CASTANARC: “FORGED BY THE SUN” (2026)
When reviewing the map of 1980s British Neo-Prog, the mind immediately flies to commercial giants such as Marillion or IQ. However, the big surprise for this year 2026 comes to us by way of the return of the mythical and indispensable Castanarc
Forty-two years after having left us completely dumbfounded with their debut masterpiece, "Journey to the East" (1984), the hard core commanded by vocalist Mark Holiday and keyboardist David Powell returns with a colossal compositional ambition through "Forged by the Sun".
Forget about short song structures; the combo plants in our player a concise but destructive plastic, articulated solely through three imposing movements that flow with a truly moving maturity.
Castanarc practices an old-school Neo-Prog (I would compare them to Pendragon or Jadis), highly elegant, clean, and three-dimensional, which sits firmly halfway between the melancholic lyricism of Camel, the analog mysticism of their own beginnings, and the floating atmospheres of Pendragon.
The instrumentation is a true sonic delight that benefits from a fantastic rhythmic punch thanks to Peter Robinson's bass and Charlie Morgan's drums.
David Powell's solemn keyboards configure a sumptuous harmonic cushion over which Neil Duty's lead guitar gifts us fluid, biting solos filled with a three-dimensional lyricism that gives you goosebumps.
To this, one must obligatorily add the master pillar of the record: the clean, sober, and highly theatrical voice of Mark Holiday, an outstanding singer capable of injecting the exact dose of emotionality into every verse
The instrumentation is a true sonic delight that benefits from a fantastic rhythmic punch thanks to Peter Robinson's bass and Charlie Morgan's drums.
David Powell's solemn keyboards configure a sumptuous harmonic cushion over which Neil Duty's lead guitar gifts us fluid, biting solos filled with a three-dimensional lyricism that gives you goosebumps.
To this, one must obligatorily add the master pillar of the record: the clean, sober, and highly theatrical voice of Mark Holiday, an outstanding singer capable of injecting the exact dose of emotionality into every verse
The album is opened in a majestic way by the more than eighteen minutes of the homonymous suite "Forged by the Sun", a piece that is a true lesson in compositional mastery packed with continuous rhythm changes and synthesizer crescendos that take your breath away.The dramatic load gains ground in the nearly thirteen minutes of the heartbreaking "Ceasefire for the Innocent", a track endowed with psychological tension and a colossal romantic sensitivity.
To put the definitive finishing touch to the session, the band plants "Cue Rain" on us, a beautiful and emotional six-minute melodic haven that features the highly inspired guest guitar of Dave Holley and closes the circle perfectly, leaving the listener completely dumbfounded floating in the twilight
Conclusion:
A compact, honest album made 'the old-fashioned way' that will delight any follower of beautiful guitar melodies and dense blankets of keyboards with a classic flavor.
A mandatory listening in your private record collection.
A compact, honest album made 'the old-fashioned way' that will delight any follower of beautiful guitar melodies and dense blankets of keyboards with a classic flavor.
A mandatory listening in your private record collection.
Neo-progressive greetings,
Juan Mellado"
Juan Mellado"
In spanish:
Cuando uno repasa el mapa del Neo-Prog británico de los ochenta, la mente vuela de inmediato a gigantes comerciales como Marillion o IQ. Sin embargo, la gran sorpresa para este año 2026 nos llega de la mano del regreso de los míticos e indispensables Castanarc.
Olvidaos de las estructuras de canciones cortas; el combo nos planta en el reproductor un plástico conciso pero destructivo, articulado únicamente a través de tres imponentes movimientos que fluyen con una madurez verdaderamente conmovedora.
Castanarc practica un Neo-Prog de la vieja escuela (yo los compararia a Pendragon o Jadis), sumamente elegante, limpio y tridimensional que se asienta firmemente en un punto intermedio entre el lirismo melancólico de Camel, el misticismo analógico de sus propios inicios y las atmósferas flotantes de los Pendragon.
La instrumentación es una auténtica delicia sónica que se beneficia de una pegada rítmica fantástica gracias al bajo de Peter Robinson y la batería de Charlie Morgan.
Los solemnes teclados de David Powell configuran un fastuoso colchón armónico sobre el cual la guitarra solista de Neil Duty nos regala unos solos fluidos, punzantes y repletos de un lirismo tridimensional que te pone la piel de gallina.
A esto hay que añadir de forma obligatoria el pilar maestro de la rodaja: la limpia, sobria y sumamente teatral voz de Mark Holiday, un cantante fuera de serie capaz de inyectar la dosis exacta de emotividad en cada estrofa.
La carga dramática gana enteros en los casi trece minutos de la desgarradora "Ceasefire for the Innocent", un corte dotado de una tensión psicológica y una sensibilidad romántica colosal.
Para echar el broche de oro definitivo a la sesión, la banda nos planta "Cue Rain", un precioso y emotivo remanso melódico de seis minutos, algo plomiza en mi opinión pero que cuenta con la inspiradísima guitarra invitada de Dave Holley y que cierra el círculo de forma perfecta, dejando al oyente totalmente estupefacto flotando en la penumbra.
Conclusión:
Un disco compacto, honesto y hecho "a la antigua usanza" que encantará a cualquier seguidor de las bellas melodías de guitarra y los densos mantos de teclados con sabor clásico.
De obligada audición en vuestra fonoteca particular.
Salu2 neoprogresivos
Juan Mellado
Juan Mellado
Sello Discográfico: Independiente / Krescendo Records | Año: 2026
Género: Neo-Prog, Rock Sinfónico, Teatral Prog
Género: Neo-Prog, Rock Sinfónico, Teatral Prog
Músicos:
• Mark Holiday: Voz principal.
• David Powell: Teclados.
• Neil Duty: Guitarras.
• Peter Robinson: Bajo.
• Charlie Morgan: Batería.
• Mark Holiday: Voz principal.
• David Powell: Teclados.
• Neil Duty: Guitarras.
• Peter Robinson: Bajo.
• Charlie Morgan: Batería.
Invitados especiales:
• Dave Holley: Guitarra solista (en tema 3).
• Dave Holley: Guitarra solista (en tema 3).
Temas:
- Forged by the Sun — 18:28
- Ceasefire for the Innocent — 12:59
- Cue Rain — 06:15
Duración total: 37:42
