Anthriel - The Pathway (2010)

This is an incredibly brilliant prog metal album that sounds very much like Symphony X. The melodies, riffs, vocals, keyboards and solos are all phenomenal. This is a talented band that know the ins and outs of neoclassical prog metal and can make highly complex, but catchy tunes. Overall, it's an extremely impressive debut album and quality-wise can stand up to pretty much anything in Symphony X's catalog (except maybe The Odyssey). I can't wait to hear their next record!

9.5/10

Edenbridge - The Grand Design (2006)

Here's an excellent power-prog release with soaring choruses, awesome neoclassical riffing, beautiful ballads, and even some acoustic work. If you're a fan of Nightwish, Epica and similar bands then you should have no problem getting into this.
9/10

 

Bon Iver - Bon Iver, Bon Iver (2011)

Well, I finally listened to this one and it was pretty good. For a folk album, it's very eclectic in that incorporates elements of baroque pop and electronica. Some of the songs such as the last one could do without all the synths, and I think that the first half of the record is much better than the second half. However, it's still very enjoyable and I would certainly listen to it again to take more of the nuances. I feel like it's a grower and one that needs repeated listens to fully comprehend.
8.5/10

 

Isbells - Isbells (2009)

This is definitely one of the best folk albums I've ever heard. It's fairly similar to The Tallest Man on Earth, but it adds an extra layer of depth to the music that makes even more emotional and beautiful. It's a rather dark affair which is what makes it so what gives it its haunting beauty. It's just an amazing album, and I recommend it to all folk-lovers.
9.5/10

 

The Tallest Man on Earth - There's No Leaving Now (2012)

Folk musician Kristian Matsson's Bob Dylan-esque voice and gentle, beautiful playing on this album is superb and, in my book, jettisons him into the folk hall of fame along with Iron and Wine. In fact, this album reminds quite a bit of Iron and Wine's debut album with it minimalistic approach although it's not quite as "country-esque" as that one. It's gripping, emotional songwriting that quite readily evokes feelings of nostalgia and sheer admiration. This one is a keeper.
9/10

Hexvessel - No Holier Temple (2012)

This is a lush, exotic trip through the Finnish occult universe that makes you feel like you're actually participating in some arcane ritual as the vocalists narrate the events. The songs meander their way through forbidden, unseen territory as if exploring the depths of a buried past. Overall, it's an excellent psych folk album that conveys a real sense of mystery and spirituality inside a captivating musical package.
9/10

 

Secret Sphere - Portrait of a Dying Heart (2012)

This band absolutely floored me. Without exaggerating, I can say that this is one of the best power or prog albums I've ever heard. It mixes in the best elements of Dream Theater, Symphony X and Kamelot into a beautiful and powerful melange. The vocals are stellar. The riffs are phenomenal. The choruses are all very catchy. There's not a single moment of filler on the whole album. What more do you need? If you love power-prog, do yourself a huge favor and listen to this album right now.
9.5/10

Arcana - As Bright as a Thousand Suns (2012)

Arcana, much like Dead Can Dance, are known for their haunting, exotic music and this album proves no exception to the formula. It's dark and mysterious classical passages are anchored by tribal beats and ethereal vocals which accentuate the ritualistic nature of the music. It's a hypnotizing and quite soothing album that, while it may not be their best work, is piece of art that shouldn't be missed.
8.5/10

 

Shadows Fall - Fire From the Sky (2012)

Before listening to this album, I'd only heard a few songs from this band and thought they were decent. After having listened to this album for the first time, I can say that this is a very musically proficient band that knows how to make catchy and surprisingly technical metalcore songs. There's no obnoxious breakdowns as in other "core" bands; just solid, well-written stuff that would probably cause even the most ardent defenders of "tr00" metal to at least respect this band if not headbang along to their songs. This is one of the most inspired metalcore albums I've heard in recent times, and it's made me become a fan of the band.
9/10

 

Message to Bears - Folding Leaves (2012)

This is a very beautiful collection of songs that, interestingly enough, meld post-rock with folk. It's quite a brilliant combination and it's done with much skill. Some of the songs could use a bit more development though, but overall it's a strong album and one that fans of both genres should enjoy.
8.5/10

 

Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound - Manzanita (2012)

This is a pretty unique and beautiful psych album I came across. It mixes the heavy bluesiness of bands like The Doors with the lush, pastoral qualities of The Zombies and early Pink Floyd. The production is great and sounds just like the 60's. Being as nostalgic as I am for the old sounds, it's quite surprising and satisfying to know that the classic spirit of 60's psychedelia is being kept alive by bands such as this one.

8.5/10

Clark - Iradelphic (2012)

The latest album from notable IDM musician Clark shows him veering away from his IDM roots and towards an eclectic mix of electronic post-rock and trip-hop. Most of the time it's quite safe, perhaps a little too safe as other reviewers  have said. But it's also pretty beautiful, and I think that if it were developed more and "spiced up" so-to-speak, it would be a lot more engaging. It's still a good record though and compared to other artists it's still quite ambitious. Give it a chance and see what you think.
8/10

 

The Heavy Eyes - Maera (2012)

Here's another pretty decent blues-rock album that has some cool riffs and catchy vocals. It's nothing to really write home about, but it does the job and it's fun to listen to.
8/10

Panzerballett - Tank Goodness (2012)

I've never quite come across a band that mixes jazz and metal this well. In fact, they even made a metal cover of a jazz standard ("Take Five" by Dave Brubeck) which is a daunting task and pretty much unheard of in the metal world. The saxophones on the songs really help keep the music dynamic and interesting, and the addition of funk elements only adds to that. What I didn't really care for was the two or three songs with vocals such as in the cover of "I Had the Time of My Life." They might have worked well as a stand-alone singles, but I think that on the album they somewhat disrupted the flow. Minor criticism like that aside, this is still a really unique and pretty awesome thing album that is sure to be a hallmark of the very small jazz-metal genre.
8.5/10

 

Katalepsy - Autopsychosis (2013)

I'm not really familiar with "slam" death metal; in fact, this is the first album in the genre that I've listened to, and I think it's excellent. This band sure knows how to write simple, yet brutal riffs that keep you headbanging throughout each song (a la Dying Fetus only heavier). They also throw in a lot of technicality for good measure (borrowing nicely from Suffocation), but technicality is certainly not the focus of the music. Autopsychosis is a monster of an album and its unrelenting brutality might discourage some fans of more traditional death metal, but in my opinion this is a very satisfying, well-constructed album that can appeal to a fan-base outside the slam scene. This is sure to be one of the best death metal albums of the year.
9/10