I've been writing up a "Best of" list annually for almost 30 years now. I used to write a paragraph on each selection, post the list to the old forum, and be guaranteed plenty of discussion for several weeks as folks explored it. The feedback made it so worth it. However, times have changed and it's time for me to change with it. Social media has created a world of ADHD musical junkies looking for the next squirrel. I'm lucky to see 10 replies now compared to 100+ ten years ago. So the honest truth is it's just not worth the effort to write a novel any longer. It sucks, but it is what it is. Instead of the "detailed why," you will now just get a short comment that may tempt you to click on it. Hopefully, you will find something that actually sparks the magic and you will leave a comment. Finally, keep in mind this is not meant to be a critical analysis and comparison of musical merits. It's simply what I enjoyed the most this year and I give no shits what anyone else thinks.
Also, there were far more than 50 good albums released. So if you don't see your favorite album, don't bitch. It was ranked #51.
Without further ado…
50. Prehistoria- Cryptic Halo: For the power freaks that thought I abandoned you, I present the bastard child with a club foot of King Diamond and early Blind Guardian.
49. Squeaky Feet- Overview Effect: It had to happen. A prog jam band. It's like the nerd version of Umphrey's McGee.
48. Maestrick- Espresso Della Vita: Bombastic and theatrical prog that is absolutey unpredictable and downright quirky at times.
47. A Flying Fish- El Pez Que Volo- Act II: Every year there is one totally fucked up and bizarro album I embrace just for the sheer lunacy and audacity coming from speakers. I don’t know what the hell this is, but Fabio shows up with a wee bit of opera.
46. Wings of Steel- Winds of Time: Young 'uns that graduated from the heavier Dokken stuff to full on, straight-up classic 80's metal. Priest fans should be all over this.
45. Philosophobia- The Constant Void: My bread and butter warm and melodic 90's style prog metal. It's what I cut my teeth on and the foundation of the festival.
44. Scardust- Souls: If you don't know this album after Day 2 selling out, you have no business reading this list.
43. Opsimath- Hauntings of the Intrepid Stardust: One man project out of Croatia that tends to defy a nice and neat categorization. It alternates between the heavy tunes (atmospheric black, grungy, etc) with acoustic/melodic stuff that doesn't sound like Opeth.
42. Dynazty- Game of Faces: Straight up melodic metal that is far more polished than most. Nils remains elite.
41. Marco Hietala- Roses from the Deep: Some were disappointed this wasn't Tarot. Not me. He shined with all the classic rock influences (especially Deep Purple).
40. Dominum- The Dead Don't Die: I don't care it was released on 12/27/24. Close enough. Catchy as hell, cheesey power metal where the zombies eat the fairies.
39. Moron Police- Pachinko!: More irreverant & light hearted fun from the weirdos of prog rock. The spirit of Freak Kitchen is present, but the melodies are far more toe tappin.'
38. Tiberius- Singing for Company: The band continues to evolve their modern prog metal while blending small bits of djent, core, pop, and serious chops (the bass!). They don't get the label hype of others with a similar motif.
37. Defecto- Echoes of Isolation: Finally! Heavy, riff-laden prog metal isn't dead! It's ok to be a nerd and feel manly after giving this a spin.
36. Spock's Beard- The The Archaeoptimist: A friend of mind said it was their best since "Snow." I can't argue.
35. Heat-Welcome to the Future: They beat Dynazty out for the same type of album this time….barely.
34. Joviac- Autofiction Part 1- Shards: Ytse Jam powers, activate! Form a new prog metal band that wears their "Images & Words" influence proudly on the epics and instrumentals. They go toward a bit more lighter side on the other tunes.
,
33. Jason Bieler & the Baron Von Bielski Orchestra- The Escapologist: Sophisticated, Irreverent, Polished, Devin on Hee Haw, Serious, WTF, Electic Escapism, Saigon Kick vibes, Looks Good in Overalls, Where's Jeff? Yeah, but he's no Bieber… all shit I heard said about this album.
