ELVERUM, NORWAY — Renowned Norwegian progressive rock band ProgAtom has officially launched their powerful original single, “New Shoes”. Blending complex progressive arrangements with the sophisticated spontaneity of jazz rock, the track serves as an urgent, artistic statement addressing online trolling, hateful discourse, and the vital role of empathy in today’s digital landscape.
⇒ Read our thoughts on their “New Shoes” here.
Recorded at Beef & Sound Studio, “New Shoes” captures ProgAtom’s signature ability to marry intricate musicianship with socially conscious lyricism. Composed musically by Arild Sveum with thought-provoking lyrics penned by Gun E. Norstrøm, the track challenges listeners to step outside their own perspectives.
“I haven’t been in your shoes / So who am I to judge?” —cut straight to the heart of the song’s message, serving as a resonant reminder of our shared humanity amidst an era of anonymous hostility and digital mockery.
“New Shoes” arrives as a direct precursor to ProgAtom’s highly anticipated upcoming studio album, Iconic Pictures. The single follows recent 2026 releases “I can smell the Hay” (featuring guest vocals from Ukrainian musician Roy Crank from Kharkiv) and “In every Heartbeat,” further cementing the band’s reputation as progressive artists unafraid to confront contemporary social challenges through expansive sonic soundscapes.
Formed in Elverum, Norway, ProgAtom is celebrated for weaving melodic symphonic rock with atmospheric textures, uneven time signatures, and classic 70s-style hard progressive elements.
