 | Rapid Eye Movement by Riverside
Buy used from: £35.77 Their first two full-length cds were fantastic but this is even better. Keyboards play a more prominent role, melodies are insistent and as a whole it is cohesive and consistent. Brilliant.
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 | Fear of a Blank Planet by Porcupine Tree
Buy new: £6.98 I'm a big PT fan but I was unsure about this cd at first. I shouldn't have been - it's a real grower. Anesthetize is the monster, 17 minutes that flies by in the blink of an eye.
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 | Night by Gazpacho
Buy new: £19.99 Caught me totally by surprise. A mesmeric, beautiful concept album that merges prog with folky elements to haunting effect. Stunning. Don't hesitate - buy it!
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 | Snakes & Arrows by Rush
Buy new: £14.98 / Used from: £4.98 My favourite band. It should have been my cd of the year, and very nearly was bar a couple of poor songs towards the end. Their best in years.
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 | The Blackening by Machine Head
Buy new: £11.98 / Used from: £4.48 More metal than prog but by heavens it's good. Brutal, crushing riffs and some surprisingly catchy melodies amidst the swearing and growling. Very good.
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 | Somewhere Else by Marillion
Buy new: £9.68 / Used from: £6.88 Not a patch on Marbles but the change in direction has resulted in some wonderfully moody material. The Other Half and the title track are outstanding.
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 | Angular Perceptions by Thought Chamber
Buy new: £12.69 / Used from: £8.10 Thought Chamber have out-Dream-Theatered Dream Theater with this one. Self-indulgent, yes, but it's remarkably tight for all that, and doesn't overstay its welcome.
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 | Blackfield II by Blackfield
Buy new: £10.98 / Used from: £5.46 Not quite as good as the first cd, imo, but this is still chock full of great tunes and Mr Wilson's trademark crystal clear production.
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 | Paradise Lost by Symphony X
Buy new: £15.68 / Used from: £6.98 Seemingly abandoning their neo-classical-prog roots, Sym X seem to be heading down the heavier DT path. With Russell Allen's voice they're doing it better, too.
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 | Awakening by The Reasoning
Buy new: £11.98 This one was a complete surprise but I can't recommend it highly enough. Very melodic and it rocks.
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 | Systematic Chaos: Special Edition+DVD with DD 5.1mix by Dream Theater
Buy new: £8.98 / Used from: £7.68 A bit of a disappointment. Lyrically juvenile and waaay too long, this album still manages to entice. Not their best by a long way.
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 | The Roundhouse Tapes: Opeth Live by Opeth
Buy new: £10.98 / Used from: £5.99 The only reason this is at the bottom of the list is because it's a live album rather than new material. But it is a superb live effort not to be missed, encompassing the band's entire career.
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