There is so much heavy, extreme, and beautiful metal music being conjured all around the world that it can be overwhelming. Fortunately, Metal Has No Borders has curated the best progressive metal released this past year, from Ukraine and Poland to Israel.
Be sure to vote in our ‘Best Metal Release of 2023‘ poll and enjoy our hand-picked favorite progressive metal albums for 2023 below.
Progressive Metal Album of the Year (Gold Tier)
Ignea
Dreams of Lands Unseen
Released via Napalm Records
Ukraine
From the progressive symphonic-folk / blackened melodic death metal act Ignea‘s homeland, travel photographer / reporter Sofia Yablonska traveled the world, became one of the first women documentary cinematographers, and gestured towards the negative effects caused by European colonialism. With Yablonska’s iconic legacy as the conceptual driving force of this album, Ignea shines a light on her nomadic feats through symphonic orchestration and Eastern folksy eccentricity. This. breadth of style represents Yablonska’s treks to Morocco, China, Sri Lanka, etc. Additionally, the group’s inclusion of Ukrainian lyrics, regional instrumentation, and rhythms are not only significantly unique to ethnocentric ears, but this diversity is also purposeful, meaningful. From the comforting war cries of vocalist Helle to the dynamic, boundary-crossing compositions, Dreams of Lands Unseen represents the potential, the power, of speaking as the uncompromised oppressed.
Dreams of Lands Unseen by Ignea is awarded Best Progressive Metal Album of the Year (Gold Tier) for 2023
Favorite Songs: “Dunes,” “To No One I Owe,” “Nomad’s Luck“
FFO: Orphaned Land, The Agonist, Dimmu Borgir
Progressive Metal Album of the Year (Silver Tier)
Riverside
ID.Entity
Released via Inside Out Music
Poland
Stranger Things and The Weeknd are just a couple examples of how prominently 80’s culture is finding a comeback in modern media. While some argue that such a revival is only propped up by nostalgia, I feel that a return to a bygone era can be much-needed escapism, especially when artists allow contemporary creativity to gloss over the flaws present in music decades ago. Haken presented a superb ‘blast from the past’ progressive metal showcase on their 1985 record, so naturally it’s Riverside‘s turn to crank up the synth. There’s frustration, heartbreak, and paranoia, staining the cyberpunk prog here. This project initially caught my attention on their debut twenty years ago, but I’m even more touched by the group’s ability to stylistically explore and awe, even today.
ID.Entity by Riverside is awarded Best Progressive Metal Album of the Year (Silver Tier) for 2023
Favorite Songs: “I’m Done with You,” “Friend or Foe?,” “Landmine Blast“
FFO: Porcupine Tree, Soen, Long Distance Calling
Progressive Metal Album of the Year (Bronze Tier)
Neolia
Neolia
Self-Released
Israel
Not only should one expect the unexpected when entering the listening space of Neolia‘s self-titled debut, but one should also embrace the unexpected. African rhythms, Latin guitar licks, and jazz interludes are a few of the left-field highlights from the quintessential progressive rock / metal excursion. Bereft of mere stylistic dabble in other genres, this album feels instead like a cultural hub, with bridges spanning across all global regions to respectfully include and fuse their musical efforts. Although such a breaking of barriers can be overwhelming at times (and it doesn’t exactly help that this experimentation pokes and prods the listener for over seventy minutes), the journey is beyond worth the pilgrimage. Amidst the overt, unorthodox musicalities are empowering melodies, a dense conceptual story, and a multitude of brilliant musicianship.
Neolia by Neolia is awarded Best Progressive Metal Album of the Year (Bronze Tier) for 2023
Favorite Songs: “Rise and Fall,” “Your Prophecy,” “Carried Away“
FFO: Karnivool, The Mars Volta, Subterranean Masquerade