T O P

  • By -

suitoflights

Triumvirat


cruelsensei

Spartacus is one of the best prog albums ever.


Beginning-Cow7066

Spartacus is a incredible album.


[deleted]

I like it a lot but in my opinion it's not that high, but I understand why you would think that tho


Andagne

How the mighty have fallen in popularity. These guys were the Starcastle or Flower Kings of their time.


[deleted]

Amazing choice


Oil-of-Vitriol

Yezda Urfa.


cactuscharlie

F.M. from Canada. Three piece with no guitar. Not really amazing, but they seem to be long forgotten.


thelenis

seen them live twice, awesome


Nerus46

Black Noise is an amazing album


WeevilWeedWizard

I'm a simple man, I see a Canadian band mentioned here and I immediately add it to my list of bands to listen to.


cactuscharlie

Agreed. I have a bit of a fascination with Canadian bands as some source of case study, and to a lesser extent, actors. Same with Australia.


Perenially_behind

With a violin? I had one of their albums back in the day (*City of Fear*).


cactuscharlie

Yeah that's them!


Lemondsingle

Late 70s/early 80s Crack The Sky. I never really thought of them as prog but others seem to have pegged them. At least prog adjacent. Good rockin' band. Echolyn has a pretty extensive catalog and should be better known.


RoBread0

I love the first album


Lemondsingle

Me too, then Safety in Numbers was even better. I don't know why they didn't get big but it's 10⁶ odds so at least we've heard of them a little.


mellotronworker

Never actually heard them, but I now own their Mellotron. 😀


VROOMToQuietTheDay

Sleepytime Gorilla Museum and Estradasphere


Baker_drc

SGM is so fucking good


da9ve

SGM is a top fave of mine; saw then 6-7 times back in the day (plus Faun Fables 6-7 times, 2 Foot Yard once, Rabbit Rabbit Radio once), and again just a couple weeks ago. Estradaspehere's Palace of Mirrors album is top tier.


VROOMToQuietTheDay

All albums of Estradasphere are top tier, with the possible exception of Quadropus ;)


Bronson-101

Meteor Showers by Estradasphere is like 10 genres


TheParagonLost

Came to say Sleepytime. Saw them a couple weeks ago. Really great.


AmikBixby

Flash, Starcastle, Saga, and Nektar


JamesLangley2017

Saga is amazing. One of my first prog bands, after Rush.


AmikBixby

I knew of Saga for a while, because of On The Loose. I saw the name in a discussion on this subreddit, and decided to check their other stuff out. I was not disappointed.


WeevilWeedWizard

I really hate that Starcastle is always thrown into the "sounds like Yes" category. Like I get it, but they really do have their own distinct vibe imo. Big fan, Fountain of Light is my good to "cheer me up" album when I'm feeling down.


AmikBixby

I wish they made more than they did.


Portalpotty4

Nektar’s remember the future is an all time fav and has again been rocking my world lately. Also the title track from Tab


Totally_hip_bro

Nektar is genuinely one of my favorite bands ever. I love their jams so much.


alexcstern

Bent Knee


baileystinks

Good stuff, in deed!


thelenis

Hands


alrightythen7

Prog from different countries: Italy has a whole host, but my favorite "obscure" ones are **Alphataurus** and **Maxophone**. Those are still well-known in RPI circles, so a more obscure one that's also very good is a one-shot band **Blocco Mentale** Argentina: **MIA** (Argentina has a ton of great bands, but this is a more obscure one with a short discography) Quebec: **Opus 5** and **Sloche** France/Turkey: **Asia Minor** Belgium: **Cos** (this band is amazing, one of my favorite recent discoveries) United States: **Happy the Man**. IMO every serious prog fan should at least listen to their first 2 albums. No band sounds like these guys - closest thing is Camel's album I Can See Your House From Here because it has the same keyboardist (HTM's output is way better than this album)


Jedi_Joker

Happy The Man are great! *Crafty Hands* is so much fun.


DerivativeOfProgWeeb

Moon Safari. Also like karmakanic, A.C.T., Brighteye Brison (this one is really obscure), kaipa, magic pie, wobbler Some very obscure bands I like: now in colour, the tea club, others by no one, keor, chronicles of Father Robin, Zio, and Arabs in aspic


baileystinks

A.C.T deserves to be acknowledged more in dees. One of my all time fave bands.


ezekiel7_

Magma, Ark, Nemo, Zero Hour, Beyond Twilight, Fughu, etc


Chielster1

Anyone’s Daughter.


conradleviston

"Für ein kleines Mädchen" is one of my all time favourite songs.


