I hope they can reschedule that US tour, would love to see them again

For reals... The biggest tour loss of covid man. I was fucking pumped for that show
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Mladen on August 15, 2023, 02:52:10 AM
I saw these guys a couple of days ago in Budapest and it was a fantastic gig. They are touring as a four piece with backing tracks taking care of certain bits and pieces, but it's a very good performance overall. As much as I love the shorter tracks from the most recent release, the epics from In contact were actually the highlight. At the end, the guys came over to greet the fans and take photos, it was a great evening.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: cramx3 on August 15, 2023, 08:19:55 AM
Nice.  They'll be in the US in less than a month for another show at ProgPower.  Very excited for that, but I kind of hope they don't do Graves.  They did that last time and I'd love to see them play some other songs in it's place.  I mean, it was epic so I guess I shouldn't be surprised if they do it again, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uslgwQ9lMMI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uslgwQ9lMMI)
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: twosuitsluke on November 09, 2023, 05:12:53 PM
New single Golem just dropped. I wasn't even aware they were releasing a new song.

https://open.spotify.com/track/6IDBU2KSr7SD1RaJ2dsCOy?si=rkTxVh4TRDatMGMv5zzRYQ (https://open.spotify.com/track/6IDBU2KSr7SD1RaJ2dsCOy?si=rkTxVh4TRDatMGMv5zzRYQ)
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Jamesman42 on November 09, 2023, 06:45:38 PM
The only song I don't like yet off the new album is Turntail, the rest is really good!

This is one of my favorite songs sent from my last roulette, so reading this from 8 years ago is kinda funny.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: axeman90210 on November 09, 2023, 09:40:41 PM
Turntail slaps :metal
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: The Realm on November 09, 2023, 09:57:04 PM
Actually seeing these guys live tonight supporting Devin Townsend. Really like the new song.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: twosuitsluke on November 10, 2023, 02:32:48 AM
New album 'Charcoal Grace' comes out January 26th.

Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: me7 on November 10, 2023, 04:24:53 AM
New single Golem just dropped. I wasn't even aware they were releasing a new song.

https://open.spotify.com/track/6IDBU2KSr7SD1RaJ2dsCOy?si=rkTxVh4TRDatMGMv5zzRYQ (https://open.spotify.com/track/6IDBU2KSr7SD1RaJ2dsCOy?si=rkTxVh4TRDatMGMv5zzRYQ)
Nice
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: twosuitsluke on November 10, 2023, 04:27:19 AM
Yea, I thought it was pretty good. For whatever reason Rise Radiant didn't resonate with me at all, so hoping the next one will.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: lonestar on November 12, 2023, 04:42:46 PM
GUYS GUYS US TOUR ANNOUNCED!!!!

https://www.progradar.org/index.php/2023/11/10/caligulas-horse-announce-new-album-charcoal-grace-out-on-january-26th-2024-via-insideoutmusic-reveal-video-for-first-new-single-golem-and-us-canada-tour-dates/?fbclid=IwAR2PE95RfF-ITReGS5nK7q-XBGg4iYpWre0z7Nk3Yv689j-CPJAxRYW4CtY (https://www.progradar.org/index.php/2023/11/10/caligulas-horse-announce-new-album-charcoal-grace-out-on-january-26th-2024-via-insideoutmusic-reveal-video-for-first-new-single-golem-and-us-canada-tour-dates/?fbclid=IwAR2PE95RfF-ITReGS5nK7q-XBGg4iYpWre0z7Nk3Yv689j-CPJAxRYW4CtY)




Edit- HOLY FUCK EARTHSIDE IS OPENING!!!!!
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Fritzinger on November 13, 2023, 05:52:12 AM
I wonder if "Mute" is actually a song on the album, since some websites don't list it on their tracklists for the album. I hope it's not just a "placeholder" for side 3 of the album and is listed by mistake, since without it only 10 minutes would be filled with music on that side.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: cramx3 on November 13, 2023, 08:05:08 AM
New single Golem just dropped. I wasn't even aware they were releasing a new song.

https://open.spotify.com/track/6IDBU2KSr7SD1RaJ2dsCOy?si=rkTxVh4TRDatMGMv5zzRYQ (https://open.spotify.com/track/6IDBU2KSr7SD1RaJ2dsCOy?si=rkTxVh4TRDatMGMv5zzRYQ)

Solid song

Turntail slaps :metal

Yup

Actually seeing these guys live tonight supporting Devin Townsend. Really like the new song.

That's awesome, great combo.

GUYS GUYS US TOUR ANNOUNCED!!!!

https://www.progradar.org/index.php/2023/11/10/caligulas-horse-announce-new-album-charcoal-grace-out-on-january-26th-2024-via-insideoutmusic-reveal-video-for-first-new-single-golem-and-us-canada-tour-dates/?fbclid=IwAR2PE95RfF-ITReGS5nK7q-XBGg4iYpWre0z7Nk3Yv689j-CPJAxRYW4CtY (https://www.progradar.org/index.php/2023/11/10/caligulas-horse-announce-new-album-charcoal-grace-out-on-january-26th-2024-via-insideoutmusic-reveal-video-for-first-new-single-golem-and-us-canada-tour-dates/?fbclid=IwAR2PE95RfF-ITReGS5nK7q-XBGg4iYpWre0z7Nk3Yv689j-CPJAxRYW4CtY)




Edit- HOLY FUCK EARTHSIDE IS OPENING!!!!!

