Nathan started playing piano at age 3, and started playing Pong shortly thereafter. Picking up a high school girlfriend's bass, he cofounded Strychnine -- an all-originals progressive metal band in Vancouver, British Columbia -- where he played bass, keyboards, and sang whenever he wasn't programming videogames, studying music theory, and slouching through classes. Nathan then enrolled at premier videogame development school DigiPen Institute of Technology in the Seattle area, and musically scored several of the videogame projects he completed while earning his degree in Realtime Simulations Engineering (Honors). He began writing the material that became synecron in between semesters. synecron gradually took shape during vacations from professionally developing videogames for Crystal Dynamics/Eidos (Project Snowblind, Tomb Raider Legend, Tomb Raider Underworld), PlanetMoon/THQ (Drawn to Life The Next Chapter [Wii]) and GiantSparrow/Sony (The Unfinished Swan). synecron was finally recorded in 2012 with some of Nathan's favorite musicians. Nathan continues to take great joy in videogame programming "to the metal" and technical instrumental workouts. © 2013. All Rights Reserved. http://nathanfrostmusic.com/bio
Virtuoso Nathan Frost makes his debut on the metal scene, Synecron, his album, six songs, one with two drums versions, 52 minutes of instrumental progressive metal music with fusion and neoclassical sounds, Nathan played keyboards, piano and bass, Virgil Donati and Marco Minemann on drums, Marco Sfogli and Taka Minamino on guitars, Derek Sherinian as keyboard engineer and a unique solo at the first theme. Fascinating musical proposal by Nathan, the result for several years of recordings and mixes, finally here, this album is powerful and innovative, the musicians involved in this project are truly masters, just listen every track, great performance. Very interesting thing is that the same song Empire Rising was recorded two times, Empire Rising 505 AD with Virgil Donati, and Empire Rising 2000 AD with Marco Minemann, both versions are fantastic, completely innovative, never made it before, it’s amazing how each drummer shows his creativity. Samsara is a masterpiece played with classical piano, it´s fantastic, Nathan is a virtuoso musician, he shows us with this song, enjoy it. 9.5 / 10. Buy This Album. - By & © Chuy Monjarás © Perfectprog.com 2013 http://www.perfectprog.com/site/index.php/reviews/226-nathan-frost-synecron-2013
Not content to just produce the debut solo album from former Aphelion keyboard ace Allesandro Bertoni (Keystone), Derek Sherinian is also at the helm here on Synecron, the brand new release from keyboard player/bassist/composer and video game developer Nathan Frost. Also on board for this wild prog/jazz-fusion affair are drummers Virgil Donati (Planet X) & Marco Minnemann (Tony MacAlpine, Paul Gilbert, Mike Keneally), guitarists Marco Sfogli (James LaBrie, Creation's End) & Tako Minamino (Derek Sherinian) and violinist Rosemars Siemens. Six tracks in total on Synecron, and it's a high spirited, exciting ride from start to finish, as each song clocks in at over 6+ minutes and allows for plenty of sizzling performances from the players. The opening & closing "Empire Rising, 2000 AM" and "Empire Rising, 505 AD" are basically the same song, but with Donati on one and Minnemann on the other. Each track has subtle differences, but if it's a torrid ride through dazzling heavy fusion you are looking for, you've come to the right place. Frost, and even Sherinian on this one, deliver some stunning keyboard lines, and look for hot guitar licks from both Sfogli & Minamino plus plenty of drum acrobatics. "Singularity" is another winner, plenty melodic and complete with addicting keyboard hooks, scorching guitar, and impressive drum fills from Donati. Frost shows his prowess on the bass during the more atmospheric & majestic prog rock track "Empire Falling". This one also features some commanding Hammond organ, intricate drums courtesy of Minnemann, and Rosemars' haunting violin, not to mention some shredding guitar by Mr. Minamino. The lovely "Samsaara" is all Frost, who displays a deft touch on the piano, while "Consilience" is a crunchy, groove laden progressive metal juggernaut. Minamino's thick riffs play off some nimble synth melodies from Frost, until the guitarist unleashes and gets into a duel with the keyboard wiz as Minnemann lays down some jaw dropping fills underneath. Pretty impressive stuff here from a guy I'm sure we'll be hearing much more from in the very near future. Having such an all star cast around certainly doesn't hurt, but Nathan Frost has the musical chops as well as the songwriting skills to be a player on the instrumental progressive metal/jazz-fusion scene. **** – Reviewed by & © Pete Pardo October 23rd 2013 © 2004 Sea Of Tranquility http://www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=15290
For over thirteen years, Nathan Frost honed the distinctively ultra-progressive, genre-fusing, stream-of-consciousness metal that became “synecron” in between developing high-profile videogames. When he was finally afforded the time to record, he contacted Derek Sherinian (ex-Dream Theater, PlanetX, Yngwie Malmsteen) — mostly since he lived nearby in LA, and Nathan thought it would be a fun excuse to email one of his personal musical heroes. When Derek heard the material, he offered to produce and engineer Nathan’s keyboards. Nathan already had a clear vision for the music, and didn’t feel the need for an outside producer, but it didn’t take long for Derek to demonstrate that his Beachwood Manor Studios indeed had “the killer everything” (his words), and that he effortlessly grasped Nathan’s aesthetic and how to push the already-progressive compositions to a new level of complexity. After putting the music through the Derek filter (including inspired arrangements involving his custom Hammond B3 organ setup, modern and vintage hardware synthesizers, and other keyboard wizardry), Sherinian introduced Nathan to another of his musical heroes — drummer Virgil Donati (PlanetX, Steve Vai, Allan Holdsworth) — and some of the best performers in progressive metal today: drummer Marco Minnemann (Tony Macalpine, Kreator, Paul Gilbert), and guitarists Marco Sfogli (James LaBrie, Jordan Rudess, Alex Argento, Creation’s End) and Taka Minamino (Derek Sherinian). Painstakingly mixed and mastered by veteran sound engineer Steven Seibold (Hate Dept, Pigface, Information Society), the compositions take the listener through an intricate musical journey overflowing with dramatic twists, virtuosic performances and uncompromising creativity. - By & © Nikola Savić on October 7, 2013 © 2010-2014 Prog Sphere & Prog Sphere Promotions. All rights reserved. http://www.prog-sphere.com/news/nathan-frost-to-release-synecron/
