THAT DRUMMER GUY'S TOP 350 ALBUMS OF ALL TIME PART XIV: THE TOP 25

We have finally done it, we've reached the promise land, the top 25 albums of all time...according to some guy! Wait, I am that guy, I am....THAT DRUMMER GUY! But seriously, this is been an endeavor that has really taken a lot out of me, messed with my sleep schedule pretty bad and my mental psyche is a bit out of whack as of late; but it's all for the greater good of music and I finally got the wind at my back doing these last 25 albums proper justice and showing you the top of the top, the best of the best, the ones that I listen to, cherish, enjoy and love more than anything else in the world. What are those albums? WEll well well, let's get into it in this final stretch of this 350 albums list!
 

Here we are, folks. The penultimate part before the grand finale tomorrow. After having to write up yesterday's list twice over, it took a lot of my joy away, but after seeing the reactions to it, it was all worth the hassle. This part of the list are ones that easily could have made the grand finale and some albums were originally on that list, but moved for what ever reason. I know this is where a lot of people will start to care about this list (despite everything I attempt to do to make that not happen), I gotta make these last two parts the strongest they possibly can be in the order that I really feel represents me the most. So like X, I'm gonna give it to ya!



Here's How The Rules Go Down:

1.) 14 Lists of 25 albums a piece, counting down from 350 to 1.
2.) No more than one album per project, otherwise this list would be in the 1,000s.
3.) This list is as close of order as I could get it and be somewhat happy. If I overthink it, I could easily rewrite this whole list in a new order over and over again. Right now, I'm happy with it enough to write it down for the world to see.
4.) If there is an album/band/artist missing from this list that doesn't fit the criteria above (mainly number 2) it is because I either didn't hear it enough, didn't like it as much, it's too new to me to be fair to add to the list, or it just isn't my bag...baby!
5.) My list isn't your list. Your favorite band might not be on here, it might be too low for you, a band you hate might be too high for you. Just remember, it's just my opinion.
6.) The goal of this gigantic list is to show off my roots, what I love in the past, and now, and most importantly, to show YOU something that you may not be familiar with that you may enjoy. If you can't find something to enjoy within these 350 albums, we are just not going to click musically. Different Strokes...
7.) Yes, I enjoy every single album here. Every album I can enjoy front to back, not wanting to skip a track. Not a single album on here is just thrown in to fill out the list, nor is there a single album that I feel is weak. To me, it's all killer and no filler.

So...Let's get it on!



25.) Witherfall- A Prelude To Sorrow (2018)
FFO- Progressive Metal, Power Metal, Dark Metal

THis album is only going to go higher and higher as the years go by. I mean this album is less than a year old at this point. But the subject matter means more to me than anything else a band has put on record. Rather than do a big long essay about it, I'll try to condense it the best I can. One of the best people I will ever know, Adam Sagan was the drummer of the band Witherfall, started the band, asked me for help along the way as far as labels and PR and marketing when they first started off and things just took of from there, both good and bad. At that point, the band got signed to Century Media Records and the band was starting to get the recognition of a band full of promise to show off that debut album. Sadly, Adam did not live to see the debut album come out, passing away from Lymphoma nearly three years ago now. This tore me apart, it tore the local music scene apart, it tore Witherfall apart, but it did not break them. THey were able to finalize a lineup after his passing and the band has sailed forward ever since becoming a stronger entity. If there is anything beyond this life and Adam could see the success Witherfall has had, I bet he is so happy right now. BUT that's just the first album we are talking about, let's get to A Prelude to Sorrow. This album is not only dedicated to the memory of Adam Sagan, it is literally a concept album about losing him. If you don't know him personally, you can also take it as losing anyone important to you and the idea of moving on. It's a heart shattering album for me and I miss Adam every single day. There is a reason why I end both my show as That Drummer Guy and my mental health show, Something Gives, with his voice, he has more of an impact on my in what I do as a drummer, what I do as That Drummer Guy, and as a human being than almost anyone else in my life. But to continue on with the album, it is a dark, heavy album with some of the most melancholic and melodic moments you will hear in a modern metal album. As hard of an album it is for me to listen to personally, it is one that fills me with hope as Adam knew my struggles with mental health and only wanted to see me conquer them and that what I'm trying to do every single day. The very least I could do is praise the album that is literally about is legacy and memory. If somehow you can't relate to anything I've said here, Joseph Michael is now in Sanctuary and Jake Dreyer is playing guitar in Iced Earth; if that tickles your fancy anymore. Seriously, this album is dark gold. Go pick it up!