I saw the news of the single and album over the weekend, but didn't catch the tour announcement  :metal Definitely will go to that NYC show.

Jim mentioned to me at Progpower that they would have new music and a US tour soon so none of this is a surprise, but glad to see it's happening.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: cramx3 on November 15, 2023, 01:09:00 PM
Bought my ticket for NYC today, looks like they had two tiers of GA pricing for the same section, a cheaper one for those who buy early.  Like a $5 difference. But figured I'd scoop one of the cheaper prices now since I feel like I'll definitely attend and want these guys to get some good support which I feel like they may not get (I just honestly have no idea what the turn out would be like since they've never played NYC before).
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: lonestar on November 15, 2023, 02:13:31 PM
I'm going full VIP for this one.. They're doing a special VIP set like Tesseract did.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: axeman90210 on December 07, 2023, 07:59:49 AM
Another song from the new album dropped. I like this one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n59M9CvSnos
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: MinistroRaven on December 07, 2023, 09:35:23 AM
The album is available for REVIEW
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: twosuitsluke on December 07, 2023, 02:03:20 PM
Another song from the new album dropped. I like this one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n59M9CvSnos

Yea this is probably the best song they've put out since In Contact for me. How has that been 6 years?
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Fritzinger on December 18, 2023, 12:04:06 PM
I will interview Sam Vallen tomorrow night, do you guys have any questions you'd want me to ask him?
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: twosuitsluke on January 11, 2024, 06:13:48 AM
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qlIlXhxJWLM (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qlIlXhxJWLM)

New video for The Stormchaser. Album is shaping up to be pretty damn good.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Lonk on January 11, 2024, 06:29:28 AM
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qlIlXhxJWLM (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qlIlXhxJWLM)

New video for The Stormchaser. Album is shaping up to be pretty damn good.
Good stuff  :corn looking forward to this album. Damn, I might even end up going to their show
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: twosuitsluke on January 11, 2024, 06:37:53 AM
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qlIlXhxJWLM (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qlIlXhxJWLM)

New video for The Stormchaser. Album is shaping up to be pretty damn good.
Good stuff  :corn looking forward to this album. Damn, I might even end up going to their show

I've only seen them once, in a tiny venue, but well worth it. They closed with Graves which was an incredible moment.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: lonestar on January 11, 2024, 06:39:01 AM
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qlIlXhxJWLM (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qlIlXhxJWLM)

New video for The Stormchaser. Album is shaping up to be pretty damn good.
Good stuff  :corn looking forward to this album. Damn, I might even end up going to their show

I've only seen them once, in a tiny venue, but well worth it. They closed with Graves which was an incredible moment.

Can't fucking wait for this show, the venue is my favorite, that perfect combination of intimacy and killer sound.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Lonk on January 11, 2024, 06:42:44 AM
Local show is February 3, on a Saturday so that's not so bad, but location and venue are awful  :lol
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: cramx3 on January 11, 2024, 09:02:17 AM
Local show is February 3, on a Saturday so that's not so bad, but location and venue are awful  :lol

What?! I LOVE Gramercy Theater (as long as it's not sold out because then it feels like a fire hazard)  I have my ticket already. Location is also fine, maybe not the best but it's not terrible either.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qlIlXhxJWLM (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qlIlXhxJWLM)

New video for The Stormchaser. Album is shaping up to be pretty damn good.
Good stuff  :corn looking forward to this album. Damn, I might even end up going to their show

I've only seen them once, in a tiny venue, but well worth it. They closed with Graves which was an incredible moment.

Kind of crazy that I've seen them twice already, both at their US ProgPower shows and have met the band both times.  I'm very fortunate to be able to attend that festival for all the awesome memories.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Lonk on January 11, 2024, 10:13:22 AM
Idk, the few shows I've seen there have not been great  :lol I do like the seats on the back
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: cramx3 on January 11, 2024, 10:16:28 AM
Idk, the few shows I've seen there have not been great  :lol I do like the seats on the back

That's one of the reasons I like it, a lot of shows (not all) have open GA floor and seats so you have options.  I also just think it's one of those old school cool spots with all the posters on the walls and stuff from past concerts.  Just kind of has a cool club vibe (the capacity is 500). Also a venue with only one way in/out so you can hang outside to meet the bands some times. I've had a lot of good experiences there in 2023.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Samsara on January 12, 2024, 10:32:37 AM
Dug one of the new tunes. I honestly didn't even realize Caligua's Horse put out an album in 2020. I pre-ordered the new one. Debating if a Wednesday night in Berkeley is doable.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: lonestar on January 12, 2024, 10:42:50 AM
Dug one of the new tunes. I honestly didn't even realize Caligua's Horse put out an album in 2020. I pre-ordered the new one. Debating if a Wednesday night in Berkeley is doable.

Do it...it's a great venue.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Samsara on January 12, 2024, 12:22:21 PM
Dug one of the new tunes. I honestly didn't even realize Caligua's Horse put out an album in 2020. I pre-ordered the new one. Debating if a Wednesday night in Berkeley is doable.

Do it...it's a great venue.

Yeah, maybe. I just don't want to pull the trigger like I did for TesseracT and then can't go.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Jamesman42 on January 12, 2024, 06:18:19 PM
The last posted song and video are awesome.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: King Puppies and the Acid Guppies on January 12, 2024, 06:33:17 PM
Dug one of the new tunes. I honestly didn't even realize Caligua's Horse put out an album in 2020. I pre-ordered the new one. Debating if a Wednesday night in Berkeley is doable.