32. Epica- Aspiral: They helped defined a genre and are Hall of Famers. I will always enjoy every release, just some more than others.
31. Katatonia- Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State: With the lost of Anders, the old metal stylings are officially dead and buried. Long live the kings of polished brood & groove.
30. Everon- Shells: After 17 years, they return and unleash what could be their magnum opus of neo-prog. If you aren't familar and enjoy bands like Arena & IQ, you need to jump on board as this outshines both of those bands's recent releases.
29. Time's Forgotten- Songs of Awakening: I love prog metal with big ole powerful female vocals that can shake the roof off the place.
28. Kardashev- Alunea: Not too many bands can blend progressive technical death metal with shoegaze, let alone come close to this level. Mark Garrett is about as good as it gets when it comes to blending clean, melodic vocals, death growls, and black metal shrieks.
27. Agropelter- The Book of Hours: Fans of classic 70's instrumental prog rock have their album of the year. The mellotron and Hammond work is outstanding.
26. Volbeat- Gods of Angels Trust: A nice return to form with heavy riffs and even a nod to the Johnny Cash era that helped bring them a wider audience years ago.
25. Cosmic Cathedral- Deep Water: Neil Morse returns to epic prog, but defintely more in the classic vibe than the Neil Morse Band releases with Portnoy & Gillette. I don't care for his solo stuff at all, but he can really live large in a group setting.
24. Seven Sisters- Shadow of a Fallen Star, Pt. 2: Originally a pure NWOBHM band, they are now pushing into the epic power and slightly prog territory. True fans can relax the sphincter though. Lots of nods to Maiden and 2112 Rush era interludes on the 20 minute epic tune:
23. Blackbriar- A Thousand Little Deaths: They are the only band to successfully capture not only the early Within Temptation sound, but the spirit as well.
22. Ihlo- Legacy: Huge leap forward for the band. It falls squarely into the modern, djentish side of prog, but the melodies are infectious. The album is sort of split in two with the first part being being uplifting and hook-laden while the back half is quite a bit more somber.
21. Green Carnation: A Dark Poem, Part I: The Shores of Melancholia: Reminds me a bit more of the earlier releases with the gothic influences back. What Katatonia has abandoned, Green Carnation has ran with fortunately.
20. Between the Buried & Me: The Blue Nowhere: Their most ambitious and progressive release by far. They threw everything in a blender: prog, funk, pop, orchestra, screamo, and even some breakbeats. While it pissed off a certain section of their fans, repeated listens bring out something new to enjoy every time.
19. Helloween- Giants and Monsters: They crafted an album that fits all three vocalists/eras of the band. Props for not sitting on their asses and repeating what the fans expected based on the first reunion album.
18. Royal Sorrow- Innerdeeps: Fresh, modern prog with quite a bit of alternative rock mixed in. Fans of Vola should be all over this. They are the next big thing and will be headlining after a bit more exposure.
17. Khan- That Fair and Warlike Form/Return to Dust: No, not Roy you cretins. It's the stoner/psychadelic rock album of the year. Two songs make up the entire album.
16. Gísli Gunnarsson- Úr Öskunni: Multi-instrumentalist from Iceland tht mixes modern classical and orchestral sound with ambient electronic production. It's absolutely the most serene and beautiful album released this year.
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15. Ominum Gatherum- May the Bridges We Burn Light the Way: I read a review that called them "adult-oriented" melodic death metal. That's perfect. "The Darkest City" is my favorite song they have ever released.
14, Dave Bainbridge- On the Edge (of What Could Be): Dave spent years developing his brand of proggy Celtic rock in Iona. This double album sees a bit more theatrics added to the mix.
13. Lunatic Soul- The World Under Unsun: The best passive listening album of the year. I don't recall a specific thing after listening to an entire double album, but I do recall enjoying the hell out of it while working. For the uninitiated, think of it as folky Depeche Mode (credit my wife on that description).
