‘Hideout’ is After...’s second album, being released in 2008. Here is a band that have been paying close attention to fellow Polish Progsters Riverside as well as Porcupine Tree, Pink Floyd and Parallel Or 90 Degrees. In other words we have some great symphonic prog with strong vocals and guitar lines all being melded into a glorious hole. Yep, I like this one. A lot. This is all that I want from a progressive rock act – when I am after comforting prog that I don’t have to think about too much (as opposed to Art Zoyd etc). It may not do anything dramatically new, and doesn’t voyage through uncharted waters, but what it does it does very well. It is like being wrapped in a warm security blanket, all snuggly and comforting.
It is music to listen to in the harsh nights, when all you want to do is to sit in front of a roaring log fire with a decent brandy and relax. There are some wonderfully delicate keyboards, and “Fingers” is a sheer delight with lead vocalist Krzysiek Drogo getting the emotion and timbre just right. The gently distorted guitars near the end of this, and the climactic build is just wonderful. There are some reviewers who are always looking out for the band that is breaking new territory – and while that is fine and good, I also want music that hearkens back to something that in many ways is familiar. When I listen to Triumvirat I may think of ELP in many ways, but so what? This is a great album and is one that many progheads will thoroughly enjoy.
