CITIZEN CAIN
Symphonic Prog • United Kingdom
From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website
London, 1982; old friends Gordon Feenie (drums/flute/keys) and Cyrus (bass/vocals) of NOT QUITE RED FOX formed CITIZEN CAIN. Shortly after Tim Taylor joined on guitar. After several unsuccessful months looking for a keyboard player they decided to remain a three-piece. With the backing of KG Publications they gigged extensively and recorded several tracks in the studio, one of which appeared on the compilation album "Fire In Harmony".
Without the keys the first band was more rhythmic than melodic, nevertheless they received high critical acclaim, regularly headlined the famous Marquee club and even had a TV appearance on The Old Grey Whistle Test. In 1988, at their peak and on the verge of a record deal with Elusive Records (EMI), disaster struck. A broken arm rendered Cyrus unfit to play and the band had to split up. CITIZEN CAIN was dead and Cyrus returned home to Scotland.
Two years later Cyrus contacted old guitarist friend Frank Kennedy who, with friends Stewart Bell (drums/keys) and Dave Elam (bass), had a few songs written, mostly in the vein of their musical heroes, GENESIS, MARILLION, GENTLE GIANT and the like. Initially going by the name THE KLEPTOMANIACS, with Cyrus on vocals and flute, they played around with a few ideas. After a few months Cyrus suggested that Stewart move solely to keys and drummer Chris Colvin was brought in. They decided to adopt the old title and CITIZEN CAIN was reborn.
In '91 their first demo was recorded and received excellent reviews from most. The following year the debut album "Serpents In Camouflage" was completed but was not up to the standard they had hoped to achieve. Personnel problems had forced them into a last minute decision to use a drum machine and tensions were mounting between other members in the band due to conflicting views on how they should progress. Needless to say CITIZEN CAIN were now seeking a new drummer.
A lucky twist of fate saw their first album picked up by SI Music. The engineer of the studio where the band had recorded had a friend visiting who happened to be an A&R man for the label and he liked what he heard. This set the band in motion and in the year of their debut album's release, the prodigal drummer returned and they gigged extensively supporting the likes of PENDRAGON, THE ENID, FINAL CONFLICT and also headlining a few gigs.
Political problems still existed however and Cyrus and Stewart were forced to make a decision that could have proved disa...read more
CITIZEN CAIN forum topics / tours, shows & news
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CITIZEN CAIN Videos (YouTube and more)
Showing only random 3 | Show all CITIZEN CAIN videos (3) | Search and add more videos to CITIZEN CAIN
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Darkest Sleep Manifestations
(7 min 11 sec )Added by CreepyJohn
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Somewhere But Yesterday - Pt II Owls, Pt III Obsessions and Pt IV The Ballad Of Creepy John
(11 min 3 sec )Added by CreepyJohn
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The Antechamber Of Being Guest Vocalist Promo 1
(2 min 8 sec )Added by CreepyJohn
Buy CITIZEN CAIN Music
![]() | Somewhere But Yesterday Cyclops Records 1998 | $194.84 $41.04 (used) |
![]() | Skies Darken JFK 2012 | $14.99 $7.91 (used) |
![]() | Serpents in Camouflage Remastered F2 2013 | $24.99 $20.00 (used) |
![]() | Ghost Dance Remastered F2 2013 | $19.99 $10.00 (used) |
![]() | Playing Dead Remastered F2 2013 | $19.99 $17.98 (used) |
![]() | Ghost Dance by Citizen Cain F2 | $40.14 |
![]() | Serpents in Camouflage by Citizen Cain F2 | $58.10 |
![]() | Playing Dead by Citizen Cain F2 | $50.68 |
![]() | Raising the Stones Remastered F2 2013 | $23.09 $18.98 (used) |