Do it...it's a great venue.
I was going to go to the Berkeley show, but my wife and I are going to be on a work trip that week in LA, so now I'm going to the LA show the night before! Funny how that works out  :lol
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: lonestar on January 12, 2024, 07:04:44 PM
So close....
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: King Puppies and the Acid Guppies on January 12, 2024, 07:24:08 PM
I know right? I was thinking, maybe I'll run into RJ at the show  :metal
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: MinistroRaven on January 15, 2024, 08:08:28 AM
I will interview Sam Vallen tomorrow night, do you guys have any questions you'd want me to ask him?

Hey buddy, we published your interview today (video and transcript). I really LOVED this one, it was like Sam was so into it that he could have talked for hours.

https://lotsofmuzik.com/an-exclusive-interview-with-sam-vallen-of-caligulas-horse/

 :metal
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Fritzinger on January 18, 2024, 10:37:20 PM
I will interview Sam Vallen tomorrow night, do you guys have any questions you'd want me to ask him?

Hey buddy, we published your interview today (video and transcript). I really LOVED this one, it was like Sam was so into it that he could have talked for hours.

https://lotsofmuzik.com/an-exclusive-interview-with-sam-vallen-of-caligulas-horse/

 :metal

Yeah it was really fun talking with Sam. He is a very interesting character and fantastic musician. And he knows SO much about music  :lol I love that he wrote a dissertation just about harmonic vocabulary of Steely Dan music. Not to mention his 300 pages strong doctorate (really interesting read for anyone interested in progressive rock by the way).

Besides, the new album is fantastic. Sets the bar very high for upcoming albums in 2024.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: me7 on January 25, 2024, 09:23:27 AM
New album is out via VPN. Impressed on first listen. This has the most prominent "Arcane vibes" of any CH record yet.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: twosuitsluke on January 25, 2024, 10:34:21 AM
New album is out via VPN. Impressed on first listen. This has the most prominent "Arcane vibes" of any CH record yet.

Looking forward to it! I'll be spinning Alkaline Trio's new one at midnight but Charcoal Grace will be my first spin in the morning.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: cramx3 on January 25, 2024, 10:44:56 AM
I'll be listening but maybe not until the weekend, but I certainly need to get many listens in before the show next week  :metal

The singles were all good so my expectations are fairly high.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: MinistroRaven on January 25, 2024, 02:26:34 PM
Fritzinger album review
https://lotsofmuzik.com/caligulas-horse-charcoal-grace-album-review-by-friedrich-christian-stenzel/
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: Jamesman42 on January 25, 2024, 07:10:21 PM
New album 'Charcoal Grace' comes out January 26th.



Oh shit, this is tomorrow! I didn't realize, someone needs to update the thread title.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: Lonk on January 26, 2024, 06:13:25 AM
Listening now  :corn

Edit: That was pretty good. I'll need to give it a couple more spins but as of right now, this is competing for my favorite CH's album.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: me7 on January 26, 2024, 07:55:27 AM
After three spins, I'd call it mind-blowing. Golem is easily the least interesting song on the album and even it is still great.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: ariich on January 26, 2024, 08:27:55 AM
Not sure about favourite as I don't feel (so far) that it's as vibrant and colourful as In Contact, but definitely a great album. The Charcoal Grace suite especially is so good.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: goo-goo on January 26, 2024, 08:51:11 AM
Liking it more than Rise Radiant. Very promising release but need a few more spins.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: lonestar on January 26, 2024, 11:48:08 AM
Digging into my first full spin, loving what I'm hearing.


Wondering, I'd imagine they'll play the title suite, do you all think that'll bump Graves from the potential setlist?
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: cramx3 on January 26, 2024, 12:07:24 PM
Digging into my first full spin, loving what I'm hearing.


Wondering, I'd imagine they'll play the title suite, do you all think that'll bump Graves from the potential setlist?

Not sure.  Being that it's their first US tour, you'd think they might want to play it.... but there's only so much room in the set.  I've got to imagine they also want to focus on the new stuff.  They played Graves at both previous US shows at Progpower.  I think it takes a back seat here, but just my guess.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: Crow on January 26, 2024, 12:17:25 PM
listened to about half of this to confirm that this band is no longer for me :lol
idk. it's. definitely a prog metal album released in 2024. i didn't like the new haken last year either but at least they were trying things on it, kinda. CH's sound hasn't progressed an inch since their debut, somehow, and it's reeeally been getting tired on these last few albums (i include in contact in that sorry fans. could even include bloom bcuz honestly nothing they've done since the sophomore album has ever really wowed me. except graves graves is pretty good ig)

it is very funny that i was so far ahead of the curve with this band and now i do not care about them at all, i suppose :corn

...does anyone wanna make a new thread so i don't have to be stuck as the OPr?  :lol
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: me7 on January 26, 2024, 12:48:51 PM
It's fine that it doesn't connect with you, but this album is for from a stagnation. I think it's the biggest leap forward since Tide, Thief & River.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: King Puppies and the Acid Guppies on January 26, 2024, 01:05:26 PM
It's fine that it doesn't connect with you, but this album is for from a stagnation. I think it's the biggest leap forward since Tide, Thief & River.
From my first listen, I would have to agree with this. They've finally made some progress in their sound. They spent too long trying to perfect a certain sound, which I think they peaked with on In Contact and then they tried to recapture that magic on Rise Radiant, but stumbled by trying to sound too much like modern rock/metal.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: Crow on January 26, 2024, 02:28:16 PM
...if there's any progression i don't hear it, then  :lol lots of the same modern prog metal sounds i've heard before and the same kinds of riffs, hooks, solos they've had since the very beginning, idk man :lol
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: mike099 on January 26, 2024, 06:14:57 PM
I really am considering going to the Nashville show.  Have not listened to the new album, but Earthside is opening and I love their new album.  Also a plus the show is on a Saturday night.

