My usual monthly columns have been missing for the last two months due to vacations and other commitments, but I’ve spent the last few weeks listening to all the new material that has released in that period and am now ready to share directly my favourites of the year so far. First off, about the rating process:

All the twenty albums covered here are LPs and were released between 1st Jan and 31st July 2018. I will list my favourite EPs and Live Albums in the year-end list, in addition to those of other genres and pop culture. Instead of going for a numeric approach, I’ve categorized albums in tiers. The ‘Great’ tier has albums which I rate 8 or 8.5 while the ‘excellent’ tier is 9 or 9.5. These correspond to the scores I’ve given during the columns + or – 0.5. I don’t think there is a 10 album so far (even though I did rate the new Slugdge with that score when I made the column) or there would be an ‘outstanding’ tier. I chose to not order them as they’re all so different, but you can choose to rank them in ascending order for my favourites (i.e. my favourites are on the bottom of each page). The task of labeling albums as ‘progressive’ is as difficult as ever, with the distinction between progressive metal and technical death metal being the hardest to figure out for me currently. I’ve still mostly stuck to RYM and SputnikMusic labels, while occasionally using my own ears to drop or apply it. I rate albums based on the consistency of the tracks and use originality and the strength of individual tracks to differentiate between albums that are equally consistent. If a band has created something really unique, it usually gets a bump in the ratings.

As always, feel free to drop in your suggestions on Facebook and Instagram or by email (pdsprogblog@gmail.com). I have created Spotify links for the albums listed here, you will find them at the end of each page.

Quicklinks –

Page 1: GREAT tier – Best of 2018 in Prog, so far..

Page 2: EXCELLENT tier – Best of 2018 in Prog, so far..

⊕ GREAT tier – Best of 2018 in Prog, so far..⊕

Subsignal – La Muerta

Genre (RYM) – Progressive Rock, Neo-Prog (Clean Vocals)

Released – 25 May (Covered in May column)

Label – Gentle Art Of Music

Subsignal’s ‘La Muerta’ is one of the only neo-prog (or happy prog, as I call it) albums that has caught my ear in a sea of them released this year. It is one of the few that has the consistent ability to engage the listener through appealing vocal passages balanced by above-average instrumentation variation. Vocalist Arno Menses has a knack of coercing choruses and certain phrases in your head for a while, and his best performance is on ‘The Approaches”, whose outro flourishes are marvelously executed. The instrumentation is more than adequate, with the keyboards (performed by Markus Maichel) standing out, on the title track for example; while the occasional acoustic guitar is pleasant. This is one of the only clean vocals albums on the list, so would highly recommend it to those who have an only-cleans approach.

Notable Tracks – The Approaches, Even Though the Stars Don’t Shine, La Muerta

Links (Album): Spotify // Apple Music

Michael Romeo – War of the Worlds, Pt. 1

Genre – Progressive Metal, Symphonic Metal (Clean Vocals)

Released – 27 July

Label – Music Theories

Michael Romeo, primarily known as the guitarist and songwriter of Symphony-X, announced a surprise solo effort earlier this year and followed it through with a very solid progressive metal take on the novel and score (by John Williams) of the same name. It is essentially, in riffage and execution, very similar to recent Symphony-X albums, but with a new ensemble, including Rick Castellano on vocals, who’s especially adept on “Fear the Unknown”. The album includes some subtle piano touches that go along very well with the symphonic sections and deft drumming, on “Constellations” particularly, while “Djinn” adds a few oriental dabs. The biggest blast comes from “F*cking Robots”, which, despite its cheesy name, employs some incredible dub-step screeches that knocks off Haken‘s “The Endless Knot” that unique perch, and has a catchy chorus to top it off.

