10 Extremely Underrated Prog Metal Albums

Prog metallic is a unending bag of complexity, beloved by music principle nerds and those that sip purple wine in leather-bound wingback chairs.

There’s nothing like sitting again and getting misplaced in an excellent prog album, so listed here are 10 underrated information that deserve one other few listens.

That is progressive thrash metallic, motherfuckers! The definition of underrated, Germany’s Mekong Delta made a rattling masterpiece in 1990 with Dances of Loss of life (And Different Strolling Shadows). The album is sort of a extra progressive model of Megadeth‘s Rust in Peace — targeted closely on warfare, otherworldly entities and twisted philosophy. The musicianship on this album is second-to-none as effectively. Simply take heed to that drumming!

A more moderen entry in prog metallic, Chinese language act OU could also be one of the vital distinctive bands round at present. Launched in 2022, OU’s One is a proggy, djenty puzzle with lyrics sung fully in Mandarin. OU‘s experimental and cinematic fashion ended up within the lap of prog god Devin Townsend, who signed on to provide the band’s second album in 2024. Now that is a co-sign!

You understand these moments in anime when a scene escalates from chill to psychotic in 0.1 seconds? That is Tub from Maudlin of the Nicely. Launched in 2001, Maudlin‘s second album was lengthy buried as varied members would go on to type Kayo Dot, however these prog virtuosos created a bit that will be rediscovered within the YouTube period. That is true, esoteric prog metallic.

VOLA have not too long ago began receiving the reward they deserve, however till they’re enjoying the primary stage at metallic’s largest fests, they continue to be underrated. As pure songwriters, VOLA stand head-and-shoulders above most fashionable galactic-influenced metallic bands. The fully of 2021’s Witness is each addictive and awe-inspiring due to earworms like “24 Mild-Years” and “Straight Traces.”

Let’s get into dying metallic territory. One of many few metallic bands from Andorra, Persefone unleashed a monster with 2013’s Religious Migration. This factor walks the road between dying metallic, prog and energy metallic, sounding completely epic all through its runtime. The guitar work on Religious Migration is totally dizzying, standing as much as fellow prog giants like Between the Buried and Me.

There’s nothing improper with a little bit Opeth worship. The Reticent‘s 2020 album, The Oubliette, sounds prefer it was plucked straight out of the Watershed-era, however with thrashy passages and horny saxophone sprinkled all through. The album’s idea offers with Alzheimer’s Illness and the sluggish depersonalization its victims expertise. Extremely heavy stuff, however dealt with in a complicated (but nightmarish) manner.

One and carried out… that was Dali’s Dilemma. Taught by the Dream Theater faculty of prog, Dali’s Dilemma launched their sole album, Manifesto for Futurism, in 1999. That is progressive metallic in its purest type —  hovering excessive vocals, tasty bass tapping, massively expressive drumming… the rating. Nice stuff from a band that might’ve carried out rather more.

The 2020s hasn’t been all unhealthy! In truth, it has been a hell of a time for progressive dying metallic. An Summary Phantasm gave us a beast of a file with 2022’s Woe, delivering that basic Swedish sound that at all times succeeds in mesmerizing and horrifying. Ugh, the piano work on this album is so haunting. An hour runtime just isn’t lengthy sufficient.

Do not be embarrassed to like such a prog! Denmark’s Royal Hunt is about as nerdy as prog metallic will get, particularly with album titles like Clown within the Mirror and Land of Damaged Hearts. 1995’s Transferring Goal is basic, it is up-tempo and it is acquired a rattling choir singing background vocals like an ‘80s superhero film. Lush can be an understatement.

Let’s end up with some doomy shit. Anciients‘ Coronary heart of Oak bounces round from Sabbathy to Opethy to Darkthroney… it is only a multi-stylistic buffet of heavy prog. The musicianship is high notch — each brutal and celebratory on the similar time. That is a kind of albums that makes you suppose, “Thank god I am a metalhead.”