Review: Big Big Train – Woodcut
Big Big Train – Woodcut
Format: CD – Vinyl LP – Digital / Label: InsideOut Music
Release: 2026
Text: Martien Koolen
‘Woodcut’ is Big Big Train’s sixteenth studio album, and this new album also contains sixteen tracks; furthermore, ‘Woodcut’ is a concept album and after lots of intense listening I can only conclude that ‘Woodcut’ is a prog rock masterpiece indeed. Big Big Train’s previous studio album, ‘The Likes Of Us’ was great and their live album ‘Are We Nearly There Yet’ was magical, but ‘Woodcut’ is their finest record to date fir sure!
‘Woodcut’ starts with the gentle sophisticated prelude called Inkwell Black, featuring cello, violin and clarinet, followed by one of the highlights of this album called The Artist; a superb, typical BBT track that sets the tone – I know it is a cliché – for the rest of the album.
Every track on this album grabs your attention, be it the instrumental Cut And Run (complex prog rock with thunderous riffs), the very diverse Albion Press (beautiful vocal harmonies), the intricate Counting Stars (featuring a sensational guitar solo), the energetic Warp And Weft (Black Sabbath-like riffs), the acoustic Chimaera (melodic with heartfelt vocals) or the mysterious The Sharpest Blade (vocals by Clare Lindley).
Other beautiful songs are Arcadia (enchanting violin melody), Dead Point (very proggy indeed) and Last Stand, the latter being the perfect ending to an almost perfect album.
Try it and you will like it for sure as Woodcut is definitely a 100% contender for album of the year 2026!
Listening tip: Counting Stars
Tracks:
01. Inkwell Black
02. The Artist
03. The Lie Of The Land
04. The Sharpest Blade
05. Albion Press
06. Arcadia
07. Second Press
08. Warp And Weft
09. Chimaera
10. Dead Point
11. Light Without Heat
12. Dreams in Black And White
13. Cut and Run
14. Hawthorn White
15. Counting Stars
16. Last Stand
Website: https://www.bigbigtrain.com/