USA/Canada. With the less than “in your face” album Octavarium, DT left some questioning whether they still ruled the genre. Happily, Systematic Chaos sees our heroes returning with gusto and confidence. Filled with snarling riffs and blistering solos and plenty of prog, DT composes a spontaneous, semi-random collect of songs that still seems to make perfect collective sense.

USA. Mature and filled with soul, Redemption produce their excellent third album. Balancing the dark with moments of hope, Redemption prove that metal can be more than devils and dragons. Combining great lyrics with tremendous musical skill, Redemption’s music has true staying power.

USA. While it was a long wait, Symphony X returns with a very heavy album. While the prog may have retreated slightly in favor of a purer metal approach, there is still plenty for fans of elaborate symphonic metal to sink their teeth into here. You definitely won’t be hearing Paradise Lost on your local easy listening radio station.

Norway. God’s Equation sees Pagan’s Mind picking up where they left off with the excellent Enigmatic: Calling. With vocals that could cut through miles of solid rock, possibly the best guitar tone on earth and a pulsar-like rhythm section, Pagan’s Mind continues the extraterrestrial theme, even covering Bowie’s Hallo Spaceboy with all the bombast it deserves.

Italy. With names like Mularoni, Mancini and Mastroianni, Italy's love for and place in the prog metal genre is very secure. Extremely hard edged sound, ultra technical solos, stratospheric vocals, and bits of orchestration make this a sure winner for the prog metal faithful. Comparisons will definitely be made to Symphony X, but heck this stuff is very fresh and creative.

Mexico. These Mexicans easily make this list with their very strong second release, Ego. Progressive metal through and through, Dimension does offer a unique sound with seemingly unlikely guitar tones and breathy vocals, and yet it all works incredibly well together. Not fearing longer pieces, the title track falls just 5 seconds short of twenty minutes, but I wish that it was longer!

The Netherlands. With ultra flashy guitar and complex arrangements, Sun Caged delivers their second album in very fine form. Accessible and yet loaded with plenty of chops, Artemisia slides easily from moody meandering to excessive crunching.

USA. While DT’s Scenes from a Memory had all the accouterments of a classy Hitchcock screenplay, Implications of a Genetic Defense has all the subtlety of a John Carpenter horror flick. With that said, this is pretty neat stuff. High testosterone vocals deliver the chilling lyrics while guitar wonder, Troy Stetina, plows through some pretty impressive material.

USA. An assembled “super group” of top musicians, including Enchant’s Ted Leonard, Thought Chamber delivers a highly intricate album of metal music for the technical element of the market. As the group name implies, this music will make your head hurt oh so good!

USA. Highly talented music students deliver progressive metal at its technical extreme. Everything can be found here including classical, jazz, strings, orchestration, and even tenor saxophone. A Great Divide is progressive metal’s Tubular Bells. If you love eclectic music, this one is for you.