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alley of Salt Discusses the Progressive Rock Opera Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness

Posted on 25 January 2025
Valley of Salt

Valley of Salt’s upcoming concept album, Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness, brings the story of John the Baptist into the sphere of progressive rock, combining vintage instrumentation with timeless themes of faith, resilience, and transformation. In this interview, the artist discusses the creative process behind the album, the influence of prog-rock greats, and the collaborations that shaped its organic sound. From recording with vintage guitars to layering intricate melodies, the conversation explores the personal and artistic ambitions behind the record.

Welcome to A&R Factory! It’s great to have you here to discuss your new album Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness and all the inspiration and artistry behind it.

Thank you for having me. Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness was inspired by the life of John the Baptist. I wanted to create a progressive rock opera and concept album using vintage guitars and equipment to capture an authentic, timeless sound.

Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness is such a striking title. What drew you to John the Baptist’s story, and how does it fit into the album’s overarching narrative?

I was drawn to John the Baptist’s story because it’s a tale of courage, purpose, and conviction. He was a voice for change, willing to stand apart from the crowd to speak truth and inspire others. His story reflects timeless struggles, and I believe it’s incredibly relevant today.

The overarching narrative of Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness is a journey of purpose, resilience, and transformation. It tells the story of an unwavering commitment to a calling, even in the face of doubt, isolation, and opposition. My hope was that the music and lyrics would weave his story into something both universally resonant and deeply personal.

This project is deeply personal for you. Could you share how creating this album fulfilled a lifelong dream and what it represents in your artistic journey?

Creating this album has been a dream come true. I’ve always wanted to combine my passion for storytelling and progressive rock into a cohesive concept album. This project represents my journey as an artist—exploring themes of faith, self-discovery, and redemption while using the tools and sounds that have inspired me since I first picked up a guitar.

Vintage instruments and progressive rock elements play a significant role in the album’s sound. What inspired you to take this approach, and how did it influence the creative direction?

The producer, Marty Willson-Piper, has an extensive collection of vintage equipment, and I’ve always been drawn to vintage guitars myself. Marty encouraged me to use vintage gear throughout the recording process. It truly influenced the direction of the album, giving it an authentic progressive rock feel. We didn’t use any plug-ins—it’s all vintage sounds, which made the music feel organic and timeless.

How did your partnerships with Marty Willson-Piper and other talented musicians come together, and what impact did they have on the final result?

 Working with Marty was a privilege. He brought a wealth of experience and creativity to the project, and his guidance helped shape the album’s sound. The musicians we recorded with in Dallas, Texas, were incredibly talented. Their expertise and passion elevated every track. It was truly a collaborative effort, and I’m so grateful for everyone’s contributions.

Faith, self-discovery, and redemption are central themes in the album. How do you hope these themes will resonate with listeners, and what personal significance do they hold for you? 

Faith, self-discovery, and redemption are universal themes that speak to everyone. I hope listeners can find their own connection with these ideas. Faith, to me, is about trusting in something bigger than ourselves, like God, even when the path isn’t clear. Self-discovery is a journey we’re all on, and redemption is a reminder that renewal and growth are always possible. These themes are central to my life and inspired much of the music on this album.

The songwriting and recording process can be just as transformative as the finished product. Could you share any standout moments or challenges that shaped the album?

The album took two months to complete, with 12-hour days in the studio. Recording in Dallas with such talented musicians was a highlight. One standout moment was layering over 25 guitar tracks on various songs to create a rich, textured sound. While challenging at times, the process was incredibly rewarding. The musicianship and creativity in the studio made the entire experience unforgettable.

How did the annals of prog-rock influence your sound, and what specific artists or albums inspired you along the way?

Progressive rock has such a rich history, and bands like Yes, Genesis, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and King Crimson were major inspirations. The album Fragile by Yes, in particular, had a huge impact on me. I wanted to honor that legacy while creating something fresh and uniquely my own.

The album’s release must be an exciting milestone. What can fans expect in terms of upcoming performances and ways to connect with your work?

The release of Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness is a huge milestone for me, and I’m thrilled to share it with everyone. Fans can look forward to live performances, content on social media, and videos for several tracks to bring the songs to life. The album will be available on all major streaming platforms, and we’ll also share behind-the-scenes glimpses of the creative process. I can’t wait to connect with everyone and hear how the music resonates with them.