24.) Steven Wilson- To The Bone (2017)
FFO- Pop Rock, Art Rock, Progressive Rock

I'll just give you a bit of a heads up now. My Top 25 is filled with some of the darkest albums made with some albums of positive clarity, but we'll get to those as they show up. To The Bone is the poppiest album that Steven Wilson has made since the Stupid Dream/Lightbulb Sun era of Porcupine Tree. but that doesn't mean that this is any less dark. Its filled with loss, tragedy and mental struggles in life, just more on a relateable platform for the more top 40 crowd. I'm so glad to see this album is the biggest selling Steven Wilson album to date as it absolutely deserves to be. The man is a gift of music and it's a dark gift that should be shared. No matter how heavy, poppy, proggy or abstract his music gets, it always finds a way to hit home. To The Bone does that in the most commercial way so far, but it can absolutely make you tear up at the same time. WHile we are not getting a PT reunion any time soon (if ever), take solace in the fact that everyone is off doing things they love and Mr. Wilson himself is putting ut some of his best material he has ever written to this day.

23.) Strapping Young Lad- Alien (2005)
FFO- Extreme Metal

When you talk about life changing albums for me, boy howdee, this one hell of a doozie of an impactful album on my musical tastes back 14 years ago. For a long time, I always heard about Devin Townsend, I was dumb and thought he was related to The Who's Peter Townshend at the time, haha. But through various message boards and forums, I always heard people say that SYL was one of the craziest bands in existence and I just didn't know any better at the time and ignored it. Until one day when watching Headbanger's Ball, I saw the video for the song Love? and my jaw dropped to the floor. I never heard ANYTHING like that before in my life, the use of triplets, the insane screams, the most beautiful chorus I ever heard in extreme metal, I couldn't believe it. That Tuesday I went and picked up Alien and you can only imagine how my brain exploded when I finally heard the album. Imperium alone took me out of the realm of this world and put me into a chaotic minefield that I never knew existed. The whole album is extreme on both paralells, the brutality and the clean/pretty moments, you never heard anything like that in extreme metal before right? at least I didn't back then. I became obsessed with it and ever since that day, Devin Townsend became a musical hero of mine and one for mental health as well. Little did I know at the time that Devin Townsend also did solo material. I thought this was his only band and man, I tell you when I first heard Devin's solo work I.....you know what, I'll save that for another discussion. Alien is the most insane SYL album and one of the most insane albums that is not labeled as avant garde or noise. If you can prepare yourself for this intensity, you can prepare yourself for anything. Give this album the proper love it deserves (though I will say, you don't need to listen to the last song, Info Dump, unless you are into 11 minutes of guitar feedback, random synth noises, distortion and nothing else.

22.) Soilwork- Stabbing The Drama (2005)
FFO- Melodic Death Metal, Modern Metal

Soilwork...ok, this was another choice that I had to spend DAYS on deciding what album I should choose here. I love the early day era so much, I love the mid era of the band, and I LOOOOOOVE what the band is now. But I finally settled on Stabbing The Drama for the fact that it affected me in the way a lot of bands at this time period of 2003-2006 did. Showing me the power of mixing screams/growls over great riffs and writing some of the greatest clean choruses around. Bascially, showing me a band can mix heavy and melodic vocals in the same band and it honestly makes some bands so much better for it. Stabbing The Drama was that album for me that showed off how close you can get to a mainstream rock sound, but keep that heaviness in check and write some amazing metal riffs. WHile everyone was going ape poopy over Meshuggah's Bleed in 2008...where the hell were they when the song Nerve came out on this album? That, by far, showed off the power of mixing bass, guitar and double bass into a single chugging entity better than any band up to that point and honestly...better than any band since. This album was the last of an era showing off the sides they once were, the more mainstream sound that was to come, and the sheer insanity and melodic prog meldeath that was to come with the rejuvenation to come. I'll say it again, I love the latest era of Soilwork the most, but Stabbing The Drama was a musical defining moment for me and that can never be taken away and for that reason it will always be my favorite Soilwork album.

