The Glare
ProgRock, 2025
9/10
The UK prog-rockers Spriggan Mist bring their inimitable diversity to these 7 tracks that are both creative and unpredictable.
“Gaze Of The Dragon” opens with Fay Brotherhood’s powerful voice alongside Ali Soueidan’s dense drums in the dreamy climate, and “Ianatores Teresteres” follows with Neil Wighton’s driving guitar that aligns with the thick, rock delivery.
“Faery Wood” and “Crystal Cave” land in the middle. The former leads soft amid Aaron Cilia’s well timed keys and the eloquent wind, while the latter is the album’s best and carries a bit of a jangle that complements the pretty singing and frisky rhythm section.
The last track, “When Stars Collide”, is a charged moment that incorporates Baz Cilia’s precise bass to help illuminate Brotherhood’s expressive voice in a both rugged and harmonic finish.
Maxine Cilia’s contributions are quite exceptional, too, and include keytar, guitars (lead/electric/acoustic), alto saxophone, descant recorder, whistle, keyboards, and backing vocals, and that certainly helps make this a theatrical, folk-friendly and really unique version of prog-rock.
Travels well with: Edenya- The Secret Destination You Are Looking For; Daidrum- All At Sea