Its no secret that although I personally love metal more than any genre, I have a tendency to flirt with the antiquated ways of the rustic rulings of Prog. Without Rush there would be no Dream Theater, not to mention however many bands that wouldn’t exist without the musical genius of Pink Floyd. So I think that it’s high time that we paid our respects!

In a slightly off kilter move, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has decided to create a covers album of some of the best Prog classics ever. With guest appearances spanning from Yes’s Partrick Moraz, to Adrian Smith on the Rush cover of “Red Barchetta” not to mention the Porcupine Tree drummer Gavin Harrison playing drums on the King Crimson classic “21st Century Schizoid Man” and the absolutely phenomenal Guthrie Govan on the same track! Though it may not be selling millions of records this will be a most intriguing listen. Recorded as you might have guessed at London’s Abbey Road studios for such a tweed coated concept.

The album will be available via CD and of course Vinyl from March 31st (today) via Purple Pyramid Records.

Check out the track listing below and marvel at the proggyness!

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Plays Prog Rock Classics :

01 ELP Suite : Tarkus / From The Beginning / Tarkus (Reprise)

02 Comfortably Numb feat. Ian Bairnson

03 Thick As A Brick feat Richard Harvey

04 21st Centrury Schizoid Man feat. Gavin Harrison and Guthrie Govan

05 Focus II feat. Thijs Van Leer

06 Nights In White Satin feat. Mark Feltham

07 Think Of Me With Kindness feat. Patrick Moraz

08 Roundabout feat. Jimmy Greenspoon

09 Watcher Of The Skies 

10 Red Barchetta feat. Adrian Smith