February delivered a crop of new releases by the likes of such genre titans as Dream Theater, Obscura, Jinjer… and none of them make the February Albums of the Month post! We shall not kowtow to lower efforts from supposedly canonical artists. “Come on,” I hear you cry, “if you guys didn’t like the new Dream Theater then what the hell did you like?” A lot of things, as it happens. We’ve got symphonic screamo, a unique piano-led take on prog death, some ethereal art rock, blackened heavy metal, lush and arty chamber post-rock, your regular injection of dissodeath, and a slab of post-black. A packed month all in all! So stop trying to Stockholm Syndrome yourself into enjoying Parasomnia and stick on our playlist instead.
Lorem Ipsum – Même Quand ta Main Quittera la Mienne
Recommended for fans of: Beethoven, La Dispute, In Fear and Faith, Astor Piazzolla
Picked by: Andy
Even at just thirteen minutes, Même Quand ta Main Quittera la Mienne is basically a life-changing EP. Addicting and unique, the French quartet’s take on screamo is, for all intents and purposes, perfect. Wrought with raw emotion from the vocal performance, the stellar chamber music underlying Foulon’s screams and singing is beautifully contrapuntal, with small details still revealing themselves thirty listens later. Music really doesn’t get much better; I lament that this EP is only thirteen minutes long.
Recommended tracks: all three of them
Related links: Bandcamp | original review
Jonathan Hultén – Eyes of the Living Night
Recommended for fans of: Anathema, Heilung, The Pineapple Thief, Lunatic Soul
Picked by: Ian
[Editor’s note: this album released in January but Ian was otherwise engaged so we’re tacking it onto this month’s post]
Jonathan Hultén has wandered far and wide across the musical landscape since his departure from the goth-metal realms of Tribulation, and here he has carved out his own beautiful niche: a sparkling, vibrant twilight of sound that recalls the soft yet expansive melodrama of late-era Anathema with a primal, neofolk twist. The melodies and arrangements feel ancient and timeless, and in combination with Hultén’s masterful command over vocal timbre, they can soothe a part of your soul you weren’t quite aware you had. This is music to relax one’s weary being after a taxing journey, physical or otherwise, and watch from a warm sanctuary as the short light of the eventide gives way to a dark, starlit night.
Recommended tracks: Afterlife, Riverflame, The Dream Was the Cure, The Ocean’s Arms
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | original review
Sleep Paralysis – Sleep Paralysis
Recommended for fans of: Blut Aus Nord, Imperial Triumphant, Oranssi Pazuzu
Picked by: Justin
My cohorts here at The Progressive Subway have described Sleep Paralysis as “annoying”, “grating” (that’s the point) and have given it generally low ratings. Good thing for you then, dear reader, that I am here to impart upon you the correct opinion about this album. I agree that Sleep Paralysis is a bit on the nose with its influences and lyrics, but it pulls the avant-garde black metal style off in a uniquely recognizable way that completely justifies the choices that make this album so controversial in our little circle. Listen and decide for yourself whether or not you agree with my opinion; either way, I am one review closer to assimilating this website into “The Progressive Subway Plus Justin Rambling in the Corner About Weirdo Death/Black Metal”. Rolls right off the tongue.
Recommended tracks: Sleep Paralysis, Fever Dream, Helplessness
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | original review
Decline of the I – Wilhelm
Recommended for fans of: The Great Old Ones, Oranssi Pazuzu, Blut Aus Nord
Picked by: Cory
With a massive, 45-minute slab of bleak but elegant post-black metal, Decline of the I reverses the band’s titular trajectory and ascends our February ranks. Wilhelm is ambitious to say the least, layering electronic percussion, monastic chants, ethereal choirs, bowed strings, and bites of spoken philosophy into its wandering compositions. But in true sheep-dog fashion, Decline of the I herds all these elements into a coherent and compelling whole. The band accomplishes the rare feat of compromising on neither the black nor the post-metal aspects of its sound, excelling handily at both and delivering an album that stakes an early claim as one of 2025’s most impressive.
Recommended tracks: L’ Alliance Des Rats, Éros N
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | original review
Crown of Madness – Memories Fragmented
Recommended for fans of: Gorguts, Ulcerate
Picked by: Daniel
As a newer contributor to the Subway and someone who had yet to review an album I was truly gaga about, I spent the month after writing my original review second-guessing myself. Had I gone too easy on Memories Fragmented? Did I pick enough nits? Was my score too generous? Then the album dropped, and I gave it another listen—then another, and another. A week after its release, I’ve played it every single day. Spoiler alert: I absolutely did not go too easy on it. I am even more in love with the beautiful melodies that are strangled out of its contorting, dissonant guitar motifs; and the percussion’s artillery barrage still leaves me shell shocked. I want to savor this album, yet at the same time I’m already anxiously anticipating whatever Crown of Madness does next.
Recommended tracks: Sovereign Blood, Ashes of Mine, The Grand Design
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | original review
Maud the Moth – The Distaff
For fans of: Björk, Lingua Ignota, Anna von Hausswolff
Picked by: Andy
Labyrinthine and dense, The Distaff is a look into the mind of artist Amaya López-Carramero, and the album is as complicated and beautiful as thought. With self-contradicting and poetic lyricism, The Distaff’s message—lyrically and musically—is obscured, but the trip is gorgeous and evocative. Through winding compositions, eerie instrumentals, and a stellar vocal performance, Maud the Moth has positioned herself as the artist to beat for weirdo prog in 2025.
Recommended tracks: A Temple by the River, Exuviae, Despeñaperros, Fiat Lux
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | original review
Scimitar – Scimitarium I
For fans of: Slaegt, Molten Chains, Malokarpatan, Messa
Picked by: Justin
Scimitarium I was The Progressive Subway’s February sleeper hit; none of us got around to it until pretty well into March, but all of us were instantly enamored with it. Scimitar play an arcane form of heavy metal with plenty of black metal leanings à la Negative Plane, Malokarpatan, Spirit Possession etc… Strong songwriting and brilliant structuring lends way to serpentine riffs, and the entire experience is tied together by Shaam Larein’s lilting vocal performance. Don’t sleep on this sleeper hit.
Recommended tracks: Aconitum, Hungry Hallucinations, Ophidia
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | original review (in progress!)
Non-Subway Picks
Majestica – Power Train (power metal)
Despite my general distaste for modern power metal (not for lack of wanting to love it), Majestica know the formula for a great song despite the campy cheese. You’ll love those impressive vocal lines, guaranteed.
Picked by: Andy
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