But in retrospect and the residual discoveries since, this was an incredibly deep year. A lot of technical death metal and progressive college rock. A lot of EPs stood out as well as I think I have 9 in the list below me.
Comparing to 2005 may be unfair, and other years of the 2000's, but I'd say it measures up in a lot of ways, although possibly the depth is more a product of music in the 2000's, the amount of good new music that was coming out.
Blackfield and The Velvet Teen are not far behind..nor is Orphaned Land and some others. I'd say 2004 has become more of a revered year for music for me after now revisiting this.
1. Marillion - Marbles
2. Blackfield - Blackfield
3. The Velvet Teen - Elysium
4. Orphaned Land - Mabool: The Story of the Three Sons of Seven
5. Fates Warning - FWX
6. Brian Wilson - Smile
7. Oceansize - Music for Nurses [EP]
8. 3 - Wakepig
9. The Dissociatives - The Dissociatives
10. Umphrey's McGee - Anchor Drops
11. Clann Zú - Black Coats and Bandages
12. Pain of Salvation - 12:5
13. Fair to Midland - inter.funda.stifle
14. The Decemberists - The Tain [EP]
15. Disillusion - Back to Times of Splendor
16. Crotchduster - Big Fat Box of Shit
17. Pain of Salvation - Be
18. The Dear Hunter - Dear Ms. Leading
19. Archive - Noise
20. Subterranean Masquerade - Temporary Psychotic State [EP]
21. Akphaezya - Anthology II: Links From the Dead Trinity
22. Meshuggah - I [EP]
23. Thurisaz - Scent of a Dream
24. Behemoth - Demigod
25. Superior - Ultra Live
26. The Apex Theory - Inthatskyissomethingwatching [EP]
27. Mastodon - Leviathan
28. Brazil - A Hostage and the Meaning of Life
29. Enchant - Live at Last
30 .Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori - Halo 2 Original Soundtrack
31. Cloud Cult - Aurora Borealis
32. Aereogramme - Seclusion
33. King's X - Live All Over the Place
34. sElf - Ornament and Crime
35. Best Friends Forever - Best Friends Forever
36. Porcupine Tree - Warszawa
37. Judgement Day - Dark Opus
38. Hope of the States - The Lost Riots
39. The Polyphonic Spree - Together We're Heavy
40. Malajube - Le compte complet
41. Biffy Clyro - Infinity Land
42. Bloc Party - Bloc Party [EP]
43. Deerhoof - Milk Man
44. Time of Orchids - Early as Seen in Pace [EP]
45. Anathallo - Hymns [EP]
46. Janus - Armor
![Image result for Archer Avenue - I was an Astronaut last.fm](https://img.youtube.com/vi/1lUsqmhAErg/0.jpg)
Archer Avenue - I was an Astronaut
rel January 2004
![](https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a2404387495_16.jpg)
Time of Orchids - Early as Seen in Pace [EP]
rel January 1, 2004
![Astherootsundo.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8d/Astherootsundo.jpg/220px-Astherootsundo.jpg)
Circles Takes the Square - As the Roots Undo
rel January 6, 2004
![Cellar Door cover.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/93/Cellar_Door_cover.jpg/220px-Cellar_Door_cover.jpg)
John Vanderslice - Cellar Door
rel January 20, 2004
![BlackfieldI.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/cc/BlackfieldI.jpg/220px-BlackfieldI.jpg)
Blackfield - Blackfield
rel January 2004
![Warszawa (live PT).jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/Warszawa_%28live_PT%29.jpg/220px-Warszawa_%28live_PT%29.jpg)
Porcupine Tree - Warszawa
rel January 2004
![Pain of Salvation - 125.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/cd/Pain_of_Salvation_-_125.jpg/220px-Pain_of_Salvation_-_125.jpg)
Pain of Salvation - 12:5
rel February 23, 2004
![Orphaned land - mabool.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4e/Orphaned_land_-_mabool.jpg/220px-Orphaned_land_-_mabool.jpg)
Orphaned Land - Mabool: The Story of the Three Sons of Seven
rel February 23, 2004
![Crashings.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/73/Crashings.jpg/220px-Crashings.jpg)
Falling Up - Crashings
rel February 24, 2004
![2004 - Nude Large.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a6/2004_-_Nude_Large.jpg/220px-2004_-_Nude_Large.jpg)
