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1.
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Öz Ürügülü - Fashion And Welfare
Enjoy the surprise - 9.75/10 ❤ |
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2.
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Jun Mitsui - Evacuation
Instrumental Progressive Metal - Epic modern progressive metal FFO David Maxim Micic, Plini, StarSystems, Sithu Aye, etc. Absolutely stunning 9.5/10 ❤ |
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3.
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Syncatto - Coloratura (EP)
Instrumental Progressive Metal / Fusion - Does the name Charlie Robbins sound familiar? How about his band, Artificial Language? Forget everything you know. He has utterly recreated his sound on this here EP. I'm willing to wager that a better fusion of flamenco(?) and metal simply does not exist. Prepare for involuntary movements especially after consuming "Spicy" - 9.25/10 ❤ |
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4.
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Bear Ghost - Blasterpiece
Avant-Garde Metal / Rock - Anyone who has seen a few updates to this list over the years know I have a implacable penchant for goofy tunes: Öz Ürügülü; Tardigrade Inferno; Lou Kelly, The Dear Hunter...and now Bear Ghost. This album is an absolute...bLaSt. I can tell the band is drawing from varied sonic influences, but not being "well-listened" in those styles I'm failing to adequately articulate that here. Sprinkling in these seemingly unseemly reagents on top of a core of pop-like sensibility lends the band an infallible, hip-swaying formula from song to song. TLDR: like fun? Listen - 9/10 ❤ |
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5.
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Blake Hobson - The Spectaculator
Progressive Metal / Progressive Rock - If you can listen to the abject irony of the opening track, “A Hymn Of Preface”, with a mental smirk on your face, you’ve found a way to spend the next hour and twenty minutes of your time. Or not. I’m not responsible for any sort of deep-set cringe you sustain. Enough about the intro: our intrepid musician, Blake Hobson - magnificent in his insouciant approach to art - shares with the audience a masterclass on veritably adventurous music (both conceptually and musicially). Prodding at the fabric of this genre’s tightly-knit self-aggrandising nature, The Spectacular, with its unhinged display of unadulterated imagination, earns Blake a warm-welcome amongst the legends in this niche genre, warranting comparison to albums such as Ziltoid; Amazingous; Alchemist Hans Blomberg; Dethklok’s discog (most likely); the entirety (? probably) of Lou Kelly’s work; etc. (as if there’s much more?). Truth be told, delving deeper into the weeds of this album will probably only serve to further confuse, but more importantly exhaust my vocabulary in my attempt to do this nautical metal musical the commendation it deserves. I’ll leave you with this: hiding in plain sight of this album’s flippant comportment is Blake’s enthralling sonic repertoire, brimming with laudable proficiency. If you’ve come up short during your hunt for novel prog metal/rock, this is the album you need. Bonus: a song entirely dedicated to FÆRTs - 9/10 ❤ |
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6.
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Toska - Fire By The Silos
Instrumental Progressive Metal - It is such a fulfilling when you witness a band unleash a true work of art after a promising debut. While Toska hasn't released anything ground-breaking with this release, they are certainly pushing the envelope insofar as to what is expected of true progressive metal - something progressive. Rabea's expertise as a connoisseur guitar playing and sounds engenders this album with an air of mastery. Mastery and complete control. Every rhythm and groove is spot on and articulated. The crescendos are immense. The atmospheres are haunting, stirring, serene. All that said, the dynamics are what make this such a special listen, weaving handfuls of influences into a awing tapestry - 9/10 ❤ |
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7.
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Utopianisti - Utopianisti II + Utopianisti meets Black Motor & Jon Ballantyne
Avant-Garde Metal - Jazz! Jazz! Jazz! Diablo Swing Orchestra with more twists and turns! A true amalgamation of metal and various forms of jazz: scat, free jazz, swing, big band, and who knows what else. Uplifting, adventurous, and charismatic - 9/10 ❤ |
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8.
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Volkor X - This Means War
Progressive Darksynth / (Industrial?) Metal - I've not explored the all these -synth and -wave genres much, particularly because I often wind up disappointed. Or perhaps it's that artists I've heard in this scope simply don't explore melody and rhythm in an enthralling way, almost as if those elements are afterthoughts to the intention of laying down a bass-heavy foundation or leaning prominently into the "vibe". Volkor X and Keygen Church are the only artists I know that deliver exactly what I want from a sound like this: majestic melodies inducing visions of majestic boss battles with mosh pit-inspiring intricate rhythms to compliment. Listen to the title track and tell me you don't feel like a fucking hero - 9/10 ❤ |
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9.
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Von Hertzen Brothers - Nine Lives
Progressive Rock - For fans of Road Salt-era Pain Of Salvation - 9/10 ❤ |
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10.
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Almo - Reconciliation
Progressive Metal - Standing out as a rare gem amidst the oversaturated modern prog metal scene, Reconciliation is made even more impressive by the fact that it's the work of a single individual. Replete with a grandiose 20-minute opus, Almo leaves no stone unturned in his effort to craft an immersive and cinematic experience. While listening I knew I recognised the sound design somewhere. It turns out its courtesy of Lulu de la Rosa, known for mastering Ihlo's debut, lending an exquisite touch to the album. Instruments dance in staggered tandem, a delightful and intricate operation that is sure to pique the interest of every prog-head. While the album is not without its tropes found in the realm of prog, they seamlessly fit into the overall composition without detracting from the writing. As the album progresses, Almo flirts with the extreme side of metal, adding delightful embellishments to the overall tame style. Standout tracks like "PANIC ATTACK!!!" and the monolithic title track are my favourites for this very reason. Impressively mature for a debut, Almo is a band to keep on your prog radar - 8.75/10 ❤ |
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11.
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Apple Sauce - Apple Sauce
Progressive Metalcore - Apple sauce is a versatile component of baking and other cooking. Somewhat aptly named after this delicious creation, Apple Sauce is a theatrical progressive metal band with core leanings unlike any I've ever heard before. With both instrumental and vocal flexibility, the band delivers a unique palette of bombastic riffing and epic climaxes combined with a distinctive choice of instrument augmentations that flavour their experimental song-structures. Although it was for me, this might not be love at first play, but I can promise that you won't get this sort of experience anywhere - 8.75/10 ❤ |
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12.
