Short Reviews [The Quest - 1996 - "Change"]

I have never been a huge fan of reviewing albums more than once, and it is not something I have undertaken often, but given it is 28 years since I first came across this one, I guess it should be okay. Back in the Nineties the only way to find out about progressive rock music was by buying fanzines as the mass media was still trying to kill off the genre altogether and refused to acknowledge what was going on and there was no such thing as the internet. Yes, I know some prog sites were active in the last few years of the decade, but like many others before them, The Quest were no more by then. In recent years some of the bands have started performing again or recording, and such is the case with these guys as after the small gap of 26 years they released “The Book of Caleb” at the end of 2022 and have now followed it up with a remastered version of their second album, which was originally released by Now & Then Records at the beginning of 1996 (I reviewed it in Oct 1995). Although they can be thought of as progressive rock, this album demonstrates their AOR stylings as well, with a real mix of melodic rock with prog to create something which is both immediate and a lot of fun and there is no doubt this has aged really well indeed. If I had been sent this out of the blue I would not have guessed its age, and if someone put me on the spot as to the label I would state with some confidence that it had been released by Melodic Revolution as there is much on here which Nick Katona would just love. Looking back at the original review (TPU Vol 2, page 241 – what do you mean you don’t have it?) I see I raved about the single “Turn Away” and that it should have been a hit single. Coincidentally that is what I am listening to at present and nearly 3 decades on I find myself agreeing with the younger version, as this has wonderful vocals and great hooks. If The Quest were attempting to take on the world with this album in 2023 as opposed to 1996 I am sure they would get a lot of publicity and would be touring with great bands, as they did back then, but while this will never gain the kudos it deserves this still a very fine melodic prog rock album indeed.