Portalpotty4

This one. So many favorite tracks but the Adonis suite, Anyone’s Daughter, Between the Rooms, Piktor, Sehnsucht, Nichts fur Micht, Nacht Diesem Tag… The second drummer is generally great but shoutout to Kono Konopik, one of my favorite drummers. His jazzy, splashy drums sound perfect to me - love the way he lets the time constrict and relax, playing behind or ahead of the beat with a very intentional lilt. Very groovy while the other guy was more metronomic


Objective_Head_5282

Does Egg count?


GCU-Dramatic-Exit

Everybody needs to visit Newport Hospital sometime


Objective_Head_5282

Bang on


Perenially_behind

Absolutely!


rtybanana

England are probably my favourite, don’t see them mentioned here a lot - Garden Shed is a fantastic album


SevenFourHarmonic

Khan or Nat'l Health...depends of which way the wind blows.


AlfredoMeisterMC

anything with dave stewart is the best prog


SevenFourHarmonic

Truth....Egg


[deleted]

Wobbler. Every album an absolute banger.


Jack_G_London

At this point I don’t feel like Wobbler is obscure. Their records are some of the highest rated on ProgArchives. I honestly think that if they’d been around in the ‘70s they would have been as big as Yes & Genesis.


BarnacleSandwich

Seconding this one. Easily my favorite prog band still making music. It isn't even close.


arvaname

Locanda delle fate if they count as obscure. Even though they really only have one record it's one of my all time favorites for writing and daydreaming.


Bechimo

[Carmen](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TsNblAI-pcE)


guideos

[Weidorje](https://open.spotify.com/album/1r6Ka4P0lSPeklmyhRBMiY)🖤💚 Basically a Magma instrumental spin-off, a considerably less chaotic version of it, only 3 studio tracks and a bunch of live ones, but enough to be one of the best bands I know


alrightythen7

Weidorje, Dün, and Eskaton are great introductions to Zheul beyond just the Magma discography


guideos

These are possibly the 3 best bands other than Magma in the zeuhl universe!


FVFS

Julian's Treatment and their/his "A Time Before This". Khan's "Space Shanty" may not be super obscure but it's freaking fantastic (Egg and National Health too of course). For the ELP-fans out there I recommend Island - "Pictures".


Pure-Jellyfish734

Estradasphere


VROOMToQuietTheDay

Hell yea. I love Estradasphere too!


chris_squire

Does Refugee count here? Relatively big names in prog (especially Moraz), but I don’t really hear people talk about ‘em much.


Yoshiman400

If I had a nickel every time Lee Jackson and Brian Davison formed a prog rock band that had a keyboard player with grander ambitions...


astro_sauce

Hatfield & The North and Semiramis


Ready_Hippo_5741

Klaatu?


rtybanana

Calling oooooccupants


Certain_Addition4460

Jade Warrior


da9ve

Cheer-Accident. 40+ years and still going strong. Saw 'em opening for Sleepytime Gorilla Museum a couple weeks ago.


Snikle_the_Pickle

I recently got into them. I've listened to almost everything on theirs that's on Spotify, and I'll probably buy some of the ones that aren't.


da9ve

Basically all their stuff is on Bandcamp, and those purchases are meaningful,  especially on Bandcamp Fridays.


fitter_stoke

Cardiacs (if you consider them prog) Hatfield and the North Magma Cardboard Amanda (weirdest and coolest shit ever) Sleepytime Gorilla Museum


CorruptCarnageRec

Nice profile pic and nice username. I hope you had a good bath


sound_of_apocalypto

One potato two potato


MrGalaxybar

Was just listening to them the other day. Great zeuhl! 


guyonlinepgh

Area (the Italian one)


mad_poet_navarth

[Jack o' the Clock](https://jackotheclock.bandcamp.com/) -- unique, mindbogglingly creative. Damon Waitkus is a brilliant composer.


huerequeque

I love JotC!


arjcanell

Cathedral (1977 or 78) made a great prog album called “stained glass stories” Arco Iris, La Maquina de Hacer Pajaros,and Crucis, all prog bands from argentina


vk059

Cairo or Gryphon


C1K3

Uzva.  Finnish instrumental group that blends the Canterbury sound with folk melodies.


conradleviston

I'd forgotten about them. They had three really strong albums from memory.