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Hypermass - Empyrean
Progressive Melodic Death Metal / Groove Thrash Metal - I absolutely adore a band that can deliver ferocity while allowing themselves to indulge in their playful side. Think of the vibes (not styles) of bands like Troldhaugen (first two albums ) and Trepalium - we’re talking about tight syncopation and groove rooted in unusual rhythms: music that brings your body undulate in more than just your neck. That’s not to say that Hypermass entirely eschews aggression in a style where it would be expected. In fact there’s something of a non-linear diminishing of the aforementioned playfulness as the album unfolds from track to track, which I think works in favour of the album delivering a good dose of variety. Stylistically speaking, the band can be compared to the likes of Soilwork, Byzantine, and Gojira (ironic considering the blurb I wrote for the previous addition to this list, Dvota). One thing those 3 bands have in common is their flair for developing catchy grooves that deliver the melody inside the main riff, rather than through an auxiliary instrument. This is where Hypermass delivers in a way that threatens to eclipse the competition and stand with the heavyweights in this nuanced “style” - 8.75/10 ❤ |
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13.
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Indistinct - Heart Prince
Progressive Math Metal - I couldn't tell you what took me so long to add this band. I've been a devout fan since their sophomore effort, Violent Ends. Perhaps it was my fear of doing them an injustice by drawing too many similarities to Vildhjarta. Anyhow, here it finally is: a band that you'd be amiss to dismiss. The band has evolved from their math metal roots, refining their sound into a more adventurous, sophisticated, masterful blend of both math and prog. Though Reign Of Silence is my personal favourite of their releases, Heart Prince is the more enthralling release, a testament to their gift for cinematic and artful compositions. The vocals are without doubt one of the stand out elements of their sound, offering a soothing yet powerful presence that never fails embellish the instrumentation with a flair of elegance, much like Wilderun's earlier releases. Despite my focus on their melodic prowess, the album delivers hard-hitting, masterful grooves, rendering it a release that would be welcomed by listeners of all takes on modern metal - 8.75/10 ❤ |
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14.
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Lou Kelly - Hooligans
Instrumental Symphonic Avant-Garde Metal / Fusion - You'd never guess from the manner that this guy disparages his music that he's brimming with talent. I've been following him since I discovered his other band, ...?. If you're into erratic music prone to unexpected twists and turns, this guy is for you. Think Mr. Bungle, but without the nonsense nonsense, if that makes any sense - 8.75/10 ❤ |
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15.
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Stoort Neer - En Glad Titel På En Sorglig Skiva
Instrumental Progressive Math Metal / Djent - A down-tuned deluge of rhythmically captivating guitar abuse and syncopated drumming in perfect polyrhythmic synergy. While there is little in the way of variation between songs, the execution is so meticulous it doesn't detract from the experience whatsoever. Stoort Neer's craft is rhythm, and it's rhythm that is delivered. While occasionally dabbling into trash, tech death, or even heavy metal, the primary style is a plodding math-driven djent-like instrumentation that is as infectiously groovy as it is dark. Upon first listen, many would draw parallels to Vildhjarta or even Humanity's Last Breath (and yes this makes sense since there's quite the overlap in members), however the soundscape is certainly less dense and largely unembellished by background elements. If your neck has an itch, this will give it a good scratch - 8.75/10 ❤ |
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16.
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114 Kassandra - Life Rains The Hardest On Those Who Shine The Brightest
Avant-Garde Metalcore - If it weren't for the -core influences, this album would be among my favourites. Regardless, the whimsical, quirky songwriting is not something to be missed - 8.5/10 |
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17.
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Black Peaks - All That Divides
Alternative Metal / Rock - Not often do I find myself drawn to bands that carefully tiptoe the line between rock and metal, but in my eyes Black Peaks is one of the few among the likes of Karnivool that is sure-fire gateway to this somewhat dividing (pun unintended) style. The band's two releases have explored this style with varied intensity, with the debut being more chaotic and aggressive, while this release is more reserved and emotive. Regardless, the band's cumulative experience draws on various genres in the rock/metal continuum, including post-rock, math rock, sludge, math rock, and more. All of these are carefully extracted and injected in a way that allows for such dynamic intensity that it breaks the boundaries of the aforementioned line. In some ways, you can think of them as a heavier Karnivool or Rishloo. Packed with impeccable melodic sensibility and catchy riffing, this band is a no-brainer for anyone more open to something on the lighter side - 8.5/10 ❤ |
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18.
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Collabiloration - Bilo IV At Home
Progressive Metal / Progressive Rock - *In the months leading up to David Maxim Micić's release of Bilo IV*: "Can we get Bilo IV before the release date?". "We have Bilo IV at home". Despite the self-deprecating album title and the irreverently named finale "Ass And Balls" (which actually features David Maxim Micić), a collective of DMM fans operating under the moniker Collabiloration have (with DMM's blessing) put out the most impressively accurate (and undoubtedly flattering) imitation of DMM's upcoming album. For any fans of DMM, this is a must. It's too unerring to not be an inside job... - 8.5/10 ❤ |
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19.
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Dust Sculptures - Far Above The Pines
Progressive Metal / Post-Black Metal - This one-man band shows some damn promising potential. Listening to this record paints an aural landscape with the confluence of Opeth and Agalloch at it's heart. The artist deftly maneuvers the path between black metal ferocity and proggy acoustic riffage, careful not to leave any of the stylistic middle-ground unscathed and occasionally taking unexpected and inspiring turns in musical experimentation. Sadly, despite my seemingly positive disposition, my qualms with the vocal phrasing have not improved from the debut and continue to taint my enjoyment of this record. That being said, I highly doubt that such a petty complaint would irritate anyone else. I will most certainly be keeping a close eye on this band in the future - 8.5/10 ❤ |
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20.
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Dvota - Antichiromantia
Progressive Death Metal / Groove Thrash Metal - Some bands are seemingly inimitable: either (1) their sound is too nuanced or (2) those who try simply fall flat of an incredibly high bar. Gojira is more in the former camp, but the point is: The point is: similar bands to Gojira? Well, take a look at the list at the bottom of the band’s MS profile, which is as confusing as it is accurate. Enter Dvota with a staggeringly refined debut, addressing the gap in the market ever since Gojira dropped their pummelling sound in favour of a more digestible approach that started about a decade ago (up to you to define the album). That said, one would be amiss to dismiss Dvota as a Gojira clone, much in the way that Atavistia isn’t the equivalent for Wintersun. Though I did talk about Gojira more than Dvota so at this point I feel you know what to expect - 8.5/10 ❤ |
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21.
