The Whirlwind by Transatlantic

The Whirlwind, the third album by the supergroup Transatlantic, released in 2009, is essentially a suite of about 78 minutes and divided into 12 acts entitled precisely “The Whirlwind”.

Let's first recall the lineup of this monstrous band: 

- Neal Morse, Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, known for solo projects and numerous side projects including The Neal Morse Band and Spock's Beard but also the recent 2025 project Cosmic Cathedral to name a few…

- Roine Stolt, Guitar, Vocals, Percussion, known for solo works and numerous bands including The Flower Kings and The Tangent 

- Pete Trewavas, Bass, Vocals, historic bassist of Marillion 

- Mike Portnoy, Drums, Vocals, known for numerous projects including Dream Theater, The Neal Morse Band, Liquid Tension Experiment, Flying Colors.

The album features many prestigious guest musicians: Marc Papeghin on French horn, Chris Carmichael on strings, and Colin Leijenaar, Henk Doest, and Jessica Koomen who "snap their fingers."

An epic that, in a single, long, flowing song, masterfully presents interpretations in different styles—heavy and symphonic moments, more acoustic and pop—through original songs and some excellent covers on the bonus disc.

A few notes on my favorite tracks

- "The Whirlwind," a long, epic piece, the album's centerpiece, a powerful and emotional track with magnificent guitar solos by Roine Stolt, excellent guitar and keyboard work, a sound that's at times heavy and aggressive, but also melodic and emotional, showcasing a complex prog sound and great bass solos.

- "On the Prowl" and "Lay Down Your Life," both great songs with metal influences.

- "Rose Colored Glasses," a beautiful, very soft acoustic piece written by Neal Morse.
- "I Need You," one of the bonus tracks, is a beautiful combination of America and Beatles songs.
- "The Return of the Giant Hogweed," an excellent cover of the Genesis song, with an extraordinary drum part by Mike Portnoy.
- "Soul Sacrifice," a Santana cover and a great jam, with a fantastic performance from the entire band.

The band's shared passion for progressive rock gives us a timeless masterpiece on this album.

I adore Morse's voice, and I have to say that the keyboards, in my opinion, are at their peak, sounds worthy of ELP in terms of the grandeur of the compositions and interpretations. Stolt's solos are spine-chilling, and what can I say about the extraordinary rhythm section?

Given that I adore individual bands and musicians and that I'm a prog fanatic, this band is absolutely on a par with all the others. Many say they take us back to the '70s, but no, they ARE timeless prog.

There's a certain school and passion for the '70s, but a modern uniqueness that sets them apart from the rest. Great. Superlative.

Note: All links to the musicians' works are in the TAGS under the article title or on the "Artists" page.