As we enter the final weeks of 2017, SFTW founder Andy Read recommends 17 more albums for those who enjoy progressive music with a heavier disposition.
As usual we have a mini review, plus a link to where you can listen to each album in full. If that is too much for you, then this time we've also added a video track from every disc. And as ever, please support these artists by buying any albums that you enjoy.
*You may also like to read our previous Eight Heavy Prog Albums You May Have Missed published in April. Go discover some great new music!
SORCERER - The Crowning of the Fire King
Sub-genre: Progressive doom
We begin with an album that is hard to describe as "progressive", but I've included it for two reasons. Firstly I know a lot of prog-metal fans share my penchant for an occasional slab of doom and The Crowning of the Fire King is the best such slab that I have heard in a good while. Secondly, the band features the voice of Anders Engberg. Those who enjoyed his work with progressive bands such as Lions Share and Section A and especially on the brilliant Elements album by Speaking to Stones in 2012, will appreciate this as one of his finest moments. Highly recommended!
Listen to it now: Full album on Bandcamp
PROTEAN COLLECTIVE - Collapse
Sub-genre: Modern progressive metal
This is a real grower. One of those albums that you have to (and want to) spend some serious time with. It is insistently listenable, yet has a shed-load of complexity, variety, technical skill, depth of composition and originality to appeal to a wide range of listeners. Start with the track Shadows, as this displays the full range of styles the band is able to deliver. This is their third album and it deserves to be heard.
Listen to it now: Full album on Bandcamp
SOUL SECRET - Babel
Sub-genre: Traditional progressive/djent metal
This Italian quintet from Naples has been plagued by having three different singers on its four albums to date. It has meant that they have yet to really settle on a sound that one can identify as their own. This time the singer has stayed the same but the style has changed to take on a lot more of the djent and Haken influences, whilst keeping some of their previous traditional prog-metal musings. The result is a bit like the Tower of Babel, in that this is an album of rather too many tongues. Bits I enjoy. Bits I don't. Often within the same song. Well worth a listen though, to make up your own minds.
Listen to it now: Full album on Progstreaming
COMMUNIC - Where Echoes Gather
Sub-genre: Nevermore metal
I loved the first two albums of this talented trio, (Conspiracy in Mind still gets regular airplay) but then they simply repeated themselves. Having not bothered with them for over a decade, I rather enjoyed this album; their first for six years. Still offering nothing too different musically, but at least with five songs lasting over nine minutes this shows a bit of ambition. And it still amazes me how just three musicians can create such a richly-complex noise.
Listen to it now: Full album on Progstreaming
SUBTERRANEAN MASQUERADE - Vagabond
Sub-genre: Alt-progressive metal
Sometimes a band's promo sheet says everything you need to know: "Imagine what would happen should such bands as Pink Floyd, Dream Theater, Fleetwood Mac, Jethro Tull, Opeth, In The Woods, King Crimson, and David Bowie all get together in one room - perhaps this is what it would sound like?" This is one album that should appeal to a good cross-section of fans who enjoy truly progressive music. It's not a metal album! Also check out their debut, which was one of my favourite albums from 2015.
FOR ALL WE KNOW - Take Me Home
Country: Netherlands
Sub-genre: Melodic heavy pop prog
The debut self-titled album from this side project by Within Temptation guitarist Ruud Jolie, remains a hidden classic. Released back in 2011 it offered a stunning collection of melodic progressive metal, but never seemed to get the attention it so richly deserved. This second effort offers a more streamlined collection of songs, that drift between melodic prog metal-lite and heavy pop prog. Think a male-fronted Delain, or Flying Colors, or Frost* or at times the Von Hertzen Brothers. A disc for those feel-good moments when you just need a dozen easy-on-the-ear melodies.
Listen to it now: Full album on Progstreaming
ANUBIS GATE - Covered In Black
Sub-genre: Progressive power metal
Album number seven from Denmark's finest purveyors of prog-power, is their darkest, angriest and heaviest yet. At times veering between some Fear Factory type riffage and almost tech metal complexity, this is far from an immediate listen. I need to spend a lot more time with this, but first impressions have been positive.
Sub-genre: Thresh metal
OK: the last minute decision to ditch Damian Wilson (again) and re-hire singer Glynn Morgan to re-record the vocals for their 11th album, was a bit weird. But Morgan (who we haven’t heard from since 1994s Psychedelicatessen album) sounds pretty good on this collection of songs. It's a very big collection of songs. Two hours worth of listening (2cds or 3 LPs). It's full of padding but also packed with accessibly-memorable compositions. Once again Threshold prove that they don't really do bad albums.
CIRCUS MAXIMUS - Havoc In Oslo
Country: Norway
Sub-genre: Progressive melodic rock/metal
Sub-genre: Progressive melodic rock/metal
The first official live CD from these Norwegian progressive melodic rockers was recorded on February 6, 2016 at a sold out Rockefeller Club in Oslo and celebrating the release of their then new album Havoc (their previous Live In Japan was only available on Youtube). Playing a good chunk of Havoc as well as many older favourites in a 15-song set, Circus Maximus put on a stellar performance with impressive lighting, sound and pyros. This is a great live show and is available as a 2CD/DVD and 2CD/BluRay.