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Euglena - Близость (EP)
Blackened Mathcore / Grindcore - Think melodic grindcore à la Anaal Nathrakh with umm...blackened mathcore. It sure sounds far-fetched at this point, but once you decide to subject yourself to the album's incessant and frantic expression of some disturbed emotion, I think you'll come to the same conclusion. A stampede of riffs quarreling over dissonance vs. melody, backed by disquieting vocals and drums - 8.5/10 ❤ |
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22.
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Ions - Counterintuitive
Progressive Metal - Imitation, reinvention, or iteration. Of these core intentions that steer a band in the studio, I've always been drawn to the latter two. Inundated as the genre is with the former, this makes for a search fraught with desensitisation. The silver lining is that gems like Ions' Counterinuitive shine ever so much more brightly. While I'd be amiss to class this as perfect, there are certain tracks that sure have me fooled. Though it may not be immediately apparent, the blatant roots and related derivations that form their sound doesn't stop Ions from iterating more than just superficially. Where the band stands head and shoulders above the competition is in their near-impeccable execution of phrasing. A prog fan isn't engrossed simply by virtue of a band iterating (or combining) the styles of the titans in the genre, but by introducing novel and masterful rhythms and melodies. Ions' exemplary showcase of dense, yet intricate, prog keeps me hopeful and searching for more. 8.5/10 ❤ |
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23.
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Jakub Zytecki - Wishful Lotus Proof
Progressive Math Metal / Djent - Jakub has made quite the name for himself in the progressive rock/metal scene, but this release showcases that he never had the opportunity to fully express his style with its myriad influences. This record is brimming with enough well-meshed styles to make any prog fan drool. Dreamy and jazzy instrumental passages and Plini-esque playful displays of virtuosic prog bridge groovy and - at times - plodding instrumentation with beefy guitar tones, taking a nod to the likes of Gojira, TesseracT, Periphery, and David Maxim Micic. While largely instrumental, two guest vocalists are featured - including Rafał Piotrowski of Decapitated - and Jakub himself takes on vocal duties here and there. Sadly, the album feels slightly drawn-out towards the end as parts of different songs sound rather similar and the sparing use of vocals didn't help to differentiate these passages. Additionally, the contrast between the extreme and light-hearted instrumentation that proved so captivating takes its leave exactly halfway through the album. That said, unlike Jakub's work with Disperse, this release is dripping with passion and seeing this project become his priority would be very delightful - 8.5/10 ❤ |
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24.
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Karhu - Survival Of The Richest
Extreme Progressive Metal - Ihsahn meets Opeth meets Sylosis? Aggressive. Intricate. Groovy. My only gripe is that the gritty clean vocals - which are quite pronounced - occasionally dominate the music and clash with the instrumentation. That being said, the clean vocalist is very talented. Strangely, the album features quite a bit of hard rock, especially in the last two tracks. I recommend starting with the 7th track. Quick note: Karhu has since released a new album titled "Genericist" and, to be frank, I found that name rather apt...i.e. give that album a try, but the previous one is better - 8.5/10 ❤ |
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25.
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Manapart - Manapart
Alternative Metal - It's System Of A Down. I'm very sure of this. But the good SoaD. Not the bad SoaD - 8.5/10 ❤ |
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26.
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Melora - Parasitic Empire
Progressive Technical Death Metal - The melodic and progressive side of Gorod with a dash of the death metal side of Gojira's Terra Incognita and the "brutal" side of Between The Buried And Me - 8.5/10 ❤ |
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27.
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Dark Twin - Prometheus
Progressive Metal / Djent / Instrumental - Conceived to showcase their affinity for slick, modern production, they inadvertently crafted an album of exceptional taste. Prometheus is irresistibly catchy, with an impeccable sense of groove that sets it apart from most djent acts today. Clocking in at 51 minutes, the album features 23 bite-sized tracks that oscillate from pummelling onslaught to a trudging grind, almost always underscored by tasteful symphonic overtones. Imagine Monuments, but with the compositional sensibilities of Keith Merrow's earlier work. This will be a real treat for any riff afficionado with little care for album arrangement. My personal favourites are tracks 1, 6, and 12. - 8.25/10 ❤ |
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28.
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Dead Season (FR) - Dusting The Rust
Extreme Progressive / Groove Thrash Metal / Heavy Metal - Heavily influenced by Nevermore, Vulture Industries, and Disillusion. Also worth noting that their interludes give off an Akercocke-like vibe. - 8.25/10 ❤ |
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29.
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Distress Of Ruin - Predators Among Us
Progressive Melodic Death Metal - With Insights, Distress Of Ruin transcends their metalcore roots, delivering a vibrant prog melodeath EP totally out of left field. Echoing the densely packed, lush soundscapes and symphonic arrangements of An Abstract Illusion, the band creates beautifully immersive climaxes. Catchy and rhythmically solid, it's a must-listen for fans of modern prog melodeath - 8.25/10 ❤ |
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30.
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For The Imperium - Hail The Monsters
Progressive Metal, Mathcore, Hard Rock, Groove Thrash Metal, Technical Metalcore, Sludge Metal, Alternative Metal, Glam Metal, Nu Metal - No track on this album serves as a precedent for any of those following it. The innumerable styles that these guys incorporate into their unique style compel me to label them as experimental, yet the sheer cohesiveness deters me from doing so. My obsession with talented vocalists impels me to note that the vocalist has me wide-eyed with admiration. The one word that I could use to describe the album would be upbeat - other than that I'm at a loss for words. Honestly there's not much I can say about this album that would do it justice - just listen to any of their tracks that you can find on YouTube, including the link to their new track above. Also, if you ever have a craving for a song with a ridiculously catchy, yet cheesy, chorus, don't forget to listen to the closing track: "Filthy Animal, Go And Save Yourself!" - 8.25/10 ❤ |
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31.
