Those who say there’s no good music out there are clearly not trying enough. Each year you have a few big names that impress and a few that disappoint, while a bunch of underground and semi-underground efforts that are very impressive don’t get the attention they deserve. I hope that even those with the most particular tastes can hopefully discover a new band or album through this or the various other lists I’ve put up in the last week or two. Page 2 includes my favourite EP and Live Album for the genre and Page 3 includes a Best Song list, which is mostly just a compilation of all the individual performance lists. Note that a good bunch of the descriptions would be similar to the ones you may have read on previous lists and columns.
2018 was particularly significant for me and the blog: The monthly columns that I decided to launch have been a definite success: I have had positive responses from communities all over the world, as well as a clear boost in viewership during the year from organic sources. A lot of that has to do with the r/progmetal community, with whom I share my content and get feedback regularly, and most of all to the prog metal discord server, through which I’ve discovered countless new as well as underground bands and albums, and developed a bond with the very friendly and welcoming fellow members and musicians. That’s enough of me! First up..
Disclaimer: Everyone has different definitions about which band, album and song is progressive and which isn’t. For simplicity, I have stuck to bands classified as progressive rock or metal either on rateyourmusic.com and occasionally based on what I think. Albums with prog as subgenres are included.
Quicklinks –
Page 1: Best Album (LPs)
Page 2: Best EP and Live Album
Page 3: Best Song
Best Album
#25
Orphaned Land – Unsung Prophets and Dead Messiahs
Genre – Folk Metal, Progressive Metal (Mixed Vocals)
Orphaned Land‘s newest effort combines the longer, progressive tracks of their signature Middle-Eastern sound from ‘Mabool’, such as on the cracking opener ‘The Cave’; with their recent shorter, oriental ‘pop’ metal sound, present on ‘We Do Not Resist’, to get a balanced effort that matches up with the best folk metal albums in recent years. The presence of guest musicians Hansi Kirsch and Tomas Lindberg, on vocals, and Steve Hackett, who dispatches a sensational solo on ‘Chains Fall to Gravity’, provide for plenty of variation. Kobi Furhi on the vocals and Uri Zelcha on the bass are praiseworthy, and the production by Jens Borgen is tight.
Notable Tracks: The Cave, We Do Not Resist, Chains Fall to Gravity
#24
VOLA – Applause Of A Distant Crowd
Genre – Progressive Metal (Clean Vocals)
An initial disappointment at the overall toning down of the heaviness from Inmazes was followed by a crippling addiction to the first half of this new VOLA album. ‘We Are Thin Air’ is a dreamy song of the finest order, as Asger Mygind soft vocals tickle the ears and riffs build in intensity. Martin Werner, the keyboardist, is the most influential in here, carrying entire songs on his own, with his simple but irresistible melodies on ‘Ghosts’ and ‘Alien Shivers’ making you come back for more time and again. Then there’s the song that wouldn’t sound out of place in the first album, ‘Smartfriend’, whose djenty, drum-heavy final sequence is easy concert mosh-material. A new VOLA album might never be as heavy as Inmazes again, but as long as they continue developing their melodious core, there will be no doubt be moments of magic in their music.
Notable Tracks – We Are Thin Air, Ghosts, Smartfriend
Links: Spotify // YouTube // Bandcamp // Apple Music
#23
Keor – Petrichor
Genre – Progressive Rock (Clean Vocals)
‘Eclectic’ is a perfect word to describe this sophomore album by Keor. The opening title track uses the guitar to build up expertly into a heavy sequence that immediately brings parallels to Steven Wilson‘s writing. There are a fair bunch of moments that make you sit straight up on your seat: extreme metal riffs and blast beats, fantastical cinematic sections and overwhelming atmospherics. ‘Terence’ is another beautifully written track with sinister interplay between the piano and guitar, and a stunning solo to boot. Fans of well-produced, modern progressive rock will find a lot to enjoy on this one.
