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.

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Ivor Darkside Momo, BitterCOld, Mr. Doctor, Ag Fox, Apothecary, 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.

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Ivor Apothecary, Mr. Doctor, 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.

Head over to Bandcamp to give it a listen.

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Ivor R'Vannith, Ag Fox, Deadsoulman, BloodTears, Nefarious, Demonic Tutor, Mr. Doctor, ScreamingSteelUS, Starvynth

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

For listening head over to Bandcamp.

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Ivor 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.

Listen to "Mótsögn".

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Ivor 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.

Listen in full here.

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Ivor 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.

Try the teaser or listen to "Intersection."

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Ivor 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.

Listen to the album at Bandcamp.

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Ivor 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.

Listen to the album teaser here or the first track "Laughing John" on the homepage.

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Ivor BloodTears, Apothecary

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.

Listen to the full album over at Bandcamp.

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Ivor 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.

Listen to the preview on the official site.

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Ivor wormdrink414, Apothecary, Mr. Doctor, Doc Godin, BloodTears

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

Listen to the full album over at Bandcamp.

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Ivor 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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Ivor BloodTears, R'Vannith, Introspekrieg, Collin, Demonic Tutor

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.

Listen to their new album over at Bandcamp.

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Ivor Apothecary, BloodTears, Ag Fox

I know you have your plate full with Awards but, come on, this is just so much genuine, pure fun you're about to miss out on. It's not exactly avantgarde but it's playful and theatrical, it's sombre and poetic, it feels like watching a play. Basically it's what happens when prog goes cabaret in the head and feels just plain good about it.

If you fear to take on the whole album over at Bandcamp, just listen to the awesome "The Wheelbarrow."

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Picked by: Thumbs up:

Ivor Darkside Momo, R'Vannith, BloodTears, Mr. Doctor