Album Premiere: First Light – Dark Pale (reviewed by Dave Franklin)

Progressive rock has, for some at least, been a much-maligned genre, often conjuring images of keyboard players dressed as wizards, songs about taking rings to Mordor, and drum solos that stretch endlessly into the future. But like any genre, it needs to move with the times or risk becoming left behind as fads and fashions change.

The prog of today is a different creature altogether, and where once there was excess, there is now refinement; where sprawling, meandering compositions dominated, there is a greater sense of focus and song-oriented creativity. Grandeur hasn’t disappeared, but it has been reshaped into something more accessible, more measured—ornate rather than overwhelming.

“First Light” by Dark Pale, written and produced by Ermanno Ceniccola, sits comfortably within this modern retooling of the sound. It certainly retains the genre’s sense of ambition and musicality, but balances its bigger urges with restraint. The arrangements are thoughtful rather than theatrical, allowing textures and melodies to unfold effortlessly, with clarity and purpose. There is, of course, still a sense of scale here; you wouldn’t expect the scene to abandon its traditions totally, but now it feels grounded in songwriting rather than just the need to show off.

“Moonrise” might be just the moody intro and scene-setter, but it offers an interesting glimpse of one unique aspect of the band. As sonics wake and rise, atmospheres are woven, drifting through that soundscape is an instrument much overlooked by the prog pioneers of old – the saxophone. More of which later.

“Deep Freeze” might be longer than your average rock song, but its blend of groove and grandeur remains focused. Sure, it builds fantastic dynamics via some cool sonic ebbs and flows, but, in contrast, where prog-past often felt like four songs stitched together (because it often was), this is instead a song with sonic subplots rather than chaotic wanderlust, subplots ranging from abrasive guitars to shimmering subtleties, whispered words to fist in the air vocals, and space in which all manner of sonics pool and percolate.

Songs such as “That Feeling” show us how far things have come, or at least how willing some bands in the broad progressive realm are to make things more accessible to those who might not think the genre is for them. It blends an almost pop-rock vibe with more sophisticated sheens, and wide-screen vocals match the cinematic polish. I feel that if you were trying to convince people to give the genre a go, this would be a great place to start.

And then, at the more expected end of the spectrum, “Vilomah” plays with Floydian soundscapes, running from spoken word to brooding backgrounds to explosive bursts of vocals and guitars. That aforementioned saxophone is really earning its money. Dynamic, majestic, and beautiful. The title track is an ever-shifting instrumental, string-soaked, digital-beat-powered, full of contrasting textures that run from the soulful and serene to the gritty and grand.

With “First Light,” Dark Pale demonstrates that progressive rock doesn’t need to abandon its roots to remain relevant—it simply needs to deftly and delicately refine them. That is certainly what we find going on here, and the result is an album that feels both familiar and forward-looking, proving that prog, when handled with care, is still relevant and rewarding.