PixlBit

 What, you want an intro paragraph? The title isn't self explanatory enough? Ok. These are some awesome albums I bought. This is me talking about them. Are you happy now you braindead fuck?

 - P.S. I love you.

Like Clockwork - Queens of the Stone age

 Queens of the Stone Age are back!!!!! And holy shit is this a return to form! After the pretty abysmal "Era Vulgaris", this is a strong return to the days of Rated R and Songs for the Deaf. While not as heavy as those albums, this album keeps the dark seduction and complex rock of those titles. I mean check out the lead song. That riff is amazing! It's just like Josh Homme is letting you know the band isn't fucking around.

Yeezus - Kanye West

 Where the fuck did this come from? Kanye's fans must have been shocked when they heard a single from this album because it's insanely weird in all the best ways! I wasn't really a fan of Kanye before, I mean I liked the last album because he started to incorporate progressive rock and acoustic folk into his music, but he's gone full on electronic prog on us here, with some truly weird and abrasive shit on this album. His lyrics still aren't the strongest ("There are leaders, and there's followers/But I'd rather be a dick than a swallower), but the music is strong. I mean listen to the song I put above and try not to get goosebumps at the random screaming towards the end. This is like Kanye West's version of Radiohead's Kid A. I hope to god he continues down this route.

One One One -  Shining

 While Kanye is going into weirder territories, Shining is making a straight up rock album. Has this world gone topsy turvey? I mean it's still got distorted guitars, saxophones, synths and weird time signatures, but most songs sound like something that Nine Inch Nails could pump out... if Trent was slightly more insane that is. The song I put above is the weirdest and most like their last album though. I mean with Shining you do have to expect the unexpected. They started as an acoustic/electronic jazz band, then made two prog rock albums in the vein of a modernist take on King Crimson, then they met the guys from Enslaved, got the producer of Nine Inch Nails and went batshit insane and made Blackjazz. This is like the songs they thought were too catchy for Blackjazz or something. Either way, it's still a fucking great album.

SONGS - Riverside

 Another of my favourite prog bands has made a kind of mainstream album. And again, I like it. Like Opeth's last album, this is a call back to 70's rock, but unlike Opeth's Heritage, this album feels much more focused, and still maintains the emotionally charged prog rock the band is known for. Also, this riff is kind of amazing. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOW FOR WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO!

Hesitation Marks

 Dude. It's fucking Nine Inch Nails. Why aren't you excited? The Downward Spiral, The Fragile, and Year Zero! That's a fucking impressive record. While the newest song isn't the strongest I've heard (NIN's singles never are) it's good enough to give me hope.

Asymmetry - Karnivool

 Karnivool started life as the most progressive Nu Metal band this side of Deftones early days. Then they slipped into straight up prog rock in the vein of a softer version of Tool with more of an emotional edge. Two singles have been released, and this is the softer of the two, but also the proggier. Both are fucking phenomenal though, and I mean listen to the bass line in this song! The rythm work in Karnivool have always been one of their strong suits, and it really shows here.

Cynic - New album (No idea what it's called yet)

 Cynic are one of my all time favourite bands. They've released two albums. One is a technical death metal album. The second is a Progressive Metal band with no death in it. Then they released the EP this song is taken from, which completely dropped metal from the mix, and holy shit. The EP gives me goosebumps. They also dropped the vocoder, which is great, because Sean has a beautiful voice. Apparently they're going down this road with the new album. If so, dear god I can't wait!

Dan Swano - The Inheritance

 Metal is beautiful. Dan proves it. Listen to that chorus. You can't say that isn't gorgeous.

 Also, Strapping Young Lad have a new album coming out. No songs though. It's Devin Fucking Townsend though, so it will be good.