Gary Mackenzie
Gary has contributed reviews and news features for Prog Magazine for over a decade now. A fan of prog and heavy rock since childhood, his main areas of interest are classic and symphonic prog, prog-metal and modern acts bringing in fresh influences to the genre. He has a professional background in youth and community work, he teaches drum kit in schools and is a working musician. Gary was the drummer in semi-legendary NWOBHM band Praying Mantis for a couple of years and has been a member of indie-prog-pop-art-rock combo The Mighty Handful for more than twenty years. He loves cats and skiing, and has a Blue Peter badge.
Latest articles by Gary Mackenzie

By Gary Mackenzie Published
The reissue, complete with Steven Wilson remixes, was the band’s chance to look back on what the band had liked about 1975 release, and what they hadn’t

By Gary Mackenzie Published
Unhurried, dark and dreamy, their fifth album features smooth instrumentation and warm, yearning vocals

By Gary Mackenzie Published
Twenty years into a career as one of British prog’s most prolific underground bands, The Tangent are focusing on long-form songs on their 12th album, Songs From The Hard Shoulder.

By Gary Mackenzie Published
A completely solo work from beginning to end, 13th outing is an experiment that’s resulted in astounding triumph

By Gary Mackenzie Published
Buying guide Prog? Art-rock? AOR? Pop? We don our capes and peer through the dry ice to guide you through the best Genesis albums

By Gary Mackenzie Published
Spock’s Beard offshoot’s John Boegehold hates bonus CDs, which is one reason you’ll also find hints of older music on Spooky Action At A Distance

By Gary Mackenzie Published
Not yet ratedClassic and neo-prog meets classy pop-rock in lavish upgrade of 1994 original

By Gary Mackenzie Published
American cinematic band’s second album is even more ambitious than their debut, and took years to bring together

By Gary Mackenzie Published
The Light Of Ancient Mistakes continues into the abyss of human nature, with dark humour and an offer of hope, driven by singer Malcolm Galloway’s debilitating illness

By Gary Mackenzie Published
Geoff Downes and Chris Braide return to their classic sound with fifth LP, which still carries the occasional nod to prog

By Jerry Ewing, Jeremy Allen, Gary Mackenzie, Matt Mills, Dom Lawson Published
Check out Moundrag, EBB, Cabiria, Wizrd and Shell Beach – five great new up and coming prog artists

By Gary Mackenzie Published
Not yet ratedNew York alt-proggers head back to familiar territory on ninth album.

By Prog Last updated
Not yet ratedAyreon's Arjen Lucassen teams up with Steve Vai and Nightwish's Floor Jansen on Star One's Revel In Time

By Gary MacKenzie Last updated
Not yet ratedProg standard-bearers’ 14th album, released in the shadow of loss

By Gary MacKenzie Published
Not yet ratedQuantity and quality from Neal Morse’s merry band of proggers.

By Gary MacKenzie Published
Not yet rated21st century prog-pop elegance from TesseracT’s Daniel Tompkins

By Gary MacKenzie Published
Not yet ratedLet these Swedes sink their musical claws in and you may not escape lightly.

By Gary MacKenzie Published
Not yet ratedFormer It Bites frontman teams up with Luke Machin, Paul Brown and Peter Jones for top solo show

By Gary MacKenzie Published
Not yet ratedSteve Hackett's brother makes the most of pious acoustics

By Gary MacKenzie Published
Not yet ratedMini-encyclopedia on The 100 Best Italian Progressive Records is a fascinating read

By Gary MacKenzie Published
Not yet rated“None more black” instrumental saxophone metal from Ex-Eye

By Gary MacKenzie Published
Not yet ratedA testament to Pendragon’s legacy and staying power

By Gary MacKenzie Published
Not yet ratedMore matrimonial machinations from the Swedish Vampirate
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