An end-of-year report: our 2019 underground progressive metal albums of the year!

Tier 2: The Amazing

Are you still holding out? This post is quite lengthy, and we’re only halfways through. Feel free to go take a walk or drink a cup of coffee as a means of a break if you’re concentration has withered at this point.

This tier is full of albums that were very special, and could have very well been anyone’s album of the year had their taste been different. For us however, they just missed out on the heights needed to truly be at the peak. Numerically these are the albums we’d rate around a 9/10, if that helps. And of course, we do have a Spotify playlist with all the recommended tracks from this tier.

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A Novelist – Folie (US-LA)
Style: Melodeath/Metalcore (mixed vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Metal-Archives page
Original review: February
Pick by: Dylan

Now here’s one I can keep it really short for.

All you need to know about A Novelist is that they sound like if melodeath and The Mars Volta got in bed and had a child and that child’s best friend was a prog metalcore band like Protest the Hero. Leading to some of the most frantic pieces of prog with growls/shrieks layered on top of insane instrumentation, with just, like, a TON of melody. Just by that definition you should be listening to this.

What’s that? You didn’t get a word out of that? Well, to put it another way; It’s a superb 68 minute ride that mashes up many branches of prog metal (melodic death metal, metalcore, new prog rock) in an amazing way, which creates a journey that I think everyone with appreciation towards this genre is bound to love. Not much more you need to know about it, just go and give it a spin…

Recommended tracks: Acacia Crown, Stockholm Blues
Recommended for fans of: BTBAM The World Is Quiet Here, Protest the Hero Future Corpse, Opeth, The Mars Volta

Carthagods – The Monster in Me (Tunisia)
Style: Power (clean vocals)
Related links: Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Metal-Archives page
Original review: April
Pick by: Dylan

As someone that doesn’t listen to a ton of power metal, I certainly didn’t expect The Monster in Me to be a top 5 album in my end of year list, which speaks volumes on the quality of this release. 

There’s a good load of power tropes here, but the one that’s missing (which I’m very happy it is) is cheesiness. Albums like these either don’t take themselves seriously at all and just embrace the cheese (coughMaestrickcough), and others take themselves way too seriously but they end up being cheesy because of it as well. Carthagods I believe takes itself very seriously, but not to a point where it is extreme. This makes the album feel very mature and well structured while still sustaining the epic factor of power metal. While it’s not a very different release compared to most power projects, it’s all done in a very tight, very enjoyable and replayable way. I’ll say that the vocals on the album were a huge surprise to me; it’s as if Lemmy from Motorhead learned how to actually sing and got a prog power project started, and it’s as great as it sounds. They are very powerful, mature vocals that get how to flow along the many moods presented in the album.

The Monster in Me proves itself to be a must listen to those who want more progressive power goods, or those who never quite got into it and are looking for a good gateway album. 

Recommended tracks: The Devil’s Doll, The Rebirth, Memories of Never Ending Pains
Recommended for fans of: Evergrey, Nevermore, Kamelot

Chronicles – The Forest (US-UT)
Style: Metalcore/Symphonic (mixed vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Metal-Archive page
Original review: August
Pick by: Andrew

The Forest is the debut album by Chronicles, and it kind of blew my mind when I first heard it. The orchestral intro track is a huge red herring for the music that lies within. Some sort of blend of Protest the Hero and Between the Buried and Me with a cinematic flair, Chronicles manages to make their music blisteringly fast and complex while maintaining a very melodic and nice feel. With an even blend of harsh vocals and clean vocals, The Forest keeps you interested throughout the entire album. There are even a couple of genre-bending sections, and a guest vocal feature from singer Rody Walker of Protest the Hero. Overall, The Forest is a fantastic debut album with ridiculous energy and insanely tight musicality and I am very excited to see what Chronicles does in the future.

[Editor’s note: this is the band from that blond dude who sometimes posts videos of him playing djenty riffs with a very animated guitar face to r/progmetal]

Recommended tracks: Vanished, Torment, Through the Forest, Patriarch
Recommended for fans of: Native Construct, The Dear Hunter, Between the Buried and Me, Protest the Hero

Deaf Radio – Modern Panic (Greece)
Style: Stoner/Psychedelic (clean vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | RYM page
Original review: November
Pick by: Jonah

I’d say I find myself pining for old-school Queens of the Stone Age at least once every month or two. They had such a fun and engaging sound back in the day, and I just haven’t found anything that was able to capture that. That is, I hadn’t found anything until Deaf Radio came around and rocked my socks off. This album manages to capture that old QOTSA energy while also infusing some really interesting indie rock and psychedelic influences, and it all fuses wonderfully. This album isn’t the most progressive thing you’ll ever listen to, but it is DAMN fun, and some really honest to god good music.