Notable Tracks: F*cking Robots, Djinn, Constellations

Links (Album): Spotify // YouTube // Apple Music // Bandcamp

Orphaned Land – Unsung Prophets and Dead Messiahs

Genre – Folk Metal, Progressive Metal (Mixed Vocals)

Released – 26 January (Covered in Jan column)

Label – Century Media

Orphaned Land‘s newest effort combines the longer, progressive tracks of their signature Middle-Eastern sound from ‘Mabool’, such as on the cracking opener “The Cave”; with their recent shorter, oriental ‘pop’ metal sound, present on “We Do Not Resist”, to get a balanced effort that matches up with the best folk metal albums in recent years. The presence of guest musicians Hansi Kirsch and Tomas Lindberg, on vocals, and Steve Hackett, who dispatches a sensational solo on “Chains Fall to Gravity”, provide for plenty of variation. Kobi Furhi on the vocals and Uri Zelcha on the bass are praiseworthy, and the production by Jens Borgen is tight.

Notable Tracks: The Cave, We do not Resist, Chains Fall to Gravity

Links (Album): Spotify // YouTube

Harvs – Illuminate

Genre (RYM) – Progressive Metal, Djent, Shred (Instrumental)

Released – 7 April (Covered in April column)

Label – Independant

This very underground band or artist caught my eye when someone suggested it on r/progmetal and I was sufficiently surprised by what I heard so as to spin it a few more times. While the poorly mixed drums (Sampled, I assumed) are probably an immediate deterrent, do not turn your eye on some very competent composition, especially on the guitars by Harvs. The opener “Temptation” is an energetic jumble of bass, guitar and synth, while “Desire” has an incredible shred section by Jakub Zytecki (from Disperse). It includes scattered electronic tinks that accompany the drums and a few xylophone-sounding effects, while other tracks employ djent chugs. Here’s hoping this one-man project gets a drummer and a more vigilant mixer the next time around, because the artist clearly has a flair for producing memorable instrumental music.

Notable Tracks – Temptation, Desire, Under the Illusion

Links (Album): YouTube // Bandcamp // Spotify // Apple Music

Ihsahn – Àmr

Genre (RYM) – Progressive Metal (Mixed Vocals)

Released – 4 May (Covered in May column)

Label: Spinefarm Records

‘Àmr’, Ihsahn‘s latest solo effort might not live up to its excellent predecessor, but is an engaging and entertaining ride nevertheless. The synth has a bigger role to play, announcing itself on “Lend Me the Eyes of Millenia”, while the ‘Arktis.’ riffs are back on “Arcana Imperi”. The artist uses his clean vocals more than ever, including a purely clean track “Sámr”, while his lyricism is sharp, with the most interesting phrases present on “Marble Soul”. “In Rites of Passage” is my personal favourite, with its nu-metal intro springing the album into life when it threatens to stall. Ihsahn is one of the most consistent performers in the prog metal scene and ‘Àmr’ corroborates why.

Notable Tracks – In Rites of Passage, Marble Soul, Wake

Links (Album): YouTube // Spotify // Apple Music

Obscura – Diluvium

Genre – Technical Death Metal, Progressive Metal (Harsh/Mixed Vocals)

Released – 13 July

Label: Relapse Records

Obscura doesn’t really expand the boundaries of the technical death metal with their newest effort, ‘Diluvium‘, but it does use its Cynic school of thought to make very palatable technical music (No, that ain’t an oxymoron!). The vocoder vocals are beautifully employed, mostly during choruses, while the production is incredible. A few progressive elements are scattered on the album: interspersed acoustic strings, abrupt transitions (The title track has a very noticeable one) and a few jazzy moments elsewhere. Steffen Kummerer and Rafael Trujillo alternate noodly sections with some incredible hooks, my favorite being on the outro of “The Conjuration”.

