Your Top 2011 Albums

Mournful Congregation - The Book of Kings, and that's pretty much it, so far. I still have to listen to Esoteric's and Fleshpress' new album.

Add the new Blotted Science EP to my list! First listen as I type and already loving it.

Megadeth, Metallica, Slayer and Testament. The real Big Four of thrash metal!

Listen to doom metal, worship Satan

Amplifier's The Octopus... that's an album that should be on loads of AOTY lists, but it came out at the very start of January and I accidentally think of it as coming out last year.

I wonder if magazine/website listmakers feel the same and it misses out on the massive recognition it should get.

I had:
1. Mastodon � The Hunter
2. Machine Head � Unto The Locust
3. Anthrax � Worship Music
4. Architects � The Here And Now
5. Red Fang � Murder The Mountains
6. Megadeth � Th1rt3en
7. Black Tusk � Set The Dial
8. Five Finger Death Punch � American Capitalist
9. Devildriver � Beast
10. Black Country Communion � 2
11. Chimaira � The Age Of Hell
12. Trivium � In Waves
13. Jasta � Jasta
14. Amon Amarth � Surtur Rising
15. Rise To Remain � City Of Vultures

but I think I'd need to crowbar The Octopus in there. Although luckily I don't have to here becuase they aren't on the site...

My Blog: http://kingcrimsonprog.wordpress.com/

Here's my list finally put out in public!

1.Visions-Haken

2.Fables Of The Sleepless Empire-Unexpect

3.Bilateral-Leprous

4.Plains Of Purple Buffalo-*Shels

5.Sympathetic Resonance-Arch/Matheos

6.Iconoclast-Symphony x

7.Deconstruction-Devin Townsend

8.Rengeteg-Thy Catafalque

9.Epoch-Fen

10.The Great Mass-Septic Flesh

11.Ghost-Devin Townsend

12.The Hunter-Mastodon

13. Outer Isolation-Vektor

14.Torn Beyond Reason-Woods Of Desolation

15.Dirge-Wormrot

16.Mammal-Altar Of Plagues

17.Varjoina Kulijemme Kuolleiden Maasa-Moonsorrow

18.A Dramatic Turn Of Events-Dream Theater

19.Communication Lost-Wolverine

20.Until Fear No Longer Defines Us-Ghost Brigade

My Album Reviews: http://audiopline.wordpress.com/
Movie Reviewing blog: http://moviepline.wordpress.com/

This was my Collab list this year for MMA:

1. Leprous - Bilateral

2. Animals as Leaders - Weightless

3. Unexpect - Fables of a Sleepless Empire

4. TesseracT - One

5. Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn of Events

6. Haken - Visions

7. Scale the Summit - The Collective

8. Devin Townsend - Deconstruction

9. Symphony X - Iconoclast

10. Caligula's Horse - Moments from Ephemeral City

11. Vildhjarta - Masstaden

12. Born of Osiris - The Discovery

13. Random - Todo.s Los Colores Del

14. X-Panda - Flight of Fancy

15. Riverside - Memories in my Head

My Bandcamp

Here was my List for the 2011 Collaborators Best of

Well, 2011 . . .

It came and went like an arpeggio down a guitar neck on a Solo!

In-turn, I missed out on the extreme side of Metal, as my Internet Station leans to the Prog Metal side

of things, but soft! Let us partake into the realms of complexity, sublime and aggressive behavior

that is . . .

METAL!!!!!!! :guitarbang2:

Here we go . . . My TOP 20 Metal Albums of 2011:

(The Top 5 are on my CD player Weekly) . . .

1. Arch / Matheos - Sympathetic Resonance
Everything I want, aggression, complexity, and basically Fates Warning with their original vocalist

extraordinaire John Arch brought through the gate of time to create a contemporary masterpiece.

Its amazing we are to be blessed with an actual FW album with Alder as well!

2. TesseracT - One

These guys are more than a Djent band, full of emotion, and atmospheric bliss all enveloped in

mathematical aggression.

3. Haken - Visions

These Britts are being compared to Dream Theater but I think Haken has more of a

"Proto-Prog/Metal" sound at times, but one minute they are totally Progressive Rock, then Prog

Metal then something else. Great Storytellers and unbelievable musicians, this album could

easily move up in ranks.

4. Opeth - Heritage

Well Opeth are in a space where the old fans are leaving and gaining new ones, pissing off

others but are doing what they want, and I have been a fan since the release of "Still Life".

But this album seems like a natural progression, who knows, the next may be an all out Death

Fest. I think Akerfeldt and the boys have a firm grasp what Proto-Metal was and could be in our

modern times. For A HUGE Rainbow/Deep Purple and Uriah Heep fan, I love it.

5. Sun Caged - the Lotus Effect

This one is all over the place, the opening Track is as if Prog met Thrash and Death Metal

sensibilities, as the rest fly from Prog rich ballads and gorgeous melodies of Tech-Prog Metal

prowess. A gorgeous album rich with soundscapes.

6. Subsignal - Touchstones

Well, we have the vocals from Sieges Even and its sound a bit enhanced, again, it can go from

pure Progressive Rock and in the same song, total Prog Metal aggressive passages, yet they are

not DT or Haken. Full of esoteric lyrics and prose, gorgeous.

