1 Porcupine Tree In Abstentia (Atlantic).  A gorgeous blend of melody, harmony, and musical sensibility throughout.  The ambience is shocking and sublime.   Buy this CD

2 Dream Theater Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (Wea).  The most recent in a long line of musically challenging opuses from the prog masters of NY. The juxtaposition of pop/intricate prog and light/heavy works better than you'd think.  Buy this CD

3 Pain of Salvation Remedy Lane (Inside Out).  Daniel Gildenlow absolutely pours his soul out on this one, both musically and personally. The result is emotionally overwhelming but very, very rewarding.  Buy this CD

4 Opeth Deliverance (Koch).  Crushingly heavy and darker than non-existence.  Would cause Satan to flee in abject terror. Buy a copy for all your friends. Buy this CD

5 Opeth Blackwater Park (limited edition) (Koch).  Staggeringly dark, yet enchantingly melodic. This album will destroy you repeatedly. Buy this CD

6 Symphony X The Odyssey (Inside Out).  Reminds me of a Harry Potter film: fantastical, lyrically shallow, and a bit ridiculous. Nevertheless (or perhaps therefore?), it is majestic and wonderful; a true feast for the senses.  Buy this CD

7 Rush Vapor Trails (Atlantic).  Vapor Trails is groovy, to-the-point, and harder rockin' than just about anything they've written.  Buy this CD

8 Ark Burn the Sun (Favored Nations).  Ark is idiosyncratic in the plainest way. You don't get it, but neither do I.    Buy this CD

9 Green Carnation Light of Day, Day of Darkness (The End). A one song album with a vibe so palpably intense that you will be transfixed and Buddha-like. If your taste was any better, you'd die.  Buy this CD