Recommended tracks: Animals, Dance Like a Reptile, Colours (also the rest of them)
Recommended for fans of: Queens of the Stone Age, Stone Temple Pilots, Kyuss

Etrange – Etrange (France)
Style: Traditional (instrumental)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Official Website | Facebook | Metal-Archives page
Original review: September
Pick by: Dylan and Sam

Yet another French masterpiece; Etrange‘s self titled album is yet another amazing instrumental album of 2019. This album is just so good both Sam and me (Dylan) are gonna tell you why this is seriously a gem, and here’s why:

(Sam:) So you know of those epic video game soundtracks right? Well this sounds a lot like that, but then with some extra prog spice. The album is driven by futuristic synth tones that sound like you’re in a boss battle. There are a great many solos, but not as much as you’d expect given the style. It spends more time with cool riffs and futuristic lead melodies. It’s also quite an eclectic record, making it reminiscent of Demetori. This makes for an album that does not just feel like a cheesy wank-fest, but something you can listen to in earnest and say it’s great music.

(Dylan:) This is an album that feels like a massive spatial adventure, with massive mech battles for the conquering of the universe, and chilled out “space lounge” interludes. Etrange is top tier instrumental prog, comparable to the greats of Liquid Tension Experiment, but put through a sci-fi machine. This leads to an extremely memorable album that surprises you on every turn, and when it’s over, you can’t help but want to start all over from the beginning like you just saw a masterpiece of a movie. Etrange is an incredible album and we highly recommend it to any instrumental metal fan.

Recommended tracks: Exile, Astralis, Exoplanet
Recommended for fans of: Liquid Tension Experiment, Demetori

Evan Carson – Ocipinsky (UK)
Style: Post Rock/Folk (clean vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | RYM page
Original review: Missed albums – second edition
Pick by: Sam

Compared to 2018, the albums I have reviewed have been a bit dull. Unlike then, I don’t think there’s any album I’ve reviewed I’d consider AOTY-worthy. This album by Evan Carson however, is the closest to such heights, and it’s not even remotely metal. Stephen and Jonah were harassing me to listen to this band, and I’m damn glad I went out to review them last edition.

There is absolutely nothing I’ve heard that sounds like Ocipinski. Its genre is post rock/folk, but that barely gives an indication of what this album is. I question whether it’s even rock to begin with as there are barely any guitars and it doesn’t even feature a drum kit, but uses the cajón instead. Most of the melodies come from the piano and the various other instruments used such as the violin or the cello. Not to mention there are five (!!) vocalists present (including Jim Grey on “Otriad”). I still have no idea how this album is relevant to this blog, but god damn is it a beautiful one. Listening to Ocipinski is a bewildering journey of enchanting melodies, intense peaks and gentle valleys, and emotions delivered with a sincerity that is rarely seen in music of any kind. I absolutely adore this album and I think this is accessible for all music fans. You could show this to your highly conservative grandma and she’d like it, it’s THAT good.

Recommended tracks: Shards, Otriad, The Fireflies of Falaise
Recommended for fans of: Iamthemorning, Lunatic Soul, Arcane (RIP), good music in general

The Figurant – Perfection/Corruption (US-GA)
Style: BTBAM (mixed vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | RYM page
Original review: Missed albums – second edition
Pick by: Andrew

I don’t really have much to say about this one that I didn’t already say in my review from the Missed Albums edition. I love Perfection/Corruption for many of the same reasons I love Edge of Reality, Between the Buried and Me, and Native Construct. They’re unpredictable but cohesive, silly but serious, and wacky but musically complete. I get more enjoyment out of this 25 minute long EP than many full-length albums, which says something amazing about the songwriting within. Definitely give this a go if any of the above bands interest you, or even if they don’t, you will probably like some part of it.

Recommended tracks: the EP is 25 minutes just listen to the whole thing
Recommended for fans of: BTBAM, Mr. Bungle

Firelink – The Inveterate Fire (US-GA)
Style: Atmo Black (harsh vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Metal-Archives page
Original review: Missed albums – second edition
Pick by: Jonah

I didn’t even learn about this album until 2019 was just about over and I’m incredibly sad about that. Firelink have made one of the best black metal albums I’ve ever heard. As someone who isn’t much of a fan of the genre, this band has made it both accessible without sacrificing the core sound, and more refined than the average band of this style tends to be. The heavy sections never feel mindless, and the soft sections all serve a purpose. Add to this some wonderful songwriting, some excellent pacing between the various tracks, and the single best audio sample I’ve ever heard in metal music, and you have the recipe for a classic album.