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Citizen Cain's Stewart Bell - The Antechamber of Being Part 1 CD |
USD $14.01 ![]() |
21h 5m |
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CITIZEN CAIN - SKIES DARKEN 2012 SEALED VINTAGE PROGRESSIVE UK |
USD $14.71 ![]() |
4 days |
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CITIZEN CAIN'S STEWART BELL - THE ANTECHAMBER OF BEING SEALED NOV 2014 |
USD $15.78 ![]() |
5 days |
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(CD) Skies Darken / Citizen Cain / ProgRock |
USD $9.99 ![]() |
7 days |
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CITIZEN CAIN ( STEWART BELL ) - The Antechamber Of Being (Part 2) SEALED 2017 |
USD $16.06 ![]() |
7 days |
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22/6/85pg16 Black & White Picture 7x5 Citizen Cain |
USD $7.01 ![]() |
10 days |
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Citizen Cain Serpents in Camouflage + 2 bonus tracks |
USD $17.00 ![]() |
17 days |
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Citizen Cain's Stewart Bell The Antechamber of being (Part 1) CD New and Sealed |
USD $20.96 ![]() |
26 days |
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CITIZEN CAIN discography
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CITIZEN CAIN top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)
![]() 1992 |
![]() 1994 |
![]() 1997 |
![]() 2002 |
![]() 2012 |
CITIZEN CAIN Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)
CITIZEN CAIN Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)
CITIZEN CAIN Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)
1996 |
CITIZEN CAIN Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)
CITIZEN CAIN Reviews
Showing last 10 reviews only
Citizen Cain Symphonic Prog
Review by
apps79
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

With the band being always fond of long and emphatic compositions, ''Raising the stones'' couldn't escape the rule.70 minutes of Retro Prog in the vein of GENESIS with three pieces clocking longer than 10 minutes.''Last days of Cain'' is a great opener, featuring Heatlie on lead guitar, and coming as a complete effort of theatrical Symphonic Rock with impressive synth flights and some harsichord work by Bell, the sinister voice of Cyrus and the measured but well-needed guitar plays of our guest.From this point on the album becomes heavily keyboard-oriented with some sampled instrumentation displayed, exploring the historic style of GENESIS, but being much more complex in nature, while Citizen Cain's lyrical moments and orchestral parts have a quite dark atmosphere.Good enough reason to compare the group with the less shiny side of MARILLION.The compositions remain impressive, unbelievably dense for a duo, with many complicated instrumental ideas, providing a set of unique atmospheres (including some programmed strings).Neo Prog with a blistering sound and monumental symphonic overtones, maybe a bit too much keyboard-based, but always coming up with a great quality of compositions, based on fast grooves, dual keyboard flashes and odd breaks.Typical CC stuff until the very end.Sort of...because the closing ''Silently seeking Euridice'' has to be one of the better songs written by CC, a bit different than their usual offerings.Romantic parts combine with a strong MARILLION-esque atmosphere, big orchestral moves and lovely symphonic strings, featuring a timeless vocal performance by Cyrus.Absolutely brilliant.
These guys could play.''Raising the stones'' is not inferior compared to the rest of the Citizen Cain albums and if you like Genesis-styled Prog Rock this was made for you.Strongly recommended due to some fantastic instrumental parts, vocal lines and the reckless efforts of Bell and Cyrus...3.5 stars.
Citizen Cain Symphonic Prog
Review by
kev rowland
Special Collaborator Crossover Prog Team

The word that keeps coming to mind when trying to describe this album is "power", as although they are now reduced to a duo this is very much a band firing on all cylinders that disproves the notion that prog musicians should just sit back and not worry too much about the rock element. That is definitely disproved here as these guys belt it out, yet still have loads of time changes and switches as move through numerous styles and designs. By this time in their history Stewart and Cyrus knew each other well, and how to work together, and more than 15 years after the release of this album they are still producing great music.
Festival Music have reissued the first five albums in a remastered form, and now couldn't be a better time to discover the incredible symphonic prog of Citizen Cain. www.f2music.co.uk
Citizen Cain Symphonic Prog
Review by
kev rowland
Special Collaborator Crossover Prog Team

