As the year draws to a close and the musical landscape fills with rankings, scores, and definitive statements, “Beyond the Charts – PRJ Year-End Compilation 2025” deliberately chooses a different path. This is not a hierarchy, nor an attempt to summarize twelve months of releases through numbers or positions. Instead, it is a curated chapter of discoveries—an editorial snapshot capturing the vitality, diversity, and creative tension that continue to define the Progressive and Experimental underground.
This compilation gathers artists operating across a wide spectrum of contemporary Progressive expression: from Psychedelic and Space-infused improvisation to genre-crossing hybrids where Rock, Metal, Jazz, Electronic Music, and Folkloric elements coexist freely. What unites these tracks is not stylistic alignment but artistic intent—an uncompromising approach to composition, sound design, and narrative that places exploration above convention. “Beyond the Charts” is conceived as an invitation to listen without expectations, to move past the rhetoric of “best of” lists, and to engage with music as a living, evolving dialogue rather than a competitive exercise.
Stream “Beyond the Charts – PRJ Year-End Compilation 2025” in full via the YouTube player below:
Nook & Cranny – We Choose To Go To The Moon
Nook & Cranny are a psychedelic, ambient & space rock duo based in the United Kingdom. They record songs as pure improvisations in the studio with no prior writing or rehearsing, with minimal overdubs added later – with a vibe similar to late 1960s & early 1970s Pink Floyd. Nook & Cranny’s debut album ‘Karma Waters’ is released on 1 February 2026. – Nook & Cranny
Purchase “Karma Waters” on Bandcamp: https://nookcrannyband.bandcamp.com/album/karma-waters
Nook & Cranny |Bandcamp|Facebook Page|Instagram|Spotify|
Galaxy Juice – Give It Over
Give it Over is a high energy drum and bass track filled with encouragement and uplefting vibes. The band Galaxy Juice went beyond their comfort zone to produce this experimental track with a couple of plot twists mixing between drum and bass, funk, and psychedelic rock. – Galaxy Juice
Purchase “Give It Over” on Bandcamp: https://galaxyjuice.bandcamp.com/album/give-it-over
Galaxy Juice |Bandcamp|Facebook Page|X (Twitter)|Instagram|Spotify|YouTube Channel|
Avant Orchid Zone – Heavy Losses (Sanctuary Ground) / Combat Zone Taurus Cloud
Sanctuary Hearts is an EP about lunacy and love. A rediscovery of passion amidst utter chaos. – Avant Orchid Zone
Purchase “Sanctuary Hearts” EP on Bandcamp: https://avantorchidzone.bandcamp.com/album/sanctuary-hearts-ep
Avant Orchid Zone |Bandcamp|Instagram|Spotify|YouTube Channel|
Clowder Of Voidlings – Mabuse’s Revenge
We present the track ‘Mabuse’s Revenge’ as a pretty solid example of the way CoV fuses styles (prog and jazz-fusion in this case), hoping to keep ourselves and the listener awake and engaged. Other offerings on our debut include elements of art-rock, space, and some (maybe too much?) funky Crimson-influenced improvisation. – Clowder Of Voidlings
Purchase “Clowder of Voidlings” on Bandcamp: https://clowderofvoidlings.bandcamp.com/album/clowder-of-voidlings
Clowder of Voidlings |Bandcamp|
Helmet Of Gnats – Afternoon T
Afternoon T is a track from our 2020 release Travelogue. It showcases intertwining rhythms with lots of modal key changes revealing a colorful palette of proggy goodness! We’re all particularly proud of this song, whose title refers to dwindling energy in our weekly Sunday rehearsals at the Church of Prog. – Helmet Of Gnats
Purchase “Travelogue” on Bandcamp: https://helmetofgnats1.bandcamp.com/album/travelogue-3
Helmet Of Gnats |Bandcamp|Facebook Page|X (Twitter)|Instagram|Spotify|YouTube Channel|
ezna – Sed
Ezna is a progressive rock project from Costa Rica. “Sed” reflects on how we build beliefs around fiction and power. – ezna
Purchase “Mientras Todos Creemos La Misma Ficción” on Bandcamp: https://ezna.bandcamp.com/album/mientras-todos-creemos-la-misma-ficci-n
ezna |Bandcamp|Facebook Page|Spotify|
IGMO – Curriculum
“Curriculum,” the cornerstone track of our second album, Absurd, Artificial, Potential, is a progressive rock piece with diverse sonic influences. It seamlessly integrates elements of heavy metal, reggae, and traditional Javanese pelog scales, yet maintains a cohesive and accessible sound. Lyrically, the song offers a sharp critique of the formal education system’s failure in true character development. It exposes the structure as a “corrupt, self-serving framework”—an “ivory tower” constructed for the purpose of power—that profits from systemic flaws. – IGMO
Purchase new album “Absurd, Artificial, Potential” on Bandcamp: https://igmo.bandcamp.com/album/absurd-artificial-potential
IGMO |Bandcamp|Facebook Page|X (Twitter)|Instagram|Spotify|YouTube Channel|
Permyon – The Siege
Hi fans and readers, this is our single “The Siege” released recently. The whole debut album “Permyon” is due out on the 7h of January 2026 on all digital platforms and later on itwill be available also on CD. We truly hope that prog fans enjoy and appreciate it, as we believe we’ve have made a good job! Thanks for your support. – Permyon
Purchase “Permyon” on Bandcamp: https://permyon.bandcamp.com/album/permyon
Permyon |Bandcamp|Facebook Page|Instagram|Spotify|YouTube Channel|
Spectral Sorcery – Hyperspace Odyssey
“Hyperspace Odyssey” is the eponymous lead track from Spectral Sorcery’s debut LP. Weaving together the sounds of contemporary psychedelic doom metal with classic 70s space rock, “Hyperspace Odyssey” takes the listener on a journey through deep space, following the tale of an interstellar wizard careening through a black hole. – Spectral Sorcery
Purchase “Hyperspace Odyssey” on Bandcamp: https://spectralsorcery.bandcamp.com/album/hyperspace-odyssey
Spectral Sorcery |Bandcamp|Facebook Page|Instagram|Spotify|YouTube Channel|
Incijam – Şüräle
‘Şüräle’ is inspired by a forest demon from Tatar mythology. Through this track, Incijam channels ancient folklore into a psychedelic rock soundscape, blending ritualistic vibe with multicultural energy. – Incijam
Purchase “Incijam” EP on Bandcamp: https://incijam.bandcamp.com/album/incijam
Incijam |Bandcamp|Instagram|
Lion With the Head of a Man – Vorágine
Vorágine is the first single of Lion with the Head of a Man’s second album “Pareidolia”, it merges electronic music, stacked synths, and heavy guitars into a tightly curated form. Built from late-stage drum sketches and looping chord ideas with jazz influences, it was one of the final pieces written. – Lion With the Head of a Man