12. Sabaton- Legends: Crescendo and chorus. That's all that matters to me with them. Their best since "Art of War."
11. Orbit Culture- Death Above Life: One of the rare times the music rises above how much I loathe a band. No one comes close to their riffs currently. I just wish the production was as good as the music.
10. Eluveite- Ànv: It's probably their most accessible release in many years. Instead of folky death metal, it's death metal meets folk music this time around. That will make more sense after you hear it. Fabienne sounds divine.
9. Ambient Den- Ambient Den: The best new Pink Floyd album I heard this year.
8 Amorphis- Borderland: They consistently crank out quality releases and no exception here. It's a bit more straight forward than the last few, but the guitar work still remains to die for. They can teach a Master's level class on how to write a chorus.
7. Battle Beast- Steelbound: I normally don't care for all the Abba metal being cranked out these days. However, the hips don't lie. I shook my ass to this album more than any other. Plus, props for having the balls to bring back the Miami Sound Machine.
6. Astronoid- Star God: Totally light in the loafers 80's movie soundtrack synthwave with just enough metal to give them street cred. I may have ranked it even higher if it had come out earlier this year.
5. Dream Theater- Parsomnia: Welcome back, Mike.
4. Rivers of Nihil - Rivers of Nihil: The best progressive melodic death metal band on the planet. They twist the brutality and beauty up into a single catchy package. Their songwriting is so good you don't notice just how prog they are at times. Plus, SAX.
3. Jacob Roberge- The Passing: Jacob has been hailed as the next big thing in prog rock circles and deservedly so. The 30 minute long title track remainds me of the epics from The Neal Morse Band, but anchored in Jacob's exquiste guitar leads.
2. Sleep Token- Even in Arcadia: Just a crediblity reminder…I have had them in my top 10 lists even before they were opening for Katatonia to 100 people here in the States years ago. They will never top the creative heights of "Take Me Back to Eden," but they came close here. You either are gut punched by the lyrical poetry or wear a battle vest.
1. Lord of the Lost- Opvs Noir Volumes 1 & 2: Shut up, I'm counting both albums as a single release. I used to take critical analysis into my ranking my number one album based on multiple factors. Now, I just look at what I played the most….and nothing else came close. This is a wonderful return to form from their Eurovison glam pandering. The dark, gothic metal vibe with atmospheric bits of industrial is just catchy as fuck. Plus, Chris's voice is uniquely elite.
From Volume 1:
From Volume 2:
Also, there were far more than 50 good albums released. So if you don't see your favorite album, don't bitch. It was ranked #51.
Without further ado…
50. Prehistoria- Cryptic Halo: For the power freaks that thought I abandoned you, I present the bastard child with a club foot of King Diamond and early Blind Guardian.
49. Squeaky Feet- Overview Effect: It had to happen. A prog jam band. It's like the nerd version of Umphrey's McGee.
48. Maestrick- Espresso Della Vita: Bombastic and theatrical prog that is absolutey unpredictable and downright quirky at times.
47. A Flying Fish- El Pez Que Volo- Act II: Every year there is one totally fucked up and bizarro album I embrace just for the sheer lunacy and audacity coming from speakers. I don’t know what the hell this is, but Fabio shows up with a wee bit of opera.
46. Wings of Steel- Winds of Time: Young 'uns that graduated from the heavier Dokken stuff to full on, straight-up classic 80's metal. Priest fans should be all over this.
45. Philosophobia- The Constant Void: My bread and butter warm and melodic 90's style prog metal. It's what I cut my teeth on and the foundation of the festival.
44. Scardust- Souls: If you don't know this album after Day 2 selling out, you have no business reading this list.
43. Opsimath- Hauntings of the Intrepid Stardust: One man project out of Croatia that tends to defy a nice and neat categorization. It alternates between the heavy tunes (atmospheric black, grungy, etc) with acoustic/melodic stuff that doesn't sound like Opeth.
42. Dynazty- Game of Faces: Straight up melodic metal that is far more polished than most. Nils remains elite.
41. Marco Hietala- Roses from the Deep: Some were disappointed this wasn't Tarot. Not me. He shined with all the classic rock influences (especially Deep Purple).
