Prog nerds the world over are still reeling from the news that Mike Portnoy has rejoined Dream Theater. Don’t tell me you’re not; I can hear your minds scramble in 7/8 time with keyboards arpeggiating like mad. So let’s pour one out for Mike Mangini by putting the first single for his forthcoming solo album up front for the 307th edition of the Nine Circles Playlist, along with a few other progressive rock projects like Southern Empire and – slightly heavier – Immortal Guardian that have kept my senses properly scrambled this past week.

Now that the noodling is out of the way, the rest of the staff has you covered with the heavy. We’ve got Fathomless Ritual, a new cover from Imperial Triumphant, new cuts from Body Void, Sepulchral Curse, Vastum, and a lot more surprises. And since we’re in the crosshairs of the wicked holiday, we’re wrapping up with a TON of Halloween tracks from your favorite spooky bands, concluding with a killer live cut of Helloween’s united lineup covering their classic for the masses.

Get listening. Stay safe. See you next week.

—

—

– Chris