Edit: First spin of Charcoal Grace and solid album.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: Fritzinger on January 27, 2024, 09:31:11 AM
...if there's any progression i don't hear it, then  :lol lots of the same modern prog metal sounds i've heard before and the same kinds of riffs, hooks, solos they've had since the very beginning, idk man :lol

Wat  :lol

It's totally fine if you don't like it but there is plenty of progression in their catalogue. The difference between Radiant and Charcoal alone is huge. And I think their sound has become a lot more refined and organized compared to the overloaded and a little immature debut.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: Buddyhunter1 on January 27, 2024, 09:55:47 AM
As someone who doesn't even listen to this band this exchange is amusing because everyone on the side of the album being a big leap / departure for them is giving zero examples why. :lol
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: cramx3 on January 27, 2024, 10:20:40 AM
Just bought the album, but haven't listened. I didn't feel like the singles were a departure from their sound and style. I'm going to guess the album really isn't too different but maybe just a better album. That's fine by me. Bands don't need to "progress" if they keep pumping out good music IMO. I liked Rise Radiant more than some here it seems so I really expect to like this one a lot. I'm just not sure I care about progression in this case.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: me7 on January 27, 2024, 10:28:43 AM
Their music has become denser and more layered over time. This album takes a step back but in a very deliberate way. The music is often sparser, but the quota of modulations and rhythmic changes that give me goosebumps is higher than on any previous album. Some sections (and the singles "Golem" and to a lesser extent "World breaths with me") are of course very familiar, but the Charcoal Grace suite in particular is a new kind of beast.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: King Puppies and the Acid Guppies on January 27, 2024, 11:01:59 AM
As someone who doesn't even listen to this band this exchange is amusing because everyone on the side of the album being a big leap / departure for them is giving zero examples why. :lol
Oh, I never said it was a big departure from their overall sound. It isn't. I was just pointing out that the band seemed to stagnate with Rise Radiant and this new album I can finally see some progression. It's nothing earth-shattering, but it is progress. At least to my ears... :corn
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: Buddyhunter1 on January 27, 2024, 11:09:42 AM
As someone who doesn't even listen to this band this exchange is amusing because everyone on the side of the album being a big leap / departure for them is giving zero examples why. :lol
Oh, I never said it was a big departure from their overall sound. It isn't. I was just pointing out that the band seemed to stagnate with Rise Radiant and this new album I can finally see some progression. It's nothing earth-shattering, but it is progress. At least to my ears... :corn

Such as? You're just reinforcing my observation. :lol
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: King Puppies and the Acid Guppies on January 27, 2024, 11:30:59 AM
As someone who doesn't even listen to this band this exchange is amusing because everyone on the side of the album being a big leap / departure for them is giving zero examples why. :lol
Oh, I never said it was a big departure from their overall sound. It isn't. I was just pointing out that the band seemed to stagnate with Rise Radiant and this new album I can finally see some progression. It's nothing earth-shattering, but it is progress. At least to my ears... :corn

Such as? You're just reinforcing my observation. :lol
:lol
I need some more time with the album so I can properly collect my thoughts.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: King Postwhore on January 27, 2024, 11:33:09 AM
Seeing them this Friday.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: Crow on January 27, 2024, 11:37:16 AM
buddy i think you care about this more than i do  :lol
i only commented at all because i am annoyingly still the thread owner :P
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: twosuitsluke on January 27, 2024, 11:40:09 AM
All I know is that I didn't really like Rise Radiant (it was just very underwhelming), but I do like Charcoal Grace. Their progression writing better songs.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: mike099 on January 27, 2024, 04:43:00 PM
Just listened to The Tide, The Thief and Rivers End after listening to Charcoal Grace
and feel the tide, thief and rivers is more interesting.  I will be purchasing this one tonight.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: lonestar on January 27, 2024, 08:41:44 PM
After a few listens, the one thing I can firmly say is they HAVE to play Mute. God I love that song.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: Jamesman42 on January 28, 2024, 09:39:50 AM
After a few listens, the one thing I can firmly say is they HAVE to play Mute. God I love that song.

Haven't listened to the whole album yet, but yeah this song is great. Thanks for pointing it out for me.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: Fritzinger on January 28, 2024, 10:33:06 PM
As someone who doesn't even listen to this band this exchange is amusing because everyone on the side of the album being a big leap / departure for them is giving zero examples why. :lol

I did  :tup

Fritzinger album review
https://lotsofmuzik.com/caligulas-horse-charcoal-grace-album-review-by-friedrich-christian-stenzel/
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: hefdaddy42 on January 29, 2024, 09:15:51 AM
Several years removed from the last time I listened to any Caligula's Horse.

