It has been more than 20 years since I last reviewed Amarok, when I heard their second album, 2002’s ‘Neo Way’. Back then it was Michał Wojtas providing all the music, along with a session drummer and four singers, including Camel’s Michael Bass who sang on three songs. ‘Hope’ is the seventh album and is the second to feature a full band with the same line-up as 2021’s ‘Hero’ with Michał Wojtas still there (vocals, electric & acoustic guitars, keyboards, percussion, e-drum) and joined by Kornel Popławski (bass, violin, cello, vocals), Marta Wojtas (backing vocals, gong, percussion) and Konrad Zieliński (drums, vocals). As I write this it is #8 in all albums for 2024 on ProgArchives, and #1 for Polish albums, as well as being in the top 20 for best Polish albums of all time, so it is certainly being ranked very highly by many.
I have personally always felt that the Polish prog scene is one of the best kept secrets around, with many bands never getting the full recognition they deserve, and while many Western progheads will know of Riverside, that really is just scratching the surface. Fortunately for me I have been involved with bands, promoters and labels over there for more than three decades, and it is no surprise to me that Amarok have come out of the scene with what is being viewed by many as one of the finest prog albums around and I can certainly understand why. Michał released his first album as Amarok in 2001, which was swiftly followed by two more before he took a break, returning in 2017 with ‘Hunt’, since when he has been again very active. While indicated as Crossover on PA, there are large elements of Neo as well, with vocals in clear unaccented English which are warm and inviting, often with long-held notes against a more staccato underpinning. This is music which is driving and forceful, packed with melody, never taking itself too seriously but always moving in ways which entertain and delight the listener with nuances and influences being brought in from diverse bands so one is never sure where it is going to lead.
There is a directness here, a refusal to just sit back and let the music wash over the listener, as while there were Camel influences in their earlier works here it has been taken in a different direction so while we still get plenty of guitar there is far less in the way of Latimer inflections. This is dramatic, in your face, with plenty of rock guitar, a drummer who is bashing everything in sight, some wonderful percussion underlays, strings which fit in snugly with the keyboards, bass which is always in your face, guitars which are far more rock focussed than widdly, and great vocals. Add to that some great songs and arrangements, and it is no surprise this is being viewed so very highly and rightly so. if you have yet to discover Polish prog then start here. 9/10 Kev Rowland
