sht33v wrote: Synthwave! How have I not discovered this genre until now? Mostly, Carpenter Brut:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY1s9SmrQRE
So, as The Big Listen of 2018 gets underway, what was new in 2017?
Black Country Communion had BCCIV, but that wasn't as immediate as the previous albums. Mike Portnoy had yet another new project with Sons of Apollo, the album Psychotic Symphony was pretty good. The Winery Dogs' Dog Years was almost awesome. Neal Morse released Snow Live, which was mighty, recorded in 2016 at Morsefest, an event I'd love to be able to go to one day. World Trade released their third album, Unify, 22 years after their second, and I still can't figure out why.
I also picked up some older releases. Flaming Row's Elinoire (from 2011) is incredibly mighty, though Mirage - A Portrayal of Figures (from 2014) was disappointing in comparison. Cairo (Say) and The Fringe (The Fringe) were decent 2016 releases.
What will 2018 bring? Who knows.
So, as The Big Listen of 2018 has been completed, what was new this year?
Joe Bonamassa's Redemption was mighty. As is Coheed and Cambria's The Unheavenly Creatures. Kino released their second album, it's okay, but not as good as their first, which was a favourite back in 2005. Spock's Beard's Noise Floor was pretty good, Tenacious D's Post-Apocalypto was bonkers, The Sea Within's eponymous debut album was disappointing.
After seeing Mike Portnoy's Shattered Fortress in Auckland at the end of 2017, I checked out his backing band, Haken. Their stuff is pretty good, if a little heavy and samey.
What will 2019 bring? New Dream Theater and Neal Morse albums, that's all I know so far.