splinter

 La Muerta is more than anything a confirmation, the one we perhaps expected, even though by the fifth album a change of course is always slightly appreciated.

 If I had to name a summer hit, it would be 'Even Though the Stars Don’t Shine,' a decent summer track!

Subsignal's fifth album, La Muerta, confirms their strength in melodic progressive rock, incorporating subtle Spanish touches and modern keyboard usage. The album favors catchy, accessible structures while retaining prog complexity, especially on longer tracks. The new keyboardist adds fresh vintage sounds, and guitar work remains sharp despite reduced metal elements. Instrumental interludes and collaborations enrich the album, making La Muerta a reliable yet still engaging release. Discover Subsignal’s La Muerta and experience melodic prog with a fresh Spanish twist—listen now!

 To raise the overall level is the 22-minute suite 'The Legend of Elijah Shade,' the longest ever composed by the group.

 An album that at first might make one wrinkle their nose a bit and seem monotonous, but with more listening... the dark-prog essence of Arena is all there.

Arena's 'Double Vision' continues the band's dark and slightly hard neo-prog style with a more accessible and straightforward approach. While it does not surpass their previous album, it contains genuine ideas and a strong atmosphere. The 22-minute suite 'The Legend of Elijah Shade' raises the album's profile despite lacking the epic distinctiveness of past suites. Overall, the album defends its place well within Arena’s discography. Dive into Arena's 'Double Vision' and experience a mature, dark neo-prog journey highlighted by a captivating long suite!

 I define them as the last great rock ‘n’ roll band on Earth.

 The ballads sound thrilling and goosebump-inducing and the heavier tracks sound like boulders, almost "metallic" but never grating.

The review praises Nickelback as one of the last great rock bands, highlighting their energetic Milan concert during the Feed the Machine Tour. Although the setlist favors radio-friendly ballads, the performance delivers powerful sound and solid audience engagement. Visual stage effects and a strong show by opener Seether add to the experience. Despite some critique on setlist choices, the reviewer thoroughly enjoyed the concert and looks forward to future shows. Discover the energy of Nickelback's live show—read the full review and listen to their powerful rock anthems now!

 "Monochrome is a delicate, intense, and emotional album."

 "Seven light, soft, relaxed tracks, guided by a piano that's always calm and never reckless."

Danny Cavanagh’s solo album Monochrome is an emotional and delicate work rooted in post-rock and dream pop. Featuring soft piano-driven tracks with chilling keyboard layers, it offers a deep emotional experience. The guest vocals by Anneke Van Giersbergen add to its haunting beauty. While not considered a masterpiece, it's a grand emotional explosion worth exploring. Discover the emotional depth of Danny Cavanagh’s Monochrome—listen now and experience a beautifully delicate solo journey.

 Threshold, while not changing the formula much, simply returning to greater complexity, have produced the best album in at least a dozen years.

 Legends of the Shires is the most prog and with the deepest and most intense atmosphere made in years and years.

Threshold's Legends of the Shires is a return to a deeper, more complex progressive metal sound, marking their best work in over a decade. The double album features a concept-driven approach, longer tracks, and the return of singer Glynn Morgan. Despite sticking to their familiar formula, Threshold explores richer atmospheres and sophisticated compositions, making this album a standout in their discography. Dive into Threshold's Legends of the Shires and experience their most ambitious progressive metal journey yet!

 This de-metallization of Leprous’s sound is not really a big surprise; it is probably just the confirmation of some impressions.

 They have continued to be Leprous, without resembling anyone; maybe there’s a bit of an indie influence visible but just barely detectable.

Leprous’ album Malina marks a deliberate shift from metal to a more progressive rock-oriented sound. The band embraces experimentation while maintaining their distinct identity. The album features diverse tracks with jazzy, electronic, and rock influences. Far from standardization, Malina showcases the band’s courage and innovation, highlighting their vocal power and creative songwriting. It's a confident step that sets Leprous apart from peers moving away from metal. Discover Leprous' bold transformation on Malina — listen now and experience prog-rock innovation beyond metal!

 "Wilson’s touch remains evident, and even those more vintage sounds are still reworked to the point of seeming entirely like a record made in our time."

 "To the Bone is definitely one of the albums of the year and will occupy a place of honor in my year-end chart."

Steven Wilson's album To the Bone experiments with vintage 1980s sounds merged with his distinct progressive style. Drawing inspiration from artists like Tears For Fears and Peter Gabriel, the album combines pop-friendly melodies and complex arrangements. It includes stylistic nods to Porcupine Tree, trip-hop, and even disco without sacrificing Wilson’s trademark class. This release shows Wilson balancing lightness and sophistication, earning a strong year-end recognition. Discover Steven Wilson's genre-blending masterpiece To the Bone—listen now and experience the perfect fusion of 80s pop and progressive rock.

 The album would have been better off titled 'Regress.'

 "Dancing in the Dark," the track where the guys stop being a pop band and actually become artists.

Imagine Dragons’ third album, Evolve, shows a clear push toward chart-friendly pop with a more electronic sound but suffers from flat production. Although some tracks like "Dancing in the Dark" and "I'll Make It Up to You" demonstrate artistic depth, many ideas are overshadowed by heavy percussion and focus on commercial success. The album is engaging enough to merit repeated listens despite its flaws. Overall, it’s a passing effort, hinting at what the band could achieve with greater attention to detail. Listen to Imagine Dragons' Evolve and explore its catchy hits alongside its hidden musical depths.

 The final result is something that stands exactly halfway between the Anathema of the late ’90s and those of the more recent productions, but also with a look towards the future.

 It almost seems like a perfect meeting point between old and recent Anathema, a sort of updated "2000 & Gone".

Anathema’s album The Optimist marks a confident step forward, balancing their darker late '90s style with modern post-rock and orchestral influences. The album features notable tracks with electronic and jazz elements, delivering a nocturnal, relaxed, and melancholic atmosphere. While some listeners may find the melodies lighter, the album maintains the band’s emotional core and showcases their continued evolution. Awarded album of the year at the Progressive Music Awards, it stands out as a strong, mature work. Discover the emotional depths of Anathema’s The Optimist—listen now and experience their evolving post-rock sound.

 The Source does not add anything new to what has already been done in the past but it is a very valid operatic progressive metal album.

 Lucassen has focused on a more economical power progressive metal without too many pretensions but with undeniable solidity.

The Source by Ayreon is a solid progressive metal album that emphasizes metal more heavily than past releases. While it maintains compositional richness, the album lacks innovation and surprises. The sound is more stripped down and direct, appealing to fans of power-epic metal. Although valid and well-executed, it doesn’t reach the heights of previous grandiose albums by Arjen Lucassen’s project. Discover Ayreon’s The Source for a solid dose of progressive metal—listen now and explore its rich metal-driven sound!