News: TILES Announces New Live Performances; Mike Portnoy Video Endorsement For Pretending 2 Run Album Posted‏

Detroit prog quartet TILES has confirmed several new live appearances in the weeks ahead, and in addition, the band has just issued a short new video endorsement from Mike Portnoy.

 

Mike Portnoy (The Winery Dogs, Flying Colors, Dream Theater) praises the new TILES double albumPretending 2 Run backstage after the Winery Dogs show in Detroit. Portnoy and his son Max (Next To None) supply guest drums to the album - simultaneously, the first time the two have been recorded together - in addition to other luminaries including Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull), Adam Holzman (Steven Wilson), Mike Stern (Miles Davis), Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree) and Kim Mitchell. The record was produced by Terry Brown (Rush, Fates Warning) and is finished with artwork by Hugh Syme (Iron Maiden, Rush, Dream Theater).

 

See the new mini-video HERE.

 

Following their recent Northeastern US tour with Laser's Edge labelmates District 97, TILES has confirmed several new live performances for the Summer and early Fall months. The new gigs include a hometown show August 13th with Laser's Edge kin Iris Divine as well as Mindmaze and Mare Crisium, followed by back-to-back shows September 29th and 30th at the Cleveland and Detroit nights of Sonic Voyage Fest alongside Circuline and Stratospheerius. Further updates will follow.

 

TILES Live:

8/13/2016 Token Lounge - Detroit, MI w/ Mindmaze, Iris Divine, Mare Crisium [info]

9/29/2016 Wilberts - Cleveland, OH @ Sonic Voyage Fest w/ Circuline, Stratospheerius [info]

9/30/2016 Token Lounge - Detroit, MI @ Sonic Voyage Fest w/ Circuline, Stratospheerius [info]

 

Released in April through the Laser's Edge Group, Pretending 2 Run is sitting comfortably in the Top 20 of many monthly readers' polls throughout Europe and is being hailed as one of 2016's best Prog albums. PROG issued, "the Detroiters really turn up the heat," calling the band's delivery, "imaginative, expansive, colorful, diverse and more satisfying than ever." Classic Rock claims, "whoever invests their time into Pretending 2 Run will have enjoyed every single second." All Music stated, "Who says the concept album is dead? Brilliant." iO Pages says, "TILES is still at the top of the progressive rock world. Pretending 2 Run will finish high in many year-end lists." Says Eclipsed, "Pretending 2 Run is an enormously complex album that reveals new secrets with each play." Progression Magazine rated the record 4/5 including, "This album clearly sounds as if it took years to make. 'Shelter In Place'... ranks as one of the strongest, most memorable tunes in the band's catalog."

 

Sea Of Tranquility's 4.5/5 review boasts, "In a year when we've seen two longtime prog veterans, Dream Theater and TILES, release lengthy concept albums, I have to give TILES the nod as the more successful of the two..." Music Connection's review includes, "they've upped the ante by giving the listener a double disc with an engaging storyline, meticulously arranged string and choral pieces, sweet vocal harmonies and tuneful jam-based rock, fusion and world beat sounds," and About.com's 4/5 review said, "Pretending 2 Run gives prog rock fans everything they could want in a big album." Headbanger's Lifestyle praised, "TILES has delivered a real masterpiece extraordinaire," and Absolute Zero Media notes, "Lush and epic prog metal - very, very impressive!" Musipedia Of Metal hails, "A progressive masterpiece. With so many great prog albums this year already, Pretending 2 Run could possibly be the best." Polyprisma issued, "TILES has created something technically breathtaking and far beyond the norm," and Profil Prog crowns the record, "A jewel of originality. Highly recommended!"

 

Stream the 24 bit version of Pretending 2 Run RIGHT HERE, see the "Shelter In Place" videoHERE, and the "Weightless" lyric video HERE.

 

Pretending 2 Run is out now worldwide through Laser's Edge; physical orders can be placed HEREand digital HERE.