How do you feel the themes of the album speak to today’s world, and what message do you hope listeners take away after hearing it? 

I think the themes of this album are incredibly relevant today. We live in a time of uncertainty, and John’s story reminds us that even one voice, guided by faith, can inspire hope and spark transformation. My hope is that listeners come away feeling encouraged and inspired.

If you could describe Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness in a single sentence to someone discovering your music for the first time, what would you say to pique their interest?

Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness is a progressive rock opera and concept album that weaves powerful storytelling, intricate melodies, and timeless themes of faith, purpose, and redemption into a journey that’s as thought-provoking as it is musically captivating.

Stream and purchase Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness when it launches on Bandcamp.

Connect with Valley of Salt on Facebook and Instagram.

Interview by Amelia Vandergast

Tempus Cucumis reached the epitome of cutting-edge with their prog-rock tour de force, The Axe Drops

Posted on 24 January 2025

Tempus Cucumis have sharpened their classically-trained chops once again for ‘The Axe Drops’, a six-minute tempestuous slice of prog-rock featuring the mesmerising jazz-tinged vocal talent of Anne-Lien. As an extended adaptation of the track that first appeared on their 2021 experimental demo album Mini Mouton—a prog soundtrack to the 1926 silent film Ménilmontant—the single transcends its cinematic roots and evolves into something far more colossal.

Crafted by the formidable duo Jeroen De Brauwer (guitars, drums, composition) and Lukas Huisman (keys, production), the single builds on their signature style of seamlessly balancing storm and stillness. The quiet, reflective interludes, where guitar and keys take centre stage, are fraught with tension, leaving you holding your breath for the monolithic crescendos of doom-laden riffs and symphonic flourishes.

These climaxes pulverise, especially when Anne-Lien’s ethereal vocals sweep in as an arresting juxtaposition to the hostility which breeds in the ferocity of the heavier sections which will leave fans of prog and post-rock slack-jawed. It’s the band’s deft ability to maintain captivation even in the stripped-back moments that make The Axe Drops a triumphant tour de force. The polished production ensures every note feels deliberate, every beat intentional, and every shift monumental.

As Tempus Cucumis work towards their eighth album, this single not only pays homage to their roots but also cements their status as titans of atmospheric innovation. The album artwork, a painting by Giorgi, is a fitting visual companion to a track that feels as vivid as it sounds.

Stream The Axe Drops on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

heaven // alone – Exonerate: Seductively Raw Post-Hardcore

Posted on 24 January 2025
heaven // alone

With their latest single, ‘Exonerate,’ Perth’s heavy alt-rock outfit heaven // alone unleashed an unrelenting surge of sound that dares listeners to remain passive. Note by note, the track’s opening builds an insurmountable wall of distortion, enveloping audiences in an alchemised atmosphere that seduces with the provocative pulse of Deftones and aches with the raw anguish of post-hardcore.

The dynamic shifts between moments of melodic reprieve and chaotic crescendos elevate the emotional stakes. Teasingly placed between the blast beats and guttural outpours of rancour, the melodic breaks strike like a brief gasp of air before the sonic onslaught resumes, resulting in a visceral vortex of sound that grips listeners in its intensity.

heaven // alone’s technical precision and compositional ingenuity ensure that ‘Exonerate’ is more than just a hard-hitting track; it’s an invitation to revel in the catharsis of their deeply emotive and impeccably honed sound. The dualistic construction places your emotions on a tightrope, suspended in the tension between euphoria and despair.

With each release, the band’s fanbase grows, and tracks like ‘Exonerate’ solidify their trajectory toward becoming Perth’s premier pioneers of alternative hard rock.

Exonerate will be available to stream on all major platforms from January 25th. Find your preferred way to listen and connect with the artist via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Roll up to the Big Top with Dirty Feetz’ carnivalesque take on Avant-Garde alt-rock absurdity ‘Tampone’

Posted on 23 January 2025

Hit play on Dirty Feetz’ seminal single, Tampone, and prepare for a tsunami of electrifying absurdity to knock you sideways. The track, pulled from their debut LP Flip Flops, is a sonic rebellion that obliterates conventions.