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I, Valiance - The Reject of Humanity (EP)
Progressive Deathcore - I, Valiance presents a unique blend of progressive deathcore that is as enthralling as it impressive - yes, deathcore can be creative. You'll certainly find a few breakdowns here and there, but they're used to complement the music rather than serve as a go-to when ideas run dry. A deluge of fiendish deathcore dominates the record, oft intensified by vicious black metal elements or rhythmic Djent. Well-placed keyboards accentuate the mood: chilling and dissonant at times, while carnival-esque at others. The crisp, modern production brings out the punch in every instrument and the vocals cut through wonderfully. One thing is for certain: this is irresistibly groovy. Your. Head. Will. Move. In case you aren't fond of typical dichotomous deathcore vocals - or are simply curious - you can check out the instrumental version of the album on their Bandcamp page. Sadly, the second half of the album leans more heavily on deathcore antics than I'd like, but I'm very keen on hearing what the band has in store for us in the future - 8.25/10 |
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32.
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Rick Chappell - Skittles
Progressive Industrial Metal - Anyone familiar with and infatuated by the industrial tinged progressive metal style of Devin Townsend will feel right at home here. Rick Chappell's discography is much like a truncated version of the elements of Terria, Accelerated Evolution, and Addicted. As of now, there isn't much that separates Rick's work to Devin's, but it's nicely done and considering his consistent output we can expect a full release sometime in the new future - 8.25/10 ❤ |
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33.
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Zilf - PrEPare YourZILF
Experimental Mathcore - Destrage lacks impulse control, but what if they took it to the next level. I present to you Zilf's debut EP that takes the weird up a notch. This freakish melting pot of an record moves between its elements like a manic canine that has caught scent of an unknown forest creature. It's a groovy oddball with mathcore at the base, but spiced up in a way that hasn't been explored very much. If you're typically not fond of "core", but love that prog shit, this one's for you - 8.25/10 ❤ |
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34.
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A Prison Called Earth - Rise Of The Octopus (Realistic Tale Of A Sprawling City)
Progressive Avant-Garde Metal - A theatrical amalgamation of Leprous, Pain Of Salvation, Shaolin Death Squad, Opeth's acoustic prowess, and Solefald-style clean vocals. There's no doubt that this album radiates with talent - innovation even. Despite this - and the album's brevity (for prog) - the seemingly repetitive nature of the instrumentation ended up dulling the initial excitement. Additionally, the near hour-long concept album is frequently interrupted at the precedence of dramatic narration - I found this detracted from the experience, however other listeners more appreciative of these elements may be able to derive something positive from it. All that being said, the album was released nearly 4 years ago and the band is working on new material. An EP was released in September last year for those interested - I've only heard the teaser so it's difficult to assess what we're dealing with - 8/10 |
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35.
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Eastwood - Antibiose
Grindcore + ? - A blistering 20-minute grindcore onslaught - scathing from start to finish. Despite being a deviation from my usual stylistic taste, I gravitated towards the infectious groove behind the wanton destruction. Though the album festers with undiluted hatred, the relentless assault is almost inviting - 8/10 ❤ |
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36.
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I Shall Move The Earth - Blueprints MMXIII
Progressive Black Metal - Arcturus and Dimmu Borgir take a waltz - 8/10 |
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37.
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Ben Simon - Ellipsism
Progressive Deathcore - Once in a while a deathcore band comes along a delivers in a way that makes you forget how vapid deathcore can be. One can easily draw parallels to Ovid's Withering or Shadow of Intent with this release, but the fact that this level of quality was written, performed, and orchestrated by a single human is inspiring. Eschewing deathcore tropes like comical gutturals and shrieks as well as the familiar undying assault of unwarranted breakdown after breakdown, Ellipsism is a release that is sure to appeal to even those upon the highest of horses, so long as they are moved by groove and melody. Showing immense growth from his sophomore album, Ben's relatively consistent output and striking potential is something to reckon with - 7.75/10 ❤ |
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38.
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Exotic Animal Petting Zoo - Tree Of Tongues
Mathcore / Alternative Rock - Frenzied "math" driven bursts with alternative rock neutralise the caustic metal mixture. An ambitious record that explores more than most others of their ilk. Start with track 3 or 4 - 7.75/10 |
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39.
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Harkla - The Living Mountain
Djent / Progressive Math Metal / Folk Metal - By the 3rd track I had resigned myself to the prospect of enduring another 30 minutes of uninspired, albeit well-executed, Humanity's Last Breath/Vildhjarta worship. Naturally I was taken aback by the introduction of folk elements at the end of the 4th track; to my delight, I never quite regained my purchase. Throughout the record Harkla slogs through the mire crafted by their prodigiously beefy and plodding sound. Then, as if the established sound was a mere pretence, these delicate saboteurs gradually transmute their sound by way of tasteful augmentation. The frequency and magnitude of this burgeoning stylistic freedom peaks about midway through the album, but their efforts do not relent, delivering an engaging album that defies initial expectations. I strongly recommend trying a few tracks across the album before dismissing the band as another run-of-the-mill "thall" devotee - 7.75/10 ❤ |
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40.
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Nebulous - Nebulous
Progressive Metal / Math Metal - This is what a side-project featuring members of Meshuggah, Textures, and Mencea would sound like. Sadly, I recently discovered that the band has split-up - 7.75/10 ❤ |
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41.
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Praetorian - To Dwell In Darkness
Blackened Progressive Extreme Power - Skipping between throat clenching black metal, cheese-laden extreme power, and folk-dusted acoustic interludes, this is a band that should be monitored by fans of the genre - I have a hunch that their follow-up opus is going to be rather compelling...aaaaaaaaaaaand they split-up - 7.75/10 |
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42.
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Resurrecting Id - Resurrecting Id (EP)
Instrumental Djent / Jazz - If you burrow somewhere between Animals As Leaders and T.R.A.M., you'll find Resurecting Id. Radio appropriate soundscapes of playful djent and noodling jazz eventually merge into a highway of erratic guitar chugs and chaotic saxophone screeches, the direction and magnitude orchestrated by the frantic, off-beat drumming. Simple as this: if you're a fan of AAL and T.R.A.M - djent and jazz - check it out - 7.75/10 |
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43.
