(45:47; Alta Forma) This is the second album I have heard from London-based Canadian Antoine Fafard this year, the other being ‘Quadra Spherium’ which was released under his own name, while here we have Alta Forma back with their second album, following on from 2022’s ‘Spatium & Tempus’ which has the same line-up of Antoine (bass, guitar) joined by JK Harrison (vocals, keyboards) and drummer Todd Sucherman. I have been aware of Antoine for years, initially through the band Space Out, while JK is a Grammy winner and Emmy and Golden Globe nominee who was longtime keyboard player with Brian Wilson, and Todd is best-known for being drummer with Styx for the last 30 years. Quite a line-up, but none of that matters if the music doesn’t stand up to the promise, but here there is no problem whatsoever as this is a crossover commercial progressive rock release which is a delight from beginning to end. Musically this does have a grounding in jazz, but one can tell that JK and Todd have been ...

(40:17; Filosofem Records) Track list: 1. Örökseg 9:36 2. Szelhozo 8:08 3. Röghöz Kötött 9:10 4. Öröklet 9:36 5. Piano Trio No. 2, Andante Con Moto [Franz Schubert] 3:47 Line-up: Gere Karola - keyboards, vocals Neubauer  Roland - guitars, drums, vocals Prolusion. Hungarian band Witcher started out back in 2010, and in between split album releases and EPs they have released four full length studio productions so far, with the first of these appearing in 2015. "Öröklet" dates back to the fall of 2025, and was released by Hungarian label Filosofem Records. Analysis. This album isn't one I'd really describe as being an example of progressive rock or progressive metal as such, and indeed I got this CD due to another venture I have (The Viking in the Wilderness) where I cover music that isn't of a strictly progressive nature or inclination. But this is one of those productions where my thoughts are that the landscapes explored may well be of interest for some progressiv...

(75:28, RRAR) Track list: 1. Journey to the Center of the Earth 12:20 2. Catherine Howard 11:29 3. Lancelot & the Black Knight 5:28 4. Anne Boleyn 8:57 5. The Forrest 6:44 6. Arthur & Guinevere 14:41 7. Merlin the Magician 7:26 8. Catherine Parr 8:23 Line-up: Rick Wakeman - keyboards Ashley Holt - vocals John Dunsterville - guitars Roger Newell - bass Reg Brooks - trombone Martin Shields - trumpet with: Tony Fernandez - drums John Hodgson - percussion Prolusion. UK composer and musician Rick Wakeman is a household name not only in the progressive rock universe but in the music universe in general. Arguably most famous for his membership in a number of incarnations of progressive rock band Yes, he also has an extensive number of solo albums to his name. The production "San Francisco Winterland Ballroom 1975" is an archival live recording that was first officially released back in 1995, albeit under a different album name, and appeared in a remastered edition with this ...

(94:00; Karisma Records) I appear to have reviewed quite a few live progressive rock albums recently, and here is the latest, from Norwegian band Airbag. In 2010 the band played their first international gig at Poppodium Boerderij in Zoetermeer, The Netherlands, since when it has become a home away from home, so it was an easy decision for them to do the recording there during their ‘The Century of the Self’ tour. I thought that was an excellent album, a real return to form after a somewhat disappointing (to me, at least) ‘A Day At The Beach’. The setlist is somewhat unusual in that they played the new album in its entirety in the same running order, while the other four songs feature two from 2011’s ‘All Rights Removed’, one from 2013’s ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’ and just one from ‘A Day at The Beach’. For this gig the trio of Asle Tostrup (vocals, keyboards), Henrik Bergan Fossum (drums) and Bjørn Riis (guitars, keyboards, backing vocals) were joined by Øystein Sootholtet (bass) an...

(57:53; Esoteric Recordings [2026 Edition] ) It is more than 30 years since I first reviewed this album, but a new remixed version is being released at the end of January which includes a restored video master on region free Blu-Ray, so any opportunity to review it again is great. Originally released as ‘Living Proof’, it has also been renamed with a new booklet which contains an essay by Peter Nicholls, another by Steve Pilkington providing overall context, plus plenty of photos, which along with the improved sound quality makes this an invaluable addition to the collection of any lover of the band. Back in 1985 IQ were asked at very short notice to play a gig that could be filmed for the ‘Live In London’ series (this is the same series that spawned Twelfth Night’s excellent ‘Creepshow’ video) and within three days they had organised and played a gig at Camden Palace. Because of requests by the producer, the set was a shortened one and concentrated mainly on material from ‘The Wake’, ...

(67:48; Satchelmouth Media) Earlier this year I reviewed the excellent 35th anniversary reissue of ‘Keepers of the Flame’ by Phoenyx, and not long afterwards I was contacted by multi-instrumentalist Larry the O who was drummer on that album, asking if I would like to review his new solo album? The vast majority of instruments on this release are played by Larry, but there are a few guests here and there and I note that Cat Taylor (also from Phoenyx) provides fiddle on one song. The only things which make this appear like a modern album is the production and some of the keyboard sounds, as here we have a release which is firmly grounded in the last Sixties and early Seventies, with plenty of psychedelia and wonderful use of xylophone, glockenspiel, bell lyre and vibraphone. Mind you, “_More_Louder” is bright and breezy lightweight summer reggae with steel drums and a real feeling of the Caribbean. I have the sun, just need the rum and dancing to go with it. “Lord Jorge’s Waltz” makes me...

(43:40; Progrock.com's Essentials) I am not quite sure how I have managed to miss this band for so many years, but this pagan progressive folk band are now back with their latest studio album. I found it interesting to read they were out of the pagan scene as when I listened to this the very first time, when I am just trying to get a feel for the music and overall sound as opposed to concentrating on the lyrics, I found they reminded me of both Legend and Incubus Succubus (yes, I know Candia and Tony now spell the name differently, but this is how it was when I first came across them touring with Legend), perhaps with the odd element of Gryphon added as well. Based around the husband-and-wife team of Maxine Cilia (keytar, alto saxophone, backing vocals, guitar, descant recorder, whistle, keyboards) and bassist Baz Cilia the rest of the line-up is Fay Brotherhood (vocals, acoustic guitar), Neil Wighton (guitar) and new drummer Ali Soueidan. Having a multi-instrumentalist in any band...