Dirty Feetz riff to their own rulebook-free rhythm, borrowing from Funk, Dub, Psychedelic Rock, and beyond to claim the title of this generation’s answer to Frank Zappa. The band rejects ego in favour of raw, liberated creativity, allowing the alchemy of their sound to transcend mere genre fusion. It’s impossible not to draw parallels to the zany carnivalesque energy of Mr Bungle, with the flamboyant flair running rampant through every corner of Tampone.

Dirty Feetz’s ethos is simple: they’re here to tickle synapses and get feet moving. Their tracks don’t just tell surreal stories; they take listeners on unexpected detours through a jungle of musical influences, embracing the strange and the silly along the way. Known for their energetic live shows complete with costumes and madcap antics, they invite you to leave the mundane behind and revel in their whirling dervish of sound.

Tampone is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify, with the rest of the debut LP from Dirty Feetz.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Boy by As Rome Burns: A Defiant Punk-Laden Anthem Against Patriarchal Poison

Posted on 22 January 2025

While punk, as a concept, is becoming increasingly harder to define, there’s no denying that it runs thick in the veins of the debut single, Boy, from the London-based sharp-witted antagonists, As Rome Burns.

With an unmistakable cerebral echo of The Fall drifting around the crunched chords that pulsate feverish energy into the anthemic melting pot of punk, grunge and indie, the protestive exposition of patriarchal violence and how it poisons the well of modernity knows exactly what trigger points to press and hits them hard enough to bruise.

If you could imagine what the Offspring would sound like if Mark E Smith, Rage Against the Machine and IDLES had some creative input, you’ll come close to getting an idea of what As Rome Burns delivered with their explosively authentic first foray onto the airwaves.

Boy is so much more than a mash of influence and contrasting genres; the inaugural release became a conduit of the artist’s ethos to throw progressive punches and stand against the threat of societal regression while allowing their raw originated sound to ramp up the visceralism of the socially conscious messaging.

Stream the debut single from As Rome Burns on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Find resolve through the rhythm and lyrical reflections in Flame’s seminal alt-indie release, ‘Heat’

Posted on 21 January 2025

The standout single ‘Heat’ from Flame’s alt-rock EP, Pride of the Lamb, which paints in colours from all across the alternative spectrum, ensues with a barrage of folkish rhythmic intensity before establishing a melody in the arcanely beguiling atmosphere.

The seraphic on the senses release transcends sound and moves into the remit of transformative meditation through the ethereal timbre of the lead vocals which refuse to bleed into the instrumentals in true shoegaze fashion as they relay mantric messages, guiding the listener towards transformation.

Flame lights fires through the trailblazing authenticity within their sonic signature, which pairs the textural motifs of grunge with the cathartic consolation of melodic rock as they build insurmountable walls of sound, brick by brick, note by note, while sharing a singular vision of leading the listener away from their ego.

Hit play and feel something primal within you wake in the presence of the Edinburgh-based alt-rock powerhouse who have exactly what it takes to stand at the vanguard of the post-shoegaze revolution in sound.

With one of the most distinct voices on the indie rock circuit, Flame is perceptibly in the minority of artists who favour their expression over commercial appeal, but there’s nothing within their debut EP that says they can’t have both; it’s pure evocative perfection.

Stream Heat as part of the 5-track EP on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Hypersonic Waves and Jazz Grooves Convene in 8udDha bl0od’s ‘1001’

Posted on 20 January 2025

With 1001, the peerless UK visionary 8udDha bl0od delivered an intergalactic masterstroke that pulls listeners into a 15-minute sonic vortex. This extended installation of experimental electronica demands attention with hypersonic waves of synths sculpting a pulsating, mind-melting backdrop. Amid the chaos, the echo-laden vocals, laced with a haunting familiarity reminiscent of Manson, act as the tether that keeps the sprawling soundscape grounded.

As the track unfurls, the frenetic energy begins to shift gears. Low-slung basslines slide into focus, bringing a melodic sensibility that pulses with a jazzy swagger. Percussive grooves weave rhythm into the arrangement, creating moments of respite before the sax flourishes transport the track deeper into jazz-fusion territory. Yet, no matter where the instrumentals wander, the scintillating sequences of synths stay on a loop, taking strategic pauses to allow the rhythm and melody to breathe, creating a dynamic interplay that keeps the release teetering on the edge of chaos and cohesion.

8udDha bl0od proves with 1001 that experimental doesn’t have to mean alienating. The track is as much a technical feat as it is a visceral experience, carefully constructed to push boundaries without losing its hold on the listener.