Listen to it now: Full album on Progstreaming
IRIS DIVINE - The Static And The Noise
Country: USA
Sub-genre: Modern progressive metal
According to my list of favourite albums from 2015, Karma Sown, this band's debut offering, was "one of the best classic-style, melodic prog metal albums you will hear this, or any other year". I am waiting for my copy of this new offering to arrive, but from a cursory listen to their Bandcamp page, it seems that they are now encompassing a wider range of more modern styles, whilst retaining a welcome focus on great melodies and high energy playing. I am looking forward to giving this a proper listen.
Listen to it now: Full album on Bandcamp
VON HERTZEN BROTHERS - War Is Over
Country: Finland
Sub-genre: Crossover
Sub-genre: Crossover
The brilliant 2015 offering New Day Rising was my lamentably late introduction to these ebullient Swedes. Released last week, their latest opus is, on a first listen, of a similar quality. Start with the 12-minute opener, and your ears will be hooked for the next 59 minutes. Essential listening for those who demand great vocals, loads of proggy touches and some addictive and original modern melodic rock.
Listen to it now: Full album on all streaming platforms
MINDFACTORY - Lacrima
Country: Finland
Sub-genre: Female fronted progressive folk gothic!
Sub-genre: Female fronted progressive folk gothic!
I always try to include at least one female-fronted band in these lists, and this is one of the best I have heard this year. This debut album (following two EPs) mixes the traditional Gothic stylings (check out that cover), with plenty of progressive and almost-folksy twists and turns, helped by the presence of twin guitars and a violin. For those who enjoy a great mix of heavy and light songs, this holds plenty of interest. Check out the rather beautiful Sacrifice, then the doom-laden intro to Let It Snow.
Listen to it now: Full album on Bandcamp
OPPOSING MOTION - Inertia
Sub-genre: Traditional progressive metal
The second album from this quartet out of Lyon will delight those who seek a return to the sound of the progressive metal from the late 80s and early 90s. Not that it sounds dated in any way, but the influences here clearly come from European power metal, with constant bursts of flamboyant guitar solos and keyboard runs.
Listen to it now: Full album on Bandcamp
VULTURE INDUSTRIES - Stranger Times
Country: Norway
Sub-genre: Alternative rock/metal
Sub-genre: Alternative rock/metal
I love album covers that perfectly characterise the music within. Stranger Times is dark and theatrical, with a touch of the avant garde, yet every song and solo has a rich vein of fun and enjoyment running through its veins. This fourth album from Bergen's finest, is a real breath of fresh air.
Listen to it now: Full album on Bandcamp
EASTERN HIGH - Garden of Heathens
Country: Sweden
Sub-genre: Aggressive progressive dark doomy shit
Sub-genre: Aggressive progressive dark doomy shit
If you wanna have an album to shout about from the rooftops, that very few of your friends will have even heard of, then this is the hidden progressive gem you are looking for. I have had this on my Spotify playlist for a few months now as it offers a rather unique take on the genre. There is a big touch of Communic/Nevermore to the basic template but the heavy atmospherics and the unusually rich, deep vocals (mixed with occasional grunts) add a rather alt-doom feel to proceedings. Even more impressive is that this debut seems to be the work of two people: brothers Ola and Johan Svensson. Currently only a digital release. This indie release sounds great and should be attracting the attention of some serious labels. Remember where you read about Eastern High first!
Listen to it now: Listen to the album on Spotify
MY SOLILOQUY - Engines Of Gravity
Country: UKSub-genre: Progressive metal
Should I be recommending an album that I have not even heard a song from yet? Probably not, but The Interpreter, the debut offering from this band/project formed by Pete Morten (Threshold) was one of my favourite progressive metal offerings in 2013 (read my DPRP review here). This follow-up has been out for a little while but is not the easiest to find apart from the band website. The first video track is due to be released this week. I will add it when I see it.
More info: Band website
NOAH HISTERIA - Hautefaye
Country: Spain
Sub-genre: Heavy prog
Sub-genre: Heavy prog
So, if Eastern High was too heavy for you but you still wanna have an album to shout about from the rooftops, that very few of your friends will have even heard of, then here is something a little more refined. After a very promising EP, this is the debut full length from this wonderful youthful quintet from Spain.
In a similar way to Haken (and to a lesser extent the Barock Project) this is a band able to take influences from jazz, metal, djent, prog, electronica and pop and blend it into a coherent sound of their own. It's highly original. The band are clearly exemplary musicians and the singer is from the top drawer. And it's all sung in Spanish, probably the most beautiful language for music.
A full review is coming on DPRP soon, but the skill, panache and promise of Noah Histeria is more than shown on the video below. And again; remember where you read about Noah Histeria first!
In a similar way to Haken (and to a lesser extent the Barock Project) this is a band able to take influences from jazz, metal, djent, prog, electronica and pop and blend it into a coherent sound of their own. It's highly original. The band are clearly exemplary musicians and the singer is from the top drawer. And it's all sung in Spanish, probably the most beautiful language for music.
A full review is coming on DPRP soon, but the skill, panache and promise of Noah Histeria is more than shown on the video below. And again; remember where you read about Noah Histeria first!
More info: Full album on Bandcamp