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

John Petrucci

“People will speculate that Mike Portnoy playing on my album means things are gonna change in Dream Theater. It’s not that at all”: When John Petrucci reunited with his old friend for solo album Terminal Velocity

By Chris Cope published

Three years before the reunion actually took place, the pair got together in the studio for the first time in a decade – and the guitarist got their first song wrong

Thank You Scientist relaxing in white polo neck tops

“It’s about coming to terms with being weirdos, having doors shut in our faces and being told we’re a little too strange”: Thank You Scientist on how to embrace being different

By Chris Cope published

Despite the naysayers, the New Jersey alt-proggers went bigger and better on their shape-shifting second album

Neal Morse

"Whether it’s a simple song with three chords or a really elaborate epic piece, it’s all miraculous to me." How Neal Morse created his rock opera Jesus Christ: The Exorcist

By Chris Cope published

In 2019 the prolific Neal Morse went straight to the top as far as divine inspiration went for his rock opera about, you guessed it, Jesus!

Gazpacho

"This is a more outgoing album. It’s noisier, it’s got lots more musical ideas crammed into it." The story of Gazpacho's Soyuz

By Chris Cope published

Having contemplated the end of the world with their previous album, 2018's Soyuz found Norwegian prog rockers Gazpacho turning their attention to being frozen in time

SLIENT SKIES

“We’re open to trying some things that maybe we don’t do in some of our other projects.” The story of melodic prog duo Silent Skies

By Chris Cope published

Accomplished Swedish-American duo Silent Skies tap into pop and prog for second album Nectar

Comsograf

"Marillion, Twelfth Night, IQ; to continue to call those bands neo-prog, I don’t see that as particularly positive. Everything has moved quite a lot since then." How Cosmograf defined the sound of Rattrapante

By Chris Cope published

One-man-prog-rock-band Cosmograf returned with their eighth album, Rattrapante, telling Prog, there’s no looking back.

Kyros

“Everything from Between The Buried And Me to Duran Duran. There doesn’t seem to be a distinct barrier in terms of what we believe we can funnel into Kyros." The sound of UK prog rockers Kyros and new album Mannequin

By Chris Cope published

Pop-friendly, shape-shifting prog quartet Kyros discuss their fourth album Mannquein

Cyan

“In my head I wanted to be in Genesis; I wanted to be in It Bites. I was living the dream and there was no second-guessing. So there’s a lovely innocence with these tracks”: What Rob Reed learned by reinventing Cyan for the 21st century

By Chris Cope published

The premise is simple: with a new line-up, rearrange, reimagine and rework an album, then record it on much better gear – but the Magenta mastermind didn’t expect it to be educational too

Tiger Moth Tales

“I never thought prog would be some sort of positive career move… It’s a different audience now and not quite the arenas any more”: Tiger Moth Tales’ Peter Jones returns to guitar for his most personal album yet

By Chris Cope published

He’s moved on from pop, but admits The Turning Of The World isn’t his proggiest work - still, it’s a record he had to make

Southern Empire

“I grew up with a lot of metal, so the heavier side of prog is where my roots are." Southern Empire and the making of Civilisation

By Chris Cope published

Southern Empire's second album Civilisation saw the Australian quintet go for it on a truly epic scale

Arena

"I think Damian’s the singer we should’ve had from the very first day.” How Damian Wilson revitalised Arena on The Theory Of Molecular Inheritance

By Chris Cope published

Arena's tenth studio album The Theory Of Molecular Inheritance saw the arrival of much-travelled singer Damian Wilson with spectacular results

Glass Hammer

"Your favourite prog rock albums can take you back in time." Glass Hammer and the story of Chronomonaut

By Chris Cope published

Glass Hammer’s 2000 concept album, Chronometree, was an amusing tale of a music superfan who heard voices through prog rock records. The story is back – in impressive fashion – on the US group’s 18th studio album Chronomonaut

Vola

“You find a certain sound and you write some songs around the sound, and then you get tired of being there and you move to another place." How VOLA tackled the 'difficult second album' syndrome

By Chris Cope published

After Danish proggers VOLA released their celebrated debut record Inmazes in 2016, the task of following it up was always going to be tricky. Has Applause Of A Distant Crowd swatted away that second album syndrome?

The Fierce and The Dead

“In the context of Matt’s cancer, and stuff going on in the wider world, why are we worrying about if anybody’s going to like this?” The Fierce And The Dead refocused for News From The Invisible World

By Chris Cope published

Their “angry but hopeful” fourth album is their first to feature vocals, and it’s already given them a new lease of life

North Atlantic Oscillation's Sam Healy

"We’ve never called ourselves prog. Prog is a very technically demanding genre, I couldn’t play it if I wanted to.” Sam Healy on their new album and why North Atlantic Oscillation won't be playing live any time soon

By Chris Cope published

A lot has changed since North Atlantic Oscillation released their last album in 2018. After a strange five years, the electronic post-prog return as a one-man band…

Frost*

Frost* and the making of Day And Age

By Chris Cope published

With 2021's Day And Age Frost* returned with their first album in five years, and the English prog rockers have put the blow of losing drummer Craig Blundell behind them to forge one of their best records yet

Michael Romeo from Symphony X press shot with guitar 2022

Michael Romeo and War Of The Worlds Part 2

By Chris Cope published

Symphony X guitarist Michael Romeo talks us through his third solo album, 2022's War Of The Worlds Pt. 2

Gleb Kolyadin

From Russia with love: the story of Gleb Kolyadin's debut solo album

By Chris Cope published

Iamthemorning pianist and composer Gleb Kolyadin released his self-titled debut solo album in 2018. This is the story...

Steve Hackett

Steve Hackett's Mediterranean adventure

By Chris Cope published

The story of 2021's Under A Mediterranean Sky, Steve Hackett's first wholly acoustic album for 13 years

composite image of Circles, Gaupa, Astrosaur, Grace And Fire and Onsegen Ensemble

5 new prog acts you must hear in January 2023

By Natasha Scharf published

Check out Gaupa, Circles, Grace And Fire, Astrosaur and Onsegen Ensemble – five great new up and coming prog artists

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

"I regret saying anything" – Mike Portnoy on Flying Colors, Metal Allegiance, and the perils of social media

By Chris Cope last updated

Mike Portnoy isn’t just content with being one of the best drummers in prog; it seems he wants to be the busiest too. In 2015, Prog caught up with him to find out more about his many musical outlets

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.