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1.
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Enochian Theory - Life... And All It Entails
10, atmospheric/melodic prog metal/rock, in vein of Riverside and Porcupine Tree, but nevertheless quite original. Strong concept, flow and vocals; I have no doubt this will be my album of the year - and one of my albums of the decade. [Reviewed it] |
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2.
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Dissona - Dissona
9+, prog/avant: intricate, theatrical, playful and diverse; for Leprous fans. [Reviewed by R'Vannith] |
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3.
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Big Big Train - English Electric 1
9+, progressive rock. There's just no words for this one, if you're into prog in any way do yourself a favor and google this very underappreciated band. |
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4.
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Headspace - I Am Anonymous
9-, prog metal. Experienced musicians gather to show us what prog metal is really about. [Reviewed it] |
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5.
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Beyond The Bridge - The Old Man And The Spirit
9-, excellent prog metal. Rich in everything, but yet subtle, powerful and uplifting. [Reviewed it] |
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6.
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Wintersun - Time I
9-, symphonic metal. Yes, I have a couple of issues with the album, mostly with the production. However, I really do not give a shit for how many years has it been in the making or how short it is. It's a beautiful, straightforwardly melodic album and I shall enjoy it accordingly. Come Time II! [Reviewed by Baz Anderson] |
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7.
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OSI - Fire Make Thunder
9-, prog/ambient. Strong output from Kevin Moore and Jim Matheos, in the trademark OSI heavy riffs vs. electronics style. Interesting textures and ideas, references of past works (Wind Won't Howl -> Radiologue and For Nothing -> the title track of Kevin's Graveyard Mountain Home) and the most delicious closer this year. It might be their weakest album yet, but it is still amazing, and has a quiet feel none of the ones before had. [Reviewed by Doc Godin] |
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8.
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Rush - Clockwork Angels
9-, "hard prog". I only listened to Rush up to Moving Pictures and this wasn't very high on my priority list, but I was blown away by how good it was. |
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9.
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Enslaved - RIITIIR
9-, progressive black. My first encounter with these lads, may it not be the last! |
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10.
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Frequency Drift - ... Laid To Rest
9-, eclectic prog. Female vocals, non-electric instruments, long melancholic tunes... more, please! |
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11.
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Kamelot - Silverthorn
8+, symphonic power metal. A "comeback" album of sorts, proving Kam is the most consistent power metal band out there. And it features one of my favorite singers - the only one who could make me stop mourning Roy's departure. Welcome aboard Tommy! [Reviewed with Ag Fox] |
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12.
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The Gathering - Disclosure
8+, alternative... something. The Gathering have set themselves on a beautiful path and I will be watching watching (and smiling thoughtfully). |
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13.
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Taranis - Kingdom
8+, melodic black/prog: to quote Lyrinan's staff pick text, a truly seamless blend of genres, with soaring vocals taking center place. [Reviewed by Troy Killjoy] |
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14.
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Kälter - Ubuntu
8+, progressive melodeath. Interesting, keyboard-heavy album with plenty of hooks and folky at times. [Review coming soon] |
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15.
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Burning Circle - Ruins Of Mankind
8+, prog/trad metal/symph, hook after hook after hook. They have this Symphony X/Pagan's Mind thing going on, and a lot of others as well. One of the rare bands from my home country I can be proud of. [Reviewed it] |
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16.
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Unwritten Pages - Fringe Kitchen
8+, prog/alternative. Energetic, youthful, catchy, cool. [Reviewed it] |
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17.
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Favna Abisal - Rerum Imaginaria
8+, dark avantgarde. Folky and black and electronic touches in a trippy prog pool. [Reviewed it] |
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18.
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Ørkenkjøtt - Ønskediktet
8+, avantgarde extreme prog. A little rough play that goes down well, amazing clean and harsh vocals in Norwegian, acoustic interruptions and crazy style switches within one song (Profeten's "extreme metal gone blues rock" is the best twist of the year). Plus, a horse playing a piano. |
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19.
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Devin Townsend - Epicloud
8+, pop dance metal explosion. I looooove you, I neeeed you, I've always been arouuuund you... |
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20.
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Threshold - March Of Progress
8+, classic prog metal. It seems that everyone's been playing the no-sweat-prog-metal game incredibly well this year, and Damian Wilson was right in the center of it, being a part of two excellent albums (the other one being Headspace). |
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21.
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Steelwing - Zone Of Alienation
8+, retro heavy metal: resurgence done right, with plenty of youthful energy. Mostly for Iron Maiden fans. [Reviewed it] |
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22.
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Christian Mistress - Possession
8+, retro heavy metal. Smokey female vocs and an occult vibe, perf music for when you're feeling witchy. [Reviewed by Doc Godin] |
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23.