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Akb'al - Of Darkness And Light
Alternative Metal / Progressive Metal / Nu Metal - Tool's softer, proggy, alternative, bass-driven riffs building into belligerent nu metal reminiscent of Mudvayne - or what little I've heard from them - with vocals escalating from cleans into deranged screams spanning the two. The album deviates from this pattern commencing on the 6th track, which largely features acoustic folk à la Amiensus. The album closes on an atmospheric/ambient track with light electronic touches. "Equilibrium" - one of two tracks available on YouTube - appears to be heavily influenced by Elegy-era Amorphis and is probably one of the best tracks on the album. The clean and gritty vocals may get on the occasional listener's nerves - 7.5/10 |
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44.
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Aquae Furtivae - Road To Square One
Progressive Metal - Road To Square One is equal parts ambitious as it is catchy, tracing the fine line between nerding over seemingly discordant elements (see Native Construct for this done well) and appealing to those who may not have a strong penchant for prog (see Haken). Taking their own blend of spices from the rack of modern prog giants, Aquae Furtivae doesn’t stop there: employing copious curve-balls to keep the listener on their toes. Some “interesting” harsh vocal choices and vapid riffing does eventually detract from the flow of the album, but you’d be amiss to let this band replete with potential fly under your radar in the future. At the very least, we owe it to them to jam to one of the hardest hitting prog riffs of the last few years found the 2nd half of the opening song, “South” - 7.5/10 ❤ |
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45.
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Brojob - The Heaviest Album Of All Time
Deathcore / Djent - How conceited. Disclaimer: it's not, but it comes close. Well, not really, but they wish it did. Whether the juvenile charade is meant to appeal to younger audience or as a mocking jibe at seriousness in metal, it's irrelevant; the jubilant, headbang-inducing music speaks for itself. Just listen to the impeccably crafted climax of "Extra Thicc" around 2:30 as a testament to this. Embracing every trope of modern "prog" deathcore and djent, they abuse every gimmick in the book. Fortunately, the breakdowns blend seamlessly, unlike some others *looks askance at Lorna Shore*. If you can overlook the irreverence and hackneyed style, fans of modern deathcore will have a blast - 7.5/10 ❤ |
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46.
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Fronteeria - How Eden Rose From Untilled Earth
Extreme Progressive Metal - Creating music is intrinsically creative, but there’s creativity and then there’s creativity. While Fronteeria’s debut album, How Eden Rose From Untilled Earth, instils an inexplicable unease in me with its unintentionally wayward nature (see “In The Shadow Of Appalachia”), one can but stand in awe of the creativity the music oozes with. There aren’t many solid releases this year that can contend with the originality at display here, let alone debuts! While the band’s influences are clearly rooted in extreme prog, they certainly don’t let that limit their output. One of the ways this manifests is through tone: there’s something wonderfully dissonant about some of the instruments on this record; not in the traditional sense, but in an ineffable way that scratches an itch that I didn’t know I had (see “A Tulip In A Twister”, also one of the highlights). The incredibly raw and diverse vocals are impeccably befitting of the wild instrumentation, and also a standout in this record worthy of praise. While I do have mixed feelings about this record, I highly recommend listening to the mammoth of a track called “Sequoia Lumberjack”. This reminds me of listening to Omnerod’s debut for the first time - I could tell there was immense potential and 9 years later they delivered the 2023 AotY. I’d gladly way 9 years to hear the culmination of this band’s efforts - 7.5/10 ❤ |
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47.
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Kmac2021 - Imposter
Deathcore / Djent - Excellently executed run-of-the-mill modern deathcore which ventures into djent at times. Many of you may know him for his comedy channel on YouTube, but here he is composing. Considering the calibre of his playing and songwriting that he displayed in his flippant attempts, it was a surprise when he stuck to the basics. Looking forward to a follow-up as I have a feeling it's going to be a little more adventurous - 7.5/10 |
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48.
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Marrow Of Earth - Marrow Of Earth
Progressive Blackened Death Metal - An abrasive, old-school production gives this little EP quite a bit of oomph. There are so many adjacent styles packed into these short 20 minutes, but it always feels congruous. Sadly it seems they have split up and that their (equally ambitious) EP is no longer available online - 7.5/10 |
|
49.
|
Atrophy (FR) - Labyrinths
Progressive Death Metal - Solid album with a really fitting production for the old school style. Reminds me of Suffocation a bit - 7.25/10 |
|
50.
|
Jared Dines - The Grey
Metalcore / Deathcore - Jared Dines, the familiar face of YouTube metal talent shows and memes; you all remember him, right? Well here he is, all grown up. The Grey sees Jared stepping up his compositional game into a more mature space, deviating from the tropes of his past writing to deliver something more mature. While he doesn't offer anything ground-breaking here, the album proves an enjoyable package of modern metal-/deathcore. There's a bit of inconsistency in the quality between tracks, but there are certainly some highlights such as tracks 2-4. There's some real potential to consider here, provided he eschews the overused chugging found on most of the material here - 7.25/10 |
|
51.
|
Menz - Shakedown
Progressive Melodic Death Metal - Not ground-breaking by any means, but prods at the barriers of the genre to dig away some nuances that make this enjoyable - 7.25/10 |
|
52.
|
Azgard - At The Break Of The Day
Progressive Deathcore / Djent - Oh dear, not another band combining two of the most worn-out genres in metal. I can almost sense you scowl from here. I'll admit: these guys haven't exactly reinvented the wheel, but they built themselves one that spins pretty darn well. Pretty much everything you'd expect from the mix of these two genres is there: short bursts of guitar leads in between chugs; deep "core" vocals; breakdowns at 40bpm; synchronised drumming. Think the deathcore counterpart of Within The Ruins. Would you be able to point out Azgard from a crowd of other bands playing this style? Probably not. Does that make them bad? No. If you're a fan of deathcore, jump on the wheel and take a ride - 7/10 |
|
53.
|
Damien The Cat - Glooming
Avant-Garde Black Metal / Progressive Post-Hardcore? - This is vicious, though strangely inviting. The dissonance builds an inexorable wall of aggression backed by unrelenting screams of anguish. The occasional non-metal interlude provides respite from the onslaught. In the end, it's not cohesive enough to warrant more listens, but their sophomore release showed more promise before they subsequently broke up the same year - I'd give that a spin - 7/10 |
|
54.