Notable Tracks: Emergent Evolution, Mortification of the Vulgar Sun, Diluvium

Links (Album): Spotify // YouTube // Apple Music // Bandcamp

Between the Buried and Me – Automata I

Genre (RYM) – Progressive Metal (Mixed Vocals)

Released – 9 March (Covered in March column)

Label – Sumerian Records

Between the Buried and Me’s Automata I was the first major prog release of the year and, ignoring the polemic about the two parts, is a very strong record. The album opens with the sensational “Condemned to the Gallows”, which sets in stone two ‘newer’ characters of the album: Expertly layered vocals and an electronic undertone. Other exciting moments include “House Organ” which might be the grooviest track BTBAM has made, and the oriental intro of “Blot”. Tommy Rogers’ vocals on either side of the spectrum are better that they’ve ever been, while Blake Richardson and Dan Briggs on the drums and bass are still the best that the genre has to offer. The next album is even better because this has the weakest track (“Millions”) of the both of them put together.

Notable Tracks: Condemned to the Gallows, House Organ, Blot

Links (Album): Spotify // YouTube

Southern Empire – Civilisation

Genre – Progressive Rock (Clean Vocals)

Released – 20 July

Label: Giant Electric Pea

Southern Empire‘s ‘Civilisation’ is the most fun progressive rock I’ve heard since THAT Wobbler album last year. It has almost everything that old prog acts (Yes, Camel, Genesis) and even a few of the newer ones (Haken) offer: Lengthy, outrageously constructed passages (“The Crossroads” lasts for a whopping 29 minutes!); expertly infused ‘exotic’ instruments (Sax, Flute, Violin and a few oriental ones – again, the 29-minute track is an experience for a reason); a very proficient front-man, Danny Lopresto, who invokes the Peter Gabriel in him during certain phrases; and certain surprisingly heavy sections (aka Haken comparison). The solos are gorgeously executed by Cam Blokland (guitars) and Sean Timms (keys, sax). Old school prog rock fans, this one is made for you.

Notable Tracks: The Crossroads, Cries for the Lonely, Goliath’s Moon

Links (Album): Spotify //Apple Music

In Vain – Currents

Genre – Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal (Mixed Vocals)

Released – 26 January (Covered in Jan column)

Label: Independent

Norwegian band In Vain have again successfully combined melodic death metal with progressive influences, just as many of their Scandinavian counterparts have done, on their new effort ‘Currents’. The album, featuring Baard Kolstad (Leprous) as a guest drummer, found itself in a bit of muddle over the inclusion of bonus tracks in the running order, one quickly resolved by the band (Now all the online versions of the album have them included). The album is filled with delightful variation: “Seekers of the Truth” and “Soul Adventurer” are relatively straightforward prog death tracks, while “Origin” and “As the Black Horde Storms” add groovy and atmospheric elements respectively. The riff composition is top-notch (credits to Johnar Håland) and the harsh and clean equilibrium achieved by Andreas Frigstad and Sindre Nedland is up there with the best in the genre.

Notable Tracks: Origin, As Black Horde Storms, Seekers of the Truth

Links (Album): Spotify // YouTube // Bandcamp

Greyhaven – Empty Black

Genre – Metalcore, Progressive Metal (Mixed Vocals)

Released – 16 March

Label: Equal Vision Records

This is one of the only two albums on this list that are associated with the core genres, one I actually missed during the columns but I’m glad I’ve gotten around to it, because it’s a audacious effort employing heavy leaden riffs that would please fans of Converge and The Dillinger Escape Plan. The first half of the album especially is ridiculously engaging: “Blemish” has a jump-out-your-seat intro while “Echo and Dust Pt. 1” inverts things and uses a slower approach. Brent Mills has a gifted voice that smoothly transitions between harsh and clean vocals sections, while Ethan Spray keeps himself very busy behind the drum-set. This young American band is definitely one to keep an eye out for.

Notable Tracks: Blemish, Echo and Dust Pt. 1, Ten Dogs – Red Heaven

Links (Album): Spotify // YouTube // Apple Music

Howling Sycamore- Howling Sycamore

Genre (RYM) – Avant-Garde Metal, Progressive Metal (Mixed / Clean Vocals)

Released – 26 January (Covered in Feb column)

Label – Prosthetic Records

The debut album from Howling Sycamore is very much the definition of an acquired taste. Jason McMaster unapologetically exposes his vocals, straining them till they often crack. But there’s a beauty in his ambition that also fits into the avant-garde, experimental ideas that the composers have that include screaming sax solos, acoustic melodies and free-vocal outros. Hannes Grossmann (also a member of Alkaloid, right below on this list) again shows why he’s in the Tier 1 category of drummers, combining unabating bass thuds with deft touches whenever needed. The band might not even be done yet for this year, they’re already in the process of recording a second album!