Recommended tracks: Kindled, Manus, The First Sin
Recommended for fans of: Alcest, The Black Dahlia Murder, Wormwitch

Juggernaut – Neuroteque (Italy)
Style: Post (instrumental)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Metal-Archives page
Original review: October
Pick by: Josh

It’s easy to be lazy in post-metal. One can easily scoot by with slow burners that lead into heavy breakdowns at the end, repeated ad nauseam. At the same time, though, some of the freshest sounds in all of metal are to be found in the genre. Juggernaut bring the latter in spades on Neuroteque, packing the album full of memorable moments that make it unforgettable after even just one listen. The band’s interplay between instruments is unmatched (like holy shit, just listen to Charade), and the production is incredible, with each instrument at the perfect volume with some of the best tones I’ve had the pleasure of hearing in my life. Instead of yet another crescendocore album, do yourself a favor by listening to Neuroteque.

Recommended tracks: Limina, Charade
Recommended for fans of: Tool, The Mars Volta, Poly-Math

The Mercury Tree – Spidermilk (US-OR)
Style: Heavy Prog (clean vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | RYM page
Original review: Missed albums – second edition
Pick by: Stephen

As I mentioned in my review of Spidermilk last edition, The Mercury Tree is one of my favorite bands. Spidermilk will not be an album everyone will enjoy, it is very dissonant. The entire album is 17-EDO microtonal, and if you have never heard microtonal music before, the album might be jarring at first. With that said, you won’t find another album released in the prog scene like it. Spidermilk is creepy, unique, technical, mathy, and you will hear very unique melodies. If you enjoy very unique sounding bands and albums, look no further than Spidermilk.

Recommended tracks: all
Recommended for fans of: Steven Wilson, Kayo Dot, Cheer-Accident, microtonal music

The Night Watch – An Embarrassment of Riches (Canada)
Style: Classical/Metal (instrumental)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | RYM page
Original review: November
Pick by: Sam

Instrumental metal often bores me. There’s simply not much you can do melodically with only a guitar. Without a vocalist metal tends to be very limiting in my experience. Enter The Night Watch. I loved this album almost instantly. It fuses metal with classical (or rather, the other way around) into something beautiful. The lead instrument is actually the violin, and the metal is just supplemental to its package. It ventures around a great many musical styles and soundscapes actually. Different types of metal, classical, jazz and a lot more stuff I couldn’t tell you about even if I wanted to as my music knowledge outside of rock/metal is pretty dire. This album flies by despite its very lengthy 71 minute runtime, which speaks volumes to this band’s compositional ability. I have no idea for who this is, but all I know is that it’s greatly rewarding to those who are looking for something outside of the box. Fantastic stuff if you ask me.

Recommended tracks: Land Ho!, Dance of the Mountain People, Shamaniac
Recommended for fans of: ??? Just listen to it, it’s fantastic

Noekk – Waltzing in Obscurity (Germany)
Style: Rock (clean vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Metal-Archives page
Original review: September
Pick by: Matt

I slightly regret my original review for Waltzing in Obscurity. I liked it then, but I like it more now, and it felt like faint praise. This is a really strange mix of sadness, fun, atmosphere and catchiness that just really works. It’s probably the jauntiest band I’d ever describe as “gothic.” Very original, very enjoyable.

Recommended tracks: Perseus, The Giant, Mortlach
Recommended for fans of: Genesis, King Crimson, Empyrium

Palehørse – Palehørse (Finland)
Style: Alternative/Post-Hardcore (mixed vocals)
Related links: Spotify | Official Website | Facebook | Metal Storm page
Original review: April
Pick by: Tyler

I don’t think there was an album that was more fun that I had listened to in 2019 than this one. Every song is short, focused, and concise. Nothing here was more than it needed to be, which I appreciated a lot. I find bands that have a lot of faffing around in their songs for no reason to be too much. The performances are all fantastic. Very snappy and sound great for only being a three piece. This album also had one of my favorite productions on it. The album sounds like it had a huge budget and as a result, sounds just as big. I mentioned in my review that my only gripe is that I would love to hear what the band could do with something more high concept, but this is a great listen for now and doesn’t take too much time, so it’s well worth it.

