CATEGORIES

A Traveller Of Time And Space

The good rocketship Hawkwind have launched their 36th studio album into the progosphere! On Stories From Time And Space, the group have lost none of their sense of injustice about the world. Bandleader Dave Brock reveals the drive behind their new music, why he's continuing to fight for an alternative society and responds to recent concerns about his health.

Soul Trader

It's been a long time coming, but Oliver Wakeman is back with a new solo album. With contributions from Nightwish's Troy Donockley, vocalist Hayley Griffiths, and Pendragon drummer Scott Higham, Anam Cara is a celtic-flavoured melting pot of delight. The keyboardist discusses the good stories and wonderful musicians that make up a record he hopes will capture the listener's imagination.

"Like having a brick wall coming at you!"

In 1974, King Crimson released one of their most underrated, at the time, albums. Red, created by the powerhouse trio Robert Fripp, John Wetton and Bill Bruford, didn't even reach the UK Top 40 and yet it's now regarded by many as a key work - not only in Crimson's back catalogue but also as a foundation stone in what would later become known as progressive metal. On its 50th anniversary, Crimson's alumni discuss the allure of an album that's reduced some adults to tears.

The Beat Goes On

There's a new King Crimson side-project in town, and this one focuses solely on the 80s incarnation of the group. BEAT finds Adrian Belew and Tony Levin reconnecting for a very special North American tour this autumn with guitar god Steve Vai and Tool drummer Danny Carey. Prog catches up with Levin and Belew to find out more.

CHARLIE BRAMALD

Ghost Of The Machine's vocalist discusses his latest project, Age Of Distraction, and plans for some pulse-racing gigs.

DIRTY SOUND MAGNET

Swiss rockers embark on a psychedelic journey with latest release.

HANDS OF THE HERON

British trio combine multilayered instrumentals and vocals with spellbinding results.

HILARY WOODS

The Irish artist evolves into a creator of totally immersive states.

PETRA HERMANOVA

Transplanted to Berlin, the Czech musician rediscovered her mojo after an injury forced her to change instrument.

TEMIC

Prog-metal alumni band's pulse-driven project forms with a little help from Mike Portnoy.

JANE WEAVER GOES "HEAVY MELLOW" ON HER LATEST ALBUM

With a major 17-date tour to follow, the contemporary psychedelicist moves into a new direction on her forthcoming LP with the help of celebrated producer John Parish.

DEREK FORBES

Forever associated with new wave, ex-Simple Minds bassist Derek Forbes reveals the influence of ELP, Steve Hillage and Genesis on their music.

Set The Controls...

Producer Youth talks to Prog about his new reboot of The Orb David Gilmour's 2010 collaboration album Metallic Spheres into Metallic Spheres In Colour and the mouthwatering prospect of the project being performed live, super-hi-tech, which would be the most amazing gig I could ever witness\".

ALL CHANGE YET STILL THE SAME

Now a band in their own right, the Spock's Beard alumni are back with Pattern-Seeking Animals and their fourth album, Spooky Action At A Distance. This provides the perfect opportunity to catch up with multi-instrumentalist and founder John Boegehold, to discuss changing things up, bonus tracks, and what the future might hold for P-SA.

Strange Band

One of the great and most original progressive bands of the late 60s/early 70s, Family were an influence on so many groups that came along after them. Fifty-two years after its release, Prog talks to Roger Chapman and Poli Palmer about one of their best albums, Bandstand.

"WE DIDN'T SEE A FUTURE BEING IN A BAND!"

After they released 2020's Rise Radiant into a world in facing the unknown, Caligula’s Horse began to question their existence as a band. However despite creative uncertainty and line-up changes the Aussie prog rockers persisted to make their heaviest and most ambitious material. Guitarist Sam Vallen tells Prog about Charcoal Grace's black heart.

Sonic Odyssey

Its mood consistently dark and ominous, with songs about climate change, disinformation and the reigniting of the Cold War, Pallas's latest album, The Messenger, is certainly far from easy listening. Only their eighth album in their 48 years, it was also - as usual - far from being a rush job.

