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The Staff's Top Picks of 2017
(3853 total words in this text)
(8756 reads) 
(Compiled by Duncan Glenday)
*** Please
CLICK HERE to vote for YOUR favorite album of the year !***
(Click on each writer's name below to go directly to his list.)
Summarized List Of The Top 60 CDs, From All Of The SoT Staff
Pete Pardo
Michael Popke
Butch Jones
Carl Sederholm
Dean Pedley
Jon Neudorf
Mark Antony Rossi
Simon Bray
Steven Reid
Nicholas Franco
PETER PARDO
Top 50 Albums of 2017
1 Sons of Apollo : Psychotic Symphony
2 Styx : The Mission
3 Communic : Where Echoes Gather
4 Deep Purple : Infinite
5 Black Country Communion : BCCIV
6 Wobbler : From Silence to Somewhere
7 Enslaved : E
8 Immolation : Atonement
9 Europe : Walk the Earth
10 Siena Root : A Dream of Lasting Peace
11 Venom Inc : Ave'
12 Troubled Horse : Revolution on Repeat
13 Kreator : Gods of Violence
14 Night Demon : Darkness Remains
15 Horisont : About Time
16 Cats in Space : Scarecrow
17 Jorn : Life on Death Road
18 Mastodon : Emperor of Sand
19 Daydream XI : The Circus of the Tattered and Torn
20 Iced Earth : Incorruptible
21 Discipline : Captives of the Wine Dark Sea
22 Bubblemath : Edit Peptide
23 Overkill : The Grinding Wheel
24 Threshold : Legend of the Shires
25 Ayreon : The Source
26 Prospekt : The Illuminated Sky
27 Tygers of Pan Tang : Tygers of Pan Tang
28 Simon Phillips : Protocol 4
29 Mr Big : Defying Gravity
30 Anubis Gate : Covered in Black
31 Jim Ledford : Red Hot Legato
32 Pain of Salvation : In the Passing Light of Day
33 Cosmosquad : The Morbid Tango
34 Black Star Riders : Heavy Fire
35 Night Ranger : Don't Let Up
36 Inglorious : II
37 Riverdogs : California
38 Accept : The Rise of Chaos
39 Gov't Mule : Revolution Come�Revolution Go
40 Bigfoot : Bigfoot
41 Agusa : Agusa
42 Kadavar : Rough Times
43 Anathema : The Optimist
44 Sainted Sinners : Sainted Sinners
45 Alice Cooper : Paranormal
46 Dirty Thrills : Heavy Living
47 VUUR : In This Moment We Are Free-Cities
48 Mausoleum Gate : Into a Dark Divinity
49 Jeff Scott Soto : Retribution
50 White Willow : Future Hopes
Best Live Albums:
Armored Saint-Carpe Noctum
Kansas-Leftoverture & Beyond
King Crimson-Live in Chicago
Alvin Lee & Co. - Live at the Academy, New York 1975
Uriah Heep-Raging Through the Silence
Jeff Beck-Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Dirkschneider-Live-Back to the Roots-Accepted!
