by Bob Keeley
Right from their first release in 1993, Glass Hammer showed a predilection for creating albums that were either based on or inspired by literary works like those from C.S. Lewis or J.R.R Tolkien. Soon they began to create their own stories and build concept albums around them. Classic Glass Hammer albums like Lex Rex, The Inconsolable Secret, and Perilous were all based on original stories.
But like Forest Gump might say, Glass Hammer is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re going to get. Their sound has morphed and changed over the years as the stories they wanted to tell required new ways of doing that. Also, for years the only constant members were multi-instrumentalists Steve Babb and Fred Schendel so new personnel can also mean a new overall sound. In 2020 Babb created a fantasy novel called Skallagrim and a trilogy of albums to go along with it (Dreaming City, Skallagrim: Into the Breach, and At the Gate). In order to represent the sword-wielding hero, the sound of Glass Hammer changed from classic Yes-styled prog to metal. This new style of music persisted on into their 2023 release, Arise.
For their latest release, Rogue, by my count their 22nd studio album of new material, Babb has created a story about a man who sets out on a journey spurred on by regret and a desire to find his lost love. To support the story, Babb returned to a “classic Glass Hammer style.” While Fred Schendel appears on two tracks, he seems content to be one of many players in this Babb-produced album. Other players include UK guitarist Oliver Day, Dutch singer Thomas Jakob and American singer Olivia Tharpe.
But despite all the changes, Glass Hammer once again delivers. The opener, “What If,” gives a good indication of what we’ll get for the rest of the album. While all the players are excellent, this is not about instrumental virtuosity. Different instruments vie for the melody here and there but never in a “look at me!” sort of way. The opening riff in this song, for example, is traded back and forth until the singer begins, curiously, with the word “farewell!” This song sets the stage for the journey the protagonist is to embark on.
In “The Road South” Oliver Day’s lap steel guitar is featured as part of the extended introduction. The guitar does a wonderful job of evoking the sadness of the man leaving his home in the story. In “Tomorrow” the man encounters his first hardship and looks to heaven and the promise that “tomorrow, all will be fine.” A Synth plays a nice counter-melody call and response with singer Thomas Jakob throughout.
In “Pretty Ghost” we finally get to hear from Olivia Tharpe as she gives voice to the man’s memories of a woman he left many years ago. Babb nicely captures how good intentions aren’t enough when Tharpe sings, “Someday became today. Then, suddenly became yesterday. There’s nothing left but faded memories.” The song is surprisingly upbeat despite the lyrics containing such regret. The song ends unexpectedly with Tharpe singing “Then she goes, slips away, slips away. Don’t go!”
As quickly as “Pretty Ghost” ends, we find ourselves in the song “Sunshine” opening with the words, “don’t let her go.” Once again lap steel, this time played by Fred Schendel, is featured. In the song, it is the memory of his old love that brings light to his mind but that light is tinged with sadness. Babb does a fine job communicating the mixed feelings of this song in both the writing and playing.
In “I Will Follow” the man sets his heart and his feet on the path forward. Both Jakob and Tharpe alternate vocals in this up-tempo song. Keys play an important part in propelling this song forward. With the exception of a couple of synth solos, Babb plays all the keyboard parts on this album. As mentioned earlier, this is nothing flashy, but it gets the job done.
As the story is drawing to a close, the man reflects on his life in gratitude in “The Wonder of it All”. This leads to the instrumental “One Last Sunrise,” and the mostly instrumental ten-minute “Terminal Lucidity,” one of the album’s highlights. The man has a vision at the end of his life, a vision of someone there to greet him, God. “All Good Things” completes the saga as the man recognizes that he is in a place of eternal rest, a place where “Love reigns forevermore.”
Rogue sits nicely alongside other Glass Hammer classics like “On to Evermore,” “Chronometree,” and “If” in both overall sound and the grand scope of the music and the text. It’s remarkable that more than thirty years on, Babb and his colleagues continue to turn out thoughtful, creative albums. Rogue is an album that is deserving of a close listen and time spent with the lyrics and the accompanying story that goes along with it.
Released on April 11, 2025
Get the album here: www.glasshammer.com
Track list:
1. What If
2. The Road South
3. Tomorrow
4. Pretty Ghost
5. Sunshine
6. I Will Follow
7. The Wonder Of It All
8. One Last Sunrise
9. Terminal Lucidity
10. All Good Things
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