Swedish progressive rockers THE FLOWER KINGS, and longtime label-partners InsideOutMusic, began an extensive reissue campaign in 2022 which will see the entire catalogue of the band reissued on CD & Vinyl in remastered editions.
One of these is the band’s seventh album ‘Unfold The Future’, originally released in 2002. It is the first appearance of drummer Zoltan Csörsz, and also features Pain of Salvation’s Daniel Gildenlöw on guest vocals. The album has been fully remastered revealing new layers of sound, and the reissue features the full version of the song ‘Devil’s Playground’ and refreshed artwork.
‘Unfold The Future’ is a strong album, one of Flower King’s best, where the music builds upon the classic style of Prog great era to a modern accessible rock/pop sound, melodic songs plus, of course, busy, impressive passages including superb solos, jazzy arrangements, crystalline ballads, and more.
Two lengthy selections bookend the set. “The Truth Will Set You Free” (31 minutes) takes listeners immediately on the roller coaster of emotions and time signatures that is a Flower Kings epic. “Devils Playground” (25 minutes) gets a bit trickier, but it includes some very strong sections and provides a powerful, frenzied finale.
If these two songs — along with “Monkey Business,” “Silent Inferno,” and “Genie in a Bottle” — all fly up to the group’s quality standards, the surprises are found in lower-profile tunes like “Soul Vortex” and “Christianopel,” two free-form jams.
A complete, all-time interesting piece of work from these Swedish masters.
Highly Recommended
Tracklist:
CD1
01. The Truth Will Set You Free (2022 Remaster) (30:42)
02. Monkey Business (2022 Remaster) (04:20)
03. Black and White (2022 Remaster) (07:40)
04. Christianopel (2022 Remaster) (09:13)
05. Silent Inferno (2022 Remaster) (14:32)
06. The Navigator (2022 Remaster) (03:35)
07. Vox Humana (2022 Remaster) (04:44)
CD2
01. Genie in a Bottle (2022 Remaster) (08:10)
02. Fast Lane (2022 Remaster) (06:35)
03. Grand Old World (2022 Remaster) (05:36)
04. Soul Vortex (2022 Remaster) (04:32)
05. Rollin' the Dice (2022 Remaster) (05:07)
06. The Devil's Danceschool (2022 Remaster) (05:01)
07. Man Overboard (2022 Remaster) (03:45)
08. Solitary Shell (2022 Remaster) (02:46)
09. Devil's Playground (2022 Remaster) (25:11)
The Flower Kings – Unfold The Future (2022 Remaster) , 2 CD
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