Okay, y'know, I remember checking out Derdian waaaay back in the day, according to Metal Archives they must have only had one album out at the time. I remember them doing nothing for me even in my 'spring chicken' days but it's been well over a decade so why not? I'll check them out tomorrow. Thanks Chad.
Lately I've been hearing a lot of stuff, I'm half-jokingly trying to listen to every album by every band at ProgPower next year (total of 132, I'm good for 27 at the start of this journey). Here's what I've heard the last few days:
Insomnium - Winter's Gate
Iron Mask - Diabolica
Galneryus - The Flag of Punishment
Seventh Wonder - Mercy Falls
of course
Galneryus - Advance to the Fall (currently progressing through this one)
And then Omnium Gatherum - The Burning Cold, Twilight Force - Heroes of Mighty Magic... yeah. Love me some cheese, bruddas.