(52:34; M&O Music) Track list: 1. Wooden Bridge Part 1 1:26 2. Wooden Bridge Part 2 5:58 3. Crashed Car Melody 5:24 4. Forgotten 4:15 5. Seal 5:48 6. Schizo Part 1 4:49 7. The Thing 5:57 8. Point of View 4:32 9. Schizo Part 2 4:17 10. Sophie 5:02 11. Wooden Bridge Part 3 5:06 Line-up: Olivier Sapte - drums Olivier Schaal - keyboards, piano, synthetizers Philippe Rau - guitars, vocals Laurent Hantz - vocals, guitars, trumpet, synthetizers Mathieu Heise - bass Prolusion. French band Out5ide have a history that goes way back to 1996, and in their initial run they released three studio albums, and hooked up with legendary French label Musea Records along the way too. The band started their second phase of life back in 2016, switching from the band name Outside to Out5ide at that point, and a further three studio albums have appeared since then. "Crashed Cars" is the most recent of these, and was released in the fall of 2026 through French label M&O Records. Analysis. Whil...

(38:08; Hadal Sherpa) Track list: 1. Camel on Moon 6:48 2. Goat Gaze 4:46 3. Dark Tides 5:18 4. Ormus 5:57 5. Return to Farum Azul 5:32 6. Mountains 6:16 7. Gurbet 3:31 Line-up: Vesa Pasanen - guitars, bass, synthesizers, oud, saz, percussion Ville Kainulainen - guitars Ilja Juutilainen - drums, percussion Pi Viana - vocals, flute with: Paula Rautoja - backing vocals Saara Salo - backing vocals Sonja Suni - backing vocals Mari Laari - backing vocals Prolusion. Finnish band Hadal Sherpa was formed back in 2013, and since the formation the band have released a total of 4 studio productions. "Mountains" is the most recent of these, and was self released in the summer of 2026. Analysis. From what I understand there is a chance that this may well be the final album by this band, as this is the second studio production they have released following the passing of band leader Vesa Pasanen. As this band was his project more than anything else, and he wrote just about all the music, th...

(41:25; Tonzonen Records) Track list: 1. Nothing for None 4:15 2. Humility 4:54 3. Birdsong 4:59 4. Empty Cribs 5:45 5. Everyday People 5:26 6. No Sign of Life 3:50 7. Wonder 6:04 8. Termination Sequence 6:12 Line-up: Simon Ulm - vocals, bass Eric Patzschke - guitars Thiago da Silva Amaral - drums Prolusion. German band Godzilla in the Kitchen has been around since the year 2012 or thereabouts, and have three full length studio albums to their name as of 2026. Following an initial self-released production in 2015 and a sophomore album issued through Argonauta Records in 2022, the band signed for German label Tonzonen Records for the release of their latest album "Termination Sequence" in the fall of this year. Analysis. Godzilla in the Kitchen have built themselves a reputation as a quirky and suitably progressive oriented instrumental progressive rock and metal band so far, but on this latest album of theirs the band have chosen to switch it up a bit. Vocals are added to the...

(39:24; Hegeroth) Track list: 1. You May Call Me a Witch 5:09 2. The Act of Lust 4:06 3. Blogoslawieni Slepi 4:21 4. The Nails 4:06 5. Hypocrisy Demands Blood 4:10 6. Swiete Szlachtowanie 3:24 7. The Degrees 3:54 8. The Swing 5:27 9. Gdybym Istnial 4:47 Line-up: Chors - vocals Bene - guitars, bass Prolusion. Polish band Hegeroth have a history that can be traced back to 2010 or thereabouts, and following an initial demo tape they have 6 full length studio productions to their name as of 2026. The most recent of these is the album "Soaked in Rot", which was self released by the band in the spring of 2026. Analysis. This is one of those albums I receive from time to time that doesn't really adhere to or belong to a progressive rock or metal context as such, but that all the same come with some qualities that may be of interest also to this specific audience. But as far as the dominant style and expression goes, this is an extreme metal creation first and foremost. Among the...

(77:30; Neil Campbell) Track list: 1. Upstream 2:21 2. Diagonals 1:03 3. Lament 1:33 4. Circles 2:40 5. No Answer 1:09 6. Romanza 1:32 7. Ascent 2:41 8. Upstream (Reprise) 3:00 9. Polarities 2:31 10. Diagonals Nr.2 0:52 11. Transit 2:09 12. Mobile Fragment 1 3:26 13. Amino 2:24 14. Limbo 1:48 15. Laces 2:12 16. Phases 2:51 17. Mobile Fragment 2 1:59 18. Denude 3:11 19. Leige 1:19 20. Mobile Fragment 3 2:00 21. Aged 2:05 22. Mobile Fragment 4 3:32 23. First Light 1:24 24. Morning Dance 2:37 25. If 1:45 26. Acorns 1:57 27. Berlin Suite 10:07 28. Ode to a Penguin 2:55 29. In the Moment 2:25 30. Hoobie Tango 3:26 31. Yachts, 1959 2:36 Line-up: Neil Campbell - guitars, bass, electronics with: Nicole Collarbone - cello Prolusion. UK artist Neil Campbell has been around as an artist for a couple of decades or thereabouts at this point, releasing albums with his Neil Campbell Collective as well as in various collaboration settings, and with a growing number of solo albums to his name too. ...

