Rank these three massive 2021 prog-metal releases

[Entre_Perpetuo]

There were, to my memory, three massive prog metal albums that lit up TRF last year, and all of them saw quite a bit of love from many members around here. But how would the board as a whole rank them?

[bluefox4000]

Mine are

 

Gold: Mastodon

Silver:Dream Theater

Bronze: Maiden.

 

I loved Senjutsu (more than most here...it was basically spit on here, lol) but it's the least of the 3 for me

 

Mastodon made a hell of a record......as did DT. but Mastodon wins the prize for me.

 

Mick

[Entre_Perpetuo]

Mine are

 

Gold: Mastodon

Silver:Dream Theater

Bronze: Maiden.

 

I loved Senjutsu (more than most here...it was basically spit on here, lol) but it's the least of the 3 for me

 

Mastodon made a hell of a record......as did DT. but Mastodon wins the prize for me.

 

Mick

 

My thoughts exactly!

[The Analog Cub]

DT gets gold, A View is an excellent album and goes perfectly with Distance Over Time as a pair of late-career gems.

 

Senjutsu is a fantastic album but I simply enjoyed the new DT album more.

 

Newer Mastodon is easier for me to digest than old Mastodon but these guys have never been for me. I did give Hushed and Grim a fair shot.

[zepphead]

All of them are fine 2021 releases.

 

My own order of preference would be

 

1. Mastodon

2. Iron Maiden

3. Dream Theater.

 

For me Hushed & Grim is an easy winner and one of my albums of the year.

 

There is not much between the other two, but I just give the nod to Senjutsu purely as I have probably listened to it more.

[Entre_Perpetuo]

All of them are fine 2021 releases.

 

My own order of preference would be

 

1. Mastodon

2. Iron Maiden

3. Dream Theater.

 

For me Hushed & Grim is an easy winner and one of my albums of the year.

 

There is not much between the other two, but I just give the nod to Senjutsu purely as I have probably listened to it more.

 

To be fair Senjutsu has been out a little longer than AVFTTOTW. Maybe that's why you've played it more ;)

[zepphead]

All of them are fine 2021 releases.

 

My own order of preference would be

 

1. Mastodon

2. Iron Maiden

3. Dream Theater.

 

For me Hushed & Grim is an easy winner and one of my albums of the year.

 

There is not much between the other two, but I just give the nod to Senjutsu purely as I have probably listened to it more.

 

To be fair Senjutsu has been out a little longer than AVFTTOTW. Maybe that's why you've played it more ;)

You may be right. I do like them both a lot!

[Segue Myles]

Honestly, Dream Theater don't make my top three metal albums at all last year.

 

I'd put Trivium way ahead and Epica too.

 

My list would be:

 

1. Mastodon

2. Trivium

3. Iron Maiden

4. Epica

 

The latest DT is fine but it's not anything exceptional. Unlike DoT, I find it less and less exciting as time goes on.

[Alex’s Amazing Arpeggios]

Honestly, Dream Theater don't make my top three metal albums at all last year.

 

I'd put Trivium way ahead and Epica too.

 

My list would be:

 

1. Mastodon

2. Trivium

3. Iron Maiden

4. Epica

 

The latest DT is fine but it's not anything exceptional. Unlike DoT, I find it less and less exciting as time goes on.

 

I’m currently looking for newer/younger bands to also get into ... new to me anyways LOL !

who are carrying forwards the holding of the flame for Prog Metal !

So I’m going to give those new releases by Trivium & Epica a try ! :-)

Over the past couple of years I’ve got into Haken & YYNOT.

What other bands would you recommend ?

They can be as heavy as you like , but I’d prefer them to be still Melodic

and I’m not so keen on constant screamo vocals .

Would you put Opeth for example in this category ?

[Segue Myles]

Honestly, Dream Theater don't make my top three metal albums at all last year.

 

I'd put Trivium way ahead and Epica too.

 

My list would be:

 

1. Mastodon

2. Trivium

3. Iron Maiden

4. Epica

 

The latest DT is fine but it's not anything exceptional. Unlike DoT, I find it less and less exciting as time goes on.

 

I’m currently looking for newer/younger bands to also get into ... new to me anyways LOL !

who are carrying forwards the holding of the flame for Prog Metal !

So I’m going to give those new releases by Trivium & Epica a try ! :-)

Over the past couple of years I’ve got into Haken & YYNOT.

What other bands would you recommend ?

They can be as heavy as you like , but I’d prefer them to be still Melodic

and I’m not so keen on constant screamo vocals .

Would you put Opeth for example in this category ?

 

Epica are symphonic metal, more metal than orchestra and have a lot of progginess in their sound.

 

Trivium is a hard band to pin down, but there is elements of prog to their music, and they are excellent. A lot of screaming vocals but should you get on with them, you should find much to like. I recommend first and foremost to a prog metal fan, their fourth album Shogun.

 

As for Opeth, they have no genre. Peerless black/ambient/prog metal.

Edited January 5, 2022 by Segue Myles

[grep]

I love DT to death, but as good as the new album is - for all things that are good about DT - their sound and complexity really can't be expanded upon. They're in orbit, and like Tuesday on the ISS, it's just Another Day for DT. (Pun intended). So silver.

 

Maiden however, the theming and atmosphere of their record, even though it's classic Maiden, and they as a band have their own limits - the album feels alive. More down to earth. Even if that Earth is an apocalyptic wasteland, and 5 parallel universe Eddies are teaming up in Mad Max land to defeat the clown dude. Gold.

 

Mastadon... well, I need to listen more. That's why they get bronze from me. I can't justify any better because I don't know them. Yet.

Edited January 5, 2022 by grep

[Alex’s Amazing Arpeggios]