Detailed Reviews [Flame Dream - 2024 - "Silent Transition"]

Prolusion. Swiss band Flame Dream is a bit of an unknown entity to me, one of those badns from the progressive rock underground I've just never encountered on previous occasions. The band had their heyday back in the late 70s and until they went on hiatus in the middle of the 1980s, but in 2022 the band got together again and started to write new material. The result of this creative process was released as the album "Silent Transition" on a label called 3VE Records back in 2024.

Analysis. This is a band that were active back in the latter days of the golden era of the genre, and one can hear that this is a seasoned unit that know their way around the golden era of the progressive rock legacy. By and large I would describe their style and expression as being inside of the symphonic progressive rock tradition, albeit without too many striking similarities at hand to the heralded giants in this field. The keyboards, obviously, have an important role throughout here, and the band is creative and expressive in the use of the tangents. Wandering piano leads and classic organ overlays are just as common here as more expressive keyboard lead sections, with a bountiful amount of more cosmic tinged synthesizer sounds and more atmospheric laden motifs to boot. Variation is indeed something of a key word here, even if the variation at least when regarded from a broader perspective may be described as being a bit more subtle in character. The distinct vocals are another identity mark here. Subtly accented and subtly spoken like in execution, the lead vocals here strikes me as being perhaps a little bit of a mix between Peter Gabriel and Frank Bornemann. Perhaps not a universally appealing vocal sound and style, but one that fits this band and this album very well indeed I would say. Longer, epic length compositions are the norm rather than the exception here, and those fond of songs that twist and turn in quite a few different manners from the start until the end is reached will find a lot to enjoy here. We get some songs with passages that should please those who enjoy the more careful aspects of early days Genesis, while other creations may be a bit closer to classic era Camel in sound. At one point we get some tasteful, dirty guitar riffs that wouldn't have been out of place in a 70s hard rock band, and many of the songs feature jazz-inspired instrument details in one or more sections that expands the properties and boundaries of the landscapes explored in a most charming manner. Majestic surges, of the kind early days Kansas might indulge themselves with, have their place on this album too, and in a similar vein we do get some tasteful classic era organ and guitar combinations. In between all of this we also get more atmospheric laden and at times subtly cosmic tinged synthesizer and keyboard details that alongside the vocals gives me a subtle association towards late 70s Eloy. And quite a few of the bass guitar lines do give me similar associations as the latter too. But this and probably quite a lot else has been pulled in to a mix that doesn't really sound like any of the points of reference. One may get the similarities in mood, atmosphere and expression, but more in the manner of similar vein than similar sound if you like. The end result is a most tasteful production, and an album that certainly deserves the vinyl edition that will be released a few weeks after this review has been written.

Conclusion. While I don't know just how well known Flame Dream are as a band, I can safely say that they deserve a lot more attention than they appear to have received so far after their comeback. Those with a more passionate interest in the retro-oriented varieties of symphonic progressive rock should find this album to be quite the enthralling affair I would imagine, and from my perception at least I'd say that just about anyone that find the threesome of Genesis, Camel and Eloy to be treasured progressive rock bands should have a very high chance of being utterly charmed by the landscapes conjured by Flame Dream on this comeback album of theirs. A most solid example of retro-oriented, compelling broadly appealing symphonic progressive rock. With many fine moments of brilliance to boot.

Progmessor: April 2025
The Rating Room