Released by: White Knight Records
Release Date: Out Now!!!
Genre: Prog Rock/Rock
Links: https://whiteknightrecords.bandcamp.com/album/iv
Line Up:
Phil Stuckey – Lead Vocals
Ade Fisher – Lead Guitars
Paul McNally – Keyboards
Adam Sayers – Drums & Percussion
Phil Morey – Bass
Tracklist:
1. Shadows & Moonbeams
2. Silently Waiting
3. Lifeline
4. Liberty
5. Fragile
6. The Time of Your Life
7. JFKX
8. Fly (on feathers of hope)
9. SkiesFall
We reviewed some of their earlier albums, but somewhere along the way I must have missed their previous album 3, Days Of Innocence from 2022, but as soon as opener Shadows & Moonbeams of STUCKFISH’s new album IV blasts through the speakers, it is clear that we are dealing here with a superb high class professional band.
STUCKFISH were founded by singer/songwriter PHILIP STUCKLEY and guitarist/composer/producer ADRIAN FISHER back in 2017, and meanwhile, IV is their 4th album and I have to admit that it sounds quite sensational in a mostly typical melodic British ‘slightly 80s/90s’ orientated neo-progressive style with influences of AOR, Symphonic Rock and a touch of theatrical pomprock, kinda like MAGNUM and ASIA, which can be heard right from the opening song Shadows & Moonbeams.
This song has strong melodies and a rather catchy AORish chorus, but still packed in a British Neo-Progressive setting. Silently Waiting heads more into a pure Neo-Progressive Rock direction, while we can hear incredible vocals by Phil follows during the lovely Lifetime, on which he even reminds me of DENNIS DEYOUNG (ex-STYX), so this is actually prime-time classic Pomprock that has similarities to TOUCH, CATS IN SPACE and STYX of course! By the way, besides the lovely vocals of Phil and excellent guitarwork of Adrian, the other members in the band are keyboardplayer PAUL MCNALLY, drummer ADAM SAYERS and bassist PHIL MOREY. Together they have recorded a fantastic album here that doesn’t seem to contain any fillers, because besides the earlier mentioned songs, other highlights include the midtempo AORish Fragile, The Time Of Your Life (pure DENNIS DEYOUNG ish ballad), and the fantastic uptempo melodic rocker Just For Kicks (sounding almost like an 80s SCORPIONS ish tune, yet with a cool proggy 80 keyboardsolo).
Do not miss this sensational release, especially if you’re more into the melodic side of prog, because most of the time it is actually dangerously close to pure 80s AOR/Pomprock/Sympo Melodic Rock!
Written by: Gabor Kleinbloesem
Ratings: Gabor 9/10
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