Here you can find all the album reviews published at Millstream Park (or originally at Hokeyblog).
For our criteria on and philosophy behind how and why we pick the albums we review, click here.
| Album | Artist | Genre | Release Date | Summary | year | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | The Songs & Tales of Airoea – Book 3: Magical Chronicle (Ascension) | The Chronicles of Father Robin | Symphonic Prog | 2023 | "The Songs & Tales of Airoea – Book 3: Magical Chronicle (Ascension)" concludes The Chronicles of Father Robin's symphonic prog odyssey, a three-volume cycle deeply rooted in folklore, mythology, and fantasy. The album, a culmination of a 30-year dream, invites listeners to embark on a beautifully produced journey of discovery, grandeur, and reflection. | 2023 | Norway |
 | Hestehoven | Tusmørke | Prog Folk | 2023-08-18 | In a beguiling journey through Tusmørke's latest album, "Hestehoven", the listener is treated to a whirlwind of prog folk influences, blending elements of progressive rock, psychedelic space tunes, and seductive folklore tales. This cheeky yet captivating album seamlessly merges the mystical with the erotic, challenging genre boundaries and evoking a spectrum of emotions from sinister temptation to free-spirited joy. | 2023 | Norway |
 | The Songs & Tales of Airoea - Book 2: Ocean Traveller (Metamorphosis) | The Chronicles of Father Robin | Symphonic Prog | The Chronicles of Father Robin's "The Songs & Tales of Airoea - Book 2: Ocean Traveller (Metamorphosis)" is a captivating musical journey, blending progressive rock, folk, psychedelia, and jazz into a vivid underwater soundscape. This album not only advances Father Robin's tale but showcases the band's remarkable musical artistry and genre-fusing innovation. | 2023 | Norway | |
 | Resistor | Illuminator | Crossover Prog | 2023-08-08 | "Illuminator", the seventh album from Rhode Island's Resistor, skillfully blends hard rock, progressive rock, and folk into a singular sound, backed by the cohesive energy of live band recording and a unique musicality that tests the boundaries of both classic rock and heavy prog. While drawing inspiration from iconic bands, Resistor crafts a distinctive musical experience, resulting in an album that's both accessibly familiar yet refreshingly innovative, adeptly scratching a sonic itch you may not even know you had. | 2023 | USA |
 | The Songs & Tales of Airoea - Book 1: The Tale of Father Robin (State of Nature) | The Chronicles of Father Robin | Symphonic Prog | 2023-09-15 | In Book 1 of 3 of the eagerly anticipated project "The Songs & Tales of Airoea" the Norwegian prog-rock supergroup The Chronicles of Father Robin masterfully brews fantasy, mythology, and folk tales into a rich draught of classic prog, folk, and rock music. Each song beckons listeners into a vivid narrative of world-building and mythmaking, establishing the album as a true celebration of symphonic prog traditions. With its captivating storytelling and impeccable musicianship, the album stands as a powerful testament to the genre, promising an immersive dive into a world of mythological grandeur and musical innovation. | 2023 | Norway |
 | The Dreamer - Joseph: Part One | Neal Morse | Symphonic Prog | 2023-08-11 | Neal Morse's prolific output shines in "The Dreamer - Joseph: Part One", the first volume of his two-album solo project that delves into the biblical tale of Joseph. The album, rich in theatrical elements and showcasing a vast array of vocal and instrumental talent, successfully balances rock opera execution with touches of progressive elements. "The Dreamer - Joseph: Part One" as a whole stands out as a beautifully rendered dramatic concept that should not be missed by fans of the progressive rock opera genre. | 2023 | USA |
 | God Fearing Heathen | Dan Tyminski | Bluegrass | 2023-06-23 | Dan Tyminski's 2023 release "God Fearing Heathen" marks a triumphant full-length album return to bluegrass after a notable hiatus, with tracks that resonate both with traditional charm and modern flair. The album's songs, such as "Never Comin' Home" and "Silence in the Brandy," stand out with exquisite craftsmanship and soulful vocals. This is a celebration of spirited and joyful bluegrass, spotlighting Tyminski and his amazing band's skillful melodic artistry. | 2023 | USA |
 | [Un]connected | La Bocca Della Verità | Rock Progressivo Italiano | 2023-07-07 | La Bocca Della Verità's 2023 album, "[Un]connected", offers a contemplative journey that artfully examines humanity's role in the digital realm. The album melds diverse prog styles while exploring profound themes about virtual existence and its impact on human perception and empathy. Through its masterful fusion of both retro and contemporary progressive elements, "[Un]connected" stands out as an emotionally resonant and commanding presentation on the implications of our ever-growing digital lives. | 2023 | Italy |
