Staff picks
Avant prog
A band you can rely on to deliver the goods each time, in a convincing and fresh way. 'Scuse me while I kiss the va-a-a-a-aalley, this valley I'm in.
Staff pick by:
Milena
Endorsed by: Unknown user (x), Darkside Momo, psykometal, R'Vannith, Ivor, Introspekrieg, Ag Fox, BloodTears, X-Ray Rod
Endorsed by: Unknown user (x), Darkside Momo, psykometal, R'Vannith, Ivor, Introspekrieg, Ag Fox, BloodTears, X-Ray Rod
Progressive
If you're looking for a band that will never do anything wrong, you've got your men right here.
Staff pick by:
Milena
Endorsed by: Unknown user (x), Daniell, Introspekrieg, Nefarious, R'Vannith, BloodTears, Ivor, Darkside Momo, X-Ray Rod
Endorsed by: Unknown user (x), Daniell, Introspekrieg, Nefarious, R'Vannith, BloodTears, Ivor, Darkside Momo, X-Ray Rod
Proggy shizz
Both progressive and extreme and original! Oh fuck, those are three things. Nevermind. Why haven't I picked this before? Because I'm an idiot, that's why.
Disclaimer: There are no actual horses playing pianos on this album.
Disclaimer: There are no actual horses playing pianos on this album.
Staff pick by:
Milena
Endorsed by: Unknown user (x), Nefarious, Unknown user, Ivor, Introspekrieg, BloodTears, X-Ray Rod, Troy Killjoy
Endorsed by: Unknown user (x), Nefarious, Unknown user, Ivor, Introspekrieg, BloodTears, X-Ray Rod, Troy Killjoy
Progressive/Avantgarde
If you're too lazy to read the awesome review that's one click away from you (shame on you!), this is what Alice heard while she was falling down the rabbit hole. You'll spend your first spin wondering what the hell is going on, and then it will grab you and never let you go.
Staff pick by:
Milena
Endorsed by: Unknown user (x), Ag Fox, BloodTears, Nefarious, Susan, Introspekrieg
Endorsed by: Unknown user (x), Ag Fox, BloodTears, Nefarious, Susan, Introspekrieg
Finnish specialty
Buried Alive sums up the glory of Sentenced (mostly of its later years) and their special combination of lightweight, melancholic music with dark humor and authentically painful lyrics. I always mistakenly call it End Of The Road instead of its real name, because for me it's a painful reminder that Miika Tenkula is not among us anymore, and that the solo he played during the last song is the last one he ever played on stage.
Good power metal
Whenever I pick up Firewind's latest effort, Days Of Defiance, I always end up listening to this instead. Classy, polished, catchy, heavy and prog-tinged, nicely written and performed - probably as high as this band's gonna get. No cigar in 2011 for you, lads. But it's cool, this one has got enough swag in it to last for several years.
Progressive awesomeness
When the year is good, awesome releases of little bands often get overlooked. But the Prog Police has deemed this worthy. Enjoy.