Review

By James Crickmore | 18/06/2026

Yes have rolled back the years with their 24th studio album, Aurora. With a more progressive sound than their previous record, Mirror to the Sky, Aurora definitely takes inspiration from the band’s heyday. It’s full of lively songs with immersive sound production from Steve Howe and largely keeps up its dynamic pace throughout. The title track is an instant example of the aforementioned progressive direction of the album, as changing time signatures and a fierce bass line provide a modern take on the 70s Yes sound. The opening two tracks, Aurora and Turnaround Situation, are by far the catchiest tracks on the album. It’s immediately obvious why the band chose these songs as the singles for their release. Countermovement is the longest track on the album, clocking at just over 13 minutes. Once again, the 7/4 time signature is utilised; a delight for any prog-rock fan. The track is split into five sections, with section two, Anytime Soon, being the most intriguing for returning fans of Yes. This part features a Steve Howe mandolin tune, which will make fans of ‘I’ve Seen All Good People’ from 1971’s ‘The Yes Album’ smile due to its likeness. For those Yes fans who enjoyed the 80s heavier sound of Yes, as seen on records such as Drama and 90125, All Hands on Deck is the track for you. It opens with a mighty Steve Howe guitar riff, before being joined by Geoff Downes’ rich, powerful organ and Jay Schellen’s drums. This combination creates the perfect sonic atmosphere to complement the songs' theme of chaos on a boat at sea. The final track, Emotional Intelligence, leaves the record on a very calm note. This seemed slightly anti-climactic following Howe’s grand sound production and energetic songs throughout. The album is one of the finest examples of the modern Yes line-up. At their best, the songs are a perfect blend of complicated but catchy. Steve Howe’s experience in particular shines through as great sound engineering and inspiration from iconic Yes albums are prevalent throughout.