GRYPHON

Gryphon was a band that took a while to get into. When I first listened to them in 2023, the only thing I knew about progressive rock was Pink Floyd, Rush, and some Nektar, so the weird medieval instruments and sound never sat well with me. However, over time I began to appreciate this album and band more after around a year after discovering them (I first heard them in 2023). Sure, still not the best record out there, but it's still a good one. Its subtle charm of the quirky woodwind and horn instruments combined with the short bar tunes is pleasant in itself, and though Gryphon would do much better later on in their career, it's an ok album. Moving on, the lineup includes Brian Gulland, Richard Harvey, Graeme Taylor, and David Oberlé. Three of the four men contribute to the medieval instruments, with David being the only one who doesn't play any of those instruments. 

The actual album consists of twelve songs, with each of the songs being a couple of minutes long. I feel like this is one of the main cons because it felt like this restrained the band from truly branching out and adding more to each song. When the songs do have room to breathe, it's a nice tune that I can enjoy. The storytelling on the tracks is also pretty interesting, as when a band has a sound as unique as Gryphon, it should come as no surprise that they pour tales from the Renaissance and medieval times into the lyrics. Some of the best examples of this include Kemp's Jig, Sir Gavin Grimbold, Three Jolly Butchers, and The Devil and the Farmer's Wife. However, my favorite song on the album is The Unquiet Grave. The way it sets the tone of a funeral, and yet at moments it keeps a jolly sound to stay true to the original theme of the album. Some sections sound as if they were a sea shanty from the eighteenth century while at the same time having an atmosphere similar to the Dark Ages. The lyrics are also above average for the album's standards, and in the end, the nearly six minutes of run time make for an overall great song. All the songs, though, have their own distinct moments, and you could practically just put the album on shuffle and find an ok track. Sure, they're far from perfect, but they're just relaxing songs for the most part. 

In conclusion, this album is pretty much skippable for most progressive rock and folk enjoyers. It's a good addition to the band's discography, but in the grand scheme of things, this is far from essential in the genre. This album is mainly fit for a very specific audience and perhaps even some adventurous listeners. Perhaps a 3/5 is the best fit for this record, and if the band were a bit bolder in the direction they would've taken their music instead of sticking to a more traditional and conventional form of folk, with the added tweaks of progressive and medieval styles.

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