Dawnwalker – The Unknowing (Review)

This is the sixth album from UK progressive rock band Dawnwalker.

2022’s House of Sand was such a good record. Two years later, we have The Knowing, which delivers 38 minutes of new material. On this new record the mastermind behind the band has been joined by a new collective of musicians, and a fresh sound.

The Unknowing offers up an expressive blend of progressive rock sounds. It’s steeped in ancient prog styles, sensibilities, and influences, yet is played with contemporary passion and vision. The 70s influences are strong, and The Unknowing makes the most of them throughout its luscious and detailed landscape.

The well-written songs offer a holistic journey into progressive rock atmosphere and song-focused hooks. This mix of spacious mood-building and instant appeal is a tricky one to balance, but Dawnwalker pull it off convincingly. It’s less of a dark and surreal experience than House of Sand, and instead walks its own path into affecting waters. You can tell it shares DNA with its predecessor, but The Unknowing has broadened its horizons and breadth of expression.

The songs provide the listener with an engaging and accessible version of progressive rock, but without losing too much of its adventurous heart. There’s beauty here, but also melancholy. It flirts with darkness, but is ultimately uplifting in musical tone. The songs are strong, and deserve the time and attention to truly appreciate over time. A lot of work has clearly gone into the creation of The Unknowning, and it has paid off.

Dawnwalker continue to travel down their own idiosyncratic pathways, with each record offering something different. The Unknowing represents another branch in the road, away from House of Sands‘ menacing dream-like wonders and into brighter worlds of diverse experiences.

Very highly recommended for prog rock fans everywhere.