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:
Endorsed by: Darkside Momo, psykometal, R'Vannith, Ivor, Introspekrieg, Ag Fox, BloodTears, X-Ray Rod

If you're looking for a band that will never do anything wrong, you've got your men right here.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Daniell, Introspekrieg, Nefarious, R'Vannith, BloodTears, Ivor, Darkside Momo, X-Ray Rod

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.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Nefarious, !J.O.O.E.!, Ivor, Introspekrieg, BloodTears, X-Ray Rod, Troy Killjoy

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:
Endorsed by: Ag Fox, BloodTears, Nefarious, Susan, Introspekrieg

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.

Staff pick by:

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.

Staff pick by:

When the year is good, awesome releases of little bands often get overlooked. But the Prog Police has deemed this worthy. Enjoy.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: GT, Dane Train