|
Juvenile Baroque Slaughterhouse - Gall And Wormwood
Instrumental Psychedelic Atmospheric "Metal" - You're burning through the recently re-released Twin Peaks series. In your apprehension during the final episode, you make a grave error in mistaking your bag of shrooms for popcorn. What do you do? Listen to this album, surely...While that mightn't be wise, this cacophony of psychedelic discord would well prepare you with an appropriate sound-scape for your imminent journey. Layering light, dissonant, distorted guitars with bouncy "surf" guitar tones with some smooth, slithering fretless bass weaving through. The drums occasionally reach a tipping point whereupon they draw upon extreme metal influences to bring you further mental discomfort. Sadly, the more memorable moments become a blur within a maze of pointlessly meandering passages - 7/10 |
|
55.
|
Orion (IN) - On the Banks Of Rubicon
Progressive Melodic Death Metal - Somewhere on the sonic spectrum of Barren Earth and Opeth. Some potential here, but sadly they split up. Still worth a listen for those after that specific sound - 7/10 |
|
56.
|
Spherian - Forge (EP)
Ambidjent - Spacey ambiance? ✔ Poly-rhythmic instrumentation? ✔ Hearing riff after riff of poorly imitated D-jent ends up detracted more than it adds to the music. Let's put it this way, if they eschewed - or improved upon - that style, the dreamy ambiance would have skyrocketed my rating a full point. Edit: new album on the way and the first single sounds infinitely better than this EP! - 6.75/10 |
|
57.
|
Aeolist - Aeolist
Modern Progressive Metal - Not as in djent, moreso the 'core and technical elements along with the refined production - 6.5/10 |
|
58.
|
AnovA - Diyu <East>/Diyu <West>
Djent / Electronica - Despite the interesting combination of electronica - I apologise for the lack of distinction - and Djent, the novelty of AnovA's songwriting wears off quickly. The few interesting moments throughout these two EPs - such as on "Hill Of Ice" - are, sadly, obscured by the unimpressive instrumentation and boring vocal melodies. Fortunately, the well-crafted production lends some of these "meh" moments a level of tolerability. If you take a look at the tracklist, you'll see that the "parts" - i.e. tracks - aren't in order, let alone complete. Perhaps once the third and final release is out and these tracks can be put in order from 1-18, the content might be more enjoyable. There's potential here - let's wait and see - 6.25/10 |
|
59.
|
Winter Gate - Dis-Illumination
Extreme Progressive Metal / Progressive Death Metal - Dark, aggressive, and atmospheric, much like Ancient Ascendant with some Opethy passages. Unfortunately the substance of the two sprawling 10+ min songs on this EP aren't really justified as they fail to reach any prominent peaks that you'd expect from the genre - 6.25/10 |
|
60.
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NO RATINGS AFTER THIS POINT -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|
61.
|
Arida - Cenizas
Stoner Rock / Alternative Rock - Track 1 or 5. |
|
62.
|
Atlas (USA) - Seconds
Instrumental Modern Progressive Metal |
|
63.
|
Beyond Never - One Thousand Years
Progressive Gothic Metal - Honestly, I've never been able to identify gothic metal for some reason, but this is my best attempt at classifying this band. Gothic peeps, help me out. |
|
64.
|
Cast Of Mind - The Crossroads
Progressive Metal - Opeth taking a crack at standard prog. Listen to "Memories" and you'll get the reference ★ |
|
65.
|
Circle Takes Square - Decompositions: Volume Number One
Avant-Garde Post-Metal ★ |
|
66.
|
The Echelon Effect - Sierra
Post-Metal - seems I never got around to typing this one in despite the links were there...odd...I'll write something soon. |
|
67.
|
E1EN - The Sickening EP
Progressive Metal - Hard-hitting original prog. Much recommended for anyone into prog ★ |
|
68.
|
Imperial Gates - The Sound Of Human Fate
Instrumental Progressive Metal - Beautiful. |
|
69.
|
L'Inverno Della Civetta - L'Inverno Della Civetta
Post-Metal / Alternative Metal - The cover art has an owl. I love owls. This addition needs no justification. Fine-think Sólstafir with some bouncy alternative metal thrown in ★ |
|
70.
|
Mammoth - Polymorphism
Instrumental Progressive Metal/Rock / Fusion - Track two features guest vocalists, the only non-instrumental track and track 6 features a 5 minute drum solo. If you don't like the sound of that, or aren't a fan of virtuosic fiddlage, I'd avoid this. |
|
71.
|
Marching Mind - The Sickness And The Theory
Progressive Sludge / Grunge - Reminiscent of a grungy, softer Mastodon ★ |
|
72.
|
Matt Harnett - Enigma
Instrumental Modern Progressive Metal |
|
73.
|
Messenger (DE) - Illusory Blues
Progressive Post-Rock - Not really metal. Sounds like Devin Townsend's Ghost with some post-rock elements thrown in ★ |
|
74.
|
Mystic - Grace
Instrumental Oriental Progressive Metal |
|
75.
|
No Home For Heroes - Fragments Of A Dying Sun
Progressive Metal / Progressive Rock - Kingcrow with a dark, Nevermore-like vibe ★ |
|
76.
|
Peculate - Bouazizi
Extreme Experimental Metal - Employing a wide array of contemporary and non-contemporary styles and instruments to bring you absurd music for those with eccentric tastes. Unfortunately, said absurdity tends to detract from the songwriting rather than complement it... |
|
77.
|
Pitch Feather - Mountains And Tides
Indie Rock / Prog Rock - The closest this gets to metal is on track 9 - which isn't very metal at all. I can hardly call this prog rock. With that said, just listen to track 7. You will be blown away by the melodies and her voice. Reminds me of Av atarium's clean passages. |
|
78.
|
Red Rebel Patriots - Dominion
Progressive Metal |
|
79.
|
The Shell Collector - Medusa
Progressive Rock - Hint: part of the reason why I picked this is the cover of a famous death doom band's song that you'll find in their discography ★ |
|
80.
|
Shrines - Beyond God's Redemption
Progressive Death Metal - Formerly Diminished Fifth. If Akercocke calmed the fuck down: more clean vocals, more clean passages, more atmosphere, less blast-beats. Apparently they have a new album in the works. |
|
81.
|
Toxic Grind Machine - Embryonic Emission
Progressive Industrial Metal - I'm no connoisseur in industrial metal, but one Bandcamp user noted that similarities can be drawn to Strapping Young Lad and Sybreed-so there's that- ★ |
|
82.
|
The Ulex - Old Giant
Modern Progressive Electronic Metal - Textures' keyboardist's side-project featuring aforementioned band's vocalist, Daniel ★ |
|
83.
|
Walking Across Jupiter - Scent
Ambidjent - Someone put Periphery and Atoma in a blender ★ |
|
84.
|
|
|
85.
|
---------------------------------------------------NOW ADDED--------------------------------------------------- |
|
86.
|
|
|
87.
|
...? - ...!