In the final week and a half of the month of September, we had a little bit of an event for the Progressor website. Webmaster and owner Dmitriy Menshikov and long time reviewer Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen met for the very first time in person.  Dmitriy took over the Progressor website when his father Vitaly passed away back in 2017, and Olav decided to continue on as a writer for the website at that point. With his writing being a part of the Progressor website for the past 18 years at this point. In many periods a major and substantial part of the website too. This visit lasted from September 21st and until September 30th, which obviously had a bit of an impact on the reviews written in the month of September. But it is for the best of the website and future operation of it to have such a meeting. In addition to this being a rewarding experience also on a more personal level obviously. We do believe that the spirit of the late Vitaly Menshikov was a part of this meeting too, ...

(67:04; M&O Music) Track list: 1. Let It Shine 5:19 2. Over and Over 5:08 3. Beat of a Heart 4:37 4. Love 2:37 5. Faces 5:51 6. Cicatrix 6:27 7. Look Inside 2:24 8. Awaken 5:36 9. Beauty in the Pain 5:43 10. Colors 5:49 11. Immortal Soldier 5:57 12. Everafter 5:24 13. Dreamer 6:12 Line-up: Ernesto Bojorquez - vocals, guitars Juan Quinonez - guitars, vocals Arturo Galvan - guitars, vocals Ronie Gastélum - keyboards, guitars, vocals Sergio Raso - keyboards, guitars, vocals Carlos Jiménez - bass, vocals Jorge Haros - drums, vocals Prolusion. Mexican band Element was formed back in 2010, and made their debut as recording artists in 2015 with the album "Timeless". A handful of single and EP releases would follow in the years after this, and then in 2026 the band signed to French label M&O Music for the release of their sophomore production "Dreamer". Analysis. The style of music explored by this Mexican band is inside of the progressive metal tradition, and in th...

(27:17; newspaperflyhunting) Track list: 1. A Moment 8:47 2. Distant Shores Apart 5:44 3. No Real Feelings 7:07 4. Go Back 5:39 Line-up: Michal Pawlowski - vocals, guitars, bouzouki, samples Gosia Sutula-Grabowska - vocals, bass, keyboards Beata Grzegorczyk-Andrejczuk - keyboards Krzysztof Sarna - drums Prolusion. Polish band newspaperflyhunting has been a feature in the Polish progressive rock scene for the past 20 years, exploring their particular take on the progressive rock tradition on six full length studio albums so far, as well as on several EPs. "Timeless" is the most recent of their studio productions, and was self released at the very end of 2025. Analysis. Newspaperflyhunting are generally regarded as a post-rock band, and I suspect that fans of this subset of the progressive rock universe will find the landscapes explored on this production rather familiar sounding too when regarded in that light. Especially in terms of the structure and development of these comp...

(48:35; M&O Music) Track list: 1. Gaslighted 3:49 2. Eyed Wide Shut 7:29 3. Mind Blowing Signs 3:15 4. Until 3:41 5. Weird Boy 4:47 6. We All Shall Fall 4:47 7. Happiness Injunction 4:23 8. To My Old Man 4:40 9. Hello Stranger 5:30 10. Visions 6:14 Line-up: Aurelien Boileau - guitars Alexandre Pouzioux - guitars Yoann Roy - bass Frederic Lagorce - drums Jerome Kloeckner - vocals with: Mathieu Pascal - guitars Denis Cornardeau - guitars Christophe Ithurritze - keyboards Prolusion. French band Seven Eyed Crow was formed back in 2013, and emerged with their debut album "Dark Ways To The Sun" two years later. Since then the band have issued a further two albums as well as an EP. The album "Emerge" is their most recent studio production, and was released through French label M&O Music at the start of 2026. Analysis. It is a more broadly appealing and contemporary take on the progressive metal tradition we get on this latest album by Seven Eyed Crow. The majority ...