"Fascinating musical proposal...Nathan is a virtuoso musician...powerful and innovative, the musicians involved in this project are truly masters...9.5/10...great performance." - PerfectProg
"...new and fresh...heavy brutal riffs...progressive style...exceptional definition of what I call music..." - The Center of the Metal
"amazing guitar...grandiose drumming...breathtaking solos...but most of all well-crafted tunes!" - Heavy Paradise
"Frost has some serious prog ambitions for his debut album of heavy progressive instrumental metal...Frost plays keyboards and bass, has written some fantastic songs...top-notch lineup of producer Derek Sherinian, guitarists Tako Minamino and Marco Sfogli as well as two of the greatest drummers on the planet, Marco Minnemann and Virgil Donati... If you dig bands like Planet X this one is a must have." - Prog Metal Zone New Releases
"...produced by Derek Sherinian...features guitarists Marco Sfogli (from James LaBrie)...Taka Minamino and oh, by the way, he’s got two drummers on alternating songs – Virgil Donati and Marco Minneman!...Frost even had the brilliant idea of using them on different versions of the same song, Empire Rising...the album more than met my expectations...It's an exciting and dynamic recording that strikes a great balance between intelligent, progressive compositions, heavy grooves and masterful soloing. The recording is amazing too – the low-end is fantastic and you can really hear everything the two drummers are doing which is really a treat...the music has an epic storytelling quality...Synecron is a great album for fans of instrumental metal, especially if you’re looking for music that’s extremely well-composed and has a great cinematic feel to it." - Prog Metal Zone Review
"...a high spirited, exciting ride from start to finish...addicting keyboard hooks, scorching guitar...plus plenty of drum acrobatics...Frost, and...Sherinian...deliver some stunning keyboard lines...hot guitar licks from both Sfogli & Minamino...intricate drums courtesy of Minnemann...Frost shows his prowess on the bass...impressive drum fills from Donati...Having such an all star cast...certainly doesn't hurt, but Nathan Frost has the musical chops as well as the songwriting skills to be a player on the instrumental progressive metal/jazz-fusion scene." - Sea of Tranquility
"...quite a demanding ride, where the neo-classical furious shredding of Taka Minamino is the most immediate recognizable recurring element...something truly progressive and virtuosic should appeal to all prog enthusiasts out there. People missing the Liquid Tension Experiment they love can also get their dose here!" - Lords of Metal
"Bombastic, emotionally resonant, inspiring...each of the tracks flows smoothly into the next...listening to Synecron takes me back to those first times I heard Rising Force or King Crimson or Queensryche. It's a great album..." - iTunes reviewer Magnificent Weez
"I have come to the conclusion that Nathan Frost is one seriously talented guy. Yes, he is surrounded by a stellar cast on this recording but, you never feel he is out of his depth and he definitely has the musical talent to live with the big boys. This guy has a long and successful future ahead of him and Synecron, as a debut release, is a notably impressive slab of jazz/prog fusion that certainly stays long in the memory." - Lady Obscure
"NATHAN FROST is a highly talented musician...SYNECRON... features some of the best musicians in the Progressive Metal world...Nathan has assembled some of the best in the business and come out with one of the best Progressive Instrumental albums I have heard in a long time... The creativity, craftsmanship and musical talent is absolutely amazing. If you consider yourself not a fan of Progressive Instrumental, then you need to listen to SYNECRON and you will find yourself listening to it over and over and finding something new each time. Simply amazing!" - Beowulf Productions
Wild, creative, and brilliantly structured progressive metal jazz fusion of the highest calibre from the virtuoso multi-instrumentalist Nathan Frost. Nathan is assisted by a few giants of fusion including Marco Sfogli on guitar, and the legendary Marco Minnemann and Virgil Donati on drums. HR by A.O.O.F.C. [All tracks @ 320 Kbps: File size = 120 Mb]
TRACKS
1. Empire Rising, 2000 AD (feat. Marco Minnemann, Taka Minamino, Derek Sherinian & Marco Sfogli) (8:09)
2. Singularity (feat. Virgil Donati, Marco Sfogli & Taka Minamino) (9:33)
3. Empire Falling (feat. Marco Minnemann & Taka Minamino) (10:24)
4. Samsaara (8:56)
5. Consilience (feat. Marco Minnemann & Taka Minamino) (6:43)
6. Empire Rising, 505 AD (feat. Virgil Donati, Taka Minamino, Derek Sherinian & Marco Sfogli) (8:16)
All tracks composed by Nathan Frost
MUSICIANS
Marco Sfogli, Taka Minamino - Guitars on Tracks 1, 2, 6
Nathan Frost - Bass, Keyboards, Piano
Derek Sherinian - Keyboards on Tracks 1, 6
Marco Minnemann - Drums on Tracks 1, 3, 5
Virgil Donati - Drums on Tracks 2, 6
Rosemars Siemens - Violin on Track 3
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