The Samurai Of Prog – Omnibus-4 (Seacrest, 2025)
The Samurai Of Prog’s Omnibus series are boxed sets that contain previously released concept albums with the addition of bonus tracks. Omnibus-4 features three albums spearheaded by Bernard & Pörsti: Gulliver (2020); La Tierra (2020); and Robinson Crusoe (2021).
Gulliver
In 2020, Marco Bernard and Kimmo Pörsti crafted their most narratively cohesive concept album to date with Gulliver. The album was inspired by Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels. Gulliver features six-tracks that follow the protagonist’s four fantastical voyages. The album balances vintage progressive rock aesthetics with a modern studio clarity, featuring compositions from six different keyboardists including Andrea Pavoni, Oliviero Lacagnina, Alessandro Di Benedetti, and Luca Scherani. From the stately “Overture XI” to the emotionally charged “Gulliver’s Fourth Travel,” the music leans heavily on western classical influences, with arrangements that include flute, violin, saxophone, and trumpet.
The nearly 18-minute “Lilliput Suite” channels Foxtrot-era Genesis with Marco Vincini’s Gabriel-style vocals, while “The Giants” and the closing “Finale” present inventive instrumental symphonic progressive rock. Vocalists Daniel Fäldt, Steve Unruh, and Stefano Galifi contribute to a diverse vocal range, though the focus remains on the album’s rich instrumentals. Notably, the music rarely feels overcrowded, despite its ambitious scope. Instead, it carries a “classic band” feel, with tasteful embellishments layered over solid foundations of drums, bass, and keyboards. It was packaged with Ed Unitsky’s signature artwork.
Musicians on Gulliver:
Marco Bernard on Rickenbacker & Shuker basses; Kimmo Pörsti on drums & percussion.
Guests: Andrea Pavoni on keyboards; Kari Riihimäki on guitars; Oliviero Lacagnina on keyboards; Marco Vincini on vocals; Ruben Álvarez on electric guitar; Rafael Pacha on acoustic & classical guitars, recorders; Marc Papeghin on French horn, trumpet; Olli Jaakkola on flute, piccolo; Tsuboy Akihisa on violin; Mimmo Ferri on keyboards; Carmine Capasso on guitars; Alessandro Di Benedetti on keyboards; Daniel Fäldt on vocals; Federico Tetti on guitars; Massimo Sposaro on guitars; Luca Scherani on keyboards; Stefano Galifi on vocals; Steve Unruh on vocals, violin; Marcella Arganese on guitars; Alessandro Lamuraglia on keyboards; Marek Arnold on saxophone.
For a more extensive review, read Professor Mark’s take on the album.
La Tierra
Next, Bernard & Pörsti explore Earth’s fragile beauty on La Tierra (the Earth in Spanish). This is an outstanding, lush, and finely crafted symphonic concept album themed around humanity’s evolving relationship with the planet. The six-track release spans nearly 70 minutes and features an international cast of guest musicians, with notable contributions from superb vocalists and instrumentalists from Spain and South America, as well as veteran Italian keyboardists. Thematically, the album touches on subjects such as artificial intelligence, environmental destruction, and space exploration, all conveyed through emotive Spanish-language lyrics and richly orchestrated compositions.
Musically, La Tierra embraces classic symphonic prog expressions with taste and precision, featuring memorable guitar and keyboard work. Tracks like “Vuelo Sagrado” (sacred flight) and “El Error” combine upbeat grooves, expressive violin by Samurai Of Prog veteran Steve Unruh, and sweeping keyboard passages with dynamic shifts and delicate piano interludes. “Ansia de Soñar” (longing to ream) stands out for its masterful combination of gentle music and fiery solos, while “Voz de Estrella que Muere” (voice of a dying star) surprises with sharp rhythmic turns and melodic flair. The title track, a magnificent 30-minute epic suite, anchors the album, offering dramatic contrasts, creative instrumental interplay, and graceful pacing that makes its length feel natural and engaging. The artwork here is by Nele Diel. It includes a thoughtfully designed booklet.
Musicians on La Tierra:
Marco Bernard on Rickenbacker & Shuker basses; Kimmo Pörsti on drums & percussion.
Guests: Eduardo G. Salueña on piano, organ, Mellotron, synths; Ariane Valdivié on vocals; Rubén Álvarez on electric & acoustic guitars; José Manuel Medina on orchestral arrangements; Steve Unruh on violin; Alessandro Di Benedetti on keyboards; Rafael Pacha on acoustic & electric guitars; John Hackett on flute; Oliviero Lacagnina on keyboards; Marc Papeghin on French horn, trumpet; Octavio Stampalìa on keyboards; Marcelo Ezcurra on vocals; Pablo Robotti on guitars; David Myers on grand piano; Jaime Rosas on keyboards; Jaime Scalpello on vocals; Rodrigo Godoy on guitars, backing vocals; Marek Arnold on saxophone.
Robinson Crusoe
Lastly, Bernard & Pörsti set sail with Robinson Crusoe. It is a concept album adaptation of Daniel Defoe’s classic 1719 novel. Once more, Bernard & Pörsti draw from the same international pool of collaborators. True to their style, the album delivers symphonic progressive rock with lavish arrangements, featuring contributions from musicians across Europe, primarily Finland, Italy, and Spain. The music unfolds cinematically, with highlights including the dynamic “Overture” by Octavio Stampàlia, the jazz-leaning instrumental “Like an Endless Sea,” and the delicate solo piano piece “The Voyage Begins” by David Myers.
Vocal duties are shared among several singers, including John Wilkinson, Bart Schwertmann, Marco Vincini, and Stefano Galifi, all leaning into a dramatic, theatrical vocal style reminiscent of Peter Gabriel, Fish, and other progressive rock icons. Instrumental performances, such as Steve Hackett’s expressive guitar solos and John Hackett’s airy flute passages, underscore the album’s narrative arc, which follows Crusoe’s shipwreck, isolation, rescue, and return. The climactic “New Life” closes the story with a poignant mix of piano and flute before giving way to heavier guitar lines. As usual, this album was completed with Ed Unitsky’s signature artwork and packaged in a deluxe gatefold format.
Musicians on Robinson Crusoe:
Marco Bernard on Shuker basses; Kimmo Pörsti on drums & percussion.
Guests: Octavio Stampàlia on keyboards; Rubén Álvarez on electric guitar; Steve Bingham on violin; Marc Papeghin on French horn, trumpet; Oliviero Lacagnina on keyboards; John Wilkinson on vocals; Sara Traficante on flute; Marcel Singor on electric guitar; Rafael Pacha on electric & acoustic guitars, recorder, viola da gamba; David Myers on grand piano; Alessandro Di Benedetti on keyboards; Bart Schwertmann on vocals; Steve Hackett on electric guitar; John Hackett on flute; Marco Grieco on keyboards, acoustic guitars, percussion; Marco Vincini on vocals; Luca Scherani on keyboards; Stefano Galifi on vocals; Adam Diderrich on violin; Marcella Arganese on guitar; Andrea Pavoni on keyboards.
This fine set is available from many of the specialized progressive rock mail order and online stores.