I just love this channel. Grew up on Metal; Maiden, Priest, Black Sabath. Got a free ticket to see the Grateful Dead in '85. Jumped right on that bus (loved every second), but I always hung on to my Metal roots. Over the past three years I have gotten back into metal and wow what a time to jump back in! I definetly like the proggy metal the best and loved Blood Incantation from the get go. Anyway, long story short your channel and your excellent impassioned delivery has helped me navigate my way through what is a giant pool of amazing music. I appreciate you!
Damn yes! Anciient really developed their unique sound which is just awesome! Bedsore was kind of special for me. The first listened, i wasn't sure to what i was listening... The second listen i started to like it.. From the third listen onwards i love it! And well.. Blood Incantation 100% deserved it!
@@heavymetalphilosophy And there are so many more! I just had to pick the first coming to my mind, else i couldn't stop... This year for sure was just incredible with all those new bands and albums!
I have to plead guilty. I have a hard time making it all the way through your videos. Problem is I check on the stuff you recommend and get lost for a few hours in the music haha. Here's to a great 2025! If you ever hear the call you are always welcome brother
I think I mentioned on one of his other videos that I do the same thing. His 15-20 minute videos will take me hours to get through as I have to stop and listen. I lucked out with this one as I had already listened to everything he counted down.
Not my favorite genre but I gotta support my homie. On the other hand Opeth are amazing and they are on another level, sorry I still think the last will and testament is better then absolute elsewhere. But that's the beauty of it, we can desagree and still be friends. Amazing year for metal!!! Feliz año nuevo hermano!!!
Kinship by Iotunn would be at the top of my list since it is my metal album of the year and I consider it a prog album. The next four would be Blood Incantation, Anciients, Opeth and Caligula's Horse. The next five are tough since there are so many to choose from. I know that Thy Catafalque and Oceans of Slumber would be there. Contenders that are not on your list would be Lowen, Job for a Cowboy and Amiensus (both albums as a combined choice).
The new Opeth album is strangely alluring. I’ve never been much of a fan, but this album is just so complex, that I can’t help but be pulled into the richly layered narrative that Opeth lays down.
Thanks. Every New Year I go through as many of these lists as I can find and this one seems to have pointed me to some new favorites more than any others.
I would put Iotuun ~ Kinship in there somewhere ... How clean , deeply emotional vocals work so well within the maelstrom of progressive black metal I dont know, but i found it incredible ~
That intro was pure gold, and it only got better from there. Lord Dying sounds awesome. I am still digesting Anciients. Oceans of Slumber is great. And Opeth: chef's kiss, man! I need to check out Mur. It's been a good year for Prog Metal (and Metal in general).
I'm working on listening to these albums that I have not heard yet. As I'm listening to Lord Dying, their song 'Dancing on the Emptiness ' has some Arcturus vibes...
This was the list I was looking forward to the most since I generally prefer prog over other subgenres. Good choices here. One album I really enjoyed that has been overlooked is Hail Spirit Noir's Fossil Gardens, with "The Road to Awe" in particular being the highlight track.
I never liked prog till this year when it joined forces with extreme metal on a large scale. All these made my list this year. Keep the party going with VILE RITES, INTER ARMA, MALADIE, VEILBURNER, IOTUNN, MALCONFORT, SKAGOS,CONSTRUCT OF LETHE, KRAANBERG and GOBLIN HOVEL...many others...
ESTUARINE-Corporeal Furnace, January, week 1 ( tech deth with osdm production and psych/prog garnish. Served with German lager, Kentucky bourbon, and Florida bush. Off we go...
Love the channel, love the list and thought long and hard on the quote to use. But figured that this would be appropriate for what seems like your most personal and heartfelt list: “Information is not knowledge. Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is not truth. Truth is not beauty. Beauty is not love. Love is not music. Music is THE BEST" - Frank Zappa
Happy New Eve and Happy New Year Metal 2025 Aarruugghhhhh All love to you and your family safe and travel prayers to health and wealth for the new year.
Anciients my favorite out of the list but I’ll try bedsore and mur. Not a fan of the vocals of blood incantation. With that being said, bring on the new Rivers 🤘
@@FalseNi9e That’s fine. For what it’s worth, I thought it was a little bit lacking in cohesion the first time I heard it, but it really grew on me with subsequent listens.
