After a five-year break, Norwegian progressive rock band Gazpacho returned with Magic 8-Ball, an album featuring eight new tracks built around the idea of fate – How it moves without warning, and how the choices we make can slowly strip away who we thought we were.
They have now announced a European Tour for 2026 that takes in one date at the O2 Academy Islington in London, while also releasing a new lyric video for Magic 8-Ball album track ‘Starling’.
In his usual enigmatic fashion, Gazpacho sonngwriter and keyboardist Thomas Andersen commented: “We are adding an extra touch to the festive season and without fully disclosing all of our plans let us just softly allude to what is coming with the following clues, hints and other clever ways to say that we are going on a tour without saying we are going on a tour even if we are going on a tour which we are.
“The bags are packed. Mostly with equipment as is our custom, but also with clothes to protect the gear from damage. These clothes may be worn as well. A double whammy. Passports are freshened up and looking fantastic! Set lists have been written, memorised and discarded and that process has been repeated many times and yes, ‘Starling’ might still be on the list.
“Our collegues and bosses have been notified and have finished complaining about the loss of “the lights of the workplace. Tour bus is booked and they have again refused our demands for a fully stocked and staffed mexican food buffet on the bus with an open flame grill. “Safety issuses” they claim. Tequila is, after all, flammable. That is all we can disclose from HQ so far.
“How should you prepare for the secret event coming up? I suggest buying tickets for all the people you hold dear and treat them to a night of long songs filled with stories of joy and wonder. A Christmas treat for the music lover. See you around Europe darlings. We shall finally meet again.”
Widely regarded as one of the most innovative acts in modern progressive music, Gazpacho has carved out a cult following with their unique blend of art rock and cinematic storytelling. From their critically acclaimed 2007 masterpiece Night to the hauntingly beautiful Demon (2014), the band has consistently pushed the boundaries of progressive music.
They’ve toured with the likes of Marillion, played to devoted audiences across Europe, and earned a reputation for crafting concept albums that challenge and move listeners in equal measure.
Previously, ‘We Are Strangers’ was released as a single, Andersen commenting: “’We Are Strangers’ was born during a jam session where we were playing around with some “interesting” time signatures. The kind that makes you consider if all those late nights might have made a lasting impact on the system.
“Since the song is about fate and how it randomly shows up to change everything, that instability felt right. Our fates seem to be flying around until they randomly strike, whether good or bad. Fate wears a thousand faces and blindsides us leaving everything changed in the blink of an eye. A phone call at night, a test result, a lottery ticket. All strangers until they are not anymore.
“When it was finished we asked ourselves if this was a Gazpacho song or if it sounded a little like Rush had a fistfight with Godzilla and once we thought about it we decided the answer was “Hell Yeah”. To both.”
You can check out the video below, as you can the one for ‘8-Ball’, both by Matt Vickerstaff, the latter inspired by the suffocating and oppressive nature of cults.
Speaking about the video for ‘8-Ball’ the band said: “We removed God and left nothing to replace him. We started believing in the void handing everything over to chance. Magic 8 Ball is about someone who gambles everything, believing that eventually everyone gets their break. That the universe is fair if you just wait long enough.
“But the break never comes. He loses everything and is left with the realisation that it was never fate, only his own choices. His responsibility. His idea.
“We didn’t become more rational. We just found new things to believe in and built a new magical reality to replace the one we tore down. Stocks. Crypto. Luck. Magical ideas pretending to be modern.
“The video, created by the insanely talented Matt Peaceville, is a found recruitment tape from The Cult of Infinity, who worship chance itself. To them, the magic 8 Ball is divine because of its emptiness. No thoughts. No mercy. Just pure, sacred random. The 8 isn’t a number. It’s infinity. We’ve just been looking at it sideways.”
The title, Magic 8- Ball, ties into the idea of randomness and inevitability. Shaking something for answers you already suspect and repeating the cycle over and over. The idea of infinity is central. These stories repeat throughout the album. Different forms, same patterns always finding a way back.
Musically, the album stays true to Gazpacho’s core. Atmospheric, layered, and emotional. But more focused. No unnecessary weight. Just eight stories told with clarity and tension. The album was mixed by Thomas Juth (A-ha, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Cat Stevens) and mastered by Hans Olsson at Svenska Grammofonstudion Mastering.
Gazpacho’s line up is Jan-Henrik Ohme (Vocals), Thomas Andersen (Keyboards, programming), Jon-Arne Vibo (Guitars), Mikael Krømer (Violin, additional guitars), Kristian ‘Fido’ Torp (Bass) and Robert R Johansen (Drums).
Tracks featured on Magic 8- Ball are: ‘Starling’, ‘We Are Strangers’, ‘Sky King’, ‘Ceres’, ‘Gingerbread Men’, ‘Magic 8-Ball’, ‘Immerwahr’ and ‘The Unrisen’ – It is available as a sparkle vinyl LP , black LP, CD and digitally and available from here.
You can stream the singles here and check out the video here at RAMzine.
Gazpacho play the O2 Academy Islington in London on 4th April and tickets are available here.