(43:21; NOS Records) Track list: 1. Introductio ad Hortum 1:41 2. Azadirachta Excelsa 4:06 3. Mandragora Caulescens 2:54 4. Aceranthus Sagittatus 1:02 5. 094 3:40 6. Michelia Aenea 3:56 7. The Garden 1:54 8. Flower no. 1 2:44 9. Flower no. 2 2:41 10. Flower no. 3 3:41 11. Clara Lunaris 4:22 12. Daphne Mezereum 2:32 13. Celtis Australis 2:39 14. Mellow 3:06 15. Pieris Japonica 2:23 Line-up: Andrea Rizzi  - drums, percussion, bass, guitars, keyboards, vocals, mandolin, viola Giuseppe Bitonte - guitars, bass, keyboards, vocals, piano, saxophone with: Wladimiro Rizzi - piano, keyboards, guitars Bruno Vergani - voice Stefano Piancastelli  - guitars Elio Di Menza - guitars Lorenzo Marcoleoni - clarinet Piergiorgio Mingolla - clarinet Luca Filpi - flute Andrea De Carlo - flute Francesco Lomagistro - timpani, glockenspiel Giacomo Campa - timpani Gabriele Briganti - cello Vincenzo Vitti - cello Irene Urgesi - violin Matteo Franze - saxophone Eryk Nowacki - sitar Prolusion. Italian twos...

(34:09; Jay Matharu) Track list: 1. Atrophy 3:25 2. Bare 4:37 3. Cog 3:50 4. Deluge 4:14 5. Shruti 1:35 6. Chalo 3:55 7. Butterflies 5:14 8. Bittersweet 7:18 Line-up: Jay Matharu - guitars, keyboards Erik Brandell - saxophone Christine Lanusse - bass Jacob Johnson - drums  Prolusion. Sweden based artist Jay Matharu has a background as a band member in a number of different bands as a recording artist as well as a live musician, covering several types of music in his various roles in those settings. But he has also released two solo albums that explore music of a different character, where elements from jazz and progressive rock are notable elements. "Disillusion" is the second of those solo albums, and was self released in the summer of 2026. Analysis. As with many fine musicians releasing solo material, this latest solo creation by Jay Matharu is an instrumental affair. The dominant instruments are Matharu's guitar solo runs and the saxophone solo passages of Erik Brande...

(43:24; Luminol Records) Track list: 1. Oort Cloud 6:23 2. Vogon 4:53 3. Cinq Teintes, Quatre Cadres 8:44 4. La Melancolie Du Petit Prince 4:39 5. Panta Rei 8:02 6. Swerve 10:43 Line-up: Andrea Ferrari – guitars, keyboards Andrea Grumelli – bass Andrea Serino – keyboards Matteo Ravelli – drums, electronics  with: Claudio Milano - vocals Rosarita Crisafi - flute Prolusion. Italian band Aether started out back in 2023 from what I can tell, and have been a rather consistent band unit as far as creating material is concerned. They have released three studio productions as of 2026, with the album "III" released on Luminol Records in the spring of this year being the most recent of these. Analysis. It is the jazzrock variety of progressive rock that is the speciality of this band, and with a strong focus on the instrumental aspects of this tradition being the main focus at that. Rather than exploring a more clear cut variety of the form the band have opted for a more inclusive and ...

(172:37; Cuneiform Records) Cheer-Accident have been a mainstay of the Chicago independent scene for some four decades, formed by multi-instrumentalist Thymme Jones all the way back in 1981 and have always operated with a floating membership. On this, their 27th studio album, they have one list of the 15 who were involved, and then a separate list of what instruments were used, but no confirmation of who actually did what. However, we do know who played what on the two concerts which are included in the deluxe edition of this album, which somewhat amazingly are the first official live albums of their career even though they have performed hundreds of shows. The first was recorded in Chicago in 2022 with nine members, while that line-up reduced by two for the Chicago show the following year. I confess to coming to the band rather late in that I have only known them for the last 9 years, and I have certainly not heard all of the material during that period, and nothing at all prior to ‘P...

(80:00; Arnaud Quevedo) I have not previously come across Arnaud Quevedo, but he is a French musician who has been teaching music at the  Conservatoire since 2007 and has been performing under his own name since 2020. This live release from Arnaud Quevedo & Friends finds them performing in summer 2025 and features Quevedo (guitar, vocals, keyboards, alto sax) being joined by Noe Russeil (bass, vocals), Hortense Mailhos (drums), Julien Gomila (soprano & baritone saxophones) and Eloïse Baleynaud (lead vocals, keyboards). This is fusion which also contains some Crimson elements, and the band are very tight indeed, and can also be quite heavy at times, which makes for an interesting mix of styles and dynamics. The sax is an integral music as opposed to an afterthought, while the rhythm section certainly set the stage (the bass on this is stunning throughout) and Quevedo is a super guitarist. But, and it was fairly obvious there was a “but” coming, I am not a huge fan of Eloïse ...