21.) SikTh- Death Of A Dead Day (2006)
FFO- Progressive Metal, Mathcore, Art Metal

SikTh is an entity into itself. There are bands that have been influenced by them, but not a single one of them could ever replicate the sounds, genres bending, and style that the band has made their own. While still an underground album in the grand scheme of things (hell how many of these 350 albums are ones that are NOT underground in the entire sense of music?), Death Of A Dead Day is one of the most brilliant albums of the 21st century so far. It's unique blend of avant garde stylings, spoken word poetry in the right moments,  and progressive, metal, pop, electronic, and controlled chaos makes this album a pure highlight in heavy music in general. The song, Part Of The Friction could easily go down as not only the best song the band has ever done, but one of the greatest metal songs that will ever be written. The only real justice to give this album and band is picking up the music, dropping all your notions and go into it with a completely clear and unopinionated mind and give it a fair shot. I think you'll be happy with the results.

20.) Evergrey- Recreation Day (2004)
FFO- Progressive Power Metal, Dark Metal

I will always remember this story of me discovering Evergrey. The band had an appearance on Headbanger's Ball promoting this album the Tuesday before it came out. IN it they talked about the album speaking of how heavy and dark the album was. I was still on my high horse at this point about screams and growls and I only wanted to stick to music that had ZERO of those and just used clean vocals, so I got really scared when they started talking about the album more and I thought, "oh no, another screaming band. I bet I'll like the music and the vocals will be terrible" but then the video for Blinded started and I had my fingers crossed "don't be another screaming band. Don;'t be another screaming band" that intro riff made me think it could be pure screaming. BUT THEN, Tom Englund's soulful, mournful and powerful voice took over and every single preconceived notion I had about heavy music was gone. Zero screams or growls to be had, just pure dark clean vocals that brought out so much power and emotion that I didn't realize was possible in THIS kind of music. I was floored! Then the 2nd video of the band came later, for the song I'm Sorry, and that's when I knew I discovered one of my favorite bands ever. That Tuesday, I bought the album at Target and never olooked back. THis album is the progressive power metal and dark metal that I never knew existed at the time and it's band that has meant so much to me over the years, so many tears, dark thoughts, bad memories came from em during this time and Evergrey helped me with so much of that pain. It truly was a life changing moment for me as a music fan and even though it's been 15 years since it's release, why don't you give this album a shot and see if it does the same thing for you?

19.) Opeth- Blackwater Park (2001)
FFO- Progressive Death Metal

I'll be honest, I'm honestly surprised to see this album so low in my top 20, but that goes to show how many band's I've discovered thank to bands like Opeth. Much like Evergrey at the time I heard Opeth, I hated growls and screams and wanted nothing to do with it, then I heard a song off Damnation that grabbed my attention on Headbanger's Ball and thought, wow I should actually check these guys out. That Tuesday I picked it up along with another album that may or may not be talked about later in some capacity and realized I actually bought Deliverance instead, you know, the heaviest Opeth album ever? Anyways I heard it, did my best to like it, but then I completely ignore them and the band for a good half a year if not longer. Then one day while I was gaming, I thought, screw it, I'll give them another shot. And it actually clicked Opeth actually opened my eyes to bands that I missed out on for so long because I never gave screams/growls a chance. I missed out on so much and there was a lot to learn. But the next Opeth album I bought was Blackwater Park, usually regarded as the best Opeth album (along with Ghost Reveries), BWP is the album for me, the perfect blend of progressive death metal, acoustic and haunting tones that just pulls me in and never lets go. Do I miss this side of Opeth? Honestly, no. I never want a band to make a sound just to make me happy. they should make what will make them happy, otherwise it becomes unauthentic. but even with that there will always be Blackwater Park and honestly, that's all I will ever need from the death metal side of Opeth ever again. *mic drop*

18.) Astronoid- Air (2016)
FFO- Post Black Metal, Dream Pop, Positivity

Ok, not every review is going to be an essay from here on out, just had to get those two out of the way. Astronoid is one of the only positive albums on my top 25 and it's a life changing album for me both musically and conceptually. The idea of making  band that could be part Deafheaven, part Devin Townsend and part Mew seems implausible, so impossible, it makes no sense does it? Only till you actually hear it! And you will hear some of the most gorgeous, beautiful and mesmerizing metal you will ever hear in your life. The use of blast beats and tremolo picking over soothing and soaring clean vocals (no screams or growls in this band what so ever). With that, the lyrics are filled with such uplifting thoughts and ideals that I honestly need to put on when I'm at my lowest to fill me with the sense that life can and will be ok. This is a band that will continue to rise bigger and better and 2018's self titled album is one that is another jaw dropping masterpiece; but Air wins for me for the initial impact it had on me and if you never checked out the band. It may do the same for you.

