{"id":7384,"date":"2018-10-16T20:15:59","date_gmt":"2018-10-16T19:15:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.progradar.org\/?p=7384"},"modified":"2026-08-21T01:05:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T00:05:53","slug":"review-kalin-tonev-machine-years-by-progradar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/progradar.co.uk\/index.php\/2018\/10\/16\/review-kalin-tonev-machine-years-by-progradar\/","title":{"rendered":"Review – Kalin Tonev – Machine Years – by Progradar"},"content":{"rendered":"

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I love a powerful instrumental album but they have to work harder than your normal release due to there being no words to elucidate the songwriter’s thoughts and ideas.<\/p>\n

The best ones are chock full of brilliant instrumental phases and phrases and tend to not let each track follow the same musical path.<\/p>\n

Hailing from Sofia, Bulgaria, Kalin Tonev <\/strong>was previously known as the heart and the leader\/composer\/keyboardist of the prog rock project TravelHouse<\/strong>. Tonev released just a single album (‘Mind Mapping’<\/em>– 2008) under this moniker, but it gained some favorable reviews in the main prog rock sites. Kalin began working on his debut solo effort, ‘Machine Years’,<\/em> spanning the whole gamut of prog signatures.<\/p>\n

Spread over thirteen tracks and covering sixty-five minutes, ‘Machine Years’ <\/em>is a thoroughly involving musical experience. Massively injected with the classic 70’s lines, modern electronic scapes with occasional dark and heavy riffs, it is a theatrical journey awash with catchy melodies and intelligent moments intertwined with a more industrial, dystopian edge in places.<\/p>\n

Kalin’s signature synth sound is dynamic and edgy with a real feel to it and he is joined on this impressively involving soundscape by three talented guitarists, Nenko Milev<\/strong>, Daniel Eliseev<\/strong> and Biser Ivanov<\/strong>. Their frenetic, energetic and compelling playing adds force and vigour to an already compelling mix.<\/p>\n

There are moments of wonderful clarity when Kalin’s vintage keyboards soar to the heavens and these are countered by the somber, skittish feel when the music takes a more chaotic route. It’s a record full of memorable tunes but the highlights for me are Short Story About Tanks<\/strong><\/em>, Beings<\/strong><\/em>, Mad Dancer<\/strong><\/em>, News From Nowhere <\/strong><\/em>and the hypnotic This Empty Space<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n

Complex industrial, instrumental progressive rock with a lush and thoughful side, ‘Machine Years’ <\/em>is an impressive debut and should see this talented musician really forge a name for himself.<\/p>\n

Released 27th January 2017<\/p>\n

Order the album from bandcamp here<\/a><\/p>\n