Circus Maximus-Havoc in Oslo
Peter Panka's Jane-Live at Rockpalast 2004
Between the Buried and Me-Coma Ecliptic Live
Fates Warning-Awaken the Guardian Live
The Allman Brothers Band-The Fox Box
Enslaved-Roadburn Live
Best Guitarist
Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal (Sons of Apollo)
Best Vocalist
Glenn Hughes (Black Country Communion)
Best Keyboard Player
Lars Fredrik Fr�islie (Wobbler White Willow)
Best Drummer
Simon Phillips/Mike Portnoy (tie)
Best Bassist
Billy Sheehan (Sons of Apollo, Mr Big)
Band/Artist That Needs to Stop
Geoff Tate/Operation: Mindcrime�seriously Geoff, that trilogy you and the guys released in 2017 was just terrible I haven't been as bored with new music in years as I was with those three albums Ugh�
Concert of the Year
King Crimson at The Egg, Albany, New York
MARK ANTONY ROSSI
Top 10 Albums of 2017
1 Warbringer : Woe to the Vanquished
2 Vhaldemar : Against All Kings
3 Quadrus : Entropia
4 Until Rain : Inure
5 Choirs of Veritas : I Am the Way the Truth and the Life
6 Lux Perpetua : The Curse of the Iron King
7 Helker : Firesoul
8 Kobra and the Lotus : Prevail I
9 Seven Kingdoms : Decennium
10 Spiral Key : The Error of Judgement
DEAN PEDLEY
YEAR END 2017 Top Albums
1 Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit : The Nashville Sound
2 The Cadillac Three : Legacy
3 Robert Plant : Carry Fire
4 Steel Woods : Straw In The Wind
5 Steve Hackett : The Night Siren
6 Styx : The Mission
7 Black Star Riders : Heavy Fire
8 Tyler Childers : Purgatory
9 Deep Purple : Infinite
10 John Mellencamp : Sad Clowns & Hillbillies
11 Greta Van Fleet : Black Smoke Rising
12 Chris Rea : Road Songs For Lovers
13 Living Colour : Shade
14 Kid Rock : Sweet Southern Sugar
14 Mike & The Mechanics : Let Me Fly
Top Gigs
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit @ Symphony Hall, Birmingham
Dweezil Zappa @ Town Hall, Birmingham
Black Sabbath � The End @ Genting Arena, Birmingham
Stevie Nicks @ Hyde Park, London
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers @ Hyde Park, London
Alice Cooper @ Arena, Birmingham
UFO @ Town Hall, Birmingham
KISS @ Arena, Birmingham
Steve Hackett @ Symphony Hall, Birmingham
Whiskey Myers @ Institute, Birmingham
Cadillac Three @ Academy, Birmingham
Yes � Anderson, Rabin, Wakeman @ Symphony Hall, Birmingham
Blackberry Smoke @ Academy, Birmingham
Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow @ Genting Arena, Birmingham
Mike & The Mechanics @ Symphony Hall, Birmingham
BUTCH JONES
My Top Records of 2017
1 Byzantine : The Cicada Tree
2 Cosmosquad : The Morbid Tango
3 Threat Signal : Disconnect
4 Toothgrinder : Phantom Amour
5 Kadinja : Ascendacy
6 Black Water Rising : Electrified
7 The Night Flight Orchestra : Amber Galactic
8 Injected : The Truth About You
9 Overkill : The Grinding Wheel
10 Greta Van Fleet : Black Smoke Rising Ep
11 Riverdogs : California
12 The Delta Saints : Monte Vista
13 KXM : Scatterbrain
14 Accept : The Rise Of Chaos
15 Communic : Where Echoes Gather
16 Quicksand : Interiors
17 Troubled Horse : Revolution On Repeat
18 Sikth : The Future In Whose Eyes?
19 Black Country Communion : BCCIV
20 Arch Echo : Arch Echo
Show of the Year
Big Wreck - Gramercy Theater, NYC-March 3rd, 2017
Guitarist Of The Year
Jeff Kollman - (Cosmosquad, Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats, John Payne's Asia, Glenn Hughes)
Vocalist of the Year
Rob Lamothe (Riverdogs)
Drummer of the Year
Shane Gaalaas (Cosmosquad)
