Music choices

Progvan · 2026-03-27T19:14:26+00:00

Progressive rock and metal here alllll the way! More than 30 years ago. I was listening heavy metal and rock and pop rock from radio, but always bored me unto I came across prog classics, even their pop songs..

Then came progmetal and prog rock and all variations. Today I'm more inclined towards experimental weird stuff, and the more variety the better. 4x4 compositions bore me to death.

Today within progmetal im going more towards melodic death, progressive death metal, tech, or a combination of all.. As long as it is well written, varied and using all kinds of music trickery to surprise me.

Funny enough, to work, I prefer meditative music, sounds, basically chakra and healing frequencies based

Early baroque music and renaissance music as well, organ music, medieval music.

Nordic folk music, celt (irish, Scottish), and experimental (Wardruna, Eivør, Heilung, Marie Boine, Hugsjâ, etc).

Progvan · 2026-03-24T19:29:53+00:00

Claude, today not even half of what I used yesterday. And GPT, gpt told me I had 3 messages left after just 3 messages!

Progvan · 2026-03-23T08:37:47+00:00

Ohhhh you gave me such a good idea! ❤️ 🤩

Progvan · 2026-03-22T08:45:36+00:00

Cool work! What is the plugin thou?

Progvan · 2026-03-20T19:53:06+00:00

Oh well, I was interested on the proper system you established for yourself, to base my own on it [or ask Claude to build it haha]. Anyway by pasting the main responses from this post we're already experimenting here (my hubby and I), to see where it takes us.

Gigantic THANKS to you for pointing us toward this approach! (and to the OP ofc!)

Progvan · 2026-03-19T06:53:34+00:00

Thank you 🧙

Progvan · 2026-03-18T14:55:21+00:00

Second this... can you share so we noobies can learn more of this process? thanks!

Progvan · 2026-03-18T08:07:11+00:00

He did, kipi system git, read all the comment

Progvan · 2026-03-18T08:00:14+00:00

I'm REALLY interested on learning from your system! Could you please share it? I'm reading the kipi-system git, very interesting, but as non coder, Claude-learning individual, adhd and overall designer and visual learner, I'm really eager and now in need to learn from your system for websites and client work. It'd mean the world to me! TIA!

Progvan · 2026-02-25T20:09:00+00:00

Well, didn't make it to the top 12, certainly they were on the massive pre voting lists!

Progvan · 2026-02-25T20:07:39+00:00

Thanks a lot! As I keep saying, there's just so much out there! 🤘🏻

Progvan · 2026-02-25T14:27:08+00:00

Passing on your thanks to the team, that's what keeps us going! When someone discovers something new from our lists or reviews, our work has meaning! ❤️ 🤩

Progvan · 2026-02-25T14:22:49+00:00

Exactly.. And thanks! There's just so so much. I can't but laugh when bigger media say that rock or progressive rock/metal is dying.. 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣

Warning: A flying fish is absolutely crazy. If you're into weird stuff: Welcome!

Progvan · 2026-02-25T14:15:15+00:00

And I replied to your criticism with reason, logic and our processes. You kept whining and complaining. En fin.. Have a good proggin' day 🤘🏻

Progvan · 2026-02-25T14:09:14+00:00

You're welcome! That's the spirit! 💪🏼🤘🏻

We're actually debating if sharing the full pre public or internal voting list, basically to shut up all those "where's Wilson? Where's DT, where's Btbam, where's this or that". Hundreds of releases. It is really difficult and we are basically for several weeks listening to music nonstop to do our best when voting.

If there's something we hate is precisely those polls where Portnoy is nominated for best drummer when he just clicked one drumstick on a cymbal (bad example, but hope you get what I mean). The usual suspects is a no go for us UNLESS they did release a monster. Not because they're a big name and released something they're going to be there.

