Tag Archives: progressive metal

Bubblemath, Dalila Kayròs, Extra Life, and Contemplator

by Dæv Tremblay

Bubblemath – Turf Ascension (Cuneiform)


Accolades like “the best prog band in the last decades” should not be overlooked as mere exaggerations. Indeed, they are statements worthy of examination. Bubblemath has been on my radar since their 2017 release Edit Peptide, and reading back at this five-year-old critique, I find nothing more to add for Turf Ascension, so I’ll just paraphrase: it’s complex yet groovy prog. Definitely one of the best prog rock album of the year so far!

Dalila Kayròs – Animàmi (Subsound)


Italian singer Dalila Kayròs has at this point played in so many of my… Read more

Best of Progressive Metal 2021

by Dæv Tremblay


The “progressive metal” category casts such a wide net that I had to subdivide it into several subcategories. So, instead of making a top 5 for every one of them, let’s see only the best concept album, the best experimental album, the best instrumental album, the best vocal album, the best prog-power album, and the best prog-thrash album from 2021!

Best Prog-Power: Æphanemer – A Dream of Wilderness


It’s got the cheese, it’s got the shredder, it’s got the pasta.

Best Prog-Thrash: Cryptosis – Bionic Swarm



Throughout the many really cool thrash metal albums the year gave us, Cryptosis’s stood … Read more

Best of Post-Metal 2021

by Dæv Tremblay


Post-metal is often slow and atmospheric, somewhat akin to doom metal with riffs, or post-rock with riffs. There’s been a lot of really good post-metal this year, so here are my favourites!

Number Five: Cave Sermon – Memory Spear

Australia’s Cave Sermon released a jaw-dropping debut this year with Memory Spear, an amazing atmospheric post-metal album with a tinge of black metal inked into it, which makes for a marvellous entry into our top 5!

Number Four: Daxma – Unmarked Boxes


Doomgazy post-metal with melodic female vocals over drawn-out chords and slloooww riffs. Is that what you want? Then … Read more

Best of Nu Prog 2021

by Dæv Tremblay


Let’s move on to nu prog, a genre that is somewhat obsessed with solo musicians and their guitars. Here are the album that I enjoyed the most out of 2021!

Number Five: Dzũng – Dzanca


On Dzanca, Vietnamese guitarist Dzung brings us eleven songs inspired by traditional Vietnamese folk songs. This gives the album a very distinctive feeling and sound, and I’m glad to hear these traditional songs, however transformed!

Number Four: Bodhi – Koans


Bodhi has been at it for some time now, and Koans is there to remind us why: melodies that stick in your mind, guitar … Read more

Best of Metalcore 2021

by Dæv Tremblay


Let’s hear it for the most crushing metalcore albums of 2021!

Number Five: Warring Monk – 僧兵


That Warring Monk album is a last-minute entry, but I had to include it here! Despite its lower production standard, it’s filled with incredible riffs, an amazing guitar distortion sound, and it’ll be a great discovery for most of you!

Number Four: Vildhjarta – Måsstaden under vatten



I don’t feel like Vildhjarta recaptured the lightning in a bottle that the original Måsstaden ended up being, but the under vatten follow-up is still really freaking good!

Number Three: Employed to Serve – Conquering


Employed … Read more