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25. Lord Helmet – Take Evasive Action

Lord Helmet returned with a complex, layered work that slowly grabs hold of your brain. The excellent guitars and thundering drums are tools for a surging blend of progressive and alternative rock.

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24. Jacob Roberge – The Passing

Jacob’s debut came out of nowhere this year to turn many heads. His style is cinematic progressive rock with lots of orchestrations, movements, and heartfelt moments. The album even contains a 32-minute epic track. This is a must for prog rock fans.

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23. Hartlight – The Triumph of Metal

Hartlight’s sophomore record proves to be head and shoulders above the debut. This album leans into the progressive metal side of their sound, complete with incredible guitar work and masterful vocals, yet they have not lost their symphonic or gothic appeal.

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22. Firmament

– A New World If You Can Take It

Firmament hails from my neck of the woods, and I fell in love with their spunky, witty blend of post-hardcore and progressive rock. It has heavy moments and tons of catchy earworms. It’s honestly quite an addictive ride.

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21. Bjørn Riis – Fimbulvinter

Bjørn released his best album since his incredible debut. This new record is somewhat heavier and darker than his previous offerings, and his signature solos have more oomph. Yet there’s something introspective and vulnerable about this album that contrasts so nicely with the sharper edges.

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20. Gleb Kolyadin – Mobula

Gleb of Iamthemorning gave us a beautiful album that deviates from his neoclassical style. While his piano is still front and center, this album features cinematic, electronic, and New Age elements that make his melodies shine. It feels fresh and vibrant.

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19. Isgaard – The Water in You

At long last, Isgaard has returned with a dreamy, swooning album. This one leans more into prog rock than her pop albums of the past, yet it is but a vehicle for the deep and moving lyrical content.

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18. Whispers of Granite – Liquid Stone

Andreas Hack (Frequency Drift) debuted his collaboration with Trude Eidtang (White Willow, When Mary), and the results are terrific. I love the atmospheric, spiraling nature of the melodies, the amazing synth work, and the pop sensibilities.

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17. Moon Halo – Trichotomy

This is the third Moon Halo album, a project featuring members of Riversea and Mostly Autumn, and it is their best, as well. This groovy, melodic rock album rides the line between singer/songwriter and prog rock compositions, and you will find yourself singing along quite often. The number of infectious melodies on this album is astounding!

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16. Derrick Stembridge

– Fading Into What Remains

Derrick is an ambient electronic artist, and this new album is perhaps his best. I find it daring and haunting, trading back and forth between menacing and warm tones. It brings with it weighty emotions that will keep you coming back.

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15. Johan Niemann – The Vast Expanse

Johan of Evergrey has been extremely active with solo albums for the last couple years, but each and every one of them is different. The Vast Expanse is his emotional guitar album, and it is fantastic. There are hints of Gilmour and Satriani, being soothing and expressive, but Johan’s mastery of the keys and bass add a whole new layer that solidifies this as a favorite.

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14. Nad Sylvan – Monumentata

I think this might be my favorite Nad Sylvan album since 2017’s The Bride Said No. This album revels in the hazy wit of the 60s, sporting some serious flair. But even with all the melodrama, the album is a terrific progressive rock album that will get you singing.

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13. Hermyth – Aether

I was a huge fan of Hermyth’s debut 2022’s Starseeds. This sophomore offering serves up another slab of cosmic drone with hovering distortion, mystical and witchy lyrics, and a burning atmosphere. I find healing and tranquility within their sound.

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12. Sublunar

– A Random Moment of Stillness

SubLunar returned with an excellent offering of Polish progressive rock. It is dark and dreamy, shoegazing in potent places. Between the amazing vocals and rumbling drums, the album manages to emote through stylish passages and emotional guitar work. This album continues to grow on me.

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11. Cammie Beverly – House of Grief

I’ll cheat here a bit. Cammie Beverly, vocalist for Oceans of Slumber, released her Southern gothic solo record, and it is every bit as wonderful, dark, and emotional as I’d hoped. At the same time, her husband Dobber, drummer from OoS, released a short album of piano-based pieces called The Mourners Songbook. I took them both, alternated the tracks, and made a single album playlist I like to call The Beverlys. The results are fantastic. I listen to them together constantly. You can find that playlist on Bandcamp here. Buy both, combine them, and enjoy!

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10. Epica – Aspiral

Epica came out swinging with a dark, introspective record that steps back from the choirs, allowing Simone’s voice to take the spotlight. I love the rumbling guitarwork, the great lyrics, and the overall rhythm of the album.

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9. Blackwater Holylight

– If You Only Knew

Cheating again with Blackwater Holylight’s recent EP. It’s not an album, but it’s one of my most-played releases this year, no doubt. I love their balance between fuzzy melancholy and floating, towering guitars. The doomy rhythms are perfect contrasts to the ethereal and deliberate melodies.

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8. Sleep Token – Even in Arcadia

Sleep Token gets so much hate from all directions, but their brand of progressive *insert genre* is still arresting and interesting to me. This album is a little softer than their previous offerings, but it’s also more layered, nuanced, and emotional. I really like it, though I can also see how tone deaf the lyrics about not enjoying the spotlight can seem in the world right now.

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7. Obiymy Doschu – Vidrada

Ukraine’s Obiymy Doschu produced one of the most vulnerable and hopeful albums of the year. This is an exquisitely beautiful prog rock album that, even though I don’t understand the lyrics, gets me singing and feeling determined about the future.

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6. Kwoon – Odyssey

What a beautiful record from Kwoon! This long-anticipated return does not disappoint with its ethereal rhythms, warm electronica, and catchy choruses. This is a journey everyone should take.

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5. Cosmograf – The Orphan Epoch

Robin released what might be one of the best Cosmograf records yet. I absolutely adore his guitarwork and amazing keys, and all the musicians he brings with him are fantastic. The album doesn’t really have a weak spot, right down to the searing sax solo. And, as usual, the lyrics are deeply meaningful.

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4. Messa – The Spin

There’s just something about Messa’s doomy heaviness mixed with their towering vocals. The raw emotion practically spills out of my speakers, and yet they write songs that make you want to sing and feel every second of them. If you like potent humanity mixed with sweaty, doomy rock, you need to hear this.

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3. Imminent Sonic Destruction

– Floodgate

ISD blew me away with what is certainly their best record. Floodgate is a veritable celebration of the metal genre, and the number of insanely catchy choruses is only outdone by the number of addictive grooves. The guitar work is through the roof, but so are the keys. It’s just damn near a perfect record.

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2. Lux Terminus – Cinder

Vikram and company finally returned with their sophomore record, and it is a huge step-up. This album still contains the jazz fusion soul of their debut, but leans more into cinematic, spacey, colorful melodies that are absolutely out of this world. This record is simply stunning.

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**1. Primrose Path – Ruminations**

This should be no surprise. Primrose Path’s debut album is an absolute beast between its gothic and witchy tone, powerful riffs, monster rhythm section, and dazzling vocals. This album is one that begs you to learn every lyric, know every transition, emote with every gut punch. Blast it in your car with the windows open.

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