| Musical Style: Progressive Rock | Produced By: PJ Bostic |
| Record Label: Ocean Willow Music | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2025 | Artist Website: PJ Bostic |
| Tracks: 9 | Rating: 90% |
| Running Time: 46:25 |
Looking for an album that derives from equal facets elaborate progressive rock and engaging melodic rock and AOR? The April of 2025 independent fifth solo album Hope In The Winter Stage from vocalist and multi-instrumentalist (guitars, bass, keyboards & drums) PJ Bostic delivers exactly that! Released in follow up to 2021 fourth solo album Faith Of Least Resistance, Hope In The Winter Stage finds the Austin, Texas based artist continuing to draw upon the influence of Rush, Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree and King’s X in featuring shorter but heavy hitting numbers and those lengthier and innate to complex and epic arrangements. Lyrically, album continues to reflect Bostic’s passion for the truth of historical Christianity.
Bostic got his start in the eighties under the name Paul Roraback as part of Pacific Northwest progressive rock act Paragon with whom he recorded a pair of custom cassette demos, Believe (1984) and Dead And Alive (1988). He later acted as Bloodgood touring drummer from 1992 to 1993 ahead of co-founding alternative rock band Grammatrain, which released the albums Lonely House (1996) and Flying (1997) on Forefront Records. When Grammatrain ended, he recorded and toured with Gideon’s Press, One Bad Pig and Trytan in addition to acting as a drum tech and assistant to Terry Bozzio (Missing Persons, Frank Zappa).
Bostic’s solo career traces to when he decided to ‘focus on making his own music for the Lord’ (referencing artists press material) after realizing that spending so much time on the road and away from his Christian peers was not his calling. His initial priority was on guitar playing and songwriting, with the goal not to write anything ambitious and keep it simple, but in the end created music much more complicated than he set out to make. Results speak for themselves in the form of his five solo albums to include also Bullies At The Border (2009), Three Minute Song (2013) and Light Me On (2015).
Hope In The Winter Stage brings to mind bands such as Ariel and Time Horizon that successfully combine the best aspects of progressive rock and AOR. Derivative of such formula is opening cut “Secrets”, four minutes of vibrant tempos - the complex bass and drum interplay reminds of Rush - and immediately bracing melody (hooks set at once and refuse to withdraw). Of equal note is manner in which artist’s pure and crystalline vocal qualities play and equally complementary role. Lyric snippet:
I’m tired of believing you
And all the things you say
You’ve been in my head far too long
Messing with my brain
It’s time for you to get out
Time to break the chains
‘Cause I’m done playing games with the devil
Life begins today
“I’m Coming Home” tempers to mid-tempo territory while upping heaviness. Songs inconspicuous progressiveness reveals in the colliding of uneasy rhythm guitar and swirling harmonies that bring to mind King’s X and Lovewar. An ethereal if not impalpable vibrancy rises to the surface accordingly. Guest guitarist Phil Keaggy contributes a wonderful stretch of fluid soloing.
With drum solo to start, “Walking On The Water” romps and cavorts in a heavy rocking format as a single minded rhythm section (the frenetic drum rolls border on the mesmerizing) coincides with unequivocal rhythm guitar (impression is borderline metal). The tempered but distantly done keyboards further expand upon the dynamic melody to prevail. Lyric snippet:
Though tempest fearsome haunt
I’ll turn to the sea
Walk towards the shepherds call
Leading me on
It’s time to move on
Teach me to communicate
The love that you demonstrate
Instruct me how to navigate
When walking on the water
Three songs in and near perfect production stands out in which a transparent mix allows all instrumentation to cleanly separate. Bostic sets the standard in this regard far as independent releases are concerned.
“Not Over Yet” substantiates emboldened energy, particularly for the escalated verse sections impelled by Rush style rhythms. Yet, a moderated side to the song divulges for the riveting chorus ingrained to overflowing harmonies. I value manner in which Bostic imbues his material with such a plethora of catchy hooks and melodies, referencing the as noted AOR influences.
