Prog rock

[FullBright1]

 

[JAnonymous5150]

Two prog-metal albums that I've listened to today that some folks here may enjoy.

Echoes of the Rift (rel. 2023) by Scaphoid



Sundog (rel. 2024) by The Elephant in the Room



Edit: Forgot my little bonus pick. I came across a weird little EP that I'm unsure how I feel about. It has some great things going on and it certainly pushes some boundaries. It appears to be the only release this band has on Bandcamp. Anyways, I think some folks here might find it interesting at least so it's a little bonus pick for funsies.

Mental Abscess (rel. 2014) by The Bellerophon Project

 

[Designsfx]

Here's a cool album I came across on Bandcamp that's like a cross between spacerock and prog/prog-metal.

III (rel. 2025) by TALC

I had TALC III on my list of things to catch up on and I’m glad I came back to listen to it. If you enjoyed III definitely listen to TALC 2- I think I liked it even more!

 

[JAnonymous5150]

I had TALC III on my list of things to catch up on and I’m glad I came back to listen to it. If you enjoyed III definitely listen to TALC 2- I think I liked it even more!

I ended up listening to the whole trilogy. Every one of them is good and for different reasons. I'd have to do more listening (and I will) to truly decide on what order I'd put them in. I'd even be willing to go as far as to say that which I prefer between two and three, which are the best of the lot IMO, could come down to what mood I'm in on a given day. Now you've got me wanting to listen again though.

I can't right now though because I'm too wrapped up in this prog-metal album entitled Decision Process (rel. 2016) from a band named Mothra. This is the second time I've listened to it today and something about the depth of it on the HE6se V1s is just addicting. It's brash and loud and distorted at times and then changes to being layered, pensive, and contemplative at the drop of a hat. And the way the production is done on the drums has left them deep and relatively raw with plenty of their natural resonance, sustain, and decay as they drive the music. It's just so nicely executed in ways I wasn't expecting.



Edit: Because fat fingers and smartphone keyboards make for spelling mistakes.

 

[rids57]

Perspective (2025) by Rick Miller - Brand new drop from the talented Canadian progger. Currently listening to it on Qobuz so I assume it's on the other streamers too.

Oh and @JAnonymous5150 - I really enjoyed that Mothra album, I've played it five times already.

 

[dacwizard]

Perspective (2025) by Rick Miller - Brand new drop from the talented Canadian progger. Currently listening to it on Qobuz so I assume it's on the other streamers too.



Oh and @JAnonymous5150 - I really enjoyed that Mothra album, I've played it five times already.

Ooo…putting in my favs for later, I very much enjoyed his offering from last year.

TALC - listened to two of their albums but although I found them good in places they didn’t really grab me enough to retain in my favs 3/5.

Spiral Orchestra - Atlas Ark (@JAnonymous5150 from a few pages back) - really liking this, shame it’s their only offering on Qobuz, if it was from this year it would be near the top of my yearly favs.

 

[YtseJamer]

The new Amplifier album is way better than I expected, especially after being let down by pretty much everything they’ve put out since The Octopus.

 

[JAnonymous5150]

Ooo…putting in my favs for later, I very much enjoyed his offering from last year.

TALC - listened to two of their albums but although I found them good in places they didn’t really grab me enough to retain in my favs 3/5.

Spiral Orchestra - Atlas Ark (@JAnonymous5150 from a few pages back) - really liking this, shame it’s their only offering on Qobuz, if it was from this year it would be near the top of my yearly favs.

I'm stoked that you dig it. I really enjoyed it and I figured some other folks here might, but it's definitely a different take on symphonic prog so I wasn't sure how it was going to sit with people. It turns out that I'm not the only guy who appreciates what they did with this album.

The new Amplifier album is way better than I expected, especially after being let down by pretty much everything they’ve put out since The Octopus.

Hmm, I had no idea Amplifier had a new album out. If I'm being honest, I don't think I've kept up with their last couple. It's cool to hear that they've got a new album out with some promise. It's going in the queue right after the new Rick Miller.

To keep things topical, I'll post the album I'm currently enjoying. I don't think I've posted it before (searches say I haven't) and it's totally worth posting. This is another prog album that has significant fusion influences. It's got quite a few jazzy and funky passages with a little swing to them. I'm definitely enjoying the flow/groove and upbeat energy this album brings to the table.

Self-Titled (rel. 2023) by Subjective Map

 

[YtseJamer]

Just noticed the new Teramaze album dropped today too.

 

[JAnonymous5150]

I waited over a week as I kept listening to this album to make sure I really felt as strongly about how much I dig it as I did when I first listened to it. It came out on April 8th and ten days and many listens later I find myself even more enamored of it than when I started. This one is going on my Album of the Year contenders list. It's frenetic and intense, but cohesive and brilliant at the same time.

I've rec'd this band before when I first discovered them last year because I dug their work so much. Well, this is another step up and their best album yet. If the idea of a band that's something like a Chon or The Omnific combined with a bit of The Mars Volta and some Polyphia appeals to you, then this album should be your jam.

Anemoia (rel. 2025) by Kaschalot

 

[Silverlinings]

Ignore the bad cover. The music is phenomenal. Totally caught me by surprise. Just came out this past week. Kinda retro prog and some silly song lyrics and names but I really like it.

 

[JAnonymous5150]

Found a new to me album that's pretty damn good. It's 43 minutes broken into two prog epics. Both tracks break down into sections that vary stylistically and it makes for some good listening.

Novotopia (rel. 2023) by Brett Lewis



Note: On Qobuz there is already a Brett Lewis listing for a different artist so this album is published under the "Brett Lewis Music" listing. Just FYI.

 

[Designsfx]

Now Playing:
TFNRSH- Book Of Circles

 

[rids57]

Found a new to me album that's pretty damn good. It's 43 minutes broken into two prog epics. Both tracks break down into sections that vary stylistically and it makes for some good listening.

Novotopia (rel. 2023) by Brett Lewis



Note: On Qobuz there is already a Brett Lewis listing for a different artist so this album is published under the "Brett Lewis Music" listing. Just FYI.

Gave this a blast earlier and quite enjoyed it, will be giving it another go tonight. It's an homage to Tubular Bells and that's one enormous mountain to climb, even Mike Oldfield himself has never managed to equal it.

Now Playing:
TFNRSH- Book Of Circles

Currently listening to this and it's rather excellent and already added to my ROON library

 

[dacwizard]

Perspective (2025) by Rick Miller - Brand new drop from the talented Canadian progger. Currently listening to it on Qobuz so I assume it's on the other streamers too.



Oh and @JAnonymous5150 - I really enjoyed that Mothra album, I've played it five times already.

I like this, maybe not quite up to last years effort but good.

It did prompt me to explore his quite extensive back catalogue. However I like these latest two much more than the others I tried (Old Souls, Heart of Darkness, Altered States), the older albums were still pretty good (3/5) but they seem to lack a bit of the grit and dynamic variation that the last two have, almost approaching tweeness in places, just a bit too smooth, for a lazy inoffensive mood music they fit the bill well, but not so much for a listening session.