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 Axis by AXIS album cover Studio Album, 1973
3.82 | 46 ratings

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Axis
Axis Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by BrufordFreak
Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

4 stars The response to the Anglo-Italian progressive rock phenomenon from a very competent Greek band. Weird to see and hear a prog band that has no guitarists.

1. "Waiting a Long Time" (4:26) more like across between URIAH HEEP and BLACK SABBATH. I like it but this is not Jazz- Rock Fusion. Really nice work on the keyboards. (8.875/10)

2. "Sewers Down Inside" (6:19) moody atmospheric music trying to be both Jazz-Rock Fusion and Space Music at the same time--like Stomu Yamash'ta's Go project. The vocals at the end sound like familiar. (9.125/10)

3. "Materializing the Unlimited" (5:03) Where the benefit of two drummers shows. Again, I love the creativity of keyboard maestro Demis Visvikis. Kind of long and drawn out with the raunchy, dirty imitation guitar two chords played over and over. (8.75/10)

4. "Asymphonia I" (5:05) piano, double bass, and percussion in an old-fashioned jazz style. Goes Don Pullen and Stanley Clarke in the third minute with its pounded piano chords and bowed bass. Nice drumming as well. (8.875/10)

5. "Suspended Precipice" (1:48) a jazzy composition that at times seems more advanced on the J-R Fuze evolutionary scale, but also slips into older blues-rock forms at times, and then bleeds into/becomes the next song. (4.5/5)

6. "Roads" (5:05) slowed down and bluesy while also projecting from the bass a little "Lucky Man" 'tude, then goes more jazz-rogue as the Demis launches into his solo. The drums and bass sound so good! I wish the electric piano solo were a little more creative or proggy. There's an interesting drum solo in an extended section of the second half with a kazoo-sounding Canterbury Hammond organ solo to follow. They're obviously giving a little nod to The Softs as well. Rated up purely for the awesome groove and sound presented by the rhythm section. (9/10)

7. "Asymphonia II" (2:50) bleeding over from "Roads," we slide back into the near free-for-all of Don Pullen/Ornette Coleman-like free jazz: for the first 90 seconds everybody is just going Animal wild, and then they try to incorporate space and pauses into their performances as if to try to trick one another! Interesting! Excellent skills on display; it's just not the most satisfying music to listen to. (8.75/10)

8. "Dancing Percussion" (2:38) another display of atmospheric keyboard work over which the band creates of a percussion-generated wall of sound. (4.375/5)

9. "Pa Vu Ga Di" (3:44) organ and choir sounding like Mellotron but it's real church music (from a real church setting?) Percussion starts getting a little loose and then, at 2:35, the drums, bass, and organ go full rock beneath the church choir. Interesting! I've rarely considered bringing prog into the church service! It's more common to try to bring church sounds and stylings into the prog studio. (8.75/10)

10. "The Planet Vavoura" (4:05) back to hard-drivin' rock-infused jazz-rock. The bass and drums are motoring while Demis tries to capture that Canterbury sax-saw-organ sound for a pseudo-sax solo over the top. Mellotron enters and slows everybody down for a bit before the band reconvenes for a dramatic finish. (8.875/10)

Total Time 41:03

The album starts off with absolutely no connection to the Jazz-Rock Fusion movement, but then, rather surprisingly, turns jazzy in the middle--a commitment that the band then maintains over the course of the rest of the album.

B+/four stars; a very good exhibition of prog rock from some very fine, very talented musicians. The songs just needed a little more polish and refinement.

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 Nightmare Memory by STARKWEATHER album cover Singles/EPs/Fan Club/Promo, 2013
4.00 | 1 ratings

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Nightmare Memory
Starkweather Tech/Extreme Prog Metal

Review by theaqua

— First review of this album —
4 stars ''21 Minutes of insanely heavy rffs reminiscent of nightmares''

there is a type of band that releases material and then rarely appears, that hides in the shadows with an unpredictable nature and then releases other material and disappears again, Starkweather is that type of band.

Nightmare Memory is my first contact with this band and this little 21 minute EP is very solid, they are a Metalcore band, but not the kind of Metalcore you expect, and the first song on the EP ''Armed Memory'' already hits with full force, atonal and heavy metalcore riffs with a distorted virtuosity and along with that, from Harry Rosa versatile drum and Todd Forkin crazy guitar to Rennie Resmini vocals, I particularly like them, they are quite original and he sings with agonizing and frightening way that contributes greatly to the overall atmosphere of this EP.

