splinter

 Steven Wilson is pop but remains always and anyway Steven Wilson.

 "The Future Bites" is classic to make purists grimace, those for whom their mighty artists should never get flustered, never try to do anything more easy.

Steven Wilson’s sixth album, The Future Bites, marks a pronounced shift towards electronic and pop sounds, moving away from his prog-rock roots. The album blends 70s to 2000s influences with sophisticated arrangements and varied tracks. While some purists critique the pop direction, Wilson’s creative mastery and attention to detail remain evident. The review highlights standout tracks and the album’s complex identity, recommending listeners approach it without prejudice. Listen to Steven Wilson’s The Future Bites and discover his bold fusion of pop, electronic, and prog influences.

 Vanden Plas is composing 8-minute tracks but has ideas for tracks of a maximum of 5 minutes.

 It’s always quite honest and dignified prog-metal... like a nice slice of cake, it doesn’t always turn out perfect, but it’s still a slice of cake.

Vanden Plas’ album 'The Ghost Xperiment IIIumination' continues their classic progressive metal style without major changes, following their 2019 release. The band delivers long tracks with solid musicality but struggles with excessive length and a lack of compositional variety. Some songs, like 'Fatal Arcadia,' stand out for better structure, while others suffer from repetitive passages. The review suggests the band could benefit from shorter, more focused songs to revive interest. Explore Vanden Plas' latest prog metal journey and judge if their long tracks captivate or overextend!

 "Here, everything seems decidedly flaccid, weak... the entire sound framework seems fragile and on the verge of collapsing."

 "Lucassen has run out of ideas this time but wanted to put them down anyway."

The review of Ayreon's 'Transitus' acknowledges the album as a respectable addition to Arjen Lucassen's body of work, maintaining the signature theatrical rock style with a gothic twist. However, it points out a lack of evolution, weaker arrangements, and limited instrumental development compared to earlier albums. The album's length and repetitive elements contribute to a less engaging experience. Despite its qualities, 'Transitus' falls short of the high expectations set by previous releases. Discover Ayreon's latest album and decide if Transitus lives up to its legacy—listen now and explore its gothic prog metal journey!

 Virtuosity and melody are perfectly combined; despite the complexity, they flow well even for those less accustomed to such magnificence.

 This rediscovered Petrucci-Portnoy partnership is the antechamber for the reunion of Liquid Tension Experiment.

John Petrucci’s second solo album, Terminal Velocity, highlights his virtuosity and stylistic range, blending melody with technical precision. Featuring longtime collaborators Mike Portnoy and Dave LaRue, the album explores different genres while maintaining Petrucci’s signature musical identity. Though the album sticks closely to familiar territory, it effectively balances complexity with accessibility. The rekindling of Petrucci-Portnoy collaboration adds extra interest for fans, amid speculation about future projects. Discover John Petrucci’s virtuoso skills in Terminal Velocity – listen now and explore the dynamic solo journey!

 Long Day Good Night was decidedly a pleasant surprise, never before so much variety of solutions, never a sound so dark, never a sound so refined and challenging.

 In an attempt to renew themselves, this time Fates Warning even venture into Tool’s territory, while always remaining Fates Warning.

Fates Warning continues to evolve after 35 years with their 2020 album Long Day Good Night. The band explores darker, more expansive atmospheres with a clear influence from Tool while maintaining their unique identity. The album demands multiple listens to fully appreciate its challenging soundscape and showcases strong performances, especially from Jim Matheos and Bobby Jarzombek. Despite one lackluster filler track, the album offers a versatile and engaging prog metal experience. Dive into Fates Warning’s Long Day Good Night and experience a fresh, dark take on progressive metal today!

 An album truly unclassifiable; it doesn’t fit in any precise genre and presents truly unique and astonishing solutions.

 Pain of Salvation once again show themselves to be bold, audacious, and indifferent to criticism.

Panther by Pain of Salvation defies genre boundaries with an eclectic mix of prog, industrial, and electronic sounds. The album showcases bold experimentation and diversity across tracks. Despite a raw, lo-fi production that may divide listeners, the work retains the band's unique identity and audacity. A standout is the title track's unexpected nod to Linkin Park, exemplifying the band's fearless creativity. Overall, Panther is recognized as a daring and memorable album from 2020. Discover the fearless and genre-defying sounds of Panther by Pain of Salvation—listen now and experience prog experimentation at its finest!

 When you’re about to press play, you need to prepare psychologically for the fact that you won’t find particular flashes of genius.

 It is perhaps the band’s least daring and courageous album, based on more or less established technical clichés and playing with them wisely.

Haken’s Virus is a heavy, technically impressive album that embraces a dominant metal and djent style, but sacrifices the band’s signature originality and creative flair. The album features standout drumming and intricate guitar work, though the keyboards are subdued and the vocals remain unremarkable. While energy and craftsmanship are strong, the album feels less daring and inventive than previous releases. Virus stands as a solid but less inspired continuation of Vector, appealing to fans of technical metal but perhaps ranking lower among the band’s works. Discover Haken's heaviest album yet — listen to Virus and explore its technical metal mastery today!

 "You truly breathe in what we all experienced during the difficult period between March and April."

 "I hadn’t heard a work so linked to narrative function for years, probably never felt it."

Mariusz Duda’s album Lockdown Spaces was inspired by the Covid-19 lockdown, creating a sonic reflection of pandemic emotions through melodic electronic music. The instrumental composition conveys feelings of claustrophobia, uncertainty, and meditation, using repetition to mirror quarantine monotony. Though not rated among the best albums of 2020, it succeeds as a functional and atmospheric work. The album effectively narrates a unique period with sound, offering a thought-provoking listening experience. Listen to Mariusz Duda’s Lockdown Spaces and experience the haunting soundtrack of quarantine.

 'Leaves of Yesteryear' is a half-legitimate scam, with only three new tracks out of five.

 This Black Sabbath cover is truly incredible and even better than the original; a psychedelic ambient masterpiece of rare beauty.

Green Carnation returns after a long hiatus with 'Leaves of Yesteryear,' blending progressive metal and gothic ambient sounds. Though half the album includes a self-cover and a Black Sabbath cover, the new tracks show inspired musical growth. The band avoids repetition by refreshing old material with new nuances. The outstanding cover track impresses as a genuine Green Carnation reinterpretation. While the album structure is debated, the comeback is celebrated overall. Explore Green Carnation’s inspired comeback and discover the blend of prog metal and ambient atmospheres in Leaves of Yesteryear!

 They use rather old sounds making them seem incredibly modern – a feat not easy to achieve.

 'Prehensile Tales' is a modern gem of melodic symphonic prog but not too symphonic, with strokes of genius in between.

Pattern-Seeking Animals' second album, 'Prehensile Tales,' embraces longer, more progressive tracks while preserving the melodic appeal of their debut. The band merges vintage instruments with a modern sound, creating a compelling mix of stylistic variety and sophisticated arrangements. Despite some lengthy tracks feeling overstretched, the album's creativity and depth shine through. It stands as one of the best prog releases of the year and a worthy companion to their first album. Dive into the layered sounds of 'Prehensile Tales' and experience a fresh take on modern progressive rock today!