Midway through the new album, and this is very impressive.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: Nachtmerrie on January 29, 2024, 12:46:13 PM
After a first casual listen yesterday the album sounded pretty interesting.
Second listen today in the car. Musically it´s pretty impressive with beautiful melodies all over the album, especially the guitars stand out. Vocals kind of ruin it for me. I remember the vocalist having quite some punch but this feels like he´s in the same higher tones almost the whole album.

Might be perception or the quality of my car stereo. I´ll give it another try.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: cramx3 on January 29, 2024, 12:51:07 PM
Gave a couple listens over the weekend and a few more today.  I still very much need more listens.  Theses songs have a lot of depth that I'm not immediately connecting with. (that's not necessarily a bad thing, nor a good thing, just a more time thing). I do enoy it overall though, but if I had to judge it so far, I'd say it's my least favorite album of theirs though.  BUT like I said, I need more listens to really "get" some of these longer and denser songs.  I didn't listen to the singles too much either so rally other than Golem, I need a lot of digestion and more listens. 
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: romdrums on January 29, 2024, 01:24:37 PM
listened to about half of this to confirm that this band is no longer for me :lol
idk. it's. definitely a prog metal album released in 2024. i didn't like the new haken last year either but at least they were trying things on it, kinda. CH's sound hasn't progressed an inch since their debut, somehow, and it's reeeally been getting tired on these last few albums (i include in contact in that sorry fans. could even include bloom bcuz honestly nothing they've done since the sophomore album has ever really wowed me. except graves graves is pretty good ig)

it is very funny that i was so far ahead of the curve with this band and now i do not care about them at all, i suppose :corn

...does anyone wanna make a new thread so i don't have to be stuck as the OPr?  :lol

I listened to this album on my lunch break, and while I definitely need a few more listens for it to sink in, there was some immediate things that I noticed. Regarding the production, mix, riffs, etc. I think these songs would be better if they didn't resort to djeneric djent riffage and that one drum sound that nearly everyone uses. The Images and Words snare sound sucked in 1992, why keep using it in 2024? It sounds to me like the drums were quantized and gridded to death, and the natural drum sounds were replaced with whatever GetGoodDrums or SlateTrigger5 presets are hot right now. Many of the songs sound like a simpler Haken with a better vocalist, which is what really turned me off about Rise Radiant.

That said, I think there are lot of interesting ideas being presented, especially on Charcoal Grace pt II. Golem is pretty cool as well. As I said, I think I need some more time to listen to this a few more times to really form an opinion.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: NoFred on January 29, 2024, 08:29:30 PM
I will interview Sam Vallen tomorrow night, do you guys have any questions you'd want me to ask him?

Hey buddy, we published your interview today (video and transcript). I really LOVED this one, it was like Sam was so into it that he could have talked for hours.

https://lotsofmuzik.com/an-exclusive-interview-with-sam-vallen-of-caligulas-horse/

 :metal

Yeah it was really fun talking with Sam. He is a very interesting character and fantastic musician. And he knows SO much about music  :lol I love that he wrote a dissertation just about harmonic vocabulary of Steely Dan music. Not to mention his 300 pages strong doctorate (really interesting read for anyone interested in progressive rock by the way).

Besides, the new album is fantastic. Sets the bar very high for upcoming albums in 2024.

The interview was really refreshing for some reason, Sam’s enthusiasm really shone through. Thanks for that.

First few listens of the album I’m loving The World Breathes With Me. That’s something new for them that also includes that secret “somber optimism” they convey in their melody and lyric writing.

Mute is beautiful too, given its high regard in reviews I expected their best song ever and it almost is. Sounds like The Ascent pt 2 to me, in fact I’m thinking The Ascent followed by Mute is a complete work, hope they’re both on next setlist (will be there to see them in a couple of weeks). Not sure it can be their best cause Songs for no one exists… maybe musically less complex but wins on account of how big and earnest it is.

Listened to the title track/epic but not too closely yet, still digging the first and last tracks more. One of those works that will have to grow with time.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: lonestar on January 29, 2024, 08:51:49 PM
My ideal set would be to have Mute open, Charcoal Grace close, and Graves as an encore. Fill in the rest as needed.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: me7 on January 30, 2024, 02:48:20 AM
Surprised to hear that someone doesn't like the vocals. Jim's performance here made me shed a tear or two.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: cramx3 on January 30, 2024, 08:07:11 AM
Surprised to hear that someone doesn't like the vocals. Jim's performance here made me shed a tear or two.

His vocals are the best part.

I've listened to the Charcoal Grace song both on my way home last night and way into work today to give it some dedicated listens since I really need more concentrated listens. It's not clicking.  The rest of the album is pretty good, top end CH it seems, but the title track is not doing it for me.  The last part clearly has the "break out" section and I do enjoy it, but the build up isn't working for me, at least not yet.  Also, it sounds VERY familiar.  I'm starting to actually agree with Crow here, the album is actually a bit too familiar to me.  I still need lots more listens and I think my opinion can change though.

Still very much looking forward to the show on Saturday.  My coworker just called out saying he has the flu though, hopefully I didn't catch it yesterday though because that'll ruin everything.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: NoseofNicko on January 30, 2024, 09:21:18 PM
Blind-bought Charcoal Grace and I’m really loving it! Before that my only experience with the band was listening to Rise Radiant once and enjoying it but I’ve relistened to it and I’ve listened to the previous 2 albums and all I can say is what a fantastic band! Love their unpredictable chord progressions.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: Jamesman42 on January 31, 2024, 04:33:03 AM
One listen in - this album seems like it's going to be great, but I need more listens.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: cramx3 on January 31, 2024, 08:12:45 AM
The title track has grown on me with a couple more listens since my last post.  Specifically parts 3 and 4 are great.  1 is solid, 2 is where my disconnect still lays, but once again, I think more listens will help.  Thinking, The World Breathes With Me, Mute, and Golem may be my favorite songs in that order, but still early.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant, May 22nd!
Post by: cramx3 on January 31, 2024, 01:29:02 PM
I will interview Sam Vallen tomorrow night, do you guys have any questions you'd want me to ask him?

