PARADIGM BLUE – Frontiers (2025) *HQ*
”Frontiers” is the new album from American heavy progsters PARADIGM BLUE, a band with more than 25 years of experience. They released a debut CD in 2001 and have been on hiatus until 2021 with the release of 2nd effort ‘Transist’ which has developed quickly with more music than originally expected.
Paradigm Blue are a three piece from Raleigh, North Carolina, made up of Juan Mantilla (guitars), Ruben Moreno (vocals, bass & keys) and Steve Laur (drums, percussion), all experienced proggers which main musical influence here is Canadian Prog icons Rush.
”Frontiers” is brimming with musical nods to Geddy, Alex and Neil, the rippling keys, exploitative basslines, soaring guitars and expressive drumming all very similar to Rush while vocally Ruben is not up in the higher falsetto of Geddy Lee, he often slips into the lower end, but mostly his voice is very similar to another major soundalike for the band, John Mitchell.
”Frontiers” is a really dynamic record benefited by its 37 minutes which makes it even more enjoyable, all songs are progressive yet listenable for all audiences, with heavy passages and a very polished clean production sound. It’s all very Rush ’70s / ’80s, but also with the musicality of Saga. But it’s pretty brilliant in its own right.
There’s times on this record that the emotive, modern prog energy of Lonely Robot makes its mark. But “Frontiers” is heavily influenced by Rush. With its arrangements, we have a record that could have easily followed up Clockwork Angels, maybe even Hemispheres.
With Rush now gone it’s up to bands such as Paradigm Blue to carry that torch, to remind people what made them so good. It’s easy to be cynical with bands that draw to much from their influences, but Paradigm Blue walk that narrow edge between pastiche and admiration – and create their own music from there.
A really good album and a proper tribute to one of the greatest bands ever!
01 – The Gunslinger
02 – Off This Rock
03 – Snakebit
04 – Gold on the Wind
05 – The Antaran Gambit
06 – One More Round
Ruben Moreno — vocals, bass guitar, keyboards
Steve Laur — drums and percussion
Juan Mantilla — electric guitars
BUY
amazon.co.uk/Gold-on-the-Wind/dp/B0F5RQXYR5