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Vertigo Steps - Surface/Light
8+, melodic prog. Soft, comforting, lots of replay value - kind of like In The Silence's older, more mature (and varied!) cousin. [Reviewed by BloodTears] |
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24.
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Beardfish - The Void
8-, prog rock. Another band that played the 70's card, but spaced it out. I prefer the proggier bits of the album though, Note is without a doubt the best epic track of 2012. |
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25.
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To-Mera - Exile
female-fronted fresh prog. Swiftly engaging. [Reviewed by Ivor] |
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26.
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Ne Obliviscaris - Portal Of I
8-, extreme prog. Like a row of good melodies shooting themselves in the head, one after another, splattering sonic blood of nice sparkly colors. A debut that gave everyone a good run for their money. [Reviewed it] |
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27.
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In The Silence - A Fair Dream Gone Mad
8-, melodic/atmospheric stuff. The album everyone and their mother went nuts over for a good reason, it first makes you think long and hard about the wrong things and then strokes your hair and hugs you. [Reviewed by Ag Fox] |
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28.
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A Forest Of Stars - A Shadowplay For Yesterdays
8-, avantgarde black metal. I want a top hat and a Victorian dress and a stage in my house so I could swirl and dance ridiculously while this is playing. What the fuck are those lyrics in the intro, man??? |
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29.
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Distorted Harmony - Utopia
8-, "happy" prog metal. Nothing you haven't heard before, but has staying power, there's something special about this band and I hope they realize their potential. |
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30.
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Be'lakor - Of Breath And Bone
8-, melodeath. Majestic, lyrically splendid, emotional, somber. [Reviewed by Troy Killjoy] |
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31.
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Pharaoh - Bury The Light
8-, heavy power metal: an amazingly energetic, all-around awesome effort, metal in every sense of the word. Strong contender for the best power metal release of the year. [Reviewed by Doc Godin] |
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32.
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Algol - Complex Shapes
8-, melodeath. If Dan Swanö's contributions and endorsement mean anything to you, get on top of this asap. |
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33.
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Kristoffer Gildenlöw - RUST
8-, mostly acoustic proggy rock. Kristoffer's voice is eerily similar to his brother's. Beautiful vocal harmonies (courtesy of several guests on the album), soulful and sparkly songs - PoS should take a leaf out of his book if they are going to continue with their Road Salt style. Not that the Road Salts don't rule, they do. |
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34.
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Pictured - Strand Of Time
8-, melodeath. Not very original but amazingly fun, the only thing I'd change here are vocals (or the producer's take on them), but they're not a problem. [Reviewed by Doc Godin] |
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35.
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Allegaeon - Formshifter
8-, techy melodeath. Playful and fun, even though it loses me at times - nothing that a few more listens can't fix. [Reviewed by Doc Godin] |
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36.
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Harmaja - Marras
8-, acoustic rock/pop/I have no idea. Project of ex-Charon and ex-Poisonblack frontman, all sung in Finnish, all soothing and calm, though my favorite Harmaja album so far remains their debut. |
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37.
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Primal Rock Rebellion - Awoken Broken
8-, innovative heavy metal. The best Iron Maiden side-project in recent years *cough* BRITISH LION SUCKS STEVE, OKAY? *cough* |
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38.
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Barren Earth - The Devil's Resolve
8-, progressive/melodic death/doom/Amorphis!: this one will require further meditation, but it's on the similar level as the previous album. For those who haven't heard the previous album, basically, take a list of whatever band/genre the musicians involved have played, mix it all, and cram A LOT of that mass in. [Reviewed by BitterCOld] |
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39.
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Another Perfect Day - Four Songs For The Left Behind
EP, 8-, extreme prog/proggy death, and time very well spent on some bleak and odd shizz. |
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40.
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Words Of Farewell - Immersion
7+, melodeath. If 00's Dark Tranquillity and Insomnium had a baby, this is what you'd get. |
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41.
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Axel Rudi Pell - Circle Of The Oath
7+, heavy metal. Nothing big about this, just good vocals and good melodies. Good memories, too. |
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42.
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Oddland - The Treachery Of Senses
7+, and the only really good traditional Finnish prog album I've had the pleasure of hearing. |
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43.
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Lanfear - This Harmonic Consonance
7+, power/heavy metal. Solid all the way throughout. [Reviewed by Ag Fox] |
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44.
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Seax - High On Metal
7+, punky heavy metal. Indicative album name [Reviewed by wormdrink] |
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45.
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Accept - Stalingrad
7+, heavy metal. So far my only taste of "new" Accept - and so good. |
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46.
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Shear - Breaking The Stillness
7+, power metal. Female-fronted, reminds me of 80's music in a strange and good way. And I don't mean 80's metal exclusively either. [Reviewed by Ag Fox] |
I have some 5 or 6 prog albums to add once I've made up my mind where to put them and what to write about them, so I'll let you know when that's taken care of 
