BLAZING REVELATIONS

With the prog landscape as vast as it can be, it's no surprise that there would be a few notable retro prog releases this year. One of which comes from someone who's a bit newer in the prog rock scene, that being Dominic Sanderson.

I have been sort of familiar with Dominic Sanderson for a bit, mostly due to seeing Impermanence on some Progarchives charts, but never delved into his work until RYM decided to recommend this album to me. Since I really like listening to new music that comes out this year, I might as well check it out.

And guess what, it's good! Dominic Sanderson brings a lot of charm in this particularly jazzy style of retro prog, drawing from sources such as Anglagard, Discipline, and Anekdoten.

I think what I like most about this album is how it kinda breeds new life in the whole gothic prog sound like Anglagard or Discipline have done, by instead of being more keyboard and guitar based, the album is distinctly far more horn based, with tenor and alto saxophones galore. Because of this, there is a distinctly avant-prog energy in this album too, making it stand quite out from other retro prog releases around the bend.

This album also has a good list of tracks. While 4 isn't a big number, this album has around three pretty sizable songs on here, with only one shorter 6 minute tune near the middle. Most stand out of which is the epic of Lullaby for a Broken Dream, a tour de force that goes on for 16 minutes. The tracks here are consistently good I'd say, and they capture a specific, angsty mood to the whole album.

Though, maybe a bit too consistent. All the songs here do kind of sound the same a lot of the time. The sound here isn't bad per se, but I think a good prog rock album is something that can keep a sound up whilst also trying to do new things. This album definitely keeps up a sound, but I'd say never really changes things up. The only time you could say Dominic does do a different kind of sound is on A Rite of Wrongs, but even then it still carries a lot of the same necessities that the previous two tracks had.

Furthermore, the mixing on Dominic's vocals can be hit or miss sometimes. Sometimes it sounds good, but other times I think my speakers might be a little broken.

But, other than those complaints, I think Blazing Revelations is a good album from a newcomer in the prog rock scene. It might not be on the same tier as Discipline's Unfolded Like Staircase, but with the Crimson-esque jazziness of this album merged with a gothic prog sound, I can tell with a little refinement Dominic can make something really stellar in the future.

Best tracks: Faithless Folly, Lullaby for a Broken Dream

Worst tracks: N/A

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