I previously reviewed another album from Gabriel Keller and enjoyed it. I like this one more than that one. It seems to be more challenging, while still resonating from an accessible point of view. Like that other set, this features female vocals from various guests. Again, most of the lyrics are in English. This one really rocks out nicely at times, making me think of Rush in some ways. This album is likely to make my “best of 2025” list by the time the year is over.

The first half of this is built on weird distant music and sound effects, and it seems to convey a battle. Then melodic progressive rock with an epic metal ballad edge takes over. The track builds out from there with style. It has some vocals, but they aren’t really focused on lyrics, but more chorale style.

Hard-edged, almost metallic guitar gets things going here. It drops down to more balladic zones for the first vocal section. Emi B provides the vocals on this number. Some of the instrumental movements on this make me think of Rush to some degree. The second vocal movement comes in over the top of harder rocking stuff. This is a killer guitar oriented prog tune with so much style built into it. It has a twist into jazzy territory that gives way to more Rushish stuff.

Emi B is again the lead singer on this piece. Mellower, this has a more obvious progressive rock arrangement. Given how proggy the previous one was, that says a lot. There are some hints of jazz in the bouncy, playful number, too. It turns harder rocking later and really drives toward metal territory. That part is more in keeping with the theme of the lyrics. This really has a rock opera sort of intensity and vibe as it builds.

Spacey instrumental jamming gets things underway here. That holds it for quite a while. We’re eventually taken into some Rushish guitar dominated jamming that is so meaty and tasty. It eventually works out to more melodic prog zones for the vocal section. Again, Emi B handles the vocal chores.

Hard driving prog is on the menu here. There are hints of Rush, but also links to epic metal. The guitar soloing in the later sections of this track is positively on fire. This singer on this one is again Emi B.

Hard rocking guitar is accompanied by a spoken male voice in French. That holds the track for a time. Then it works out to more melodic prog for the entrance of the sung vocals, again from Emi B. This is another that combines edgy guitar with more mainstream prog elements.

The singers on this number are Manon Coursol and Charlotte Gagnor. Lucie Lacour (vibraphone) also guests on this piece. Starting quite metallic, this drops to extreme mellow stuff after a time. Then that intricate, mellower guitar part continues as crunchier stuff punctuates it. The two continue to explore musical territory together. Then it seems to end, only to be reborn in a symphonically themed hard rocking guitar based jam from there. The vocals (not in English) come in over that. The track continues to shift and change as it grows.

This time Angelina Pelluet and Charlotte Gagnor provide the voices. A mellower number, this is another with lyrics not in English. The track has a lot of symphonic elements and it’s quite a powerful piece of progressive rock. It really doesn’t lean toward metal angles at all, feeling more like melodic, symphonic prog.

Emi B is back on this song. There is a lot of folk music, prog and more built into this thing. It’s another that stays away from the metallic angle. It has a lot of power and emotional intensity nonetheless.

There is a healthy helping of jazz and blues built into this romp. Emi B is again the singer on this one.

Another that leans on the mellow side, this has a real symphonic prog angle to it.