After a twelve-year hiatus, Canadian progressive rock band FEN returns with Dear Mouse, a compelling album that feels less like a comeback and more like the final chapter in a long, unfolding story. Built from fragments started over a decade ago, Dear Mouse showcases FEN’s blend of technical proficiency and heartfelt songwriting, delivering a diverse and nuanced listening experience.

The album traverses a range of moods and styles, from the multi-movement complexity of "The Seam of the Heart"—a track that recalls the eerie, conceptual landscapes of their earlier work—to the accessible and infectious melodies of several tracks, including "Ritual Lite," which might be one of their poppiest tunes yet, and one we’ll love playing here at Prog Radio. Most of the album features clean vocals, with only a touch of growl in a spot or two. While FEN could be classified as progressive metal, this album leans more into the heavy prog sweet spot. Each song reflects themes of endings and transitions, be it the dissolution of relationships, the closure of life chapters, or even the leaving behind of familiar spaces. Despite these somber undercurrents, the band injects a sense of uplift and energy throughout, balancing the introspective with the anthemic.