Triskelion by North Star: A Prog-Rock Odyssey That Still Resonates
Alright, let’s talk about Triskelion by North Star. Released in '93, this prog-rock gem from the US feels like one of those albums that time forgot—but trust me, it shouldn’t have been. With its swirling mix of intricate arrangements and raw energy, it’s an album that grabs you by the collar and says, “Hey, pay attention!”
First off, kudos to North Star for wearing so many hats here—they arranged, produced, and played their hearts out on this thing. Labels like Not On Label and Musea clearly saw something special because they gave this record a shot. And honestly? They were right.
Now, I gotta highlight two tracks that stuck with me after spinning this bad boy a few times: “Ancient Kings” and “Plastic Fantastic.”
“Ancient Kings” kicks things off with this epic vibe—it’s big, bold, and unapologetically theatrical. The keyboards (shoutout to Kevin Leonard) feel like they’re painting some sort of cosmic landscape while Joe Newman’s vocals pull you into the story. It’s not just music; it’s more like stepping into a dream where ancient warriors are riding horses made of stardust or something equally wild. You can tell these guys weren’t messing around—they wanted to take you somewhere else entirely. And damn, did they succeed.
Then there’s “Plastic Fantastic,” which flips the script completely. This track is slick, punchy, and dripping with attitude. Glenn Leonard’s drumming drives the whole thing forward like a runaway train, and the bassline? Oh man, it slaps hard enough to make your speakers blush. It’s catchy as hell but still has that progressive edge—like if pop-rock went to art school and came back cooler than ever. Every time this song pops up, I find myself nodding along like a bobblehead doll gone rogue.
What really gets me about Triskelion, though, is how human it feels despite all the technical wizardry. Sure, there are layers upon layers of sound, but beneath it all, it’s clear these dudes poured their souls into every note. Whether it’s Dave “The Programmer” Conner tweaking knobs till his fingers bled or Randy Glass mixing tracks till sunrise, you can hear the sweat and passion in every second of this album.
And hey, maybe it’s weird to say, but listening to Triskelion makes me think about how life itself is kinda like prog-rock. Sometimes it’s messy, overcomplicated, and doesn’t follow any rules—but when it clicks, it’s pure magic. So yeah, give this one a spin. Just don’t blame me if you start daydreaming about ancient kings and plastic fantastic futures afterward…