Citizen Cain were originally a trio, forming in 1984 with George Scott (now known as Cyrus or Xyrus) providing bass and vocals, Tim Taylor (guitar and keyboards) and Gordon Feenie (drums, keys and flute). Interestingly, Tim and Gordon were previously both members of Not Quite Red Fox who turned a pre-Marillion Fish down as a frontman because he didn't have enough presence! Over the next three years Citizen Cain gigged a lot, especially in London at The Marquee and started to gain a reputation as a slightly different sounding band due to the way that the bass is often a lead instrument. They had one song on the famed 'Fire In Harmony' compilation, but had to split up after Cyrus was in a car crash that left him unable to play bass. After he returned to Edinburgh he then met up with the guys who would then form the basis for a new group, who went in a more symphonic and overtly early Genesis direction.
So, history lesson out of the way, what is this album actually like? Well, remember that it isn't actually an album as opposed to a collection of songs as they only officially released the one song during their existence. But, given that this originally was a set of low-key recordings from the Eighties it actually stands up well against the other material from the time. Yes, Cyrus has a distinctive voice that makes many think of Gabriel, but these guys sound nothing like Genesis with a bassline and approach that is quite different. I would be interested to hear what they sounded like in the live environment, as keyboards are an important aspect although not essential, and I am sure that Tim switched between the two during a gig as Cyrus is often playing lines that are far more than just backing. This was a powerful prog trio and one can only wonder what they would have achieved if the accident hadn't taken place.
Some people have been quite disparaging about this album which is a real shame as I believe that it definitely has it's place in the prog canon. It is something that I have really enjoyed playing, but just remember that this was early days for the band and in many ways it is totally different to the style they developed in the Nineties. So, although some may feel that this is only one for completists I would instead say that while not essential it is a damn fine listen and something I have enjoyed playing again after quite a while.
Citizen Cain Symphonic Prog
Review by Memo_anathemo

Citizen Cain Symphonic Prog
Review by
kev rowland
Special Collaborator Crossover Prog Team

It took nearly three years to record, and much of the momentum gained from their earlier superb albums such as 'Serpents In Camouflage' has been lost, and the new album has been released on their own label whereas the reissues of their SI albums had been on Cyclops. So is this enough to be able to get them noticed again?
Hopefully the answer to that will be a resounding 'yes', as yet again Cyrus and Stewart have produced an album that will have critics and progheads alike wanting to play it repeatedly. Citizen Cain will always find themselves compared to old-school Genesis because of Cyrus's vocal style, and the fact that he can sound uncannily like Gabriel when he wishes to. But, and it is a big but, this not an album of a Genesis copyist but rather an album that takes that musical ideal and moves with it. Genesis may have become something of a parody of their former selves but CC have shown that it is possible to develop that musical style into something that is still worthy of the label 'prog'. I love the Python excerpt in 'Inner Silence'.
The underground scene isn't nearly as active as when they first came onto the scene, or even the second time, but now they are back for the third with a complex complicated album that any proghead will surely enjoy. It's time for progheads to rediscover the joys of Citizen Cain.
Originally appeared in Feedback #76, Oct 2003
Citizen Cain Symphonic Prog
Review by
apps79
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

Citizen Cain was always a very dark-sounding band and ''Ghost dance'' is the greatest proof.Although the sound of the band has always been linked with MARILLION and GENESIS, Citizen Cain did have their own style and presented much more haunting atmospheres than the aforementioned bands.Some of the guitar breaks even recalls KING CRIMSON, while plenty of the grooves have a strong RUSH vibe.Sure thing they do not sounded like the mass of Neo Prog bands of early- to mid-80's except of Cyrus' voice, who was another PETER GABRIEL copycat, alas a very good one.The compositions are characterized by the very powerful and deep bass lines of Cyrus along with Feenie's solid drumming and the diverse and sharp guitar work of Taylor.Working as a trio prevented Citizen Cain to have the richest of styles back at the time, so keyboard and flute parts are sparse.However ''Ghost dance'' presents a group full of energy, high dynamics and passion for producing top-gear Progressive Rock with rapid changes and shifting moods.
A nice archival/documental release by Citizen Cain, although I can see many fans of the band prefering their 90's period, when their sound was richer and less raw.Still this one comes recommended, especially for all lovers of the early-80's rough British Prog stylings.
Citizen Cain Symphonic Prog
Review by
kev rowland
Special Collaborator Crossover Prog Team