VAST - Nude
rel February 24, 2004
![Tain.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/ef/Tain.jpg/220px-Tain.jpg)
The Decemberists - The Tain [EP]
rel March 4, 2004
![Decapitated - The Negation.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/64/Decapitated_-_The_Negation.jpg/220px-Decapitated_-_The_Negation.jpg)
Decapitated - The Negation
rel March 9, 2004
![Deerhoof-milkman.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/ba/Deerhoof-milkman.jpg/220px-Deerhoof-milkman.jpg)
Deerhoof - Milk Man
rel March 9, 2004
![Noise (album).jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/2b/Noise_%28album%29.jpg/220px-Noise_%28album%29.jpg)
Archive - Noise
rel March 23, 2004
![](https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a1705179772_16.jpg)
Subterranean Masquerade - Temporary Psychotic State [EP]
rel March 23, 2004
![Arsis A Celebration Of Guilt.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/62/Arsis_A_Celebration_Of_Guilt.jpg/220px-Arsis_A_Celebration_Of_Guilt.jpg)
Arsis - A Celebration of Guilt
rel March 30, 2004
![Dissociatives cover.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f2/Dissociatives_cover.jpg/220px-Dissociatives_cover.jpg)
The Dissociatives - The Dissociatives
rel April 5, 2004
![ProtoKaw BeforeBecameAfter.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b5/ProtoKaw_BeforeBecameAfter.jpg/220px-ProtoKaw_BeforeBecameAfter.jpg)
Proto-Kaw - Before Became After
rel April 5, 2004
![Back to Times of Splendor.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/23/Back_to_Times_of_Splendor.jpg/220px-Back_to_Times_of_Splendor.jpg)
Disillusion - Back to Times of Splendor
rel April 6, 2004
![Satanic Panic in the Attic (Of Montreal album).jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/38/Satanic_Panic_in_the_Attic_%28Of_Montreal_album%29.jpg/220px-Satanic_Panic_in_the_Attic_%28Of_Montreal_album%29.jpg)
of Montreal - Satanic Panic in the Attic
rel April 6, 2004
![TheInnerCircle.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e0/TheInnerCircle.jpg/220px-TheInnerCircle.jpg)
Evergrey - The Inner Circle
rel April 27, 2004
![Marillion-Marbles.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/5f/Marillion-Marbles.jpg/220px-Marillion-Marbles.jpg)
Marillion - Marbles
rel April 27, 2004
Thurisaz - Scent of a Dream
rel May 3, 2004
![Feist Let It Die.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ab/Feist_Let_It_Die.jpg/220px-Feist_Let_It_Die.jpg)
Feist - Let it Die
rel May 17, 2004
![Secretmachinesnowhereisnowhere.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/ca/Secretmachinesnowhereisnowhere.jpg/220px-Secretmachinesnowhereisnowhere.jpg)
Secret Machines - Now Here is Nowhere
rel May 18, 2004
![Banquetepcover.gif](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/97/Banquetepcover.gif)
Bloc Party - Bloc Party [EP]
rel May 24, 2004
![Ayreon - Human Equation.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/cc/Ayreon_-_Human_Equation.jpg/220px-Ayreon_-_Human_Equation.jpg)
Ayreon - The Human Equation
rel May 25, 2004
![Image result for self - ornament and crime last.fm](https://lastfm-img2.akamaized.net/i/u/174s/d7deda4c8ab1484d8d6a8e95ae9283ab.jpg)
sElf - Ornament and Crime
rel May 2004
![Black Coats & Bandages.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d4/Black_Coats_%26_Bandages.jpg/220px-Black_Coats_%26_Bandages.jpg)
Clann Zú - Black Coats and Bandages
rel June 1, 2004
![Inter.funda.stifle.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e2/Inter.funda.stifle.jpg/220px-Inter.funda.stifle.jpg)
Fair to Midland - inter.funda.stifle
rel June 5, 2004
![Midlake bamnan.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/85/Midlake_bamnan.jpg)
Midlake - Bamnan and Silverlake
rel June 8, 2004
![CloudCultAuroraBorealis.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c6/CloudCultAuroraBorealis.jpg)
Cloud Cult - Aurora Borealis
rel June 22, 2004
