RENAISSANCE ROCK ORCHESTRA is a project Gregg Fox has undertaken to bring a massive tale to the music realm, creating a Progressive Rock Opera that takes many of his influences and blends them into a single, epic record. Influenced by the likes of YES, STYX, and KANSAS and inspired by TRANS SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, this is a bold, bombastic story that will take your breath away. Ice Age Cometh was released by Escape Music on May 26, 2023. After a short intro, "In My Lovin' Arms" kicks into heavy synth mode, then drops into a subdued riff with a solid Hard Rock rhythm. The keyboards fuel the orchestral sounds, adding multiple layers of instrumentation to build up the wall of sound. And this is just the first movement of a Rock Opera that features 21 world class musicians in addition to Gregg Fox.

There are 10 different guitarists listed on this record. There are sometimes subtle, sometimes overt differences in the styles heard in each song. Every one of those styles is augmented by the pianos/keyboards, like in "Ice Age Cometh" where the guitars hide under the heavy-handed piano playing coupled with the mellow keyboard tones under the whole thing. There are also different musical styles on the record as well. "Secrets In The Sand" has an Arabesque feel with the guitars and keys bringing together world music to take the journey through a desert on the way to the final destination. One of the things about this Rock Opera is that it takes some wild trips to distant lands and different times to tell the tale. "J.S. Rock" is inspired by J.S. BACH and has a definite Neo-Classical Rock vibe. This song would fit with TRANS SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA easily. They've done an album inspired by BEETHOVEN, so it stands to reason they could do this as well. Seeing those two bands on successive nights would be spectacular. I wouldn't want them together on the same night though as they each have something unique to offer.

Continuing the Neo-Classical, but heading back more into the Rock, "A Song Of Hope" has a more upbeat tone than "J.S. Rock," which is no surprise. BACH was known for darker music and heavier themes and this song is lighter, full of promise for the future. There are some world music and futuristic tones in here, carrying one theme and bringing another one back to take the story towards the final chapter. The story concludes with "Long Live Rock And Roll," another upbeat track with a throwback lyric about rock on the radio. I remember cars before tape decks and CD players and streaming services. Cruising around town blasting out the favorite station so everyone heard your greatest love, rock and freaking roll!

RENAISSANCE ROCK ORCHESTRA has, in many ways, struck a great balance of nostalgia and modernity with this record. The all-star cast is just as comfortable with the new as they are the old. The album has a nice cohesiveness that makes it flow from beginning to end. The expertise of each musician is perfectly placed, everything fits right where it should.