Orion - Universe XXV Review
The imaginative Album cover for Orion's Universe XXV Album.
Orion - ‘Universe XXV’-Progressive Voyages Review
To an untrained or “not as observant” eye, it might pappear that not all that much has changed for Ben Jones in his guise as the band Orion since I last wrote about him and his excellent 3rd album “Into Darkness”. Yet, I know the man quite well (or as well as you can know someone when living 5,000 miles and an ocean away), and I can tell you that we are blessed, indeed, to be getting an October 23, 2026 release of his latest opus, ‘Universe XXV’.
This record, according to his own account, almost didn’t happen. A myriad of problems and nagging issues got in the way of its recording, production and manufacture. For a one-man show, trying to juggle every aspect of that particular commercial miasma can be a daunting, soul-ripping experience and could, to a lesser human, result in an ultimate failure to realize a musical vision.
Thank the Lord for we fans that Ben is not a lesser human.
He has failed to give up; refused to give in; and steeled himself for the tasks at hand. He has, indeed, persevered, and the end result is a wonderful, powerful, thoughtful and reflective fourth entry into Orion’s continuing and burgeoning discography.
This album is, musically, very much a tale of two approaches. The first is an intentional bone-breaking, earth-pounding, polyrhythmic assault on the senses…. and the 2nd (which comprises the majority of the album) a variety of slower, more deliberately paced songs that move us toward a calmer and reasoned resolution. It is quite a head-turning trick, this…. the first track, the aptly titled instrumental ‘Overture XXV’, sets up in grand fashion what one might think will be a full-on-djent-infused power rock record, while the rest of the album slowly and methodically reveals that there is a deeper, more reasoned intent here; rather than head-banging all the way through the record (though there is plenty of opportunity for that), we are meant to take a step back and reflect as the songs use an open-spaced approach to guide us more gently than one might expect from an Orion release. It is truly a magical journey.
So join me, won’t you? Let’s discuss this 4th entry into Orion’s growing prog rock legacy and take a short but meaningful trip into ‘Universe XXV’.
The heavier and more bombastic side of the record reveals itself through the guise of the aforementioned ‘Overture XXV’, as well as ‘A Boy Can Dream’ and, to a lesser degree (but still there) ‘A Man Can Fall’, which all, in their own ways, scream forcefully from the heavens downward to the people; Orion proudly proclaiming: “We are still here, and we’re not going anywhere anytime soon!”. ‘Overture’, in particular, is the de facto “tour-de-force” of the record. It takes the best of what Haken can do when at their most crushing, deftly weaves it with a sense of Rush’s version of progressive heaviness, throws in a dash of the synth-senses of 1980’s bands (or at least 80’s-inspired…. See ‘The Midnight’), and makes it all recognizably and distinctly Orion. It is one of the greatest hallmarks of this band, and one I have written about before…. few bands are as adept at taking their influences and making them quite transparently noticeable, yet putting a unique and original spin on them that fashions an end product that is much more than just a clone copy. Orion sounds like…. Orion. The myriad of influences are a guiding force, not a crutch. How Ben does it over and over again, record after record, without ever falling into the trap of full-tilt imitation is beyond me. And yet…. he has done it here once again; created more of his unique, dare I say, SIGNATURE, Orion sound. And nowhere is the heavier aspect of his writing more gloriously apparent than on these three songs.
Where ‘Overture’ reels us into the realms of unapologetic guitar and bass driven power, we lean more into the 80’s style with ‘All Things Equal’ and ‘A Man Can Fall’, with those lovely trademark Orion melodic choruses that I just cannot ever seem to get enough of. Lyrically, this album is at its core a hopeful message to people to find their own ways; to take the chances they wish to take, to find someone to take the journey with, and to make their universe the best it can be as they journey forward. It is also a warning to beware the forces that will attempt to derail that journey. The refrain: “Sail away…. Sail on and on”, repeated throughout the entire album, is the most apropos of the messages here: JUST. KEEP. MOVING.
As the voyage unfolds, the music becomes more straightforward and a little less “traditional progressive” in its nature as compared to the Overture, but it is no less powerful. The slow shift works extremely well as a balance to the album’s turbulent opening salvos to put the record on a more even plane as it heads to the calmer air found in the skies of the 2nd half. ‘Both Sides of the Coin’ and ‘In this Final Breath’ continue Orion’s heartfelt excursion into Ben’s love of, and admiration for, synth-driven songcraft. These tracks give me serious Angels and Airwaves vibes, albeit with the ever-present Orion originality. From here forward we are treated to a more subdued, quiet, contemplative and thoughtful affair which showcases Ben’s perfect, at times haunting, vocals (which I have always loved and continue to love to this day).
The general easier nature of the album as it propels ahead is not at all a bad thing…. the contemplative mood builds to set up soaring, ethereal, anthemic choruses. And, lest one be worried that the “heaviosity” is completely gone, fear not…. in several cases ( the end sections of ‘Both Sides’ and ‘Final Breath’ being prime examples) the band builds from an initially more mellow base upward and returns to moments of sheer and pleasurable aggressive intensity that remind us that this band still can and will rock mightily when they feel they need or want to.
It’s a trend that continues to the final track ‘In the Wider World’; a devastatingly beautiful and melancholic affair rife with piano, vocal superiority, ethereal magic, feeling and emotion. It builds percussively…. and builds…. and then it dies away suddenly; a quiet requiem for the universe and the hope and fear of the future and, lyrically, a small (and excellent) nod to the ‘Cycle of Light’ from Orion’s ‘The Lightbringers’ album. The anticlimax is quite intentional, and it’s brilliant. One would be forgiven for sitting in a bit of stunned silence as the album’s final breath dies away …. Reflective.
Yes, children of the prog world, Ben Jones has done it again. I dive into Orion records at this stage of the game expecting nothing shot of excellence. And Ben has delivered. Where his first album saw him finding his way as an artist, and his second and third albums (which can actually be taken together as they are both opposite sides of the same story) honed and eventually perfected the craft for which he is now known, ‘Universe XXV’ continues that lofty achievement. To me, ‘Universe XXV’ is this: a much needed letter to the world we live in to MAKE IT ALL
MATTER. There will be obstacles; roads with bumps and dangerous hairpin turns; turbulent and seemingly non-navigable seas. PUSH THROUGH IT ALL, because the beautiful universe you can create can be so worth it. Find someone to love. Hold them close. Make them part of your journey. Everyone has an internal universe. Make one of your own. And make it MAGNIFICENT.
For more information, and to buy the new album in either digital or physical formats, and to check out other related releases and merchandise, visit Orion’s Bandcamp page. Here: https://elasticstage.com/orion-music/releases/universe-xxv-standard-edition-album
Author - Chris Clark Monday 5th October 2026.