We’ve had a few jam-packed album of the month posts this year, so if you’re feeling a little fatigued, fear not! May was somewhat less generous with the new tunes. But what it lacked in quantity it made up for in quality… well, I only enjoyed one of these albums, but we like to present you with a diverse roster of listening choices from our wonderful writers, and, hey, maybe you have better taste than me! Justin’s still extolling the virtues of thall, Andy’s got some hypnotic black metal with a twist for you, Doug found some great new heavy prog rock down by the Riverside, and Vince… well, we’re all very disappointed with Vince.

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Vildhjarta – + Där skogen sjunger under evighetens granar +
Recommended for fans of: Meshuggah, Frontierer, Humanity’s Last Breath, Car Bomb
Picked by: Justin

Vildhjarta lift their gaze to the stars on + Där skogen sjunger under evighetens granar +, the result being a sonic equivalent of clandestine constellational cartography, fanatically surveying a strange, foreign sky. A budding new tonality within thall is eagerly explored, superimposed on an elevated backdrop of genre fundamentals that Vildhjarta themselves pioneered over a decade earlier. Like every Vildhjarta release before it, + Där skogen sjunger under evighetens granar + marks the largest evolution of sound within thall in years, an inspired rhythmic and tonal ideological proliferation. 

Well, either that, or Andy’s right and it’s no different from AI generated slop. Listen and decide for yourself, that’s what music is all about anyway.

Recommended tracks: + Två vackra svanar +, + Sargasso +, + Den spanska känslan +
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | original review

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Vauruvã – Mar de Deriva
Recommended for fans of: Wolves in the Throne Room, Panopticon, Kaatayra, Mare Cognitum
Picked by: Andy

Caio Lemos, the man behind Bríi, Kaatayra, Vauruvã (among others), is no stranger to the blog: Mar de Deriva is the seventh album I’ve reviewed of his since being tenured here in 2022. The record runs with Lemos’ patented formula of atmospheric black metal, mixing in acoustic guitars, Brazilian rhythms, clean vocals, and tranquil synths, but the vibes he curates on Mar de Deriva are new to this album in his extensive discography. Dwelling in a hazy dreaminess, Mar de Deriva is stunningly surreal, and drifting away while listening to the record is the premier listening experience to be had in 2025 so far. Turn Mar de Deriva on and let it wash over you. 

Recommended tracks: Os Caçadores, As Selvas Vermelhas No Planeta dos Eminentes
Related links: Bandcamp | Instagram | original review

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SubLunar – A Random Moment of Stillness
Recommended for fans of: Riverside, Lunatic Soul, Porcupine Tree, Airbag
Picked by: Doug

[Editor’s note: this album released in April, but various dark forces conspired against posting the review in a timely fashion, so we’re including it in this month’s post.]

When I first heard the opening bars of A Random Moment of Stillness, I was instantly transported back to my early days of exploring progressive music in high school. SubLunar’s gentle yet melancholy vibe plays in the same emotional space popularized by Riverside, with a particular similarity to the sonically straightforward but compositionally deep structure of Memories in My Head. Although these inevitable comparisons must be acknowledged, I encourage you not to view them as a negative judgment. SubLunar offer a talented homage to a very particular style of heavy progressive rock, but by virtue of the love they show for that era and the skill with which they write and perform music, A Random Moment of Stillness provides a beautiful and welcome hit of nostalgia rather than feeling like a rote or unoriginal cash-in on someone else’s work. In addition, SubLunar build a slightly different atmosphere with their greater emphasis on spacey post-rock influences, one which better complements the existential doubts raised by the album’s lyrics. The experience of confronting the fleeting nature of your own mortal existence might not immediately call to mind a lot of positive adjectives, but there’s a strange comfort in the gloomy ambiance backed by high quality lyricism and musicianship. As long as you’re prepared for an introspective journey, settle in for a listen and let the gentle darkness soothe the pain of living for a while.

You might also like: Unmanned, Falling Upwards, Attract / Deter, A Sun Blur
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | original review

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Sleep Token – Even in Arcadia
Recommended for fans of: Bad Omens, Spiritbox, Dayseeker, Bastille
Picked by: Vince

Even In Arcadia further taps the vein of the masked cohort’s decadent brand of alt-pop and metal, seasoning the vintage with surprising notes of reggaeton and world music alongside tried-and-true progressive additions like saxophone. Drummer II is once more a highlight as he spiders his way across trip-hop dance beats, melancholic pianos, and crushing guitars, adding architectural flair to the band’s non-euclidean structures, while Vessel supplies heart and hurt aplenty with his sundering croons and impassioned shrieks—a clarion call to summon the hosts of Houses both Feathered and Veridian. Take Me Back To Eden was always going to be a tough act to follow; Sleep Token’s pop and metal formulas crystalized so perfectly as to create a near-flawless gem, one whose allure still burns deep two years on. Even In Arcadia doesn’t quite reach those same meteoric heights—fans hoping for another balanced helping may feel a way about the increased focus on more “mainstream” elements—but that hasn’t stopped Sleep Token from penning some of their most addictive cuts, while continuing their history of powerhouse closers with the epic “Infinite Baths.” More velvet than steel, Even In Arcadia still cuts deep, a luscious record with a lethal hold on my heart.

You might also like: Look to Windward, Emergence, Caramel, Gethsemane, Infinite Baths
Related links: Spotify | original review

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Non-Subway Picks

Aesop Rock – Black Hole Superette (rap)
Handling all production duties himself as usual on his tenth album, Aesop Rock provides a vibrant, ever-shifting backdrop for his lyrically dense rapping with beats that range from relentless and frenetic to chill and jazzy. With the usual riveting, story-focused tracks (“John Something”, “Snail Zero”), a penchant for uncovering profundity in the mundane, and the occasional laugh-out-loud lyric, this is rap music that will keep you thinking (in the best possible way).
[Picked by: Claire]