The Flower Kings once again on point with their brand of Progressive Rock plus.

Release Date: 2nd May 2025

Label: Inside Out Music

Format: CD / LP / digital

THE PROLIFIC FLOWER KINGS

They’ve been going some time have The Flower Kings. Indeed, the flower king himself Roine Stolt ranks up alongside his Transatlantic team mateys, Morse and Portnoy as one of the hardest working men in Prog. It’s a rare thing if more than a coupe of years go by without some FK music of sorts. So it is that eighteen months on from Look At You Now, we have some new Flower Kings music.

The latest album features the original trio of Stolt, Hasse Fröberg, and Michael Stolt alongside newer members Mirko DeMaio and Lalle Larsson. As we hinted at with the last album, once again, it’s business as usual with the spirit of late 60s and early 70s progressive rock forming the ‘rock’ from which their more experimental stylings can launch. As ever, there’s a sense of joy and supreme confidence, offering their unique take on progressive rock. Expect nothing less than a musical journey through the band’s creative universe, featuring the standard variety of more experimental moments, wild guitar riffs and synth solos, that recalls the passion of their early work.

SIT BACK, RELAX

It’s a marathon too. Clocking in at 75 minutes, the album includes 12 tracks ranging from 3 to 12 minutes. A run of deep listens or brief encounters. You get the impression that if they’ve had enough after a few minutes, it’s time to draw the line. If there’s some mileage, then they’re off, following the muse and extending towards the ten minute mark.

From the more straight up keyboard Rock of the opening cut to romantic meanderings to super Prog and all points inbetween. The Kings are fully inclusive with the almost obligatory jazzy excursions there’s even a pastoral folky vibe at the start of The Rubble. Aside from the imperious Stolt guitar, Lalle Larson and his keyboards do a grand job in the overall sound of Love. From delicate piano parts to distinctive synth lines and an almost solo piece in World Spinning. The combination of the two on Kaiser Razor, an instrumental sees them duel away, ducking, dipping, dodging and diving throughout the piece,. It’s a delight.

ALL ROADS…

However, it has to be said that all roads on Love lead to Considerations. A ten minute finale that must rank among their finest work. Yes, there have been comments – justified – that there are moments within that are close relations to the Yes classic, Awaken. Not a bad comparison methinks and with Roine’s friendship with Jon Anderson, he’d be cool. With the finger on the classic Prog pulse, there’s even a nod to In The Court Of The Crimson King in the opening section too. However, the “searching high, searching low” mid song part is a Flower King career highlight.

An upcoming tour with the Neal Morse & The Resonance outfit in support with a date in Manchester is a no brainer.

Here’s opening track, We Claim The Moon:

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