PreHistoric Animals @ Midsummer Prog Festival 2025 day 1 (May 23 )

PreHistoric Animals @ Midsummer Progfestival 2025 Day 1 (May 23): an energetic, imaginative and musically layered performance

After the impressive opener by Lux Terminus, it was up to Swedish band PreHistoric Animals to continue taking the audience on a musical journey during the first day of Midsummer Progfestival 2025. And they did so with flair: their set was a whirlwind mix of progressive rock, alternative influences and  catchy hooks.

The band, founded by Samuel Granath (drums) and Stefan Altzar (vocals, guitar) began in 2015 as a studio experiment but soon evolved into a full-fledged live quintet. In Maastricht, they were joined by Daniel Magdic (guitar, vocals, known from Pain of Salvation), Noah Magnusson (bass) and Mats Nilsson (keyboards, vocals). Together, they form a tight, versatile unit that truly comes into its own on stage.

The setlist was a selection from their four studio albums. From their latest release Finding Love in Strange Places (2024), we heard the dynamic opening track “The City of My Dreams,” which begins with electronic textures and evolves into driving riffs and ambient passages. The atmospheric “Living in a World of Bliss” and the darker “Unbreakable” also stood out. “He is Number 4” showcased the band’s signature urgent, high-energy style.

From the two-part concept album The Magical Mystery Machine (Parts 1 and 2), fan favorites like “Floodgate” and the title track were performed along with the expansive “The Protectors of the Universe,” which delivered goosebump moments through its atmospheric textures and sudden shifts in tempo and vocals.

As a closer, we got the fiery “Burn the Ground” from their debut album Consider This a Work of Art—proof that this band had already found a distinct musical voice early on.

The sound of PreHistoric Animals is hard to pigeonhole. Think of a blend between Muse, A.C.T, Porcupine Tree and a hint of Queen, but with a clearly unique identity. Altzar’s vocals are expressive and layered, Magdic’s guitar work is both sharp and emotive and the keyboard arrangements shift effortlessly between retro and modern. Add to that a rhythm section that is tight without ever sounding sterile and you get a band that is technically strong yet always plays in service of the song.

What makes this band so captivating is their ability to weave accessible melodies with complex structures without losing momentum or emotional impact. Songs sometimes end abruptly as if to jolt the listener awake—but it never feels forced. Everything fits; every note has purpose. PreHistoric Animals delivered an energetic, imaginative and musically rich performance that appealed to fans of both symphonic prog and alternative rock.