What an incredible 2025 it’s been in the world of prog. This year, we’ve taken a different approach to our Critics’ Choice and instead of printing our writers’ Top 20 lists, we’ve pooled them to create a definitive Top 50 with profile pieces on some of the key players. Did your favourite make the cut? We look forward to reading your thoughts on the results.

QUEEN PRODUCTIONS/PRESS Freddie Mercury Mr Bad Guy UNIVERSAL ...

THE ESSENTIAL NEW ROCK TRACKS YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS MONTH AND THE BRANDS TO HAVE ON YOUR RADAR

LESTER COHEN / GETTY Lazarus: The Second Coming ...

The prog giants’ much maligned and misunderstood 1973 concept album reappears in deluxe expanded and enhanced form. Mark Blake braves a deep dive.

SMALL FACES ’ metamorphosis from pilled-up enfants terrible into groovy psychedelic magi remains one of the wonders of the ’60s rock revolution. But as Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake returns, laden with unreleased bounty, witnesses including drummer KENNEY JONES still wonder how their greatest work sounded their death knell. “Subconsciously,” they tell TOM DOYLE , “we were all thinking, How could you beat Ogdens’ ?”