What's left for 2011

I highly disagree with this actually. I have found most music this year (outside of some death metal, i.e. Amon Amarth, Obscura, Gigan, etc.) to be quite disappointing. Last year there were a number of albums that blew me away. This year? Not so much. However, I think the second half looks VERY promising from what people have said such as Opeth, DT, Redemption, ICS Vortex, Myrath, Meshuggah, etc.

There were some excellent releases the first part of the year that weren't death metal IMO.

Stratovarius
Eumeria
Lost In Thought
Suncaged
No Gravity
Hammerfall
Borealis
Within Temptation
Voodoo Circle
King Kobra
Warrant
Whitesnake
Symphony X
Falconer
Serenity
Evergrey

etc...etc
 
There were some excellent releases the first part of the year that weren't death metal IMO.

Stratovarius
Eumeria
Lost In Thought
Suncaged
No Gravity
Hammerfall
Borealis
Within Temptation
Voodoo Circle
King Kobra
Warrant
Whitesnake
Symphony X
Falconer
Serenity
Evergrey

etc...etc

To reiterate, it's not that I don't think there were some good albums, but moreso that there wasn't anything that blew me away. More importantly, it just seems the second half has more things I'm interested in than the first half of the year. Of that list, the only thing I really find to be a solid great is the new Symphony X, though I haven't listened to the new Evergrey or Lost in Thought yet.
 
My list:

Opeth
Steven Wilson
ICS Vortex
Dream Theater
Karmakanic
Arch/Matheos
OSI
Voivod
Pain of Salvation
Leprous
Wintersun (?) (Ha ha...just kidding. Can you imagine?)
 
To reiterate, it's not that I don't think there were some good albums, but moreso that there wasn't anything that blew me away. More importantly, it just seems the second half has more things I'm interested in than the first half of the year. Of that list, the only thing I really find to be a solid great is the new Symphony X, though I haven't listened to the new Evergrey or Lost in Thought yet.

I know it's heresy in these parts, but I've been really underwhelmed by the new Evergrey. However, if you've not given the new Serenity a real chance, I would suggest you do. I like their older stuff, but Death and Legacy completely floors me. I can't stop listening to it. Even at work in the middle of serious jobs, when that intro section for New Horizons hits...headbanging there must be. So far, for me, that is THE album of 2011. The only things I can see coming near it are new Redemption and new Myrath.
 
I know it's heresy in these parts, but I've been really underwhelmed by the new Evergrey. However, if you've not given the new Serenity a real chance, I would suggest you do. I like their older stuff, but Death and Legacy completely floors me. I can't stop listening to it. Even at work in the middle of serious jobs, when that intro section for New Horizons hits...headbanging there must be. So far, for me, that is THE album of 2011. The only things I can see coming near it are new Redemption and new Myrath.

They've been a band on my list to take a listen to for years; it's just a matter of other bands taking priority. I could very well see myself getting it at PPUSA this year though. I've noticed the last six months my interest in prog metal, err traditional prog metal has waned significantly. The Redemption I'm looking very forward to though.
 
They've been a band on my list to take a listen to for years; it's just a matter of other bands taking priority. I could very well see myself getting it at PPUSA this year though. I've noticed the last six months my interest in prog metal, err traditional prog metal has waned significantly. The Redemption I'm looking very forward to though.

Death and Legacy has that kind of really heavy prog that I crave from Redemption. I listened to Snowfall on Judgement Day and Death and Legacy back to back earlier today and I thought they were a nice complimentary pair. Serenity is more traditional than Redemption, but they've still got some very nice weight.
 
Just heard 2 new songs from this band and frankly I think this is the best of 2011, it will be released on Aug 26.

EPYSODE debut album "Obsessions" with Kelly "Sundown" Carpenter on vocals
 
OH MY GOD!!! I just found this from Norway, MAGIC PIE this is frigging awesome, it has already been released but not here.

Part 1

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7rhpbxjdaA&feature=related[/ame]

Part 2
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTx4mJb9zBE&feature=related[/ame]