7. Alarum - Natural Causes

Man! Was I LATE finding out about this! This is an incredible album, to be treated to this Math Metal

group again is a blessing to the ears and the mind. From Fusion, Djent, Death infused in a Math Metal

structure are Math lessons I would totally show up on time for :).

8. Andromeda - Manifest Tyranny

Andromeda, like Sun Caged is soo consistent with quality, you wonder if they are human. But

Andromeda have always teetered on Math Metal territory, but manage to make things Technical yet

digestible with plenty of aggression.

9. Leprous - Bilateral

Yes, they can be "Opeth-like" yet add that Proto-Metal aspect again, a tinge of Gothic spices and even

some technical brilliance, atmospheres and total full-fucking aggression's. The vocals seal the deal.

10. Voyager - The meaning of I

These guys came out of nowhere, some tight technical playing in this Prog Metal outfit, this is a band

to watch in the future, I really like the vocals as he plays within some interesting melodies.

11. Dynahead - YOUniverse

Starting off as a Brazilian Meshuggah-like Math Metal Band, the sophomore effort finds the same yet

exploring the space with some beautiful work within the brutality. This one may move up the ranks as

well.

12. Eumeria - Rebel Mind

Another that will move up as I have been enjoying these new guys on the block, with their dose of Tech-

Prog Metal. But they have a unique sound that has me listening again and again.

13. Vangough - Kingdom of Ruin

Vangough have been around a few years and gathering a following. This time around you can hear the

obvious growth and maturity without losing their soul, and are destined to be a name in the Prog Metal

world.

14. Borealis - Fall from Grace

Seems these Prog Metallers have been around a few years too, but their big debut is one that has a

young fresh sound, but musicianship beyond their years. Another to watch grow into greatness.

15. Myrath - Tales of the Sand

The Tunisian Marauders strike again! This one is growing on me more and more and will be yet

another to rise in the ranks. The indigenous instruments just add soo much to their music to make

them stand apart from the rest.

16. Continuo Renacer - The Great Escape

So many "Djent" Instrumental Bands have come these past few years, but these Spaniards were

doing this since 2004 with their Math Metal along with the likes of Gordian Knot, Canvas Solaris and

Spiral Architect - just without the vocals. It was thought we'd have to wait a millennium- like a new

Spiral Architect album, but we got Confessor, Cynic, Atheist, Mekong Delta and now Continuo beating

them to the punch (With Watchtower and Fredrik Thordendal's Special Defects II coming soon!).

This is another great album sure to wow its listeners. A Math/Fusion album of EPIC proportions.

17. Symphony X - Iconoclast

I know many want them to go back to their more "Neo-Classical/Power Metal" days but I think these

guys just keep growing, and if more aggressive, so be it! But man, they still know how to create solid

"ballads" as Russel leads the way with his Godly vocals. And that its a Concept album about the

Madness of Computers/Ai Machines . . . I'm there to sit and listen.

18. Redemption - This Mortal Coil

Redemption has been one to be a consistent force in Prog Metal, with beautifully constructed melodies

that can turn aggressive and beautiful to majestic and epic. This Album is growing on me and those

are the ones who usually last the test of time.

19. Dream Theater - A Dramatic turn of Events

It would be hard to NOT include DT in my list after being a huge fan since "When Day and Dream Unite"

(on LP!). But I must say it, without Portnoy and his ASTOUNDING Fills and drum compositions, I just

feel part of DT's "Soul" is gone. But the music is lush, huge and all DT. But let us see what Mangini can

write for the next album . . . I'm willing and ready. But I cant help to hope Portnoy is asked back, but I

think we could only imagine what Minneman, Wildoer and Donatti couldve enhanced to re-invent them.

20. Obscura - Omniviume

I need to soak this one up more but again, they just dont disappoint. Some great extreme Math/Death

Metal with VERY Progressive characteristics to the 10th power. Some complexity with groove and left

turns to keep it cerebrally interesting.

Honourable Mentions.

These can easily take over some spots as I am still in need to purchase these and devour them

after a few weeks:

21. Unexpect - Fables of the Sleepless Empire

22. Primus - Green Naugahyde

23. Cynic - Carbon Based Anatomy

26. Mekong Delta - Wanderer at the edge of Time

27. Diamond Plate - Generation Why?

28. Anubis Gate - self titled

29. Devin Townsends Projects

30. Riverside-Memories In My Head

. . . sorry I missed out on the more Avant-Garde and other extremes Embarrassed

.

If you are feeling adventurous, please go here as I created a link from my YOUtube account as a playable

Playlist of my TOP 20 (+6) of 2011:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBD3C7E25C65657C9

Same order as my List above Big smile

.

I hope all enjoy and have a Full-Fucking Aggressive New Year! :guitarbang2:

. . . but with a lot of goodness thrown in Wink

.

Also:

Here is my List and Playlist for my Top 20 Progressive Rock Albums of 2011 . . .

List:

http://www.youtube.com/user/Progulus4#grid/user/B00A6B18E458769E

Playlist:

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB00A6B18E458769E

. . . almost the same as above Smile

.

Edited by MAVIIIVAM - 04 Feb 2012 at 5:32pm

"If you're happy to be an Ant in the Sand Box, you're welcome to it!" -Forbidden

For Progressive Metal and Prog Rock, come visit, request songs and explore at PrOgulus.com