Perelandra (album)

Perelandra is a studio album by the American progressive rock band Glass Hammer, released in 1995. It is considered their debut album and marked the beginning of the band's focus on concept albums and elaborate storytelling within their music.

The album is based on the C.S. Lewis novel Perelandra (also known as Voyage to Venus), the second book in his Space Trilogy. It musically interprets the novel's narrative, depicting the journey of Dr. Elwin Ransom to the planet Venus (Perelandra) and his struggle against the Un-man, who seeks to corrupt the innocent Green Lady, the Eve figure of Perelandra.

Perelandra features a blend of symphonic progressive rock influences, incorporating elements of bands like Yes and Genesis, along with classical and medieval music styles. The album features intricate instrumental passages, complex vocal harmonies, and lengthy tracks that tell the story of the book in a musical format.

The original lineup for Perelandra consisted of Steve Babb (keyboards, vocals, bass) and Fred Schendel (keyboards, guitars, vocals), with Michelle Young providing guest vocals as the Green Lady. The album was self-released and helped establish Glass Hammer as a prominent act in the progressive rock scene. It received positive reviews for its ambitious scope, musical complexity, and faithful adaptation of the source material.