MICHAEL POPKE
Best of 2017
1 Fibonacci Sequence : Cinema Finis
2 Steven Wilson : To the Bone
3 Ayreon : The Source
4 Iced Earth : Incorruptible
5 Jeff Scott Soto : Retribution
6 Paul Draper : Spooky Action
7 Jag Panzer : The Deviant Chord
8 Steve Hackett : The Night Siren
9 Cats in Space : Scarecrow
10 Sons of Apollo : Psychotic Symphony
11 Pink Cream 69 : Headstrong
12 Knight Area : Heaven and Beyond
13 Virgil & Steve Howe : Nexus
14 Galactic Cowboys : Long Way Back to the Moon
15 The Mute Gods : Tardigrades Will Inherit the Earth
16 Rikard Sj�blom's Gungfly : On Her Journey to the Sun
17 PFM : Emotional Tattoos
18 Greyfeather : Greyfeather
19 Damnations Day : A World Awakens
20 Bubblemath : Edit Peptide
Honorable Mention
Amplifier: Trippin' with Dr Faustus
Big Big Train: Grimspound/The Second Brightest Star
Daniel Cavanagh: Monochrome
Damanek: On Track
Heaven & Earth: Hard to Kill
Reissues/Live
1 Spock's Beard: Snow Live
2 Kansas: Leftoverture-Live & Beyond
3 Edguy: Monuments
4 Steve Howe: Anthology 2
5 RPWL: A New Dawn
6 Galahad: Quiet Storms
7 Delain: Decade of Delain-Live at Paradiso
8 DGM: Passing Stages-Live in Milan and Atlanta
9 Don Barnes: Ride the Storm
10: David Gilmour: Live at Pompeii
Honorable Mention
Blind Guardian: Live Beyond the Spheres
Glass Hammer: Untold Tales
The Pineapple Thief: Where We Stood
Royal Hunt 2016
Various Artists: Warfaring Strangers-Acid Nightmares
Best Musicians
Vocalist: Jeff Scott Soto (Solo + Sons of Apollo)
Guitarist: Zak Rizvi (Kansas)
Keyboard Player: Steve Katsikas (Greyfeather)
Bassist: Chad Novell (Fibonacci Sequence)
Drummer: Mike Portnoy (Sons of Apollo)
Multi-instrumentalist: Daniel Cavanaugh (Solo)
NICHOLAS FRANCO
BEST OF 2017 - A Prospectus�
1 Enslaved : E
2 Chelsea Wolfe : Hiss Spun
3 Asagraum : Potestas Magicum Diaboli
4 Katla : M��ur�stin
5 Moonspell : 1755 (Napalm Records)
6 Iced Earth : Incorruptible (Century Media)
7 Acherontas : Amarta (Agonia)
8 Kadavar : - Rough Times (Nuclear Blast)
9 Whoredom Rife : Dommedagskvad (Terratur)
10 Satyricon : Deep Calleth Upon Deep (Napalm)
11 Falls of Rauros : Vigilance Perennial (Bindrune)
12 Wode : Servants of the Countercosmos (Avant)
13 Anathema : The Optimist (Kscope)
14 Heresiarch : Death Ordinance (Dark Descent)
15 S�lstafir : Berdreyminn (Season of Mist)
16 Mork : Eremittens Dal (Peaceville)
17 Urarv : Aurum (Svart)
18 Pillorian : Obsidian Arc (Eisenwald)
19 Malokarpatan : Nordkarpatenland (Invictus)
20 Forefather / Meads : English Steel (Godreah)
21 Saiva : Markerna bortom (Nordvis)
22 Vintersorg : Till Fjalls II (Napalm)
23 Samael : Hegemony (Napalm)
24 Grave Pleasures : Motherblood (Century Media)
25 Prong : Zero Days (Steamhammer)
26 Au�n : Farvegir Fyrndar (Season of Mist)
27 Portrait : Burn The World (Metal Blade)
28 Satan's Hallow : Satan's Hallow (Underground Power)
29 Sons of Crom : The Black Tower (Nordvis Produktion)
30 Akercocke : Ren In Extremis (Peaceville)
31 Vassafor : Malediction (Iron Bonehead)
32 KMFDM : Hell Yeah! (EarMusic)
33 Cnoc An Tursa : The Forty Five (Apoc Witchcraft)
34 The Flight of Sleipnir : Skadi (Eisenwald)
35 Myrkur : Mareridt (Relapse)
36 Immolation : Atonement (Nuclear Blast)
37 Ereb Altor : Ulfven (Hammerheart)
38 Valborg : Endstrand (Prophecy Productions)
39 RAM : Rod (Metal Blade)
40 Cavalera Conspiracy : Psychosis (Napalm)
SIMON BRAY
Best of 2017
1 Cats in Space : Scarecrow (One of this year's best Styx albums)
2 Power Quest : the Sixth Dimension (Utterly fantastic from beginning to end)