1001 is now available to stream on all major streaming platforms, including SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lauren Ash – Whiplash: A Relentless Assault of Punk Rock Ferocity

Posted on 15 January 2025

Lauren Ash’s transition from award-winning actress to punk rock powerhouse proves she’s more than adept at commanding the spotlight in any arena. With her latest single, Whiplash, Ash and her band crank the scuzz to its absolute peak, delivering a relentless assault of punk rock ferocity. The track combines riotous pop-punk hooks with the unrelenting pulse of pure rock energy, creating an anthemic, adrenaline-spiked experience.

Known for her sharp comedic timing in roles such as Dina Fox in Superstore and Scorpia in She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, Ash channels a new kind of intensity in Whiplash, shredding through punk conventions with unapologetic grit. Her raw vocal delivery pairs perfectly with a blistering arrangement of riffs and percussion that lands like a gut punch and resonates long after the track ends.

Since stepping into the music scene in 2023, Ash has made a monumental impact. Her debut single, Now I Know, hit #1 on the Canadian iTunes Rock Chart and climbed to #5 on the Billboard Alternative Digital Song Sales chart. Following a string of high-profile performances, including sets at Los Angeles’ iconic Whisky a Go Go and the Viper Room, Ash is gearing up to release her debut album in 2025.

Whiplash was officially released on January 13th; stream the single on Spotify now and discover more ways to connect with Lauren Ash via her website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

INTERCONTINEN7AL made history with the post-rock panache in their globally recorded single, Night Shift

Posted on 9 January 2025

Night Shift, the standout single from INTERCONTINEN7AL’s history-making EP World Over, isn’t just an ambitious cross-continental collaboration; it’s an emotive tour de force, commanding you to succumb to the progressive rock sublimity.

The single opens with a cinematic neo-classical prelude, complete with intricate finger-picked guitars and orchestral swells, setting a reflective and ornate tone. As the track evolves, the mood shifts seamlessly into psych-pop territory, with Beatles-reminiscent guitar riffs that carry listeners deeper into its emotional core.

When the soft melodic rock vocals enter, backed by soulfully ethereal harmonies, another seamless metamorphosis is complete, one which will allow fans of Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder to recognise the heartstring-pulling resonance as it resounds over the essence of 70s folk rock.

INTERCONTINEN7AL, based in Castle Rock, Colorado, emerged from the COVID-19 lockdowns, redefining global collaboration with their innovative use of virtual tools like BandLab. World Over is their fourth album, showcasing an eclectic range of styles, from progressive rock to bossa nova. By recording instrumentation in locales as remote as Antarctica, they created a genre-spanning collection that’s as inspiring as it is groundbreaking.

With Night Shift, the band transcends novelty and crafted a testament to the universality of emotion, delivering a track that lifts listeners far above the confines of geography or genre.

Stream the World Over EP on all major streaming platforms, including SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Detroit Trouble put the pedal to the speaker-pummelling metal in their hard rock hit, Hot in the D

Posted on 1 January 2025

Few hard rock outfits can pummel your speakers as viscerally as Motörhead, but Detroit Trouble has proved their juggernautical punches are just as blistering in their high-octane anthem, Hot in the D. Short of mainlining adrenaline, there are few other ways to get yourself so psyched. The momentum is unrelenting, and the infectious energy threaded through every progression ensures this rip-roaring ride transcends your favourite hard rock records from across the epochs with its polished rallying furore. .

Formed in 2015 by Kidd Lightning, Detroit Trouble are a trio who channel the grit of their blue-collar roots into every thunderous note. With Kirk “The Captain” Richter on bass and William “Wild Bill” Whats on drums, the band blends the emotional weight of blues greats like John Lee Hooker and Howlin’ Wolf with the searing edge of rock kings such as Van Halen.

On Hot in the D, their blues-rock roots shine through in the occasional melodic turns, but the pedal never lifts from the metal. With Kidd Lightning’s pornographic guitar solos and vocals that burn with raw fervour, the electricity is undeniable. If this track doesn’t spark something deep in your soul, you might want to check you’ve still got a pulse.

Detroit Trouble doesn’t just play for their fans; they embody them. The trio lives and breathes the working-class spirit, delivering music for Detroit and beyond that pulses with the heart of everyday grit.

Hot in the D is now available to stream across all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast