Shadow Gallery Thread - v. Digital Ghosts

[Nick]

Manage to catch the last 20 mins or so. Great tribute. I’ll watch it completely tomorrow.

Did the band give anu update on new music?

No, and intentionally not. There IS work in progress and something will happen... eventually. But they don't want to make any announcements or promises until something is solid and DONE.

[abydos]

For those that missed it like me - https://www.facebook.com/OfficialShadowGallery/videos/512362412579637/

[goo-goo]

Manage to catch the last 20 mins or so. Great tribute. I’ll watch it completely tomorrow.

Did the band give anu update on new music?

No, and intentionally not. There IS work in progress and something will happen... eventually. But they don't want to make any announcements or promises until something is solid and DONE.

Thanks Nick for the response.

[SoundscapeMN]

I would go for new Shadow Gallery music, under 1 condition, hire a new singer that doesn't sound exactly Geoff Tate.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

You didn't like Brian Ashland?

[ronnibran]

The Digital Ghosts album has aged well for me.  I thought it was pretty solid start to finish and I go back to it just as often as some other albums.  The songs "Digital Ghost" and "Haunted" are both SG classics for me.

That said, it still doesn't really feel completely like a Shadow Gallery album to me.  Mike Baker had such a distinctive voice.  I don't mind Brian Ashland... His voice is just SO different from Mike's.  I feel almost like Brian was tacked onto the last album (not sure if it's b/c of the guest singers or what), I think another album with him might be way better.

And that said, anything they release will be an automatic buy and I'm confident they wouldn't let me down.

[ErHaO]

I love Digital Ghosts, probably my third favourite of theirs. Mike was a unique singer, but the other guy does a great job as well and I hope to hear more of this band in the future for sure.

[Cool Chris]

Been getting in to this band lately. Found the first two albums highly enjoyable. Not sure how I missed out on these guys.

[Samsara]

I don't know much about Shadow Gallery, although I heard they had a singer that was really similar to Geoff Tate in his prime. Who is that singer, and what album(s) does he appear on?

[Destiny Of Chaos]

Been getting in to this band lately. Found the first two albums highly enjoyable. Not sure how I missed out on these guys.

Keep going. Albums 3-5 are their crowning achievements.

[goo-goo]

I don't know much about Shadow Gallery, although I heard they had a singer that was really similar to Geoff Tate in his prime. Who is that singer, and what album(s) does he appear on?

Brian Ashland (I believe) and the album is Digital Ghosts. Digital Ghosts has several vocalists including DC Copper from Royal Hunt and Ralph something from Primal Fear. So there are a few songs with them and a few with Brian.

[Samsara]

Thank you!

[Nick]

I don't know much about Shadow Gallery, although I heard they had a singer that was really similar to Geoff Tate in his prime. Who is that singer, and what album(s) does he appear on?

Brian Ashland (I believe) and the album is Digital Ghosts. Digital Ghosts has several vocalists including DC Copper from Royal Hunt and Ralph something from Primal Fear. So there are a few songs with them and a few with Brian.

A little bit of a correction here, the standard US edition has only Shadow Gallery's vocalists, primarily Brian Ashland and Ralf Scheepers. The Japanese edition has a bonus track with D.C. Cooper.

[goo-goo]

Revisiting the band's discography. Starting with the S/T. I disregarded this one because of the subpar production but I'm liking it more and more as I get into it.

[SoundscapeMN]

actually, that's my favorite despite the production and drum machine, lol.

[nick_z]

I'll go with Carved in Stone as my favorite...

[Orbert]

Carved in Stone is the one I heard first, and the one I usually go back to, so I guess that makes it my favorite as well.  But most of their stuff is pretty good.

[kirksnosehair]

Carved in Stone was also the one I heard first and I didn't go back for another of their albums after that for a LONG time.  I still don't have a whole lotta love for Carved In Stone and I never listen to the debut, but I enjoy the rest of the catalog quite a bit.   

[emtee]

I only own Digital Ghosts and I never bought anything else because the sonics and production were so inferior. 

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

Revisiting the band's discography. Starting with the S/T. I disregarded this one because of the subpar production but I'm liking it more and more as I get into it.

It's a great album, I always wished they would re-record it, but it wouldn't be the same without Mike Baker.

[ronnibran]

Shadow Gallery is one of my favorite bands.  Shame they haven't released anything in forever.  I didn't discover them until maybe 2007 so I've only had the "new album coming out" experience once.  Fun fact, the album (Digital Ghosts) came out the same day as Transatlantic's The Whirlwind - a phenomenon of that magnitude (albums by two of my favorite bands on same day) will likely never happen again.

Tyranny and Room V are hands down my favorite albums of theirs.  Legacy is also great but when I revisit that it's mostly for First Light which is amazing.  I've tried many times but never got into the S/T album.  Carved in Stone is hit and miss for me, some great songs and some songs I never listen to.  I thought Digital Ghosts was great (basically all the songs).

Top 5 SG songs for me:  First Light, Rain, Digital Ghost, Ghost of a Chance, The Andromeda Strain (hard to choose just 5...)

[jammindude]

I first discovered them when I got an in store promo for Tyranny. I played it in store CONSTANTLY.

