Artists (K)

K2

– Book of the Dead (2005) NOT RATED
– Black Garden (2010) NOT RATED

Kaipa

– Notes From the Past (2002) 4.50 stars
– Keyholder (2003) 4.00 stars
– Mindrevolutions (2005) 4.00 stars
– Angling Feelings (2007) 4.50 stars
– In the Wake of Evolution (2010) 4.50 stars
– Vittjar (2012) 4.50 stars
– Sattyg (2014) 4.50 stars

See my “Kaipa- An Overview” for more information.

Kaipa Da Capo

– Dårskapens Monotoni (2016) NOT RATED

Kalaban

– Resistance Is Useless (1993)) NOT RATED

Kaledon

– Antillius: The King of the Light (2014) 4.00 stars

Kaleidoreal

– A Life Wasted (2018) NOT RATED

Kalevala

– People No Names (1972) NOT RATED

Kamelot

– Siége Perilous (1998) 4.00 stars
– The Fourth Legacy (2000) 4.50 stars
– Karma (2001) 4.50 stars
– Epica (2003) 4.50 stars
– The Black Halo (2005) 4.00 stars
– One Cold Winter’s Night (2006) 4.50 stars
– Ghost Opera (2007) 4.50 stars
– Poetry for the Poisoned (2010) 4.00 stars
– Silverthorn (2012) 4.50 stars
– Haven (2015) 4.50 stars

Kansas

– Kansas (1974) 4.50 stars
– Song for America (1975) 5.00 stars
– Masque (1975) 4.50 stars
– Leftoverture (1976) 4.00 stars
– Point of Know Return (1977) 4.00 stars
– Monolith (1979) 3.00 stars
– Audio-Visions (1980) 3.00 stars
– Vinyl Confessions (1982) 3.00 stars
– Drastic Measures (1983) 3.00 stars
– Power (1986) 4.00 stars
– In the Spirit of Things (1988) 4.00 stars
– Kansas (Box Set Anthology) (1994) 3.50 stars
– Freaks of Nature (1995) 3.00 stars
– Somewhere to Elsewhere (2000) 4.50 stars
– The Prelude Implicit (2016) 3.50 stars

Although Kansas debuted as primarily a Progressive Rock group, the band toned down the Progressive elements starting on the album Monolith and all the way through the albums Vinyl Confessions and Drastic Measures, which were nothing more than AOR with only the slightest touch of Prog, thanks mostly to Robby Steinhardt’s violin and the keyboards. Things got a bit more Prog-oriented after that. So the majority of early Kansas material is indeed some of the best Progressive Rock produced in the USA (especially on my favorite Kansas album Song For America), and the album Somewhere To Elsewhere was a full-out return to those glory days. The newest release, The Prelude Implicit, however, was once again a merging of AOR and Prog-Rock.

Kaos Moon

– After The Storm (1994) NOT RATED
– The Circle of Madness (2004) NOT RATED

Kaprekar’s Constant

– Fate Outsmarts Desire (2017) NOT RATED

Karcius

– Episodes (2008) NOT RATED
– The First Day (2012) NOT RATED
– The Fold (2018) NOT RATED

Karfagen

– Continium (2006) NOT RATED
– Messages From Afar: First Contact (2017) NOT RATED

Karibow

– Holophinium (2016) NOT RATED
– From Here to the Impossible (2017) NOT RATED

Karmablue

– Ne Apparenze Ne Comete (2018) NOT RATED

Karmakanic

– Entering the Spectra (2002) 4.00 stars
– Wheel of Life (2004) 4.50 stars
– Who’s the Boss in the Factory (2008) 4.50 stars
– In a Perfect World (2011) 4.00 stars
– Dot (2016) NOT RATED

Karmamoi

– Silence Between Sounds (2016) NOT RATED
– The Day Is Over (2018) NOT RATED

Karnataka

– Secrets of Angels (2015) 4.00 stars

Karthago

– Karthago (1971) 3.50 stars
– Second Step (1973) NOT RATED
– Rock ‘n Roll Testament (1975) NOT RATED