Hey buddy, we published your interview today (video and transcript). I really LOVED this one, it was like Sam was so into it that he could have talked for hours.

https://lotsofmuzik.com/an-exclusive-interview-with-sam-vallen-of-caligulas-horse/

 :metal

Watched this today.  Good interview.  Sadly he noted Mute would be hard to play live which makes me doubt it will be played this tour.  Who knows, he did also say its his favorite track so maybe they will put the effort into making it work live. 

Also, he noted how the title track he wanted it to be different individual songs that stood on their own and stood as one full song, and I'm starting to wonder after hearing that if that's why I'm struggling to enjoy it the way I would have expected to.  I think the separate tracks don't stand too well on their own and also don't stand too well as a whole.  I do enjoy the song, it's just got parts that I really love and it as a whole seems to be a bit incohesive though. I kind of hope they don't play this one live this tour, unless they did sort of a sandwich thing how DT did with ACOS on the live album so I could catch my favorite parts of it without having to take a full 26 minutes of the set.

Well, we should find out soon enough though, hopefully someone shares the setlist tonight.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: lonestar on January 31, 2024, 01:32:50 PM
Interesting comment on Mute, and kind of bums me that there's a chance it won't be played. If they don't play it, I better be getting Graves...
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: cramx3 on January 31, 2024, 01:38:35 PM
Interesting comment on Mute, and kind of bums me that there's a chance it won't be played. If they don't play it, I better be getting Graves...

Well, the "chance it wont be played" comes from my comment on him saying it would be difficult.  It was actually a really interesting discussion point about writing songs and figuring out how to play them live afterwards.  It seemed like he thinks its possible to make the necessary adjustments, but who knows.  I have to think the positive response to the song might be a reason for them to make it work live. 

Kind of like how Avenged Sevenfold didn't do Cosmic live yet.  It's a challenging song to do live and they did not expect the fans to go wild for it on release.  They said they will eventually play it now because of the fan reaction and that they've been practicing it.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: Dr. DTVT on January 31, 2024, 08:42:43 PM
What is their best song?  I have all their albums, and nothing has ever stuck after listening and I haven’t ever felt like I have to replay a song or part of a song because it got my attention.  As far as I’m concerned their best song isn’t as good as Haken’s 25th beat song.  They are playing near me next week at a venue I really like, and so far I haven’t convinced myself to buy a ticket.  Convince me please, or at least add some value to my purchases.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: King Puppies and the Acid Guppies on January 31, 2024, 08:47:48 PM
What is their best song?  I have all their albums, and nothing has ever stuck after listening and I haven’t ever felt like I have to replay a song or part of a song because it got my attention.  As far as I’m concerned their best song isn’t as good as Haken’s 25th beat song.  They are playing near me next week at a venue I really like, and so far I haven’t convinced myself to buy a ticket.  Convince me please, or at least add some value to my purchases.
For me their best song is probably Graves. Although Marigold and Dream the Dead are also amazing songs.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: lonestar on January 31, 2024, 08:51:21 PM
Yeah, I'd hold Graves up against any Haken track.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: axeman90210 on January 31, 2024, 09:11:59 PM
Graves, Rust, Turntail, and Songs for No One are my favorites.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: Jamesman42 on February 01, 2024, 03:55:41 AM
Turntail and Firelight are awesome, I got them in my roulette a while ago. I also got Graves and I think it's good but not as good as those first two.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: mike099 on February 01, 2024, 07:40:10 AM
Interesting comment on Mute, and kind of bums me that there's a chance it won't be played. If they don't play it, I better be getting Graves...
Not sure how reliable setlistfm is, but shows they played Mute and Graves last night
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: cramx3 on February 01, 2024, 08:04:04 AM
Interesting comment on Mute, and kind of bums me that there's a chance it won't be played. If they don't play it, I better be getting Graves...
Not sure how reliable setlistfm is, but shows they played Mute and Graves last night

Yeah, that set seems legit. It's basically what they played at Progpower last year swapping some new songs in with the older.  Solid set list for the first time in the US.  Glad to see Mute made the cut.  Book ending the main set with the new songs makes sense to me.  Can't wait for Saturday
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: lonestar on February 01, 2024, 08:42:48 AM
Very pleased with the set, finishing with Mute and Graves will be amazing
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: twosuitsluke on February 01, 2024, 08:53:23 AM
I agree with almost all the above comments about best songs, with Graves being my number 1.

The one time I saw them, they closed with Graves, and it really was an incredible moment.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: cramx3 on February 01, 2024, 12:39:03 PM
Don't see any youtube videos from last night.  I'd love nothing more than to have the first captures of the new music live on Saturday. 

I noticed from a picture of last night that it didn't look very packed.  And for the NYC show, they haven't sold out of the "tier 1" pricing tickets which makes me think the venue is going to be fairly empty (500 capacity).  I hope that means they don't block off the back seats because that's the best spot to get good video for me. And more importantly, I hope that this tour ends up being successful.  I want them to be able to come back and consistently.