 | PoiL Ueda | PoiL Ueda | RIO/Avant-Prog | 2023-03-03 | In the 2023 collaboration album "PoiL Ueda", the experimental French prog band PoIL and Japanese satsuma-biwa artist Junko Ueda create a riveting fusion of traditional Japanese sounds and modern experimental prog. The album's captivating blend of shomyo chants, medieval storytelling, and avant-garde progressiveness offers a soundscape that's both unique and haunting. A musical journey clocking in at just 31 minutes, it leaves listeners, seasoned or novice, yearning for more. | 2023 | France / Japan |
 | Prima Materia | Agusa | Psychedelic/Space Rock | 2023-07-15 | With their fifth album, "Prima Materia", Swedish prog quintet Agusa seamlessly fuses elements of psychedelic rock, folk, symphonic prog, and a medley of world music, taking listeners on a metaphysical journey through primal emotions and vivid musical landscapes. The album is a compelling tour-de-force through the human condition; experience a musical voyage like none other. | 2023 | Sweden |
 | The Journey | Matteo Mancuso | Fusion | 2023-07-21 | Sicilian guitarist Matteo Mancuso's debut album "The Journey" showcases a mesmerizing blend of jazz, rock, and fusion, solidifying his presence in the guitar world. From curious openers like "Silkroad" to soulful numbers like "Polifemo" and a touching acoustic closer with his father Vincenzo, Mancuso's compositional talent and classical-inspired technique shine through. Dive into a record that is not only a testament to Mancuso's musical skill but also a bridge between jazz aficionados and newcomers alike. | 2023 | Italy |
 | Stupor Mundi Vol. 1 | Prometheo | Rock Progressivo Italiano | 2023-06-23 | Delve into the fascinating story of King Frederick II's reign as portrayed by Rock Progressivo Italiano band Prometheo in their latest release "Stupor Mundi Vol. 1". The album (the inaugural volume of a planned two-part series) weaves a vibrant tapestry of history, storytelling, and diverse musical expression, its palpable progressive essence drawing listeners in to a compelling historical saga. | 2023 | Italy |
 | Going Off Topic | The Filibuster Saloon | Canterbury Scene | 2023-06-28 | "Going Off Topic", the debut album from The Filibuster Saloon, delves into elements of Canterbury Scene, jazz, progressive rock, fusion, avant-prog, and however many labels may apply. These instrumental tracks comprise a vibrant and playful collection of tunes, trading moments of compositional complexity and musical virtuosity with an air of both breezy cheerfulness and cheeky mischief. | 2023 | USA |
 | Bumper Book of Mystery Stories | I Am The Manic Whale | Crossover Prog | 2023-07-01 | I Am The Manic Whale's triumphant fourth album "Bumper Book of Mystery Stories" deftly navigates and overcomes the challenges inherent to the concept album: combining clever storytelling and thematic delivery with an engaging musical presentation. The band successfully fulfills the promise of any good horror, science fiction, and adventure anthology, with thrills and chills aplenty, and bestows them upon us in a thrilling melodic prog sojourn. | 2023 | UK |
 | Opus | Nospūn | Progressive Metal | 2023-05-19 | "Opus", the 2023 album from Nospūn, is a virtuosic progressive-metal narrative take on the soul-crushing consequences of obsession. This North Carolina outfit solidifies strong metal chops, catchy melodies, progressive rock inventiveness, and a flair for dramatic storytelling into a powerfully engaging concept album. | 2023 | USA |
 | Quiet Euphoria | Amoeba Split | Canterbury Scene | 2023-04-07 | "Quiet Euphoria" is a sensational progressive jazz record from Amoeba Split that plays with the boundaries of genre and engages listeners with vibrant melodies and dynamic composition. Boasting moments of cohesive strength, musical whimsy, innovative and improvisational drive, and deep atmospheric immersion, "Quiet Euphoria" boasts both comforting familiarity and jarring unease all at once. The title itself is a similar contradiction, a vanguard of the compositional dialectical on display. | 2023 | Spain |
 | Mind Out Of Mind | K'mono | Neo-Prog | 2023-05-15 | Drawing influence from classic eclectic and symphonic prog bands. shaped by a blend of hard and space rock, and filtered through a lens of contemporary neo-prog, "Mind Out Of Mind" by K'mono is one of the most thrilling and engaging albums of the year. Take an extended dip into the waters of this tonal oasis. | 2023 | USA |
