From V2 Promotion CD provided. The Purpose Paradox by Dilemma will be released on September 20th, 2024.

Dilemma is a band from the Netherlands that I didn't know about until now. Maybe that's because they've only released two albums since 1996. So as not to distort my opinion, I'm only listening to the other albums after my review. Especially since there's a new singer, Jermain 'Wudstik' van der Bogt. Dilemma delivers modern prog rock with The Purpose Paradox. The CD has 9 songs, between four and sixteen minutes long. A concept album about the paradox of our existence, or more precisely about the reason for our lives. To function in society and yet feel emptiness. There has to be more to it. So we accompany the protagonist "Neon" on his search through the night, accompanied by the imaginary "Electra". Fantasy and sci-fi spring to mind. That's because of another Dutch musician, more on that later.

The CD is very well designed, with a booklet and in this limited version, a purely instrumental CD is also included.

The actual music is technically clean and sounds differentiated through my headphones. That's the first praise. But I find it difficult to classify the music entirely as prog. Every song has its prog elements, but also smooth passages. Modern melodic rock with prog passages, that's how I would describe it. They are in every song and keep drawing me back. For me, song 9, “Outer Light”, at 15:40, is not only the longest, but also the strongest song. It sounds the most independent and reveals what is possible. Song 1, “Sanctuary”, is an ambivalent song for me, strong in its prog phases, mainstream in its rock parts. I like the song and I don't like it. I don't use the word mainstream in a positive or negative way, it's ultimately a matter of taste. Song 2, “I am Neon”, could have come straight from Ayreon. Arjen Lucassen, mastermind of Ayreon, sends his regards. Not original sounding but still good. If you like Ayreon, you'll like this. That also applies to song 3, which I find very spacey, "Electra". The end of the song is well done. Song 4 then takes me to the limit of non-prog. "Thunder" is a melodic rock ballad. Very commercial, smooth and without any real edges. The instrumental part is strong, but for me it's a song that just doesn't fit.
Song 5, “Allies”, unfortunately follows the same pattern. Strong in the instrumental prog part. Whenever Dilemma gets proggy, it gets good. Song 6, “Not enough Now” starts off with a tempo, less mainstream, and that suits the song well. “Glow”, number 7, is smoother again and yes, for me the weakest song on the CD. Song 8, “Cities”, starts slowly. Quickly a ballad, interesting in the spoken middle part. Nice, but nothing more. And then it almost goes into song 9. And that makes up for the weaker middle section of the CD. The highlight for me, here Dilemma sounds independent, varied. Really proggy, conceptual.
For prog, the lyrics are rather conventional, often with a chorus. But who says that prog always has to break up the structures? The Pineapple Thief, whom I highly respect, also write more pleasant lyrics, so it fits. Musically and vocally, everything is of high quality. Nothing is out of place here, everything is clean. But I'm slowly moving on to the conclusion.

I find it difficult to perceive this concept album as a concept album. And I will explain in detail why that is the case for me. There is one theme that I think is very good. I miss the direct transitions between the songs instead of a short break. This makes the songs seem less connected than they actually are thematically, less emotional. The song structures are not really progressive, they are conventional, often with a chorus. Song 9 breaks this lyrical structure a little. If you like Ayreon, don't mind mainstream, appreciate a well-made CD, want a progressive undertone and clean production, you can get it from September 20th, 2024. Since I don't like to give grades, I would say: a solid album. Technically professional and very clean in terms of sound. The rest is a matter of taste.

Official website: Dilemma
Members: Jermaine ‘Wudstick’ van der Bogt, vocals. Paul Crezee, guitar. Collin Leijenaar on drums. On keyboards Robin Z and Kristoffer Gildenlöw on bass.
There are 9 songs with a playing time of about 60 minutes.
Genre: Modern melodic Prog-Rock.

The photos all come from a CD that was made available to me. The rights to all motifs, logos, texts and fonts that can be seen in the photos are of course owned by the copyright holder.