The Write-Off Genre's Revival

The Write-Off Genre's Revival

Since the early part of the second decade (i.e., post-2010), there has been a remarkable resurgence of interest in the sub-genre known as progressive rock (often shortened to prog-rock) that once thrived in the late '60s and the entire '70s, had a flutter in the middle of post-punk and new wave hysteria in the first half of the 80s, then stagnated, and thought to be clinically dead.

The large number of new bands is evidence of the write-off genre's revival. There are so many new acts! And they are so good. Modern progressive bands and solo artists draw inspiration from the past while maintaining a contemporary sound, and the result of it is often phenomenal.

Music manufacturing has become easier because of streaming platforms, which allow anyone to upload an album. Additionally, "amateurs" create albums in the comfort of their homes thanks to technology, but the quality of those recordings is often excellent, encouraging more inventive use of sound and structure. This increase in music production activities has drawn a lot of new people into the prog-rock counterculture.

Progressive rock festivals have been conducive to the growth of the audience around this type of music, facilitating artists interaction and creativity. The awards are also important, such as, for instance, the Prog Report Awards.

Thematically, a number of contemporary bands that play progressive rock music deal with existential, philosophycal and fantasy topics as well as with issues that are pressing in today’s world. Their topics include ecological disasters, the new fear of nuclear holocaust, or the rise of far-right populists in societies that have until then been considered democratic paragons.