Favorite concept albums

[Bryant]

The Seraphic Clockwork
Christ 0
Operation Mindcrime
Sieges Even - The Art of Navigating by the Stars
Dark Side of the Moon - I have a new theory. David Gilmour is God


Bryant

 

[Rockbox1590]

Ayreon: Into The Electric Castle - this was the first Ayreon album I got into, and one of the first progressive rock/metal albums that drew me into the genre. I could actually list the entire saga as my favorite, but this was the album that started it all for me.

Symphony X: V - my favorite Symphony X album to date, this one has it all for me. While I really liked the material on the album, it was Egypt that grabbed me and wouldn't let go. The harmonic pre-chorus sung "in the round" is just haunting!

Fates Warning: APSOG - I picked up this album with no real idea what the story was about. As I listened to it, I formed a story about a man looking back across the years where he had a strong relationship with a woman. I was rather surprised to find out it was about the band's relationship with it's fans!

Dream Theater: Scenes From A Memory - as Metropolis Pt 1 became my favorite DT song, I was seriously hyped about this release. It lived up to my expectations and then some! I was even more surprised to here a riff from ITEC used in one of the songs here. Of the epic songs and concept pieces they've recorded since this, Scenes still remains my favorite. Unless they decide to release the 12 Step Suite as an official album. Maybe an EP?

Queensryche: Operation Mindcrime - while I'm not a huge Queensryche fan, this album does hold a special place for me. I realized one day that it was the first progressive metal and the first concept album I owned as a kid. You never forget your first time. Definitely a great album, and sadly one of the last Queensryche albums I would fully enjoy. Empire would be the last.

Ever-FUCKING-grey: In Search Of Truth - it wasn't long after I joined the Perpetual Motion community that this came out, and I bit into the hype big time! I was blown away the first time I listened to The Masterplan, and this still remains my favorite Evergrey album. The Inner Circle is a very close second, and would probably be here instead of In Search Of Truth had it come out first.

Kamelot: Epica/The Black Halo - it took a while for me to get into Epica, but Black Halo grabbed me from the beginning. I'm a Kahn fanboy, and these albums really show why. Thomas' writing on these albums was stellar, and Ghost Opera and Poetry For The Poisoned benefitted from it.

 

[General Zod]

In no order, and possibly of equal brilliance...

Pink Floyd - The Wall
Queensryche- Mindcrime
Nevermore - Dreaming Neon Black
Opeth - Still Life

 

[J-Man]

No Particular order, just my favorites:

Everygrey - In Search of the Truth
Symphony X - Paradise Lost
Dreyelands - Rooms of Revalation
Vanden Plas -The Seraphic Clockwork
Pyramaze - Legend of the Bone Carver
Circus Maximus - Isolate
Star One - Space Metal

But the best ever done in my Opinion:

Emerson. Lake, and Palmer - Tarkus

 

[Bamafan]

Following Zod's lead, no order here:
Queensryche: Operation Mindcrime. Geez, what the hell happened to this band? They used to be so great.
Dream Theater: SFaM. It took me several listens to fully appreciate how amazing an album it is. I still think they should have brought in a killer female vocalist for the female role.
Pink Floyd: The Wall. Roger Water's paranoia + David Gilmour's masterful minimalist guitar = classic.
Seventh Wonder: Mercy Falls. The reason I discovered PP and scooted over to Atlanta last year. The band's skill is jaw dropping. Now if they'd just re-record the "actors'" voice overs...
Rush: 2112. I know, only the first half is conceptual, but what a great first half. I wore out several vinyl copies.

 

[Azrael LenGraden]

STREETS - Savatage (for me personaly, nothing touches this)
THE CRIMSON IDOL - W.A.S.P.
ABIGAIL - King Diamond
DEAD WINTER DEAD - Savatage
THE WALL - Pink Floyd
OPERATION MINDCRIME - Queensryche
CHRIST 0 - Vanden Plas
IN SEARCH OF TRUTH - Evergrey

 

[AngraRULES]

Circus Maximus - Isolate

I am not sure Isolate is a concept album. Don't think so, but I could be wrong.

 

[DuchessOfDork]

Avantasia 1
Avantasia 2
..and anything by Rhapsody.

 

[AngraRULES]

Savatage - Streets
Evergrey - The Inner Circle
Angra - Holy Land
Angra - Temple of Shadows
Dream Theater - Scenes From a Memory
Opeth - Still Life
Evergrey - In Search of Truth
Seventh Wonder - Mercy Falls
Blind Guardian - Nightfall in Middle Earth
Kamelot - Epica/The Black Halo
Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet
Rhapsody - The Frozen Tears of Angels (not the concept per se, but the music)
Circus Maximus - Isolate (Thanks J-Man!)

 

[DuchessOfDork]

Savatage - Streets
Evergrey - The Inner Circle
Angra - Holy Land
Angra - Temple of Shadows
Dream Theater - Scenes From a Memory
Opeth - Still Life
Symphony X - The Odyssey
Seventh Wonder - Mercy Falls
Blind Guardian - Nightfall in Middle Earth
Kamelot - Epica/The Black Halo
Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet
Rhapsody - The Frozen Tears of Angels (not the concept per se, but the music)

Forgot that one.. Nightfall in Middle Earth is awesome, and I could listen to it like.. a million times and not get tired of it.

