1: ELDER - Innate Passage
Description: With the wonderful King Buffalo whetting my appetite for more heavy psyche, Elder is a band that I've been told I should check out. This is their sixth album. It is delicate and heavy as the music requires. I can see/hear why they are widely regarded as the best band in the genre. A full review is coming soon on DPRP.
2: DREADNOUGHT - The Endless
Sub-genre: Doom/black/post-metal/prog/folk/jazz
3: HERE ON EARTH - Nic nam się nie należy
Sub-genre: Crossover prog
Description: This is the third album by this Katowize-based quintet, but the first in their own language. The music is from the borderlines of alternative and progressive rock/metal. The emphasis is on the melodic vocal lines, with the guitar riffs and grooves given prominence, supported by interesting keyboard sounds. This excellent collection of songs deserves a wider audience.
4: FREN - All The Pretty Days
Country: Poland
Sub-genre: Instrumental prog
Description: This is the quartet's second album. It's filled with long compositions of multi-layered landscapes, which swim between dreamy landscapes and unrestrained dynamics.
If you like your prog to be quirkily-instrumental with plenty of pianos, organs, synthesizers, and Mellotron, then this will likely be your album of the year. Yes it is that good. Give it a go.
5. MY SOLILOQUY - Fu3ion
Description: This is the third album from the ex-Threshold member Pete Morten who does everything apart from play the drums (provided by Threshold sticksman Johanne James).
Again the ten songs offer a more intricate style of prog-metal than his ex-bandmates have long-since perfected (see below). There is a unique timbre to Pete's songwriting, yet always with a focus on the melody and lyrical message. I've got all three of Pete's albums. This is as enjoyable as both The Interpreter (2013) and Engines of Gravity (2017). Go for the special edition with the bonus CD, stickers, artwork and 3-d glasses, with which you can watch the third promo video.
More info from the official band website
6. JUDICATOR - The Majesty of Decay
Description: Having produced one of my favourite prog-power albums of the past decade, with Let There Be Nothing in 2019, I was keen to hear what this Arizona-based combo would come up with next.
Truth be told, The Majesty of Decay has left me having to adjust my expectations. The band is taking more risks here, with far more progressive leanings and less-obvious melodic hooks and riffage. This should be to my tastes. But so far the songs' melodies and riffs aren't hitting me in the same way. Perhaps it just needs more time.
7. ETRANGE – Enigme
Description: Enigme is a collection of wonderful sci-fi storytelling by this French instrumental duo that excels with its cinematic, progressive and dynamic style.
They have taken some science fiction themes from movies, literature and video games and blended it with motifs from classical music and metal, within an endearing vintage vibe. A further step-up from their self titled debut in 2019, this comes with an eight-page, fully illustrated booklet. Just 500 copies available. This deserves more attention.
More info from the official band website
8. THRESHOLD - Dividing Lines
Description: It's Threshold. So you know what you're getting. Great melodies. Guitar crunch. Accessible song-writing and great vocals. It feels like a return to the style I enjoyed so much when Mac was the frontman, and it's great to hear one of the "classic" prog metal bands come out with such a memorable album again. Glynn Morgan sounds much more at home than on the last album too.
9. MILLENIUM – Tales From Imaginary Movies
Description: I first came across this band with their Cinema Show live DVD around six years ago. They've been consistently releasing albums since 1999. Their reluctant approach to promotion and sending out review material, possibly explains why they have never really broken out of the prog underground.
This is album number 17 and despite a new singer and an interesting storyline concept, it sticks to their tried and trusted Polish neo-prog sound in the mould of Collage, Satellite, and Believe. Existing fans can buy with confidence. For newcomers this is as good a place to begin as any.
*They play in Zoetermeer, Netherlands on April 8th 2023.
More info from the official band website
10. EMPYRE - Relentless
Description: We end the year, by looking forward to the next one.
Empyre is the newest signing to the Kscope label. Following the success of Molybaron's signing to the Inside Out label, I am hoping some of the major 'prog' labels are looking to strengthen their rosters with some newer, fresher progressive sounds. Is everyone else fed up with a diet of safe, recyled classic prog from Neal Morse, Spocks Beard, Ayreon, Steve Hackett, Transatlantic and The Flower Kings?
Like Molybaron, Empyre already have one album behind them. There is a similarity in style, although Empyre offers a darker, more atmopheric background to some biting melodies and energy. The album is due for release at the end of March. Try the first two singles and videos below.
More great music to be discovered here in my special round-up of the
The Top 20 Heavy Prog & Progressive Metal Albums of 2021
For more reviews, interviews, concert review and features on the world of progressive music visit our main page at dprp.net