''Armed Memory'' is a very solid track that surprised me because of how overwhelming and strident it is, everything is executed very well, and then comes my favorite track and the last one ''Nightmare Factory'' is a spectacle and further elevates its predecessor, an abstract cinematic flow of insanely raucous metalcore riffs, a tortured and distorted atmosphere, with a very interesting and frightening progression, it genuinely feels like a nightmare, and it ends in a way that wow...if It equates to El Mundo Frio from Corrupted for me in terms of atmosphere.

Starkweather is characterized by extreme metalcore riffs and cinematic structure with avant-garde and prog touches and abstract lyrics, and on Nightmare Memory they do this masterfully, it's not an EP that I could call a masterpiece, but the way they play is so unique and interesting and executed so well that I highly recommend it, however, I only recommend this EP to those who can or like listening to heavy music, what's here may not please many and Starkweather is certainly inaccessible, but overall, an excellent EP.

8.8/10

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 It Leads to This by PINEAPPLE THIEF, THE album cover Studio Album, 2024
4.03 | 64 ratings

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It Leads to This
The Pineapple Thief Crossover Prog

Review by David_ProgCritique

5 stars A highly anticipated record from the start of 2024, here is The Pineapple Thief back with 'It Leads To This'. So "what does this lead to?" Even if three years were necessary for the conception of this record, we cannot say that the members of the group were really idle during this period: for example, Bruce Soord (singer, guitarist) released his solo album 'Luminescence' last year, and Gavin Harrison (drums) was a little busy with another of his bands: Porcupine Tree . We are also entitled to wonder if the latter, since his arrival behind the drums, has not in some way become the star of the group, as his type of playing and his mastery of the instrument seem to put all the emphasis on world okay. Listening to 'It Leads To This', he captivates again, not because he takes all the light, but on the contrary by his very intelligent way of putting himself at the service of the compositions and the interpretation of the band. It is therefore as a true ensemble, where everyone takes part in the construction of the work, that we find The Pineapple Thief for a "collected" album made up of 8 tracks, lasting just over 40 minutes, and where precision is not (once again) lacking.

The album starts gently with "Put It Right", a melancholy track based on piano accompaniment highlighted by a superb drum groove. The title does not hesitate to leave space, takes its time, breathes, and this will be the case for other pieces throughout the album. And of course the production is 5 stars, each instrument, each intervention finds its place perfectly in a clear mix.

The sound hardens slightly with "Rubicon" where the guitars are out. And it is again the rhythmic changes printed by the drums which give a beautiful dynamic to the piece.

A great bass line supports the song "It Leads To This" throughout its duration, including during the excellent chorus. It's one of the most interesting tracks on the album which manages to combine a certain requirement in terms of implementation and a catchy melody.

Another single, "The Frost" seems to be more direct, more Rock? until you listen to the verses where the odd rhythm is crazy, before a chorus that immediately grabs the ear.

Return of this melancholy draped in high quality instrumentation, so characteristic of the group, on "All That's Left". Then a seemingly simple plan on acoustic guitar launches a more furious passage that is rather unexpected. This is one of Pineapple Thief 's strengths: managing to vary the atmospheres within the same title by playing with volume, sounds, silences.

These chords on the piano and this drum rhythm on "Now It's Yours" recall the Bowie of "Five Years". One of the most emotionally charged pieces on the record with sublime arrangements.

At the risk of repeating myself, what a drum groove again on "Every Trace Of Us"! This one is also marked by an interesting harmony on the chorus, the doubling of voices, a particularly aggressive bass, a bridge/solo of guitar and keyboards.

A beautiful acoustic guitar arpeggio opens the last track "To Forget", where Bruce Soord 's voice travels high to better support a beautiful emotion, and where the arrangements / mixing / interpretation combo once again reaches heights.

It's possible to criticize 'It Leads To This' for a lack of risk-taking, orchestral ambition or complete twist. No long epic here, nor any extended solos or barely contained rage. No, Pineapple Thief maintains a classy grace by bringing a care to his compositions that few artists are capable of achieving. The group masters its element, forging a mixture of complexity (rhythmic in particular) and quite admirable melodic purity. A falsely calm force in a way.

Review originally posted on www.progcritique.com.

