Post by Mebert78 on Dec 3, 2011 22:50:21 GMT -5
Hey, everyone. I created this list a few weeks ago, but I was waiting until December to post it. Feel free to post your Top 10 lists as well. It's fun to see how you guys rank things. I would've liked to see where OSI4 ranked if it came out this year!
#10 Eumeria – “Rebel Mind”
Eumeria just released their debut album this past summer and they haven’t even performed a live show yet, as far as I know. But the title track, “Rebel Mind,” is too good to omit. The band posted the video online in July and it’s been attracting fans one at a time. It’s an explosive tune that grabs the listener by the throat and, amazingly, the guitarist is just 21. Expect to hear more from these extremely skilled musicians in the years to come.
#9 Queensrÿche – “Big Noize”
Yes, Queenswreck made the list. Their 2011 release, titled Dedicated to Chaos, was widely considered a major disappointment, but there was one gem on this extremely weak album: the closing track, “Big Noize.” It’s the only glimmer of hope as this once great progressive metal band continues to slowly circle the drain. They no longer deserve the title of “thinking man’s band.” But this well-crafted tune shows what they are truly capable of.
#8 Steven Wilson – “Remainder the Black Dog”
Steven Wilson is a sensational and brooding creative force and his 2011 solo album, Grace for Drowning, is among his best work. The vocals are a bit sparser than his work with British prog rockers Porcupine Tree, but give the album time and you’ll find yourself entranced. This song, “Remainder the Black Dog,” was an instant standout – and the live rendition is even more powerful. His multimedia show last month in NYC left me in absolute awe.
#7 Opeth – “Folklore”
I’ve not a big Opeth fan. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because Mikael Akerfeldt’s growling vocals aren’t really my thing. Plus, whenever I listen to their music, I feel like I’m bound and gagged in a darkened dungeon. But since they are a well-respected progressive metal band, I always give them a fair shot. Their 2011 album, Heritage, sparked controversy because it lacked aforementioned growls. I still didn’t like it. But this song was a winner.
#6 Symphony X – “When All is Lost”
Listen to this song’s opening piano notes and you won’t be able to turn it off. This is Symphony X at their best. The band’s 2011 release, Iconoclast, is a solid album, but after a while the heaviness becomes monotonous. This mind-blowing ballad was a breath of fresh air and easily leaves the album’s other songs in the dust. Russell Allen’s voice is full of balls and the instrumental sections are unreal. This is definitely the year’s best prog power ballad.
#5 Pain of Salvation – “The Physics of Gridlock”
Pain of Salvation swung and missed in my opinion with their 2010 album, Road Salt One, which had a stripped-down 1970’s sound that left some progressive metal fans scratching their heads. But the band definitely got it right with Road Salt Two in 2011. Vocalist Daniel Gildenlöw is totally in the zone and full of personality on this collection of tracks, which are highlighted by this tune, “The Physics of Gridlock.” Now if only the band would finally tour the U.S.
#4 Redemption – “Stronger Than Death”
Redemption’s last three albums have cemented their status as one of the top bands in progressive metal. Their 2011 release, This Mortal Coil, continues the string of success. Guitarist and songwriter Nic Van Dyk was diagnosed with multiple melanoma in 2009, and this album offers a look inside his life-changing battle. The standout song is “Stronger Than Death” with audacious lyrics like: “Death, where is your victory? I struck you down!”
#3 Arch/Matheos – “Stained Glass Sky”
The return of vocalist John Arch was one of the top stories in progressive metal this year. Arch, the original singer for one of the genre’s oldest and most respected bands Fates Warning, hasn’t sang on a full-length album since the band’s 1986 release, Awaken the Guardian. Well, 2011 saw him reunite with guitarist Jim Matheos for Sympathetic Resonance – and the album was well worth the wait. The highlight is this 14-minute beast of a song, “Stained Glass Sky.”
#2 Dream Theater – “Breaking All Illusions”
Dream Theater, the best-selling progressive metal band of all time, dominated the genre’s headlines this year due to the shocking departure last fall of one of the world’s elite drummers: founding member Mike Portnoy. So anticipation was high for the Long Island band’s 2011 release, A Dramatic Turn of Events – and it didn’t disappoint. An instant fan favorite was the breathtaking “Breaking All Illusions,” which has bassist John Myung’s first lyrics in over a decade.
#1 Dream Theater – “Bridges In the Sky”
Dream Theater was a broken band at the end of 2010 due to the drama-filled departure of drummer Mike Portnoy. But the band carefully selected ever-smiling Mike Mangini as a replacement and revealed the news in a well-orchestrated, three-part online documentary. Mangini’s addition allowed the band to “unite again as one,” as this song says. Quite frankly, this was an easy choice. With one of the catchiest choruses and some of the most delicious riffs you’ll ever hear, I present my top progressive rock/metal song of 2011: Dream Theater’s “Bridges In the Sky.”