#1 accomplishes one of the most truly difficult things to do in prog, that is to marinate our brains in an idea and know when its time to be taken out and put on the grill. Usually, they wait too long, yet the ONE nit picky critique that I have with #2 is that there are ideas on that album I wish I could sit with for a bit longer. The decision to record the drums so dry, that is 70s worship and genius for this record but I could sit in that space for days. Mikael can't win, his vocals are acceptable again but now we want the longer songs back! Maybe one day he'll finally get it right! /s Getting the balance perfect in composing a full album is something to admire when it happens and it is among the rarest of pleasures. Its the difference between an exceptionally great album and reaching immortality. It absolutely requires magic from origins elsewhere. Question for 2025: since bringing in other instruments is old hat now in Metal with keys, cow bells, and wind instruments, even when its another mouth to feed on tour the violinist is becoming a staple (as long as it can move gear). Is the difference between prog rock and prog metal now "Does it growl"? Or is the line between rock/metal still the humble harmonica? (maybe one of the bands in the misc video coming soon will answer that)
Well said. While I prefer growls I don't think that's enough. Dream Theater for example. For me I look for a level of heaviness above rock. But this definition is so loose and subjective I can't help but think of the infamous Stewart obscenity decision. "I know it when I see it". 😆
It's almost criminal that Distances - Abtruce was not mentioned by anyone. But for me the most underrated progressive DM album this year is Abscissor - Metanoia. This album is an hour and 15 minute opus 🤘😎🍻 Too many people are talking about the same few albums across the board, sad.
Killer one for sure. I had it as my top album of January over at MD. Just a stacked year. 🤷🤘🤘 metal-digest.com/2024/01/29/staff-picks-album-of-the-month-january-2024/
Have the one with Oceans Of Slumber not som much of the prog genre but it was a female fronted band. Blood Incantation i have recently heard a little of and much from people choices top list 2024
@@heavymetalphilosophyhah! Check out the album Data Diamond. It’s dark, twisted, and groovy. Devin Townsend produced their last album so that gives you some idea.
@@heavymetalphilosophy i hope so because metal should've had big time stars like shadows fall, arch enemy, lamb of god etc because at this point we can't rely on metallica, slayer, pantera and the rest of the old gaurd forever cause there not in their prime anymore and there old.
Cosmic Putrefaction's record is what Blood Incantations record hoped it could be. I'm not impressed at all with Blood Incantations record. Bedsore was also much better than BI
Deserving number 1, what a way to end 2024. I'm ready for some more mind blowing metal in 2025
Yes!! 🤘🤘
I just love this channel. Grew up on Metal; Maiden, Priest, Black Sabath. Got a free ticket to see the Grateful Dead in '85. Jumped right on that bus (loved every second), but I always hung on to my Metal roots. Over the past three years I have gotten back into metal and wow what a time to jump back in! I definetly like the proggy metal the best and loved Blood Incantation from the get go. Anyway, long story short your channel and your excellent impassioned delivery has helped me navigate my way through what is a giant pool of amazing music. I appreciate you!
Wow thank you!! 🙏🤘
Damn yes!
Anciient really developed their unique sound which is just awesome!
Bedsore was kind of special for me. The first listened, i wasn't sure to what i was listening... The second listen i started to like it.. From the third listen onwards i love it!
And well.. Blood Incantation 100% deserved it!
Excellent shouts! 🤘🤘
@@heavymetalphilosophy And there are so many more!
I just had to pick the first coming to my mind, else i couldn't stop... This year for sure was just incredible with all those new bands and albums!
Some awesome pick here, my top 3 are -
#1 . Opeth-Last Will And Testament
#2. Iotunn -Kinship
#3. Blood Incantation-Absolute Elsewhere 🤘🤘
Great picks! 🤘🤘
This list made me realise how much I like prog. Love nearly all the releases on this list mate!
Yes!! 🤘🤘
I have to plead guilty. I have a hard time making it all the way through your videos. Problem is I check on the stuff you recommend and get lost for a few hours in the music haha. Here's to a great 2025! If you ever hear the call you are always welcome brother
I think I mentioned on one of his other videos that I do the same thing. His 15-20 minute videos will take me hours to get through as I have to stop and listen. I lucked out with this one as I had already listened to everything he counted down.
You gotta make it to the end! JK of course. However these videos are helpful to people, that makes me happy. 😁🤘🤘
Yea. Guy always turning me on to new music@@acaDamiens
Not my favorite genre but I gotta support my homie.
On the other hand Opeth are amazing and they are on another level, sorry I still think the last will and testament is better then absolute elsewhere. But that's the beauty of it, we can desagree and still be friends.
Amazing year for metal!!!
Feliz año nuevo hermano!!!
No need to apologize. I could've went either way. Masterpieces!!! 🤘🤘
Cool some albums to check out, saw Blood Incantation at the end of November, awesome show.
Hell yes!!! Whoooooo! 🤘🤘
Great video, Jon. Blood Incantation and Opeth are my favorites of 2024
Thank you! 🙏🤘
Happy New Year Jon.
Great list, my #1 is Anciients but do enjoy Blood Incantation quite a bit.
Happy New Year!! 🙏🤘
Kinship by Iotunn would be at the top of my list since it is my metal album of the year and I consider it a prog album. The next four would be Blood Incantation, Anciients, Opeth and Caligula's Horse. The next five are tough since there are so many to choose from. I know that Thy Catafalque and Oceans of Slumber would be there. Contenders that are not on your list would be Lowen, Job for a Cowboy and Amiensus (both albums as a combined choice).
Excellent choices! I had JFAC on my death metal list, but for sure it would have fit here as well. Stay tuned for Iotunn! 😉🤘
I can't get enough of Absolute Elsewhere. Colorado represent!
Neither can I 😁🤘🤘
Also your user name rules.
@heavymetalphilosophy thanks! I'm trans and my full name now is Kayla Rose From the Dead...
@@Rose-From-the-Dead Oh, even more fitting. 🤘
The new Opeth album is strangely alluring. I’ve never been much of a fan, but this album is just so complex, that I can’t help but be pulled into the richly layered narrative that Opeth lays down.
Incredible right?! 🤘🤘
Thanks. Every New Year I go through as many of these lists as I can find and this one seems to have pointed me to some new favorites more than any others.
My work here is done. 😁🤘🤘
Blood Incantation is indeed THE AOTY 🐐🤘🪐🛸👽🛰️
Yes!! 🤘🤘
You have a great channel man! Cheers from Argentina!!
Thank you! 🇦🇷🤘🤘
I would put Iotuun ~ Kinship in there somewhere ...
How clean , deeply emotional vocals work so well within the maelstrom of progressive black metal I dont know, but i found it incredible ~
Stay tuned 😉🤘🤘
My favourite was probably Iotunn's Kinship. Those vocals really caught me.
Stay tuned 😉🤘
A Best Albums of the year list with prog metal only? I'll gladly take it, sir! Happy New Year, and thank you!
Thank you! Happy New Year!! 🙏🤘
Awesome 🤘🏻 Happy New Year 🍾🥂🎉
Thank you! Happy new year to you as well! 🙏🤘
You never disappoint, sir. Happy New Year!
Thank you! Happy New Year! 🙏🤘
Hell yes!
😁🤘🤘
really a great list...but i miss Iotunn - Kinship
Stay tuned 😉🤘
That intro was pure gold, and it only got better from there.
Lord Dying sounds awesome. I am still digesting Anciients. Oceans of Slumber is great. And Opeth: chef's kiss, man!
I need to check out Mur.
It's been a good year for Prog Metal (and Metal in general).
Haha, I'm glad someone got where I was coming from. 😁🤘🤘
I'm working on listening to these albums that I have not heard yet. As I'm listening to Lord Dying, their song 'Dancing on the Emptiness ' has some Arcturus vibes...
Whoa! 🤯🤘🤘
Lookin like a member of Ackercocke in that thumbnaiL! Slick bro!
Haha! 🤘
You are Forget slift-ilion à true masterpiece, cheers from France my prog metal friend
Cheers!! 🇫🇷🤘🤘
Great picks!
Thank you! 🙏🤘
yes! Octoploid made my list too
You clearly have a great taste. 😁🤘🤘
This was the list I was looking forward to the most since I generally prefer prog over other subgenres. Good choices here. One album I really enjoyed that has been overlooked is Hail Spirit Noir's Fossil Gardens, with "The Road to Awe" in particular being the highlight track.
Thank you! 🙏🤘
I found it to be their weakest, absolutely nowhere near their previous releases…
I never liked prog till this year when it joined forces with extreme metal on a large scale. All these made my list this year. Keep the party going with VILE RITES, INTER ARMA, MALADIE, VEILBURNER, IOTUNN, MALCONFORT, SKAGOS,CONSTRUCT OF LETHE, KRAANBERG and GOBLIN HOVEL...many others...
Did it join forces or did the extreme guys say, "THIS IS MINE NOW!" 😆🤘🤘
@@heavymetalphilosophyThe outcome is the same, buddy. Add COSMIC JAGUAR-El Era Del Jaguar (techthrashprog). Happy new beer.
ESTUARINE-Corporeal Furnace, January, week 1 ( tech deth with osdm production and psych/prog garnish. Served with German lager, Kentucky bourbon, and Florida bush. Off we go...
Let's go !!!
😁🤘🤘
Love the channel, love the list and thought long and hard on the quote to use. But figured that this would be appropriate for what seems like your most personal and heartfelt list:
“Information is not knowledge. Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is not truth. Truth is not beauty. Beauty is not love. Love is not music. Music is THE BEST" - Frank Zappa
Thank you! And Frank never missed! 🙏🤘
Happy New Eve and Happy New Year Metal 2025 Aarruugghhhhh All love to you and your family safe and travel prayers to health and wealth for the new year.
Mr Garza, thank you! He's hoping for a great new year for you and yours as well! 🙏🤘🤘
@heavymetalphilosophy Thank You Nosferatu
@@pgarza1218 😆
Surprised IOTUUN didn't make the cut, their new album is superb.
