EVOS12

Gazing through our prog telescopes, searching for new frontiers whilst evading a slew of unhealthy contemporary asteroids of formulaic garbage, the perennial focus is on finding new stars that perhaps may inhabit the possibility of life. This Aurora Project did show up before on the Rogue radar, but it was a faint signal that quickly vanished in the hyper complex confines of space. Thanks to Bad Dog Promotions, the blip is back (as Elton John almost sang once)! The onus is clearly on the lead singer's rather talented voice, a vibrant and passionate delivery, the ideal platform for a seasoned crew featuring dual guitarists Remco van den Berg and Alex Ouwehand, Marcel Guijt on keyboards and the perennial high quality Dutch rhythmic team composed of bassist Rob Krijgsman and drum beater Joris Bol. The style is the harder edged neo-prog with punchy overtones, two windmills away from The Gathering, Arena, Pallas, IQ, Drifting Sun etc? Lead vocalist Dennis Binnekade does take the cake and devours the material with fantastic clarity.

A certain brawniness from the get-go on "Slave City", unshackling the irons like Spartacus revolting against the Roman senators, the bass-led main melody is immediately attractive, the chorus magnificent, the ripping guitar riffs announcing the revolt of those who will die in glorious battle for a freedom that begs to be conquered. Marcel lays down some stimulating synth shields, as Joris pummels like a gladiator possessed, no surrender within the defiant words shouted with outraged valor. Excellent first salvo. Linear and expansive, "The Movement" is all about the groove, a magic carpet ride of straightforward sounds, woven with a firm thread, the insistent vocals somewhere between Michael Sadler and Paul Manzi, commanding both ends of the vocal spectrum. The tectonic mellotron swaths add much muscle to the cause, and the arrangement does dip and climb with unending adventure.

The next track really came as a total surprise, as "Have Some Tea" initially emits a strong Robin Trower wah-wah guitar sliver that enthralls the nodes, as well as supremely enchanting, hushed vocal that lathers up quite a brew during its nearly 11 minutes+ of grey atmosphere and cardamon adventure, with Floydian segments of uncluttered psychedelia. The screeching guitar blades slice through the mellotronic body armor with hostility and resentment. The second segment gets heated and intense, a sweltering demonstration of space rock, hovering like a winded hawk over the neighboring asteroid belt. The dreamy parts are sibilant solar flares shining in the deepest voids. Slides right into the best epics of 2025 list, for sure.

Weary after such a thrilling journey, "The Traveler" is an anthemic segue, armed to the teeth with 'unbelievable' melody, gut-wrenching guitar concoctions, with the ongoing thematic of liberation, freedom and discovery. The inspirational lyrics are set to rekindle the escape from a once-seemingly perpetual inner prison of endless oppression, with Dennis putting on a microphone clinic of the highest order. Another meaty track finale, "Freedom of Thought" serves as an all-encompassing essay on the infinite ability of progressive rock to express a wide range of sounds and emotions, from the buzzsaw dual guitar wrath, to celestial mellotron string symphonics, to depth charge blasting drums and heat-seeking bas torpedoes, all stringed together with unhinged determination. Freedom does come with a cost, and in the astute words of Polish General Witold Urbanowicz: "Because we do not beg for freedom, we fight for it".

An exceptional example of how attention to details in melody, contrasts, lyrical content, believability and instrumental prowess can take the relatively compact prog-metal style and lead the listener into an intricate journey of emancipation.

4.5 Distant orbs

The Aurora Project formed in 1998 and became known in 2005 for their heavy neo-prog sound, progressive metal with an atmospheric bent, and influences from Pink Floyd, Eloy, Arena, Anathema, Sylvan, Subsignal, and even Tool. A connection with The Gathering, as they are fans of the famous card game and their unique music, a blend of mysterious atmospheric rock, a fine signature for them.

"Slave City" bears the hallmarks of the band's sound, minimalist a cappella vocals before the neo-prog explosion, reminiscent of Arena's latest energetic albums; the dark and rhythmic neo-verse on one side, the solemn, spatial vocoder break on the other. The acoustic/electric blend ebbs and flows like an endless wave. "The Movement" denotes, with its neo-tempo sound, Marillion-esque keyboards, and the striking alternative rock that emerges, a new-wave touch of a contemplative Simple Minds. The choppy, sung vocals call out before the instrumental variation, dynamic pad, pounding keyboards, somewhere between Arena and The Gathering. The jazzy soft rock cover then the chorus and Alex's excellent, furious, and illuminating guitar. "Have Some Tea" with its Hendrixian intro; the reggae tune calls out, easy, danceable, but gives way at the 2-minute mark to an intense neo-futuristic break that leads to a spectacular guitar solo showcasing the famous wah-wah pedal. It builds, the syncopated pads, the psychedelic, metallic, atmospheric guitar; singing, dancing, oozing. The return of the bombastic chorus confirms the band's melodic heavy prog metal vein with an explosive break; a bass finale and a Police tune for this melting fade.

"The Traveler" with its heavy electro rhythm, its distinctive phrasing, cold wave in the distance, vibrant melancholic guitar flirting with that of Gilmour; Part jam, part contemplative flight. The guitar rips, returning to heavy tones before the acoustic finale. "Freedom of Thought" features Victoria Lynn's opening vocals over an Eno-esque ambient rhythm. Dennis takes the vocals, clear, flirting with Damian Wilson's, then sparkling new wave, and then the staccato riff like that of The Gathering on the famous "Mandylion." The crescendo begins with heavy prog metal with the choruses typical of the aforementioned band, captivating and intoxicating.

The Aurora Project, moving from prog metal to heavy progressive, from melodic new wave to complex prog, from heavy metal prog to atmospheric prog, is a good, energetic and modern musical conglomeration.(3.5)