This is a list of progressive metal albums (in alphabetical order) based on their artwork. It includes iconic cover art from classic albums as well as fascinating work from more recent releases.
There is a saying that "you should not judge a book by its cover", which is of course also true in the case of music albums. However, the artwork can complement the production and give a visual introduction to the musical theme and atmosphere. More than for any other kind of music, this may be true for metal.

(Updated 30.01.2023)

1.Amorphis - Under The Red Cloud

2.Deadsoul Tribe - The January Tree

3.Death - Symbolic

4.Disillusion - Ayam

5.Dordeduh - Har

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I've played somewhere in the region of 1200 albums this year - there's been a lot of great stuff among them, so this will not be an easy list to narrow down - I'd like to say I can be stricter than the 25 I had in last year's list, but to be honest I feel like the competition for 25 spots is more intense this time around, so I'll stick to that (making this the top 2% of albums I heard this year) - shoutouts to Gloson, The Nest, Sum Of R, Process Of Guilt, Dysnostic and Aeviterne, who probably would have had good shots of making it onto this list if I'd made the time to revisit them more. Also shoutout to Laere and Euphrosyne, whose EPs in Clandestine Cuts indicate exceedingly promising futures

1.Psychonaut - Violate Consensus Reality

2.Disillusion - Ayam

3.Persefone - Metanoia

4.Kardashev - Liminal Rite

5.Shadow Of Intent - Elegy

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1.In Vain - Ænigma

2.Disillusion - Ayam

3.Sculptured - Embodiment

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1.Saor - Origins

2.Aenaon - Mnemosyne

3.Blind Guardian - The God Machine

4.Wilderun - Epigone

5.Disillusion - Ayam

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1.Porcupine Tree - Closure / Continuation

2.Disillusion - Ayam

3.In The Woods... - Diversum

4.Ghost - Impera

5.Threshold - Dividing Lines

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2022 was a great year for Prog Metal.
A lot of fine albums.

1.Disillusion - Ayam

2.An Abstract Illusion - Woe

3.Aeternam - Heir Of The Rising Sun

4.Brymir - Voices In The Sky

5.Persefone - Metanoia

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It's a list of all the albums that I plan on listening to from the year 2022.

Edit 2023: the list is now a personal ruffly ranked top 100 of the year.

1.Persefone - Metanoia

2.Wilderun - Epigone

3.Disillusion - Ayam

4.An Abstract Illusion - Woe

5.Kardashev - Liminal Rite

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Fell just shy of 100 albums per month for the first half of the year, I imagine I won't be matching that but let's try to get to a full 1000 albums for the year at least.

1.Psychonaut - Violate Consensus Reality

2.Disillusion - Ayam

3.An Abstract Illusion - Woe

4.Panzerfaust - The Suns Of Perdition - Chapter III: The Astral Drain

5.Wake - Thought Form Descent

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1.Psychonaut - Violate Consensus Reality

2.White Ward - False Light

3.Disillusion - Ayam

4.Persefone - Metanoia

5.An Abstract Illusion - Woe

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1.Fellowship - The Saberlight Chronicles

2.Ode And Elegy - Ode And Elegy

3.Porcupine Tree - Closure / Continuation

4.Tómarúm - Ash In Realms Of Stone Icons

5.Disillusion - Ayam

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even though 2021's list isn't final yet (are they ever?) - I'm compelled any-damn-way to rank the 2022's I've been bamboozled with the most... most of it happens to be metal in some way or another - but, like my previous ones... non-metal albums that kick my ass (softly?) will surely be included, as well - hope it helps or is at least interesting to even one MS'er! (even if that MS'er is me hehe)

updated - 5/19/22
updated - 1/18/23

1.Skin Tension - Omni

2.Devin Townsend - Lightwork

3.Persefone - Metanoia

4.Wilderun - Epigone

5.Sigh - Shiki

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All my top 2022 albums ranked in order that I have listened to completely. No EP's included only full length albums.

1.An Abstract Illusion - Woe

2.Psychonaut - Violate Consensus Reality

3.Panzerfaust - The Suns Of Perdition - Chapter III: The Astral Drain

4.Aenaon - Mnemosyne

5.Djevel - Naa Skrider Natten Sort

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1.Witcher - Lélekharang

2.Jani Liimatainen - My Father's Son

3.Civil War - Invaders

4.An Abstract Illusion - Woe

5.Evergrey - A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament)

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My List of the releases made during 2022. Score based on the excel sheet i've made https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Hk_3gkpCfeKtdZNus_z3sxg-U8XJ_MqklfC8tbealaE/edit?usp=sharing

1.Blut Aus Nord - Disharmonium - Undreamable Abysses

2.An Abstract Illusion - Woe

3.Porcupine Tree - Closure / Continuation

4.Celeste - Assassine(s)

5.Gaerea - Mirage

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1.Horizon Ignited - Towards The Dying Lands

2.An Abstract Illusion - Woe

3.Sabaton - The War To End All Wars

4.The Halo Effect - Days Of The Lost

5.Disillusion - Ayam

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