 | Breathing Space | Hackberry | Heavy Prog | 2023-05-12 | Consisting of four epic length tracks, "Breathing Space" showcases Hackberry inventively infusing their sophomore album with a dense patina of heavy prog movement. This virtuosic instrumental quintet created mammoth of a record that nimbly integrates heavier elements with intricate classic prog. "Breathing Space" may have been even better served by a bit more thematic unity and compositional structure, but the album remains a thrilling and pulse-racing heavy prog cosmic sojourn. | 2023 | Netherlands |
 | The Approbation | AVKRVST | Heavy Prog | 2023-06-16 | "The Approbation" is a stellar debut for AVKRVST, who have delivered a powerful opening album statement for progressive music fans to stand up and take notice. Delving deep into dark and moribund subject matter with strong progressive rock and metal elements, AVRKVST don't dilute the emotional impact of their themes in an impenetrable shroud of doom; their compelling musical content renders them more immediate, accessible, and impressive. | 2023 | Norway |
 | PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation | King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard | Thrash Metal | 2023-06-16 | "PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation Music" is an early contender for my favorite album of 2023, thus far. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard brought their talents for inventive, evocative compositional prowess to bear, with electrifying thrash metal results. The album forges the King Gizz ethos ahead into pure genre territory, catalyzing its evolution with shredding metal intensity. | 2023 | Australia |
 | Fire Foretellinger | Lars Fredrik Frøislie | Symphonic Prog | 2023-06-02 | "Fire Foretellinger", the debut solo album from Wobbler keyboardist Lars Fredrik Frøislie, is a captivating and deeply impressive release, imbuing Norse/Norwegian folk tales with a thrilling display of symphonic prog virtuosity. The end result is easily accessible (and enjoyable) for fans of Wobbler, retro prog, or classic 70s prog. | 2023 | Norway |
 | Cosmic Chronicles, Act I: The Ascension | They Watch Us From The Moon | Heavy Psychedelic Doom | 2023-05-12 | "Cosmic Chronicles, Act I: The Ascension" from They Watch Us From The Moonis a doom metal-infused Laser Floyd for the mind's eye, a disarmingly melodic and riff-driven take on heavy psychedelia that blasts off into a wholly-other sonic cosmos. | 2023 | USA |
 | Fauna | Haken | Heavy Prog | 2023-03-03 | "Fauna" is Haken's best work since Affinity, perhaps even since The Mountain. Evoking the animal kingdom as thematic ruminations on the human condition, the band has crafted an engaging series of musically-rich tableaux, with content often both puzzling and precipitating, but always entirely compelling. "Fauna" is a fantastic record that bridges many of the band's eras whilst forging ahead along their unique evolutionary trajectory. | 2023 | UK |
 | Golden Age Of Music | Arjen Lucassen’s Supersonic Revolution | Hard Rock | 2023-05-19 | A love letter to the classic innovative rock of the early/mid 1970s, "Golden Age of Music" pays tribute to acts like Sweet, Uriah Heep, Deep Purple, Bowie, T. Rex, Budgie, Rainbow, Queen, and Black Sabbath. Arjen Lucassen and Supersonic Revolution deliver big, loud, larger-than-life epic hard rock that engagingly evokes the highlights of the band's 1970s rock influences, without giving in to the temptation of directly recreating them. | 2023 | Netherlands |
 | Piece of Mind | Iron Maiden | Heavy Metal | 1983-05-16 | In honor of the 40th (!) anniversary of Iron Maiden’s classic 1983 album Piece of Mind — a landmark New Wave of British Heavy Metal record (and that of heavy metal in general) — I’m reprinting a review I wrote at Hokeyblog about ten-and-a-half years ago. This album meant the world to me at age 12. Forty years later? Hasn’t missed a freakin’ piece. | 1983 | UK |
 | Brass | Brass Camel | Crossover Prog | 2022-09-09 | "Brass" is an infectious and often surprising transmogrification of blues, funk, and prog elements into a satisfying whole. Brass Camel delivers a wondrous slab of sonic wizardry, channeling fireballs of rock's epic past but weaving them into an eccentric yet intoxicating new vision. | 2022 | Canada |
 | The Last Transmission | The Sleeping Legion | Heavy Psychedelic Doom | 2023-03-20 | If you're aligned with a convergence of 1972-ish Sabbath and Floyd, 90s indie rock/grunge, and whatever else The Sleeping Legion tossed into this bubbling sonic cauldron of creepy concordance, "The Last Transmission" delivers an epic psychedelic doom metal ride of cosmic terror and sci-fi derring-do. | 2023 | Canada |
 | Space Kitchen | Space Kitchen | Crossover Prog | 2023-04-14 | Deftly showcasing this musical duo's ability to construct catchy tunes alongside more unconventional pieces, their self-titled debut EP "Space Kitchen" endeavors to engage both the worlds of indie melodic pop and innovative progressive rock, successfully actualizing their "garage prog" ethos with an engaging collection of tunes. | 2023 | Canada |
