14. Neal Morse
Paraphrasing Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse is, simply put, one of the greatest song-writers of our day. He is a man that can write songs that force you to sing along due to vocal melodies that are nothing short of stunning. If you are a Spock's Beard or Transatlantic fan you absolutely MUST check out Neal's solo records. I will say more than any other project, this is the one where Portnoy comes in and plays simply what is needed to suit strong song-writing and it comes across great in the final product. On top of all that the man is certainly prolific and you can constantly look for more output from him.
Favorite Albums: ?, One
Favorite Songs: Living Out Loud, Nowhere Fast, California Nights, Ready to Try, Sing it High, The Man's Gone, The Creation, Cradle to the Grave, Reunion, ?, Lifeline, Children of the Chosen, So Many Roads
13. Symphony X
One of the best live club shows you'll ever see. It's that simple, and the biggest piece in that puzzle is Russell Allen. The man is the greatest live vocalist around today. Not only does he bring a massive stage presence, but his vocals live are powerful and accurate, allowing him to totally own the stage and the show. Although Symphony X has a lot of great material, I still can't say I feel they have that crucial 10/10 album, and a lot of their material can be a bit samey after awhile. That's actually the reason Paradise Lost might be my favorite Symphony X album, although I wish there were more keyboards on it I can generally remember songs from it better because for whatever reason they seem to have a bit more staying power and individuality somehow.
Favorite Albums: V, Paradise Lost, The Odyssey
Favorite Songs: Masquerade, Of Sins and Shadows, The Accolade, The Divine Wings of Tragedy, Smoke and Mirrors, Church of the Machine, Through the Looking Glass, Evolution, Communion and the Oracle, Inferno, The Odyssey, Set the World on Fire, Domination, Serpent's Kiss, Paradise Lost
12. Royal Hunt
Probably the most underrated band in all of prog-metal. Royal Hunt put out their first studio album in 1992 and have since put out a total of 10 albums. They have done multiple albums with some of the best vocalists in the business, D.C. Cooper, John West, and Mark Boals, and yet they remain a practically unknown entity. Anyone who enjoys good keyboard work laced with fancy guitar interplay and a steady rhythm section needs to check this band out immediately, if not sooner. They have produced one of my favorite albums of all time, they have a few interesting and different early albums, and in general have produced solid material throughout their career, Eyewitness aside.
Favorite Albums: Paradox, The Mission, Collision Course: Paradox II, Paper Blood
Favorite Songs: Land of Broken Hearts, Martial Arts, Kingdom Dark, Wasted Time, Clown in the Mirror, Epilogue, Last Goodbye, 1348, Makin' a Mess, River of Pain, Message to God, Long Way Home, Time Will Tell, Cold City Lights, follow Me, The Mission, Surrender, World Wide War, Total Recall, Edge of the World, Break Your Chains, Paper Blood, The First Rock, The Clan, Hostile Breed, Back to Square One