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 Fiction by SYNCATTO album cover Studio Album, 2024
3.09 | 2 ratings

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Fiction
Syncatto Progressive Metal

Review by David_ProgCritique

3 stars I have an attraction to instrumental music, which is rather technical and gives pride of place to the guitar. It turns out that this musical niche is particularly active. Today we are interested in the artist Syncatto (behind whom hides the guitarist Charlie Robbins, member of the group Artificial Language ). This one is part of the talented technical guitarists having adopted a contemporary sound and rhythmic elements in the lineage of Plini , Polyphia , Intervals , etc... But what I found particularly interesting on this album, besides the quality of the compositions and the virtuosity of the performer, is the electric guitar/classical guitar mixture which occurs several times, starting with the first title "Fiction". "Nightfall" offers us a dizzying episode in palm-muting at 100 miles per hour which recalls Nuno Bettencourt and follows with a flamenco-acoustic atmosphere which refers to "Playing God" by Polyphia . Note, several "featuring" on the disc, including the group Arch Echo ("Prestige") which shares the same musical family as Syncatto , an unexpected violin solo by Coen Strouken on a genre of Tango called "Black Velvet", while the inevitable Jordan Rudess comes to add a few keyboard notes on "Midnight Mass". Short titles, quality compositions, virtuosity you name it, it would be a shame to deprive yourself...

Review originally posted on www.progcritique.com.

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 Child of Bliss by JOHNSTON, NICK  album cover Studio Album, 2024
3.00 | 2 ratings

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Child of Bliss
Nick Johnston Crossover Prog

Review by David_ProgCritique

3 stars I have a little obsession with instrumental albums by guitarists who revolve around Progressive Rock or Jazz-Fusion. Today on the program, no work intended for specialists of the genre, full of hair-raising technical demonstrations devoid of sensitivity, but a perfectly accessible record focused on the melodic aspects. 'Child of Bliss' is the seventh solo album by Canadian Nick Johnston who already has behind him a solid career littered with participation in albums by other artists (Polyphia, Periphery, Intervals,?). The record follows the tradition of both technical and popular guitarists like Joe Satriani or Steve Vai, with blues components ā la Jeff Beck or Robert Cray and more contemporary Shred touches worthy of John Petrucci. This album is also marked by the use of acoustic guitar ("Child of Bliss", "Voice on the Wind") and rich orchestral scores ("Momento Vivere", "Little Thorn", "Moonflower"). Album inspired and dedicated to his wife, 'Child of Bliss' is a lovely testimony to the gentleness and sensitivity of Nick Johnston and his guitar.

Review originally posted on www.progcritique.com.

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 From Within by ANEKDOTEN album cover Studio Album, 1999
4.09 | 485 ratings

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From Within
Anekdoten Heavy Prog

Review by TenYearsAfter

5 stars Looking back at all those Post Eighties Prog Bands I wrote about since the early 90s Swedish formation Anekdoten is one of my most beloved ones. That's why I still feel very lucky that I have seen the band twice, and for sure a beautiful and skilled female musician playing on a Mellotron is a pleasant rarity!

Anekdoten is rooted in 1990, as King Edward, performing songs from King Crimson. When in 1991 Anna Sofi Dahlberg joined King Edward this inspired them to intensify their rehearsals, to write own compositions, and to rename the band into Anekdoten. Next Anekdoten released two demo-tapes under their new name, in 1991 and 1992. With the second demo things started to roll for Anekdoten, because several Skandinavian progressive rock labels showed their attention and invited Anekdoten to make a CD on their label. But the band preferred to release their debut album entitled Vemod on their own label in the Spring of 1993. The press hailed the obviously King Crimson inspired and Mellotron drenched compositions and Anekdoten started to become a hot prog band! Two years after their highly acclaimed debut Anekdoten released the successor entitled Nucleus, this album showcased the band its huge potential and was also welcomed very warmly, by the fans and the press. This review is about their third effort entitled From Within, in my opinion the band at their artistic peak. Incredible how Anekdoten shifted from an obviously King Crimson inspired band into a progrock unit with an own musical identity, with trademark Anekdoten elements: a hugh tension between the mellow and heavy and bombastic parts, embellished with fiery and howling electric guitar, an aggressive and propulsive bass, splendid drum work, an omnipresent Mellotron, and often melancolical vocals, adding dark undertones to the music.

The only obvious King Crimson inspired track on From Within is Groundbound featuring biting Fripperian guitarwork and intense Mellotron violins, in the vein of ITCOTCK.

In the titletrack and the songs Kiss Of Life and Slow Fire the climates frequently change from mellow with twanging guitars and soft Mellotron to propulsive and bombastic with fiery guitarplay, an agressive bass, majestic Mellotron eruptions and excellent drum work, very compelling music.

And I am pleasantly surprised with the variety of the songs.

Firefly : Mellow electric guitars, cello and piano.

The Sun Absolute : A simple basic rhythm, coloured with vibraphone, cello and an intense Mellotron sound.

For someone : Twanging acoustic - and electric guitars with fragile vocals and cello.