![TogetherWereHeavy cover.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a3/TogetherWereHeavy_cover.jpg/220px-TogetherWereHeavy_cover.jpg)
The Polyphonic Spree - Together We're Heavy
rel June 30, 2004
![Umphrey's McGee-Anchor Drops.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1b/Umphrey%27s_McGee-Anchor_Drops.jpg)
Umphrey's McGee - Anchor Drops
rel June 29, 2004
![Meshuggah-I.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ac/Meshuggah-I.jpg/220px-Meshuggah-I.jpg)
Meshuggah - I
rel July 13, 2004
![StrataAlbum.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b1/StrataAlbum.jpg/220px-StrataAlbum.jpg)
Strata - Strata
rel July 27, 2004
![Epitaph cover.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/af/Epitaph_cover.jpg/220px-Epitaph_cover.jpg)
Necrophagist - Epitaph
rel August 3, 2004
![Untitled](https://lastfm-img2.akamaized.net/i/u/770x0/794a35a2fb9f482baad82dc1ff52f840.jpg)
The Velvet Teen - Elysium
rel August 3, 2004
![Carbonglacierveirs.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1a/Carbonglacierveirs.jpg/220px-Carbonglacierveirs.jpg)
Laura Veirs - Carbon Glacier
rel August 24, 2004
![Mastodonleviathan.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d8/Mastodonleviathan.jpg/220px-Mastodonleviathan.jpg)
Mastodon - Leviathan
rel August 31, 2004
![Untitled](https://lastfm-img2.akamaized.net/i/u/770x0/61bf309ab8834d4faa7824f6ed82a739.jpg)
The Felix Culpa - Commitment
rel September 1, 2004
![Augury Concealed.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f8/Augury_Concealed.jpg/220px-Augury_Concealed.jpg)
Augury - Concealed
rel September 4, 2004
![Kasabian-album.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/54/Kasabian-album.jpg/220px-Kasabian-album.jpg)
Kasabian - Kasabian
rel September 6, 2004
![Always Leave the Ground (This Day and Age album - cover art).jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/cf/Always_Leave_the_Ground_%28This_Day_and_Age_album_-_cover_art%29.jpg/220px-Always_Leave_the_Ground_%28This_Day_and_Age_album_-_cover_art%29.jpg)
This Day and Age - Always Leave the Ground
rel September 7, 2004
![Tears for Fears - Everybody Loves a Happy Ending.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f7/Tears_for_Fears_-_Everybody_Loves_a_Happy_Ending.jpg/220px-Tears_for_Fears_-_Everybody_Loves_a_Happy_Ending.jpg)
Tears for Fears - Everybody Loves a Happy Ending
rel September 14, 2004
![Aereogramme-Seclusion.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/fc/Aereogramme-Seclusion.jpg/220px-Aereogramme-Seclusion.jpg)
Aereogramme - Seclusion
rel September 23, 2004
![White Willow Storm Season.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e5/White_Willow_Storm_Season.jpg)
White Willow - Storm Season
rel September 21, 2004
![Reckoningnight.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/10/Reckoningnight.jpg/220px-Reckoningnight.jpg)
Sonata Arctica - Reckoning Night
rel September 22, 2004
![Brazil hostage life.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1e/Brazil_hostage_life.jpg/220px-Brazil_hostage_life.jpg)
Brazil - A Hostage and the Meaning of Life
rel September 26, 2004
![PainOfSalvation-BE.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/38/PainOfSalvation-BE.jpg/220px-PainOfSalvation-BE.jpg)
Pain of Salvation - Be
rel September 27, 2004
![SmileBW04.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/ef/SmileBW04.jpg/220px-SmileBW04.jpg)
Brian Wilson - Smile
rel September 28, 2004
![Rese.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e9/Rese.jpg/220px-Rese.jpg)
Mutemath - Reset [EP]
rel September 28, 2004
![Untitled](https://lastfm-img2.akamaized.net/i/u/770x0/f0a6df1a1f43495e9ff2e2ab451836e0.jpg)
Best Friends Forever - Best Friends Forever [EP]
rel September 2004
![Biffyclyro infinityland.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/41/Biffyclyro_infinityland.jpg/220px-Biffyclyro_infinityland.jpg)
Biffy Clyro - Infinity Land
rel October 4, 2004
