September 2026 "The Infinite" Playlist - Progressive Metal Constellations

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Wtb5QsNObO9w62f7ThQNF?si=7c41e2ab2f6c4028

1. Aenigmatum – Infinitude’s Passage (2026)

2. Anciients – Melt The Crown (2024)

3. Arcane – Unturning (2015)

4. Arcturus – For to End yet Again (2002)

5. Between the Buried and Me – The Future Is Behind Us (2021) (11)

6. Burst – Where the Wave Broke (2005)

7. Caligula’s Horse – Capulet (2017)

8. Circus Maximus – Game of Life (2012)

9. Enslaved – Solar Will (2026)

10. In Mourning – Amnesia (2008)

11. Kayo Dot – Mirror Water, Lighting Night (2012)

12. Last Chance to Reason – The Escapist (2013)

13. Myrath – Madness (2010)

14. Nuclear Power Trio – Nyetflix and Chill (2023)

15. Protest the Hero – The Mariner (2026)

16. Redemption – Let It Rain (2011)

17. The Safety Fire – Old Souls (2013)

18. The Stranger – The Gemini (2021)

19. Syncatto – Dreamland (2026)

20. Vildhjarta - + röda läppar, söta äpplen + (2025)

21. Zeal & Ardor – We Can’t Be Found (2018)

Here are my thoughts on some tracks:

Arcturus – For to End yet Again (2002)

4/5. "OH BLACK SUN!!!!" Everything begins and ends as it should, and the second half is more interesting. Right in the middle in a string part that sounds almost straight out of Twin Peaks. Then a minute later is a minute of pure brilliance. Right after this another cool vocal section, especially during the "POLICE, POLICE, POLICE" part. That goes for another minute then some more mystical synths. And one more minute later, everything reaches its epic climax. Lovely second half, though the first half is a bit disjointed.

Between the Buried and Me – The Future Is Behind Us (2021)

4.5/5. I somehow lost interest in BTBAM around the time Colors II. I need to stop that break and get back on that train again, with this song motivating me.

Burst – Where the Wave Broke (2005)

5/5. D*mn, I want more Burst. Origo is where the band adds more post-sludge elements from the like of Isis, Neurosis, and Cult of Luna to their sound. Apparently this was written in memory of bassist Jesper Liverod's Nasum bandmate vocalist Mieszko Talarczyk who was one of the victims of the 2004 Southeast Asia tsunami. RIP... Lazarus Bird still reigns as my favorite Burst album though. I can definitely hear a bit of Mastodon and Opeth in this track as well, maybe even planting the seeds for Leprous and Baroness a few years later. Plus a bit of screaming energy similar to Jens Kidman of Meshuggah. The post-progressive metalcore force is strong there.

Enslaved – Solar Will (2026)

4.5/5. Enslaved are still staying fresh and heavy for the past over 3 decades. The chorus sounds so poetic, reaching its climatic height in the last minute. The song has the crushing sound from In Times albeit in a much shorter track length.

In Mourning – Amnesia (2008)

4/5. So f***ing underrated and depressive. Did I get amnesia and forget all about that band? I need to get back in touch with their music.

Kayo Dot – Mirror Water, Lighting Night (2012)

4.5/5. One of the best tracks by Kayo Dot, with insane sax and drumming. I wish I could say how jazzy it is, but Kayo Dot has stated that they don't do jazz.

Last Chance to Reason – The Escapist (2013)

5/5. HOLY INCREDIBLENESS!!! I never wanna forget about this band! The last minute of this track is filled with Floydian ambience.

Myrath – Madness (2010)

5/5. Next up is the beyond wild madness of this track. The guitarwork in the opening is so crushing and frantic before leading into more of the vocals and strings. The dark insanity makes this one of the best tracks of its original album.

Nuclear Power Trio – Nyetflix and Chill (2023)

4.5/5. Now let's chill with some Nyetflix and Chill! I can bang my head to the amount of guitar and bass here.

Protest the Hero – The Mariner (2026)

5/5. The ambitious 7 and a half minute finale of the new Protest the Hero album. Rody Walker has clearly improved since his vocal issues that occured right before recording Palimpsest, and the lyrics and musical grandeur throw back to that album's highlights. Another album ends on an inspiring note!

Redemption – Let It Rain (2011)

4.5/5. A truly emotional song with the vocals of Ray Alder (also from Fates Warning). Redemption is one of my newfound favorite bands of melodic progressive metal. Ray Alder has been widely praised in the metal community throughout his nearly 4-decade career. Prog rock/metal doesn't get its needed attention as much now as, say, glam metal in the 80s. This band will never surrender to the plague inside!

Vildhjarta - + röda läppar, söta äpplen + (2025)

4.5/5. This one barely has any sweetness, preferring to go all-out brutal similar to the more sludgy tracks by Every Time I Die and The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza.

Zeal & Ardor – We Can’t Be Found (2018)

5/5. Sure you can, I just found you, and now I want more! This is experimental black metal with soul tendencies, suitable for any metalhead and open-minded listener.