At first glance, you might think the Zen Orchestra is a completely new band because I was totally unaware of them. However, this isn't the case, as the music on their eponymous debut album is over 10 years old, and the musicians already know each other from another band. They were originally founded in the mid-90s, with current members Mark Barrett (vocals and sound design) and Steve Smith (keyboards) having previously been in the band Walking On Ice. The album had a long development period, overcoming personal and technical hurdles over about 10 years. The album is dedicated to the band's late friend and bass player, Stewart Milner, who passed away in March 2023, just before its initial release. New bassist Alberto Rigoni from Italy stepped in to play bass on the album, which allowed it to be completed. He did this together with drummer Steve Rix and guitarist James Stephenson. Of course, the already recorded bass parts of Milner can be found on the album as well. Let us not forget that. Their fantastic videos for Time, Faces and Circles caught my eye on YouTube, and I was immediately sold on their modern progressive rock sound. I especially drew comparisons to It Bites, which had also caught my attention back then in a similar way. I guess I wasn't the only one attracted musically by this amazing band. Zen Orchestra's debut album is receiving positive reviews, with many praising its symphonic progressive rock sound that is both modern and influenced by classic progressive bands. Reviewers describe the album as musically compelling, dynamic, and a triumphant comeback, highlighting the high-quality musicianship and production. Something I only can agree with wholehearted. The music is noted for its keyboard-heavy, orchestrated sound, with strong guitars, drumming, and atmospheric elements. The instrumentation on the album is characterized by a massive wall of keyboard and synthesizer sounds, powerful drums, and atmospheric guitars, often featuring strong solos. The music is described as epic, powerful, and evocative, with a symphonic and sometimes moody feel. As for the influences you could say their sound is compared to classic progressive bands like IQ and the earlier mentioned It Bites. The overall feeling is most of all that they sound fresh and innovative. But most of all sounding very original and hard to compare with other well know progressive rock bands! I will not go through the album by telling you what you can hear on the songs separately. Because words can hardly explain with what kind of incredible songs they come up with. All of the seven compositions are of an unbelievable high level. No fillers or weak compositions. Not at all! Something which you don't hear every day. I was just flabbergasted the first time I heard their music. Zen Orchestra are just committed to producing melodic progressive rock music with a widescreen narrative. They are making the music they love and for the people who love listening to it. And I am one of them without any doubt! Their debut is a must-have for progressive rock fans. Fans of classic symphonic progressive rock with a modern touch will thoroughly enjoy the album. I guess I don't have to add anything to this anymore! Just go out there and check out this excellent band that made with their eponymous debut one of the surprises of the year. A year which already brought many amazing albums from the UK made by acts such as Tribe3, The Mighty Ra, Riffstone, Random Option, Dominic Sanderson, Random Earth Project and Ghost Of The Machine. The list just seems to be endless and new names are coming every month. Just like here is Zen Orchestra out of the blue. I guess the British acts rule the progressive rock waves again just like they did in the seventies with amazing bands such as Pink Floyd, Genesis, Yes, Camel, Greenslade and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. ****+ Henri Strik (edited by Dave Smith) Where to buy? |