17.) Between The Buried And Me- Colors (2007)
FFO- Adult Contemporary Progressive Death Metal

BTBAM broke all the barriers with this album. showing they were more than the sum of their parts as initially shown, the band ventured to make a concept album that is really one song broken into 8 parts. and it is one of the finest progressive death metal albums ever made. there is a good reason why they toured with it again for it's 10th anniversary back in 2017. I actually saw this album played in it's entirety back in 2007 and I never stopped being a fan since. It was a life changing show for me and day in general for various reasons. But seeing this album live was something that changed me forever and for that reason it will always be my favorite BTBAM album for it's amazing genre blending, grandiose songwriting, ambitious concept, and one of the most important exptreme metal albums of the 21st century.

16.) Porcupine Tree- In Absentia (2002)
FFO- Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal

I actually didn't get into Porcupine Terr till the album following this one, Deadwing came out (what an underrated album that is!). It was actually a good amount of time before I bought In Absentia but in hindsight, I'm glad I waited. I was able to explore more sides of the band before I found their clear cut masterpiece, that was I could appreciate their other albums that much more. In Absentia was a turning point in the band, who was slowly becoming a progressive pop band, but then Steven Wilson gained a new found low of metal, and death metal to be specific. while you will never hear that style in the band, you will hear influences in the songwriting, riffs, and the lyrical content. Every song on this album is so dark in depressing, be it about the downfall of the music industry, serial killers, child death and so many other dark things. It's so hauntingly beautiful and you need a dark, nearly depressing mind to fully grasp what's going on in Porcupine Tree, to fully get it. I sadly can relate to the music all too well and PT, amongst many other bands in this top 25 speaks to me in the darkest ways. But seriously PT was one incredible band, go check them out if you have missed them for whatever reason.

15.) Death- Leprosy (1988)
FFO- Death Metal

Simply put, Death is the single greatest death metal band ever, and has the single greatest 7 album streak in music. Fight me, jerks! But seriously, this was the last choice I had to make as to what Death album to pick because...how could I? Every single album has had a gigantic impact on me from my drumming, to musical tastes to lyrical concepts. Upon listening to Death Discography (the best way to spend an afternoon), I ended up picking the band's sophomore album, Leprosy. Why? Because it took everything that was fantastic about Scream Bloody Gore, but gave it better production, longer song lengths and one of the greatest guitar tones of the 80s. To me, it's the band's Ride The Lightning and Ride The Lightning is my favorite Metallica album (see, see how I brought things back around from part 1???) But seriously, you can do zero wrong with picking any Death album. Pick up all 7 albums and enjoy! But hey if you need to pick one, go Leprosy, It's death metal with the beginning signs of the progressive death metal side that was to come.

14.) Avantasia- Ghostlights (2016)
FFO- All Star Power Metal

Much like how Ayreon is the all star progressive metal project; Avantasia is the all star power metal band. Ghostlights is the easiest choice I could make for this top 25. It's the darkest album in the band's discography, has my favorite vocal lineup and has some of the absolute most beautiful songs in power metal history. The title track alone has Tobias Sammet, Michael Kiske and Jorn Lande alone! What else could you possibly need? Well the rest of the album is guaranteed to fill out the rest for you. This is, and I mean this whole heartedly, the best power metal album ever made!

13.) Witherscape- The Northern Sanctuary (2016)
FFO- Progressive Death Metal

I finally get to talk about Dan Swano again. Some call him my doppelganger, depending on the pictures used from either man, you are right. But seriously, Swano's return to screaming and progressive death metal since Edge of Sanity came back with Witherscape debut album, The Inheritance in 2013. When that album came out and I got the promo for it, I listened to it all day every day. back when I was doing a "real job", in the car, when I went to bed, when i woke up, it consumed me. When I fell deathly ill in 2013, it actually stayed in my car for 7 months and was the first album I heard in my car again when I was able to start driving again. Witherscape was a life changing band for me in the world of progressive death metal and there's not many people outside of Swano who can do it better. 3 years later, my life changed dramatically, and The Northern Sanctuary came out and took everything I loved about the debut album and expanded upon it 100fold. I will say it till my dying day The Examiner is not only one of the greatest ballads ever made, but one of the best songs ever made, in general, yes, in all of music. Listen and you'll understand. But back on point, Dan Swano is a life changing individual for me in my musical life and Witherscape is a fine, fine example of that. PIck up both Witherscape LPs and their EP and enjoy!

