KARMAKANIC – Transmutation (2025) *HQ*

It’s really pleasant when some good bands (especially one that might be lesser known) reappears against all odds, and with consistent brilliance to boot. Niche bands like this are rare and are to be treasured, especially when they are of the quality of Jonas Reingold’s KARMAKANIC.
To our absolute joy, the band (with various line-ups but always under the expert stewardship of Reingold) has been releasing class music for over 2 decades. And they did it again with this stupendous new effort “Transmutation“, featuring some of the finest musicians around.
Other than Karmakanic stalwarts Göran Edman, Krister Jonsson and Lalle Larsson, Reingold is backed up by the great John Mitchell (Frost*, It Bites and Lonely Robot), drumming monsters Simon Phillips & Nick ‘D Virgilio, Craig Blundell, Steve Hackett, Andy Tillison, Luke Machin, Randy McStine, and many more.
Simply put, as early as March 2025, we may already have received the Progressive Rock Album of the Year here.

The instrumental ‘Brace For Impact’ kicks off the album with 2 ½ minutes of driving intensity. After a John Lord-type Hammond intro from Tillison, controlled mayhem inevitably unfolds. Reingold locks in with Simon Phillips and the track immediately marks its territory with Jonsson’s scything guitar and a frenzied Larsson keyboard solo. It is a bold but short statement made by Reingold that this album will be a thrilling journey of virtuosity. The song’s title says it all.

The dulcet vocal tones of John Mitchell herald the grandiose ‘End of the Road’, a clear exposition of Reingold’s ability to write a melodic Prog hook that is up there with the best of them. This track is faithful to the traditional Karmakanic Symphonic Prog sound, but it also explores new territory due to the opportunities provided by Mitchell’s unique delivery. In essence, the Karmakanic sound just got a new layer of warmth and emotion. Luke Machin’s guitar solo is superb and Randy McStine’s additional lead vocal intertwines beautifully with Mitchell’s, all combining to make for an uplifting and glorious experience.

‘Cosmic Love’ also revolves around Mitchell’s precise but emotive vocals, in a lighter pop-Prog setting. It seems to me that Reingold, who on this track delivers one of the finest Rickenbacker bass-lines you have ever heard, must have written the track with Mitchell explicitly in mind.
Craig Blundell, Mitchell’s band-mate in Frost* (and Reingold’s in the Steve Hackett Band), shows why he is one of the most in-demand drummers in the game today. By now it is very apparent that Reingold, an underestimated producer, has a knack for appointing just the right vocalists and performers for just the right tracks.

Sweet melody is conferred in ‘We Got The World In Our Hands’. The opening acoustic chords, delivered by Mcstine, are some of the most mellifluous you have heard and the glowing hook will have you humming for days. The Reingold / Phillips combination, now in a less frenzied mood, is perfect for the song, which conjures an incredibly positive energy. Jonsson confers a brilliant guitar solo over Reingold’s handy keyboard work, and the resulting track is just beautiful.

‘All That Glitters Is Not Gold’ returns us to classic Symphonic Rock territory, but with a trademark Karmakanic accordion / flute intro. Mitchell may be a baritone, but his voice has immense range and great lyrical enunciation and he gives a superb performance.
The track is a ballad, but it also traverses some heavier ground as it builds into a crescendo around Jonsson’s guitar and the solid keyboard lines of Reingold’s erstwhile Flower Kings band-mate, Thomas Bodin. Blundell’s drum-sound and intricate patterns, of course, are huge.

‘Lose This Ball And Chain’ sees Mitchell and past Karmakanic alumnus Göran Edman trading vocal chops over a weighty Reingold / Phillips bedrock. The vocal exchanges, especially towards the end of the track, make for a composition that is uniquely Karmakanic, and will leave existing fans pleased at the familiarity of the sound.
Edman is a fabulous singer, and I am very glad that he made an appearance on this Karmakanic album alongside Mitchell and the other vocalists.

The closing epic ‘Transmutation (The Constant Change of Everything)’ will, in my opinion at least, be remembered as one of the finest Progressive Rock moments of this decade.
Reingold throws the book at this one, and, of course, go-to Prog drummer Nick D’Virgilio is one of the reasons why the track is so good. It is 23 minutes of pure excellence that reaches several peaks and climaxes over a kaleidoscopic journey. All the adventurous styles and directions that you could desire from a Karmakanic epic are here, and then some.
There is a particular D’Virgilio/Reingold groove in the verses that will bring a warm glow to your soul – the type of glow that only the finest music can bestow. Dina Höblinger makes a fine contribution to the lead vocals and the keyboards of Lalle Larsson, Roger King and Andy Tillison all meld beautifully. This is an absolutely astounding track that must be heard more than a few times to truly appreciate its rounded, glowing glory.

Particular mention must be made of the production quality of this album. Two bars into the record, the listener is immediately struck not only by the obvious quality of the performances, but also by another of the album’s unique identifiers – gargantuan audio production that is immense but never obtuse.
This, quite simply, is one of the best-sounding albums that I have ever heard. There is space, separation and clarity, but huge power and sonic force at the same time. Reingold’s bass never sounded better (and that is saying something) and the many unique performance nuances conferred by the various musicians are never lost in the mix.

There is genuinely not a weak moment on Karmakanic’s ‘Transmutation’. The first couple of months of 2025 have already conferred on us an incredible portfolio of quality releases, but I cannot imagine that it could get better Prog than this.
Karmakanic’s ‘Transmutation’ is an absolute must-have for any self-respecting fan of melodic Symphonic Prog. It is an overwhelming ‘Yes please’. Feel the glow, go to the show and get this album. You won’t be sorry.
Highly Recommended

01. Brace for Impact
02. End of the Road
03. Cosmic Love
04. We Got the World
05. All that Glitters is Not Gold
06. We Gotta Lose this Ball and Chain
07. Transmutation

Jonas Reingold – Bass, Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals (2,7), Backing Vocals
Goran Edman – Lead Vocals (6)
Krister Jonsson – Lead Guitar (1,4-7)
Lalle Larsson – Keyboard Solo (1), Keyboards (7)

With:
Simon Phillips / Drums and Percussion (2,4,6)
Nick D’Virgilio / Drums (7)
Steve Hackett / Nylon Acoustic Guitar (7)
Andy Tillison / Hammond Organ (1,7), Clavinet (1)
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)
Geri Schuller / Piano (2,5,7)
Craig Blundell / Drums (3,5)
Dina Hoblinger / Backing Vocals (4), Lead Vocals (7)
Lelo Nika / Accordion (5)
Markus Lukastik / Flute (5)
Rob Townsend / Tenor and Soprano Saxophone (5,7)
Tomas Bodin / Keyboards (5,6)
Sven Cirnski / Electric Guitars (6)
Amanda Lehmann / Backing Vocals (7)
Roger King / Keyboards (7)

BUY
www.amazon.com/Transmutation-Karmakanic/dp/B0DS9WJS4T