Progressive Metal Discussion Thread

Just beginning with the whole prog metal thing at the moment. So just Dream Theater and its cousin, Liquid Tension Experiment for me. But I'm looking about for proressive power metal as some of it seemed very much to my taste. So hopefully, I will become a well educated fan of the genre over the coming months...

Time Signature wrote: I love prog metal for the same reasons that I love prog rock: the complexitities, genre transgressions, and that it's typically different from other types of popular music - but then again, I've always thought that metal as such was more progressive than other genres of popular music. I mean the time changes and complexities have been there since the day of Black Sabbath and Deep Purple and many extreme metal (and non-extreme metal bands) bands use completely unorthodox song structures. That is one of the reasons why I don't buy into the rigidity-of-meta- argument that I encounter in some prog rock circles. Also, how can an ever developing genre with so many subgenres as metal even be considered rigid? Anyway.My favorite prog metal acts are the obvious ones: Dream Theater, Fates Warning, Psychotic Waltz and Queensr�che. In addition, I like a number of progressive extreme metal bands like Cynic, Atheist, Obscura, Death, Invocator and Pestilences "Spheres" and progressive power metal bands like Symphony X and Anubis Gate. There are also bands which are not always considered progressive metal bands as such, but who, I think, a worthy of the progressive tag - namely Iron Maiden with their changes of tempo, epic tracks, guitar harmonies and so on, and Mercyful Fate with their completely different approach to song structures and Coheed and Cambria (who are probably not even considered metal by many) with their conceptual lyrical universe. Progressive metal has been derided as being pretentious and all technique and no heart, but, to be honest, what I like a bout it is the more cerebral approach to music and all the thought that's behind the music. I do find odd time signature and unusual chord progressions and the like inspiring and I love the fact that many progressive metal songs have so many different parts that listening to one song equals the experience of listening to a whole album in other genres.

MAVIIIVAM wrote: I'm there with you on all accounts, and more.  Except for that era of Pestilence But you know, I'll probably get the 2 albums sometime in the future just to have those guys that pushed the envelope long ago.

I love "Spheres" - it's so weird and jazzy. I love their other work, too (although I didn't dig their latest album immediately, but after a year or so, I'm starting to appreciate it), but I don't think they're as progressive as "Spheres". Well, maybe "Testinomy of the Ancients" could be considered kind of progressive with its use of keyboards and all the instrumental interludes and all that.

I love prog metal for the same reasons that I love prog rock: the complexitities, genre transgressions, and that it's typically different from other types of popular music - but then again, I've always thought that metal as such was more progressive than other genres of popular music. I mean the time changes and complexities have been there since the day of Black Sabbath and Deep Purple and many extreme metal (and non-extreme metal bands) bands use completely unorthodox song structures. That is one of the reasons why I don't buy into the rigidity-of-meta- argument that I encounter in some prog rock circles. Also, how can an ever developing genre with so many subgenres as metal even be considered rigid?

Anyway.My favorite prog metal acts are the obvious ones: Dream Theater, Fates Warning, Psychotic Waltz and Queensr�che. In addition, I like a number of progressive extreme metal bands like Cynic, Atheist, Obscura, Death, Invocator and Pestilences "Spheres" and progressive power metal bands like Symphony X and Anubis Gate. There are also bands which are not always considered progressive metal bands as such, but who, I think, a worthy of the progressive tag - namely Iron Maiden with their changes of tempo, epic tracks, guitar harmonies and so on, and Mercyful Fate with their completely different approach to song structures and Coheed and Cambria (who are probably not even considered metal by many) with their conceptual lyrical universe.

Progressive metal has been derided as being pretentious and all technique and no heart, but, to be honest, what I like a bout it is the more cerebral approach to music and all the thought that's behind the music. I do find odd time signature and unusual chord progressions and the like inspiring and I love the fact that many progressive metal songs have so many different parts that listening to one song equals the experience of listening to a whole album in other genres.

This was recently uploaded to Inside Out Music's Youtube channel.


This was recently uploaded to Arjen Lucassen's Youtube channel.





Edited by cold103 - 08 Apr 2010 at 1:27pm

angelmk wrote: UMUR wrote: DeathOfSeasons wrote: UMUR wrote: Sigh is a great act. I haven�t listened to Imaginary Sonicscape yet, but it�s next on my list. I�m actually in the process of reviewing Scenario IV: Dread Dreams. I�ve simply started from an end with their discography. Scenario IV: Dread Dreams is a fantastic album too, definitely their most underrated along with Gallows Gallery. Sigh can really do no wrong.   Oh, and I love your user picture thing. Freakery is a fantastic Grindcore release   Did you know that the frontman is now a woman? Had a sexchange op.. and all. Bizarre stuff. Love that album. It�s such a filthy grindcore album. I guess I�ll have to make a grindcore appreciation thread sometime. i am glad  too see fans of Sigh here. Myself being a  Sigh fan, i find Gallows Gallery realy great album. Hangman's Hymn is fenomenal, a masterpiece, awesome tracks like Finale: Hangman's Hymn/In Paradisum/Das Ende,Dies Irae/The Master Malice, Introitus/Kyrie.. Their new one is also astonishing though, one of the year's best so far

 

UMUR wrote: DeathOfSeasons wrote: UMUR wrote: Sigh is a great act. I haven�t listened to Imaginary Sonicscape yet, but it�s next on my list. I�m actually in the process of reviewing Scenario IV: Dread Dreams. I�ve simply started from an end with their discography. Scenario IV: Dread Dreams is a fantastic album too, definitely their most underrated along with Gallows Gallery. Sigh can really do no wrong.   Oh, and I love your user picture thing. Freakery is a fantastic Grindcore release   Did you know that the frontman is now a woman? Had a sexchange op.. and all. Bizarre stuff. Love that album. It�s such a filthy grindcore album. I guess I�ll have to make a grindcore appreciation thread sometime.

UMUR wrote: DeathOfSeasons wrote: UMUR wrote: Sigh is a great act. I haven�t listened to Imaginary Sonicscape yet, but it�s next on my list. I�m actually in the process of reviewing Scenario IV: Dread Dreams. I�ve simply started from an end with their discography. Scenario IV: Dread Dreams is a fantastic album too, definitely their most underrated along with Gallows Gallery. Sigh can really do no wrong.   Oh, and I love your user picture thing. Freakery is a fantastic Grindcore release   Did you know that the frontman is now a woman? