Best of 2025: Top 50 Prog Albums Part 2: 25-1

Welcome to the top half of The Elite Extremophile’s Top Prog Albums of 2025. Part One can be found here.

#25: Dominic Sanderson – Blazing Revelations | Progressive rock | Bandcamp

On his sophomore album, Dominic Sanderson took a very Van der Graaf-y turn. The overall sound is dark, anxious, and jazzy. The general tone often switches between quiet-and-tense and bombastic-and-manic. All the music present here is very strong, with odd time signatures, strange chords, and surprising twists aplenty. The only real complaint I have is that there are simply so many musical ideas here, passages can feel borderline-incoherent.

#24: Phantom Spell – Heather & Hearth | Progressive rock, Heavy metal | Bandcamp

Phantom Spell’s proggy traditional metal provides a fun and engaging record in Heather and Hearth. If you’re a fan of acts like Uriah Heep or Thin Lizzy, this oughtta tickle your brain just right. Riffs are rollicking and speedy, yet surprisingly catchy. Synthesizers add just enough retro charm to make things endearing.

#23: Ptrov – Kelluva maailma | Post-rock | Bandcamp

The sophomore release from this Finnish act is full of lush, rolling, proggy post-rock. Synthesizers galore and spacey guitar arrangements lend this work a truly symphonic feel. The band also displays expertise at drawing out a buildup just long enough to get to a satisfying climax, which is a common stumbling block for many other post-rock bands.

#22: Zeitgeber – Fellow Prisoners of the Splendour and Travail of the Earth – Part 2 | Jazz-fusion, Progressive rock | Bandcamp

Piano, upright bass, and assorted wind instruments give this record an earthy, grounded feel. And considering the two major songs on this album focus on biological phenomena–echolocation and zugunruhe–this approach was a smart decision. The rhythmic choices are bold, unique, and striking; elements of minimalism and classic prog blend wonderfully with the forward-thinking jazz base.

#21: Lars Fredrik Frøislie – Gamle Mester | Progressive rock | Bandcamp

Frøislie’s second solo album sees him largely stay in the same lane as his 2023 debut, but he has further refined his sound. Organ-heavy classic prog is broken up by moments of jazz, folk, and even classical music, and his vocals are understated yet effective. If you like Wobbler–the band for which Frøislie plays keys–you’ll find yourself in familiar territory here. But where I can often find Wobbler’s Yes-worship to be borderline-plagiaristic, Frøislie’s solo work feels more well-rounded.

#20: Steven Wilson – The Overview | Progressive rock | Buy

Steven Wilson’s unabashed return to progressive rock in his solo career is a pretty strong one. Where The Harmony Codex drew from various strains of pop, electronica, and post-rock, The Overview focuses its two suites on Floydian prog and psychedelia. “Objects Outlive Us” is classic Steven Wilson, featuring melodic, melancholy verses alongside heavier instrumental passages. And the title track draws effectively from Tangerine Dream and other proto-electronic krautrock acts.

#19: END! Begin – END! Begin | Progressive folk | Bandcamp

END! Begin’s debut record is a stunning, striking display of beautiful build-ups and climaxes. Acoustic guitar, piano, strings, and winds weave together like briar tangles. The sounds are haunting, and the atmosphere is powerful. This is an album that grew on me a lot. When I first heard it, I thought it was good, but it might not crack the top 50. Then with each successive listen, I found more and more to love, and it has kept drawing me back. Take your time with this record; the music is unhurried, but it evolves at its deliberate pace for a reason.

#18: Gros Coeur – Vague Scélérate | Krautrock, Progressive rock | Bandcamp

The sophomore release from these Belgians is an exciting mix of kraut, psychedelia, and prog. Hypnotic motorik rhythms, King Gizzard-ian fuzzy melodies, and influences from the Middle East and India swirl about in an intoxicating haze. Textures are always rich yet watery, and the individual variation from song to song gives this album a wonderful balance.

#17: Hologram Earth – City of Gold | Progressive metal | Bandcamp

After an extended period of silence, Hologram Earth’s sophomore LP blends moody post-metal atmospherics with funky bass lines, expressive trumpet-led passages, and odd-metered, gut-rattling riffs. The closing epic “Home” is a great encapsulation of this record’s overall sound.

#16: Moon Letters – This Dark Earth | Progressive rock | Bandcamp

Moon Letters is one of my favorite local bands, and This Dark Earth is their best overall record yet. So, I feel a bit guilty putting them this far down the list, but 2025 really was just a wonderful year for prog. On this album, Moon Letters largely sticks to their stylistic guns, but there are some clear innovations. On certain tracks, they increased the heaviness, channeling some early Dream Theater vibes; and they continue to hone their compositional chops, as demonstrated on the epic closing track.

#15: Kuunatic – Wheels of Ömon | Progressive folk, Avant-prog | Bandcamp

Kuunatic is one of the hardest-to-describe bands I’ve run across, and I truly love their uncompromising weirdness. Traditional Japanese folk music, western psychedelia, and a dense sci-fi lore mix to create a singular experience. The mood of this album is at times foreboding and at others hopeful. I especially like the inclusion of an Ainu singer as a guest on “Kuuminyo”.

#14: Frogg – Eclipse | Progressive death metal | Bandcamp

Frogg’s first full-length release is firmly rooted in technical death metal, but Eclipse has ambitions far beyond those of most tech-death releases. The opening “Walpurgisnacht” features squiggly synthesizers, and “Dandelion” is surprisingly melodic without sacrificing any instrumental showiness. “Wake Up”, with its ascendant chorus and rich backing vocals, is one of my favorite songs of the year.