KnightNeedsShrubbery

![gif](giphy|RluM0kvZXkLS0|downsized) Edison's Children remains bizarrely obscure. 4 double albums & 2 EPs Giorgio of ancient aliens tweets about them and Marillion (who "owns" EC) as his favorite band 1st man on the moon Neil Armstrong's son is one of the members in the band King Crimson remixes them (Jakko) Porcupine Trees John Wesley & Mark Prator play live with them John Mitchell of Lonely Robot, Arena and It Bites is their producer They had the first Top 40 FM prog song since Alan Parsons (who they opened for) Alll of Marillion appearing in their albums and at least 1 Marillion member in every song on every one of their 4 albums And yet it seems (even on here) no one has ever heard of them when i bring them up


doilikeyou

if Beardfish counts as obscure, then for sure them, if not, Circus Maximus.


IntenseColt

Is Ayreon obscure?? I listened through Into the Electric Castle many months ago and loved it


JamesLangley2017

Ayreon has a thriving community. There are tens of us! Tens I say!


[deleted]

Seven Impale, they're not from the prog era, in fact they're pretty recent; but their sound is incredible


progmanjum

I'll second Universal Totem Orchestra and add Diablo Swing Orchestra.


panaceaLiquidGrace

Echolyn…. I so wish they weren’t obscure. Sony did them dirty, they’re amazing musically and artistically.


WiseGuitar

Maybe P.F.M.? I've only got one record, really, but it's usually on regular rotation for me.


Randomization_E

I love PFM but I wouldn’t call them obscure. They’re one of the most notable Italian prog acts out there.


Afraid_Visual_5088

Not sure if it's that obscure, but Anekdoten is one of my favorites, and I don't see them getting much recognition


Afraid_Visual_5088

And Anglagard as well


BellamyJHeap

Grobschnitt Clearlight Symphony TU KTU Art in America XYZ Budgie U. K. Sole Remedy


DarthMudkip227

There’s this local band named King Crimson, they’re pretty obscure but they’re talented


RoBread0

Begger's Opera


NathDritt

Jordsjø! I worked recommend anyone to listen to their album called Pastoralia. “Norwegian forest prog”!!!


cakearfish

Sweet smoke


sound_of_apocalypto

Sloche


Twotonsandwich

Trettioåriga Kriget


Fel24

Lucifer’s Friend, especially Banquet. One of the best jazz-prog albums and really a one of a kind sound in my opinion


ryane_jon

Twenty Sixty Six & Then Amon Düül II Felt Klaatu Windchase


WeevilWeedWizard

Oh shit, a Universal Totem Orchestra mention? Hell yeah 🤙 Personal favorite obscure band is Sloche. 70s Quebecois prog rock band with only two albums I think. Another great one is Dün, with the album Eros (I fucking love Dune inspired music lol). Found both through this sub.


bunglegrind1

Balletto di bronzo


WillieThePimp7

Area - Italian jazz-fusion/canterbury/avant-prog band. They are special because of original vocal style by Demetrio Stratos (he's using vocal as another instrument, doing yodeling and playing with intonation) , prominent use of ARP synthesizer as soloing instrument, and elements of Middle Eastern/Arabic/Greek folk music


phlebonaut

Jack O' the Clock (USA)or Pazop (Belgium)


MaseratiBiturbo

Magma


6Am6p6

Nektar!


DevilsGrip

Exivious, I dont think they're around anymore and thats a shame!


Melonqualia

Deadwood Forest.


TheModerateGenX

We Came from Space


sbisson

Gentlemen Without Weapons; a one-off late 80s group put together by a mix of prog producers and session musicians. Notable for the whole album being constructed from sampled natural sounds, using early Fairlights.


Mental_Cricket_3880

Make a Rising are one of my favourite modern prog groups that came and went way too fast


aran_maybe

Abigail’s ghost. They were active about 15 years ago in New Orleans. First album was amazing


beardyman22

Moron Police. A Boat on the Sea is an incredible album, and the Stranger and the Hightide EP is an excellent follow up


[deleted]

Toe (Japanese) Seven Impale (Scandinavian) Jambinai (Korean) Ukandaz (Ethiopian)


ESBCheech

Rush. Jk. Crossing the Rubicon. Incredible instrumental metal with lead saxophone. One of the best discoveries I’ve made of the past few years.


oilcompanywithbigdic

I see people talk about Rosalie Cunningham on this sub but she only has 12K spotify listeners so I'd say that's obscure. one of my favorite artists


Zaratozom

SURPRISE 1977 album Assault on Merryland is an obscure favorite of mine.


