Review
The Flower Kings
Banks Of Eden

Inside Out (2012) Sarah

The Flower Kings – Banks Of Eden cover artwork
The Flower Kings – Banks Of Eden — Inside Out, 2012

The Flower Kings is one of those bands that's been floating around my periphery for a very long time without ever coming into clear focus; there always seem to be bigger name bands in their way that draw my attention. But as soon as I was handed a copy of their 2012 album Banks of Eden, it became clear to me that this is a band that deserves to be checked out by any progressive fan.

The major thing The Flower Kings have going for them is that their music is generally very subtle and understated, replete with fine details to be discovered and offering a fair amount of nuance. In contrast to other major prog bands like Dream Theater or Porcupine Tree whose music is, let's face it, loudBanks of Eden doesn't present you with everything it has on the first listen, making it much more rewarding. Similar to the original progressive rock acts of the early seventies (especially Genesis), there's a lot to find in the depths of The Flower Kings's music for those who care to find it.

On the other hand, that subtlety does have the side effect of making the music a bit homogenous in sound. There's not a big substantial difference between the tones of the pieces, and especially during the 25-minute epic "Numbers", it can feel like the pieces drag on just a bit too long. That being said, the quality of the music behind them is still undeniable and alluring--they're just not as easy to listen to as they could be.

There's also a special edition of the album that comes with a second disc of four bonus tracks. Those tracks are more or less the same type of material from the album proper, just a bit shortened and slightly less interesting. That's not to say they're bad; it's just clear why they were left as bonus material. If you really enjoyed the first disc or have enjoyed previous albums from them, then I definitely suggest grabbing the special edition--it's like adding an additional 20 minutes of stylistically similar material onto the album, and who doesn't love that? But if you weren't overly impressed with the first disc, then you can probably skip them--there aren't any true gems you'll be missing.

Any fan of progressive rock, classic or modern, should get into this band. I know this release convinced me to dredge through their back catalogue, and with any luck, it'll grip you too.

Recommended if you like: early Genesis, early Rush, The Gathering

8.5 / 10Sarah • February 19, 2013

The Flower Kings – Banks Of Eden cover artwork
The Flower Kings – Banks Of Eden — Inside Out, 2012

Advertisement

DCxPC 2025

Recently-posted album reviews

Detention

Dead Rock ‘N’ Rollers
Left For Dead Records (2024)

Life ain’t so easy in the detention home- Dead Boys. Emerging from the underbelly of Jersey, made up primarily of three brethren. Raised on rock and roll and sipping from the chalice of early punk rock stalwarts like Da Bruddahs from Queens, Hey Ho! and the Pistoleros of Sexual Nature screaming banshees from across from the large pond. Thus forging … Read more

Nightfreak

Nightfreak
Big Neck Records (2024)

Semi-feral punk outfit NightFreak are back with a self-titled LP filled with breakneck riffs and 70s metal bombast. The Chicago group haven’t slowed down since 2022’s Speed Trials but they have filled out. NightFreak the album is lousy with warm back beats and melodic guitars; although, hardcore vocals and tight drums still reign supreme. Album opener “Blackout” is dead serious … Read more

Death By Unga Bunga

Raw Muscle Power
Jansen Records (2025)

I’m pretty sure I became aware of Mike Krol when The Whiffs posted about playing some shows with him. Krol is a bit of an anomaly. Not only is he on Merge and collaborates with Mac Superchunk- a dream scenario imo- but he’s also been elusive of my fan boy attempts at cold dm’ing him about stuff even tho we … Read more