Athenian Progressive Rock quintet MOTHER OF MILLIONS formed in 2008. In 2014, they released a critically acclaimed debut album titled "Human." Now in 2017, they have released their sophomore effort "Sigma," which contains nine new tracks. The song titles are short and sweet, which is unusual for the grandeur of Progressive Rock/Metal. "Emerge" leads off the album, in a short four-minute statement that uses minimal instrumentation and spoken word, talking about there being a beginning, and an end. The background ambiance is foreboding, giving you the sense of what will follow could be magnanimous. It slowly builds with more instruments, and segues into "Shine," which has a jovial riff out of the gate. Piano and guitar combine with Prokopiou's expressive vocals, which are tender at times and longing at others. Stylistically, it reminds me of bands like CALIGULA's HORSE, with a strong sense of songwriting and musicianship, though this track is a bit on the dark side.

"Silence" tops at over the eight-minute mark. Another caliginous track, they present a mostly despondent sound with just the right doses of instruments into a synergy that tugs at your emotions. You have the clear sense that if they wanted to launch into a 5/4 Progressive attack of sheer prowess they could at any time, but instead the focus is on setting a specific mood with their craft. "Rome" has a bit of a heavier rhythm, with some punchy accents in some of the guitar riffs. The warm piano notes keep a steady and supportive role in the song, adding some layers for your enjoyment. The chorus is very charming, hitting some positive notes that stand out from the depressive ones. The balance is actually quite striking.

"Their Passage the Light" opens with a Folky sound, from toms, strings and a repetitive guitar line that is like a hypnotic dance in front of your eyes. The bass guitar sets a bossy tone and attitude with deep strikes, oppressive in their delivery. "Collision" is an absolutely beautiful song. The instruments, particularly guitar and piano, use restraint, and create a yearning in the listener, like something you want so terribly bad being just out of your reach. The vocals however are incensed and powerful. "Rapture" means "extreme happiness or delight in something. "The Rapture" can also refer to the end of the world in the Christian religion. The song that bears this title is a short track instrumental that seems juxtaposed with these ideas. Piano notes work over a bed of eerie effects to create an uneasy feeling of impending doom.

"Spiral" has a dreamy sound with expressive vocals thick with vibrato. Guitar, bass and drums work in unison to create an attacking sound that is relieved by soft piano notes. Again, the balance here is key to their intelligent sound. The title track, "Sigma," closes the album; a short three-minute instrumental that uses the medium of piano and voice to leave you on a note of hope or despair, and the beauty of it is that the listener can decide for themselves how they fall on that spectrum. 2017 has been another banner year for Progressive Rock/Metal, but even among the multitude of excellent albums I have heard, you need to have "Sigma" from MOTHER OF MILLIONS in this discussion. Their resolve is tempered by sophisticated songwriting with a pensive and somber approach, and the end result is sweetly satisfying.