12.) Triptykon- Melana Chasmata (2014)
FFO- Doom Metal, Death Metal, Gothic Metal

Both Triptykon albums are two pieces of the darkest music ever recorded. Recorded from the mind of Tom G Warrior, who suffers with his own demons in mental health (a hell I know all too well), both of these albums reaches into the darkest parts of the abyss and drags you along for the ride. For the sophomore album, the depression, hopelessness, and let's face it, suicidal sides come out in full force and it's an album that can destroy any well adjusted person. IF you are in the state of mind that Tom was in at the time, or myself in general, this album is actually a palette cleanser. The idea that it takes hearing, knowing, talking to someone who is suffering or suffered as much as you have  is sometimes the only way you can move forward and that's what Triptykon does for me. Amongst it's stellar production, killer songwriting and amazing musicianship is that sense of all loss, but that's what truly gives you hope. As absurd as that sounds, it's actually really true. Sometimes you just need relatability to stay in the game of life. I'm glad I'm still here and I'm glad Tom is here as well.

11.) Long Distance Calling- Avoid The Light (2009)
FFO- Progressive Post Metal

One of the greatest sophomore albums put on record. LDC came in like a firestorm in my life and they have never left. Their utterly dark album, Avoid The Light is the perfection of the genre progressive post metal. Every song is dark in it's own way, but only one song has vocals, and that is one of my favorite songs of all time, The Nearing Grave, which actually has the vocals sung by Jonas Renske of Katatonia. With that, the ending of the song brings me to tears every single time. Besides stellar production and out of this world production, this is what I needed in my life at the time and it is one one of my favorite albums ever for that reason. There is the argument to be made that the 2016 album Trips is actually the best album to date, which is considerable, but Avoid The Light had that impact on me that very little albums ever could and that's why it will always be one of my favorite albums.

10.) King's X- Gretchen Goes To Nebraska (1989)
FFO- Progressive Rock, Heavy Metal

The most underrated band of all time is King's X. No argument can or will be made, it's King's X! Case friggin closed! With that, their breakthrough album was Gretchen Goes To Nebraska, and deservingly so. Some of their best songs ever are on this album, and a perfect way to end the 1980s. Even 30 years later, this album holds up as an absolute classic and it's one that deserves your love and affection, it's tremendous in every sense of the word.

9.) Edge Of Sanity- Crimson (1996)
FFO- Progressive Death Metal

40 minutes even of one of the greatest progressive death metal songs ever conceived. Between the songwriting, Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth guesting on the album with vocals and lead guitar work, and one of the first examples of not only true progressive death metal, but one of the very first progressive death metal concept album. Crimson is perfection, utter perfection. Even in 2003 with Crimson II that is pure perfection as well, but this came out first so Crimson wins! Seriously, Once again, Dan Swano can do no wrong! *should note that some releases has this as one full 40 minute track, others have it split into 8 parts*
 
8.) Anathema- We're Here Because We're Here (2010)
FFO- Progressive Rock, Ambient Rock

The fact that this band came back after so many hardships, returned with a brand new sound and became the best the band could ever be 9 years ago is breathtaking. Combining prog, atmospheric sounds and some of the most beautiful sounding songs ever possible in a band like Anathema and you have this resurgence of an album. The band has only gotten tighter and stronger from this point onward, but there is just something about this reformation of a return that has a particular magic you will not hear on any other Anathema album and for me, that's what makes it win as best Anathema album to date.

7.) Pain of Salvation- In The Passing Light Of Day (2017)
FFO- Progressive Metal

While the band never left or stopped making good music; POS returned to the more classic Pain of Salvation progressive metal style that fans knew and loved. Besides being the most personal album to date, the most heartfelt, the best production the best musicianship, etc. It's an album that I relate to on a level that no one should. This album is about being rushed to the hospital and finding out that you may die and readjusting your life, if there is any life left, so you can move forward in all ways and make the best of yourself. That actually happened to me in 2013 before Daniel Gildenlow has a similar fate in 2014. If there is anything to take away from this album it's this. Live your life while you are still here, be the best possible you that you can be. you only get one chance to do so, don't life a life of regret if you still have a chance to make a difference in your life. *I'm actually in tears writing this out, my apologies*

6.) dredg- Catch Without Arms (2005)
FFO- Progressive Rock, Art Rock, Pop Rock

I'll keep this one shorter, but sweet. For the longest time, the band's previous album, El Cielo, was my favorite of all time, and my favorite non metal album. That slowly evolved into Catch Without Arms. It is a masterpiece of what mainstream music could have been. Every single song could have been a top 40 hit if FM radio has an open mind (we all know it doesn't). The band knew that and gave us an album that those in the know could appreciate and those that could search and hear it could see what could have been in a different world. The band is back and hopefully releasing an album this year or in 2020. I simply can't wait. It's been 8 years strong, it's been much too long.

