Favorite Albums of 2016

You knew how it felt to feel invisible
Music calmed your soul, just like a drug
Remember, Bug?
(Dream Theater – A New Beginning)

Here I am, don’t be afraid
I will never let you slip away
Look my way, you must be brave
Find the strength to live for one more day
I will keep from losing Faythe
I will ask for grace, and hope we find a way
Like a candles dying flame
With forgiving eyes
She starts to drift away
(Dream Theater – Losing Faythe)

Ey lads, here I am with my favorite albums of 2016. The most anticipated album for me was Dream Theater’s The Astonishing. I’ll never forget the proggy, astonishing and cinematic experience of listening to this sonic ecstasy.

This is the list of my favorite albums of 2016:

1. Dream Theater – The Astonishing
2. Big Big Train – Folklore
3. iamthemorning – Lighthouse
4. Opeth – Sorceress
5. Syd Arthur – Apricity
6. Marillion – FEAR
7. The Pineapple Thief – Your Wilderness
8. Riverside – Eye of the Soundscape
9. David Bowie – Blackstar
10. The Dear Hunter – Act V Hymns with the Devil in Confessional
11. The Anchoress – Confessions of a Romance Novelist
12. Devin Townsend – Transcendence
13. Anderson Stolt – The Invention of Knowledge
14. The Gift – Why The Sea Is Salt
15. Haken – Affinity
16. Steven Wilson – 4 ½
17. Hexvessel – When We Are Death
18. Frost – Falling Satellites
19. Tesseract – Errai
20. Knifeworld – Bottled Out Of Eden
21. Fire Garden – Far and Near
22. Gandalf’s Fist – The Clockwork Fable
23. King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard – Nonagon Infinity
24. Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool
25. Messenger – Threnodies
26. Katatonia – The Fall of Hearts
27. Bent Knee – Say So
28. Paul Draper – EP One/ EP Two
29. Kansas – The Prelude Implicit
30. Plants and Animals – Waltzed in from the Rumbling
31. Frightened Rabbit – Painting of a Panic Attack
32. Gong – Rejoice! I’m Dead!
33. Ulver – ATGCLVLSSCAP
34. Andy Jackson – 73 Days At Sea
35. Purson – Desire’s Magic Theatre
36. Southern Empire – Southern Empire
37. Ihsahn – Arktis
38. Shearwater – Jet Plane And Oxbow
39. Tiles – Pretending 2 Run
40. Fates Warning – Theories of Flight
41. Thank You Scientist – Stranger Heads Prevail
42. Hawkwind – The Machine Stops
43. Green Day – Revolution Radio
44. Motorpsycho – Here Be Monsters
45. Fallujah – Dreamless

Anathema’s Distant Satellites, an album which is more alluring than a raw dog

A promise of future
Dreaming in colour
Being together
Spirits reflecting
The feeling is so real
Beauty is endless

When we talk about Anathema, the first thing that comes into mind is true musicianship. Anathema consists of true artists who give their heart and blood to their music. That’s the reason there music is so touching that it becomes actually tangible and you can surely feel that strength, tangibility through their music.

I have been a fan of Anathema and Dream Theater for quite some time now. I’m into prog just because of them. They had introduced me to perfect genre of music for which I will always be thankful to them. Now let’s talk about the most anticipated album of 2014 and it’s Anathema’s Distant Satellites. This album is about 57 minutes long and most of the tracks are 5+ minutes long.

Highlight of the album is it’s three part epic: “The Lost Song, Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3” which is perfect and my favorite too. Don’t underestimate vocal strength of Vincent Cavanagh & Lee Douglas on this track, they know their work. My other favorite tracks are: “Anathema”, “Distant Satellites”, “Dusk (Dark Is Descending)”, “Ariel”, “Take Shelter”. There’s one instrumental too which is called “Firelight”. And one other song’s name is “You’re Not Alone”. Song writing of every track is deep and touching too. They have really nailed it with the lyrics this time again.

After making perfect albums like “We’re Here Because We’re Here (2010)” and “Weather Systems (2012)”, they have taken perfection to next level which isn’t a surprise because this what we expect from a band of their caliber. Overall this album is totally flawless. It’s a dream come true for prog & good music listener. Anathema’s Distant Satellites is melodic, intense, physical and right from the heart of true artists.

Haceeb’s Top Ten Albums of 2013

Here’s my pick of best albums from 2013. Yeah I know I’m posting it here late but last year I posted it everywhere and forget to post here. So I guess now is the time to post it here too. These albums belong to genres of Prog, Progressive rock, Progressive metal, Instrumental rock, Hard rock, Art rock, Jazz fusion, Symphonic metal.
This years most anticipated albums are: Yes’s “Heaven & Earth”, Anathema’s “Distant Satellites”, Opeth’s “Pale Communion”. I’m gonna rate them at end of the year.
As for now let’s look at Top Ten Albums of 2013: