Mike Portnoy's "Prog Metal" supergroup: Sons of Apollo

[erwinrafael]

I listened to the two songs.

What a disappoonting way to waste Jeff Scott Soto's voice.

[ErHaO]

I actually really like both songs but agree that it is not like DT-esque prog metal at all thus far, which the samples and marketing led us believe. I also agree it does sound like Amob, but more like the band I wished Amob was (despite me enjoying some of their material, especially the debut). What I have heard of SoA has more groove and much better instrumental aspects.

[Adami]

Is it just me or is the guitar barely audible when he's not playing a lead of some kind? I can seem him playing heavy riffs, but all I hear is bass.

[Bertielee]

Is it just me or is the guitar barely audible when he's not playing a lead of some kind? I can seem him playing heavy riffs, but all I hear is bass.

No, it's not just you. Can't hear the guitars either except when the lead instruments.

As for SoA being presented as the alternative to DT : no way! They're not just in the same league if we judge from the 2 songs released. When you build up such a hype, you have to live up to that hype or else, you're bound to be really disappointing. At best, it is a hard-rock band, which is not bad per se, but nothing I have heard so far can be deemed as prog metal.

B.Lee

[Polarbear]

I fail to see why this band is still a target of such controversy here, but whatever.
I don't see the AMob or Winery Dogs comparisons either..

To me they sound like so many other "prog metal light" bands out there. Circus Maximus, Pagans Mind, Anubis Gate, later era Sym X or even DT to some extent. I don't know what people were expecting out of this, but i went in without expectations and i quite enjoyed the two songs released so far..

But yeah, i think this is going to be nothing revolutionary but enjoyable still..

[RodrigoAltaf]

I fail to see why this band is still a target of such controversy here, but whatever.
I don't see the AMob or Winery Dogs comparisons either..

To me they sound like so many other "prog metal light" bands out there. Circus Maximus, Pagans Mind, Anubis Gate, later era Sym X or even DT to some extent. I don't know what people were expecting out of this, but i went in without expectations and i quite enjoyed the two songs released so far..

But yeah, i think this is going to be nothing revolutionary but enjoyable still..

That's it!!!

[wolfking]

I thought that new song was pretty cool.  I wish Portnoy would shut up though, leave it to JSS mate.  His backups are so subpar in this.

[KevShmev]

Is it just me or is the guitar barely audible when he's not playing a lead of some kind? I can seem him playing heavy riffs, but all I hear is bass.

So, Stumblebum is their John Myung! "We can see him playing something, but we just can't hear it!"

[The Walrus]

I fail to see why this band is still a target of such controversy here, but whatever.
I don't see the AMob or Winery Dogs comparisons either..

To me they sound like so many other "prog metal light" bands out there. Circus Maximus, Pagans Mind, Anubis Gate, later era Sym X or even DT to some extent. I don't know what people were expecting out of this, but i went in without expectations and i quite enjoyed the two songs released so far..

But yeah, i think this is going to be nothing revolutionary but enjoyable still..

I think that's giving far too much credit to SoA. I don't hear a lick of CM, PM, AG, or even latter day Symphony X.

I've noticed Derek has been telling people he'd like to hear their original music after they're done 'flipping burgers.' Has he always been a giant asshole?

[Metro]

I've noticed Derek has been telling people he'd like to hear their original music after they're done 'flipping burgers.' Has he always been a giant asshole?

Where did he say that? I'm looking at his Twitter and Facebook and I don't see that anywhere. Based on his recent behavior I wouldn't really be surprised though.


To me this whole project screams "Mid-Life Crisis".

[KevShmev]

I am sure he thinks this is just rock and roll swagger, which is not surprising given that he is a huge fan of Kiss (assholes) and Van Halen (Roth and EVH are two of the biggest douchebags in rock history), but it just comes off as condescending and will just piss off his target audience (which isn't that big in the first place).  I mean, a 50-year old man is that really worried about swagger and acting tough.

Can someone please knock some sense into Portnoy and tell him to focus mainly on Neal Morse Band and Flying Colors?

[King Postwhore]

How how does he know that my burger cooking skills is not better than his song?

[The Walrus]

 

[KevShmev]

How how does he know that my burger cooking skills is not better than his song?

 

If your burger is bland and forgettable, it is then at least Coming Home's equal.

[KevShmev]

Had a brief convo last night about this with my older brother (who loves DT, TA, NMB, Flying Colors), which went like this:

Brother: You heard that new song by the new band Portnoy and Sherinian are in?

Me: Yeah. It's not that good.

Brother: That singer is awful. 

Me: He's okay, but the music is just bland.

Brother: I'm out already.

 

[ozzy554]

Had a brief convo last night about this with my older brother (who loves DT, TA, NMB, Flying Colors), which went like this:

Brother: You heard that new song by the new band Portnoy and Sherinian are in?

Me: Yeah. It's not that good.

Brother: That singer is awful. 

Me: He's okay, but the music is just bland.

Brother: I'm out already.

 

It does sound like JSS is being restrained. Even at his age he is still capable of so much more than he is showing on these two songs.

[King Postwhore]

BTW, I'm glad JSS isn't singing the typical operatic metal singer style.

[noxon]

Of course JSS has been restrained. He used to sing with Journey, ffs. JSS was put at that register by one of the producers of the album, who also has been very vocal about "anus puckering vocals" on twitter. Not naming names.

[erwinrafael]

Heck, JSS' vocals in these two singles do not even match JSS' vocals in his own recently-released single two weeks ago.

[Madman Shepherd]

Of course JSS has been restrained. He used to sing with Journey, ffs. JSS was put at that register by one of the producers of the album, who also has been very vocal about "anus puckering vocals" on twitter. Not naming names.

Had Soto gotten his way he may have had more diversity in his singing. In one of the introduction videos, Derek and he joke about almost coming to blows. While they were laughing in that one, in another interview, I can't remember which one, somebody admitted it got pretty heated when it came to recording vocals

[MinistroRaven]

I am sure he thinks this is just rock and roll swagger, which is not surprising given that he is a huge fan of Kiss (assholes) and Van Halen (Roth and EVH are two of the biggest douchebags in rock history), but it just comes off as condescending and will just piss off his target audience (which isn't that big in the first place).  I mean, a 50-year old man is that really worried about swagger and acting tough.

Can someone please knock some sense into Portnoy and tell him to focus mainly on Neal Morse Band and Flying Colors?

Can’t find where Derek posted that! If you guys could direct me that would be awesome

[WheyWaffles]

It does sound like JSS is being restrained. Even at his age he is still capable of so much more than he is showing on these two songs.

Jeff: How was that, Mike?

MP: Needs more balls, needs to be more badass.

Jeff: Like this?...

MP: Shh, this is my gratuitous backing vocal spot no one wants to hear.

[Ravenfoul]

It sounds alright to me. Slightly better than Amob stuff, but I'm waiting to be wow'd by some actual prog stuff. Like I really hope I'm not being misled here, I'm not expecting dream theater but DS solo work is way more proggy than any of this stuff. Opus Maximus sounds intriguing. Everyone's vocals sound OK to me, not as good as Neal Morse backing stuff though.

[Zook]

I am sure he thinks this is just rock and roll swagger, which is not surprising given that he is a huge fan of Kiss (assholes) and Van Halen (Roth and EVH are two of the biggest douchebags in rock history), but it just comes off as condescending and will just piss off his target audience (which isn't that big in the first place).  I mean, a 50-year old man is that really worried about swagger and acting tough.

That argument is so dumb. You can be the talentless person in the world, but that doesn't mean you can't recognise when something is bad. Those kids in that infamous Final Countdown video are still more talented at their instruments than I am, but they still suck.

[Bertielee]

I am sure he thinks this is just rock and roll swagger, which is not surprising given that he is a huge fan of Kiss (assholes) and Van Halen (Roth and EVH are two of the biggest douchebags in rock history), but it just comes off as condescending and will just piss off his target audience (which isn't that big in the first place).  I mean, a 50-year old man is that really worried about swagger and acting tough.

That argument is so dumb. You can be the talentless person in the world, but that doesn't mean you can't recognise when something is bad. Those kids in that infamous Final Countdown video are still more talented at their instruments than I am, but they still suck.