Hole : This highight contains awesome shifting moods, from a heavy wall of Mellotron and guitar to soft interludes featuring sensitive vocals, guitar and Mellotron, and delicate instrumental passages, embellished with vibraphone and Hammond organ.

After all those years I still consider this Anekdoten album as a masterpiece, it keeps on carrying me to a Swedish Progwalhalla, To Retro Prog Heaven .... and hail to The Tron!

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 Fauna by HAKEN album cover Studio Album, 2023
3.82 | 192 ratings

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Fauna
Haken Heavy Prog

Review by A Crimson Mellotron
Prog Reviewer

4 stars Haken return in 2023 with full power with the release of their 'Fauna' album, and not only do they have a new (old) band member, but also present an album that seems to have a little bit of everything that essentially makes them who they are musically. After their experiments with the much popular brand of progressive metal known as djent, characterized by down-tuning and palm-muted strings, as they tried it out on their distortion-loaded 'Vector' and 'Virus' albums, the band seems to have now embraced their more traditional guitar tuning technique as well as their "whimsical" progressive origins, presenting a plethora of phantasmagorical sounds on this colorful and triumphant album.

Original keyboard player Pete Jones rejoins his bandmates after the departure of the very skillful Diego Tejeida, and immediately impacts the band's musical direction, as it seems with this record. On 'Fauna' there are seemingly no rules, everyone is allowed to go further on with the compositions' development, leading to some interesting, experimental and unconventional moments for Haken. For example, opener 'Taurus' is a heavy and excellent reminder of where the band left off their sound previously, while 'Nightingale' is a very intricate mini-opus that sees the band embrace a more minimal, yet rich approach to the song's unraveling. Track three is 'The Alphabet of Me', a great surprise on the album as on this song Haken embrace a very anthemic and almost poppy approach, a very memorable beautiful track. So far it seems like this is in a way a reformed Haken, they certainly remain themselves but the music is exquisitely fresh and inspired, and this feel has penetrated the whole release by all means.

The next two tracks are more in the realm of what for this band could be considered "traditional" progressive metal, with all the playful chops and tempo changes, whereas the excellent vocals of Ross Jennings shine through as usual. Very satisfying, playful and bombastic sound of the album so far, every song seems to be a world of its own, yet there are a few recurring elements like the frequent mention of animals, the wacky keyboard parts, or even the jazzier bits that are played quite tastefully every time they appear. 'Island in the Clouds' continues in the same vein, while 'Lovebite' allows Haken to further try on some "poppier" writing, to average results. The big 11-minute track 'Elephants Never Forget' is a true rollercoaster and exactly what one could expect from the Brits upon seeing the song's playtime - all the madness is there! 'Eyes of Ebony' closes off the album in a more tranquil manner, while it could be argued whether this track is actually necessary, or the previous one could have been a more appropriate album closer, but this doesn't really matter too much, as the entirety of 'Fauna' is excellent, the album sits very well in Haken's catalogue and helps them expand their sound in the most thrilling of ways.

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 Pictures by MINDSPEAK album cover Studio Album, 2014
3.66 | 23 ratings

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Pictures
Mindspeak Crossover Prog

Review by Smurfreviews

4 stars Review #18

Prog newcomers from Vienna!

Today I would like to introduce a talented band from Vienna. I discovered them recently by chance and was immediately impressed by their musicality. What's more, the band members are still very young and therefore represent a whole new generation, which in this case more than impressively proves that prog is no longer just music for old, gray men.

The five-piece band "Mindspeak" released an emotional concept album called "Pictures" right at the start of their career (2014), which deals with the inner thoughts of a fragile coma patient. Thus, the themes of life and death are close to each other, which are skillfully handled in four versatile compositions. Despite their age, the band's sound is less oriented towards modern sound elements, but combines the musical aspects of neo- and retro- prog very skillfully and tastefully. But before neo-prog haters stop reading now, I would like to point out the extremely multi-faceted and powerful songwriting. Because here the band has done everything that makes the progressive heart beat faster. Short and long songs, loud and quiet guitars, warm keyboard pads and piano parts, time and rhythm changes, dynamic changes and the most important thing of all: passion and strong melodies. Lead singer Viktoria Simon floats over all the songs with her expressive and strikingly pleasant voice, garnishing the song structures with her melodic arcs and polyphonic vocal tracks and impressing with her authentic performance of the general album theme. The instrumental interplay is noticeable after repeated listens that the band members integrate various musical influences into the respective songs without blurring the spirit of the album and the identity of the band.