(55:23; Moonjune Records) When one looks at the cover one comes away with certain concepts, such as we are looking at different facets of an artist with a fractured point of view stitching together ideas from different areas, yet always with a strong grip on his guitar, and in many ways that is exactly what we hear when we play the album. My first views were Steve Vai and Robert Fripp joined together in battle, with the referee being Frank Zappa, and having listened to this album a lot (by my standards) I still hold true to those beliefs, although musically it is even more fractured and far-reaching than that. Yes, there are undoubtedly some elements which are more Crimson than others, but instead of covering a “straightforward” Crimson track, Garone instead gives us his versions of Fripp’s “Erudite Eyes”, which can originally be found on the 1968 pre-King Crimson album, ‘The Cheerful Insanity of Giles, Giles, and Fripp’, an album Garone grew up listening to. As with many of the songs ...

(43:16; Luminol Records) As one may ascertain from the title, Aether are back with their third album in fairly quick succession, continuing in the similar excellent vein established with their 2024 album, ‘Trans-Neptunian Objects’. It is again fully instrumental, apart from a recitative interlude by Claudio Milano (Nichelodeon) on “Vogon”, and was recorded live in the studio, with the songs themselves developed on themes discovered during rehearsals and improvisations undertaken during 2025. It is the same line-up as on the previous releases, namely Andrea Ferrari (guitars, keyboards), Andrea Grumelli (fretless bass), Andrea Serino (Fender Rhodes, keyboards) and Matteo Ravelli (drums, electronics) and somehow, they are seamlessly combining music from genres as diverse as ambient/New Age, symphonic, classical and jazz to create something which at times is delicate yet at others is incredibly powerful indeed. Depending on what track I am listening to I find myself moving more to the keyb...

(35:07; Greydisc) Recorded on 28th April 2024 here we have Kevin (6-string Double Contraguitar, 30-string Double Contraguitar, 24-string Double Sub-Contraguitar, 18-string Contraguitar) recording with Phil Grenadier (Trumpet, Flugelhorn) for their second album together. I note this was mixed and mastered by Sandor Szabo, with whom Kevin has a long relationship, and that has certainly assisted in what is one of his finest releases to date. Neither musician is constrained in any way, and this never feels like an improvised piece of work as the two work seamlessly in the way they bounce off each other. Phil is often the melodic lead, but it is the nuances and additional runs from Kevin that makes them work so well. A trumpet and guitar (no matter how many strings) do not seem like natural bedfellows, but here they combine incredibly well, and when this is playing, I feel the world drop away so that all that exists is the music and the images being created in my mind. I feel like I am walk...

(42:31 / 39:38; Greydisc) Kevin’s ninth and tenth solo albums are a continuation of his last two, being the third and fourth in the Codex series. In each case he is playing either 36-string Double Contraguitar, 30-string Contra-Baritone guitar, 30-string Double Contraguitar, 24-string Double Sub-Contraguitar or 6-string guitar, and when it is the double necks, he plays with one hand on each and they have been recorded in that manner. This means that when playing on headphones it is possible to hear the two necks on separate channels so the listener can understand a little more of what Kevin is doing. There are no overdubs, everything was recorded live, and knowing Kevin it is probable that he was live composing at the time, going where the music took him as opposed to being fully scored and composed ahead of time. I have lost count of how many of his albums I have listened to and reviewed, and there is always that initial wonder on how he can play so many strings yet always know where ...

(47:04; Atomhenge) While 1977 was the release of one of Hawkwind’s most important albums, ‘Quark, Strangeness and Charm’ (which was actually the first album of theirs I heard), it also saw the band having some issues with more line-up changes, a poor American tour, and Calvert collapsing onstage suffering from mental issues. Hawkwind stopped touring for a while and Calvert was recovering, so Brock’s thoughts turned to having a side project for a while. He had built a relationship with local Devon band Ark, some of whom had played with him and Calvert at the Stonehenge Free Festival the previous year, so not why do something with them again. Brock and Calvert contacted three members of that band, bass guitarist Harvey Bainbridge, drummer Martin Griffin and keyboard player Paul Hayles, and as Sonic Assassins they played Queen’s Hall Barnstaple on 23rd December 1977. It was recorded for posterity, and three tracks were released in 1981 as the ‘Sonic Assassins’ EP, but it is only now that ...

(72:00; Cherry Red) I am not quite sure as to whether to view this as a new studio recording or a compilation, or both, as what we have here is a combination of unheard recordings, newly reworked classics and fresh material from the current line-up, and I am not sure exactly who plays on what. I am aware that the vibrant and upbeat “Hurry On Sundown” is the final recording to feature Huw Lloyd- Langton, who left the band in 2002 and died from cancer in 2012, but have no information as to where and when it was recorded. Hawkwind as a band have probably suffered more than most from having compilations released over which they have had no control, along with many live recordings (some of which have poor sound quality at best), so much so that anyone who says they have a complete collection is either lying or demented, which means that there is always a certain level of trepidation when approaching any of their albums which have been compiled. However, this is a fascinating viewpoint into ...