“Healing Comes Tomorrow” is one of albums lengthiest at six minutes. It mirrors artists progressive side, emanating the mid-tempo with guitars restrained compared to some here but not backing from the King’s X style harmonies, revealed in another forthright melody basis. Halfway point song settles for an extended run of Bostic’s bluesy lead guitar and punchy bass interplay- musicianship is off the charts! Lyric snippet:
As I feel the weight
I pray the world will find the healing
And find the peace
That comes from You
I waited here
And heaven called
I found the faith of a mustard seed
And I found hope
“Healing” ensues as albums shortest at three minutes. Song cuts in at once to flowing harmonies and melodies, upholding the fluid found in delicate (and quite engaging) backing vocals - again, King’s X is a point of reference - but also the granular in light of the unambiguous bluesy rudiments to underpin. Final seconds fade to left to right channel duel lead guitar.
“Gentle Plow” builds further upon the bluesy, revealed in its shuffling bass and earthy guitar sentiments. A grooving element all the same gives prominence in form of the bouncing tom-tom driven timekeeping and mirthful essence to hold sway. Tying both sides together is the masterful ‘close your eyes, healing is at my feet, lay your burdens down’ refrain. Lyric snippet:
Will you heal the pain?
Can you fix my brain?
Cause I’m a mess
I’m just another broken jar of clay
Close your eyes
Healing is at your feet
Lay your burdens down
Take my hand
I’m the strength you need
Bear my gentle plow
“Hold The Line” takes a succinct if not brusque heading, accessible in light of the swirling vocal melodies and lively rhythms but also striking when factoring the obtrusive rhythm guitar to stand alongside albums heaviest. Catchy riffs and electrifying soloing cover the extended instrumental moments. “Hold The Line” proves another superior song on an album of superior songs.
Album closes to ten-minute Theocracy style epic “Metaphoric World”. Song is home to its share of time changes, ranging from the darkly woven opening instrumental minute and half (noting the chilling keyboards) to slicing guitar edged verse sections (bordering on all out metal) to the glistening refrain that rebuffs any attempts to go away (this is where the Theocracy comparison comes into play). Halfway in things temper to a smooth acoustic passage that gives way to a distorted guitar instrumental run, while closing final three minutes is a moody and low-key instrumental interlude that gradually fades out. I see this challenging for song of the year. Lyric snippet:
Celebrate, proud of your intent
The murder of the innocent
You can’t sugar coat the violence that you bring
The aftertaste will not be sweet
But I will stand against all fear
And cast my doubt into the grave
Take up arms of humble plea
Request the kingdom come to save
I find it remarkable how PJ Bostic handles ALL aspects of the recording process exceedingly well: songwriting, vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, drums and production. Unlike many ‘one man band’ projects there is not a weak link here, albeit I hesitate to use the ‘one man band’ designation in that Hope In The Winter Stage features several guest guitar appearances. What further makes the album special is the stellar songwriting- Bostic imbues his material with a high level of melody to the point Theocracy comes to mind. Production represents another strong point. Lone constructive comment is that I wish he had built upon the albums progressive side by extended several songs in the four to five minute range an additional minute or two. Still, if a fan of progressive rock with an AOR bent - again, noting the previously cited Ariel and Time Horizon - you can do no wrong with Hope In The Winter Stage.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Secrets” (3:52), “I’m Coming Home” (4:37), “Walking On The Water” (4:41), “Not Over Yet” (3:59), “Healing Comes Tomorrow” (6:11), “Healing” (3:10), “Gentle Plow” (4:18), “Hold The Line” (5:23), “Metaphoric World” (10:12)
Musicians
PJ Bostic - Lead Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Drums & Keyboards
Additional Musicians
Phil Keaggy - Lead Guitar
J.R. Taylor - Lead Guitar
Jeff Schronce - Lead Guitar
Coda Roraback - Marching Snare
