Short Reviews [Red32 - 2025 - "Cryogenic Dreams"]

This is the follow-up to 2023’s debut and contains the same line-up of Steve Bonino (lyrics, bass, vocals), Tony Romero (synth, spoken word), Eric Confer (guitars) and Robeone (keyboards, synthesizers) although this time they also have guest Jimmy Keegan (drums). Jimmy has worked quite a bit with Steve in the past, so they know each other well, while I noticed this was mastered by none other than Peter Matuchniak. Now, if Vince Gloster had been involved, I would have said that in many ways this could be considered a second Bomber Goggles album due to the way the lyrics concentrate on the environment and what man has done to the planet, as the solo 2018 was Vince, Peter, Steve and Jimmy. Mind you, this concept story is about leaving the planet, so could it be considered a follow-on from the ‘Stargazer’ albums by The Steve Bonino Project which also included Peter and Jimmy? All messing about aside, this quintet has created a wonderful album which is crossover progressive rock at its best, wonderfully commercial and immediate and with a storyline which complete envelops the listener. I was committed to playing this all the way through from the first lines of opener “Continuum” as I wanted to know what was going to happen to the protagonists. The whole album is a sad reflection on the current state of humanity and what we are doing to the environment, pulling in from the strong history of music with a message which is designed to make people think. But while the lyrics are essential, the music and arrangements are what really take control as this is packed full of hooks, and while there are two keyboard players it doesn’t seem massively over the top in that department, just that the musicians have a breadth of sounds and styles at their fingertips. Jimmy is a master percussionist, adding lots of different nuances, Steve restricts himself here to bass but provides multiple melody lines or sits back in the pocket with Jimmy while Eric can riff or take lead melodies as the need arises, demonstrating that crossover prog can be forceful when it needs to be. I did enjoy the debut, but this feels like quite a step up and is one which fans of commercial crossover progressive rock which contains melodic rock sensibilities as well will find much here to enjoy, while the message hits home. I can’t help but think that “Hollow Heart” is aimed at one particular American president, who is doing his best to destroy the world just because he can, as the lyrics fit very well indeed. Let us hope it is not too long until we get the next album as this is thoroughly enjoyable.