Listened to some Earthside today, not my thing, but I can see how some might like it and how CH fans may enjoy it too.  Just too instrumental for my tastes.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: hefdaddy42 on February 01, 2024, 12:45:50 PM
What is their best song?  I have all their albums, and nothing has ever stuck after listening and I haven’t ever felt like I have to replay a song or part of a song because it got my attention.
Why in the world do you keep buying their albums?  Stop it and put your money somewhere else.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: Dr. DTVT on February 01, 2024, 06:00:44 PM
What is their best song?  I have all their albums, and nothing has ever stuck after listening and I haven’t ever felt like I have to replay a song or part of a song because it got my attention.
Why in the world do you keep buying their albums?  Stop it and put your money somewhere else.

I have 93 board games about “stock trading and running train companies”.  I clearly have issues.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: Jamesman42 on February 01, 2024, 06:02:13 PM
DTVT isn't a mad scientist for no reason.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: King Postwhore on February 01, 2024, 06:07:24 PM
What is their best song?  I have all their albums, and nothing has ever stuck after listening and I haven’t ever felt like I have to replay a song or part of a song because it got my attention.
Why in the world do you keep buying their albums?  Stop it and put your money somewhere else.

I have 93 board games about “stock trading and running train companies”.  I clearly have issues.

We know but you hug the best and are a perfect roommate and friends. Mad hugs
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: Dr. DTVT on February 01, 2024, 06:41:36 PM
Actually, it turns out I didn’t have the album with Graves on it.  But I just got a big fat bonus, so I’ll probably go assuming an impending family matter doesn’t happen.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: Mebert78 on February 03, 2024, 04:10:18 PM
Just arrived in NYC for the show at Gramercy Theater. Fingers crossed they play "The Ascent." It's one of my favorite songs by any band ever.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: King Postwhore on February 03, 2024, 04:29:02 PM
Saw them last night. Huge out with Earthside. Guys in Mile Marker Zero asked to say hello. They were happy to hear that.

(https://i.postimg.cc/QCpXXCCQ/20240202-225546.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/jnSVcsz2)
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: mike099 on February 03, 2024, 08:21:25 PM
Saw them last night. Huge out with Earthside. Guys in Mile Marker Zero asked to say hello. They were happy to hear that.

(https://i.postimg.cc/QCpXXCCQ/20240202-225546.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/jnSVcsz2)
How was Earthside live?  Loving the new album, especially the tune Watching the Earth Sink.  Those drums!
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: King Postwhore on February 04, 2024, 06:09:33 AM
Always great. This was my 2nd time seeing them live.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: Jamesman42 on February 04, 2024, 06:48:39 AM
This is a dense album after a couple of listens.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: cramx3 on February 04, 2024, 10:33:44 AM
Earthside has some pretty wild stage energy for a band of their style.  Definitely a better live band than I thought going in.  Probably still not music I love, but I can appreciate it a lot more after seeing the performance.  The backing track vocals stinks in a live setting, but makes sense here and it felt like the vocals are hardly the lead for their overall sound and style, more complimentary to the music, at least that's how it felt to me. 

Caligula's Horse were incredible.  A ton of energy and excitement in the room last night.  I'll share more thoughts later, here's some video (and my long form video will be up later today, just have family stuff delaying me a bit):

Caligula's Horse - The World Breathes With Me LIVE @ Gramercy Theater New York City NY 2/3/2024 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY3r-mmdkkU)

Caligula's Horse - Mute LIVE @ Gramercy Theater New York City NY 2/3/2024 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cSrrBxvjjc)
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: MinistroRaven on February 05, 2024, 09:39:05 AM
cramx3 thank you very much for there excellent review of the show at NY last February 3rd.

https://lotsofmuzik.com/caligulas-horse-concert-review-by-cramx3-february-3rd-at-gramercy-theater-new-york-city-ny/

 :metal
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: cramx3 on February 05, 2024, 12:44:57 PM
cramx3 thank you very much for there excellent review of the show at NY last February 3rd.

https://lotsofmuzik.com/caligulas-horse-concert-review-by-cramx3-february-3rd-at-gramercy-theater-new-york-city-ny/

 :metal

Thanks for setting it up, this was a lot of fun  :metal

No need for me to write out anything more, it's all there, but here's a picture and my full video (with A LOT of footage)

Caligula's Horse & Earthside LIVE @ Gramercy Theater New York City 2024 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awRWCAsda6Q)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GFlUhvMWoAEVEkt?format=jpg&name=large)

^ this guy is funny AF.  The crowd engagements were some of the best I've seen.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: me7 on February 05, 2024, 12:55:02 PM
Great videos, thanks
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: Glasser on February 06, 2024, 09:41:46 AM
I love this album but the vocals are too low in the mix, I don't understand how it wasn't noticed or if was intentional, why?
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: Mebert78 on February 06, 2024, 09:56:27 AM
I love this album but the vocals are too low in the mix, I don't understand how it wasn't noticed or if was intentional, why?

I've felt that way too in spots, as well as during the concert in NYC.  I felt like the vocals weren't cutting through the music.  Jim was singing in a soft voice over loud parts and I couldn't really hear him at times during the show. 
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: goo-goo on February 06, 2024, 01:39:33 PM
Do you guys know if they are selling like signed vinyls (and which ones)? Shirts?
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: cramx3 on February 06, 2024, 01:44:39 PM
Do you guys know if they are selling like signed vinyls (and which ones)? Shirts?

