(If you don't like my interpretation of 'break' or 'hiatus' please feel free to enter another poll - it's supposed to be a bit of fun)

Which ones?  

Genesis - self declared break in 1979 (mainly help to Collins)

KC - resurrection of the band by Fripp after 6 years

Magma - inactive 82/83 - other projects

Moody Blues - hiatus due to exhaustion 1973 - reconvened later in decade

VDGG - split 72, reformed 75

Yes - split 79, reformed 80 (granted brief hiatus)

What else do you want?

no need to sound so arrogant and aggressive for once...

three bands were not in any "officially declared" hiatus - that's Genesis, Yes and VDGG. 

Moody Blues, KC and Magma split up for a while, indeed.

I was wrong about ELP, forgot there were 4 years between BSS and Works, read someplace they toured extensively and were tired & burnt out after the BSS tour. 

Sorry about the terse tone but does it have to be 'official' for it to be a legitimate poll?  

Sometimes bands make statements to the press, announce the world (like poor Anathema did last year, such a shame). Sometimes we just hear no news from them... 

I could be wrong, but I believe the first Yes split was in 1974 when Rick Wakeman left the band during the recording of the Relayer album - when Vangelis auditioned as a replacement - and Rick reunited with Yes for the follow-up Going for the One album in 1977. 

Gets technical - the band slip following the ill fated Paris session at the end of 79 and basically reformed in 1980 having lost and replaced two key members.  At the time, I recall it was the end and then the rebirth of Yes.  I just remember 74 and then it was Wakeman leaving and being replaced by Moraz.  Arguably, there was more of a hiatus after Drama and before 90125 but by then the seal had been broken...

However, Yes and KC very close

No disrespect to the OP'er but this poll is so full of holes I find it hard to support.

Duke was only two years after ...And Then There Were Three while Discipline was 7 years after Red. However, Thrak came 11 years after Three of a perfect pair.

I know this is just all in fun but...c'mon man.

Then this is for you.

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I am interested in the creative process and how it becomes disjointed.  Not all bands recover from it or are radically altered.

I love Godbluff, but I love Pawn Hearts more.

If this were merely choosing my favourite album from those listed, it would probably be Godbluff.

But if I’m comparing these albums to their predecessors, and voting based on how much stronger and better they are, then it’s probably Drama. I like Tormato, but Drama is a million times stronger and better. Drama has probably the biggest gulf between albums, even if like other albums on the list more than it.

Godbluff far and away here for me. That sh*t is legitimately next level, especially for 1975. VDGG are a band that constantly reinvented their approach with no compromise.

Van Der Graaf Generator - Godbluff

Yes - Drama

Why does there need to be a line-up change? It’s about coming back after a break - not a break-up. Genesis stated they were taking a break. Duke was their comeback. ATTWT would not have been a better option, and would have made no sense. Then again, as others have already said, there’s already a degree of nonsense to this poll, so I guess it might work….. 😜

tempest_77 wrote: Easily Godbluff - the greatest VdGG album.

Yeah, for sure same for me.

(but I very much love Pawn Hearts too)

So why was Duke coming back from a break more than ATTWT? I don't think there was more of a break before Duke than ATTWT. Duke might have been the better album but I don't see it as a comeback. 90125 was a comeback and so was Calling all stations. Also, Deep Purple's perfect strangers was a comeback. A lineup change usually means starting anew that's why ATTWT makes more sense than Duke imo.

Because Genesis stated they were on a break before Duke, but not before ATTWT. Seriously, do you ever read the topics before you post on them? I don’t mean that as an insult, but as a genuine question, because almost everytime I see you comment it is saying something that has already been addressed.

It’s not the time that has elapsed between albums, so much as that the band has said they are taking a break. At least, that was what the OP was hoping to achieve with the poll. As aforementioned, there have been several people who have taken issue with his interpretations. There are many types of comebacks, but this poll is specifically (intended to be) about comebacks after a break. So yes, I fully understand why you consider the albums you mention as comebacks to be worthy of the poll, but that is based upon a misunderstanding of what the poll is about - as described by the OP. I’m not saying you’re wrong, so much as missing the point.

At last - thank you, good sir!

Well, I don't see a definition of break in the first post. It looks like it was edited anyway. 

Yes, I'll pay more attention after you stop presenting your opinions as facts. How about that? 

Rick1 wrote: Poll Question: Who returned stronger and better than ever?

That would probably be no one for me, but

Rick1 wrote: Many of our heroes took a break during their careers; which band returned in triumph?

is Van Der Graaf Generator for me.

-I'm trying to come up with any progressive band or artist I think came back in such a strong way that I feel they truly surpassed themselves. Dead Can Dance' wonderful Anastastis from 2012 is certainly much better than than the previous Spiritchaser from 1996 (by far their weakest), so yes I could have voted for them (although not "better than ever", because that would mean I thought is was stronger and better than an album like Within The Realms of a Dying Sun).

Swans and Bowie has both come back with some serious contenders, but none of them with their first comeback album. Some might say Beefheart's 1978-album Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) - and it's certainly a return to form after 1974's Bluejeans & Moonbeams. But if it has to be their best effort ever, I do prefer a trio of earlier albums by them.