ONCE THERE WAS

The Far Cry is a U.S. band from Connecticut, heavily inspired by progressive rock bands of the early '70s most notably Yes, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Kansas, Genesis, and Gentle Giant as well as some '80s bands like U.K. and IQ.

There's no room for new neo-prog or experimental prog here this is classic prog in your face, without filters.

The band members are veterans of the genre, each with a history in major musical projects. Jeff Brewer (bass, vocals) was in Holding Pattern from 1983 to 1993. Robert Hutchinson (drums, percussion, spoken word) played in Elysian Field (1972 - 73) and Whisper (1977 - 78). Chris Dabbo (keyboards, vocals) has contributed to numerous studio and live projects. Brendan Kinchla (guitar) is a guitar instructor at Berklee.

Once There Was is an album of over an hour, with just four songs?the shortest being almost seven minutes long.

The record opens with Unholy Waters, featuring a great keyboard intro reminiscent of U.K. It's clear that a Yamaha CS-80 takes the lead in this track, which is full of dynamic changes and passages reminiscent of Yes and IQ. It's an incredibly enjoyable song, and you won't even notice that it lasts over 14 minutes.

The second track, Crossing Pangea, is another standout, packed with strong influences and outstanding instrumental sections.

Next is The Following, the shortest song on the album. While not a bad track, it feels like the only weak spot not because of its length, but simply because the other songs are much stronger.

Finally, the album closes with the 30-minute suite Once There Was, split into 11 parts. It's an excellent piece, full of great sections and recognizable influences that enhance the song and the album as a whole concept.

This is a fantastic classic prog record from start to finish. I had a great time listening to, it has all the elements a progressive music fan like me most enjoy. The Far Cry transcends its influences and transforms them into something unique. With extraordinary compositions full of time changes and fantastic instrumental solos, progressive music is in full swing here.

Perhaps the only weak point is the final mix and production, which sounds very modern but leaves some instruments too low and others too high. The drum sound and amplification are also lacking. However, the album is so extraordinary that I believe the band must have considered this, and it's probably their intentional sound. Personally, I would have preferred something warmer and more pristine for this style of music, but ultimately, the result is more than fine.

Despite any minor flaws, Once There Was more than makes up for them with its strengths. For fans of classic progressive music, this is the album we've been waiting for.

A great contender of the best record of 2025.

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