Welcome to Part 2 of the very best music created in 2017 - according to me!
Here you get my thoughts on the releases that caught my ear this past 12 months. This time it has again turned into a Top 30 list. Most of the music comes from the heavier end of the progressive spectrum, but with a few moments of progressive calm thrown-in for a bit of variety.
I've found 2017 to have been a strange year for music. There have been lots of good and enjoyable albums, all of which are of a very similar quality. Only one album stands out as really special. There is very little to separate all the other albums in my Top 20. Thus the positions are pretty interchangeable.
Also worth noting is the wide geographical spread of the bands (13 different countries covered here), and also the lack of established "name" bands in my list. Only 11 bands have appeared in this annual list before.
Below you'll find a few words on each album plus a full album stream and YouTube sample for each. There is also a link to the original DPRP review. As ever please support all of the bands you enjoy, by buying their music. Happy reading & listening!
Andy Read - editor and writer DPRP.net
20. Odd Logic - Effigy
What started out as a solo project by American multi-instrumentalist Sean Thompson, has now evolved into a full band. Whilst not reaching the heights of the amazing Penny For Your Thoughts (my number one disc of 2015) this is still an impressive slice of aggressive progressive metal, with Sean's amazing vocals again stealing the show. (As an aside, both Effigy and Penny For Your Thoughts are currently available in CD format from the Odd Logic CDBaby page)
19. Damnations Day - A World Awakens
Country: Australia
Read my full review on DPRP here
Dark melodic prog power metal for fans of Borealis, Vanishing Point, and the much-missed Magnitude 9. A few songs nudge the borders of prog metal, to please those awaiting a new album from Darkwater or who like to revisit Transcendence-period Crimson Glory. Another great singer too, as this video shows.
Read my full review on DPRP here
Dark melodic prog power metal for fans of Borealis, Vanishing Point, and the much-missed Magnitude 9. A few songs nudge the borders of prog metal, to please those awaiting a new album from Darkwater or who like to revisit Transcendence-period Crimson Glory. Another great singer too, as this video shows.
18. Horisont - About Time
Country: Sweden
Originally recommended on SFTW edition 129
This is the fifth album in ten years from this bunch of retro rockers - yet I've never heard a single song of theirs. A big shame that, as from the very first notes of the beguiling title track, I was hooked. There's some prog synth spacey sounds, Americana southern flavour and a tonne of classic rock that proudly wears its Blue Oyster Cult, Fleetwood Mac, Skynyrd, The Doors, King Crimson and Deep Purple influences, complete with beards and waistcoats. However there's a freshness and a glee to the music on offer here, that makes the term "retro rock" somewhat of a misnomer.
This is the fifth album in ten years from this bunch of retro rockers - yet I've never heard a single song of theirs. A big shame that, as from the very first notes of the beguiling title track, I was hooked. There's some prog synth spacey sounds, Americana southern flavour and a tonne of classic rock that proudly wears its Blue Oyster Cult, Fleetwood Mac, Skynyrd, The Doors, King Crimson and Deep Purple influences, complete with beards and waistcoats. However there's a freshness and a glee to the music on offer here, that makes the term "retro rock" somewhat of a misnomer.
17. Klone - Unplugged
Country: France
Originally recommended on SFTW edition 128
Full album streaming on official YouTube page here
Given the opportunity to open for Anneke Van Giersbergen with an acoustic set, these long-standing French prog-sters decided it was a chance to revisit their songs. The show was a success and Klone decided that these new interpretations needed to be recorded properly. Unplugged contains nine songs taken off their last two albums (Here Comes The Sun and 2012’s The Dreamer’s Hideaway), recorded live at the Théâtre de la Coupe d’Or de Rochefort, plus two studio tracks: including a cover of Depeche Mode‘s People Are People.
I have a 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. However, the big selling point of this album is that it 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 for all fans of doom (or to be more precise: slow-paced progpower metal). The video below is one of my favourite songs from 2017.
The sixth album from Stockholm retro-rockers is a pure 70s classic rock ear-gasm! Every track oozes the time-infused sounds of heavy organ, soaring guitars, bossy drums and whisky-soaked, bluesy vocals. Rarely today is an album so-infused with this much soul and psychedelia. Retro-rock heaven!
Originally recommended on SFTW edition 128
Full album streaming on official YouTube page here
Given the opportunity to open for Anneke Van Giersbergen with an acoustic set, these long-standing French prog-sters decided it was a chance to revisit their songs. The show was a success and Klone decided that these new interpretations needed to be recorded properly. Unplugged contains nine songs taken off their last two albums (Here Comes The Sun and 2012’s The Dreamer’s Hideaway), recorded live at the Théâtre de la Coupe d’Or de Rochefort, plus two studio tracks: including a cover of Depeche Mode‘s People Are People.
16. Sorcerer - The Crowning Of The Fire King
I have a 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. However, the big selling point of this album is that it 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 for all fans of doom (or to be more precise: slow-paced progpower metal). The video below is one of my favourite songs from 2017.
15. Blind Ego - Liquid Live
What started out as a solo, side project from RPWL guitarist Kalle Wallner, has now become a full band with a profile rivaling that of his "main" project. This two-part collection mixes a club show in Hamburg (for the dvd) and the band's appearance at the prestigious Loreley Night Of The Prog festival (for the cd). Leaning heavily on their most recent Liquid studio album (reviewed here) and featuring a single singer, this is just a great selection of songs. The entire Hamburg show is available from the video below.14. Lion Shepherd - Heat
The second album from this Polish-based ensemble has been self-described as a "prog oriental project", as they seek to mix middle eastern influences with their take on easily-accessible melodic prog rock. With a great singer, the melodies are catchy but the songs are simpler than on their debut. Reminds me a lot of the wonderful debut solo album, Avalon (2011) by Sully Erna. One of the best videos of 2017 too.13. Siena Root - A Dream Of Lasting Peace
Country: Sweden
Originally recommended on SFTW edition 143
Originally recommended on SFTW edition 143
The sixth album from Stockholm retro-rockers is a pure 70s classic rock ear-gasm! Every track oozes the time-infused sounds of heavy organ, soaring guitars, bossy drums and whisky-soaked, bluesy vocals. Rarely today is an album so-infused with this much soul and psychedelia. Retro-rock heaven!
12. Retrospective - Re:Search
Let's get straight to the point. Re:Search is a bloody clever, enjoyable and deserving album for anyone who is seeking some grown-up progressive rock, with occasional metal flourishes. I implore fans of Muse, Porcupine Tree, Votum, Believe, Riverside and Gazpacho to give this album (and its predecessor) a try.
11. For All We Know - Take Me Home
Country: Netherlands
Originally recommended on SFTW edition 153
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 AOR pop prog. Think a male-fronted Delain, or Flying Colors, or Frost* or at times Toto. A disc for those feel-good moments when you just need a dozen easy-on-the-ear melodies, as this video shows.
Originally recommended on SFTW edition 153
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 AOR pop prog. Think a male-fronted Delain, or Flying Colors, or Frost* or at times Toto. A disc for those feel-good moments when you just need a dozen easy-on-the-ear melodies, as this video shows.