Review by illusionist for Caligula's Horse - Bloom (2015)

Rock? Metal? Alternative? Prog? Sure. Doesn't matter. However you wish to label them, Caligula's Horse are leading a new generation of progressive music that combines both the instrumental mastery of traditional prog metal AND the best aspects of alt. rock melodic sensibility.

They deliver this exciting package, full of awesome Steely Dan-influenced technical guitar playing and deeply meaningful lyrics, with utmost conviction. Indeed, Caligula's Horse, especially on this release, radiate an exuberant fearlessness that is addictive and eminently re-playable.

Bloom sees the band hone their constituent sonic components to the point where their sound has become something entirely unique on its own. They also successfully streamlined their songwriting in a way that only sharpens the impact of each song. The way the eight tracks on this album flow and dance together is something special and makes it almost impossible to play just one song without staying for the next... and the next. These songs were meant to live and breathe together in the same way that Sam Vallen's guitar melodies and Jim Grey's punchy vocals and falsettos fit together like a hand in a glove.

In summation, absolutely incredible and dynamic music for all music-lovers. Start with Bloom, but don't stop there. Caligula have been in a special creative groove throughout the whole 2010s decade and now into the 2020s.