Kate Bush

– The Kick Inside (1978) NOT RATED

Katmandü

– Katmandü (1991) 4.00 stars

Kavla

– Surreal (2008) 4.00 stars

Kayak

– See See the Sun (1973) 4.00 stars
– Kayak (1974) 4.00 stars
– Royal Bed Bouncer (1975) 4.00 stars
– The Last Encore (1976) 4.00 stars
– Starlight Dancer (1977) 4.00 stars
– Phantom of the Night (1979) 3.50 stars
– Periscope Life (1980) 3.50 stars
– Cleopatra – The Crown of Isis (2014) 4.00 stars

Keats

– Keats (1984) 3.50 stars

Keef Hartley Band

– Halfbreed (1969) NOT RATED

Keel

– Lay Down the Law (1984) 3.00 stars
– The Right to Rock (1985) 3.00 stars
– The Final Frontier (1986) 3.50 stars
– Keel (1987) 3.50 stars

Keith Emerson Band

– Keith Emerson Band Featuring Marc Bonilla (2008) 4.00 stars

Kemilon

– Twisted Storm (2012) 4.00 stars

Ken Hensley

– Blood on the Highway (2007) NOT RATED

Ken’s Novel

– The Guide (1999) NOT RATED
– Domain Of Oblivion (2004) NOT RATED

Kenziner

– Timescape (1998) 4.50 stars
– The Prophecies (1999) 4.50 stars
– The Last Horizon (2014) 4.50 stars

Keor

– Petrichor (2018) NOT RATED

Kepler Ten

– Delta-V (2017) NOT RATED

Kerrs Pink

– Mystic Spirit (2013) NOT RATED

Kerry Livgren

– Seeds of Change (1980) 4.50 stars
– One of Several Possible Musiks (1989) 3.50 stars

Kestrel

– Kestrel (1975) 4.00 stars

Kevin Ayers

– Joy of a Toy (1969) NOT RATED

Kevin Gilbert

– The Shaming of the True (2000) 4.50 stars

A highly talented individual who died way too young (at 29). This album proves his musical genius, not only displaying his extraordinary ear for writing catchy melodies, but also his influences from numerous genres, including apparent nods to Prog-Rock groups such as Gentle Giant.

Kevlar Red

– Coming Home (2009) 3.00 stars

Khallice

– The Journey (2003) 4.00 stars

Khan

– Space Shanty (1972) 4.50 stars

A band with Steve Hillage and members of Hatfield and the North, National Health, etc. (a “supergroup” of the Canterbury Prog-Rock scene) that released only a single album. A shame, since the band showed great promise.

Kharma

– Wonderland (2000) 4.00 stars

Khazad Doom

– Encore (1970) NOT RATED

Khymera

– Khymera (2003) 4.00 stars

Kiama

– Sign Of IV (2016) NOT RATED

Kick Axe

– Vices (1984) 4.50 stars
– Welcome to the Club (1985) 4.00 stars
– Rock the World (1986) 3.50 stars

Kidd Glove

– Kidd Glove (1984) 4.00 stars

Kik Tracee

– No Rules (1991) 4.50 stars
– Field Trip (1992) 4.00 stars

Kill for Thrills

– Dynamite From Nightmareland (1990) 3.50 stars

Killing Touch

– One of a Kind (2009) 4.50 stars

The band features one of the best vocalists in rock…Michele Luppi (Los Angeles, Vision Divine, etc.) so I was praying for more than a single album from this lineup. Alas, it seems my prayers will not come to pass. A shame, since the sole album is a great slice of high-energy, melodic, and upbeat Progressive Metal/Power Metal.