Notable Tracks – Petrichor, Terrence, Snivel by the Pond
Links: Spotify // YouTube // Bandcamp // Apple Music
#22
Subsignal – La Muerta
Genre – Progressive Rock, Neo-Prog (Clean Vocals)
Let’s face it: Most prog albums are dark, with heavy lyrics or straight-up evil riffs, once you step into prog metal. Subsignal’s La Muerta thus offers a wonderful change to your album queue, fresh and vivid throughout and consistently delivering appealing vocal passages balanced by above-average instrumentation variation. Vocalist Arno Menses has a knack of coercing choruses and certain phrases in your head for a while, and his best performance is on ‘The Approaches’, whose outro flourishes are marvellously executed. Those who are very picky about their front-men, this one should be up your alley.
Notable Tracks – The Approaches, Even Though the Stars Don’t Shine, La Muerta
Links: Spotify // Apple Music
#21
Riverside – Wasteland
Genre – Progressive Rock (Clean Vocals)
Riverside have bounced back from the tragedy of their guitarist passing away to compose an album that is relatively simple in composition yet profoundly beautiful. It includes heavier tracks such as ‘Acid Rain’ that open with soft keys touches before adding the heat as the bass enters the fray in a signature Duda fashion. The longest ones are almost entirely instrumental, while a good number of the rest are shorter ballads or acoustic dirges. Safe to say, we’re all relieved that the band decided to continue making music, and Wasteland proves that they’re more than capable of continuing to charm us.
Notable Tracks – Acid Rain, Wasteland, The Struggle to Survive
Links: Spotify // YouTube // Apple Music
#20
Michael Romeo – War of the Worlds, Pt. 1
Genre – Progressive Metal, Symphonic Metal (Clean Vocals)
Michael Romeo, known to many as the guitarist and songwriter of Symphony-X, announced a surprise solo effort earlier this year and followed it through with a very solid progressive metal take on the novel and score (by John Williams) of the same name. It is essentially, in riffage and execution, very similar to recent Symphony-X albums, but with a new ensemble, including Rick Castellano on vocals, who’s especially adept on ‘Fear the Unknown’. The biggest blast comes from ‘F*cking Robots’, which, despite its cheesy name, employs a few incredible dub-step screeches and an appealing chorus, while ‘Djinn’ adds dabs in oriental music. This is the sort of riff-driven heavy prog metal that is bound to appeal to many.
Notable Tracks: F*cking Robots, Djinn, Constellations
Links: Spotify // YouTube // Bandcamp // Apple Music
#19
Ihsahn – Àmr
Genre – Progressive Metal (Mixed Vocals)
Àmr, Ihsahn‘s latest solo effort might not live up to its excellent predecessor, but is an engaging and entertaining ride nevertheless. The synth has a bigger role to play, announcing itself on ‘Lend Me the Eyes of Millenia’, while the Arktis. riffs are back on ‘Arcana Imperi’. The artist uses his clean vocals more than ever, including a purely clean track ‘Sámr’, while his lyricism is sharp, with the most interesting phrases present on ‘Marble Soul’. ‘In Rites of Passage’ is my personal favourite, its nu-metal intro springing the album into life when it threatens to stall. Ihsahn is one of the most consistent performers in the prog metal scene and Àmr corroborates why.
Notable Tracks – In Rites of Passage, Marble Soul, Wake
Links: Spotify // YouTube // Apple Music
#18
Potmos Hetoimos – Vox Medusae
Genre – Avant-Garde Metal, Progressive Metal (Mixed Vocals)
Potmos Hetoimos‘ Vox Medusae is fresh and not afraid to break boundaries. It includes a whole array of influences including jazz, sludge metal, black metal and prog of course, with a couple of tracks incorporating an eerie jazz-noir feel thanks to the keys and sax. The album thematically is a concept involving a personal story on pornography addition and uses nine different characters, each with different vocal effects. ‘IV B: Perseus Pyrrhic’ opens with a lovely sax intro and dives into a swerving guitar solo a few phrases in, while ‘III: The Silicon Mirror’ is more thrashy, filled with great hooks and a memorable outro. If harsh vocals are not a no-no and you are in the mood for something different, do check out Vox Medusae.
