The Top 10 Progressive Rock Albums of 2021
To wrap-up the year, we offer you the Top 10 Progressive Albums of 2021 – as selected by the DPRP writers.
We asked 20 of our prog-scribes to select their most magical musical meanderings of the year. Over 130 different creations were chosen, from more than 600 album that have been reviewed at DPRP.net in the past year.
Here, we list the 10 which gathered the most love – with links to a video of each and the full DPRP review.
Some old favourites and some newer names - all of the highest quality. So read-on to peruse our 10 most perfect progressive proclamations of 2021.
10. ACOLYTE - Entropy
"Entropy is one of those albums where simple classification does the band's artistic endeavour a serious injustice. The music here is powerful and exploratory. It's a crafted blend of many shades of classic and modern progressive rock. It is highly original, yet accessible. It is truly memorable and perfectly executed.
Anyone who enjoys progressive music with a disparate dynamic should be putting Entropy at the top of their 'I must check this out' list."
9. SYLVAN – One To Zero
"Ultimately, there is a level of quality and emotional depth to this album that places it amongst some of the best prog rock releases of the last few decades. I mean no hyperbole by that statement. From the very first listen, I was immediately struck by how good this is."
8. THE NEAL MORSE BAND - Innocence & Danger
"Overall, Innocence And Danger further validates that the NMB is in the top-tier of Neal's multiple projects. It stands as another exceptionally entertaining statement from this talented group of musicians."
7. THE CYBERIAM - Connected
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2. TRANSATLANTIC - The Absolute Universe
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1. BIG BIG TRAIN - Common Ground
"This is such a magical release that to try and describe any track individually, I don't feel I have the literary skills to provide the appropriate narration. But if you are a fan of the heavier side of prog, without going full metal, then your tastes should be catered for here. "
6. DREAM THEATER – A View From The Top
"Dream Theater fans will forever fiercely debate which is their strongest album. For me this is easily my favourite album since Black Clouds And Silver Linings, and it may grow to be my favourite since Six Degrees. The level of song-writing and musicianship on show here is nothing short of world-class; everything we've come to expect. Yet this record is much more than that, it is one of the most consistent albums Dream Theater have ever released."
5. MEER - Playing House
"Playing House is this Norwegian band's second album ... and fully lives up to the description in the accompanying record label information sheet as being an 'alternative progressive pop orchestra' with 'a massive sound, fabulous melodies, awesome harmonies and quite a few surprises'."
4. SOEN - Imperial
"Imperial is album number five and Soen is one of the few bands where, for me, their releases are a blind purchase. Thankfully it seems they are continuing their faultless run of form.Often after three albums a band is beginning to repeat itself too much. On top of the two tracks issued as pre-release 'singles' (the crunching Antagonist and the gentler Monarch) the six other new tracks suggest that Soen is a band with something still to say."
3. FROST* - Day and Age
"As a critic, maintaining decorum and being objective is important. Regardless, I will gush without a moment's hesitation that Day And Age further cements Frost* as one of, if not the best band in modern progressive rock.They are consistently creating music that is distinctive, intricate and most importantly, essential ... the fact that the results are so entertaining is the icing on the cake."
"Though I suspect The Whirlwind will remain their most popular release, and Bridge Across Forever a personal sentimental favourite, The Absolute Universe (in both its iterations) is nevertheless on par with anything this so-called supergroup has ever released."
"Big Big Train's Common Ground, with its warm and inviting melodies, innovative arrangements and formidable playing is a distillation of everything that this band do brilliantly. If you want to find out what state-of-the-art progressive rock is all about, then don't miss out on this."
Visit this page to see the individual Top 10 lists from each of our writers
(To get these results, we added the inverse scores from each writer's individual Top 10 i.e. a number one placing scored 10 points and a number ten placing scored one point.
An album has to feature in at least three of the writers Top 10 listings to qualify for the overall Top 10. In the case of a tied score, the album that featured in the most lists or with the highest DPRP review score got the higher placing )