Recommended tracks: Dead Wrong, The Passenger, Quicksand
Recommended for fans of: Destrage, Moon Tooth

Steaksauce Mustache – Superwoke (US-NY)
Style: Mathcore (mixed vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Official Website | Facebook | RYM page
Original review: Missed albums – first edition
Pick by: Josh

I like long, deep complex albums as much as the next guy, but too much of that stuff can get tiring. Sometimes I want something different, something fun, and Superwoke fits that role better than just about anything within the scope of prog metal. It’s a spastic mathcore record that takes influences from sass, led by a singer whose range spans from hardcore shouts, to deathcore esque lows, to what sounds like a choir of screaming children. This album is filled with unforgettable moments (Troll 2 sample on “Space Bank”, anyone?), and its content goes far beyond its short, 28-minute runtime. Definitely not one to miss.

Side note: if you have a chance to see these guys live, do it. Easily the most fun live show I’ve been to. After the pandemic is contained, they should be resuming their tour with Okilly Dokilly. Don’t pass them by!

Recommended tracks: Denim Diaper Daddies, Pass the Fist, Pacifist, Space Bank
Recommended for fans of: The Dillinger Escape Plan, fun

Tanagra – Meridiem (US-OR)
Style: Atmo Power (clean vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Metal-Archives page
Original review: April
Pick by: Matt

This is the first album I reviewed for the blog. Everyone but me already knew Meridiem was good, but we might as well pile it on some more. This is some great epic power metal, with a progressive touch and Nightwish-quality orchestra arranging. I really appreciate the feel of heroism here that’s been somewhat lacking in the Decade of Gritty Reboots. There is some filler, but it always comes alongside something amazing. If you wish Symphony X still wrote songs like “The Accolade”, this is the band for you.

Recommended tracks: Meridiem, Etheric Alchemy, Witness
Recommended for fans of: Blind Guardian, Falconer, Symphony X, power metal but not power metal vocals

Trojka – Tre ut (Norway)
Style: Prog Pop (clean vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | RYM page
Original review: Missed albums – second edition
Pick by: Stephen

If you are only here for the metal bands, Tre Ut will not be the album for you. Hell, they don’t even have a guitar player. Trojka is not metal, but they are a very talented progressive band from arguably the best progressive scene in the world right now, Bergen, Norway. Tre Ut is mixed almost like a classic mo-town album and has a very retro but modern feel. The best part of this album is the groove. This album has amazing grooves in so many different time signatures. Overall, the sound has a very jazzy feel, but probably not in a way you have heard it before. This trio from Norway is doing something special, don’t miss Tre Ut.

Recommended tracks: Penger, Fly, Nattevakt, Forbi mørket
Recommended for fans of: The Comet Is Coming

Umpfel – As the Waters Cover the Sea (Norway)
Style: Jazzy Prog (mixed vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | RYM page
Original review: April
Pick by: Stephen

As the Waters Cover the Sea is not an album I reviewed for the blog, but it is one of my favorites from 2019 that we covered. In short, this album is amazing. Following Umpfel from their previous album, Cactus, it was a bit of a surprise to see what direction the band went with As the Waters Cover the Sea. If you are a fan of bands like Haken or Native Construct don’t miss this album. It blends elements of prog-metal and jazz in a very cool way with awesome vocal harmonies throughout. This is an album I return to quite often, and was one I wanted to add to my list even though I did not write the initial review. 

Recommended tracks: As the Water Covers the Sea, Tree
Recommended for fans of: Haken, David Maxim Micic, Native Construct

Warforged – I: Voice (US-IL)
Style: Death (harsh vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Metal-Archives page
Original review: May
Pick by: Tyler

This was an album I listened to immediately after finishing the first time through, which I almost never do. It was like watching a horror movie the second time to see all of the stuff you missed the first time now that you know how it ends. Probably the tightest band of my picks, the performances are perfect and the writing is sublime. There are moments of delicate beauty that immediately follow or flow into crushing heavy tech death, yet nothing feels jarring or out of place. The amount of talent and musicianship here is off the charts. Classical compositions, guest spots, genre changes…you name it, it’s here. I probably should have rated it a 9.5, as really my only gripe is that there are some ideas that can overstay their welcome. Otherwise, this was a monumental album and something the band should be proud of.

Recommended tracks: Cellar, Old Friend
Recommended for fans of: Portal, old Opeth, Slice the Cake