I would particularly like to emphasize the twenty-minute core song "The Big Sleep" at this point. It very convincingly represents the skills of the five young musicians, as all six parts of the song were composed conceptually outstanding. The melodies are immediately catchy, the neo-prog part alternates perfectly with the retro-prog feel, arcs of tension are built up, musical motifs are skillfully processed over time and, last but not least, the band creates a curiosity in the listener to keep listening until the end.

In the end, a clean, transparent and powerful production rounds off the progressive listening pleasure and leaves me with a lot of joy and curiosity about the second album "Eclipse Chaser", which I will also be reviewing soon. Until then, you should definitely listen to "Pictures" and immerse yourself in the musically diverse world of "Mindspeak". It's definitely worth it!

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 The Great Cold Distance by KATATONIA album cover Studio Album, 2006
3.98 | 102 ratings

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The Great Cold Distance
Katatonia Progressive Metal

Review by A Crimson Mellotron
Prog Reviewer

4 stars 'The Great Cold Distance' is Katatonia's seventh studio album, released in 2006 and following what is perhaps the band's two strongest consecutive albums to date, 'Last Fair Deal Gone Down' and 'Viva Emptiness', not just chronologically but also stylistically as it consolidated the Swedes' transition from doom and death metal to a more alternative style of heavy music with many intricate and interesting moments, certainly inspired by their comrades Opeth and Porcupine Tree, among other bands, and what they were doing at the time [talking about the early and mid-2000s], experimenting with the progressive side of rock and metal. This release, however, completes in a glorious manner what could be considered a very successful trinity of classic albums for this band, as it is entirely on par with the two aforementioned ones and stands on its own as a very important pillar in Katatonia's catalogue.

This album, while necessarily heavy and vibrant, as the firepower-loaded riffs pierce the album, remains very consistent all throughout, it displays a very intelligent album architecture that does not compromise the experience of hearing the album and enjoying every single minute of it. As usual, the duo of Jonas Renkse and Anders Nyström is responsible for the writing of the album, also assisting Jens Bogren in the production about which one could not point out to any flaws. The entire thing sounds quite good, absolutely menacing and emotive, all instruments are able to impact the songs just the right way, and the vocals are impeccable, yet hauntingly beautiful in every single number on here.

Needless to say, this record gives us some of the band's absolute classics, like 'My Twin', 'Deliberation' or 'Soil's Song' as well as several lesser known but not a single bit less explosive tracks like the throbbing 'Rusted' or the more melancholic 'July', but pointing out to any highlight on here would be an injustice to all the other songs, as the whole album is really consistent, with no weak entries. This record is a very fine mixture of the things Katatonia does best in this period of theirs - delivering these dark and occasionally depressing anthems that always have this menacing heaviness to them as well as the intricacy and appeal of modern prog metal.

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 The Likes of Us by BIG BIG TRAIN album cover Studio Album, 2024
4.41 | 76 ratings

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The Likes of Us
Big Big Train Crossover Prog

Review by Progressive Heart

5 stars When Alberto Bravin was revealed as the new vocalist for Big Big Train, bringing with him his previous experience as the lead singer of the Italian band Premiata Forneria Marconi, the transition didn't simply entail entering the studio to record the next album. It was essential to subject him to a trial by fire, assessing the public's acceptance in live performances with Bravin in the lineup and understanding the extent of the reception he would receive - or not.

The overwhelmingly positive response from fans most likely played a crucial role in providing the band with the necessary confidence to work more smoothly on new material. The warm reception from the audience not only validated Bravin's selection as the new vocalist but also contributed to an environment conducive to creating new music, allowing the band to explore new directions with a solid base of support from its followers.

There is a striking similarity between Bravin's entry into the band and David Longdon's arrival during the recording of "Underfall Yard" regarding the active role both assumed. Like Longdon, Bravin didn't express a desire to be merely a performer on his debut; he significantly contributed to the composition, with his name associated with five of the eight tracks on the album. Additionally, Bravin played an additional role in co-mixing the record. Bravin's proactive involvement in creating the album not only highlights his versatility as a musician but also solidifies his position as an integral and involved member in Big Big Train's creative dynamics. His contribution isn't limited solely to vocal interpretation but extends to musical composition and production, demonstrating a strong commitment to the band's artistic process.

"Light Left In The Day" serves as the album's opening piece. Despite being almost 100% instrumental, it still carries enough lyrical weight to convey a message that inspires courage, perseverance, and resilience in the face of challenges or difficulties. It starts with a serene sound, but it doesn't take long to shift direction, delivering from then on a heavier and more symphonic instrumentation, strengthened with some brass accents. If there was still any doubt about what the band would deliver after going through such a turbulent period, I say with happiness in my heart, Big Big Train continues firmly with all its essence and peak.

