“TRUE STORIES… AND OTHER LIES” By Pryzme

While often seen as an intellectual art movement, progressive rock tends to grapple with the juxtaposition of emotional relatability and technical artistry. French band Pryzme makes quite the statement with their newest release, “True stories…and other lies,” published on the 30th of May, 2025. Based in Rennes, the group has certainly progressed in the four years since their initial release, Four Inches. Now, they showcase a clear evolution steeped in scrupulous polishing, bold emotional frankness, and fearless fusion. From self-producing the album to working with Chab Mastering Studio in Paris, Pryzme took it upon themselves to boost their identity and achieve a reputation as a true modern progressive band. With this release, Pryzme has established itself in a league of contemporary progressive bands that truly connect and communicate with their audience. The record is a powerful and beautiful juxtaposition of complex musicianship, heart, and approachability. It consists of seven intricate pieces dedicated to self-exploration, environmental deterioration, introspection, and myriad other themes.

The band’s journey began in 2014 under the name Lingus, rebranding as Pryzme in 2021 as a subtle homage to Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon. This shift was a clear sign of progressive sonic and artistic commitment, which is vividly captured in the new record. Inspired by legendary musicians like Pink Floyd, Yes, Steven Wilson, Sting, Toto, and Pat Metheny, Pryzme integrates progressive rock, jazz fusion, pop melodies, as well as ambient textures. Despite the wide range of influences, the band never feels derivative. Instead, the band calls it Aero Progressive Music, a style that allows complexity and breathability, permitting the music to soar rather than smother.

The album commences with “Echo of Silent Place.” This is a haunting introduction to cinematic Jiggy’s Yo Step that opens to ethereal textures and layered guitars. The climax gives a sense of stepping into an emotional landscape. Focus and detail have been paid to the production as it provides remarkable clarity, with each instrument having space as the layers build. An emotionally resonant barrier brings power through well-crafted restraint in the calmer moments. As with the majority of footstep, this feels a little transportive whilst also serving as a refined invitation.

The “Earth Song,” a poignant song because of No Eminence, bridges Escape Universal with “Earth Song” and focuses on humanity’s critique of humanity with poetic grace. It is tied to feedback as an ancient ambiance; it has guitar lines. “Earth Song” also captures reflections while betraying an aching sadness right through my range. Accompanied by guitar and ambient backdrops off the beat on shimmering, the sounds are rhythmic and energized. Emotion is present through silence on the sadder side, making the ache more evident. This is the personification of Earth, and emphatic lyrics ensure the impact. This track alone speaks to Pryzme’s ability to tackle weighty subjects without losing the melodic accessibility they prize.

“End of the Anger” stands as the emotional highlight of the album, perhaps its most fluidly composed piece. The song is over ten minutes long and includes everything from syncopated funk to bursts of metallic aggression and even scat singing. It’s a tour-de-force where anger, healing, and release gracefully unfold like chapters of a novel. The new addition of Lucas Planque on drums and Benoît Toquet on bass showcases tight and unpredictable grooves that ground and add intensity to the burgeoning progression of the track. Very few recent tracks in the progressive genre have come close to achieving this level of expansiveness without losing cohesion. “End of the Anger” showcases Pryzme’s renewed energy and collective chemistry.

Following the storm, "Green Eye" serves as a more reflective interlude. It marks a return for the band to the jazz-pop style, offering a ballad that is nuanced and restrained. With rich harmonies, the song illustrates Pryzme’s poetic insight and his skill in allowing simple melodic lines to linger and unfurl. The song's finest moments are marked by its restraint; no bombastic solos or epic climaxes are present, and instead, a soulful arrangement that rests between sorrow and peace prevails. This track is expertly placed as a midpoint track since it delivers some breathing space while still retaining forward momentum.

“Reality of Dreams” continues this journey with some more psychedelic elements while navigating the drift between reality and wakefulness. A combination of ambient synths, hypnotic guitar riffs, and layered vocal effects generates a trance-like state. At times, the piece skirts toward minimalism before expanding into more developed regions. The music evokes the overarching feeling of the uncertainties and the self-reflection that are foundational to the narrative. It’s in this moment that the band’s cinematic tendencies shine the brightest. The music feels as though it were composed for a movie, driven by the notion that every instrumental gesture captures some poignant emotional moment.

With “Never Again,” Pryzme explores deeper themes. Musically, the song reflects an aspect of personal and political trauma, and is possibly post-apocalyptic. Fueled by sharp guitars and driving percussion, it features some of the most rhythmic intensity on the album. The vocals are delivered with a rawness that sharply contrasts with earlier, more atmospheric tracks. But Pryzme, as always, retains melody and accessibility, even as they traverse heavier layered intervals. It has already been established that stormy emotional depth remains undiluted.

The album ends with its most ambitious piece, titled “Silent Place.” A twelve-minute epic that distills everything Pryzme has set out to achieve. Structured as a sonic journey, the track moves through various moods: deep thought, soaring instrumentation, lyric-driven reflection, and sweeping multi-layered crescendos. The dynamic control here is astounding as the band shifts through various time signatures and textures, holding the listener captive the entire time. With the opener, this piece revisits some of the earlier motifs, but expands them into new emotional and harmonic depths. “Silent Place” serves not just as a closing track; rather the emotional synthesis of the entire record.

Emotional honesty is what sets apart “True Stories… And Other Lies” and many contemporary prog releases. While the musicianship is accurate and the arrangements are sometimes elaborate, Pryzme never lets their technical skill take precedence over their emotional aims. Rather than alienating the audience, this is music that breathes and actively invites people in. They do not try to reinvent the genre, but rather, they humanize it. Aero Progressive Music is how Pryzme chooses to label their approach; it describes something uncommon and profound: music that can take off, float, and move with clarity and purpose, yet remain weightless emotionally.

The album can now be streamed on major platforms such as Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, Deezer, and Amazon Music, which brings it to both prog-heads and casual listeners alike. Every platform allows for the mix and production to be appreciated in full, thus wherever you listen, the experience is engaging and rewarding. With “True Stories… And Other Lies,” Pryzme reiterates the fact that progressive rock is still capable of surprising, comforting, challenging, and connecting. This album is not only for fans of Yes, Pink Floyd, or Porcupine Tree but for anyone who cherishes sounds telling stories, melodies revealing vulnerability, and emotions expressed through craftsmanship. The band’s ability to balance accessibility with ambition sets them apart in today’s prog scene.

This is not just a comeback; it is a revelation. Pryzme has earned its place within an overflowing genre that honors the legacy of its forbearers. It also explores new emotional territories. We would like to thank Pryzme for making music that dares to dream and for reminding us that progressive rock, even in today’s world, is able to carry profound human emotions. “True Stories... And Other Lies” is an album that, whether you’re immersing yourself in it through headphones during a deep nighttime dive or letting it accompany you on your daily commute, will stay imprinted in your mind. You have to experience it.

Written by Manuel