Completely agree with you, Zook.

B.Lee

[Madman Shepherd]

I am sure he thinks this is just rock and roll swagger, which is not surprising given that he is a huge fan of Kiss (assholes) and Van Halen (Roth and EVH are two of the biggest douchebags in rock history), but it just comes off as condescending and will just piss off his target audience (which isn't that big in the first place).  I mean, a 50-year old man is that really worried about swagger and acting tough.

That argument is so dumb. You can be the talentless person in the world, but that doesn't mean you can't recognise when something is bad. Those kids in that infamous Final Countdown video are still more talented at their instruments than I am, but they still suck.

Completely agree with you, Zook.

B.Lee

On that same token, someone that's good at flipping burgers may make me spend more of my money on them and the food they make than on some half assed prog rock band. 

Now I'm hungry. 

[SjundeInseglet]

I am sure he thinks this is just rock and roll swagger, which is not surprising given that he is a huge fan of Kiss (assholes) and Van Halen (Roth and EVH are two of the biggest douchebags in rock history), but it just comes off as condescending and will just piss off his target audience (which isn't that big in the first place).  I mean, a 50-year old man is that really worried about swagger and acting tough.

That argument is so dumb. You can be the talentless person in the world, but that doesn't mean you can't recognise when something is bad. Those kids in that infamous Final Countdown video are still more talented at their instruments than I am, but they still suck.

Completely agree with you, Zook.

B.Lee

On that same token, someone that's good at flipping burgers may make me spend more of my money on them and the food they make than on some half assed prog rock band. 

Now I'm hungry.

Seems like Derek could take a hint from Steve Morse... 

«If you have a day job and you’re flipping burgers four hours a day, flip those burgers right onto the middle of the bun. Make everything count. If you’re sweeping the floor, don’t say it’s okay that you left that piece of dirt behind. Say: ‘If I sweep up every bit of this dirt to the best of my ability, that’s going to affect the way I play music. It’s going to make everything I do strive for perfection.’

That’s how you can tell if somebody’s going to make it or not – it’s not by whether or not they know somebody’s phone number on Star Search. Those are the kind of people that, when the opportunities come – and every couple of years or so, everyone will get these, what other people would say are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, but they will keep coming… the people that are ready, and luck allows them to, and fate allows them to, will find that they will get connected.» (Taken from: https://www.guitarmessenger.com/interviews/steve-morse-interview/)

[rumborak]

DS ist walking on very thin ice with stuff like that. Let's be honest, most of his career has been in the shadow of big names. To stick with the analogy, he was himself flipping musical burgers for the most part.

[Sycsa]

This "if you can't do better, don't criticize" argument is as low-level thinking as it gets. It's on par with "professional athletes don't deserve a high salary" and "if humans evolved from monkeys, why are there still monkeys."

[WilliamMunny]

This "if you can't do better, don't criticize" argument is as low-level thinking as it gets. It's on par with "professional athletes don't deserve a high salary" and "if humans evolved from monkeys, why are there still monkeys."

This.

I am not usually one to let the press clippings influence my thoughts on what I am listening to but seeing that comment has totally just turned me off for good.  Good job DS, I own your solo CD's, Planet-X and have talked at length on my podcast about how you are probably my favorite keyboard player of all time; but after this I am so over you.  As a musician myself that comment totally crosses the line.  Consider me another lost album sale.

[Adami]

I agree with Derek actually. But since I feel like I have written better songs, I'm cool criticizing it. However, unless he can come up with a better criticism against his music than mine, he has no right to criticize my criticism.

[King Postwhore]

I agree with Derek actually. But since I feel like I have written better songs, I'm cool criticizing it. However, unless he can come up with a better criticism against his music than mine, he has no right to criticize my criticism.

I just turned myself inside out.

[Madman Shepherd]

DS ist walking on very thin ice with stuff like that. Let's be honest, most of his career has been in the shadow of big names. To stick with the analogy, he was himself flipping musical burgers for the most part.

Was?

[rumborak]

Well, he is one of the kings of prog now.

[noxon]

Well, I didn't vote for him.