Review

Steve Hackett’s The Lamb Stands Up Live at the Royal Albert Hall, recorded in October 2024 and released on 11 July 2025, is a resplendent tribute to Genesis’s The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway on its fiftieth anniversary, paired with a showcase of Hackett’s superb solo catalogue. The result is a live document that honours the past while firmly stamping Hackett’s continued relevance in the progressive rock pantheon. The album opens with a suite of three tracks from his acclaimed 2024 studio record The Circus and the Nightwhale: People of the Smoke, Circo Inferno and These Passing Clouds. These performances crackle with freshly sharpened emotional bite and vitality that surpass even their studio counterparts. The opening trio sets the tone for a confident and polished evening. What follows is a generous traversal of Hackett’s solo career, including compelling live renditions of The Devil’s Cathedral, Every Day, Camino Royale and the majestic Shadow of the Hierophant. It becomes abundantly clear through these performances why these compositions remain staples of his setlist. Every Day feels vibrant enough to live up to repeated listening, while Shadow of the Hierophant delivers goosebumps via its soaring climax ([The Prog Report][3]). A highlight is Hands of the High Priestess, featuring John Hackett on flute, which brings a haunting elegance to the proceedings. Set two dives into essential highlights from The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, nine songs in total, each performed with respect, precision and occasional reinvention. The title track captures the theatrical essence in all its surreal dimensions, pulling listeners into Rael’s strange narrative world from the first piano note. Most striking is Fly on a Windshield, featuring a riveting guitar duel between Hackett and Marillion’s Steve Rothery. Their interplay breathes new life into the material, transforming it into an electrifying exchange of ideas and tones. The beloved Carpet Crawlers is given fresh depth through the soulful vocals of former Genesis frontman Ray Wilson, inviting the audience into a communal moment of singalong reverence and renewed emotion. Elsewhere, Nad Sylvan delivers expressive, nuanced vocals across Hairless Heart, Lilywhite Lilith, The Lamia and It, balancing faithfulness to the originals with his own interpretative warmth. Following the Lamb set, Hackett closes with classic Genesis favourites drawn from Selling England by the Pound and A Trick of the Tail—notably Dancing with the Moonlit Knight, The Cinema Show, Aisle of Plenty, Firth of Fifth, and the exhilarating Los Endos. Firth of Fifth, with its iconic melody and guitar solo, feels particularly transcendent—a crowning moment across the evening’s nearly two-and-a-half-hour runtime. Craig Blundell’s drum solo preceding Los Endos adds extra drama and momentum to a triumphant closer. Sonic quality deserves mention: the mix by Grammy‑winning engineer Chris Lord‑Alge and mastering by Ted Jensen in 5.1 surround sound deliver clarity, presence and immersion in every detail—from Hackett’s crystalline guitars to the dynamic performances of his band. Visual accompaniment is included on Blu‑ray and DVD, making this a truly special-edition audio‑visual package for fans and newcomers alike. If you are a Hackett aficionado or a Genesis devotee, The Lamb Stands Up Live at the Royal Albert Hall is an essential experience. It’s an evening where reverence for one of prog rock’s greatest achievements meets the energy and artistry of a modern master celebrating the legacy in his own inimitable style.

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