#13: WEEED – WEEED | Psychedelic rock, Krautrock | Bandcamp

WEEED’s farewell album is a fitting capstone to their career. Psychedelic folk, Americana, krautrock, and even some heavier styles of music converge to create the band’s unique brand of self-described “hippie metal.” The songs here unfold slowly, revealing their beauty bit by bit. The album is in turns catchy, hypnotic, acidic, idyllic, and more; and it all gels into a wonderful whole.

#12: SEIMS – V | Post-rock | Bandcamp

The latest release from these Australian post-rockers is unquestionably their strongest yet. Over the span of this record, the band skillfully shifts from anxious, wiry math rock to lush, melodic string-backed passages.

#11: Jordsjø & Breidablik – Kontraster | Progressive rock, Progressive folk, Krautrock | Bandcamp

This split LP from two very different Norwegian acts does a great job of playing with contrasts, both between one another and within the two epics presented here. Jordsjø’s half starts off with spooky prog-folk before shifting in a more rock-oriented direction. This alternation repeats throughout their song, and it might be my favorite individual track they’ve released. Breidablik’s half is much spacier, focusing on bubbling synth loops and acidic guitar licks, but it all ties together excellently.

#10: National Diet – The King in Yellow | Progressive rock | Bandcamp

The King in Yellow sees National Diet take a gloomy, anxious turn. Gothic rock and post-punk influences abound, with sharp, jangly guitar lines frequently cutting through the mix. The longer songs all feature compelling build-ups and careful structure.

#9: Uulliata Digir – Uulliata Digir | Avant-garde metal | Bandcamp

Uulliata Digir’s self-titled debut is a powerful record. This Polish outfit lays down brash, assertive metal augmented with trumpet. The two massive suites (and one mid-length track) pulse and push forward, swelling with intensity. They crest in powerful waves of distortion and shouted vocals as unorthodox chords slam together to create a bizarre symphony.

#8: Liquid Pennies – Fore | Progressive rock, Psychedelic rock | Bandcamp

Fore is a fantastically balanced record. It blends a diverse array of sounds–including psych, prog, indie rock, and electronica–into a coherent whole. The songs flow smoothly into one another, and the sounds effectively complement each other. The 11-minute “Echolalia” is one of my favorite songs of the year and encapsulates this record in a nutshell.

#7: Chercán – Chercán | Progressive rock | Bandcamp

Chercán’s self-titled debut sees them follow in the footsteps of Latin-prog pioneers The Mars Volta, but they manage to strike a distinct sound all their own. There are a lot of overt similarities–heavy guitar tones, Latin jazz inclusions, and a wailing, wordy vocalist with wild hair–but they’re hardly clones. Elements from their native Chile are liberally sprinkled throughout, and parallels can be seen with other Patagonian prog bands, like Bubu.

#6: Coroner – Dissonance Theory | Progressive thrash metal | Bandcamp

Coroner’s return after a 30-year absence sees them pick up right where they left off. The riffs are tangled and crushing. Few bands could weave jazzy, avant-garde weirdness into thrash metal quite like Coroner, and Dissonance Theory shows they didn’t lose a step. They’re not stuck in the past, though. (Or maybe they were always just so ahead of the curve that even their old stuff sounds shockingly modern.) This is not an album of a band resting on their laurels. As always, they push boundaries and create striking, unique songs.

#5: Stinkbug – Between Timid and Timbuktu | Progressive rock | Bandcamp

Stinkbug’s debut album is full of sunny, high-energy prog that effortlessly melds dazzling instrumentalism and catchy songwriting. Jazz, punk, and avant-garde elements proliferate. The momentum is irrepressible, and even during mellower passages, there’s always a sense that some big, glorious moment is right around the corner.

#4: Snooze – I Know How You Will Die | Math rock, Progressive metal | Bandcamp

I Know How You Will Die is a storming, anxious release. Tight, wiry riffs tangle around each other. Metallic passages act as a frequent auditory cudgel, but clean, melodic passages frequently shine through to break things up. Irregular, avant-garde chords clang harshly while also being part of something quite beautiful.

#3: Changeling – Changeling | Progressive death metal | Bandcamp

Changeling’s debut is a phenomenal statement. This specific ensemble may be new, but all the members are well-established in the prog-death world, and that much is clear in listening to this release. The compositions are complex, full of surprising evolutions and dazzling displays of technicality. Even as a relatively long record, Changeling feels deserving of its length, with no wasted notes.

#2: Lazersleep – Gravity | Heavy psych, Space rock | Bandcamp

Lazersleep’s music washes over the listener in a cascade of distorted guitar and swirling keyboards. Their blend of psychedelia, doom metal, and space rock makes for an enveloping, nearly overwhelming experience, but the compositions are cleverly crafty and wonderfully played. 

#1: Fulguromatic – Fulguromatic | Progressive rock, Zeuhl | Bandcamp

Fulguromatic is the rare band that takes a kitchen-sink approach and truly, truly pulls it off. This duo incorporates elements of jazz, zeuhl, turntablism, folk, and more, but it somehow all gels. Fulguromatic is a record that has an extended bird call solo, and it feels entirely appropriate. Not only is this record admirably experimental, it’s also very fun.