TRANSMUTATION

Today I'll be listening to the latest release by the band Karmaknic which is a band led by longtime Flower Kings bassist, Jonas Reingold (he was in that band from 1999-2021). He has been called "Sweden's finest bassist." While most closely associated with the Flower Kings and Karmakanic, Reingold has been involved in numerous other musical projects over the years, including: Kaipa, Opus Atlantica, The Tangent, An Endless Sporadic, Agents of Mercy, Nad Sylvan, The Fringe, The Sea Within, Nick D'Virgilio and Steve Hackett. A number of the people he worked with in those various bands make guest appearances on this album, called "Transmutation." This is the sixth Karmakanic album since the band started in 2002, but the first release from them since 2016. I will list the band lineup and guest musicians below as they make up a veritable who's who of modern prog.

Line-up / Musicians - Jonas Reingold / bass, keyboards, electric guitar, vocals (2,7), backing vocals (3,4,6), fretless bass (5) - Krister Jonsson / lead guitar (1,4-7) - Göran Edman / lead vocals (6) - Lalle Larsson / keyboard solo (1), keyboards (7)

With: - Andy Tillison / Hammond organ (1,7), clavinet (1) - Simon Phillips / drums & percussion (2,4,6) - Jan-Olof Jonsson / acoustic guitars (2,7) - Luke Machin / solo guitars (2), nylon acoustic guitar (2) - John Mitchell / lead vocals (2,5-7), vocals (3,4), 12-string guitars (4) - Randy McStine / lead vocals (2), guitars (3,4), backing vocals (3,4), 12-string acoustic guitars (4) - Geri Schuller / piano (2,5,7) - Craig Blundell / drums (3,5) - Dina Höblinger / backing vocals (4), lead vocals (7) - Lelo Nika / accordion (5) - Markus Lukastik / flute (5) - Rob Townsend / tenor & soprano saxophones (5,7) - Tomas Bodin / keyboards (5,6) - Sven Cirnski / electric guitars (6) - Nick D'Virgilio / drums (7) - Steve Hackett / nylon acoustic guitar (7) - Amanda Lehmann / backing vocals (7) - Roger King / keyboards (7)

Let's check it out! As usual, this is a "cold listen."

Track 1 - Bracing for Impact

At only 2:32, this is easily the shortest track on the album, and I suspect it serves as an intro for what is to come. A heavy sounding keyboard and guitar starts us off as if they are warming up. A spectacular drum fill follows, and we are off to the races. This is a quick-tempo piece with some fabulous playing by all involved. It reminds me a bit of something the Dixie Dregs would have done. Reingold shows off his great bass playing after 1:40. Incredible opener!

Track 2 - End of the Road

This is the second longest track on the album at 10:18. It begins with a quiet piano part. A roll on the tom-toms brings the band in with a majestic introduction. Reingold continues to impress with his bass parts. Vocals begin at just after 1 minute, sung by either Jonas Reingold, Randy McStine or John Mitchell, as all are listed as vocalists on this one. We are in a moderate ballad tempo feel. The song continues this way until the bridge at 4:18. The tempo remains but there is a bit of a key change. At 4:45, the meter changes and the rhythms are very syncopated. Simon Phillips is playing a wonderful drum part here. Things get more mellow after the bridge. By 7:20 or so, all instruments drop out except classical guitar and piano. A snare roll brings the band back soon after. The tempo picks up at 8:13 for a guitar solo. Outstanding run at 8:38 from Luke Machin, whom I am not familiar with, but he's a damn fine guitarist based on this track (I looked him up, he has quite a prog resume with bands I know, so I just didn't know it was him). There is a big melodic section following the solo that leads to a piano part that closes out the track. Beautiful!

Track 3 - Cosmic Love

This one fades in with synth sounds. It has a bit of an 80s techno groove. As best as I can tell, I believe John Mitchell is the primary singer on this one. The vocals begin just after 30 seconds and the drums (Craig Blundell) just after 45 seconds. After the one-minute mark, Reingold enters with a bass line reminiscent of Yes' Roundabout (played by the late-great Chris Squire, of course). At 1:30, after the title line, a 12-string acoustic takes over (McStine, I think), and we go into a bridge. The verse that follows is with the full band. I love the big full sound at around 2:30. Another new melody happens after the 3-minute mark. I love the flange effect on the snare drum fill at 4 minutes. An a cappella voice with an effect ends the song on the words "Cosmic Love, Cosmic Wheels." Nice track!

