Let's THRAK Again (REEL ONE) by Stick Men, 2026 album.
“Let’s THRAK Again” is a tribute to the 1995 album THRAK by King Crimson, with the approval and blessing of founder Robert Fripp.
This album is Stick Men’s first studio record in over ten years, a project that brings together two longtime members of King Crimson’s rhythm section from that era, bassist Tony Levin and drummer Pat Mastelotto, along with Touch Guitar virtuoso Markus Reuter.
The trio wanted to recreate the same controlled chaos and the energy of the original album, describing it as “instrumental chamber music”. They composed and arranged the twelve tracks to be performed live as a lean trio, with minimal use of sampling or electronics.
To offer a truly unique experience, the band decided not to release just one mix, but two completely different versions of the same recorded material. The first, Reel One, mixed by Stefano Castagna, follows a track sequence devised by Tony Levin, focusing on a very specific sonic vision and philosophy. The second, Reel Two (yet to be released), mixed by Fabio Trentini, will feature a different sequence, curated by Mastelotto and Reuter, and uses (they say) entirely new sound choices and audio approaches.
All tracks are previously unreleased compositions, recorded specifically for this project. The trio described the whole work as a series of pieces created from scratch to develop an “original sonic vocabulary”.
Stick Men themselves described the album’s musical style as “heavy prog with nothing short of explosive kinetic energy”, and I agree with that definition.
A sound that blends the typical elements of darker, more mathematical progressive rock with industrial, art rock and avant-garde metal influences. The songs have intricate structures and odd time signatures, driven by powerful, massive riffs. Even though they’re only three, the simultaneous combination of melodic lines and a rocky bass creates a dense, intense orchestral sound.
The album alternates moments of pure instrumental acceleration with softer, more rarefied ambient passages, keeping a tense and always experimental atmosphere. The rhythm section blends the power of acoustic sounds with industrial samples, loops and electronic pads.
My favorite tracks are:
“Swimming in Tea”, which is without a doubt the track that surprised me the most, chosen as the lead single, with an immediate structure and the special feature of having Markus Reuter on vocals, before giving way to a memorable Tony Levin Chapman Stick solo.
The opening track, “Let’s THRAK Again”, for its ability to reproduce the complex rhythms and the “heavy prog” impact that distinguished the original 1995 King Crimson album.
“Haggin Triptych”, an instrumental suite divided into three parts (Renoir, Carriage Parade and Yosemite Sunset), which is a masterful example of rhythmic interlocking.
A triumphant and thrilling return, a true masterpiece of composition and musical performance, a must-buy for both King Crimson devotees and lovers of heavier avant-prog. Essential album.
My Version
Label: Unsung Records – 692287706531
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo, Clear
Country: USA, Canada & Europe
Released: 5 Jun 2026
Tracklist
A1 Let's THRAK Again 3:11
A2 Like We Did Last Summer 4:11
A3 Haggin Triptych 5:55
A4 Fandango 4:46
A5 Reading The Future 4:25
B1 Swinning In Tae 3:45
B2 Thief Of The Dice 5:35
B3 Dark Birthday 3:57
B4 Komodo 4:15
B5 The Well 6:04
Lineup
Tony Levin: Chapman stick
Markus Reuter: touch guitars U8 Deluxe
Pat Mastelotto: acoustic and electronic drums, percussion
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