3 Styx : The Mission (Another of this year's best Styx albums)
4 Sparks : Hippopotamus (40 plus years of magnificence continues)
5 Deep Purple : inFinite (Their best for decades)
6 Europe : Walk the Earth (Their best since their reformation)
7 Arch Enemy : Will to Power (Don't get the hate)
8 Body Count : Bloodlust (Still mildly irked after all these years)
9 Alestorm : No Grave but the Sea (Ridiculous fun in crappy times)
10 Ten : Gothica (Fylde's finest and their finest for a while)
11 DragonForce : Reaching into Infinity (Special Edition - Just love it)
12 Ayreon : The Source (Slightly overblown Only slightly)
13 Pride of Lions : Fearless (Packed with great tunes)
14 Accept : The Rise of Chaos (Their splendid rub carries on)
15 Ensiferum : Two Paths (Their great run continues)
16 Exit Eden : Rhapsodies in Black (Metal versions of pop hits Winner)
17 Bloodbound : War of Dragons (Engaging cheesefest)
18 Grave Digger : Healed By Metal (Solid meat and potatoes metal)
19 Eclipse : Monumentum (Heavy and unfeasibly melodic)
20 Black Star Riders : Heavy Fire (The boys finally step out of Lizzy's shadow)
21 Paradise Lost : Medusa (A right laugh riot)
22 Tokyo Motor Fist : Tokyo Motor Fist (Minor league supergroup triumphs)
23 House of Lords : Saint of the Lost Souls (Another solid addition to their canon)
24 Kee of Hearts : Kee of Hearts (The best of the Frontiers' projects)
25 Pyogenesis : A Kingdom to Disappear (Genre-bending fun)
26 Xandria : Theater Of Dimensions (Gets better with every listen)
27 Firewind : Immortals (Magnificent return to form)
28 Elvenking : Secrets Of The Magick Grimoire (Consistency is their watchword)
29 Cannibal Corpse : Red Before Black (Remarkably tuneful)
30 Wildness : Wildness (Like 1985 all over again)
Live albums:
Accept: Restless and Live - Blind Rage Live In Europe Fantastic, just fantastic
Arch Enemy: As The Stages Burn! (Live at Wacken 2016) Totally love it
Status Quo: Last Night of the Electrics Ok, no it wasn't
Stiff Little Fingers: Best Served Loud (Live at Barrowlands) 40 years of punk rock protest
Tedeschi Trucks Band: Live From The Fox Oakland Just wonderful
A Thousand Horses: A Thousand Horses Live From London Metropolis Studios � only available on vinyl until it was added to a subsequent EP
Asia: Symfonia-Live in Bulgaria 2013 A fitting tribute to John Wetton
Graham Bonnet Band: Live Here Comes the Night
CARL SEDERHOLM
Best Metal Albums 2017
1 The Ruins of Beverast : Exuvia
2 Bell Witch : Mirror Reaper
3 Power Trip : Nightmare Logic
4 Haxxan : Loch Ness Rising
5 Unearthly Trance : Stalking the Ghost
6 Necrot : Blood Offerings
7 Iron Reagan : Crossover Ministry
8 Amenra : Mass VI
9 King Woman : Created in the Image of Suffering
10 Black Mare : Death Magick Mother
11 Obituary : Obituary
12 Lamina : Lilith
13 Apokrifna Realnost : Na Rekah Vavilonskih
14 Usnea : Portals into Futility
15 Bloodhunter : The End of Faith
16 Lapin Helvetti : Lapin Helvetti
17 Cannabis Corpse : Left Hand Pass
18 Ufomammut : 8
19 Exhumed : Death Revenge
20 Mastodon : Emperor of Sand
STEVEN REID
2017 TOP 50
1 Cats In Space : Scarecrow (70s excesses revived in stunning fashion)
2 Roger Waters : Is This The Life We Really Want? (Waters is back, sounding like Waters does)
3 Deep Purple : inFinite (Purple and Bob Ezrin continue their studio renaissance)
4 The Scaramanga Six : Chronica (The year's best non-prog prog album Insane brilliance)
