01) Persefone, Lingua Ignota: Part I (Napalm Records)
This EP by the Andorrans with 5 songs says it all. Very Gojira-like, it plays between rough vocals and fast guitar riffs in a constant flirtation with the technicality of progressive metal. Incorporating Daniel R. Flys on vocals is an injection of power that adds to the voracious work the group had already been doing. The EP is extremely well achieved, and each musician is in charge of transmitting perfection, making this album my favorite so far.
02) The Rendezvous Point, Dream Chaser (Long Branch Records)
Among the progressive bands I did not know and pleasantly surprised me was this project where Leprous’ drummer participated. Here, the band proposes a highly technical album with easy-to-digest music and modern rhythms that make it highly attractive to listening. It’s one of my favorites of the year.
03) The Old Dead Tree, Second Thoughts (Season of Mist)
The return of the French gothic metal outfit was undoubtedly worth everything. This album is a rich mix of sounds and dark lyrics. With a long road marked by tragedy, each track conveys a unique feeling after each listen, which is extremely difficult to achieve today. The Dead Tree’s Second Thoughts is a brand-new treasure worth listening to many times.
04) Nuvian, Nuvian
Debuting their self-titled album arrived as a breath of fresh air in a world where the complex and mathematical were becoming monotonous and without any emotion. This album is a journey through sound that doesn’t need to go around long in endless songs to show the high level with which its musicians count. Nuvian create innovative beats featuring two bass players and a drummer deserving to be heard thanks to a deep and sensory album.
05) Vola, Friend of a Phantom (Mascot)
Among the young progressive metal bands, the Danes of Vola are probably the biggest revelation of the year. An album fresh out of the oven on November 1 that walks among the accelerated guitars, polyrhythmic drums, and vocals that cover a wide range makes this album a must-see on the playlist. The collaboration of Anders Fríden (In Flames) on the song Cannibal is remarkable, recharging the album with strength, and although it is an album in general melodic and deep in lyrics, those unexpected dark touches are what make this long-playing album a success.
06) Opeth, The Last Will and Testament (Moderbolaget)
A long-awaited return to the Opeth of yesteryear, but improved to full. Its frontman’s taste for progressive music continues to tie him tightly, and this album is no exception. As technical and convoluted as the previous one, it changes the formula to give life to something completely new in the race of the Swedes. Yes, the gutturals are back, but there is also something else, that somber touch reminiscent of Ghost Reveries or the romantic bitterness of Still Life; I couldn’t describe it completely. Here, all his albums are present, but in a different way. Jazz technicalities and modern metallic grooves are linked with the powerful sound of guitar, bass, and drums that are unsurpassed in one of the most imposing gems of the year.
Bonus: In the Silence, What have I?
Although it is only a single, eleven years of waiting were not in vain. This is probably the song that I have played the most since September when it came to light, and it is the one that I continue to listen to over and over again without getting bored with the information it contains. I’m very excited about what this group will bring in the near future.
