Savatage- Wake of Magellan (I managed to lose my copy of this some years ago and can't find either a physical copy or an active seed anymore)
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Savatage- Wake of Magellan (I managed to lose my copy of this some years ago and can't find either a physical copy or an active seed anymore)
Wow, Ben. You and me must have really similar taste. Twilight is also my favorite SX album (I went with V just because it's more "prog," but I love the songs on Twilight). Temple of Shadows is my favorite Angra (Again, I listed Rebirth for the same reason). Symbolic is my favorite Death album, and honestly, I'm a huge fan of LD50. What a solid and interesting album with some seriously great moments.
But Ark-Burn The Sun is a fucking awesome album !! really worth checking it out
Prog metal. Yes, well, ok. In no particular order, here's a few I'll start with:
Symphony X - V | If it wasn't for this album, I'd probably think that Symphony X would be a mediocre band today. This album alone makes them one of my favorite bands. Or was, if they continue down the path of Paradise Lost (meheherp).
Mechanical Poet - Woodland Prattlers/Handmade Essence (2cd compilation) | I think I'm the only person in the world who enjoys listening to this band. Think Alice in Wonderland-prog metal. Strayed Moppet, Natural Quaternion and Hermetical Orchard are awesome one-of-a-kind songs. This band turned into shit when they switched vocalist and stuff so avoid this band like the plague unless it's one of these two albums (or both, as I have them on a 2cd thingy).
Green Carnation - Light of Day, Day of Darkness | Most people consider this a prog metal album, even though it's very heavy on the doom and gloom. A masterpiece that I haven't heard a single person not like, once they've given it a listen. Excellent guitar solos and amazing vocals... for 60 fucking minutes straight.
Dream Theater - Scenes from a memory | I consider this their magnus opus. If they release anything better than this I will eat my own penis. The best concept album with a 'story' I've actually been arsed to follow and go in-depth with. Even the gay songs on this one are A++.
Ayreon - Into the Electric Castle | It was a tough decision between this one and Universal Migrator pt1. But in the end, this one holds the best standard, even though I really like both albums. Damian Wilson (Threshold) and Fish (Marillion) are two of my favorite vocalists and they sing on the same fucking tack. Like, twice. I think. The Human Equation and 101010whatever haven't got shit on these two albums once you've really listened to them.
Vision Divine - The Perfect Machine | It's like a danish fucking James LaBrie singing (hahahahaha), but he can hold a fucking tone that's for sure. Great musicianship and a lot of catchy melodies. I actually consider this band to be a little underrated, and anyone who's into SX/DT/shit should give it a quick listen. If you don't strangle yourself after a minute, chances are you actually like it.
Communic - Waves of Visual Decay | Communic is a stupid fucking name because it doesn't mean anything and it's not really that cool. However, Fooled by the serpent from this albums is really fuckin cool. The songs are all like 6 minutes long (or longer) and pretty repetitive but it's all good stuff.
A.C.T - Silence | Underrated band. Chances are you've never heard of them before. Swedish Dream Theater copy-cats, but with jazzish influences, and really not that heavy. Actually they're quite poppy at times. But the musicianship is ace and so are all the fucking songs on this album. The Last Epic is another great album from these guys.
edit: I was listening to this now so I'll add it as well:
Conception - Parallel Minds | Great shit featuring that norwegian guy singing for Kamelot (Khan, is it?). So, yeah, except for Siege Perilous, Epica and the Fourth Legacy, I actually prefer this album and another Conception album called Flow. It's a little more pop, yet a little more raw. Beats the hell out of Ghost Opera/The Black Hole. And after they're done with the beating, they shit all over them. Wolf's Lair from this album is actually Khan's best song he's been involved in except for King's Eyes (Siege Perilous(.. of course)).
Well good news for you! You can start eating your penis because DT came with a better album if you ask me. 'The Count of Tuscany' especially the song called 'the count of tuscany' is one of their best ever made! To bad the album is only 6 numbers long
Dream Theater - Black Clouds & Silver Linings