Skylake – The Deep Dive | Progressive Rock Central.com

Skylake is a Dutch alternative and progressive rock/metal band from Utrecht in the Netherlands. They have been active, since their inception in 2015. They will release their latest album, “The Deep Dive,” on November 12, 2026.

“Following their debut album “In Orbit,” released on February 25, 2019; Skylake embarked on what would become a seven-year journey towards its successor. The result is “The Deep Dive.” The album is full of eight dense, adventurous and carefully crafted tracks that have evolved through countless changes before reaching their final form.”

“And perhaps the title says it all. “The Deep Dive,” ventures beneath the surface, exploring themes ranging from horror stories and insomnia to mental struggles, self-acceptance and saying farewell. Musically, Skylake moves just as freely. Energetic riffs and intricate rhythms sit alongside touching melodies and atmospheric acoustic passages, while the band’s unusually broad instrumental palette — including harp, cello and flute — adds colors rarely encountered in modern progressive rock.”

“Drawing inspiration from artists such as Karnivool, Tesseract, Leprous, Anathema and Porcupine Tree; Skylake never simply follows in their footsteps. Instead, those influences become ingredients in a sound that is distinctly their own: progressive without losing emotion, complex without sacrificing melody, and heavy when it needs to be.”

“After seven years of writing, reshaping and refining, Skylake are finally ready to take listeners beneath the surface!”

Skylake is made up of members:

Suzan Van Den Engel – Lead vocals and harp

Bart Laan – Guitars, vocals, cello, and flute

Charlie Feld – Bass guitar

Arjan Laan – Drums

“The Deep Dive,” opens with “Haunted.” Deep, cello notes are heard as a forbidding welcome begins. Then, the stillness collides with the oncoming wave of the entire band’s sound pouring into the soundscape. The roar of electric guitar, then harp, cello, flute, bass and drums, fills your ears with the sound of thunder or powerful ocean waves. (After all, the album is titled, “The Deep Dive”). Then, Suzan Van Den Engel fills the soundscape with her first vocals, “Welcome to this house where looks are deceiving. Daylight hides the pain that resides in this room that is haunted.” There is a great performance music video that accompanies this, the second single off the album. Released, just in time for Halloween. On the video you get to see the band performing the song. An absolute essential way to introduce your band to future fans who have never heard of you. The use of the harp, cello and flute, helps to distinguish this band from the many modern progressive rock and progressive metal bands not using these wonderful instruments. Thank you so much Skylake for bringing these wonderful instruments to your musical party and soundscape. They help separate you from the heard behind you. Instead of using AI or orchestration, you made the musicians part of your band, which deserves so much praise, in this era of Pro Tools and other machine music. This points directly, I hope, to more in the future. Absolutely one of the best progressive songs of the year. I thought, after hearing Pallas’ new album, the race to the top was over. Well, not quite yet. Suzan Van Den Engel’s voice is also so different from the two major Dutch, female metal, voices, I have listened to, on two of my favorite metal albums of the year. I can’t quite compare her directly to anyone yet…which is actually a very good thing.

“Wide Open,” is the album’s first single, and it also has an accompanying music video. The video takes you into the ‘wide open’ skies, (where I see Mt. Rainier, in the distance), and it brings you powerful electric lead guitar, bass and drums to the song’s opening. Suzan Van Den Engel sings, as…yes…what looks like scenes of the Pacific Northwestern Coastline of the USA roll by. Thank you for using images of…yes…there it is. There you have it…Haystack Rock…from Cannon Beach Oregon. (Can I openly express my love for this Dutch band, already?) Is it too early? Not even our own, local bands use this footage. Thank you Skylake. Suzan Van Den Engel dives into the ocean and drifts and swims to the top, as the raging waters and darkening skies swarm her. (Not a good idea Suzan, that water is extremely cold). Perhaps they, like I was enthralled with Tarja’s new album video “At Sea?” Wow! Two great songs in a row! And we’re just getting started.