Notable Tracks: Let Fall, Upended, Descent to Light

Links (Album): Spotify // YouTube // Bandcamp

Alkaloid – Liquid Anatomy

Genre – Progressive Metal, Technical Death Metal (Mixed Vocals)

Released – 18 May (Covered in May column)

Label: Season of Mist

Alkaloid’s follow-up album to the incredible ‘The Malkulth Grimoire’, takes a hit in the consistency criteria, but is the only tech death album in this list that does the traditional definition of ‘prog’ justice. “Kernel Panic”, an easy contender for the song of the year, proves why: The members’ 80s Yes influences are evident in the catchy riff intro and vocal delivery (“Spin, spin go the baryons”), and has a truly sumptuous cleans to harsh transition. “Chaos Theory and Practice” is equally spectacular with its dance of reggae-paced guitar notes with short phrase articulation, while it elsewhere contains dozens of hefty riffs and a hatful of absurdly technical solos (The title track, for a start).

Notable Tracks – Kernel Panic, Chaos Theory and Practice, Liquid Anatomy

Links (Album): YouTube // Spotify // Bandcamp // Apple Music

Thy Catafalque – Geometria

Genre (RYM) – Avant-Garde Metal, Progressive Metal (Mixed Vocals)

Released – 4 May (Covered in May column)

Label: Season of Mist

Thy Catafalque‘s ‘Geometria’ may tone down on the heaviness of its predecessors but definite lives up to its avant-garde tag. There are more electronic elements than ever, the most lively among them being on “Gőte”, which consequently adds wonderful bass and sax solo duets. “Hajnali Csillag” goes straight early-Porcupine Tree with its bass-heavy minimalist build-up, ending in a touching climax featuring Martina Horváth as a guest vocalist. The heaviness is not completely missing however, with “Szamojéd freskó” as well as the fascinating “Lágyrész” including double-bass percussion and toned-down guttural screams, with the beautifully mixed bass elevating the latter into eargasm territory. Like the last Igorrr release, ‘Geometria’ portrays why avant-garde music can be so engaging as a genre, as it always has something up its sleeve to surprise the listener.

Notable Tracks – Hajnali Csalling, Lágyrész, Balra a nap

Links (Album): YouTube // Spotify // Bandcamp // Apple Music

Boss Keloid – Melted on the Itch

Genre (RYM) – Stoner Metal, Progressive Rock (Clean Vocals)

Released – 27 April (Covered in April column)

Label: Holy Roar Records

Boss Keloid‘s Melted on the Itch is a beautiful injection of progressive elements within the frameworks of stoner rock / metal, a genre that isn’t particularly known for experimentation until in recent years. “Chronosiam” and “Peykruve” have recurring Yes-like motifs, often during the bridges, while “Jromalih” has a Tool vibe in its percussion. Alex Hurst’s voice adds to the progressive nature of the music, switching things more than often than not from rough, high-pitched territory to soft, non-lexical vocables. A few of the stoner sections remind me of the recent Elder and Weedpecker efforts, which can only be a good thing.

Notable Tracks – Chronosiam, Tarku Shavel, Jromalih

Links (Album): YouTube // Bandcamp // Spotify // Apple Music

The list isn’t finished yet! Check out the “Excellent tier” below for my favourites of the year so far!

Quicklinks –

Page 1: GREAT tier – Best of 2018 in Prog, so far..

Page 2: EXCELLENT tier – Best of 2018 in Prog, so far..

⊕ SPOTIFY Playlist – Best of 2018 in Prog, so far..⊕