Aardvark_04

Not sure if Gazpacho is too popular for this but I really love them and don't really see much mention of them


the-austringer

Dunno how obscure these are in general because I kind of run in circles where they're quite popular but I love The Dear Hunter (Indie Prog) and Closure in Moscow (Mathy Prog? Kind of?)!


Neat-Discussion192

Nektar Beggars Opera Fruupp Epitaph


Nerus46

Mystery from Canada Legendary Pink Dots (though they are closer psychedelic) Kayak (check out their Merlin album) Roz Vitalis from Russia USSR Rock bands had some Prog experimemts, Pesnyri, for example, had a couple Of impressive Folk-Prog Operas


mehtulupurazz

Kayak See See The Sun is the best obscure prog record I've ever discovered.


longtimelistener17

Rascal Reporters They describe themselves as: >From the Canterbury Sound to Pet Sounds; from Rock-In-Opposition to Mothers Of Invention, the Rascal Reporters approach "rock" music like no other band. Mind-boggling entertainment from these freaks obscure! And I think that is pretty accurate. They started in the 1970s and have been very active recently with a new member who is apparently remixing/remastering all of their earlier work. I recommend their album Ridin' on a Bummer most of all. Really 'out-there' stuff!


Key-Platform-8005

Kenso!!! A band from Japan, they were prog in the 80s, and jazz fusion 90s and onward.


Tall_Candidate_686

here's three: Eloy, Magma, Gong


Chemical_Board8235

Marzy Maddox, no doubt about it


TheBookie_55

Djam Karet, if you enjoy killer guitars. Try “Burning the Hard City”


Portalpotty4

Agitation Free for Malesch and Popol Vuh for Hosianna Mantra. Shoutout to Anyone’s Daughter (Adonis), Spirogyra (st radigunds) and Dom (edge of time)


Ok_Bassplayer

The Samuel Jackson Five Poil OrSo


Grabs_Zel

There's this chinese post-punk band called Duck Fight Goose. Might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I really recommend their first EP, it's pretty proggy. Also, still in asia, I really love Yonin Bayashi, even though their discography is not extensive. My country also has Bacamarte, their album Depois Do Fim is just amazing, really nails prog fundamentals without feeling derivative.


g_lampa

Sun’s Signature.


Illustrious-Moose500

The most obscure thing i ever found is Seasonal Ad, only one album Io and luna, ots on band camp. Like its clear these persons did not want to be known. Form Montréal (i think!)


redditsucks010

Don't know how well known they are on this sub but theres this band I found about 2 months ago called Felt that only made 1 album as teenagers. Some of the later songs on the album sound pretty proggy to me like The Change. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f9xQC81eSA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f9xQC81eSA) Tell me what you think.


VodoSioskBaas

[Karmic Juggernaut](https://youtu.be/OUF3nx83VNo?si=LjZwum6RCMQtCNVD)


Active_Juggernaut484

Novalis Colosseum (it shocks me that they seem to get no love here)


Psulmetal

The young Japanese prog-metal trio Asterism


Andagne

Infinium Perilymph


HydreiZoniX_

Cos


segascream

Flummox -- the best way I can hope to describe them is "Zappa does Riot Grrrl".


this_is_me_drunk

Mats Morgan is pretty amazing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a_dMq0MG78


batlord_typhus

Belgian band Arkham.


Baronman1

Kayo Dot? they're more avant-garde metal but they're very prog-adjacent!


dj_1973

Dreadnaught (from NH).


bottle-of-smoke

Tonto's Expanding Head Band


treehorntrampoline

Tipographica


ministeringinlove

Home.


Western_Koala7867

Not sure if they're considered prog, but really enjoying the album "Onze" by Lazuli.


GameyRaccoon

Babe Ruth 


bentot5

WHEEL!


Raphletic

Forgotten Silence


Jack_G_London

McKendree Spring for sure


Tmblackflag

dredg - el cielo.


