In a world of fools, we still have progressive rock band The Flower Kings making records. Their latest single, ‘In A World Of Fools’, is out now, taken from new album Hope, due out on 23rd October through InsideOutMusic.
The follow-up to 2025’s Love, new album Hope finds the band returning to the side-long epic, with tracks clocking in at 18 and 28 minutes long.
Rather than chasing trends or revisiting past glories, the band has crafted a work that comfortably exists between refined musicianship and fearless ambition.
As founding member Roine Stolt explained: “At a certain point in life, you arrive at a place where outside opinions matter less, and the process gravitates towards making an album that you yourself would love but would perhaps normally not be viewed as a commercial attempt at all. We, the band, trust you, the audience, to be curious and to trust us that we want to bring you a grand glowing adventure.”
Without venturing into overt political commentary, Hope‘s songs reflect on this modern era, one often marked by division and diminishing empathy, while ultimately offering a message rooted in hope, acting as a roadmap for how to get there and re-ignite love in our hearts and our society.
Hope was written by Stolt and keyboardist Lalle Larsson, with its centrepiece being the nearly 30-minute epic ‘The Gods Of Rome’. Originally conceived from orchestral ideas developed more than a decade ago, the piece took an unexpected creative journey, at one point nearly becoming the musical foundation for another Anderson & Stolt project (Jon Anderson of Yes fame, that is) before ultimately finding its home with The Flower Kings. Reimagined for the full band, it has evolved into a powerful reflection on contemporary life, using the imagery of ancient Rome to explore enduring themes of power, conflict, and the human cost of ambition.
Joining Stolt and Larsson once again are Hans Fröberg on vocals, Michael Stolt on bass, and Mirko DeMaio on drums, alongside a number of special guests.
“Like I said 37 years ago, ‘This is the band I will be in for the rest of my days’,” said Stolt, adding: “But I wouldn’t dream of us making one of our finest albums ever in 2026!”
Hope will be available as a limited CD + Blu-Ray Digipak, featuring Dolby Atmos and 5.1 Surround Sound mixes by Rich Mouser, a first for the band. The album will also be available as a standard CD jewelcase, gatefold 2LP and digitally.
The tracks featured are ‘World Spinning – The Final Curtain’, ‘In A World Of Fools’, ‘Mars & Minerva’ and ‘The Gods Of Rome’.
The single ‘In A World Of Fools’ is out now, with an accompanying video.
