Welcome to January, and the start of a new year of Progress Reports. Unlike last year, which featured some absolutely killer albums, we start things off a slight step down. Pickings were slim, so for the first time in the column’s history we review two live releases. Don’t let this all discourage you, though! While these might not be Album of the Year-type of releases, they are still very much worth giving a spin. So go ahead, and as always support the bands you like.
Ratings are on a five star scale.
Danefae – Trøst (Self)
The greatest surprise of the month, at least for this reviewer, is the sophomore album Trøst from Danish prog-rockers Danefae. I missed their debut, 2022’s Tro, but am making up for it by playing Trøst a lot this month. The band has a rather unique style, mixing some folk elements with modern metal in very well-arranged fashion.
Holding it all together is the absolutely stunning vocal performance by leader Anne Olesen, who imbues every song with life beyond what the (also strong) music conveys. Each song is so interesting that one can’t help but pause any other activities and simply listen to the album. Drawing the listener in like this is a surefire way to be named our pick of the month.
Rating: 4
Eidola – Mend (Blue Swan/Rise)
Salt Lake City’s Eidola have been around for a dozen years, and Mend is the band’s sixth album and a counterpart to the previous album, Eviscerate. Led by two members of post-hardcore outfit Dance Gavin Dance, the band aims for a more prog focus than their other outfit.
The issues within Mend stem from somewhat of a lack of identity – or rather, a lack of commitment to any specific identity. Are they prog? Hardcore? Post-hardcore? From one song to the next, or even within songs, it can be hard to tell. The best moments, which are very strong, shy aware from the band’s hardcore origins and focus on prog. More of that and we’ll have a winner.
Rating: 3.5
Steve Hackett – Live Magic At Trading Boundaries (InsideOut/Sony)
Legendary guitarist Steve Hackett presents our first live album of the month, essentially an unplugged set at Trading Boundaries. Live Magic At Trading Boundaries features a wide array of songs, from solo cuts to Genesis to classical pieces. Over the course of an hour Hackett and his small supporting group enthrall in a very laid-back manner.
Live Magic is such a quiet and intimate album, with very stripped-down arrangements, that it might not appeal to everyone. It comes off very much like a classical music concert, with very little bombast or variance. The musicianship is exquisite, but this album is likely only for die-hard Hackett fans and completionists.
Rating: 3
Riverside – Live ID. (InsideOut)
Our second live release of the month comes courtesy of Poland’s excellent prog-rock band, Riverside. Live ID. is nearly two hours long and comprised not only of songs from the band’s outstanding 2023 album, ID.Entity, but also a number of strong cuts from across their impressive catalog.
It’s always fun to hear how bands interpret their own material in a live setting, and Riverside deliver an energetic and skilled performance. Recorded in Warsaw in 2024, the audience is extremely enthusiastic and adds to the overall exciting vibe of the album. Riverside clearly loved the gig (and playing shows in general) and their interpretations of both the modern songs and deeper cuts are all a joy to hear. Fans of the band will love this album.
Rating: 4
Second Day – Flamboyance (Self)
France’s Second Day are now a studio project led by composer/vocalist Asufelt. Having released albums over the past six years, they return with Flamboyance, an album steeped in progressive metal, melodeath, and post-metal. Can Ausfelt successfully combine these styles and deliver?
Yes, he can. Flamboyance is a slickly-produced offering with plenty of huge-sounding guitars, big vocals, and strong arrangements. While credit is not given, making it hard to know how much Asufelt played himself and how much was played by other musicians, that does not change the fact that the 11 songs here are all very well executed, making Flamboyance a very worthwhile offering.
Rating: 3.5
Thus Live Humans – Art Déco I (Self)
The duo that form Thus Live Humans hail from Toulon, France, and on Art Déco I they push forward with a more progressive rock/metal approach than they have in the past. As one might guess, the band attempt to present their interpretation of the Art Deco movement of the early 20th century, an idea I find intriguing.
There is a lot of King Crimson influence on Art Déco I, which kind of makes sense; I’ve always thought of the Crim in that fashion already, and here with a lot of influence from the band’s ’80s albums (and a touch from older ones) Thus Live Humans are able to tap into that vibe and deliver an album that succeeds in presenting the Art Deco movement. This is a fun album to listen to; give it a shot.
Rating: 3.5
