Chris Cope

Chris Cope

A writer for Prog magazine since 2014, armed with a particular taste for the darker side of rock. The dayjob is local news, so writing about the music on the side keeps things exciting - especially when Chris is based in the wild norths of Scotland. Previous bylines include national newspapers and magazines.

Articles by: Chris Cope

The Flower Kings

How The Flower Kings made Islands

By Chris Cope published

Although not planning to follow up 2019's Waiting For A Miracle so swiftly, the pandemic gave The Flower Kings other ideas. The result: the epic double album Islands

John Petrucci

How John Petrucci reunited with Mike Portnoy for Terminal Velocity

By Chris Cope last updated

It only took John Petrucci 15 years to get round to his second solo album, but when he did it had Dream Theater fans dreaming

Lifesigns

The unstoppable rise of UK proggers Lifesigns

By Chris Cope published

Vocalist and keyboard whizz John Young tells discusses new Lifesigns album Altitude – and why you won’t be finding the full release on Spotify anytime soon!

Dream Theater

Dream Theater - Distant Memories: Live In London review

By Chris Cope published

Not yet rated

Prog metal icons keep to the script in fun but inessential live release.

Melted Space - Darkening Light album artwork

Melted Space - Darkening Light album review

By Chris Cope published

Not yet rated

Ensemble cast unite for Frenchman’s third album

Between The Buried And Me - Automata I album artwork

Between The Buried And Me - Automata I album review

By Chris Cope published

Not yet rated

Progression, yes, but with unfinished business

Nightwish - Decades album artwork

Nightwish - Decades album review

By Chris Cope published

Not yet rated

Finns reflect on the last 20 years with another ‘best of’

Rich Wilson - Time Flies: the story of Porcupine Tree book artwork

Rich Wilson - Time Flies: the story of Porcupine Tree book review

By Chris Cope published

Not yet rated

Essential reading for fans of the dormant prog-rockers

Cardiacs - Some Fairytales From The Rotten Shed DVD cover

Cardiacs - Some Fairytales From The Rotten Shed DVD review

By Chris Cope published

Not yet rated

Better late than never from the madcap Englishmen

prog report

Roie Avin – The Prog Report: Essential Modern Prog Rock Albums book review

By Chris Cope published

Not yet rated

US book puts modern day prog under the microscope.

major parkinson

Major Parkinson – Blackbox album review

By Chris Cope published

Not yet rated

Bergen septet overcome the odds in style.

umphreys

Umphrey's McGee – it's not us album review

By Chris Cope published

Not yet rated

Diverse musical menu on US jam band’s eleventh studio album.

Toehider - Good album artwork

Toehider - Good album review

By Chris Cope published

Not yet rated

Manic world of Michael Mills impresses again

Jordan Rudess and Steve Horelick - Intersonic album artwork

Jordan Rudess and Steve Horelick - Intersonic album review

By Chris Cope published

Not yet rated

When Dream Theater wizard and electronic boffin unite

Lorenzo Feliciati - Elevator Man album artwork

Lorenzo Feliciati - Elevator Man album review

By Chris Cope published

Not yet rated

Prolific bassist strikes again with album number three

Panzerballett - X-Mas Death Jazz album artwork

Panzerballett - X-Mas Death Jazz album review

By Chris Cope published

Not yet rated

Christmas songs as you’ve never heard them before

Johannes Luley - QITARA album artwork

Johannes Luley - QITARA album review

By Chris Cope published

Not yet rated

Perfect Beings guitarist gets jazzy on second solo record

My Soliloquy - Engines Of Gravity album artwork

My Soliloquy - Engines Of Gravity album review

By Chris Cope published

Not yet rated

Threshold departure gives guitarist new focus

And So I Watch You From Afar - Endless Shimmering album artwork

And So I Watch You From Afar - Endless Shimmering album review

By Chris Cope published

Not yet rated

Happy‑go‑lucky Northern Irish rockers keep up form

White Moth Black Butterfly - Atone album artwork

White Moth Black Butterfly - Atone album review

By Chris Cope published

Not yet rated

Atmospheric second record from TesseracT/Skyharbor collaboration

Threshold - Legends Of The Shires album artwork

Threshold - Legends Of The Shires album review

By Chris Cope published

Not yet rated

British prog metallers Threshold get over Damian Wilson split in style.

a press shot of Discipline

How Detroit's Discipline created magic with album number five

By Chris Cope published

Detroit’s Discipline don’t have the biggest back catalogue for a band that was born in the late 1980s. But as their new shows, when the quartet hit the ‘record’ button, magic happens

A press shot of Kim Seviour

Kim Seviour: "Wherever I’ve gone, I've taken singing with me"

By Chris Cope published

When singer Kim Seviour left Touchstone in 2015 as her battle against a draining fatigue condition intensified, things looked bleak. But now she’s back with her debut solo album

World Trade - Unify album artwork

World Trade - Unify album review

By Chris Cope published

Not yet rated

Billy Sherwood’s US prog rockers World Trade blow hot and cold on return

Marco Minnemann - Borrego album artwork

Marco Minnemann - Borrego album review

By Chris Cope published

Not yet rated

A virtuosi-filled epic from Marco Minnemann worth taking the day off for

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