Work To The Rhythm

Six decades into his career, Trevor Horn has finally released a third album under his own name. Echoes - Ancient & Modern finds the musician and superproducer infuse a second collection of reimagined pop songs with his magic. He discusses reworking 80s anthems with Steve Hogarth and Robert Fripp, the Yes years and why he loves nothing more than making mischief.

Hello, I Must Be Bowing

Experimental cellist Jo Quail has harnessed primal and spiritual elements in her latest releases, the dual EPS Invocation and Supplication. Comprising two three-song cycles and the distinctive vocals of Heilung's Maria Franz and O.R.K's Lorenzo Esposito Fornasari, the EPs find The Cartographer musician moving into new sonic worlds. Quail shares the story of their creation and reveals her new-found passion for the trombone.

Art School Dancing

One day in 1987, Porcupine Tree founder Steven Wilson met singer-songwriter Tim Bowness. Whether or not the planets were aligned that day, you can determine for yourself, but their subsequent collaborations as No-Man would result in some extraordinary and innovative music - as you can find out on their new box set Housekeeping: The OLI Years 1990-1994.

Through The Prog Window

After years spent wandering the dark caves of the extreme-metal underworld, with 2003's Damnation album, awash with that most un-metal instrument the Mellotron, Opeth emerged into the light with leader and songwriter Mikael Åkerfeldt now flying the flag of a card-carrying progressive rock fan. Ahead of the album's 20th-anniversary reissue, Prog spoke to him about a record he says was \"a normal prog-rock record, but for Opeth was completely new and unique.\"

Q&A STEVE BABB

Glass Hammer's main maestro discusses the creation of ARISE, satisfying personal expectations and what it's like to steer the ship after three decades.

The PROG READERS' POLL 2023

Prog magazine is 15 years old next issue. And, when I look back to our original readers' poll and then at this year's results, I can really see how far things have moved on from those heady, innocent days of 2009! True, some older evergreens are still there, but it really is like looking at a different landscape sometimes.

Fantastic Voyage

Recorded while he was still the guitarist in Genesis, Steve Hackett's debut solo album Voyage Of The Acolyte and its commercial success gave him a confidence he had previously lacked. Along with what he saw as winds of change blowing through Genesis, it helped him to soon make the decision to follow his group pal” Peter Gabriel out of the band.

Whale Tales & Circus Trails

With his first proper concept album in almost 50 years, guitarist Steve Hackett transports the listener back to bombsite-littered post-war London, with the record's fictional character, Travla, telling a symbolic tale of a journey towards self-actualisation. \"It's been extraordinary making this record,\" he tells Prog. \"I grew up in a time when music changed the world, and I've always felt the album can be a really powerful force. I really hope people enjoy listening to this one.\"

THE PROG INTERVIEW

Every month we get inside the mind of one of the biggest names in music. This issue it's Francis Dunnery. Best known for co-founding and fronting It Bites during their 80s heyday, his career has since taken in collaborations with Robert Plant, Carlos Santana and members of Yes, and he even auditioned for Genesis. Now back on the road with It Bites FD, the multimedia artist looks back over his life so far and shares his plans for the future.

SECOND BASE

Despite pursuing multiple projects already, three prog luminaries have concluded they're simply not busy enough. As D'Virgilio, Morse & Jennings press the button on their cunningly titled Sophomore, Prog catches up with two-thirds of the group to find out how they're packing everything in and whether they're likely to make it a hat-trick of albums.

Back To The Future

In 2021, Magenta’s Rob Reed relaunched his old band, Cyan, with a new line-up and a polished reimagining of For King And Country. They’ve now teamed up again to tackle Pictures From The Other Side. Reed and vocalist Peter Jones tell Prog about bringing a new lease of life to old material and why there’s more to come.

The Truth Is Out There

Almost a decade in the making, Earthside's second album, Let The Truth Speak, finds the band in fine form. Yet the story of its creation and subsequent release has been peppered not just with world events, but personal battles. Singer/guitarist Jamie van Dyck and drummer Ben Shanbrom discuss how they rose to the challenges of creating a bold and healing cinematic sound that defies all expectation.

Sonic Dystopia

For his solo career, Riverside's Mariusz Duda wanted to create something as distinct from his day job as possible. He talks to Prog about returning to his first musical love, being creatively selfish, and embracing electronic music on AFR AID.