Favorite Albums

My favorite album of all time ever since I first listened in 2023. The virtuosity, the pretty melodies, the riffs, the story - it's all pitch-perfect.

Favorite Track: "The Spirit Carries On." As much as I absolutely love all the crazy, proggy moments on this album, "The Spirit Carries On" (and "Through Her Eyes" earlier in the album, to be fair) made me realize that prog metal wasn't afraid to wear its heart on its sleeve and be unapologetically sincere and emotional. This is one of my favorite things about Dream Theater especially, and this song spoke to me really deeply and still gets me in tears listening to it now and then.

Pretty much any Haken album could be on here, but I'll restrain myself to two albums. This one is an awesome amalgamation of prog rock, metal, and a pastiche of other genres. It amazes me how catchy all the melodies are, and the instrumentation is so clever and enjoyable. Also a fun and silly story - and yet it's probably one of their most emotional and beautiful albums despite the wacky story.

Favorite track: Pretty much any track would be valid here, but "Celestial Elixir" gets my vote for how it thoroughly sticks the landing as the pull-out-all-stops ending of a masterful debut album. Completely satisfying as a closer, and a great stand-alone prog epic too.

My first real exposure to prog rock outside of Tarkus. Still one of my favorite prog rock albums of all time. Turning the story of Martin Luther into an ultra-proggy masterwork is something only Neal Morse could pull off, and he does so in style.

Favorite track: Honestly the opening instrumental is what made me fall in love with prog rock. The way the piano, guitar, and drums interact with each other in a really intense and rhythmically complex way instantly captured my attention and had my jaw on the floor on my first listen.

An absolutely genius album made further impactful by the fact that the band broke up and never made a second record. Prog fans around the world have daydreams of what this band could have looked like if they became as prolific as Haken or Opeth.

Favorite track: This is one of those albums where every single track would be worthy of being considered a favorite. I think I have to go with "The Spark of the Archon," as it's continually exploring so many tones and genres and crazy harmonies. "Your Familiar Face" is a close second with its psychotic Broadway sound.

If somebody asked me to link a perfect prog metal album, this would be one of my first thoughts. Every song is a banger, and nothing overstays its welcome. It's on the heavier side of prog but also has more introspective and groovy moments. This is 50 minutes of exactly what prog should be.

Favorite track: Normally I prefer the longer and proggier tracks, but honestly "The Good Doctor" is as short and sweet as they come with Haken. Great melodies, heavy instrumentation, intriguing lyrics - it's a banger every time.

My second favorite DT album. So heavy and groovy! There are no filler songs here; every track has its own amazing vibe, from the nightmarish "Nightmare to Remember" to the nostalgic "Best of Times" to the cheesy and over-the-top "Count of Tuscany."

Favorite Track: "A Nightmare to Remember," without a doubt. Possibly my favorite single DT track. The clever rhythmic and proggy things it does while still being one of the heaviest offerings from DT is super unique and keeps me hooked the whole way through.

My newest favorite. Really blown away by how unique and catchy every track is. Can't stop relistening.

Favorite track: Don't make me pick! If I had to, I would probably say "Waste of Air." It's super different from the kind of prog I usually listen to, but it's the best kind of punch in the face I could ask for. The discordant harmonies and ever-mounting tension are like nothing I've ever heard and get me the closest to head-banging that metal has ever gotten. Truly avant-garde and fascinating to listen to.

Look, I've only played maybe 3/4 of Final Fantasy X, but this is still an all-time great prog album. The way Marc Papeghin masterfully weaves so many of the themes and melodies of FFX together while adding his own melodies and lyrics on top and interpreting all of it through the lens of Dream Theater and other prog bands is just crazy. Feels like an experience every time I relisten.

Favorite track: Like I said before, this album is an experience. It's comprised of four movements, and I don't think I can really pick one as it all flows together so nicely. So all of them?

"Mosaic" is pretty close, but this album just has too many memorable and catchy songs not to give it 1st place in Theocracy's albums. The title track, "Mirror of Souls," is rightly respected as an all-time prog epic by even non-Christian prog lovers. A really unique story told like a parable and some really heavy and beautiful music. Christian metal has never been better than this album.

Favorite track: As awesome as the title track is, "On Eagle's Wings" is actually my favorite. Both the verses and the chorus are equally memorable, and overall the track is really inspiring.

The first album I listened to that made me realize I really loved prog. The mythological themes, the heavy but groovy riffs, and especially the Baroque elements all spoke to my soul, and I was a prog fan from thereon.

Favorite track: "A Fool's Paradise" is just so awesome. The continually driving drums and guitar and Russell Allen's vocals keep the energy up, and the Baroque section where the electric guitar and harpsichord play a riff together makes me smile every time I hear it.

All of the 8-Bit Big Band albums are awesome, but this has the highest number of covers of songs that are special to me. I love how versatile Charlie's arrangements are in so many different jazz styles, and I'm glad that the 8BBB is still doing new arrangements and albums.

Favorite track: "Pollyanna" is such a great and emotional arrangement. One of my first experiences getting emotionally involved with video game music was watching insaneintherainmusic's cover of Pollyanna at his university concert, and this track hits those same highs in different ways with a gospel singer. Also shoutout to "Mabe Village" for a really cozy arrangement of one of the very first pieces of VGM I was ever exposed to as a child.

I don't listen to a lot of non-prog rock, but I'll make an exception for this album. The melodies and instrumentation are consistently so pretty, and I really enjoy the singer's voice.

Favorite track: "Butterflies and Hurricanes" is the standout track here- I love the classical piano pastiche, and overall it's a very beautiful track.

When my GOAT Bear McCreary releases a metal album, I sit down and I pay attention. Heater of an album with so many unique ideas (if you told me one of the best songs would be a guy rapping in Gaelic with a chorus and metal band playing in the background, I would have had my doubts). Such a great album and collaboration between so many talented artists!

Favorite track: Although I do really like the above-mentioned Gaelic metal rap, my favorite would still have to be "Type III." I think it's the closest McCreary gets to a prog metal song in the vein of DT and Haken. I hadn't heard of Rufus Wainwright before, but he has a really beautiful voice, and it contrasts nicely with the heavy guitar. Would definitely like to hear McCreary explore the prog style more.