Trueack, Mark and Friends: Save Us

Mark Trueack, best known as the vocalist for Unitopia and The United Progressive Fraternity, is back with his first solo album, an EP titled Save Us. The album is inspired by real life events. Trueack had set up in Thailand with a new home and business and then, in a blink of an eye, a flood changed everything. Maybe as some kind of catharsis or maybe it’s just what songwriters do, he created Save Us, a plea to the rest of humanity or maybe to some kind of higher power, this special planet we call home is in trouble.

On the album ‘his friends’ include some progressive heavy hitters like Dave Kerzner (Sound Of Contact), Don Schiff (Rocket Scientists), Steve Unruh (The Samurai Of Prog, Resistor, United Progressive Fraternity), Fernando Perdomo (Dave Kerzner Band), Chester Thompson (Frank Zappa, Weather Report, Genesis), and many others.

You get five tracks spread over thirty-four minutes beginning with the majestic “Show Me How� with lovely orchestrations and pastoral sounds like a wisp of a dream and Trueack’s lead vocals are perfectly restrained and completely at ease. The lighter touch of electronics and percussion give an art rock touch, accentuated with Unruh’s sumptuous violin. “What We’ve Done� starts on a balladic note with pretty keyboards and vocals and when you add Unruh’s violin and Mark Papeghin’s French horn, the sounds create a rich tapestry, topped off with Greenwood’s sweet acoustic guitar. Sure, this is mellow and pastoral but the impact is no less felt. With the balladic “So Fragile� a gentle keyboard and classical guitar along with Trueack’s impassioned lead vocals send a pleading call to the human race and the powers that be:

“Too much bloodshed and loss of life�

And he goes on to sing:

“So many innocent lives destroyed and displaced
Another dictator playing war
It’s beyond disgrace�

The music and lyrics really resonated with me, so very impactful with its truth and meaning. “Reality� is another gentle offering featuring the wonderfully smooth bass playing of Don Schiff, the captivating flute trilling of Steve Unruh, and haunting sax courtesy of Jamison Smeltz. It all makes for a real slow burner and although mellow it is no less impactful. The arrangements are just so classy. The disc ends with the slow building “Save Us�, an impeccable and tasty slice of melodic progressive rock.

Save Us is an excellent work from Trueack, exhibiting thoughtful arrangements and lyrics, and his passion shines through making this easy to love. Highly recommended!

A Progrock Com’s Essentials’ release.

Track Listing:
1. Show Me How (6:25)
2. What We’ve Done (9:08)
3. So Fragile (4:21)
4. Reality (7:05)
5. Save Us (7:12)

Added: November 10th 2025
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Artist @ Bandcamp
Hits: 139
Language: english

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