BREATHING SPACE

Fast on the heels of their sumptuous debut, I simply had to comply with my urge to see if the follow-up is of the same exceptional level and provide another wordy but precise appreciation via review. With a plethora of fans and critics globally who are raving about this band of expert instrumentalists, I somehow feel that Prog Rogue won't be too "rogue" and anoint this disc with the loftiest praise as well. The Hackberry line-up has not altered one iota, the quintet is rock solid to the core. With twin guitarists Marijn De Boer and Francesco Bonardi pushing the electric envelope, keyboardist Tim Hidskes colouring gloriously the backdrop, while the devastating Rhythm section pummels the propulsion into overdrive.

First, a word about the cover art, which is simply breathtakingly alluring, at least to this reviewer, with a winning combo of purple and violet being such a charming design combination. Four colossal tracks weighing in for a total of 49 minutes is what is offered here. The proceedings kick of with a grumbling bass line that will take no prisoners, Simon Venema quickly becoming my new four-string hero. Not only is the meaty tone deadly but the execution is devastatingly effective. The bulldozing nearly 16-minute mammoth "Lunares" slaps the unsuspecting listener with a thunderous wallop that will be maintained and at times, even heightened during the course of the set list. The instrumental prowess displayed here easily competes with the perhaps more famous leaders of the heavy prog genre, names such as Metallica, Rush or Riverside (less the vocals). The main difference is that the Hackberry material is composed of longer tracks with no fluff, no cliched licks and genuinely a more progressive disposition, in that their style is way more adventurous, subtle textures mean as much as crushing riffs to these stalwart musicians. Throw in change of speed and pace, radiant swerves, and death-defying dives, and you catch the sweeping drift. I imagined this piece in a live setting and my heart thumped vividly during the entire affair. Hidskes in particular whips out the Hammond organ and supplies that iconic oomph when the axe storm needs a little hurricane-force gust, tossing even some howling mellotron to boot. The softer moments are lovingly expressed with ornate piano solutions that really hit their mark. Simply glorious musical artistry in all facets of their talent.

A woven cord of interspersing acoustic guitars set the tone for "Solitary March", a poignant introduction of a what will become an epic journey, the trembling bass guitar deliberately setting the road to be travelled, as the storm clouds suddenly darken the mood, with bombastic electronic orchestrations galore, jostled along by the authoritative percussive display from Chris Bechtum. The dual interlaced guitars are mind-numbingly audacious to the point of impertinence, fortifying the massive foundation. Then, out of the heaviness, a wicked series of lead guitar solos, amid the back-and-forth deviations and returns, a solemn and SOLITARY piano ending the arduous trek.

The ominously brooding delivery on "Foreshadow" is the perfect example of setting a premise, the foundational platform on which the lads can investigate new sonic horizons whilst incorporating bruising riffs, a stimulating synergy between masculine action and feminine reflection, a mesmerizing trait that this crew does fundamentally as well dazzlingly. The sonic layout is enthralling, pulsating, courageous and daunting. Controlled chaos, organized thunder, intense lightning and evocative to the nth degree, all is present for the outcome. The suspense is skin deep, the cinematic qualities undeniable. And, as per norm, a delicate piano presage finishes off this gargantuan monolith as it plants itself deep into the arid desert sand, between the chimpanzees and the gorillas. There are some bones nearby, Hal.

Can such an onslaught keep on giving? Oh, not just giving but Hackberry kick it up a few notches with a tornado track of mythical proportions, cleverly titled "Manticore", based on the ancient legendary beast. Churning organ blasts only serve to enhance the criss-crossing guitar saturnalia, concussive trappings serve only to further confuse and dazzle and the trembling bass heaping depth onto the matter. Heavy, nasty, stubborn, and resolute, not a single note is taken for granted. A dozen bewildering minutes that encapsulate the intrinsic qualities of a band that should, by these overt standards, become the next sensation in progressive rock. So much for my (false) reputation for loving only pastoral, folk-tinged vaporous ditties whilst eschewing anything with muscle. Well brains and brawn make for a perfect melange in my sonic lair. The piece ends with their usual finesse and class. Surely a top 5 finalist for 2023 album of the year.

5 gasping rooms