February 2025 "The Infinite" Playlist - Progressive Metal Constellations

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Wtb5QsNObO9w62f7ThQNF?si=698e100fe75049a1

1. Angra – The Bottom of My Soul (2018)

2. Chaos Divine – Hazard (2024)

3. Dessiderium – Dover Hendrix (2025)

4. Earthside – Mob Mentality (2015)

5. The Enigma Division – Echoes in the Deep (2023)

6. Haken – A Cell Divides (2018)

7. Imperial Triumphant – Lexington Delirium (feat. Tomas Haake) (2025)

8. Jinjer – Green Serpent (2024)

9. Joviac – Shine (2024)

10. Monolithe – Unveiling the Illusion (2024)

11. Nevermore – No More Will (1999)

12. Protest the Hero – Soliloquy (2020) (6)

13. Scale the Summit – Goddess Gate (2017)

14. Sepultura – The Pentagram (2020)

15. SikTh – Weaves of Woe (2017)

16. Soen – Jinn (2017)

17. Sometime in February – Palantir (2025)

18. Tiktaalika (Charlie Griffiths) – Gods of Pangaea (feat. Daniel de Jongh) (2025)

19. Vertex – The Purest Light (2025)

20. Wilderun – Passenger (2022)

Here are my thoughts on some tracks:

Angra – The Bottom of My Soul (2018)

4.5/5. An amazing song to start with, with the emotional vocals of guitarist Rafael Bittencourt. The instrumentation is quite beautiful too! The lyrics are relatable for battling against anxiety and depression. Rafael is also good at his guitarwork, so is Marcelo Barbosa with his passionate soloing at the 3-minute mark. Rafael's vocals sounds like a mix of Devin Townsend and Chris Cornell, in contrast to the higher power metal singing of Fabio Lione in all the other tracks in the album. Either way, f***ing magical! Despite the more Creed-ish motive for this song, the melody from Rebirth still shines, along with those lyrics.

Chaos Divine – Hazard (2024)

5/5. I actually love this cover more than the one for Toto's "Africa", and it's more metal too. This epic cover should get on the radio more than the original.

Haken – A Cell Divides (2018)

4.5/5. Sick chills from this one! While the vocals by Ross Jennings sound great here, they should've brought in Leprous' Einar Solberg for some growls like in "The Architect".

Imperial Triumphant – Lexington Delirium (feat. Tomas Haake) (2025)

4/5. Finally we get to hear some cool extreme avant-prog metal, with spoken vocals by Meshuggah drummer Tomas Haake.

Jinjer – Green Serpent (2024)

4.5/5. Jinjer's progressive sound slithers through in this single from their new album Duel.

Joviac – Shine (2024)

4/5. Nice positive modern progressive metal/rock right here.

Monolithe – Unveiling the Illusion (2024)

4.5/5. This one unleashes guitar aggression in contrast with the string tranquility. Truly one of the greatest standouts here!

Nevermore – No More Will (1999)

4/5. "The velvet sleep is conviction only fools know", "These tears of dust are the tears from one who knows why", "The voice that stills the pain, I am the lover gone insane"... Some of the most emotional lyrics I've heard from Nevermore! And I love the riffing at the one and a half minute mark. RIP Warrel Dane...

Protest the Hero – Soliloquy (2020)

4.5/5. This one springs into hyperactive action with killer blast beats alongside a good lyrical concept. The instrumental wizardry keeps you in the flowing stream.

Scale the Summit – Goddess Gate (2017)

5/5. Fantastic soloing by Nick Johnston and Scar Symmetry guitarist Per Nilsson!

Sepultura – The Pentagram (2020)

4.5/5. Another progressive instrumental that's one h*ll of a thrashy journey that can be considered the Quadra Crusade.

SikTh – Weaves of Woe (2017)

5/5. Let's stop here with this awesome hyperactive highlight that reminds me of Protest the Hero's Kezia.