Changing Places in the Fire – Changing Places in the Fire
Release Date: 24th July 2026
Label: Wild Thing Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Prog Rock, Prog Metal, Post-Metal, Post-Rock.
FFO: Opeth, Deftones, Porcupine Tree.
Review By: Jeff Finch
Changing Places in the Fire is the kind of album (and band) that reminds you that progressive music doesn’t have to sacrifice impact in the name of complexity, because while the songwriting is layered and ambitious, and the time signature shifts as effective as ever, it never forgets the importance of landing a riff that feels ripped straight from the depths. The guitars are consistently toned down to push the heavy when they so choose, and they’re satisfyingly weighty, delivering the sort of punch that too many modern prog bands seem to lose beneath endless technicality, the result a record that feels just as concerned with groove and atmosphere as it is with showcasing musicianship.
The drumming deserves a ton of credit for that as well, bringing a punch and physicality that gives every song a sense of momentum, whether it’s locking into crushing mid-tempo passages or accentuating intricate sections without ever sounding overplayed. There’s an organic force behind the performance that keeps everything grounded, making even the more progressive moments feel immediate instead of clinical.
The clean vocals are another strong point, even if they aren’t particularly groundbreaking on their own, because they’re consistently melodic and fit the material well, but it’s whenever a rasp creeps into the delivery that everything shifts into another gear. Those harsher edges inject a sense of urgency and emotion that elevates the choruses and heavier passages alike, creating the kind of contrast that makes the biggest moments stick long after the album ends.
Changing Places in the Fire succeeds because it understands that technical proficiency means very little if the songs themselves don’t hit, and this album rarely falls into that trap, balancing progressive songwriting with genuine heft, memorable riffs, and performances that know when to flex and when to simply let the music crush. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable listen that scratches the itch for modern prog without forgetting to sound absolutely massive at times.
(4 / 5)
