For those not in the know, IZZ is a New York-based progressive rock band with its music being inspired by such classic progressive groups as Genesis, Yes, King Crimson, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and Renaissance.

Often infused with pop hooks à la The Beatles the band's name comes from the nickname of baseball relief pitcher Jason Isringhausen, who was once on the New York Mets, a team favored by John Galgano (vocals and keyboards).

IZZ’s debut album Sliver of a Sun was released back in 1998 to which they followed that up with I Move (2002), Ampersand Volume 1. (2004), My River Flows (2005), IZZ Live at NEARfest (2007), The Darkened Room (2009), Crush of Night (2012), and both Everlasting Instant (2015) and then Ampersand, Volume 2 (2016).

The group has performed at American progressive rock festivals RoSfest, NEARfest, The Rogue Independent Music Festival, CalProg, and ProgDay.

Centered around the 18+ minute epic, '42', their brand new album Don't Panic bears all the hallmarks of what has made IZZ one of the brightest lights in the US progressive rock scene.

Indeed, the band's 9th studio album reveals a fresh, new energy evidenced immediately by the title track's driving bass and catchy hooks to the unpredictable musical twists of the album closer 'Age of Stars' to the instrumental tour-de-force that is 'Moment of Inertia,' to the exquisite classical guitar piece, 'Six String Theory'.

1. 'Don't Panic' (4:25)
2. '42' (18:41)
3. 'Six String Theory' (2:07)
4. 'Moment of Inertia' (9:46)
5. 'Age of Star' (8:59)

The album kicks off with the brilliant title track 'Don't Panic,' within which you will find your foot tapping out the melodic mid-tempo, free flowing bass lines well before the midway point and backs that up with the aforementioned near twenty minute long epic, '42.'

This musical opus displays the band in full force as all four vocalists - Anmarie Byrnes, Laura Meade, John Galgano, and Tom Galgano - create melodies and harmonies around the intersecting and connected sections of the piece; while guitarist Paul Bremner, and drummers, Greg DiMiceli and Brian Coralian bring the song's powerful, dynamic, and emotional arrangement to life.

The absolutely breathtakingly precise and crisply executed classical guitar piece 'Six String Theory' just so happens to be my own personal favorite here (although I wish it had gone on longer than just two minutes) and that's backed by a beautifully arranged classical instrumental 'Moment of Inertia.'

This delightful and highly emotive new album then rounds out with the storytelling reveals of 'Age of Stars,' another melodic mid-tempo track that incorporates and showcases everything that is great about this group.

Amazon CD Purchase Link

www.izzmusic.com