The Ceres Phenomenon – a beautiful new chapter for former Timelock members

I did not see this coming: after some 30 years the book on the Dutch neo-prog band Timelock. Last year they released an amazing album, Atomic Swap, which is now their last one. Well, at least they go out on a high note! But the story does not end there…

Somewhere in the early 2025, Ruud Stoker told me he and Julian were working on something new. Ruud had written a science fiction story and they were in the process of turning that into an album. The called their new musical venture The Ceres Phenomenon. Ruud and Julian teamed up with former Timelock drummer Mike Boekhout and newcomer Ron Koel on guitars and bassguitar.

The band has been working hard and on November 18th the beautiful album…with no actual title. So just The Ceres Phenomenon. And it is an album that stands out, as the booklet, well…it is actually a book, with 64 pages, filled with the story, lyrics, credits and many actual NASA photo’s, to enhance the whole scifi feel. And along the way, the band manages to steer clear of the scifi clichés.

I’m a bit sad there will be no more new Timelock music, but I am happy with The Ceres Phenomenon and I truly hope it will not be just this one album!