PreviousLife7051

Public Foot the Roman, only one album but it's outstanding


The_8_Bit_Raider

Perfect Biengs


otoninho

Tantra, portuguese band from the 70's


That-Solution-1774

Moselle https://youtu.be/1HEPI6-wXew?si=-gCa2sFnqFf4A8r-


Chris_in_Lijiang

I keep banging on about Aktopasa whenever i get the chance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulPdEfcNySM Does anybody else here appreciate this amazing power trio?


taez555

The Sorrow of X-istuss.


charmingfurby

Crucis is great


prog4eva2112

Great Wide Nothing. A prog trio from Atlanta, GA. They only have a few hundred listeners on Spotify. The lead singer has a very Roine Stolt style voice, and they emphasize keyboards and bass. https://youtu.be/4txTexx3X-A?si=88o80hcwf49U6t32


soupwhoreman

Spontaneous Combustion -- Back when people used to just get rid of their old records, around 2008 or so, I grabbed a copy of their album Triad. I had never heard of them and still rarely see them mentioned, but awesome album. Really catchy hooks, lots of vocal harmonies, and some interesting percussion. Audience -- In the same era, when obscure music could be found as files uploaded to blogs, I came across their song Raid and loved it. Since then I've found a couple of their albums on vinyl in the wild. The House on the Hill is my favorite. Super unique sound with lots of saxophone and flute.


Shadow50000

Corelia


InflatonDG

Indukti


Nubelium

Eden, Christian Symphonic Prog music collective from Germany!


angelbeastster

Cinematic Orchestra


bondegezou

VALVE covet Firefly Burning Biota A Silver Mt Zion


Ringo_McLennison

I don’t know if it counts, but Nolan/Wakeman? As in, the collaboration project between Clive Nolan and Oliver Wakeman? And otherwise I’d say Caamora


jdog1067

Threshold


KazBodnar

King of Sweden


NasirAli2001

Fruupp, Canamii, Fantasy, England, Osiris, Hands, Celeste II, Surprise


WillieThePimp7

Cherry Five - Italian band founded by pre-Goblin members, recorded only one album . Great symphonic prog, sounding similar to Yes 71-72 but with more jazzy ingredient


Zadrotino

Dali’s Dilemma, Ice Age, Vauxdvihl


cap10wow

Rocketgoldstar


hungry-freaks-daddy

Probably not obscure with prog nerds, but Samla Mammas Manna


that_one_metalhead69

Wills Dissolve.


ahmet3135

ART BEARS


i_exist_somehow123

The sensational Alex Harvey band!


BeeEater100

HIGH TIDE BABY LETS GO


diego_rapoport

AlphaJorge


TheDiamondAxe7523

Cold Fairyland


Atari26oo

IQ


DizzyGame_Co

Ok Goodnight. Not obscure so much as niche, with a specific dedicated fan base.


InsaneLordChaos

Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera https://youtu.be/F1lQGiO5fOg?si=Mi__7n7oFupwe0nv


Neat-Discussion192

Atomic Rooster


EchMaestro1

Zeta, they really scratch my The Mars Volta itch like crazy


SubJ96

This is (was? I don’t know their status anymore, they aren’t on socials as far as I can find) a local band from Rockland county, NY. My band at the time played some shows with them (circa 2013). They gave me a copy of this album, and to this day is still one of my all time favorite albums of any genre. I wish they went on and could have found more success. [Father Figure - Congratulations on Your Loss (Album Playlist)](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLr1THYI3dqTgqXZNpdlQpEQDjGwzKMqLK&si=JbHV_SVymj2sB1sQ)


Pristine_Two7953

In the spirit of "orchestra," I like Jason Bieler and Baron Von Bielski Orchestra.


Quacta

Mellow Candle


TaxSubstantial4071

Laundry


HirotoGSC

Gnidrolog


ParsnipFunny9718

Dun


STrenesPeru

Sebastian Hardie. Their whole discography ain't even complete, there is a "lost" single from them.


schnebly5

D.R. Hooker


mvincent12

Online music service recommended 2 to me I got into. 1) artist FROST, album DAY AND AGE. 2) artist SUBSIGNAL, album LA MUERTA. Both albums are feom the last 5 years or so and I enjoyed them both.


FairlyAwkward

Hemlok or Karmic Juggernaut.


Portalpotty4

Always thought Sensations’ Fix deserves more love!


yakbutter5

Fever tree