5 Ryan Hamilton & The Traitors : The Devil's In The Detail (Catchy, rocky, country but with depth)
6 Little Steven & The Disciples Of Soul : Soulfire (An uplifting celebration of music through the decades)
7 Heaven & Earth : Hard To Kill (The best classic rock act for many a moon return)
8 Styx : The Mission (Did anyone expect Styx to go full blown prog? The results are impressive)
9 Steven Wilson : To The Bone (Not the pop album it's made out to be, Wilson delights yet again)
10 Sons Of Apollo : Psychotic Symphony (Finally a truly super prog-supergroup)
11 Enslaved : E (Enslaved keep evolving and they keep getting better and better)
12 Cheap Trick : We're All Alright (Cheap Trick's rich vein of form continues)
13 Jeff Scott Soto : Retribution (Heading back to MHR for the first time in years JSS delivers a winner)
14 Daniel Cavanagh : Monochrome (A truly personal solo album with real heart and soul)
15 Ulrich Ellison : Dreaming In The House Of Blues (Modern heavy rock blues at its best)
16 Hidden Lands : Halcyon (An album that gleefully runs the gamut of prog styles)
17 Pvris : All We Know Of Heaven, All We Need Of Hell (A deep set of songs delivered with a catchy, poppy sheen)
18 Jon Stevens : Starlight (ex-Noiseworks man provides an eclectic vocal masterclass)
19 Kim Seviour : Recovery Is Learning (Seviour's first solo foray proves captivating, melodic and memorable)
20 RTFact : Life Is Good (Jeff Scott Soto's 3rd appearance on this list - this time in prog fusion territory)
21 Honey West : Bad Old World (Foreigner and King Crimson founder returns in idiosyncratic style)
22 Biters : The Future Ain't What It Used To Be (They may be right, but these power-poppers have bright times ahead)
23 Thunder : Rip It Up (Thunder do what Thunder do 'Nuff said)
24 CJ Wildheart : Blood (Wildhearts guitarist steps out of the shadows big time with latest solo outing)
25 The Greek Theatre : Broken Circle (An album that could rub shoulders with Jefferson Airplane, Buffalo Springfield or Quicksilver Messenger Service)
26 Von Hertzen Brothers : War Is Over
27 Threshold : Legends Of The Shires
28 Galahad : Quiet Storms
29 Todd Michael Hall : Letters From India
30 Lunatic Soul : Fractured
31 KXM : Scatterbrain
32 House Of Lords : Saints Of The Lost Souls
33 Fish On Friday : Quiet Life
34 Eisley/Goldy : Blood Guts & Games
35 Accept : Rise Of Chaos
36 Chris Catalyst : Life Is Often Brilliant
37 Tim Bowness : Lost In The Ghost Light
38 Ingranaggi Della Valle : Warm Spaced Blue
39 Hibernal : The Dark Of The City
40 Shaman's Elephant : Crystals
41 Hard Driver : Freedom Machine
42 Twingiant : Blood Feud
43 Joe Gilman-Jacam Manricks : Gilmanricks
44 Jack Starr's Burning Starr : Stand Your Ground
45 Iris Divine : The Static And The Noise
46 Murkocet : Digging Mercy's Grave
47 Patchwork Cacophony : Five Of Cups
48 Iced Earth : Incorruptible
49 Ginger Wildheart : Ghost In The Tanglewood
50 Lynch Mob : The Brotherhood
REISSUES/COMPILATIONS/FROM THE VAULTS
1 - The Sweet : Sensational Sweet (Chapter One : The Wild Bunch)
2 - Marillion Misplaced Childhood (Deluxe)
3 - Wytchfynde : Divine Victims
4 - Gandalf's Fist : A Day in The Life Of A Universal Warrior (Special Edition)
5 - Riot : Official Bootlegs Vol 1
6 - Snow : At Last
7 - Atomic Rooster : Sleeping For Years - The Studio Recordings 1970-1974
8 - Godley And Creme : Body Of Work
9 - Neil Young : Hitchhiker
10 - Bruce Dickinson : Soloworks
11 - Gerry Rafferty : Can I Have My Money Back?