#10 Eumeria – “Rebel Mind”
Eumeria just released their debut album this past summer and they haven’t even performed a live show yet, as far as I know. But the title track, “Rebel Mind,” is too good to omit. The band posted the video online in July and it’s been attracting fans one at a time. It’s an explosive tune that grabs the listener by the throat and, amazingly, the guitarist is just 21. Expect to hear more from these extremely skilled musicians in the years to come.
#9 Queensrÿche – “Big Noize”
Yes, Queenswreck made the list. Their 2011 release, titled Dedicated to Chaos, was widely considered a major disappointment, but there was one gem on this extremely weak album: the closing track, “Big Noize.” It’s the only glimmer of hope as this once great progressive metal band continues to slowly circle the drain. They no longer deserve the title of “thinking man’s band.” But this well-crafted tune shows what they are truly capable of.
#8 Steven Wilson – “Remainder the Black Dog”
Steven Wilson is a sensational and brooding creative force and his 2011 solo album, Grace for Drowning, is among his best work. The vocals are a bit sparser than his work with British prog rockers Porcupine Tree, but give the album time and you’ll find yourself entranced. This song, “Remainder the Black Dog,” was an instant standout – and the live rendition is even more powerful. His multimedia show last month in NYC left me in absolute awe.
#7 Opeth – “Folklore”
I’ve not a big Opeth fan. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because Mikael Akerfeldt’s growling vocals aren’t really my thing. Plus, whenever I listen to their music, I feel like I’m bound and gagged in a darkened dungeon. But since they are a well-respected progressive metal band, I always give them a fair shot. Their 2011 album, Heritage, sparked controversy because it lacked aforementioned growls. I still didn’t like it. But this song was a winner.
#6 Symphony X – “When All is Lost”
Listen to this song’s opening piano notes and you won’t be able to turn it off. This is Symphony X at their best. The band’s 2011 release, Iconoclast, is a solid album, but after a while the heaviness becomes monotonous. This mind-blowing ballad was a breath of fresh air and easily leaves the album’s other songs in the dust. Russell Allen’s voice is full of balls and the instrumental sections are unreal. This is definitely the year’s best prog power ballad.
#5 Pain of Salvation – “The Physics of Gridlock”
Pain of Salvation swung and missed in my opinion with their 2010 album, Road Salt One, which had a stripped-down 1970’s sound that left some progressive metal fans scratching their heads. But the band definitely got it right with Road Salt Two in 2011. Vocalist Daniel Gildenlöw is totally in the zone and full of personality on this collection of tracks, which are highlighted by this tune, “The Physics of Gridlock.” Now if only the band would finally tour the U.S.
#4 Redemption – “Stronger Than Death”
Redemption’s last three albums have cemented their status as one of the top bands in progressive metal. Their 2011 release, This Mortal Coil, continues the string of success. Guitarist and songwriter Nic Van Dyk was diagnosed with multiple melanoma in 2009, and this album offers a look inside his life-changing battle. The standout song is “Stronger Than Death” with audacious lyrics like: “Death, where is your victory? I struck you down!”
#3 Arch/Matheos – “Stained Glass Sky”
The return of vocalist John Arch was one of the top stories in progressive metal this year. Arch, the original singer for one of the genre’s oldest and most respected bands Fates Warning, hasn’t sang on a full-length album since the band’s 1986 release, Awaken the Guardian. Well, 2011 saw him reunite with guitarist Jim Matheos for Sympathetic Resonance – and the album was well worth the wait. The highlight is this 14-minute beast of a song, “Stained Glass Sky.”
#2 Dream Theater – “Breaking All Illusions”
Dream Theater, the best-selling progressive metal band of all time, dominated the genre’s headlines this year due to the shocking departure last fall of one of the world’s elite drummers: founding member Mike Portnoy. So anticipation was high for the Long Island band’s 2011 release, A Dramatic Turn of Events – and it didn’t disappoint. An instant fan favorite was the breathtaking “Breaking All Illusions,” which has bassist John Myung’s first lyrics in over a decade.
#1 Dream Theater – “Bridges In the Sky”
Dream Theater was a broken band at the end of 2010 due to the drama-filled departure of drummer Mike Portnoy. But the band carefully selected ever-smiling Mike Mangini as a replacement and revealed the news in a well-orchestrated, three-part online documentary. Mangini’s addition allowed the band to “unite again as one,” as this song says. Quite frankly, this was an easy choice. With one of the catchiest choruses and some of the most delicious riffs you’ll ever hear, I present my top progressive rock/metal song of 2011: Dream Theater’s “Bridges In the Sky.”
