My vote for recommendation of the month....

[ElectricWiz]

....goes to Bryant for Vanden Plas. I'm blown away by this album, and can't stop spinning it.

This has been covered in other threads well enough, but I'm starting this one to bring it back up top. Christ O is just brilliant from start to finish. Fantastic (and I mean fantastic) songwriting from start to finish, heavy (and catchy) riffs peppered throughout, an intellegent approach, and the somewhat rare quality - in prog anyway - of nobody taking center stage. That is, there is not some shredder popping his head above the rest every 40 seconds. The band moves as a unit, and shines because of it. It's the sum of the parts that make the strength of the thing. There is indeed some speedy riffage here and there, but employed in such a classy way as to not make it stand out like a soar thumb.

Vanden - freaking - Plas man.....I know a lot of you have this. But those that don't really would do yourself a favor to check it out.

Again, THANKS BRYANT! The best metal album I've heard in some time. I know it's gonna be waaaay at the top of my list come the end of the year. I picked up Beyond Daylight and it's brilliant as well. I'll be working my way through the catalogue as the days progress.

 

[Death Animal]

Sounds intterestinnnggg...:Smokedev:
nevr hadd this band eather.
Sou many good bans so little time

 

[Trans-Siberian Outcast]

Christ O definitely deserves a recommendation. It is one hell of an album. Best so far for Vanden Plas. But there is one other new album that is still getting more spin-time in my Hallowed Halls.

Here's my rankings of 2006 so far, albums that I've heard repeatedly and like:

Devin Townsend
Vanden Plas
Edguy
Jorn Lande
Red Circuit
Queensryche
Phenomena
Evergrey

Of course, most of this is subject to change at any time, but Devin's album definitely tops my list so far. In a bizarre twist on the aural senses, Synchestra grates on my nerves and soothes my soul at the same time. Absolutely brilliant, totally original.

NP: Circus Maximus - 1st Chapter

 

[ElectricWiz]

Well, since you're spinning the Vanden Plas as well (TSO), I'll take your word on the Devin Townsend and finally pick it up. I have nothing by him, including STL etc. I know it's nothing like Vanden Plas, and so won't expect that, but he gets mentioned A LOT by people whose taste is not disimilar to my own.

I've been trying new stuff lately. Picked up Arch Enemy's Doomsday Machine to see if they live up to the popular hype. And frankly they ain't bad - my first experience with them. Also tried some Kamelot, Hammerfall, Spiral Architect, and even Dimmu Borgir. Broadening my horizons a bit. Oh, and I've been re-trying Blind Guardian, to better results than when first i gave them a shot. Nightfall In Middle Earth is great.

Anyway, truth is the Vanden Plas stuff (Christ O and Beyond Daylight) is pretty much the only thing spinning since I tried 'em. Just both discs back to back. I was completely oblivious to this band. Cripes!
I get the same vibe off them I did when first I heard John Arch's solo EP (which I pretty much worship), and a bunch of my other faves. Total goosebumps, and stuck in the player as it were.

 

[Trans-Siberian Outcast]

I'll take your word on the Devin Townsend and finally pick it up. I have nothing by him, including STL etc. I know it's nothing like Vanden Plas, and so won't expect that, but he gets mentioned A LOT by people whose taste is not disimilar to my own.

I'll only go so far as recommending Synchestra. Most of Devin's work is too extreme for my tastes, like Strapping Young Lad. The man is a brilliant songwriter, but he doesn't make it easy to digest his music unless you're totally pissed off at the world. This album is much more accessible though, using a wide variety of styles and all of it well-written.

I agree on nuance similarities between John Arch's Twist of Fate and the new Vanden Plas. Killer prog metal writing in action here. No doubt about it.

I prefer Arch's vocal style though.

JOHN ARCH RULES!