12 - Riot : Official Bootlegs Vol 2
13 - Samson : Joint Forces
14 - Straight Lines : Straight Lines
15 - Accept : Breaker
16 - Michael Monroe : The Best
17 - Warrior : Warrior
18 - John Wetton : Akustika - Live In Amerika/ Akustika II - Return To Amerika
19 - Super Vintage : Rock n' Roll For Your Soul
20 - Fandango : The Complete RCA Recordings
LIVE ALBUMS
1 - The Pineapple Thief : Where We Stood
2 - Mystery : Second Home
3 - Alter Bridge : Live From The O2 Arena + Rarities
4 - Marillion : Marbles In The Park
5 - Ryan Hamilton & The Traitors : Capital Spirits (An Acoustic Evening Live In London)
6 - Rose Tattoo : Tatts Live In Brunswick 1982
7 - The Who : Tommy Live At The Albert Hall
8 - Kansas : Leftoverture & Beyond
9 - Michael Schenker Fest : Live Tokyo
10 - Hansen & Friends : Thank You Wacken
EPs
1 - The Mighty Handful : Still Sitting In Danny's Car - Parts 4&5
2 - Lebrock : Action & Romance
3 - Dendera : Blood Red Sky
4 - Virtual Symmetry : X-Gate
5 - Geishas In Vitro : Geishas In Vitro
6 - Black Stone Cherry : Black To Blues
7 - Iconic Eye : Time
8 - Fugitive : Locked & Loaded
9 - Mason Hill : Mason Hill
10 - Fragile Things : Broken Sun
LIVE BAND
1 - Little Steven & The Disciples Of Soul
2 - Metal Church
3 - The Wildhearts (acoustic)
4 - Riverside
5 - Scott Sorry
6 - Rob Zombie
7 - Pvris
8 - SOTO
9 - Ryan Hamilton & Friends (acoustic)
10 - Accept
11 - Andy McKee
12 - Mutation
13 - Biters
14 - Bad Touch
15 - KISS
16 - Blackberry Smoke
17 - Ryan Hamilton & The Traitors (electric)
18 - Role Models
19 - Bigfoot
20 - The Swamp Born Assassins
VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Jeff Scott Soto (Jeff Scott Soto, Sons Of Apollo, RTFact, SOTO (live), Trans Siberian Orchestra (live)) -
GUITARIST OF THE YEAR
Ginger Wildheart (Ginger Wildheart (band & solo), Mutation, The Wildhearts (acoustic live), Hey! Hello! (live)) -
BASSIST OF THE YEAR
Steven Morricone (The Scaramanga Six) -
KEYBOARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Derek Sherinian (Black Country Communion, Sons Of Apollo) -
DRUMMER OF THE YEAR
Marco Minnemann (solo, The Mute Gods) -
MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR
Ian McDonald (Honey West) -
JON NEUDORF
Best Of 2017
1 Threshold : Legends Of The Shires ((With their former vocalist Glynn Morgan returning to the fold, Threshold have released another tasty slab of melodic progressive metal Simply outstanding!))
2 Roger Waters : Is This The Life We Really Want ((This album proves the old guard still has plenty to say))
3 Ayreon : The Source ((Arjen makes a triumphant return to sci-fi based progressive metal with an album that sits comfortably beside his best work))
4 The Mute Gods : Tartigrades Will Inherit The Earth ((An excellent sophomore effort, an almost perfect concoction of pop and modern progressive rock))
5 Caligula's Horse : In Contact ((A superb follow up to Bloom, In Contact continues the band's impressive take on progressive metal))
6 Leprous : Malina ((The Norwegians have released another stunner))
7 Nad Sylvan : The Bride Said No ((This album proves that theatrics and prog have always gone hand in hand�another stunning achievement))
8 Gungfly : On Her Journey To The Sun ((If you appreciate Beardfish, Gungfly's latest will surely fill that void))
9 Lonely Robot : The Big Dream ((Mitchell proves once again why he is one of the classiest musicians in progressive rock right now))
10 Kaipa : Children Of The Sounds ((The Swedes have hit the mark once again))
11 Steven Wilson : To The Bone ((Too poppy for prog fans or too proggy for pop fans? The truth lies somewhere in the middle Another highly enjoyable platter from Mr Wilson))
12 Sky Architect : Nomad ((This eclectic band continues to rise amongst the top echelon of progressive rock))
13 Anathema : The Optimist ((Another outstanding piece of artful music from these British masters))
14 Cosmograf : The Hay-Man Dreams ((Robin Armstrong continues to make fantastic modern progressive rock with his latest masterpiece))
15 The Tangent : The Slow Rust Of Forgotten Machinery ((Complex prog at its finest This one is a real grower))
16 Pain Of Salvation : In The Passing Light Of Day ((The Swedish masters of progressive metal have done it again))
