#6 - Top of 2014

The Samurai of Prog - The Imperial Hotel (Seacrest Oy)

 On number 6, crawiling towards the top of the best albums of 2014 in retrospect, we have "The Imperial Hotel" from "The Samurai of Prog".This is an excellent third album of this Finland-based, multi-national  and virtually unknown band with a very unique name! The preceding 2 albums included exclusively covers of classic progressive rock tracks,  but this five-track album consists of new material. The music is written by four different guest keyboardists who also play on the album:i) "After the Echoes" is composed by Octavio Stampalia (Jinetes Negros), in a very sweet opening progressive track, with vocal harmonies echoing of Yes. ii) "Limoncello",  composed by Robert Webb (England) and is based around a violin tune that will become more infectious every time you hear it. iii) "The Imperial Hotel", also composed by Robert Webb, narrating the story of an old Victorian house that became a hotel is simply the best track of the album and truly a progressive rock gem. iv) 'Into the Lake', the final track of the album by Linus Kåse (Brighteye Brison), is a complex progressive composition that draws you into it and successfully completes the narrative of the album. A surprisingly awesome record that is worth a listen and a perfect number 6 to what was an immaculate year for progressive rock.


98/100

Below is, in all its glory, the full self-titled song (Warning, it is in the 25+ minute region)