Kim Carnes

– Kim Carnes (1975) 3.00 stars
– Sailin’ (1976) 3.00 stars
– St. Vincent’s Court (1979) 3.50 stars
– Romance Dance (1980) 3.50 stars
– Mistaken Identity (1981) 4.00 stars
– Voyeur (1982) 5.00 stars
– Café Racers (1983) 3.50 stars
– Barking at Airplanes (1985) 3.50 stars
– Light House (1986) 3.50 stars
– View From the House (1988) 2.50 stars
– Checkin’ Out the Ghosts (1991) 3.50 stars

I love raspy-voiced women, and Kim is the epitome of that description. Although some of her “light, Country-inspired wimp” material doesn’t appeal to me, when she rocks (such as on the excellent Voyeur) with her Rod-Stewart-inspired voice, she rules! Kim is, I’m sure, the inspiration for many vocalists that came after her, and she remains one of the best and generally unique female singers of her era/genre. She’s also a terrific songwriter, which pushes her to the forefront of “special.”

Kim Mitchell

– Akimbo Alogo (1984) 4.50 stars
– Shakin’ Like a Human Being (1986) 4.50 stars
– Rockland (1989) 4.00 stars
– I Am a Wild Party (Live) (1990) 4.00 stars
– Aural Fixations (1992) 4.00 stars
– Itch (1994) 4.00 stars

Kimball Jamison

– Kimball Jamison (2011) 4.00 stars

Kimura

– Aleryon (2013) NOT RATED

Kinetic Element

– Powered by Light (2009) 3.50 stars
– Travelog (2015) 4.00 stars
– The Face Of Life (2019) NOT RATED

King Crimson

– In the Court of the Crimson King (1969) 4.00 stars
– In the Wake of Poseidon (1970) 3.50 stars
– Lizard (1970) 3.00 stars
– Islands (1971) NOT RATED
– Larks’ Tongues in Aspic (1973) 3.50 stars
– Starless and Bible Black (1974) 3.50 stars
– Red (1974) 4.00 stars
– Beat (1982) 1.50 stars

King Eider

– Somateria Spectabilis (2006) 4.00 stars

King Kobra

– Ready to Strike (1985) 3.00 stars
– Thrill of a Lifetime (1986) 3.50 stars
– King Kobra III (1988) 3.50 stars
– King Kobra (2011) 4.00 stars
– II (2013) 4.00 stars

King of Kings

– King of Kings (1991) NOT RATED

Kingcrow

– Timetropia (2006) NOT RATED
– Phlegethon (2010) 4.00 stars
– In crescendo (2013) 4.00 stars
– Eidos (2015) 4.00 stars

Kingdom Come (UK)

– Journey (1973) NOT RATED

Kingdom Come

– Kingdom Come (1988) 4.00 stars
– In Your Face (1989) 4.00 stars
– Hands of Time (1991) 3.50 stars

Kingfisher Sky

– Hallway of Dreams (2007) 4.00 stars
– Skin of the Earth (2010) 4.00 stars
– Arms of Morpheus (2014) 4.00 stars
– Technicoloured Eyes (2018) NOT RATED

KINGOFTHEHILL

– KINGOFTHEHILL (1991) 2.50 stars

Kings of the Sun

– Full Frontal Attack (1990) 2.00 stars

Kingpin

– Welcome to Bop City (1988) 4.00 stars

Kino

– Picture (2005) 4.50 stars
– Cutting Room Floor (2005) 4.50 stars

Kino was a short-lived project that produced only one album, Picture, although the band followed it with another album, Cutting Room Floor, which is an apt title considering it’s a compilation of live material and studio outtakes. Both releases are fine examples of classic, top-notch Prog-Rock. No surprise, since Pete Trawavas (bassist for Marillion and Transatlantic) is involved, plus the three other members (John Mitchell, John Beck, and Bob Dalton) would go on to reform the excellent band It Bites (John Mitchell replacing the original frontman Francis Dunnery). Therefore, high quality here. It’s sad the band didn’t last longer, but with It Bites continuing to deliver quality material—perhaps even better than the original line-up—I won’t complain too vehemently.

