A new Atomic Rooster album in 2025 – I don’t think I had that on “likely to happen” list, but here we are. And, not only that, but I’d say there is a good chance the album will make my “best of 2025” list. Yes, it’s that strong. If you like retro leaning hard rock with plenty of proto-prog and psychedelia in the mix, you will like this.

Now, from the classic 70s era of the band, only one musician remains, Steve ‘Boltz’ Bolton (guitars and vocals), but there is so much vintage sound here, that doesn’t really matter.  If you’ve ever liked Atomic Rooster, you really should check this out. If you have never actually gotten into them, but like things like Vanilla Fudge, I’d also advice getting this. It’s a great album.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2025  Volume 4. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2025.

This is a smoking hot, riff driven jam that has so much style and charm built into it. It feels very retro, like something from the psychedelic, proto-prog era. The shifts and changes land more pure prog, though. The track is definitely want I would expect from Atomic Rooster. It also lands near Vanilla Fudge territory in some ways. It’s hard rocking and so cool. The instrumental movement later takes it into more pure prog zones with some killer jamming.

As good as the opener was, this definitely elevates things. It’s a powerhouse with plenty of killer heavy prog sound built into it. I can make out hints of things ranging from Vanilla Fudge to Nektar. Of course, it’s also trademark Atomic Rooster.

Coming in slower, I’m reminded a little of Wishbone Ash as this starts. It drops to a stripped back, balladic approach. It rises up from there with more powerhouse prog style and charm. This turns dark and twisted later. It’s pretty freaky.

Screaming hot, I’m reminded just a little of White Witch at times on this thing. The cut is fierce and yet still proggy. It has a real riff rocking groove to it, though.

Not a big change, this is another effective hard rocker with retro prog stylings built into it.

In some ways I’m reminded of early Alice Cooper on this. The track is freaky, psychedelic and still proto-prog. It’s classic Atomic Rooster and really rocks. It has some smoking hot riffing built into it, too.

Dark, trippy and heavy, this is such a cool piece of music. It really has a twisted kind of vibe to it. I’d almost call it spooky.

This killer tune features both some smoking hot organ work and some killer guitar playing. It’s another retro sounding stomper that lands in the proto-prog zone. It is a great groove and one of the most accessible things here.

This hard rocker is almost metallic in some ways. It’s a dark and twisted number.

Fast paced and driving, this merges psychedelic, blues rock and proto-prog. It’s a real powerhouse tune that feels pretty soulful.