"Oblivion" was the first single released by the band. Lyrically, it addresses disillusionment, introspection, and the search for something more significant in life, delving into complex themes related to internal struggle, disappointments, and the quest for meaning in life. Perhaps the idea of releasing it as the first single arose because it sounds somewhat familiar. It's a straightforward rock piece, but it still has dynamic and yet complex guitars and a precise rhythmic section, while Bravin's vocals echo a kind of delivery that is essential for Big Big Train's songs to function as they should.

"Beneath the Masts," at over 17 minutes, is the album's epic. A poetic and evocative narrative, divided into different parts, each offering a perspective or moment in history. Right from its first few seconds, it's evident that we're faced with a piece that follows the classic mold of the band and grows gradually, with no one necessarily standing out? although Clare Lindley's work on the violin is impressive at some points?but rather a group of musicians without vanity, concerned with sounding brilliant as a whole. I must also highlight Bravin's delivery with his wonderful performance on a track that explores themes such as life's journey, transition, farewell, and reflection on time passed. The poetic language combined with vivid imagery drawn by the instrumentation helps create an emotional and captivating atmosphere.

"Skates On" conveys a message about fully living in the present, embracing life's joys, and moving forward with resilience, even when confronted by the uncertainties that mark our path. It doesn't sound as impressive as the previous tracks, which is actually quite good as it allows the listener to catch their breath. Initially, it has an acoustic lightness and then develops within a refined harmony. The message here is positive, encouraging the appreciation of life and the pursuit of meaningful moments, as well as overcoming challenges and appreciating the present.

"Miramare," as the name suggests, the band alludes to the castle of the same name located in Trieste (Bravin's city). Through a very well-developed narrative, the band tells a story that addresses travel, separation, challenges, farewells, and sacrifice, all always very well illustrated through harmonies that evoke a captivating atmosphere. Bravin once again stands out as an exceptional and lovely performer with his unique ability. Meanwhile, the band demonstrates instrumental virtuosity, delivering a superb performance. Aside from the excellent and engaging violin solo - and another more vehement guitar solo - the band once again - or as it usually does most of the time - swaps a testimony focused on individual skills for a direction where the entire group stands out within instrumental passages full of energy and sophistication.

"Love Is The Light" is a beautiful ballad, surely one of the best in the group's entire catalog. Here, the band explores themes such as struggle, perseverance, and the rediscovery of love. Touching, dramatic, and incredibly sensitive, the vocals sound profound, while instrumentally, the highlight lies in the beautiful violin flourishes and the guitar solo, which within its simplicity manages to deliver something truly emotional that seems to embrace the listener. Each note and chord is like careful brushstrokes, delineating a sonic canvas that not only engages the ears but also touches the soul. A true message of facing adversity, seeking love and renewal, highlighting that love can be a source of light and strength - as the song's title itself makes clear.

"Bookmarks," in a very emotive way, seems to narrate a journey through time, filled with memories, lasting friendships, and challenges. When the first verses are sung by Bravin, it's impossible not to remember Longdon. With a pastoral atmosphere, keyboards, mellotron, and vocals play crucial roles, revealing themselves as essential elements in building a silent, almost hypnotic atmosphere. As it unfolds, the music creates a melancholic and nostalgic aura, with elegant and well-harmonized vocals accompanied by a rich instrumentation, highlighting the gracefulness of the guitars and violin. Exploring universal themes such as friendship, time, loss, and new beginnings, the band provides a poetic and emotive narrative that reflects on the journey of life.

"Last Eleven" marks the end of this extraordinary musical journey. It was the band's first composition after Longdon's sad departure. It alternates between grave and delicate moments, sounding like a reflection of life's nuances. The piece stands out through its intricate melodic developments, incorporating changes in time signature and unexpected "tight turns" that enrich the listening experience with various cadences and twists. The band seems to be sending a message to themselves, conveying a motivational message about resilience, finding strength in unity, overcoming adversity, and redefining one's worth, in other words, everything they had to do to continue with the band after Longdon's death.

With mastery, Big Big Train continues to skillfully explore the more accessible corners of progressive music. An album that stands out as a magnificent melodic work, where remarkably elaborate compositions and high-quality collective execution embrace to create something truly grandiose. The commitment to musical quality resonates in every note, showing the group's ability to evolve and maintain its relevance over time. "The Like of Us" sounds like a love letter in which the group honors its past and dedicates to longtime fans, while also revealing itself as an inviting boarding station for new admirers, while pointing to an intense and promising future.