“In Shatters,” opens with intricate electric guitar soloing and Suzan Van Den Engel singing with frustration. She sings, “Give me something to smash right now. Because something is about to break!” She is angry about the way someone is treating her. The shredding electric guitar chords, bass, and drums capture her feelings well. In the end, she uses the song as an apology. Despite hard times, she is in search of a way to find a way out of a break-up. Bart Laan’s flute playing enters the soundscape, along with some low bass sounds that are excellent. Then, more of that excellent lead electric guitar shredding, finished with great launching guitar solos. Suzan’s voice begins to sound a little like Harriet Wheeler, of The Sundays or Hope Sandoval, of Mazzy Star, without the cool vocal articulation of those two singers.

“Freefall,” opens slow and comfortably, with soft acoustic guitar and flute. Like the sounds of a Sundays’ or an Innocence Mission’ album. Suzan Van Den Engel sings lead vocals, while playing wonderful harp melodies. Another band that comes to mind is the sound of one of my favorite bands from Washington, Cirrus Bay. Soft, whimsical breezes and feelings, fill this song. The cello, harp, flutes, bass and lead electric guitar later lift the soundscape higher and louder, but the melody remains soft and warm. The soft choir, also makes this one of the best relaxing songs on the album.

“Nocturnal Dissonance,” wakes you from a dreamy sleep with lead electric guitar, bass and drums. The pace speeds up as the lead guitar tears at the air. That echoing guitar sound is wonderful and new. Suzan Van Den Engel sings with emotion and immediacy. The drums on this song remind me so much of Mike Portnoy. Arjan Laan, really gets a nice showcase here. Charlie Feld’s bass guitar soloing is a nice added touch for the soundscape. Bart Laan joins Suzan, singing vocals, but helps close the song with a blistering electric lead guitar solo.

Suzan Van Den Engel’s bold harp notes open “In the Shadow of Consequence,” along with powerful lead electric guitar, bass, and drums. This song is a beautiful instrumental, allowing all band members to display their talents well. The harp sounds like an excellent replacement for keyboards. What a brilliant idea. One of the best songs on the album. So glad they included this instrumental showcase, for all of the band to show off their musicianship, and to step beyond the lyrical excellence displayed throughout this masterpiece of music.

“Nowhere to Go,” opens with more beautiful harp playing and acoustic guitar. Suzan Van Den Engel sings quietly, as the comparison from the earlier vocalists, I mentioned earlier, becomes more apparent. Bart Laan joins Suzan in singing the thoughtful lyrics. This song is softer and has more of the feel of a Sundays or Mazzie Star feel. Later the electric guitar rises to overshadow the soundscape. The bass and drums keep the rhythm and beat, as the sound gets harder and rougher. You can hear that wonderful harp rising above the waves of guitar, which is such a signature sound and element to this band’s music.

“In My Arms,” is the epic album closer you were hoping it would be; after all the masterful music that came before it. Beautiful harp chords are accompanied by equally stirring flute playing at the song’s opening. Full of mystery and magic. Suzan sings, softly, “Its ok. Close your eyes. You’re safe in my arms. I know you’ve tried. You’re tired and died. You’ve fought for so long.” A wonderful Genesis – like song that just perfectly completes this album well. “Rest your head in my arms. And you’ll find peace, wherever you are.” The electric guitar solo that follows is splendid. The harp playing, along with bold electric guitar is such a wonderful and different sound that it just makes you want to hear more of this music, and immediately. A deep, powerful closing song that will make you wonder and want what is next from this incredible find…Skylake!

All songs were written by Skylake. Lyrics for “In My Arms,” written by Mitzi Nelissen. Album mixed and mastered by Bart Laan. Recorded at De Vrijstaat and The Brewery, Netherlands. Artwork by Charlie Feld.

Finally! A progressive rock band that gets it. Harp and flute, with a heavier edge! Change it up for us Skylake! “The Deep Dive,” is an absolutely essential album to hear and purchase for all fans of progressive rock or progressive metal. This year! Prog rock has needed this injection of a new sound sooooo badly! And right now! More bands need to find this wonderful combination of sound. I love the keyboards. However, I am really fond of this new sound, on a modern prog rock album. Of course, I have heard that sound from the past. But not recently. Thank you Skylake for bringing it back. And please…don’t ever let it end! Do not miss Skylake’s “The Deep Dive,” this year!

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