Notable Tracks – IV B: Perseus Pyrrhic, III: The Silicon Mirror, II: Voracious Embrace
Links : Spotify // Bandcamp // Apple Music
#17
In Vain – Currents
Genre – Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal (Mixed Vocals)
Norwegian band In Vain have again successfully combined melodic death metal with progressive influences, just as many of their Nordic counterparts have done, on their new effort Currents. The album is filled with delightful variation: ‘Seekers of the Truth’ and ‘Soul Adventurer’ are relatively straightforward prog death tracks, while ‘Origin’ and ‘As the Black Horde Storms’ add groovy and atmospheric elements respectively. The riff composition is top-notch and the harsh and clean equilibrium achieved by Andreas Frigstad and Sindre Nedland is up there with the best in the genre.
Notable Tracks: Origin, As Black Horde Storms, Seekers of the Truth
Links: Spotify // YouTube // Bandcamp // Apple Music
#16
Greyhaven – Empty Black
Genre – Metalcore, Progressive Metal (Mixed Vocals)
Empty Black is an audacious effort employing heavy, chaotic riffs that would please fans of Converge and The Dillinger Escape Plan. The first half of the album especially is ridiculously engaging: ‘Blemish’ has a jump-out-your-seat intro while ‘Echo and Dust Pt. 1’ inverts things and uses a slower approach. Brent Mills has a gifted voice that smoothly transitions between harshes and cleans, while Ethan Spray keeps himself very busy behind the drum-set. This young American band is one to keep an eye out for.
Notable Tracks: Blemish, Echo and Dust Pt. 1, Ten Dogs – Red Heaven
Links: Spotify // YouTube // Apple Music
#15
Howling Sycamore- Howling Sycamore
Genre – Avant-Garde Metal, Progressive Metal (Mixed / Clean Vocals)
The debut album from Howling Sycamore is very much the definition of an acquired taste. Jason McMaster unapologetically exposes his vocals, straining them till they often crack. But there’s a beauty in his ambition that also fits into the avant-garde, experimental ideas that the composers have that include screaming sax solos, sudden acoustic melodies and free-vocal outros. Hannes Grossmann shows why he’s among the topmost tier of drummers, combining unabating bass thuds with deft touches whenever needed.
Notable Tracks: Let Fall, Upended, Descent to Light
Links: Spotify // YouTube // Bandcamp // Apple Music
#14
Alkaloid – Liquid Anatomy
Genre – Progressive Metal, Technical Death Metal (Mixed Vocals)
Alkaloid’s follow-up album to the incredible The Malkulth Grimoire does the traditional definition of ‘prog’ justice. ‘Kernel Panic’ has clear 80s Yes influences in the catchy riff intro and vocal delivery (“Spin, spin go the baryons”), with a truly sumptuous cleans to harsh transition. ‘Chaos Theory and Practice’ is equally spectacular with its dance of reggae-paced guitar notes and short phrase articulation. It elsewhere contains an endless collection of hefty riffs and a dozen absurdly technical solos, with the one on the title track up there with my favourites.
Notable Tracks – Kernel Panic, Chaos Theory and Practice, Liquid Anatomy
Links: Spotify // YouTube // Bandcamp // Apple Music
#13
Black Peaks – All That Divides
Genre – Progressive Rock, Post-Hardcore (Mixed Vocals)
Proggy post-hardcore bands are still a very acquired taste for many, but Black Peaks‘ All That Divides is so good that even the most sceptic would find something to like. This could be the clean vocals that sound similar to those of Ekelöf (Soen), on ‘Can’t Sleep’ particularly, or the zestful core-harshes. You could also appreciate the proactive drumming and if none of these appeal, the guitars should do the trick. Joe Gosney‘s work takes a leaf from earlier Mastodon and implements their sound in perfect moments, often as bridges or when the song needs an injection of freshness, as seen best on ‘Slow Seas’ and ‘Electric Fires’.
Notable Tracks – Slow Seas, The Midnight Sun, Fate I & II
Links : Spotify // YouTube // Bandcamp // Apple Music
#12
Horrendous – Idol
Genre – Death Metal, Progressive Metal (Harsh Vocals)
Horrendous on Idol have added more progressive songwriting and are all the better for it: The riffs are beautifully constructed, heavy and elaborate on one track, screamy and thrashy on another. ‘Devotion – Blood for Ink’ is one of my favourites of the year, featuring screamy guitar riffs, a clean vocal bridge and a stunning outro, filled with gorgeous twin guitar solos and diverse fills-strewn drumming. Another characteristic to adore are the throaty, OSDM vocal deliveries of vocalists/ guitarists Matt Knox and Damian Herring. Finally, the production is modern, crisp and incorporates a perfect mix.
Notable Tracks – “Devotion – Blood for Ink”, “Soothsayer”, “Divine Anhedonia”
Links : Spotify // YouTube // Bandcamp // Apple Music
#11
Thy Catafalque – Geometria
Genre – Avant-Garde Metal, Progressive Metal (Mixed Vocals)
Thy Catafalque‘s Geometria may tone down on the heaviness of its predecessors but definitely lives up to its avant-garde tag. There are more electronic elements than ever, the most lively among them being on ‘Gőte’, which consequently adds wonderful bass and sax solo duets. ‘Hajnali Csillag’ goes straight early-Porcupine Tree with its bass-heavy minimalist build-up, ending in a touching climax featuring Martina Horváth as a guest vocalist. ‘Szamojéd freskó’ as well as the fascinating ‘Lágyrész’ are both still heavy, with the latter including double-bass percussion, toned-down guttural screams and a beautifully mixed bass.
Notable Tracks – Hajnali Csillag, Lágyrész, Balra a nap
Links : Spotify // YouTube // Bandcamp // Apple Music
#10
Obscura – Diluvium
Genre – Technical Death Metal, Progressive Metal (Harsh/Mixed Vocals)
Obscura don’t need to compose something groundbreaking when, as Diluvium proves, they can put out such satisfying technical music. The vocoder vocals are beautifully employed, mostly during choruses, while the production is incredible. A few progressive elements are scattered on the album: interspersed acoustic strings, abrupt transitions (The title track has a very noticeable one) and a few jazzy moments elsewhere. Steffen Kummerer and Rafael Trujillo alternate noodly sections with incredible hooks, my favorite being on the outro of ‘The Conjuration’.
Notable Tracks: Emergent Evolution, Mortification of the Vulgar Sun, Diluvium
Links (Album): Spotify // YouTube // Bandcamp // Apple Music
#9
Lux Terminus – The Courage to Be
Genre – Progressive Rock, Jazz Fusion (Instrumental, Guest Clean Vocals)
The Courage to Be, my favourite debut album of the year, is a keys- driven effort spearheaded by Vikram Shankar. It is varied and original, and features a thunderous style of playing and production termed as ‘plonk’, the djent equivalent on keys. ‘Electrocommunion’ is where you’d first hear this sound, and they wonderful lead into softer and eventually shred sections on the piano. ‘The Journey’ and ‘Abberation’ alternate these riffs with jazz and chamber music influences. Add in a cameo by Anneke van Giersbergen and perfect production, and you have a group that is worth keeping an eye out for in the future.
Notable Tracks – Miles Away, Aberration, Electrocommunion
Links: Spotify // YouTube // Bandcamp // Apple Music
#8
Southern Empire – Civilisation
Genre – Progressive Rock (Clean Vocals)
Southern Empire‘s Civilisation is the most fun progressive rock I’ve heard since that wonderful Wobbler album last year. It takes influences from old prog acts (Yes, Camel, Genesis) and even a few of the newer ones (Haken). There are lengthy, outrageously constructed softer and heavy passages, expertly infused ‘exotic’ instruments (Sax, Flute, Violin and a few oriental ones on ‘The Crossroads’, a twenty-nine minute adventure) and a very proficient front-man, Danny Lopresto, who invokes the Peter Gabriel in him during certain phrases. The solos are gorgeously executed by Cam Blokland (guitars) and Sean Timms (keys, sax), with those on the outro of ‘Cries for the Lonely’ topping my guitar solo list. Old school prog rock fans, this one is made for you.
Notable Tracks: The Crossroads, Cries for the Lonely
Links: Spotify // Apple Music
#7
Boss Keloid – Melted on the Inch
Genre – Stoner Metal, Progressive Rock (Clean Vocals)
Boss Keloid‘s Melted on the Itch is a beautiful injection of progressive elements within the frameworks of stoner metal, a genre that isn’t particularly known for experimentation. ‘Chronosiam’ and ‘Peykruve’ have recurring Yes-like motifs, often during the bridges, while ‘Jromalih’ has a Tool vibe in its percussion. Alex Hurst’s voice adds to the progressive nature of the music, switching things more than often than not from rough, high-pitched territory to soft, non-lexical vocables, even employing throat-singing during a track.
