Band: Alburnus | Album: Alburnus III | Genre: Progressive rock, Psychedelic rock | Bandcamp
This Finnish band’s latest album is a groovy, retro-influenced slab of prog and psych. The instrumental passages are peppy, surprisingly catchy, and thoroughly enjoyable. The band shows a knack for melody and hooks, and their playing is flashy without being excessively technical. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but it’s fun.
Score: 72/100
Band: Echolyn | Album: TimeSilentRadio II | Genre: Progressive rock | Bandcamp
Echolyn put out two albums this March, and this is the stronger of the two. Consisting of just two massive tracks, TSRII sees the band utilize their usual sound in an effective manner. ‘90s prog is not my favorite flavor of the genre, but Echolyn pulls it off pretty well. It’s often sunny and relatively accessible, but the underlying songwriting is complex and intelligent. Some parts can be a bit on the cheesy side for me, but overall, their blend of classic prog, pop-rock, and jazzy flourishes works very well. The 29-minute “Water in Our Hands” is especially memorable.
Score: 80/100
Band: Felgrave | Album: Otherlike Darkness | Genre: Black metal, Progressive metal | Bandcamp
Consisting of three sprawling epics, Felgrave’s newest album is a hideous, lurching beast. Dissonant chords slash at the listener, and avant-garde influences aplenty ensure that these long songs never drag or meander. Every part of this album fits together and complements the other. There’s a clear character here, but everything is also able to stand on its own. This is a swirling, chaotic album that tosses you about in a maelstrom of punishing passages and unexpected shifts.
Score: 82/100
Band: Ptrov | Album: Kelluva maailma | Genre: Progressive rock, Space rock | Bandcamp
The second album from Finnish act Ptrov is a dreamy affair. The keyboard tones shimmer and glide, and guitars echo broadly. The band draws heavily from the sound of early ‘70s Pink Floyd, but it’s filtered through a more modern lens, along with a healthy dose of post-rock. The closing epic “Signe” especially stands out by contrasting relative heaviness against some gentler tones. A guest vocalist on this track also lends it a unique character.
Score: 81/100
Band: Seventh Station | Album: On Shoulders of Giants | Genre: Progressive metal, Progressive rock | Bandcamp
On Shoulders of Giants is an interesting EP. On it, Slovene prog-metallers Seventh Station pay homage to five 20th Century classical composers with their interpretations of their works. It’s full of plenty of speedy, showy passages, but it’s hardly indulgent. Mixed in among their metallic roots and obvious classical allusions are influences from classic prog, folk, and even 8-bit music. It’s a diverse and exciting release that effectively makes its point.
Score: 86/100
Band: Soft Ffog | Album: Focus | Genre: Jazz-fusion, Progressive rock | Bandcamp
Soft Ffog’s sophomore album is made up of four long songs that pay tribute to some of the greats of the jazzier side of the ‘70s prog rock scene. Camel and Focus are explicitly name-checked in song titles, and their influences are evident. Things on Focus are smooth as butter, but the band manages to keep tones and textures diverse and interesting. The bandmembers naturally trade time in the spotlight, and the compositions strike a great balance of forethought and jazzy improvisation.
Score: 79/100
The Elite Extremophile 