Actually didn't get a great look at the merch to answer this.  I know they sold shirts and vinyl though, not sure if any of the vinyl were signed or which ones.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: Glasser on February 06, 2024, 07:52:13 PM
Do you guys know if they are selling like signed vinyls (and which ones)? Shirts?

Actually didn't get a great look at the merch to answer this.  I know they sold shirts and vinyl though, not sure if any of the vinyl were signed or which ones.

Were they selling the new Myrath cd?  :lol
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: Mebert78 on February 08, 2024, 10:46:42 AM
Just wondering if anyone knows the meaning behind the cover artwork and album title?
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: Evermind on February 08, 2024, 11:12:00 AM
Just wondering if anyone knows the meaning behind the cover artwork and album title?

Sam Vallen elaborated on the album title in the interview with Fritzinger for LotsOfMuzik:

Quote
LOM: Can you tell us a little about what the album title means? As a non-native English speaker, I would love to hear a little bit about that.

SV: I see it’s probably a weird one in that regard. “Charcoal Grace” in one sense is a very abstract title. It is supposed to be something that uses language in a poetic way to just make you think of something, to make your mind go somewhere it might not normally. In the song “Vigil”, the third part of the “Charcoal Grace” suite we use the words charcoal grace as a personification of silence. If you literally deconstruct the word “charcoal grace”, you’ve got “charcoal”, like the end of something, the final result (if you want to be really literal) of a fire. And “grace”, the idea of being elegant and being poised. So, the idea is that there is a beauty in stillness, a beauty in silence, a sense of spaciousness in silence. But there is also, in that same silence, a kind of grimness, a kind of darkness to it. We really wanted it to be a title that (although I just deconstructed it probably more than I would personally like) is supposed to be thought-provoking. Hopefully it gives you a good sense of the silence we’re talking about, particularly in that song suite, but more so something that you could probably read a bunch of other ways that maybe even I’m not anticipating.

The interview was posted earlier in the thread:

I will interview Sam Vallen tomorrow night, do you guys have any questions you'd want me to ask him?

Hey buddy, we published your interview today (video and transcript). I really LOVED this one, it was like Sam was so into it that he could have talked for hours.

https://lotsofmuzik.com/an-exclusive-interview-with-sam-vallen-of-caligulas-horse/

 :metal
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: Mladen on February 09, 2024, 03:17:50 AM
I can see that a lot of listeners have a hard time getting into the title suite and I can relate, it's not clicking with me. The rest of the album is really good, though. The opener is my favorite, Mute is close, but the guys are nailing the shorter songs once again, just like it was the case on Rise radiant. Golem is a hit, Sails is a grower. Nice album overall.  :tup
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: cramx3 on February 09, 2024, 07:16:34 AM
I can see that a lot of listeners have a hard time getting into the title suite and I can relate, it's not clicking with me. The rest of the album is really good, though. The opener is my favorite, Mute is close, but the guys are nailing the shorter songs once again, just like it was the case on Rise radiant. Golem is a hit, Sails is a grower. Nice album overall.  :tup

Basically exactly how I feel.  I kind of gave up on trying to "get" the title track and just accept that it's a decent song with some great parts, but not a great epic as a whole.  That's OK, the rest of the album is killer.  And after seeing some of these songs live, it just re-confirmed my opinion that The World Breathes With Me is the best song on the album and maybe better than anything on Rise Radiant as well. I can't stop listening to that song.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: hefdaddy42 on February 09, 2024, 07:29:03 AM
I can see that a lot of listeners have a hard time getting into the title suite and I can relate, it's not clicking with me.
I've definitely seen this around a bit.  I didn't feel that way at all.  I wonder if my long hiatus away from listening to the band has anything to do with that?
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: lonestar on February 21, 2024, 07:57:51 AM
Show tonight!!!
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: lonestar on February 22, 2024, 01:05:33 AM
Damn... Won't be forgetting that show anytime soon. Graves live is an easy top ten all time song, and the Berkeley crowd was fucking insane, such a huge pit rolling most of the evening. What a fucking blast.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: TheHoveringSojourn808 on February 24, 2024, 06:51:33 PM
trying their debut. never listened to this band before
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: me7 on February 25, 2024, 02:01:32 AM
The debut is underdeveloped. But the first track is stellar and representative of things to come.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: Jamesman42 on February 25, 2024, 11:32:25 AM
trying their debut. never listened to this band before

The two songs that hooked me are Firelight and Turntail.

Graves is also great.

Off the new album, The Stormchaser is really good.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: TheHoveringSojourn808 on February 25, 2024, 06:13:10 PM
i've been listening to everything. good stuff! i think my favorite so far is In Contact
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: NoFred on February 25, 2024, 08:10:53 PM
i've been listening to everything. good stuff! i think my favorite so far is In Contact

Songs for No One is my hype song… play it before all of my work meetings it goes big and keeps going.

Saw them a couple of weeks ago - The World Breathes With Me and Mute are both great additions from their latest. Graves doesn’t grab me much though.
Title: Re: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace, out now!
Post by: mikemangioy on February 27, 2024, 02:03:56 AM
after a few spins, charcoal grace is solidifying as their most dark and mature record to date, which is astonishing considering the back catalogue. got the tickets for milan and it's going to be my first VIP experience ever!!