5.) Dream Theater- Images And Words (1992)
FFO- Progressive Metal

Dream Theater for the longest time, was my all time favorite band. It wasn't until the last couple years that they were toppled, but this album sstill remains one of, if not the greatest progressive metal albums ever made. Train of Thought (along with Opeth's Deliverance mentioned earlier in passing) were the two albums that steered me away from the Metallica binge I was on for almost 4 years and showed me a world of music I never knew existed and for that I can't thank DT enough. This album is THE progressive metal. I can't sell it any better than that.

4.) Nightingale- Retribution (2014)
FFO- Melodic Progressive Rock, Hard Rock, Gothic Rock

My favorite Dan Swano band, bar none. I love everything he has done from Unicorn to Bloodbath to Witherscape to Edge Of Sanity to countless other projects. Nightingale is the band for me above all others in his work. The perfect blend of prog, goth, and hard rock. It doesn't get too heavy, it doesn't get too poppy, it's just dark prog with that sense of other genres when needed and a fantastic story that is intermittent between so many of the albums. Retribution is thel atest album from the band (6 years ago already???) and it's just a crowning achievement of what a band can do. If you want a good place to start with Dan Swano's work, I can't recommend Retribution by Nightingale enough!

3.) Woods Of Ypres- Woods V; Grey Skies and Electric Light (2012)
FFO- Doom Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Gothic Metal

It's utterly tragic seeing the end of David Gold's life happen just a week and a half before I got this promo and it's the album I put on the most when I am depressed. When I am at my wit's end and nearly on the edge of making things be done, I put this album on and it saves me every time I do. While not a concept album, so many of the songs are about death, foreseeing your death, and to live your life while you are still alive. It's utterly haunting listening to the lyrics when you know he died before the release of this album. THis album always brings me to tears just thinking about it and having dealt with death, suicide, attempted suicides, and and the darkest of depression, I can't relate to this album enough and for that it is one of my favorite albums of all time. R.I.P. David Gold.

2.) Green Carnation- Light Of Day, Day Of Darkness (2001)
FFO- Progressive Metal, Gothic Metal, Doom Metal

Possibly my last cop out of the list. This is technically one song. 60 minutes 7 seconds long. But it is known as their sophomore album. It is also my favorite song of all time, especially after seeing the song live in it's entirety. Since it is such a grey area, I'm leaving an actual album as my favorite album of all time, but before we get there. This mammoth of a song is about death and life; both bringing the absolute worst and best emotions one can possibly feel respectively. Every single range of emotion is shown here and the music matches those moods getting into death metal territories at times but keeping that prog, doom, gothic metal sound in check. TO make, if you appreciate many different styles of music, especially the darkest genres, this album will make you feel every possible emotion and for that, it is my favorite song of all time.

1.) Devin Townsend- Biomech: Ocean Machine (1997)
FFO- Progressive Metal, Pop, Electronic

For anyone who knows me, I am a Hevy Devy fan for life and there's no way I could go without making a non-SYL Devin Townsend album not one of my top choices for favorite album of all time. So why not, in this case, the best album of all time? For those that knew me for a long time, Terria was my number one pick for the longest time. It hit me in every way I needed it to at the time, but over time, Ocean Machine kept creeping up on me with it's pop sensibilities, progressive metal goodness and just being Devin Townsend. I realize now how perfect this album is from beginning to end. From the overly happy sounding song Life to the heavy Regulator to my second favorite song of all time, Bastard, to the 10 minute epic The Death Of Music. This is perfection all around, front to back, top to bottom and sealed with a wet Hevy Devy kiss. If I ever make a solo album, I want it to be even a tenth of the power that this album holds. It's that important to me.



And there we have it folks, it's over it's done. 350 albums signed, written, and accounted for. I can't believe this epic journey has come to an end and I thank you so much for sticking around (unless you skipped parts 1-13 then SHAME ON YOU!). Thanks for sticking around, Go enjoy some new (or new to you) music and until next time this is That Drummer Guy saying, SEE YA!

- Josh Rundquist (That Drummer Guy)