When the disc arrived I opened the booklet to see who was involved, and could see just three names ? Cyrus, Stewart and Phil Allen. Annoyingly for me there are no details about who played what, and who (if any) were the additional musicians involved. The Citizen Cain website is still under construction, and the Festival Music site just lists releases so neither are helpful in this regard. I did find a few details on one site where it states that Stewart provided drums as well as keys, Cyrus provided bass (as he did in the early days of the band) and vocals and Phil provided guitars. There is a very simple reason as to why this bothers me, as we need to give credit where credit is due as this is an absolutely stunning piece of work. To put it bluntly, this is one of the finest prog albums you are ever likely to hear.
Put it in the player and immediately the listener is taken aback by the complexity and interplay of the introduction to "The Charnal House". The maelstrom of notes and complicated inter-rhythms gives way to delicate piano and vocals, and one of the most Genesis-like passages of the whole album. Already the listener is deep inside the world of Citizen Cain, and with less than three minutes on the clock there has been musically a lot to digest. The interplay between the musicians, and particularly the way that the melodies and counterpoints are chased and are at times heavily structured and dense, contrast greatly with the simplicity of other phases of the music. And all of this within one song! Stewart's keyboards are a revelation, bringing together a multitude of sounds and styles, often layered, and he would need to be an octopus to be able to replicate this in a live environment.
By the time I got to the end of this album I felt that I had been taken on an incredible musical journey, one with a richness and passion to match anything I have heard in recent years. The only sane thing to do after listening to this is put it back on. The more I have played it the more I have fallen into the spell. So it took 10 years for this one, when's the next? 5/5 in anyone's language.
Citizen Cain Symphonic Prog
Review by
Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

It has this theme running through it about how man has failed to learn from past mistakes and the skies are getting darker because of it. Soon it will catch up with humanity and the storm will break. There seems to be a lot of nursery rhyme references on this record as well.
"The Charnal House" is surprisingly heavy. Love the chunky bass, and vocals arrive a minute in. It's heavy again before 2 1/2 minutes as contrasts continue. It blends into "The Long Sleep" where we get some huge bass lines. A calm with piano before 3 minutes and reserved vocals join in. It kicks back in quickly. Again contrasts continue. Spoken words late. "Darkest Sleep / Manifestations" has this marching styled rhythm as the vocals join in. It's building. A calm before 2 minutes then it kicks back in a minute later. I like these powerful sections. "Spiders In Undergrowth" features lots of piano.
"The Hunting Of Johnny Eue / Trapped By Candlelight" has a good heavy sound 2 minutes in then the vocals arrive and it's not as heavy. These contrasts continue. An atmospheric calm 9 minutes in. Great sound of drums and synths when it kicks back in. "Coming Down / The Fountains Of Sand / Delivered Up For Tea / Death And Rebirth" has a powerful intro with chunky bass. A calm with reserved vocals before 1 1/2 minutes and the piano joins in. It continues to be laid back until before 6 minutes when we get a bombastic instrumental section that ends before 8 minutes. Impressive. Spoken words late. "Do We Walk In The World ?" opens with piano as the vocals join in. Bass and drums too. Lots of synths before 4 minutes. It's heavy late as it blends into "Lost In Lonely Ghosts". Vocals follow then we get a silent calm 3 minutes in then the reserved vocals return before it kicks back in.
A good album but i'll stick with their first two studio albums thankyou. 3 stars.
Citizen Cain Symphonic Prog
Review by mbzr48

Citizen Cain Symphonic Prog
Review by Progatron

The album's centrepiece track is surely the lengthy "Coming Down / The Fountains Of Sand / Delivered Up For Tea / Death And Rebirth". This is one of those 'journey' songs where the listener is treated to different moods, tempos and approaches, all the while featuring memorable melodies that will please any prog lover - and this is the important ingredient so often missing from other releases of this genre. Although the previously mentioned "Johnny Eue" is a terrific and strong track, this one is certainly another that will give core CC fans what they really desire (they won't be let down by *any* of the tracks, actually).
Terrific writing and playing, a good sense of storytelling, instantly likeable melodies and delicious lyrics add up to a nice long album that you can really sink your teeth into - but it does not seem as long as it is. And that's a very, very good sign. It's refreshing to have an album of this epic scope where there are no 'skipper' tracks.
Only time will tell if Skies Darken will unseat Somewhere But Yesterday as the best Citizen Cain album, but at this early stage, to my ears, this is the best thing they've ever done. I've spun the disc about a dozen times in a very short space because it is just so good, and that's really saying something considering I constantly have a huge stack of cds to go through... the ones that simply aren't as good get shelved rather quickly. This is not one of those. This album is a winner. Well done, lads. Recommended!