Superb indeed! Stay tuned. 😁🤘
I was hoping you would be wearing that nice suit in the thumbnail
😆
Anciients my favorite out of the list but I’ll try bedsore and mur. Not a fan of the vocals of blood incantation. With that being said, bring on the new Rivers 🤘
Bring on the new Rivers!!! 🤘🤘
I’ll try some more Blood Incantation to see if it will catch
@@jeremysanders8766Definitely worth multiple listens to try and click with it. An all time favourite for me already
Blood Incantation’s new album has turned out to be one of the very few times where the hype is justified. I loved Bedsore’s new record as well.
Right?! I almost felt bad for picking it because so many people did, but let's put A LOT of emphasis on almost... I loved it the best. Point Blank. 🤘🤘
That record is very average mate
@@FalseNi9e That’s fine. For what it’s worth, I thought it was a little bit lacking in cohesion the first time I heard it, but it really grew on me with subsequent listens.
#1 accomplishes one of the most truly difficult things to do in prog, that is to marinate our brains in an idea and know when its time to be taken out and put on the grill. Usually, they wait too long, yet the ONE nit picky critique that I have with #2 is that there are ideas on that album I wish I could sit with for a bit longer. The decision to record the drums so dry, that is 70s worship and genius for this record but I could sit in that space for days. Mikael can't win, his vocals are acceptable again but now we want the longer songs back! Maybe one day he'll finally get it right! /s
Getting the balance perfect in composing a full album is something to admire when it happens and it is among the rarest of pleasures. Its the difference between an exceptionally great album and reaching immortality. It absolutely requires magic from origins elsewhere.
Question for 2025: since bringing in other instruments is old hat now in Metal with keys, cow bells, and wind instruments, even when its another mouth to feed on tour the violinist is becoming a staple (as long as it can move gear).
Is the difference between prog rock and prog metal now "Does it growl"? Or is the line between rock/metal still the humble harmonica? (maybe one of the bands in the misc video coming soon will answer that)
Well said. While I prefer growls I don't think that's enough. Dream Theater for example. For me I look for a level of heaviness above rock. But this definition is so loose and subjective I can't help but think of the infamous Stewart obscenity decision. "I know it when I see it". 😆
It's almost criminal that Distances - Abtruce was not mentioned by anyone. But for me the most underrated progressive DM album this year is Abscissor - Metanoia. This album is an hour and 15 minute opus 🤘😎🍻 Too many people are talking about the same few albums across the board, sad.
Killer one for sure. I had it as my top album of January over at MD. Just a stacked year. 🤷🤘🤘
metal-digest.com/2024/01/29/staff-picks-album-of-the-month-january-2024/
@heavymetalphilosophy It made my top 10 this year 🤘
Have the one with Oceans Of Slumber not som much of the prog genre but it was a female fronted band.
Blood Incantation i have recently heard a little of and much from people choices top list 2024
Any love for the new Four Stroke Baron, though?
Is that a sex technique?
@@heavymetalphilosophyhah! Check out the album Data Diamond. It’s dark, twisted, and groovy. Devin Townsend produced their last album so that gives you some idea.
Im still waiting for the next Pagans mind and Circus Maximus albums to come out I thought Thy Majestie was recording also shit i don't know
🤘🤘
Seventh Dimension - Of hope & ordeals
🤘🤘
Listening to Octoploid right now... Holy $h!t
My work here is done. 😁🤘🤘
You weren't the only one that had to listen to the Lord Dying album a couple times to really hear it haha.
Worth it though! 😁🤘🤘
Top 3
Anciients
Opeth
Blood Incantation
Cannot argue with that! 🤘🤘
don't sleep on Job for a Cowboy... Their new album was very progressive IMO
It's in the death metal list, but I agree. Tech death can have a lot of prog flavor.
Absolutely! I had them in my best death metal list, but they definitely could've fit here too. 🤘🤘
I feel that blood incantation should be huge at this point but there not such a shame.
They're getting there, which is amazing because this isn't music for normies. They're undeniable.
@@heavymetalphilosophy i hope so because metal should've had big time stars like shadows fall, arch enemy, lamb of god etc because at this point we can't rely on metallica, slayer, pantera and the rest of the old gaurd forever cause there not in their prime anymore and there old.
Keanu Reeves called….
😆
Cosmic Putrefaction's record is what Blood Incantations record hoped it could be. I'm not impressed at all with Blood Incantations record. Bedsore was also much better than BI
Well presented list but the suspense your were trying for #1 was in vain - I was sure you'll join most and gush over Blood Incantation
Thank you! 🤘🙏
Uhhh Blood Incantation is death metal.
Yes 😁🤘🤘
Why da fuq do you look like a blend between Herman Li and Markiplier?
😆😆