 | At The Mercy Of Manannán | M-Opus | Symphonic Prog | 2023-04-03 | M-Opus infused the prog styles of 1972 with epic Celtic mythology in the genesis of their latest album "At The Mercy Of Manannán". A deep-dive into a refracted vision of musical yesteryear, the band delivered a thrilling and fresh-sounding album, weaving their contemporary reimaginations of these various influences into the creation of an inventive musical narrative. | 2023 | Ireland |
 | Fearless | Crown Lands | Heavy Prog | 2023-03-31 | "Fearless" from Canadian duo Crown Lands wears its Rush homage high up on its vest, but retains a character that is less defined by the music of the past, and more derived from it. A captivating sonic adventure, "Fearless" picks up and runs with the classic Rush baton, but skillfully weaves other influences into the band's contemporary tone and vision, resulting in a diverse and highly satisfying experience. | 2023 | Canada |
 | The Dio Album | Paul Gilbert | Heavy Metal | 2023-04-07 | Rock guitar virtuoso Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big, Racer X) covers a dozen amazing Ronnie James Dio tunes in a collection of guitar-driven heavy metal instrumentals. These Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and Dio classics remain sacred and nigh-untouchable, but Gilbert imbues the project with passion, energy, and his signature impeccable shredding. | 2023 | USA |
 | Telepathic Minds | Overhead | Crossover Prog | 2023-03-31 | Accentuated by the timeliness of its subject matter and immersive themes of war, conflict, loneliness, despair, and the destructive obfuscation of reality, "Telepathic Minds" is a deeply compelling (yet buttkickingly rockin) prog epic. | 2023 | Finland |
 | Celebrants | Nickel Creek | Progressive Bluegrass | 2023-03-24 | Nickel Creek's most stark and cohesive album to date, "Celebrants" enthralls and entertains but emboldens itself in challenging and defying expectations. | 2023 | USA |
 | Murmurations | Eyeless Owl | Math Rock | 2023-01-27 | Murmurations from Eyeless Owl delivers a frenzied flurry of symphonic prog, math rock, ambient, avant-garde, samba, jazz... a joyful eruption of multicolored feathers in flight. | 2023 | USA |
 | ID.Entity | Riverside | Progressive Metal | 2023-01-20 | From quiet nuance to explosive metal anger, ID.Entity bleeds emotional verisimilitude amid heavy progressive melody. | 2023 | Poland |
 | I Am Proud Of You | Mice On Stilts | Crossover Prog | 2023-03-17 | With a tone that undulates between pastoral and progressive, "I Am Proud Of You" delivers a rich musical soundscape through a reflexive journey of redemption. | 2023 | New Zealand |
 | Dominion | Zopp | Canterbury Scene | 2023-02-03 | "Dominion" skillfully suffuses intricate musicianship, compositional innovation, and jazzy idiosyncrasies along and among enthralling melodic rock content. | 2023 | UK |
 | III | Caravela Escarlate | Symphonic Prog | 2023-01-27 | "III" demonstrates a masterful command of instrumentation, lyrical construction, and thematic content, aping the conventions of vintage 70s prog rock but tempered with contemporary sensibilities and engaging Brazilian rhythms. | 2023 | Brazil |
 | Overlords | We Came From Space | Crossover Prog | 2023-02-03 | Balancing the catchy hooks of Beatlesque pop melody with a fusion of 70s rock motifs and progressive rock virtuosity, We Came In Space's second album Overlords is a thrilling cosmic odyssey. | 2023 | USA |
 | Hymns for Hungry Spirits, Vol. II | Great Wide Nothing | Neo-Prog | 2023-01-20 | Hymns for Hungry Spirits, Vol. II succeeds as a confident and diverse collection of progressive rock tracks that derives genuine hope in an increasingly unfeeling universe. | 2023 | USA |
 | Hymns for Hungry Spirits, Vol. I | Great Wide Nothing | Neo-Prog | 2020-11-07 | Great Wide Nothing's "Hymns for Hungry Spirits, Vol. I" preaches a prog-rock gospel of empathy and nuance, framing multiple perspectives of human longing in a wall of alluring melodic intricacies. | 2020 | USA |
 | Only Passing Through | Pattern-Seeking Animals | Crossover Prog | 2022-04-01 | "Only Passing Through" from Pattern-Seeking Animals was our favorite album of 2022, exemplifying the strengths that emerge when converging elements from both pop/rock and progressive music. | 2022 | USA |
 | Deep Reef Dream | The Light In The Ocean | Eclectic Prog | 2022-04-15 | The Light in the Ocean’s third album is a tongue-in-cheek romp, an underwater prog adventure featuring killer octopi, oceanic lairs, chemical monsters, pirates, and/or jazz bars in Atlantis (your mileage may vary). Even if the album might meander a bit at times, Deep Reef Dream remains musically daring whilst also providing an anthemic hard rock sojourn. | 2022 | USA |