17 Kansas : Leftoverture Live & Beyond ((These guys haven't lost a step and this live album proves it Highly entertaining))
18 Tim Bowness : Lost In The Ghost Light ((Sophisticated artrock at its finest))
19 Bjorn Riis : Forever Comes To An End ((A beautifully poignant and somber album from Airbag's lead guitar player))
20 Big Big Train : Grimspound ((This band continues to release high quality progressive rock))
21 Steve Hackett : The Night Siren ((Another impressive performance form Mr Hackett))
22 Siena Root : A Dream Of Lasting Peace ((A pure psychedelic retro rock delight))
23 Premiata Forneria Marconi : Emotional Tattoos ((A melodic gem from the masters of Italian progressive rock))
24 Hawkwind : Into The Woods ((These space rock veterans continue to be a force to be reckoned with))
25 Sons Of Apollo : Psychotic Symphony ((A progressive metal juggernaut))
26 Brother Ape : Karma ((The Swedish progressive rock band continues to evolve with this impressive new album))
27 Virgil & Steve Howe : Nexus ((A fitting tribute to a life cut short far too soon))
28 VUR : In This Moment We Are Free � Cities ((An enthusiastic debut from Anneke van Giersbergen's latest metal project))
29 Eloy : The Vision, The Sword And The Pyre (Part 1) ((High concept progressive rock from the German masters))
30 Mew : Visuals ((One of their catchiest albums yet))
31 Jet Black Sea : Absorption Lines ((Excellent atmospheric progressive rock))
32 Golden Caves : Collision ((This relatively new Dutch band have released a fine debut of modern progressive rock that should please rock fans across the board))
33 Djam Karet : Sonic Celluloid ((Another quality release from this veteran American band))
34 Pendragon : Masquerade 20 ((A blistering performance from this classic British band))
35 Knight Area : Heaven And Beyond ((Another catchy slice of heavy prog))
Summarized List Of The Top 60 CDs, From All Of The SoT Staff
1. Styx : The Mission ()
2. Deep Purple : inFinite ()
3. Cats in Space : Scarecrow ()
4. Ayreon : The Source ()
5. Sons Of Apollo : Psychotic Symphony ()
6. Enslaved : E ()
7. Steven Wilson : To The Bone ()
8. Iced Earth : Incorruptible ()
9. Steve Hackett : The Night Siren ()
10. Accept : The Rise of Chaos ()
11. Threshold : Legends Of The Shires ()
12. Roger Waters : Is This The Life We Really Want? ()
13. Black Star Riders : Heavy Fire ()
14. Europe : Walk the Earth ()
15. Jeff Scott Soto : Retribution ()
16. Anathema : The Optimist ()
17. Communic : Where Echoes Gather ()
18. Greta Van Fleet : Black Smoke Rising Ep ()
19. Black Country Communion : BCCIV ()
20. Troubled Horse : Revolution On Repeat ()
21. Overkill : The Grinding Wheel ()
22. Siena Root : A Dream Of Lasting Peace ()
23. Cosmosquad : The Morbid Tango ()
24. Mastodon : Emperor of Sand ()
25. Virgil & Steve Howe : Nexus ()
26. Bubblemath : Edit Peptide ()
27. Immolation : Atonement ()
28. KXM : Scatterbrain ()
29. Knight Area : Heaven And Beyond ()
30. Pain Of Salvation : In The Passing Light Of Day ()
31. Riverdogs : California ()
32. Kadavar : Rough Times ()
33. Byzantine : The Cicada Tree ()
34. Fibonacci Sequence : Cinema Finis ()
35. Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit : The Nashville Sound ()
36. The Ruins of Beverast : Exuvia ()
37. Warbringer : Woe to the Vanquished ()
38. Bell Witch : Mirror Reaper ()
39. Chelsea Wolfe : Hiss Spun ()
40. Power Quest : the Sixth Dimension ()
41. The Cadillac Three : Legacy ()
42. Vhaldemar : Against All Kings ()
43. Asagraum : Potestas Magicum Diaboli ()
44. Power Trip : Nightmare Logic ()
45. Quadrus : Entropia ()
46. Robert Plant : Carry Fire ()
47. Threat Signal : Disconnect ()
48. Haxxan : Loch Ness Rising ()
49. House Of Lords : Saints Of The Lost Souls ()
50. Katla : M��ur�stin ()
51. Sparks : Hippopotamus ()
52. Steel Woods : Straw In The Wind ()
53. The Mute Gods : Tartigrades Will Inherit The Earth ()
54. The Scaramanga Six : Chronica ()
55. Tim Bowness : Lost In The Ghost Light ()
56. Toothgrinder : Phantom Amour ()
57. Until Rain : Inure ()
58. Moonspell : 1755 ()
59. Caligula's Horse : In Contact ()
60. Choirs of Veritas : I Am the Way the Truth and the Life ()
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