CD Reviews | Progressive Rock Central.com

The album cover for Empires Must Fall by Ghost of the Machine features a regal, goddess-like woman seated on an ornate, towering throne. She is adorned in a flowing white and gold gown. The throne itself is intricate, with sharp, angular designs. Behind her, a dramatic sky filled with swirling clouds and golden light. The typography is bold, with the album title written in a flowing script.

CD Reviews

Ghost of the Machine – “Empires Must Fall”

Professor Mark February 5, 2025 No Comments "Empires Must Fall"Andy Milner Charlie Bramald Ghost of the Machine Graham Garbett Mark Hagan Progressive rock Scott Owens Stuart McAuley symphonic rock UK

Ghost Of The Machine, from the UK, have returned with their follow-up album to the critically acclaimed, 2022 debut, album, Scissorgames. The new album, Empires…

Alice & The Mountain – Stripped cover artwork. An image of dense woods.

CD Reviews

Alice & The Mountain, A Crossover Exploration of Emotion Through Voice and Piano

Charlie Melville February 4, 2025 No Comments Alice & The Mountain folk jazz

Alice & The Mountain – Stripped (Losen Records, 2024) Stripped, a duo album featuring pianist Bernt Moen and vocalist Silje Kåfjord. Known for his work…

The album cover for Pearl Hunting by Belle Morte features a woman with long, wavy hair sits in a contemplative pose, adorned in a bohemian-style dress with rich, earthy tones and intricate patterns. She holds a small seashell in her hand. The background blends elements of fantasy and gothic imagery, with glowing strands resembling bioluminescent filaments in her hair. The typography is ornate, with the album title written in a flowing script, while the band's name is styled in a gothic font with a subtle skull motif.

CD Reviews

Belle Morte – “Pearl Hunting”

Professor Mark February 2, 2025 No Comments "Pearl Hunting"Anastasia Schebrova Belle Morte Ilya Petrashkevich Ilya Rogovoy Maria Shumanskaya Progressive rock Rostislav Golubnichiy Sergey Butovsky symphonic metal symphonic progressive metal symphonic rock

Belle Morte is a musical project from the Belarus capital of Minsk. They play dark symphonic metal with a gothic/progressive flavor and melancholic vibe. The…

The album cover for All the Difference by Runar Blesvik features an abstract composition with fluid, curving shapes that evoke a sense of depth and movement. The color palette consists of muted blues, grays, and earthy tones, intersected by fine, almost architectural lines that add structure to the organic forms.

CD Reviews

Runar Blesvik’s Deeply Personal Connection to the Dramatic Landscapes of Western Norway

Angel Romero January 30, 2025 No Comments ambient contemporary classical Runar Blesvik

Runar Blesvik – All the Difference (Fluttery Records, 2025) Norwegian composer, producer, and pianist Runar Blesvik has unveiled his sixth album, All the Difference. This…

Sara Caswell — The Way To You cover artwork. A photo of Caswell holding a violin to her chest.

CD Reviews

Sara Caswell’s violin sings with clarity, passion, and a touch of mystery

Charlie Melville January 29, 2025 No Comments contemporary jazz jazz jazz violin Sara Caswell

Sara Caswell — The Way To You (Anzic Records, 2023) After a seventeen-year hiatus as a leader, jazz violinist Sara Caswell re-emerged with The Way…

The album cover for The Far Meadow - Given the Impossible features a striking visual of a narrow, graffiti-lined alleyway bathed in golden light. At the end of the alley, a lone silhouette of a person stands illuminated by a bright glow. The bold yellow typography contrasts with the dark, textured brick walls. The band's initials, "TFM," appear subtly in the bottom corner.

CD Reviews

The Far Meadow: Symphonic Rock Mastery and Artful Storytelling

Angel Romero January 27, 2025 No Comments Marguerita Alexandrou Progressive rock symphonic rock The Far Meadow

The Far Meadow — Given The Impossible (Bad Elephant Music, 2016) London-based progressive rock quintet The Far Meadow delivered a breathtaking symphonic masterpiece with their…

The album cover for G Clef Fusion - Geryon Claque Fermata features a colorful, surrealistic design. It portrays three interconnected, multi-colored faces blending into one another, emphasizing intricate swirls, patterns, and textures. The palette of yellows, blues, reds, and oranges creates a sense of dynamic motion. The background has a subtle, dark textured effect, contrasting with the bold central imagery. The title and band name are displayed in soft, contrasting fonts.

CD Reviews

G Clef Fusion’s Triptych of Jazz-Rock Fusion

Charlie Melville January 26, 2025 No Comments fusion G Clef Fusion jazz-rock Progressive rock

G Clef Fusion – Geryon Claque Fermata (self-release, 2024) Chuck Moyer, operating under his alias G Clef Fusion, drops his third full-length album, Geryon Claque…

Echolyn – "Time Silent Radio II cover artwork. Blue, red and yellow patterns over a black background.

CD Reviews

Echolyn – “Time Silent Radio II” and “Time Silent Radio vii”

Professor Mark January 22, 2025 No Comments Brett Kull Christopher Buzby Echolyn Glenn Rosenstein Jesse Reyes Jordan Perlson Paul Ramsey Progressive rock Ray Weston symphonic rock Time Silent Radio

Echolyn is Back! With maybe the best progressive rock album(s) of the year, Time Silent Radio; which will be released on the 7th of March…

This album cover features a surreal and fantastical landscape, painted in vibrant blues, greens, and purples. It depicts floating rock islands with trees growing on them, set against a tranquil horizon of water and sky. The foreground includes a twisting, ancient-looking tree, with its branches framing the scene. The typography of the album title and band name has a stylized, fantasy-like aesthetic.

CD Reviews

Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe’s ‘An Evening of Yes Music Plus’ Shines in a New 4-Disc Boxed Set

Angel Romero January 22, 2025 No Comments Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe Bill Bruford Jon Anderson Progressive rock Rick Wakeman Steve Howe symphonic rock

Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe – An Evening of Yes Music Plus (Esoteric, 2025) Fragile Records, in collaboration with Esoteric Recordings is releasing a 4-disc clamshell…

Ginetta's Vendetta - Fun Size cover artwork. A photo of the artist holding a pocket trumpet, wearing a yellow dress with a red background.

CD Reviews

Ginetta’s Vendetta: Pocket-Sized Powerhouse Delivers “Fun Size” Jazz

Charlie Melville January 22, 2025 No Comments contemporary jazz Ginetta's Vendetta pocket trumpet trumpet

Ginetta’s Vendetta – Fun Size (Kickin’ Wiccan Music, 2024) Ginetta M., a multi-talented musician, composer, and bandleader, shines on Fun Size, her sixth album with…