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With a duet of bass and guitar riffs, Derev opens what might just be a top contender for 2025’s best prog rock releases. ‘Cyclone’ is a melodic, sensual, and emotive progressive ballad that’s stellar on almost every front.

Derev are a progressive rock outfit with an outstanding sound that is deeply steeped in the outfit’s Middle Eastern roots. Based in Toronto, Canada, Derev was founded by drummer Michel Karakach and his best friend, guitarist Armando Bablanian, when they reunited and decided to realize their childhood dream, turning it into Derev. ‘Cyclone’ is the second single of Derev’s upcoming album Troubled Mind, coming March 2025.

The single is a spectacular progressive rock song that’s melodious, balanced, and just gorgeously written, played, and produced. The gentle tempo of the song’s waltz is adorned by a plucky, muted guitar arpeggio and a melodic, twisting bass line, courtesy of Bablanian and bassist Stan Komarovsky. The dramatic and melancholic composition is beautifully explored by a passionate vocal part by frontman Mike Symons. The strained and characterful voice of Symons, wrapping itself rather snugly around the song’s stirring chord changes makes a fantastic melodic base to the song that remains intoxicating throughout the song’s relatively lengthy runtime.

The wonderful production on ‘Cyclone’ makes it a sublime thing to listen to. A truly complete piece, ‘Cyclone’ excels on all instrumental and compositions levels. Even the guitar solo is gentle, introspective, and technically simplistic while being genuinely stirring. A perfect teaser for an album.