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The Sword is an American heavy metal band that formed in Austin, Texas, in 2003. Since its inception, the band has comprised vocalist and guitarist John "J. D." Cronise, guitarist Kyle Shutt and bassist Bryan Richie, and currently includes touring drummer Kevin Fender following Trivett Wingo's departure in November 2010. Signed to New York-based independent label Kemado Records, the group released debut album Age of Winters in 2006, which was largely written by Cronise prior to the band's formation. The band's second album, Gods of the Earth, was released two years later and gave the group its first Billboard 200 chart entry. The Sword's third album, Warp Riders (2010), is a concept album centered on an original science fiction narrative written by Cronise. - Wikipedia

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Michael Gordon "Mike" Oldfield (born 15 May 1953, Reading, Berkshire) is an English multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, working a style that blends progressive rock, folk, ethnic or world music, classical music, electronic music, New Age, and more recently, dance. His music is often elaborate and complex in nature. He is best known for his hit 1973 album Tubular Bells, which launched Virgin Records, and for his 1983 hit single "Moonlight Shadow". He is also well known for his hit rendition of the Christmas piece, "In Dulci Jubilo". - Wikipedia

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Moonflower is a 1977 studio & live double album by Santana. The recording features both studio and live tracks, which are interspersed with one another throughout the album. It is considered to be a fan favorite, and is perhaps the group's most popular live album, because Lotus did not receive a U.S. domestic release until the early 1990s. It displays a mix between the fusion of Latin and blues-rock styles of the late sixties and early seventies, and the much more experimental and spiritual jazz fusion sound that characterized the band's mid-seventies work. The live material was recorded during the supporting tour for the Festival album, which displayed a similar mix of styles, and many of the album's songs are featured here - namely, the three song medley which opens Festival.

The Outskirts of Infinity are a British Psychedelic trio who have been boiling away since the eighties. Their sound is a Hendrix scream of fuzz, flower power and syrupy acid blues, created to blow minds and wig-out squares. Guitarist Bari Watts is their not-so-secret weapon, his freely-freaking axe is a riot of Purple Haze and Creamy slashing.

In the Wake of Poseidon (1970) is the second album by the progressive rock group King Crimson. By the time this album was released, the band had already undergone their first change in lineup, however they still maintained much of the style of their first album, In the Court of the Crimson King.

Oranges & Lemons is an album by the British band XTC. The name of the album may have been taken from the lyrics to Skylarking's "Ballet for a Rainy Day," which in turn may have come from the old English nursery rhyme. The band was sent to Los Angeles to record the album, and Paul Fox was retained to produce it. As it was his first producing job, Fox tried to be easy to work with. The album was lushly produced with multiple overdubs on almost every track, yielding the psychedelic feel. The album didn't meet with significant approval by XTC, but the band was under pressure to create a hit single and the label liked it, so they didn't argue much.

Black Sea is the fourth studio album by XTC, released on September 12, 1980. It spawned five singles and the album reached No. 16 on the UK album chart, No. 41 on the Billboard U.S. Hot 100 album chart and No. 1 on the New Zealand album chart. Considered one of the more consistent albums by the group, Black Sea is not as raw as its predecessor, Drums and Wires, although it is still focused on big drums and sharp guitars. Early copies of the album came with the sleeve enclosed in a lime-green paper bag.

Drahdiwaberl is an Austrian Hard Rock and Metal band. Head of the formation is former highschool teacher Stefan Weber. It's stated to be Austria's heaviest musical act. They are especially famous for their elaborate stage shows which often include bizarre and, as some claim, disgusting elements. The band was originally founded in 1969 but didn't manage to get a record label, so the just performed locally for the first 10 years. In 1981 they finally released their first record "Psychoterror". They weren't really successful throughout their career, but the band has still a big fan community, not to forget that Austria's most famous musician Falco evolved from Drahdiwaberl, where he was the band's bassist from 1878-1983.

Three Friends (1972) is a concept album by the British progressive rock band Gentle Giant. The group's third album was also their first American release to chart, peaking at #197 on the Billboard 200. It marked a change in drummers from Martin Smith to Malcolm Mortimore. It is Gentle Giant's first concept album, dealing with three childhood friends whose lives take them very different places. It was also their first self-produced album. The two former albums were produced by David Bowie and T.Rex producer Tony Visconti.

Gentle Giant was a British progressive rock band, one of the most experimental of the 1970s. Textually inspired by philosophy, personal events and the works of François Rabelais, the group was noted for their collective multi-instrumental virtuosity and the particular complexity and sophistication of their musical material (even by progressive rock standards). Their onetime stated aim was to "expand the frontiers of contemporary popular music at the risk of becoming very unpopular," although this stance was to alter significantly with time. The band is also notable for the diverse instrumental skills of its members (all of whom bar the first two drummers were accomplished multi-instrumentalists). One Gentle Giant album listed a total of forty-six instruments in the musician credits, all of which had been played by group members.

The Nice were an English progressive rock band from the 1960s, known for their unique blend of rock, jazz and classical music. Their debut album, The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack was released in 1967 to immediate acclaim. It is often considered the first progressive rock album. The Nice are also a forerunner of the much more widely known Emerson, Lake & Palmer.
The Nice consisted initially of keyboardist Keith Emerson, bassist/vocalist Lee Jackson, drummer Brian Davison, and guitarist David O'List, more commonly known as "Davy". All the members of the band are from England.

In the Court of the Crimson King (an observation by King Crimson) is the 1969 debut album by the British progressive rock group King Crimson. The album reached #3 on the British charts. The album is certified gold in the United States. The album is generally viewed as one of the strongest of the progressive rock genre, where blues-oriented rock was mixed together with jazz and European symphonic elements. In his 1997 book Rocking the Classics, critic/musicologist Edward Macan notes that In the Court of the Crimson King "may be the most influential progressive rock album ever released." The Who's Pete Townshend was quoted as calling the album "an uncanny masterpiece". The album was remastered and re-released on vinyl and CD several times during the 1980s and 1990s. The original stereo master tapes were finally located in a Virgin Records storage vault in 2003, leading to a much improved remastered CD version released in 2004.

Diver Down is the fifth album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 1982. According to Van Halen's official website, it spent 65 weeks on the US album charts and had, by 1998, sold 4 million copies in the United States.

In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is a rock album by the band Iron Butterfly, released in 1968. This was the first album to earn an RIAA platinum award. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is the 31st best-selling album in the world, selling more than 25 million copies.

Ball is a studio album by the rock band Iron Butterfly, released in February 1969. After the enormous success of "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida", Iron Butterfly modified its acid-rock sound somewhat and experimented with shorter, more melodic compositions. The band's trademark heavy guitars, however, are still evident on such tracks as "In the Time of Our Lives" and "It Must Be Love." The album reached number 3, making Ball more immediately successful than In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.