Notable Tracks – Chronosiam, Tarku Shavel, Jromalih
Links : Spotify // YouTube // Bandcamp // Apple Music
#6
Agrimonia – Awaken
Genre – Atmospheric Sludge Metal, Progressive Metal (Harsh Vocals)
Agrimonia’s Awaken works due to exemplary guitar work by Pontus and Magnus, whose riff variety, from rapids ones on ‘Foreshadowed’ to intricate ones on ‘A World Unseen’ keeps things constantly moving on the lengthy tracks. The acoustic guitars add to atmosphere and the heavy to acoustic transitions wouldn’t sound out of place on Opeth‘s Blackwater Park. Christina Blom’s coarse vocals effortlessly shift from verses to choruses to the occasional chant. The production is equally impressive, capturing every sound and even the occasional electronic beat.
Notable Tracks: Withering, Foreshadowed, A World Unseen
Links (Album): Spotify // YouTube // Bandcamp // Apple Music
#5
Between the Buried and Me – Automata I & II
Genre – Progressive Metal (Mixed Vocals)
I’m not going to talk any more about the splitting up of the album in two and instead focus solely on the excellent music that BTBAM have produced this year. While the second Automata beats the first, I thoroughly enjoyed “Condemned to the Gallows” and “House Organ” on the former, both of which introduce expertly layered vocals and an electronic undertone. The former track also has Tommy Rogers‘ best harsh vocals performance yet, a huge improvement from the early core days. ‘The Proverbial Bellow’ is jam-packed with swerving and compelling riffs, while featuring special moments from each of the members, including a perfectly placed ‘pause’. And then there is “Voice of Trespass”, the band’s metal take on swing, with Blake Richardson portraying his ridiculous talent to effortlessly execute compelling beats. The band thoroughly deserve their Grammy nomination, even if the award is worthless for rock and metal, as they are one of the true representatives of the genre.
Notable Tracks: The Proverbial Bellow, Condemned to the Gallows, Voice of Trespass
Links: Automata I Spotify // YouTube // Apple Music
Automata II Spotify // YouTube // Apple Music
#4
Dance Gavin Dance – Artificial Selection
Genre – Post-Hardcore, Progressive Rock (Mixed Vocals)
Dance Gavin Dance have been around for a while and have gathered quite the following, and Artificial Selection proves exactly why: They have a penchant for creating consistently snappy phrases and solid, sometimes technical (‘Suspended In This Disaster’ is a good example) instrumentation to accompany them. Tilian Pearson (clean) and Jon Mess (unclean) compliment each other playfully on all tracks, with ‘Care’ being a very good example of how well this dichotomy works. The lyrics aren’t exactly thought provoking, but I end up singing along to them anyways – so catchy!
Notable Tracks: Suspended In This Disaster, Care, Hair Song
Links (Album): Spotify // YouTube // Apple Music
#3
Night Verses – From the Gallery of Sleep
Genre (RYM) – Progressive Metal (Instrumental)
More often than not, albums run out of ideas on how to engage a listener consistently in the absence of vocals, but the newly-turned instrumental band Night Verses have essentially put down on a marker on how to do so. From the Gallery of Sleep combines their EP, Copper Verses, released during the same year, and adds new material. The album works on several levels: The heavy, sometimes djenty, tracks (‘No.0’, ‘Phoenix IV: Levitation’), alternate with atmospheric ones (‘Glitch in you I Thought I Knew’ which sounds like it belongs to the Blade Runner soundtrack by Vangelis; and ‘Vantablonde’) to land the former ones with even more gusto. The instrumentation itself is taken up a notch by some incredibly technical yet nuanced drumming by Aric Improta, while bassist and Reilly Herrera and guitarist Nick DePirro do well to combine progressive and post- sounds. From the Gallery of Sleep is up there with the best instrumental releases of the decade and demands your attention.
