Kamelot-The Black Halo (2005)

Kamelot are another of the great American progressive metal bands of the last 30 years, always showcasing a balanced blend of musical power and force with orchestrated and grandiose soundscapes. Formed in the early 90s in Florida by vocalist Mark Vanderbilt, guitarist Thomas Youngblood, bassist Glenn Barry, percussionist Richard Warner, and keyboardist David Pavlicko, they underwent their first lineup changes shortly after their second album, released in 1997. Roy Kahn and Casey Grillo replaced Vanderbilt and Warner. From this point on, they shifted their style from power metal to melodic progressive metal, releasing a series of albums such as "The Fourth Legacy" (1999), "Karma" (2001), and "Epica" (2003), which cemented their status as one of the leading bands in the avant-garde metal scene. Several years after the latter came one of their masterpieces, "The Black Hole". Crafted as a concept album, it completes the circle they began with "Karma", forming an excellent trilogy that perfectly blends the power of metal with symphonic and progressive rock. While they began incorporating operatic and classical symphonic elements with their 1998 album "Siège Perilous", this trend intensified with each subsequent release, as evidenced by the rich and vibrant musical textures, all while maintaining a firm metal foundation. Tracks like "The Haunting (Somewhere in Time)", "March of Mephisto", "Moonlight", "When the Lights Go Down", the hauntingly beautiful "Abandoned", and the title track, "The Black Halo", complete an absolute masterpiece of progressive metal and an unforgettable musical experience.

3rd Ear Experience-Stones Of A Feather (2016)

3rd Ear Experience is considered one of the most creative bands of the 21st century within experimental, psychedelic, and space rock. Led by guitarist Robbi Robb and keyboardist Amritakripa, the band's permanent members, their base of operations is located in the heart of the Joshua Tree Desert in the United States, a magical place where some of the members and collaborators of this excellent group reside. Their improvisational style departs from formal musical arrangements, delving into unpredictable rhythms, bold improvisations, and dynamic beats within the realm of space rock and psychedelic music. They began their journey in 2012 with the release of their debut album, "Peacock Black", and several years later came the album we're discussing here, "Stones of a Feather", the band's fourth chronologically. On this album, the duo is joined by Alan Swanson (keyboards) and Dug Pinnick (bass). In addition, half a dozen collaborating musicians also participated, including Chris Unck, Joshua Adams, Bobby Furgo, Craig Else, Steve Howells, John Whoolilurie, Kyle Hanson, John Smolinski, Richard Stuverud, Roger Arnold, and Damian Lester. "Stones Of A Feather" is a record that stands out primarily for its rich musical textures, with certain delirious atmospheres and multiple sonic layers. From contemplative pieces like "Return of the Peacock" to the enigmatic forays of "Chungo", passing through the hypnotic canvases of "Flight of the Annunaki" or approaches to psychedelic hard rock with the hallucinogenic "The Balladeer's Tale".

Spock´s Beard-Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep (2013)

"Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep" was the first album by the American band Spock's Beard after the departure of Nick D'Virgilio and Neal Morse. Their replacements were Jimmy Keegan on drums and Ted Leonard on lead vocals and guitar. It is precisely Leonard who decisively influences this eleventh album, contributing moments of vocal brilliance. This, combined with Alan Morse's guitar virtuosity, Jimmy Keegan's driving drumming, Dave Meros's tireless bass playing, and the essential contribution of keyboardist Ryo Okumoto, elevates this album to the status of a modern progressive rock classic. In keeping with Spock's Beard's characteristic sound and their pleasing interpretation of contemporary progressive rock inherited from the 70s, this release skillfully blends rich instrumentation, achieving moments of immense clarity, with irresistible and masterful melodies, adorned with memorable choruses. Tracks like "Hiding Out", "Submerged", "Something Very Strange" or the grandiose "Waiting For Me", make this record a truly captivating experience, while at the same time managing to create another masterpiece from this essential band of modern progressive rock of the 21st century.

Robin Trower-Living Out Of Time (2003)

From a mere cover band of some of the great groups of the 70s, to becoming one of the most prominent acts today, Galahad has championed the neo-progressive style of bands like Pallas, Marillion, Pendragon, and IQ, with a career full of superb works focused on modern progressive rock. Founded in the mid-eighties in the UK, their original lineup consisted of Stuart Nicholson (vocals), Roy Keyworth (guitars), Mark Andrews (keyboards), Tim Ashton (bass), and Spencer Luckman (drums). In 1991, they released their debut album, "Nothing Is Written", followed by other highly acclaimed albums such as "Sleepers" (1995) and "Year Zero" (2002), although they always remained somewhat in the background and were consistently considered one of the most underrated bands within the neo-progressive genre. With their eighth release, "Empires Never Last" (2007), Galahad finally achieved mainstream recognition, delivering their best and most acclaimed work. On this album, they subtly departed from neo-progressive metal, delving into a dark and progressive heavy metal soundscape. A solid and well-structured musical foundation, theatrical vocals, harsh guitar riffs, and atmospheric keyboards drive an album brimming with intense and aggressive sounds. Tracks like the portentous "Termination", "I Could Be God", "Sidewinder", "Empires Never Last", and "This Life Could Be My Last" reflect the grandeur of this monumental work of 21st-century modern neo-progressive metal.