With Twilight Cinema being one of the best and imaginative albums of 2014 (in my opinion of course), there is just no way you would not want to see this manic band perform this album almost in its entirety live and then do some more. That's right, not just hear but also see it live. Drop whatever series you were planning on watching and have a go at this one instead. This is just so much pure fun!

Watch on YouTube or listen right here.

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This album is an amalgamation of ambient atmosphere, structure and noise. It's convoluted yet sensible enough not to appear to be completely out to lunch. This is food for the restless mind. If you, like me, enjoyed their début album, this will definitely sit well with you.

Try the album teaser at SoundCloud.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Darkside Momo, BitterCOld, X-Ray Rod, Ag Fox, Auntie Sahar, psykometal

For some odd and inexplicable reason I tend to forget how damn good My Sleeping Karma albums are. What a fabulous trip this one is. Grab something relaxing to drink, hit play, and enjoy. Oh, and if you have a chance to see them live, do so; trust me, you're in for a treat.

Listen to "Prithvi" or "Moksha" off the new album.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Auntie Sahar, X-Ray Rod, Deadsoulman, R'Vannith, Ag Fox, psykometal, BitterCOld, ScreamingSteelUS

This is a fantastic album. Awesomeness runs strong in this one beyond my expectations even. I love how some of the songs almost reach out into gothic territories. If amidst the Sólstafir drama you are looking for a new Icelandic favourite, this should definitely be your choice.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: R'Vannith, Ag Fox, Deadsoulman, BloodTears, Nefarious, Dream Taster, X-Ray Rod, ScreamingSteelUS, Starvynth

Waiting for the new Haken already? Try Native Construct instead. Way too much fun!

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Endorsed by: BloodTears, Introspekrieg, ScreamingSteelUS, Nefarious

If you happen to like your avantgarde airy and dreamy, infused with a bit of electronica and trip-hop, if you tend to stack your avantgarde up against the likes of Ulver and Manes, then Område's début is something you will definitely not want to pass by.

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Endorsed by: ScreamingSteelUS, Darkside Momo

Beardfish excel with their new album. It is an exercise in rhythms but it's also so much more. It will take you places because it's a bloody fantastic prog album. It is truly exciting music.

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Endorsed by: Fat & Sassy!, BloodTears, R'Vannith

A cheesy band name if there ever was one but, man, do these Australians make up for it music-wise. Of course this won't come as a surprise to those of you who know the now defunct Unitopia. To the rest of you I can only advise to trust my judgement. This here is one spectacular progressive rock album.

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Endorsed by: BloodTears

You want a party? You've got a party! The French provide and everyone's invited! I believe somewhere there's probably a law of some kind or other against having so much fun on a record. Time to dust off that party sombrero of yours.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Darkside Momo, Fat & Sassy!

Ooh, this is so bloody sweet! Free form jazz-like songwriting meets heavy, stonerish guitar - this stuff feels like a half hour slow guitar jam. Mind you, no vocals.

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Endorsed by: BloodTears, Auntie Sahar

In the grand scheme of things this album has got one strength and one weakness. At the core of it the reason is one and the same. This album is so packed with different and great ideas, it's really becoming ridiculous. However, this also accounts for the length of the album and the lack of consistent direction in development of said ideas and thus it appears to be all over the place. High marks for the début effort and future promise, though.

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Endorsed by: Introspekrieg

As far as I'm concerned this is about as close as you can get to the new Estradasphere material. Born from the transformations of Orange Tulip Conspiracy which came into being after Estradasphere went on a permanent hiatus, the band is still led by Estradasphere's guitarist Jason Schimmel. That's just about close enough for me.

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Endorsed by: wormdrink414, Auntie Sahar, X-Ray Rod, Doc G., BloodTears

This is the kind of stoner I dig: not too slow, not too crushing, vintage sound, and good vocals. Fresh stuff, released today.

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Endorsed by: wormdrink414, R'Vannith, Troy Killjoy

This will have been the most beautiful prog album you've listened so far this year. I know I've used this kind of catch-line before but the latest album from this Norwegian band just demands it. It is well thought-through and detailed, dark and melancholic. Excellence of this album cannot be denied. It is simply magnificent from the very beginning to the very end.

Here's the album trailer or "The Wizard of Altai Mountains" for sampling.

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Endorsed by: BloodTears, R'Vannith, Introspekrieg, Deadsoulman, Dream Taster

If you like your sludge nautically named, if you, like me, rather prefer your sludge to be on the melodic side, and take Giant Squid as a somewhat liberal reference, then Helms Alee is for you.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Auntie Sahar, BloodTears, Ag Fox