Notable Tracks: Trading Shadows, No.0 , Vantablonde
Links (Album): Spotify // YouTube // Bandcamp // Apple Music
#2
Augury – Illusive Golden Age
Genre– Technical Death Metal, Progressive Metal (Harsh / Mixed Vocals)
Among the most criminally underrated records of the year is Illusive Golden Age, a new release after nine years by the Canadian quartet Augury. The album is extremely dense yet equally satisfying once it clicks. There’s extreme technical ability on show here, right from the lengthy, noodly intro of the opening title track. Guitarists Patrick Loisel, who is also behind the mic with nightmarish vocals, and Mathieu Marcotte mix up the riffs well and the ‘head-banger’ ones lie at the end of more progressive passages, more often than not during the chorus. The drums are fierce and brisk, helped by a dynamic mix. The star of the show is Dominic “Forest” Lapointe, who is behind some of the most awe-inspiring bass playing I’ve seen in my time with progressive music. His style is inimitable, often driving to seeming dead-ends with variation and quick tapping, yet complementing other members immaculately. In a fantastic year for technical death metal, Augury take the crown.
Notable Tracks: Mater Dolorosa, Anchorite, Carrion Tide
Links: Spotify // YouTube // Bandcamp // Apple Music
WINNER!
Slugdge – Esoteric Malacology
Genre – Death Metal, Progressive Metal (Harsh / Mixed Vocals)
I expected the addiction I had to this slug-fest of an album in March to die down as months went by and I listened to the other releases. I, instead, repeatedly went back to it simply because no other album released during the year has had the consistency and the high points that this one has. Riffs run the show here, reminding me of the heavy as lead ones on Gojira‘s The way of all flesh, particularly on the opener ‘War Squids’, ‘Salt Thrower’ and the sensational bass-tapping intro of ‘Crop Killer’. The then two-man band (Matt Moss and Kev Pearson) rarely need to employ solos to drive the song forward, instead using well-timed breaks to switch from one riff to another, while the vocals sound like a mix between those of Joe Duplantier (More Gojira comparisons) and the sludgy ones on older Mastodon efforts. The production is close to perfect, considering the drums are programmed, though the abrupt cuts remain the only minute fault of this magnificent album. The gimmicky, metaphorical lyrics about molluscs and the title puns are sure to get a smirk out of you. Esoteric Malacology is a landmark effort in modern progressive death, and the scary aspect of it all is that they are capable of taking it up by another notch, now that they have a drummer Alan Cassidy (The Black Dahlia Murder) and a bassist Matt Lowe (Novena) among their ranks.
Notable Tracks: Crop Killer, War Squids, The Spectral Burrows
Links: Spotify // YouTube // Bandcamp // Apple Music
Would love to hear from you! Let me know either in the comments here, on Facebook or on Instagram. You can follow me on Spotify for all the end-of-year playlists. Check out the special mentions below and the best EP and Live Album on the next page, as well as the best song on the one after!
Here’s the Spotify playlist of all the above albums:
Special Mentions
Sigh – Heir to Despair
Manticora – To Kill to Live to Kill
Haken – Vector
The Sea Within – The Sea Within
Immortal Guardian – Age of Revolution
Hands of Despair – Well of the Disquieted
Rivers of Nihil – Where Owls Know My Name
Gungfly – Friendship
Beyond Creation – Algorythm
The Ocean – Phanerozoic I: Palaeozoic
Quicklinks –
Page 1: Best Album (LPs)
Page 2: Best EP and Live Album
Page 3: Best Song
PD's Prog Blog 
Hannes Grossmann’s tweet led me here, and it looks like we have similar taste. Thanks for the list… I found a couple releases I was unaware of! I’m still working on my AOY list and catching up on some I haven’t heard yet, but the group I’ve bucketed so far as in the running has a lot of overlap with yours. Those not on your list that (or the Special Mentions), at least at this point, are also in the mix (in order by early impression): Gorod, Oceans of Slumber, Parius, Sacral Rage, Amorphis, Redemption, Silent Stream of Godless Elegy, Yashira and Time, The Valuator. Thanks again… great stuff!
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Hi Mike, just noticed the comment, apologies for the late reply.
Glad you found interesting stuff! Some good material there that I’ve heard (but missed the list) or haven’t checked out yet. Will try to listen to them when I have the time!
Cheers, and hope to see you around for further lists 🙂
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