40. Dominum- The Dead Don't Die: I don't care it was released on 12/27/24. Close enough. Catchy as hell, cheesey power metal where the zombies eat the fairies.
39. Moron Police- Pachinko!: More irreverant & light hearted fun from the weirdos of prog rock. The spirit of Freak Kitchen is present, but the melodies are far more toe tappin.'
38. Tiberius- Singing for Company: The band continues to evolve their modern prog metal while blending small bits of djent, core, pop, and serious chops (the bass!). They don't get the label hype of others with a similar motif.
37. Defecto- Echoes of Isolation: Finally! Heavy, riff-laden prog metal isn't dead! It's ok to be a nerd and feel manly after giving this a spin.
36. Spock's Beard- The The Archaeoptimist: A friend of mind said it was their best since "Snow." I can't argue.
35. Heat-Welcome to the Future: They beat Dynazty out for the same type of album this time….barely.
34. Joviac- Autofiction Part 1- Shards: Ytse Jam powers, activate! Form a new prog metal band that wears their "Images & Words" influence proudly on the epics and instrumentals. They go toward a bit more lighter side on the other tunes.
,
33. Jason Bieler & the Baron Von Bielski Orchestra- The Escapologist: Sophisticated, Irreverent, Polished, Devin on Hee Haw, Serious, WTF, Electic Escapism, Saigon Kick vibes, Looks Good in Overalls, Where's Jeff? Yeah, but he's no Bieber… all shit I heard said about this album.
32. Epica- Aspiral: They helped defined a genre and are Hall of Famers. I will always enjoy every release, just some more than others.
31. Katatonia- Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State: With the lost of Anders, the old metal stylings are officially dead and buried. Long live the kings of polished brood & groove.
30. Everon- Shells: After 17 years, they return and unleash what could be their magnum opus of neo-prog. If you aren't familar and enjoy bands like Arena & IQ, you need to jump on board as this outshines both of those bands's recent releases.
29. Time's Forgotten- Songs of Awakening: I love prog metal with big ole powerful female vocals that can shake the roof off the place.
28. Kardashev- Alunea: Not too many bands can blend progressive technical death metal with shoegaze, let alone come close to this level. Mark Garrett is about as good as it gets when it comes to blending clean, melodic vocals, death growls, and black metal shrieks.
27. Agropelter- The Book of Hours: Fans of classic 70's instrumental prog rock have their album of the year. The mellotron and Hammond work is outstanding.
26. Volbeat- Gods of Angels Trust: A nice return to form with heavy riffs and even a nod to the Johnny Cash era that helped bring them a wider audience years ago.
25. Cosmic Cathedral- Deep Water: Neil Morse returns to epic prog, but defintely more in the classic vibe than the Neil Morse Band releases with Portnoy & Gillette. I don't care for his solo stuff at all, but he can really live large in a group setting.
24. Seven Sisters- Shadow of a Fallen Star, Pt. 2: Originally a pure NWOBHM band, they are now pushing into the epic power and slightly prog territory. True fans can relax the sphincter though. Lots of nods to Maiden and 2112 Rush era interludes on the 20 minute epic tune:
23. Blackbriar- A Thousand Little Deaths: They are the only band to successfully capture not only the early Within Temptation sound, but the spirit as well.
22. Ihlo- Legacy: Huge leap forward for the band. It falls squarely into the modern, djentish side of prog, but the melodies are infectious. The album is sort of split in two with the first part being being uplifting and hook-laden while the back half is quite a bit more somber.
21. Green Carnation: A Dark Poem, Part I: The Shores of Melancholia: Reminds me a bit more of the earlier releases with the gothic influences back. What Katatonia has abandoned, Green Carnation has ran with fortunately.
20. Between the Buried & Me: The Blue Nowhere: Their most ambitious and progressive release by far. They threw everything in a blender: prog, funk, pop, orchestra, screamo, and even some breakbeats. While it pissed off a certain section of their fans, repeated listens bring out something new to enjoy every time.