Track 4 - We Got the World in Our Hands

Indistinct conversational sounds and various effects begin this one, and a bright, crisp 12-string acoustic guitar begins a strumming pattern at around 30 seconds (McStine). Chimey electric guitars and an awesome Reingold bass part comes in next, followed by drums (Simon Phillips). The vocals (John Mitchell) enter after that. I love the arrangement on this one. Awesome key change into the chorus! I like the instrumental break around 2:40. Another verse-chorus cycle follows. The groove changes at around 5 minutes during the guitar solo played by Randy McStine. Cool melody at around the 6-minute mark. A great melody in the chorus. As the song ends, there is a pretty piano part, but a sinister laugh happens with it. Good track.

Track 5 - All That Glitters Is Not Gold

This one fades in with accordion and some ambient sounds. There is a lovely arpeggiated guitar part that is layered with multiple guitar tracks, and Reingold's great moving bass lines. Vocals join in by John Mitchell again. The second verse begins around 2 minutes in with the rhythm section on board (Blundell on drums). The following chorus has an unsettling feeling to it. The lead guitar is with a slide (Krister Johnson) There are alternating sections of soothing melodies and sinister lines. Rob Townshend provides various sax solos. The closing part is very dense instrumentally. Very unique and cool track.

Track 6 - Gotta Lose This Ball and Chain

12-string acoustic guitar creates the intro, joined by John Mitchell's vocals. The tune becomes more rhythmic at around 45 seconds, with a bass drum joining in (Phillips). This one has a bit of a "25 or 6 to 4" bass line in the chorus. This album is incredibly well produced and arranged. There are many layers of sound, but it never gets muddy. I like the call and response in some of the vocal sections. There is an uplifting bridge at 3:30. Sven Cirnski takes a fantastic guitar solo on this one. Nice key change towards the end.

Track 7 - Transmutation

Prog albums often end with a "closing epic" and Reingold and company give us a nearly 23 minute one to sink our teeth into here. It begins with symphonic style orchestration, joined by a gentle piano part, and Reingold's melodic bass lines. John Mitchell once again takes the lead vocal (interesting since he is mainly known for his guitar skills). Nick D'Virgilio (Spock's Beard/Big Big Train among others) provides the drumming on this one, and he keeps a nice odd metered beat going on this once he joins in. Female vocalist Dina Höblinger takes the lead vocal for a bit at around 3:30, alternating and duetting with Mitchell as the song proceeds. While the legendary Steve Hackett is credited with nylon string guitar on this one, Krister Johnson seems to be the lead player here. Tangent leader Andy Tillison provides organ on this one. I love the peaceful piano segment at around 6:50 by Geri Schuller. Dina Höblinger takes the lead vocals again at around the 8-minute mark. There is an excellent instrumental break in the middle of the song. Dina's beautiful vocals return at 11 minutes with nice guitar fills between phrases. Mitchell takes back over around 12-minutes in with minimal accompaniment. I love the section at the 13-minute point. The tempo then increases for a fabulous guitar solo. Cool transition to some precision playing at 14:14. Some of the lead lines here are very fusion oriented. Just incredible playing all around! Not only is this the longest track by far on this album, it is the main one with various meters and the "proggiest" overall. Tillison's organ solo hits just before 17 minutes. Things get quiet just before 18 minutes, and Hackett's nylon string part enters and is soon joined by Mitchell's vocals. At around 19:20, choral style vocals take us to a "waive your lighter in the air" style half-time section, with dynamic vocals from both singers. A guitar solo follows. We are gearing up for the big finish at 21 minutes or so. More and more levels of instrumentation join in as we reach the climax of this fantastic epic! I love the pregnant pause before the final chord hits. This is a top-tier prog epic that is sure to get a lot of attention!

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS:

Wow! What a fantastic album this is! If you haven't heard it yet, definitely check it out! 2025 is shaping up to be a banner year for great prog releases! I've already reviewed the new Dream Theater and Pattern Seeking Animals albums. I will be reviewing the new Steven Wilson soon and The Flower Kings have one on the horizon. This is right up there in quality with the DT and PSA. While the first 6 songs are all great, the title-epic is a masterpiece! I'll give this a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Clicked 5, but really 4.5; but 4 is just too low!

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