❤ |
|
88.
|
6:33 - Deadly Scenes
❤ |
|
89.
|
A Sense Of Gravity - Travail
❤ |
|
90.
|
Abriosis - Tattered And Bound |
|
91.
|
Absinthiana - Absinthiana |
|
92.
|
Acolyte (UK) - Alta |
|
93.
|
Adrian Van Den Broëck - Alchemist Hans Blomberg
❤ |
|
94.
|
The Advent Equation - Limitless Life Reflections |
|
95.
|
Aethere - Demons |
|
96.
|
The Alex Jones Prison Planet - Corrupt Them All
❤ |
|
97.
|
Andy Gillion - NeverAfter
❤ |
|
98.
|
Antlion - The Prescient |
|
99.
|
Arcane Roots - Melancholia Hymns
❤ |
|
100.
|
Arcturon - Expect Us
❤ |
|
101.
|
As Light Dies - The Love Album - Volume I |
|
102.
|
Ashen - Ritual Of Ash
❤ |
|
103.
|
Asymmetry - Room 17: Hours Between Shadows And Light |
|
104.
|
Artificial Brain - Labyrinth Constellation |
|
105.
|
Ayahuasca - Beneath The Mind
❤ |
|
106.
|
Back To R'lyeh - The Awakening / Last Fight Of The Primordial
❤ |
|
107.
|
Barishi - Barishi
❤ |
|
108.
|
Black Crown Initiate - Song Of The Crippled Bull |
|
109.
|
The Burden Remains - Touchstone [Collaboration]
❤ |
|
110.
|
Car Bomb - W^w^^w^w
❤ |
|
111.
|
Carnivora (USA) - Eternal |
|
112.
|
Carving Colours - No Way But Forwards |
|
113.
|
The Chemical Mind - Beneath The Shadow It Casts
❤ |
|
114.
|
The Conjuration - The Human Condition |
|
115.
|
Contemplator - Contemplator
❤ |
|
116.
|
Corelia - Nostalgia
❤ |
|
117.
|
Cosmovore - Into The Necrosphere
❤ |
|
118.
|
Counter-World Experience - Music For Kings
❤ |
|
119.
|
Cryptomnesia - Primordial Oddity
❤ |
|
120.
|
Contrarian - Predestined |
|
121.
|
David Maxim Micic - Bilo 3.0
❤ |
|
122.
|
Dead Alone - Ad Infinitum |
|
123.
|
Deconstructing Sequence - Access Code |
|
124.
|
Demiurgon - Above The Unworthy |
|
125.
|
Digression Assassins - Merkaba
❤ |
|
126.
|
Disaffected - Rebirth |
|
127.
|
Distance - I |
|
128.
|
Divine Insanity - Akka |
|
129.
|
Druids - Monument
❤ |
|
130.
|
Duality - Elektron |
|
131.
|
Dustynation - Echoing Lullabies
❤ |
|
132.
|
Echopraxia - Pumpkin Palace
❤ |
|
133.
|
Eloa Vadaath - Dead End Proclama |
|
134.
|
Emblazoned - The Living Magisterium |
|
135.
|
Empalot - Tous Aux Cèpes
❤ |
|
136.
|
Empyrean Sanctum - Empyrean Sanctum |
|
137.
|
Elvaan Ibanfure - Ōkami |
|
138.
|
Ergodic - Ergodic
❤ |
|
139.
|
Eternal Storm - From The Ashes |
|
140.
|
Evilness - Unreachable Clarity |
|
141.
|
Exsickator - Beyond This World
❤ |
|
142.
|
Exist - Sunlight
❤ |
|
143.
|
Existem - Phoenix |
|
144.
|
The Fathomless Deep - The Fathomless Deep
❤ |
|
145.
|
Fever Sea - Fever Sea |
|
146.
|
Fleshworld - Like We're All Equal Again |
|
147.
|
Graveyard (ESP) - The Sea Grave |
|
148.
|
Gods Of Eden - Gods Of Eden
❤ |
|
149.
|
Gravemind - Conduit
❤ |
|
150.
|
Grim Funeral - Abdication Under Funeral Dirge |
|
151.
|
Grorr - Ddulden’s Last Flight
❤ |
|
152.
|
Guillotine (IND) - The Cynic
❤ |
|
153.
|
Haapoja - Mullan Keskeltä
❤ |
|
154.
|
Hadea - Fabric Of Intention
❤ |
|
155.
|
Haunted Shores - Viscera
❤ |
|
156.
|
Human Impact - Human Impact |
|
157.
|
Hryre - Deaþ Þurhfaran Eftboren - Heretéam Fram Anweald |
|
158.
|
Illuminati - The Core
❤ |
|
159.
|
Jackie Frank Russell III - AAAAAAAAAAAAA
❤ |
|
160.
|
Jack The Joker - In The Rabbit Hole
❤ |
|
161.
|
Kardashev - Peripety |
|
162.
|
Konkeror - The Abysmal Horizons
❤ |
|
163.
|
Kung Foo Preacher - Kung Foo Preacher |
|
164.
|
Latitudes - Individuation
❤ |
|
165.
|
Lelahell - Al Insane... The (Re)Birth Of Abderrahmane |
|
166.
|
Liquid Rain - Bright Obscurity |
|
167.
|
Lunar - Theogony |
|
168.
|
Oh. - Metallia |
|
169.
|
Ottone Pesante - DoomooD
❤ |
|
170.
|
Lyra's Legacy - Prisoner |
|
171.
|
Maeth - Oceans Into Ashes |
|
172.
|
Malicious Dream - Soil
❤ |
|
173.
|
Mandroid Echostar - Mandroid Echostar |
|
174.
|
Means End - The Didact |
|
175.
|
Mendel - Subliminal Colors
❤ |
|
176.
