November 2024 "The Infinite" Playlist - Progressive Metal Constellations

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Wtb5QsNObO9w62f7ThQNF?si=21f77eba7a8445c4

1. Amiensus – Solfario (2024)

2. Anciients – Raise the Sun (2013)

3. Arch Echo – SUPER SUDDEN DEATH (2023)

4. Arcturus – Crashland (2015)

5. Black Crown Initiate – A Great Mistake (2014)

6. Cynic – Integral Birth (2008)

7. Hammers of Misfortune – Widow’s Wall (2006)

8. Hippotraktor – The Indifferent Human Eye (2024)

9. In Vain – Watch For Me On The Mountain (2024)

10. Jakub Zytecki, David Maxim Micic – Eternal Fact of Water (2015)

11. Night Verses – Bound To You (2024)

12. Ramage Inc. – Humanity Has Failed (2023)

13. The Resonance Project – Ad Astra (2023)

14. Scale The Summit – Trapped in Ice (2015)

15. Sumac – Clutch of Oblivion (I) (2016)

16. Thy Catafalque – Piros kocsi, fekete éj (2024)

17. Textures – Polars (2003)

18. Thrailkill – Exercise in Futility (2020)

19. Vintersea – Celestial Abscission (2024)

Here are my thoughts on some tracks:

Arcturus – Crashland (2015)

4.5/5. Arcturus made their comeback 10 years after their 2005 Sideshow Symphonies album. Will there be another one in 2025? Better hope so... At this point, they abandoned pretty much all their Dimmu Borgir-style symphonic black metal roots for a more spacey prog-metal sound similar to Arjen Lucassen's projects Ayreon and Star One, but with no guest vocalists. Sounds nicely done!

Black Crown Initiate – A Great Mistake (2014)

5/5. Discovering this progressive tech-death band is no mistake. It's a grand treat! The brutal screaming/growling hits so hard, along with the amazing drumming, coming in right after one of the best song intros of the genre. Almost like Gojira and early 2000s Opeth but more f***ing crushing. From beginning to end, you won't get tired of this dark heavy stomper. It shall break through the galaxy faster and stronger than a black hole. Music like this should come up more commonly. I always thought Lorna Shore was the most earth-shattering band heard, but these guys shall take the throne. I also loved the soft yet ominous bridge midway through.

Cynic – Integral Birth (2008)

4.5/5. RIP Sean Reinert and Sean Malone, two musical geniuses both gone in the same year 2020. Cynic is still around and can get anyone through dark times. It should be noted how different this band is compared to more deathly bands like Soilwork and the earlier Opeth. Well, Cynic started off as deathly before they started getting softer from Traced in Air onwards. They would even remove the background growls in the remixed version, a change that some might deem ridiculous.

Sumac – Clutch of Oblivion (I) (2016)

4/5. I originally submitted the full "Clutch of Oblivion" track, but I found out that many of the tracks in this Sumac album were split into parts on Spotify. So I replaced my submission with "Will to Reach", but it seems like it was too late for the replacement to make it in. Oh well... This part of "Clutch of Oblivion" is still quite solid.

Thy Catafalque – Piros kocsi, fekete éj (2024)

4.5/5. It's never too late to find strength and magic in metal. Thy Catafalque have their Hungarian folk-fueled avant-prog metal sound going on. Whether or not you can understand the Hungarian lyrics, they certainly have the poetic vibe. Amazing art can come from composition, writing, and/or artwork. And this band already has 12 albums out, which can be considered quite an achievement. The animated music video is about what the title translates into, "Red Carriage, Black Night". I wouldn't be surprised if the main founder Tamás Kátai wrote that song while travelling. There would certainly be a unique atmosphere if that was the case. There also seems to be a dash of gothic in this banger that's once again great for the road.

Textures – Polars (2003)

5/5. The title track of Textures' debut is their longest song, an 18-minute epic with lots of innovative experimentation reaching its height, not to mention Pieter's vocal talent.

This month's list is a fucking belter. I loved pretty much all of it. There's so much great progressive stuff out there right now.