
Live Revelations by Dominic Sanderson, 2026 album.
Live Revelations is a live album by the British progressive rock multi-instrumentalist Dominic Sanderson, released on February 27, 2026.
The album is the recording of a performance held at Symphony Hall in Birmingham and includes tracks from his two previous studio works, Impermanence (2023) and Blazing Revelations (2025), albums I have discussed at length, along with the review of another album featuring a beautiful performance by Sanderson, the beautiful work of 2025 The Next Dream by Massimo Pieretti.
The album is presented by Sanderson himself as a "no filter" record:
Recorded without the use of backing tracks, click, or digital retouching, this album offers an uncompromising “old-school” sound. The live versions differ significantly from the studio ones, both for logistical and creative reasons. The mix of classic 70s progressive rock, with Canterbury influences and jazz hints, often recalls bands like Van der Graaf Generator and King Crimson.
Let's see the author's presentation:
“Live Revelations features songs from both Impermanence and Blazing Revelations, performed in the grand setting of Birmingham's Symphony Hall. Our live versions differ from the studio ones in terms of arrangement, and these variations were made for both logistical and creative reasons. This album is an unbounded statement of what you can expect from my band and me live; We don’t play with a click, we don’t play with backing tracks, and there are no added frills. This is what was captured that day and, in this respect, it is true old-school progressive rock in its ugliest, most twisted, and unyielding form. I hope you enjoy it!”
The line-up of Live Revelations is a bit like a family, with a core group that created the studio works and then a group of collaborators who join for the tours. The core group, present since 2023, is made up of musicians who played on the debut album “Impermanence.” Dominic Sanderson is the leader and composer, present at every stage of the project. Tristan Apperley is his right-hand man, playing bass and violin on both “Impermanence” and “Blazing Revelations.” Jacob Hackett has been the regular drummer since the first demos, credited on both albums. Andy Frizell is a key collaborator of Sanderson: even though he is not a permanent member of the band, he has a constant presence. He played winds and flute as a special guest on both records and then became an integral part of the touring line-up. Finally, Embiye Adalı is the most recent addition: she joined the group permanently during the “Blazing Revelations” (2025) sessions to handle the keyboards (Hammond and Rhodes) that Sanderson, live, could not play simultaneously with guitar and vocals.
The tracks come from the following albums.
From Impermanence (2023), Sanderson's first studio album, characterized by eclectic prog and melancholic atmospheres:
- The Twisted Hand of Fate: The track that opens the live, originally the second track of the debut.
- Is There Calm Amongst This Chaos?: One of the most atmospheric tracks from the first record.
From Blazing Revelations (2025), the second album, which consolidated the artist's style with longer and more ambitious compositions:
- Lullaby for a Broken Dream: The concluding suite of the 2025 album, which in the live version reaches almost 20 minutes in length.
- From the Weeping Cradle: The opening track of Blazing Revelations, often used as a promotional single also for the live video.
- Faithless Folly: A complex track that explores frenetic rhythms typical of the most technical prog.
The only track from Blazing Revelations not included in this live release is A Rite of Wrongs. A pity.
Let's start exploring the tracks one by one:
“The Twisted Hand of Fate” opens the live show with a tense and gripping atmosphere, but only after a brief intro made of raw and slow sounds. It’s a track full of contrasts, with delicate passages alternating with more energetic moments. Sanderson manages to blend King Crimson influences with dissonances and edgy sounds with the modernity of Porcupine Tree in the epic and rock sections very effectively.
“Lullaby for a Broken Dream” is a suite of over 16 minutes that begins in a pastoral way, with acoustic guitar and Mellotron creating an evocative and ethereal atmosphere. Then, the track explodes into chaotic sections reminiscent of Van der Graaf Generator both in sound and vocal interpretations. In the central part, there is a section that recalls Balkan and gypsy sounds, with a clarinet I have often heard at folk festivals in Greece, with a hypnotic and enveloping sound. The ending is simply splendid, with a great sax solo followed by a guitar solo by Sanderson over a Mellotron and flute backdrop. A truly great piece.
“From the Weeping Cradle” is a track of about 12 minutes that highlights the great synergy between the band members. There is an important part of vintage keyboards and jazzy rhythms, and a massive use of sax and flutes that recall 70s prog. Jacob Hackett's drumming is simply superb, mastering odd times and constant tempo changes. The bass work is splendid. Beautiful, very moving.
“Is There Calm Amongst This Chaos?”, from Impermanence, is a track with a disturbing mood that alternates moments of apparent calm with sudden sonic explosions. It’s a beautiful psychedelic interlude, with moments of apparent calm and sudden imposing and tense sections. Great atmosphere, perfectly in line with the title.
“Faithless Folly” is a complex track that deals with the theme of the relationship between humanity and technology. It recalls the Discipline era of King Crimson, in its complexity and dizzying time changes. Sanderson’s vocal performance in this piece is intense and theatrical, reminiscent of Peter Hammill.
The photos of the recording sessions found in the booklet attached to the CD and below are beautiful, conveying the magical atmosphere of Birmingham Symphony Hall in its entirety.
This artist has hit the mark; if I appreciated his previous works, this live album fully ranks among the essential live records for prog lovers. A young artist who, with this work, demonstrates great maturity and excellent taste, born from a passion for the masters of prog, without mimicking or quoting them, all ingredients that, together with the magic of the live performance and the quality of the execution, precise and sincere, make it an essential record for the genre and for modern prog.
My Version
Label: Not On Label (Dominic Sanderson Self-released) – DOMSCD0002
Format: CD, Album, Stereo
Country: UK
Released: 27 Feb 2026
Tracklist
The Twisted Hand of Fate 08:25
Lullaby for a Broken Dream 19:44
From the Weeping Cradle 11:59
Is There Calm Amongst This Chaos? 05:45
Faithless Folly 10:32
Duration 56 minutes
LineUp
Dominic Sanderson – Guitar, lead vocals
Andy Frizell – Saxophone, Flute
Tristan Apperley – Bass, Synthesizer, Backing vocals
Jacob Hackett – Drums, backing vocals
Embiye Adalı – Keyboards
Produced by Joshua Joyner
Mastered by Ryan Pinson at RML Studios
Illustrations by Matthew Sanderson
Photography by Nikhil Patel
Listening link:
Full tracks and extra content through the following channels:
- Bandcamp: Live Revelations on Bandcamp.
- Spotify: Live Revelations on Spotify.
- Amazon Music: Live Revelations on Amazon Music.
- Apple Music: Dominic Sanderson on Apple Music.













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

