Maestro by Magic Pie

Maestro of Magic Pie, released in 2025, five years after their previous album, Fragments of the 5th Element.

A Norwegian prog metal band, this album features seven songs, including a lengthy suite lasting over 18 minutes.

What I took away from this album is that, as is happening with other prog bands these days, this album also features a very well-articulated mix of styles and a great fusion of genres, but with one substantial difference:

While elsewhere I find atmospheres that come almost exclusively from prog subgenres, from symphonic or romantic to psychedelic to space rock and even influences from the Canterbury scene, here I find many references to classic rock and hard rock from the '70s and even '80s, which "lighten" the songs from the constant complexity typical of pure prog. These, combined with an undeniable compositional ability with beautiful, catchy melodies, make the songs real "hits" with a compelling character that, in my opinion, will appeal to an audience that loves classic rock, hard rock, progressive metal, and progressive rock, but not to those who are purists of just one of these genres.

A mood that ranges from romantic rock to stronger themes bordering hard rock and progressive metal, with the introduction of variations and progressions. There's also some perfect blues rock and a fine jazz rock in the first track. All the musicians are excellent: precise drums, beautiful creativity on the keyboards, top-notch bass, and beautiful guitar solos, sometimes with a psychedelic feel. The choruses are beautiful (the thing that made me think of the '80s) and the lead vocals are focused and passionate. The keyboards are beautiful, both in the backing tracks and in the sometimes vintage solos. Some passages recall early Yes, but over decidedly hard rock guitar bases, but there's also a distant memory of Voodoo Child and early Bowie for a few moments.

The standouts are undoubtedly the opening suite "Opus Imperfectus Pt. 1 – The Missing Chord," "By the Smokers Pole," "Name It To Tame It," and "Someone Else's Wannabe."

The end result is a beautiful album overall. Let's be clear: the compositions and execution are top-notch, as is the production. These are beautiful pieces that are a pleasure to listen to, not with the sullen look of someone who needs to understand the song, the audiophile who absolutely must read between the lines and grasp the nuances or deeper roots, but with the serenity of easy listening, with beautiful textures that have not run the risk of remaining niche, to access, in my opinion, a wider audience, taking what's "coolest" about progressive and expertly, admirably, grafting it onto hard rock.

Recommended, as I said, for an audience that loves Classic Rock, Hard Rock, Progressive Metal, and Progressive Rock, but not for those who are purists of just one of these genres.

The Tracks

1. Opus Imperfectus Pt. 1 - The Missing Chord (18:29)

2. By the Smoker's Pole (4:19)

3. Name It to Tame It (7:10)

4. Kiddo... (2:12)

5. Someone Else's Wannabe (7:34)

6. Everyday Hero (5:10)

7. Opus Imperfectus Pt. 2 - Master (4:17)

Duration 49:11

Line-Up

- Kim Stenberg - guitars, vocals

- Lars Petter Holstad - bass, vocals

- Eirikur Hauksson - lead vocals

- Martin Utby - drums

- Eirik Hanssen - vocals

- Erling Henanger - keyboards, vocals