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Prog Polls

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TOP PROG ALBUMS
  1. Close to the Edge
    Yes
  2. Selling England by the Pound
    Genesis
  3. In the Court of the Crimson King
    King Crimson
  4. Wish You Were Here
    Pink Floyd
  5. Thick as a Brick
    Jethro Tull
  6. The Dark Side of the Moon
    Pink Floyd
  7. Foxtrot
    Genesis
  8. Red
    King Crimson
  9. Animals
    Pink Floyd
  10. Fragile
    Yes
  11. Godbluff
    Van Der Graaf Generator
  12. Pawn Hearts
    Van Der Graaf Generator
  13. Nursery Cryme
    Genesis
  14. Larks' Tongues in Aspic
    King Crimson
  15. Mirage
    Camel
  16. Moonmadness
    Camel
  17. Per Un Amico
    Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM)
  18. Moving Pictures
    Rush
  19. Relayer
    Yes
  20. Hemispheres
    Rush
  21. Darwin!
    Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso
  22. Aqualung
    Jethro Tull
  23. Io Sono Nato Libero
    Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso
  24. Hot Rats
    Frank Zappa
  25. In a Glass House
    Gentle Giant
  26. Kind of Blue
    Miles Davis
  27. Hybris
    Änglagård
  28. Si on avait besoin d'une cinquičme saison
    Harmonium
  29. A Farewell to Kings
    Rush
  30. Storia Di Un Minuto
    Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM)
  31. From Silence to Somewhere
    Wobbler
  32. Crime of the Century
    Supertramp
  33. H To He, Who Am The Only One
    Van Der Graaf Generator
  34. The Yes Album
    Yes
  35. Birds of Fire
    Mahavishnu Orchestra
  36. The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
    Genesis
  37. Metropolis Part 2 - Scenes from a Memory
    Dream Theater
  38. Octopus
    Gentle Giant
  39. Zarathustra
    Museo Rosenbach
  40. In the Land of Grey and Pink
    Caravan
  41. Scheherazade and Other Stories
    Renaissance
  42. The Raven That Refused to Sing (and Other Stories)
    Steven Wilson
  43. The Power and the Glory
    Gentle Giant
  44. Images and Words
    Dream Theater
  45. Meddle
    Pink Floyd
  46. The Snow Goose
    Camel
  47. The Grand Wazoo
    Frank Zappa
  48. Still Life
    Van Der Graaf Generator
  49. The Mothers of Invention: One Size Fits All
    Frank Zappa
  50. The Silent Corner And The Empty Stage
    Peter Hammill
  51. Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso
    Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso
  52. Still Life
    Opeth
  53. Free Hand
    Gentle Giant
  54. Hand. Cannot. Erase.
    Steven Wilson
  55. Ommadawn
    Mike Oldfield
  56. Dwellers of the Deep
    Wobbler
  57. Fear of a Blank Planet
    Porcupine Tree
  58. A Trick of the Tail
    Genesis
  59. Blackwater Park
    Opeth
  60. The Inner Mounting Flame
    Mahavishnu Orchestra
  61. Ghost Reveries
    Opeth
  62. Misplaced Childhood
    Marillion
  63. Mekanīk Destruktīw Kommandöh
    Magma
  64. Obscura
    Gorguts
  65. Acquiring the Taste
    Gentle Giant
  66. Romantic Warrior
    Return To Forever
  67. Permanent Waves
    Rush
  68. Space Shanty
    Khan
  69. Rock Bottom
    Robert Wyatt
  70. Depois do Fim
    Bacamarte
  71. In Absentia
    Porcupine Tree
  72. In A Silent Way
    Miles Davis
  73. A Drop of Light
    All Traps On Earth
  74. Hatfield and the North
    Hatfield And The North
  75. Script for a Jester's Tear
    Marillion
  76. Second Life Syndrome
    Riverside
  77. Radio Gnome Invisible Vol. 3 - You
    Gong
  78. 4 visions
    Eskaton
  79. Symbolic
    Death
  80. Viljans Öga
    Änglagård
  81. Voyage of the Acolyte
    Steve Hackett
  82. Felona E Sorona
    Le Orme
  83. Arbeit Macht Frei
    Area
  84. Of Queues and Cures
    National Health
  85. Ashes Are Burning
    Renaissance
  86. Hamburger Concerto
    Focus
  87. Elegant Gypsy
    Al Di Meola
  88. The Road of Bones
    IQ
  89. Bitches Brew
    Miles Davis
  90. If I Could Do It All Over Again, I'd Do It All Over You
    Caravan
  91. On Land And In The Sea
    Cardiacs
  92. Spectrum
    Billy Cobham
  93. Emerson Lake & Palmer
    Emerson Lake & Palmer
  94. English Electric (Part One)
    Big Big Train
  95. Remedy Lane
    Pain Of Salvation
  96. Operation: Mindcrime
    Queensr˙che
  97. Crimson
    Edge Of Sanity
  98. Maxophone
    Maxophone
  99. Ys
    Il Balletto Di Bronzo
  100. Anabelas
    Bubu

* Weighted Ratings (aka WR), used for ordering, is cached and re-calculated every 15 minutes.

