Transmutation by Karmakanic

Transmutation is the latest work released in 2025 by Karmakanic.

I apologize to those who don't like long posts, but for this work by Reingold & Co., it's a MUST. We're talking about an absolute masterpiece, an album you wish would never end, one of the best listens of 2025, and probably one of the best Progressive Rock releases of the last 10 years.

Let's talk first about the band, Karmakanic, a Swedish band (Scandinavia continues to produce masterpieces in this genre!) from Malmö dedicated to symphonic progressive rock. Their lineup is top-notch, featuring Jonas Reingold, the leader and composer (who has collaborated with The Tangent, Steve Hackett, Flower Kings, and Nad Sylvan, among others), Krister Jonsson, Göran Edman (who has worked with Yngwie Malmsteen), and Lalle Larsson. On this album, they are accompanied by a large group of exceptional musicians, including Simon Phillips, Nick D'Virgilio, Steve Hackett, Amanda Lehmann, Andy Tillison (The Tangent), Luke Machin (The Tangent), and many other legendary musicians of our time. Note that the original lineup does not include a drummer, a role fulfilled by the many prestigious "guests" who collaborated on this album.

The lineup, therefore, received only positive comments, which are inevitably reflected in the quality of the songs.

The sound is classic progressive rock, inevitably not far from that of the artists and bands the members have played with, but it's even superior, concrete, and credible.

Jonas Reingold confirms himself as one of the best bassists and composers of the moment. I mention him here so as not to mention every song; that's a fact. He composed all the songs except perhaps the sixth track, which isn't credited—a shame.

- Bracing for Impact: a great start with a short instrumental intro where the rhythm section immediately comes into its own with Simon Phillips and Jonas Reingold.

- End of the Road, about 10 minutes long, with beautiful vocals from Mitchell and McStine. This very well-constructed piece could be a hit if this genre was more widely listened to. It starts off quite pop, then becomes very, very compelling and exciting, until it builds after about 5 minutes, when the prog soul kicks in and the piece changes, becoming more complex. Jonsson's solo is great, and he also plays a beautiful acoustic guitar part in the same piece, and Simon Phillips really gives it his all. What speed and depth, guys! Schuller's piano outro is beautiful. A great piece in terms of performance and beautiful composition.

- Cosmic Love opens with a Gabriel-style bass and keyboard loop (even in the vocals). Blundell on drums is truly exceptional. A pressing, fast, electrifying piece. Great backing vocals. Beautiful!!!

- We Got the World in Our Hands opens with a beautiful guitar, a light ballad with beautiful breadth, excellent backing vocals, Mitchell on vocals is truly impeccable. Another excellent piece. Phillips tops once again. The odd interlude at about the five-minute mark is beautiful, and the piece gradually builds to its conclusion, which harks back to the beginning. This is also a beautiful composition by Reingold.

- "All That Glitters Is Not Gold" begins with a spoken word and a glimpse of an Italian phrase, then the acoustic guitar kicks in and a beautiful accordion riff, an instrument that melancholically and romantically draws virtuoso chords throughout the song. It's a very emotional piece, even with that slow progressive metal interlude that begins beautifully around the three-minute mark. Strong emotions then give way to Townsend's beautiful sax solo, and so on, with alternating epic and melancholic atmospheres, sax solos, and Blundell's virtuosic drums. A must-listen.

- Gotta Lose This Ball and Chain begins with top-notch pop, a captivating rhythm that then gives way to a carpet of old-fashioned keyboards, a very open and sunny piece that closes. The arrangements are also remarkable on this piece, with great taste throughout, but this piece doesn't give credit to the composition. It's a shame. Nice work on the electric guitars by Jonsson and Cirnski.

- Transmutation, the title track, is also played by the great Nick D'Virgilio with Steve Hackett and Amanda Lehmann, and these, added to a monstrous lineup, would be enough to avoid much comment. It's a suite of over 22 minutes that alone is worth the price of the album. A perfect piece in my opinion, with its Genesis flavor and its spacious and sunny atmospheres, a piece animated by a fresh spring breeze. Everyone has room for virtuosity in alternating phases, including the vocals. A perfect piece made of energy and emotion in just the right doses. A masterpiece.

The lyrics? Beautiful. I'll quote a part of the title track that particularly moved me.

"Different colors and different skins

Unity in diversity must grow within

Because when we see we're all the same

There is no one left to fear or blame."

The album, in my opinion, is a must-have for progressive rock fans. I can only recommend it and listen to it again and again.

Tracks
1. Bracing for Impact (2:32)
2. End of the Road (10:18)
3. Cosmic Love (5:00)
4. We Got the World in Our Hands (7:45)
5. All That Glitters Is Not Gold (6:34)
6. Gotta Lose This Ball and Chain (6:25)
7. Transmutation (The Constant Change of Everything) (22:56)
Running Time: 61:30

Lineup:
- Jonas Reingold - bass, keyboards, electric guitar, vocals (2, 7), backing vocals (3, 4, 6), fretless bass (5)

- Krister Jonsson - lead guitar (1, 4-7)
- Göran Edman - lead vocals (6)
- Lalle Larsson - lead keyboard (1), keyboards (7)
Featuring:
- Andy Tillison - Hammond organ (1, 7), clavinet (1)
- Simon Phillips - Drums and percussion (2, 4, 6)
- Jan-Olof Jonsson - acoustic guitars (2, 7)
- Luke Machin - lead guitars (2), acoustic nylon guitar (2)
- John Mitchell - lead vocals (2, 5-7), vocals (3, 4), 12-string guitars (4)
- Randy McStine - lead vocals (2), guitars (3, 4), backing vocals (3, 4), 12-string acoustic guitars (4)
- Geri Schuller - piano (2, 5, 7)
- Craig Blundell - drums (3, 5)
- Dina Höblinger - backing vocals (4), lead vocals (7)
- Lelo Nika - accordion (5)
- Markus Lukastik - flute (5)
- Rob Townsend - tenor and soprano saxophones (5, 7)
- Tomas Bodin - keyboards (5, 6)
- Sven Cirnski - guitar Electric (6)
- Nick D'Virgilio - drums (7)
- Steve Hackett - acoustic nylon guitar (7)
- Amanda Lehmann - backing vocals (7)
- Roger King - keyboards (7)

- Jonas Reingold - bass, keyboards, electric guitar, vocals (2, 7), backing vocals (3, 4, 6), fretless bass (5)