I tracked down Carved in Stone, but the S/T was tougher to get ahold of back then. I did finally order it later after Legacy came out.

Legacy was always a bit hit and miss for me, although I thought Cliffhanger 2 was better than the original. I LOVE CiS. I need to pull that one out again…but ya, Tyranny is still the best.  Room V is excellent, and I remember spinning DG a lot when it first came out, but haven’t pulled it out in forever.

I think I’m overdue for an SG binge.

[jingle.boy]

They are a very consistently good band, but I always thought there was something a little 'off' on their production, and with Mike's voice (the latter is just a personal tastes thing). 

[Pettor]

What a special band this was. Been years since I listened to Tyranny and Room V now but took the full run by playing them in order and both albums are masterpieces.

However on Digital Ghosts there's this bonus track called Two Shadows. I think it's an unused song from Tyranny since it basically has the Ghost of a Chance melody etc. Anyway it's such a beautiful song for anyone who haven't heard it. Honestly it crushes my heart a bit since it somehow feels like a goodbye to Baker. Not sure why but that's the feelings attached to it. Anyway here's the beauty:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZtMOqpH2vU

[abydos]

According to the description, it's a reworked bonus song from Room V.

[ronnibran]

Sorry, no news on new album.  But Shadow Gallery has started a new podcast (2 episodes released thus far).  So far they've talked about the history/formation of the band, and the writing and recording of the debut album.  Next episode I think will be on Carved In Stone.  And I imagine the series will continue until they've talked about all their albums.  Good stuff so far.  One hint at new music was Gary made it sound like a strong possibility that in 2022 we'd see a re-recording of one song from the debut.  No mention of a new album yet.

Below is from Facebook.  The podcast is called Shadow Gallery: The Untold Stories.

Listen now to the first episode of Shadow Gallery: The Untold Stories,  hosted by Gary Wehrkamp and Jill Hughes.  The first guests on the podcast are original founding members Brendt Allman and Carl Cadden-James.
If you have questions for the band, please send them to shadowgallerypodcast@gmail.com
We’ll be posting some photos & band memorabilia from the early days soon! 
RSS feed to subscribe: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1985719.rss
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/.../shadow-gallery-the-untold...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/65vWm5EoWs1lMElPnOX8rk...
Stitcher: https://listen.stitcher.com/yvap/?af_dp=stitcher://show/714724&af_web_dp=https://www.stitcher.com/show/714724
Buzzsprout:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/.../10904885-progressive-metal...
(Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and iHeart Radio coming soon!)

[jammindude]

I’d actually be shocked if there was ever a new SG album. It was a wonderful run while it lasted. In fact, they probably accomplished more in the way of influence and popularity than any “strictly studio” band that I can think of. It’s actually pretty impressive what they DID accomplish considering they only played a small handful of live shows (and very late into their career at that. I don’t even think those shows happened before Baker died, did they?)

The only thing they could do now is maybe release an official live recording of one of those shows and call it a day.

As far as the podcast goes, I saw they had started that and I was really excited to check it out. I’ve just been super busy.

[SoundscapeMN]

what song from the debut did they re-record?

although what I really want is to take the masters from the debut, and have Joe Nevolo record real drums over them.

[MirrorMask]

I’d actually be shocked if there was ever a new SG album. It was a wonderful run while it lasted. In fact, they probably accomplished more in the way of influence and popularity than any “strictly studio” band that I can think of. It’s actually pretty impressive what they DID accomplish considering they only played a small handful of live shows (and very late into their career at that. I don’t even think those shows happened before Baker died, did they?)

Nope, they didn't. And I am very happy I saw them both times they came over here.

And yeah, I get a feeling too that Shadow Gallery is "done". Not officially done, but "Savatage-done", when you know the guys are still out there and sometimes you get news but you just don't hold your breath for an album or tour that might as well never come.

I also agree about them being outstanding even with the handicap of never playing live. They really deserved more, and Mike's loss was huge and very sad and robbed us of a great talent.

[ronnibran]

what song from the debut did they re-record?

although what I really want is to take the masters from the debut, and have Joe Nevolo record real drums over them.

They didn't say which song they would re-record.  It was brought up when they answered a question on if they'd ever re-record the debut album (or mix, or do anything with).  Which the answer to that is "no" (other than doing one song).

[SoundscapeMN]

Carved in Stone re-release including Vinyl

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BGSYBJN1?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_QKGHGYEM7CPHZGPKS69E

[Samsara]

Carved in Stone re-release including Vinyl

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BGSYBJN1?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_QKGHGYEM7CPHZGPKS69E

Funny enough, just listening to that now on Spotify. I just pre-ordered the re-release. Thanks.

[abydos]

That's nice, I'm probably gonna get it at some point. I still remember hearing it for the first time at my best friend's place on his cassette player and being absolutely floored by some of the solos - Cliffhanger's solo intro before the vocals is so cool and the one starting shortly after the 7th minute mark. It must have been 2000 or 2001.

We were both laughing at how impossible and cool it sounded and how it developed. Sprinkled in with some catchy melodies all throughout the songs and by the end when we heard Ghosthip we were just speechless.