November 2025 "The Infinite" Playlist - Progressive Metal Constellations

Short playlist this month, but two monster tracks at the end more than make up for its length.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Wtb5QsNObO9w62f7ThQNF?si=38c2b8cc730946df

1. An Abstract Illusion – Like A Geyser Ever Erupting (2025)

2. Artificial Language – Skinwalker (2024)

3. Charlotte Wessels – Backup Plan (feat. Asger Mygind) (2025)

4. Dir En Grey – The Blossoming Beelzebub (2011) Requested by Andi

5. Dyssidia – Impulsivity (2025)

6. Ihlo – Parhelion (2019)

7. Leprous – The Price (2015)

8. Nevermore – Narcosynthesis (Live) (2008)

9. Skyharbor – Kaikoma (2014)

10. Symphony X – Revelation (Divus Pennae Ex Tragoedia) (2007) Requested by Andi

11. TesseracT – Of Matter – Proxy (2013) Requested by Andi

12. Textures – Polars (2004)

13. Vildhjarta – Traces (2011) Requested by Andi

14. VOLA – Head Mounted Sideways (2021)

15. X Japan – Art of Life (2012)

Indeed a short playlist, but one I felt up to breezing through entirely. Great work, Saxy! Here are all my track thoughts:

An Abstract Illusion – Like A Geyser Ever Erupting (2025)

4.5/5. Beginning this playlist is an eruption of progressive death metal. An amazing start!

Artificial Language – Skinwalker (2024)

4/5. Yo, this one's also great! Nothing artificial here.

Charlotte Wessels – Backup Plan (feat. Asger Mygind) (2025)

4.5/5. So I've listened to the main band of Asger Mygind, VOLA, but I haven't yet gotten interested in Charlotte Wessels's main band, Delain. I think I might just be up for the latter, considering how much I like this duet, as well as my growing return to symphonic metal.

Dir En Grey – The Blossoming Beelzebub (2011)

4/5. This one kicks off the downtuned distortion of guitars and bass and rolling drums. Don't expect any shrieking yet! Kyo starts singing in high falsetto that almost sounds like a female opera singer with tension building. The progressive interval might explode into action but it doesn't. Great song despite not having what heavier fans wanted...

Dyssidia – Impulsivity (2025)

3.5/5. Good heavy song but a little too impulsive.

Ihlo – Parhelion (2019)

4/5. "I'm home AGAIN!!!" Lots of insane synthy prog-metal talent! A nice stylistic homage to Periphery from start to finish.

Leprous – The Price (2015)

4.5/5. I should really get back to listening to Leprous someday. This groovy song might remind some of Riverside.

Nevermore – Narcosynthesis (Live) (2008)

4/5. Same with this band with the great Warrel Dane. RIP

Skyharbor – Kaikoma (2014)

4.5/5. And again with this band. I enjoy the chilling clean melodies from the vocals. The vocal harmonies really shine throughout the third quarter of the track. I can probably do my own vocal cover, since the vocals aren't too high. They also take some alt-rock from the later eras of Karnivool and Anathema. Nice production!

Symphony X – Revelation (Divus Pennae Ex Tragoedia) (2007)

5/5. This 9-minute epic has so many cohesive ideas. If you can get hooked by the neoclassical leads and melodic chorus, you'll definitely wanna stick around for the rest.

TesseracT – Of Matter – Proxy (2013)

4.5/5. This one already opens up the original album's dynamic diversity. Gentle chords leads to riff distortion, just like what you would expect from Tesseract. And clearly there's more maturity in their writing.

Textures – Polars (2004)

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. So I don't mind this epic appearing in another playlist after exactly a year.

Vildhjarta – Traces (2011)

4.5/5. This one pleasantly surprises me with its intricate complexity and djenty variation. Not a single moment can be considered a waste of time.

VOLA – Head Mounted Sideways (2021)

5/5. An artful highlight with a bass tone full of heavy mass.

X Japan – Art of Life (2012)

4.5/5. Y'know, I was thinking about whether or not to add this massive epic to a Guardians playlist, and I was a little hesistant because of its length. But now it's here, in an Infinite playlist! It is a 29-minute epic that has practically kickstarted the symphonic power metal subgenre. And I wish to describe it in words, but that wouldn't do it justice. All in all, an amazing epic to end this playlist!