Concept Albums - What are your favorites?

[Mantraschism]

I don't think they tour since the lead singer passed, but I would love to see them.

It's weird this came up, as this week I've been listening to them a fair amount, in particular their first album. It's been a favorite since it came out.

They never played live at all until AFTER Mike Baker died. They have a few times since then, so hopefully one day they'll get a tour together, or play ProgPower. I absolutely love Shadow Gallery.

Anyway, my picks look much the same as most everyone else's.

Shadow Gallery - Tyranny
Shadow Gallery - Room V
Blind Guardian - Nightfall in Middle-Earth
Symphony X - V: The New Mythology Suite
Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
King Diamond - Abigail
King Diamond - "Them"
King Diamond - Conspiracy
Opeth - My Arms, Your Hearse
Emperor - Prometheus - The Discipline of Fire and Demise
Nevermore - Dreaming Neon Black
Rhapsody - Dawn of Victory
Royal Hunt - Paradox
Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime

There might be more, but that's all I can think of for now. Concept albums typically aren't my favorite album format, but when done right, they can be exceptional.

 

[Dominick_7]

Angra- Holy Land
Queensryche- Operation Mindcrime
King Diamond- Abigail/Them
Heavenly- Dust to Dust
Rhapsody- Dark Secret
Helloweeen- Keepers 1 and 2
Vanden Plas- Christ 0

 

[Hammerlock]

Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime
Evergrey - In Search of Truth
Within Temptation - The Unforgiving
Blind Guardian - Nightfall in Middle-Earth
Iron Savior - Condition Red
Symphony X - Paradise Lost
Dream Theater - Scenes From a Memory/Metropolis
Grave Digger - Excalibur
Sabaton - The Art of War
Scar Symmetry - Holographic Universe (not 100% sure on this one, but I hear a lot of repeating themes about mind blending with machine and transcending space and time. It sounds like it could be one to me, I'll have to ask Christian at the fest to know for sure!)

That's about my top ten. Honorable mention to Arena for "Pepper's Ghost". Not metal, but still a great prog rock release. Oh, and Amaseffer "Slaves For Life", doesn't make the list only because I just discovered it.

 

[DarkEmpireGTR]

You wanna talk about classic concept albums?

This.

Top 10? hmm...

1. Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
2. Pink Floyd - The Wall
3. Pain of Salvation - Remedy Lane
4. Pain of Salvation - The Perfect Element
5. King Diamond - Abigail (not sure how much this counts as a concept album, I tend to think of his stuff more as story albums since he doesn't use any repeated musical themes, which is something I think is integral to the concept album premise)
6. Edge of Sanity - Crimson
7. Dream Theater - Scenes From a Memory
8. Ayreon - The Human Equation (more of a rock opera format, though)
9. Pink Floyd - Animals
10. Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon

 

[modernwizardry]

Slough Feg's Traveler is another great concept album.

 

[Burke]

DT - Scenes from a Memory

Ryche - Mindcrime

Saga - Generation 13

Digital Ruin - Listen

Ayreon - Into the Electric Castle

Evergrey - Inner Circle

Cynthesis - DeEvolution