 

[J-Man]

I am not sure Isolate is a concept album. Don't think so, but I could be wrong.

I think when this album came out someone made the remark that it could be a concept album due to the nature of the songs being about a man's fall into madness

 

[BenMech]

No Particular order, just my favorites:
Symphony X - Paradise Lost
Emerson. Lake, and Palmer - Tarkus

Explain how side A fits with side B (Same question with Rush's 2112 to those who included that).

A Concept album has a full narrative from beginning to end.

I'm not saying these examples aren't good. But they're not concept albums.

 

[Harvester]

Queensrcyhe- Operation: Mindcrime
Savatage- Streets
WASP- The Crimson Idol
Payne's Gray- Kaddath Decoded
Evergrey- In Search of Truth
Blind Guardian- Nightfall in Middle Earth

 

[J-Man]

Explain how side A fits with side B (Same question with Rush's 2112 to those who included that).

A Concept album has a full narrative from beginning to end.

I'm not saying these examples aren't good. But they're not concept albums.

Both are concept albums in my opinion, and I won't get into an arguement over this. It is my opinion, and you have yours and i respect that.

 

[AngraRULES]

I think when this album came out someone made the remark that it could be a concept album due to the nature of the songs being about a man's fall into madness

You're right. Just found this interview with the band, from around the release period:

This new release seems to be a concept album, am I wrong ?

No, you are completely right! It turned out to be concept album when we started to write the lyrics. Allmost all the music was written then Lasse and Truls had an idea for a story and we all thought it was cool because it fitted the sound perfectly. The story is about how much you can loose it until you go completely mad, and how much you have lost when insanity finally embraces you.

Guess I'm adding it to my list, as it's one of my favorite albums ever.

 

[J-Man]

You're right. Just found this interview with the band, from around the release period:

This new release seems to be a concept album, am I wrong ?

No, you are completely right! It turned out to be concept album when we started to write the lyrics. Allmost all the music was written then Lasse and Truls had an idea for a story and we all thought it was cool because it fitted the sound perfectly. The story is about how much you can loose it until you go completely mad, and how much you have lost when insanity finally embraces you.

Guess I'm adding it to my list, as it's one of my favorite albums ever.

Good, You better add it, as it is one of the best there is in my opinion.:danceboy:

 

[saskthunder]

1. Jupiter Society- Terraform
2. Jupiter Society- First Contact/Last Warning
3. Ayreon- 01011001 / The Human Equation (tie)
4. Kamelot- The Black Halo
5. Epica- Consign to Oblivion

there are so, so many more, but in terms of what i'm listening to currently, those are the faves. Ultimately, could probably do a top 50!

 

[booB]

Savatage - Streets, Dead Winter Dead, The Wake of Magellan -- for concept albums, nobody touches Savatage. Granted, Poets and Madmen was clumsy as a concept, but IMO that was Paul O'Neill's fault for making it one in the first place.

Morgana Lefay - Maleficium, Grand Materia
Iced Earth - Night of the Stormrider, The Dark Saga
Jag Panzer - Thane to the Throne
Dio - Magica
Nevermore - Dreaming Neon Black
Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime
King Diamond - Abigail
Virgin Steele - The House of Atreus Acts I and II, Marriage of Heaven and Hell Parts I and II, Invictus
Scanner - Mental Reservation
Elegy - Manifestation of Fear
Ayreon - The Final Experiment (the only Ayreon I've ever enjoyed this much)
Royal Hunt - Paradox
Iron Savior - s/t, Unification
Ram-Zet - Escape
Exises - Reternity
Fear Factory - Obsolete

 

[FatesFan]

Savatage - Streets
Evergrey - The Inner Circle
Angra - Holy Land
Angra - Temple of Shadows
Dream Theater - Scenes From a Memory
Opeth - Still Life
Symphony X - The Odyssey
Seventh Wonder - Mercy Falls
Blind Guardian - Nightfall in Middle Earth
Kamelot - Epica/The Black Halo
Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet
Rhapsody - The Frozen Tears of Angels (not the concept per se, but the music)
Circus Maximus - Isolate (Thanks J-Man!)

Great list. Temple of Shadows is one that I struggled with not including in my list.It def falls within my top 15 concepts.

I didn't think The Odyssey was a concept album from start to finish. Obviously the title track is and a monster one at that. I could be wrong. If it is, I need to revise my list.

 

[AngraRULES]

Great list. Temple of Shadows is one that I struggled with not including in my list.I def falls within my top 15 concepts.

I didn't think The Odyssey was a concept album from start to finish. Obviously the title track is and a monster on at that. I could be wrong. If it is, I need to revise my list.

Thanks! You are absolutely right, it's not a concept album, and I'm removing it from my list. Evergrey's In Search of Truth is taking that spot.