![Image result for Crotchduster - Big Fat Box of Shit last.fm](https://lastfm-img2.akamaized.net/i/u/300x300/5516874665234d0e85d98e88ef188b8d.jpg)
Crotchduster - Big Fat Box of Shit
rel October 5, 2004
![Budokan cd.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/23/Budokan_cd.jpg/220px-Budokan_cd.jpg)
Dream Theater - Live at Budokan
rel October 5, 2004
![Fwx.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b9/Fwx.jpg/220px-Fwx.jpg)
Fates Warning - FWX
rel October 5, 2004
![Behemoth - Demigod 2004.png](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/3c/Behemoth_-_Demigod_2004.png/220px-Behemoth_-_Demigod_2004.png)
Behemoth - Demigod
rel October 11, 2004
![MusicForNurses.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/da/MusicForNurses.jpg/220px-MusicForNurses.jpg)
Oceansize - Music for Nurses {EP]
rel October 11, 2004
![Ultra Live](https://lastfm-img2.akamaized.net/i/u/174s/32ee3fb372024e3bcea7272082789864.jpg)
Superior - Ultra Live
rel October 23, 2004
![Untitled](https://lastfm-img2.akamaized.net/i/u/770x0/eb4b930ab87a4fc9b0a167ce39bd976f.jpg)
Happy the Man - The Muse Awakens
rel October 25, 2004
![Tage Mahal.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/19/Tage_Mahal.jpg)
Jon Oliva's Pain - 'Tage Mahal
rel October 25, 2004
![Of-natural-history-cover.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/11/Of-natural-history-cover.jpg/220px-Of-natural-history-cover.jpg)
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum - Of Natural History
rel October 25, 2004
![Wake Pig.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c6/Wake_Pig.jpg)
3 - Wakepig
rel October 26, 2004
![Enchant Live At Last.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a5/Enchant_Live_At_Last.jpg)
Enchant - Live at Last
rel October 26, 2004
![Sufi Line](https://lastfm-img2.akamaized.net/i/u/174s/2f89fef96ed94d7b9379baae363bbb91.jpg)
Courtney Yasmineh - Sufi Line
rel October 26, 2004
![Liveallovertheplace.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ad/Liveallovertheplace.jpg/220px-Liveallovertheplace.jpg)
King's X - Live All Over the Place
rel November 2, 2004
![Lecomptecomplet.jpeg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d1/Lecomptecomplet.jpeg/220px-Lecomptecomplet.jpeg)
Malajube - Le compte complet
rel November 2, 2004
![Quovaidsdefiantimagination.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d6/Quovaidsdefiantimagination.jpg/220px-Quovaidsdefiantimagination.jpg)
Quo Vadis - Defiant Imagination
rel November 4, 2004
![Image result for wastefall - soulrain 21 last.fm](https://lastfm-img2.akamaized.net/i/u/300x300/d8a62b04002efd2c7b06845fa202df12.jpg)
Wastefall - Soulrain 21
rel November 7, 2004
![Image result for halo 2 original soundtrack last.fm](https://lastfm-img2.akamaized.net/i/u/avatar170s/b15113d5f9334b0c9e27daa70cea6fbd.jpg)
Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori - Halo 2 Original Soundtrack
rel November 9, 2004
![](https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a2748148098_16.jpg)
Judgement Day - Dark Opus
rel November 23, 2004
![Image result for Akphaezya - Anthology II: Links From the Dead Trinity](https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a4104663447_5.jpg)
Akphaezya - Anthology II: Links From the Dead Trinity
rel 2004
![Anathallo Hymns EP Cover.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9d/Anathallo_Hymns_EP_Cover.jpg/220px-Anathallo_Hymns_EP_Cover.jpg)
Anathallo - Hymns [EP]
rel 2004
![Untitled](https://lastfm-img2.akamaized.net/i/u/770x0/16fcff2845c847f3b04102f61484ca0b.jpg)
The Apex Theory - Inthatskyissomethingwatching [EP]
rel 2004
![Untitled](https://lastfm-img2.akamaized.net/i/u/770x0/95cded92b9e04cb396c411b295bafb1b.jpg)
Cavil at Rest - Cavil at Rest [EP]
rel 2004
![Dear Ms. Leading.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c3/Dear_Ms._Leading.jpg)
The Dear Hunter - Dear Ms. Leading
rel 2004
![JanusArmor.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/80/JanusArmor.jpg/220px-JanusArmor.jpg)
Janus - Armor
rel 2004