|
MistGuide - Era |
|
177.
|
Mobius - Kala
❤ |
|
178.
|
Monolith Zero - The Great Calm
❤ |
|
179.
|
Morowe - S |
|
180.
|
Muerte Por Mil Cortes - Muerte Por Mil Cortes |
|
181.
|
Nami - The Eternal Light Of The Unconscious Mind
❤ |
|
182.
|
Necronomichrist - Apparitions Of The Obscene |
|
183.
|
Neuronaut - State Of Not Enough
❤ |
|
184.
|
Nexilva - Eschatologies |
|
185.
|
No Consequence - Io |
|
186.
|
Obscurus Advocam - Verbia Daemonicus |
|
187.
|
Olema - Riitti |
|
188.
|
Olvido - Luto
❤ |
|
189.
|
Omnerod - Ivory Dune |
|
190.
|
Optic - Iris In |
|
191.
|
Opus Of A Machine - Stray Fire
❤ |
|
192.
|
Orgone - The Joyless Parson |
|
193.
|
Others By No One - Book I: Dr. Breacher
❤ |
|
194.
|
Paths - Diminished |
|
195.
|
Patrons Of The Rotting Gate - The Rose Coil |
|
196.
|
Pictura - The Equilibration Of Minds, Vol. I
❤ |
|
197.
|
Plastic Mind Frequencies - Plastic Mind Frequencies
❤ |
|
198.
|
Primo Vespere - Daylight Fading |
|
199.
|
Progtronic - Mortis Metallum |
|
200.
|
Protean Collective - The Red And The Grey |
|
201.
|
Pterodactyl King - Pyroclastic |
|
202.
|
Pyrrhon - An Excellent Servant But A Terrible Master |
|
203.
|
Rabea Massaad - Grinding Gears, Vol. 2
❤ |
|
204.
|
Ramage Inc. - Under The Skin
❤ |
|
205.
|
Rannoch - Between Two Worlds |
|
206.
|
Retarded Noise Squad - Bananas |
|
207.
|
Saison De Rouille - Déroutes Sans Fin |
|
208.
|
Sanguine Glacialis - Pitch Black Sight |
|
209.
|
Sarvas - Sarvas |
|
210.
|
Schizoid Lloyd - The Last Note In God's Magnum Opus
❤ |
|
211.
|
Science Of Demise - Bloom
❤ |
|
212.
|
Scientic - Empire Of The Mind
❤ |
|
213.
|
Scorned Deity - Adventum |
|
214.
|
Serdce - Timelessness
❤ |
|
215.
|
Shades Of Black - Ocean |
|
216.
|
Shores Of Null - Quiescence |
|
217.
|
Siluetless - Theory Of Dream |
|
218.
|
Sithu Aye - 26 |
|
219.
|
Skaldic Curse - World Suicide Machine |
|
220.
|
Sleepers Awake - Transcension |
|
221.
|
Soldis - Age D |
|
222.
|
Spectral Mortuary - Total Depravity |
|
223.
|
Spectral Tower - Spectral Tower |
|
224.
|
The Spectre Beneath - The Downfall Of Judith King |
|
225.
|
StarSystems - StarSystems III
❤ |
|
226.
|
Stömb - From Nihil
❤ |
|
227.
|
Suns Of The Morning Star - Suns Of The Morning Star |
|
228.
|
Svet Kant - Loneliness |
|
229.
|
Syconaut - In Ruins
❤ |
|
230.
|
Synkronizity - Cultivation |
|
231.
|
Syqem - Reflections Of Elephants |
|
232.
|
Tardigrade Inferno - Mastermind
❤ |
|
233.
|
Telepathy - 12 Areas
❤ |
|
234.
|
Teramobil - Multispectral Supercontinuum |
|
235.
|
Thaclthi - ...Erat Ante Oculos |
|
236.
|
Theatrum - Drapery |
|
237.
|
Thrown To The Sun - Of Oceans And Raindrops |
|
238.
|
Torrential Downpour - Connected Through
❤ |
|
239.
|
Toehider - What Kind Of Creature Am I?
❤ |
|
240.
|
Troldhaugen - Obzkure Anekdotez For Maniakal Massez
❤ |
|
241.
|
True - Symptoms
❤ |
|
242.
|
Undertow - In Deepest Silence |
|
243.
|
Unhuman - Unhuman
❤ |
|
244.
|
Unsacred Seed - Frontiers |
|
245.
|
Unjustly Labeled - Grotesque |
|
246.
|
Urschrei - Dekadenz |
|
247.
|
Vampire Squid - Nautilus World |
|
248.
|
Venus - Project Lamda
❤ |
|
249.
|
Vyre - The Initial Frontier Pt. 1 |
|
250.
|
Veld - Daemonic: The Art Of Dantalian
❤ |
|
251.
|
We All Die (Laughing) - Thoughtscanning
❤ |
|
252.
|
Winterblind - Ya Mashina
❤ |
|
253.
|
Witch Ripper - Witch Ripper |
|
254.
|
Withem - The Point Of You |
|
255.
|
Wizard Business - Battle Tiger |
|
256.
|
Yurei - Saudade
❤ |
|
257.
|
Zelophilia - Lust, Loathing, & Love
❤ |
|
258.
|
Zombie Frogs - Awaken
❤ |
<--- (tears of joy) 
that has to be one of my favourite gifs of all time, let alone with it modified as an infinite loop!
), but you can't deny the ridiculously fast rate of +1's you've gathered and are still gathering. Either you're spamming this list like crazy (which I don't know since I'm busy with work lately rather than MS), you're paying people to +1 your list or you're thumbing up the list yourself by creating fake accounts. You being a master hacker however seems impossible since all your free time as a student (which I assume you are, since I had loads of free time as a student as well) seems to go into this list, so you wouldn't have time for that. 
)
If it were the other way around (so 29% of the albums have stars added to them) I would've said it makes more sense, but now it doesn't make sense. Sure, it's your list but as I said the stars lose their meaning if you add too much of them. For example, I used the stars in my top 75 list as well and only 17 out of 75 albums have stars added to them. Those are 17 10/10 scores I've handed out. Everything else is 9/10. I'm curious as to when a band deserves a star in your opinion. Like, are all those stars 9/10 and 10/10 ratings or something?
