Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy has unveiled his annual High 10 of 2025 for albums, movie and TV whereas additionally paying tribute to some influential musicians and figures we misplaced all year long.
Not solely is Portnoy one of the elite drummers on this planet, he is nonetheless a diehard fan at coronary heart, continuously in search of out new music that excites him and retains his flame burning scorching a shiny. It is one in all his loveliest qualities as a result of when he isn’t behind the package hammering away with mind-blowing fills at turn-on-a-dime time modifications, he is similar to the remainder of us.
Naturally, Portnoy’s unranked checklist of this yr’s greatest albums skews closely towards prog. However, as we all know, prog rock and prog metallic solid a large stylistic internet, from the avant-garde unpredictability of Igorrr to the jazz-addled excessive metallic of Imperial Triumphant to Steven Wilson’s two-song house rock journey.
READ MORE: Dream Theater’s Mike Portnoy Lists His 10 Favourite Albums of 2024
He additionally shouted out the newest from Tallah and their first album with Max Portnoy (Mike’s son) switching from drums to bass. It feels like dad is impressed!
The yearly wrap-up additionally features a checklist of Portnoy’s personal releases all year long. Previous to rejoining Dream Theater, it wasn’t unusual to see a handful of titles underneath this part. However with the prog metallic legends touring in celebration of their fortieth anniversary and in help of their new LP Parasomnia, this part was notably shorter than up to now. Along with the brand new studio album with Dream Theater (Portnoy’s first with them since 2009), the group issued a dwell album, Quarantième: Reside à Paris.
Beneath, see what albums made Portnoy’s High 10 of 2025 and, in his Instagram submit, view his alternatives for greatest movie and TV reveals as effectively.
Mike Portnoy’s 10 Favourite Albums of 2025
Listed in no specific order…
- Igorrr, Amen
- Cardiacs, LSD
- Sloan, Primarily based on the Greatest Vendor
- Moron Police, Pachinko
- Steven Wilson, The Overview
- Biffy Clyro, Futique
- Cosmic Cathedral, Deep Water
- Spock’s Beard, The Archaeoptimist
- Tallah, Primeval: Obsession // Detachment
- Imperial Triumphant, Goldstar
Loudwire’s Better of 2025 Lists — Prog Rock + Prog Metallic
At Loudwire, we’re fairly large prog followers too. In our recaps of this yr’s greatest albums and songs from the prog rock and prog metallic divisions, we’ve a handful of commonalities with Portnoy’s personal alternatives.
Dive additional into these lists instantly under.
As for what’s coming subsequent yr, do not forget to take a look at essentially the most anticipated prog rock and prog metallic albums of 2026.
Wish to revisit the complete scope of prog metallic? Beneath, we have outlined the historical past of prog metallic, as advised by 21 albums!
The Historical past of Prog Metallic in 21 Albums
Dive into the varied and hypnotic historical past of progressive metallic!
Gallery Credit score: Jordan Blum
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