19. Helloween- Giants and Monsters: They crafted an album that fits all three vocalists/eras of the band. Props for not sitting on their asses and repeating what the fans expected based on the first reunion album.
18. Royal Sorrow- Innerdeeps: Fresh, modern prog with quite a bit of alternative rock mixed in. Fans of Vola should be all over this. They are the next big thing and will be headlining after a bit more exposure.
17. Khan- That Fair and Warlike Form/Return to Dust: No, not Roy you cretins. It's the stoner/psychadelic rock album of the year. Two songs make up the entire album.
16. Gísli Gunnarsson- Úr Öskunni: Multi-instrumentalist from Iceland tht mixes modern classical and orchestral sound with ambient electronic production. It's absolutely the most serene and beautiful album released this year.
[/td]
15. Ominum Gatherum- May the Bridges We Burn Light the Way: I read a review that called them "adult-oriented" melodic death metal. That's perfect. "The Darkest City" is my favorite song they have ever released.
14, Dave Bainbridge- On the Edge (of What Could Be): Dave spent years developing his brand of proggy Celtic rock in Iona. This double album sees a bit more theatrics added to the mix.
13. Lunatic Soul- The World Under Unsun: The best passive listening album of the year. I don't recall a specific thing after listening to an entire double album, but I do recall enjoying the hell out of it while working. For the uninitiated, think of it as folky Depeche Mode (credit my wife on that description).
12. Sabaton- Legends: Crescendo and chorus. That's all that matters to me with them. Their best since "Art of War."
11. Orbit Culture- Death Above Life: One of the rare times the music rises above how much I loathe a band. No one comes close to their riffs currently. I just wish the production was as good as the music.
10. Eluveite- Ànv: It's probably their most accessible release in many years. Instead of folky death metal, it's death metal meets folk music this time around. That will make more sense after you hear it. Fabienne sounds divine.
9. Ambient Den- Ambient Den: The best new Pink Floyd album I heard this year.
8 Amorphis- Borderland: They consistently crank out quality releases and no exception here. It's a bit more straight forward than the last few, but the guitar work still remains to die for. They can teach a Master's level class on how to write a chorus.
7. Battle Beast- Steelbound: I normally don't care for all the Abba metal being cranked out these days. However, the hips don't lie. I shook my ass to this album more than any other. Plus, props for having the balls to bring back the Miami Sound Machine.
6. Astronoid- Star God: Totally light in the loafers 80's movie soundtrack synthwave with just enough metal to give them street cred. I may have ranked it even higher if it had come out earlier this year.
5. Dream Theater- Parsomnia: Welcome back, Mike.
4. Rivers of Nihil - Rivers of Nihil: The best progressive melodic death metal band on the planet. They twist the brutality and beauty up into a single catchy package. Their songwriting is so good you don't notice just how prog they are at times. Plus, SAX.
3. Jacob Roberge- The Passing: Jacob has been hailed as the next big thing in prog rock circles and deservedly so. The 30 minute long title track remainds me of the epics from The Neal Morse Band, but anchored in Jacob's exquiste guitar leads.
2. Sleep Token- Even in Arcadia: Just a crediblity reminder…I have had them in my top 10 lists even before they were opening for Katatonia to 100 people here in the States years ago. They will never top the creative heights of "Take Me Back to Eden," but they came close here. You either are gut punched by the lyrical poetry or wear a battle vest.
1. Lord of the Lost- Opvs Noir Volumes 1 & 2: Shut up, I'm counting both albums as a single release. I used to take critical analysis into my ranking my number one album based on multiple factors. Now, I just look at what I played the most….and nothing else came close. This is a wonderful return to form from their Eurovison glam pandering. The dark, gothic metal vibe with atmospheric bits of industrial is just catchy as fuck. Plus, Chris's voice is uniquely elite.
From Volume 1:
From Volume 2:
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