1: MONO - Pilgrimage of the Soul
- Band website
- Band on Facebook
- Listen to it on your preferred platform
- Listen and buy the album on Bandcamp
2: FUNGI – Into The Void
Description: An independent release from a Mexican band with very litle online presence, so full credit to Nick Hudson for uncovering this little gem. You can read his review on The Progressive Aspect here but in summary: this is a really enjoyable, crunchy mix of crossover alt-rock and heavy prog.
I love the accent-free vocals and the broad sweep of rock dynamics utilised across this album. I just wish it was more easily available. If ever there was an album crying out for a Bandcamp release then this is it!
3: BEAUTIFUL BEDLAM - Beautiful Bedlam
Description: This album topped quite a few people's halfway-through-the-year 'best of' lists, and after one listen, I can see why. This is a very fresh and lively collection of songs that successfully blend alternative, experimental, progressive rock with flouishes from the avant-garde, indie rock and math rock spheres.
Featuring members of A Lonely Crowd ( a band that released two experimental and heavy albums in the early 2010s), BB is now a four-piece with a host of guest singers. Comparisons are tricky. The closet I would try is Bent Knee. Go explore for yourselves... (Full review coming soon on DPRP)
4: SHUMAUN - Memories & Intuition
Description: I'm always a sucker for bands that blend the melodic rock hook-lines of the 80s, with the prog-metal ambition of the 90s. This trio from Virginia are one of the best around at the moment. Back in 2016, their self-titled debut received a big thumbs up on this blog. The follow-up (One Day Closer To Yesterday) was one of my favourite albums from 2019.
This third effort is their most progressive so far. Farhad Hossain nails the vocals throughout, and alongside Tyler Kim he delivers some wonderful guitar riffs and solos. A strong line up of guest drummers (including Thomas Lang and Mark Zonder) adds extra interest to this fresh and accessibly-melodic listen.
Top Track: Memories of Water
5. EASTERN HIGH - Halo
Description: This Swedish band was started by brothers Ola Svensson and Johan Svensson. Their debut album, Garden of Heathens, was conceived as a small local project simply to record some songs that they had written together. With limited availability as a digital-only release, the brothers were taken by surprise at the warm response it received and the level of interest it generated. It was one of my Top 10 albums of 2018
With their newly-found confidence, Eastern High has developed into a band, played some gigs/festivals and now has a new album that is generating quite a buzz. Strongly recommended for fans of dark, atmospheric, technical Scandie metal with (mainly) clean vocals and powerful production. Fans of Communic and Katatonia should love this.
6: DRIFTING SUN - Forsaken Innocence
Description: Drifting Sun is a UK-based progressive rock studio project with a history dating back to the 90s. The music has been described as dramatic, theatrical, and atmospheric, in the true style of Dream Theater, Queensryche, Genesis and Jethro Tull, to name but a few of the bands that influence their sound.
Their new seventh album has the benefit of a single vocalist to add continuity to the eight tracks. Many of you will already know Jargon (Verbal Delirium) from his acclaimed solo album Fading Thought released last year.
This is slated for 'release' at the end of the month on their website, but the whole thing appears to be on Bandcamp already. Go enjoy it now.... (Full review coming soon on DPRP)
Top Track:Forsaken Innocence Part I.
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