More PA TOP LISTS
100 MOST PROLIFIC REVIEWERS

Collaborators Only

ratings only excluded in count
  1. Mellotron Storm (4898)
  2. Warthur (3395)
  3. Sean Trane (3161)
  4. ZowieZiggy (2931)
  5. apps79 (2629)
  6. siLLy puPPy (2563)
  7. UMUR (2286)
  8. kev rowland (2236)
  9. b_olariu (2053)
  10. BrufordFreak (2031)
  11. Easy Livin (1932)
  12. Gatot (1811)
  13. Windhawk (1699)
  14. Conor Fynes (1613)
  15. SouthSideoftheSky (1597)
  16. Matti (1516)
  17. Tarcisio Moura (1455)
  18. Evolver (1425)
  19. TCat (1407)
  20. kenethlevine (1375)
  21. AtomicCrimsonRush (1365)
  22. Bonnek (1333)
  23. snobb (1233)
  24. erik neuteboom (1201)
  25. Finnforest (1146)
  26. tszirmay (1138)
  27. Rivertree (1068)
  28. octopus-4 (1036)
  29. ClemofNazareth (1011)
  30. memowakeman (959)
  31. Cesar Inca (928)
  32. loserboy (897)
  33. Rune2000 (879)
  34. Marty McFly (840)
  35. Guillermo (794)
  36. DamoXt7942 (776)
  37. VianaProghead (760)
  38. Neu!mann (759)
  39. Chris S (753)
  40. Eetu Pellonpaa (725)
  41. Aussie-Byrd-Brother (719)
  42. greenback (685)
  43. progrules (666)
  44. Seyo (660)
  45. admireArt (648)
  46. Prog-jester (624)
  47. Epignosis (624)
  48. friso (624)
  49. lor68 (601)
  50. andrea (598)
  51. Prog Leviathan (582)
  52. Ivan_Melgar_M (560)
  53. philippe (540)
  54. hdfisch (492)
  55. Chicapah (486)
  56. stefro (486)
  57. The Crow (479)
  58. Menswear (476)
  59. Dobermensch (464)
  60. zravkapt (460)
  61. colorofmoney91 (459)
  62. J-Man (449)
  63. ProgShine (445)
  64. russellk (440)
  65. Atavachron (429)
  66. Sinusoid (403)
  67. Queen By-Tor (396)
  68. Progfan97402 (377)
  69. tarkus1980 (369)
  70. fuxi (367)
  71. Nightfly (365)
  72. Zitro (365)
  73. Greger (365)
  74. Modrigue (360)
  75. rdtprog (355)
  76. Cygnus X-2 (353)
  77. lazland (352)
  78. Andrea Cortese (348)
  79. Negoba (336)
  80. EatThatPhonebook (326)
  81. richardh (323)
  82. Guldbamsen (322)
  83. FragileKings (321)
  84. Tom Ozric (306)
  85. patrickq (302)
  86. Flucktrot (300)
  87. Kazuhiro (299)
  88. progaardvark (290)
  89. GruvanDahlman (290)
  90. DangHeck (289)
  91. Proghead (288)
  92. OpethGuitarist (287)
  93. Second Life Syndrome (281)
  94. daveconn (266)
  95. Trotsky (264)
  96. Muzikman (263)
  97. Slartibartfast (261)
  98. aapatsos (254)
  99. clarke2001 (254)
  100. Dapper~Blueberries (241)

List of all PA collaborators

NEW RELEASES

Every Sound Has a Color in the Valley of Night by Night Verses album rcover
Every Sound Has a Color in the Valley of Night

Night Verses

Embers by Rudess, Jordan album rcover
Embers

Jordan Rudess

Metal Face (as Aron Scharfegger) by Arnioe album rcover
Metal Face (as Aron Scharfegger)

Arnioe

One and Only by Collage album rcover
One and Only

Collage

Brain Damage by Alvarado, Leon album rcover
Brain Damage

Leon Alvarado

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