In the final installment of this series, I will demonstrate that progressive rock is alive and well. To do so, I will dwell on bands active in the post-2020 period. Some of these are groups and soloists you met in earlier installments; new groups are also featured. Their selection is not random; all were among the winners at the annual progressive rock awards after 2020.
The characteristics of post progressive rock that I mentioned in the eighth episode almost all apply to the songs you are about to hear. Integrating elements of other styles is perhaps the most important feature.[1]
Fish – Garden of Remembrance (from album Weltschmerz, 2020)
Singer Fish (Ferek William Dick) was known for his poetic lyrics in his early days with Marillion. The spoken word became increasingly central in his later songs. You will notice this in the song โGarden of Remembranceโ. This is a subdued and melancholic song about dementia causing loss of connection with a loved one. ‘Garden of Remembrance’ is a metaphorical reference to a place where memories are preserved. The subtle accompaniment music adds impact to the lyrics. You can listen to this song here:
Porcupine Tree: I drive the hearse (from album Closure / Continuation, 2023)
This melancholic and introspective song revolves around loss, goodbye and emotional pain, with a sense of resignation and reflection. The lyrics describe a deep personal bond that is broken, possibly through death or the end of a relationship. The metaphor of driving a hearse symbolizes the grief of the person who feels burdened by the final goodbye.
You can listen to this song here:
Haken : Nightingale (from album Fauna, 2023)
This complex song tells a story of an inner journey: a search for balance between darkness and light, chaos and order. A nightingale is often associated with beauty, inspiration and overcoming adversity.
Showcasing the group’s technical mastery, the song is a mix of heavy riffs, melodic passages and dynamic turns. You can listen to this song here:
Steven Wilson: The harmony codex (from album The harmony codex 2023)
Surreal yet introspective, the song explores the power of art to create harmony in a chaotic world. It invites the listener to reflect on the relationship between order and chaos and transcending it through creativity. It is an experimental and atmospheric track that combines elements of progressive rock and electronic music. It is layered, with a mix of compelling melodies, complex structures, and it gives a cinematic feel.
You can listen to this song here:
Frost: Skywaving (from the album Life in the wires, 2024)
The text explores themes of communication and connection, referring to similarities and differences in ‘wavelengthsโ, evoking a sense of nostalgia and longing. The track combines Jem Godfrey’s airy vocals, lively keyboard parts, solid bass lines and complex drum patterns.
Musically, “Skywaving”, with its layered arrangements and dynamic transitions, belongs to the neo-progressive genre, with influences from electronic music and pop rock.
You can listen to this song here:
Big Big Train: Love is the light (from the album The likes of us, 2024)
This song explores feelings of alienation and feeling like an outsider. It highlights the search for connection and acceptance and how love serves as a guiding light in times of uncertainty.
The song begins with a soothing violin intro, followed by rich melodies and interplay typical of Big Big Train’s progressive rock style. Alberto Bravin’s vocals add a fresh dimension to the band’s sound.
You can listen to this song here:
MEER – Golden Circle (from the album Wheels within wheels, 2024)
Golden Circle describes a protagonist struggling with inner turmoil and seeking meaning and solace in fleeting moments of euphoria. The song explores themes of longing and the search for meaning. It combines elements of progressive rock and pop, with innovative guitar chords and a dynamic build-up. Knut and Johanne’s vocals together create a compelling atmosphere that enhances the emotional charge of the song.
You can listen to this song here:
Geordie Greep – The New sound (from the album: The new sound 2024)
This song explores themes of ego, failure and the human need for recognition. It acts as a metaphor for “the museum of human suffering”, with the protagonist focusing on his pain and the desire to be remembered. ‘The New Sound’ mixes progressive jazz rock with unexpected twists and turns, alternating well-behaved melodies with subcutaneous tension. This combination reflects the balance between control and chaos explored in the song.
You can listen to this song here
Transatlantic: The world we used to know (Forevermore 2021)
In the previous episode, I already featured some songs by supergroup Transatlantic. In 2021, the group outdoes itself once again by releasing two albums, partly with the same songs but in a different performance. The albums are: The breath of life and Forevermore. Together, they are referred to as ‘The absolute universe’. The epic song ‘The world we used to know’ expresses nostalgic longing for earlier times. It evokes images of a world once familiar and familiar but now changing, and highlights the search for meaning in this new reality.
Characteristic of Transatlantic is its combination of complex structures and melodic passages. It contains impressive instrumental parts and harmonies reminiscent of classic progressive rock, with a modern twist.
You can listen to this song here:
Encore: Japanese super formation Koiai
Japanese guitarist Li-sa-X has been posting her music on YouTube since the age of 7 and in 2019 at the age of 14, she formed her own band, Koiai (close love). This consists of Li-sa-X, Hazuki and Rina who sings. They share their preference for complex progressive rock with jazzy undertones. You listen to this trio on the song โLooking up to youโ (1922), a song written by Li-sa-X.
Shortly after recording this song, Rina decides for another career and Kotono succeeds her. The band was further expanded with Kanato Sato, one of the world’s top drummers despite her age. Wakazaemon becomes bassist.
You can watch and listen to the song A new Picture (2023). It could be the soundtrack to a rollercoaster ride. The contrasting atmospheres are breathtaking and a tour de force for the members of the band.
It is definitely worth listening to two other recent songs by this group as well:ย One Way or Anotherr andย Automatic.
Remarkably, many post prog rocksongs are contemplative in nature; perhaps one of the biggest differences between classic and contemporary prog rock.
This concludes this series. I hope you have become familiar with characteristics of progressive rock: often longer songs than usual, parts varying in tempo, measure and timbre, virtuoso playing, serious subjects ranging from mythological, fairy-tale, socially critical and introspective lyrics, and yet also a wide variety. With groups like Marillion, Porcupine Tree and Transatlantic, the emphasis is on melody and atmosphere; groups like Dream Theater, Haken and Rush explore the frontier with hard rock and metal. You rarely find prog rock songs on charts; the ‘fan-base’ is too small for that. Concerts, on the other hand, are almost always sold out.
Account of the series
To write this series, I used the English version of Wikipedia, articles by Daniel van Auken and others in Medium, the magazines Oor and Uncut, and Groen and Mourits’ book โBeatles onthoud die naamโ. Occasionally, ChatGPT offered help in structuring information.
[1] The description of individual songs is taken from Wikipedia, various editions of the ‘Prog Report’ and Chat GPT.
Music: Listen, Look and Enjoy 