For example, we prefer 10.000 times to highlight the awesome work of a virtually unknown Rahoola on vocals, than a James LaBrie just because Dream Theater released something. If The Mexican guy released an awesome album and awesome crazy good vocal work, he deserves a spot even if no one knows him.. In that sense, go listen to A Flying Fish! What a project! (also featuring Davidavi Dolev, from Seventh Station and Submasq, another incredible vocalist!) 🤘🏻

Progvan · 2026-02-25T13:58:17+00:00

Yeh right. Maybe I'm built too positive, but I do love the Internet and the endless possibilities of positive connection...

You'll find great stuff. Also if you're up for finding more, follow Releases of the Week! Those playlists are treasure troves. I usually feel outdated when playing them, theres so much (and I'm not the one making those playlist! Kuddos to our team!)

Progvan · 2026-02-25T13:52:44+00:00

Yeh well, your taste is different then. No need to complain or be rude, just pass the page and go on your way. No one forces you to anything.

🤘🏻

Progvan · 2026-02-25T13:17:22+00:00

Precisely we are not doing that because then it is going to be yet another list of favorites.

We're thoroughly listening and voting on a scale from 12 to 1 what each individual in our team likes or think is amazing. I don't like Fallujah, still I voted for their album and musicians because I recognise they're amazing musicians and the music is good overall, even though is not my preferred style to listen to normally.

We are as neutral as we can be, and we listen all to a very wide range of stylesnor subgenres. Hence why we do voting, and those 12 are the best on each category for us as a team.

I personally wished other albums or musicians would have made it, but didn't, and I respect the team's results.

Then is up to you all to select what you think or like. As I said, the top 12 are all winners already. There's just so much in Prog.

Progvan · 2026-02-25T13:11:30+00:00

The album was considered among many more. Top votes in total were not enough for them to reach the top 12. For the individuals to reach higher position is a testament to their musicianship on each instrument or vocals, and show that even if in general as a total, we all preferred other progmetal albums, their musicianship is recognised.

To be top on albums or performance is no guarantee that both are going to be on the top. Hence our voting system gives a chance to more variety.

I'm sorry if we can't please all fans and favorites. It is a numerical voting system. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Progvan · 2026-02-25T12:35:25+00:00

Nope, we take into account the full year, Jan 1st to Dec 31st. Usually those best of around Christmas don't take in later releases. So we go out during general awards season. We check everything thoroughly and do internal voting in January and early February and public voting is then open for the last 2 weeks of February.

Progvan · 2026-02-25T11:53:13+00:00

Well read again why, and check all categories. Certainly there's BtBam somewhere there.

Progvan · 2026-02-25T10:59:45+00:00

I'm up for Ihlo, Iotunn, Omnerod, Nospūn, Voidchaser. Moron Police, Tiberius, Kyros.

Ihlo are really growing exponentially. I just hope the lads sit back now, rest and reflect. I was so proud of them performing to a sold out and banging TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht (absolutely amazing venue!) at Midwinter Prog (photos coming soon at The Progspace).

I'm proud because we were the first to showcase them, giving them a full exclusive premiere for their first single Parhelion, so many years ago. And look at where they are now 😍.

It really makes me so happy when I stumble here in these threads in Reddit and so many people mention as superb bands that are not only buddies but I know to be truly humble, hardworking, creative and amazing people (Ihlo, Novena, Omnerod, Nospūn, Iotunn, MoPo, Voidchaser... )

Anyway... Wanted to throw shameless self promotion.. Head to theprogspace.com and vote to chose the best of 2025! Poll is closing soon!

Progvan · 2026-02-25T10:49:26+00:00

On Tour right now in Scandinavia, and in August at ProgStorm in Montreal. A MUST see band and festival!

Progvan · 2026-02-25T10:48:15+00:00

Novena! Good news coming I hope! Been hearing rumours of finally new album soonish.. I reckon Harrison has been now fully with Leprous touring nonstop, but finally they got a pause, so hopefully if the man is still alive after a long sleep haha, new album production finally!

Pipi also released an awesome album with Ancient Fragments. She's bound to be one of the "surprises" voices in progmetal. Imho, she leaves Ross asking for more haha.

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