KISS

– KISS (1974) 3.50 stars
– Hotter Than Hell (1974) 3.50 stars
– Dressed to Kill (1975) 3.00 stars
– Alive! (1975) 5.00 stars
– Destroyer (1976) 3.50 stars
– Rock and Roll Over (1976) 4.50 stars
– Love Gun (1977) 3.50 stars
– Alive II (1977) 3.50 stars
– Dynasty (1979) 2.50 stars
– Unmasked (1980) 3.00 stars
– Music From The Elder (1981) 3.00 stars
– Creatures of the Night (1982) 4.50 stars
– Lick It Up (1983) 3.50 stars
– Animalize (1984) 3.50 stars
– Asylum (1985) 3.50 stars
– Crazy Nights (1987) 3.50 stars
– Hot in the Shade (1989) 3.50 stars
– Revenge (1992) 3.00 stars
– MTV Unplugged (1996) 3.50 stars
– Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions (1997) 2.50 stars
– Psycho Circus (1998) 3.00 stars
– Sonic Boom (2009) 3.50 stars
– Monster (2012) 4.00 stars

Kiss of the Gypsy

– Kiss of the Gypsy (1992) 3.00 stars

Kiuas

– The Spirit of Ukko (2005) 3.00 stars

Kix

– Cool Kids (1983) 3.00 stars
– Show Business (1995) 3.00 stars

Klaatu

– 3:47 EST (1976) NOT RATED
– Hope (1977) NOT RATED

The Knack

– Get the Knack (1979) 3.50 stars

Knekklectric

– For mange melodia (2017) NOT RATED

Knight Area

– The Sun Also Rises (2004) 4.00 stars
– Under a New Sign (2007) 4.00 stars
– Realm of Shadows (2009) 4.50 stars
– Nine Paths (2011) 4.50 stars
– Hyperdrive (2014) 4.00 stars
– Heaven and Beyond (2017) NOT RATED

Kompendium

– Beneath the Waves (2012) NOT RATED

Konchordat

– Rise to the Order (2016) 3.50 stars

Kotipelto

– Waiting for the Dawn (2002) 4.00 stars
– Coldness (2004) 4.00 stars
– Serenity (2007) 4.00 stars

Fans of Stratovarius and, in particular, its vocalist Timo Kotipelto, will most certainly enjoy Kotipelto’s self-named “side band.”

Kraan

– Kraan (1972) 4.00 stars
– Wintrup (1973) 3.50 stars
– Andy Nogger (1974) 4.00 stars
– Let It Out (1975) 3.50 stars
– Wiederhören (1977) 4.00 stars
– Flyday (1978) 3.00 stars

The Kris Norris Projekt

– Icons of the Illogical (2009) 3.50 stars

Krokodil

– An Invisible World Revealed (1971) 4.00 stars
– Getting Up for the Morning (1972) 3.50 stars
– Sweat and Swim (1973) 4.00 stars

Krokus

– Hardware (1981) 3.00 stars
– Headhunter (1983) 4.00 stars

Krypteria

– Bloodangel’s Cry (2007) 4.00 stars
– My Fatal Kiss (2009) 3.50 stars
– All Beauty Must Die (2011) 4.00 stars

Sometimes I really love this German band, whereas at other times I’m a bit “blah” when it comes to the music. It truly depends on which album I’m hearing, since the style alters a bit with each release. At times Krypteria has a bit of a Power Metal sound with a spattering of a Lacuna Coil or an Evanescence-type of Alternate Metal tossed in, whereas at other times the band has a highly Symphonic or Gothic rock sound crammed with choirs, and stark piano passages countered with choruses using dense orchestration. Well, whichever style Krypteria playS, at least you’re guaranteed better-than-average female singing, thanks to the vocalist, an Asian lady named Ji-In Cho. And she does sing the lyrics, not belt them. In fact, Ji-In’s voice isn’t the strongest I’ve ever heard, but she is always accurate in pitch, and her overall tone is quite pleasant.

Kultivator

– Barndomens Stigar (1981) NOT RATED

Kurgan’s Bane

– The Future Lies Broken (2000) NOT RATED
– Camouflaged in Static (2005) NOT RATED

Kyros

– Vox Humana (2016) 4.50 stars

Kyuss

– Kyuss [Welcome to Sky Valley] (1994) 3.00 stars