(48:21; Spencer Park Music) Although I have been a huge fan of TFATD for some years now, I must confess to having never heard their early material as my first introduction to the band was their second album, 2013’s ‘Spooky Action’. This means I missed out not only on their debut album but some early EPs, but that has now been resolved with this new release which features the first two EPs in full, re-mastered by TFATD bassist Kevin Feazey. This means we start with their first ever release, 2010’s ‘Part 1’ which consists of one extended instrumental track of the same name (more than 18 minutes long). At this point the band were a trio, comprising guitarist Matt Stevens, Kev Feazey (bass, synths) and drummer Stuart Marshall. Their sound back in the early days was clean, with far more space, and while interesting it is possible with hindsight to look back and see that in many ways, here we have a band still looking for the sound and what they wanted to achieve. When the band really start ...

(18:12; Nuclear Blast) Over the years Enslaved have become known for releasing EPs that contain material not on an album, and ‘Caravans’ is another example in that while it was released only a year after their fifteenth album, ‘Utgart’, these four tracks are all new. They have also continued to move their sound, so they are now far removed from the black metal sound of their early material and instead are embracing so many different elements that the only way to describe them is as progressive metal, although this is in its truest sense as opposed to sticking to any particular genre. I have enjoyed many of their albums over the years, but these four songs feel like the band are somewhat going through the motions and creating atmosphere but without much substance behind them. They throw lots of ideas into the pot, blasting into tech blackened death metal here, acoustic there, some chanting vocals yonder, but to my ears there is no cogent or interwoven structure. The keyboards just don’t...

(48:48; Bad Elephant Music) I enjoyed this Dutch band’s fourth album much more than I expected to, so was looking forward to this one with interest, especially when I looked at the line-up. The core of Leo Koperdraat and Frank Urbaniak is bolstered by the return of founder member Ed Van Haagen on bass (he contributed a few keyboards on the last one but bass was provided by Brett Kull who had a major role) while the ‘new boy’ is none other than Gareth Cole (Tom Slatter Band, The Rube Goldberg Machine, One Sided Horse, Whitewater) who is a fine guitarist indeed. Brett’s role on this album has been reduced to providing some backing vocals and mixing, with everything else undertaken by the quartet. I would have liked to have heard more from Gareth, as when the guitars are to the fore is when this album really comes alive, as there are times when it is just too middle of the road for me and there is not enough edge and bite. But, this is a solid Crossover album in that it brings in plenty o...

 (135:00; G-Wave) It is safe to say that anyone who can state which Gong members played on what albums, and what line-ups were deemed ‘official’ and possibly even name all the offshoot bands would be a certifiable but paid-up member of the Gong fan club, and probably made every effort to be at The Gong Family Unconvention at the Melkweg club in Amsterdam in November 2006. This was a unique 3-day event where all the surviving original members of the band came together (drummer Pierre Moerlen had died the previous year) to form a new line-up which I am sure had never previously shared a stage. After performing sets with their own bands, they came together to play for well over 2 hours, and anyone who enjoys this band is bound to find their own favourite on this set. 15 years to the day from the performance, this was made available both in audio and DVD, and while I only have the former I do already have plenty of Gong DVDs in my collection so was just able to sit back and really savo...

(76:13; Progressive Promotion Records) The latest album from German neo-prog band Crystal Palace is a concept album based on a tragic event in bassist/singer’s Yenz’s life. One day he was climbing the stairs of a lookout in a public recreation area in his hometown of Berlin and saw the words “Still Alive” and “Still There” freshly written on the walls of each new floor. A few days later he read about a double suicide which had taken place on the day he saw the writings, and that became a story he could not get out of his mind so developed this album around what might have happened to those involved to get them to this point. This is a dark subject, and not one which has often been covered in prog music, and certainly not one to be taken lightly. The colours in the booklet are all white/grey/black, with the lyrics superimposed on photos telling different parts of the story, while the background is included at the rear. Needless to say, the music behind this story is somewhat reflective,...

(49:57; Progressive Promotion Records) German band Cyril are back with their fourth album, a concept which builds on “The Secret Place Pt. I”, a lengthy song featured on their second album, ‘Paralyzed’. There has been a change in the ranks in that they have a new drummer in Manuel Humpf, but apart from that it is the same core band who have been on all releases to date, namely Larry Brödel (vocals), Manuel Schmid (vocals), Ralf Dietsch (guitars, mandolin), Marek Arnold (keyboards, saxophone, clarinet) and Dennis Strassburg (bass). They have again collaborated with Guy Manning who not only provided the lyrics based on the story by Denis Strassburg but also provides some spoken words, while the guys also brought in Andrea Strassburg on additional vocals. I have long been a fan of any band which involves Marek Arnold, as his understanding of progressive rock combined with commercial elements always ensures the arrangements are spot on, and his musicianship allows bands to bring in his sax...

(55:42; Soniq Theater) Track list: 1. Bringer of Good Luck 4:33 2. Tarot Cards 5:56 3. Fortune Teller 5:47 4. Andromadeus 4:47 5. The Pendulum 1:02 6. The Prophecy 7:11 7. Crystal Ball 0:49 8. Fortunate Coincidences 4:48 9. Second Sight 3:24 10. Inner Visions (Visionary Mix) 7:11 11. Ouija Board 0:45 12. Ritual 4:33 13. Nostradamus 4:56 Line-up: Alfred Mueller - all instruments Prolusion. German project Soniq Theater has been a staple in the modern era of progressive rock, with one new album appearing in the early parts of the calendar year for the last 20 years or thereabouts. "Fortune Tunes" dates back to 2020, and is the 20th album released under the Soniq Theater moniker. Analysis. As with just about all of the other Soniq Theater albums released, this one revolves around a handful of ingredients: Ambient music, atmospheric laden or cinematic music, progressive electronic music and progressive rock. Usually combining two or more orientations from this quartet of subtly di...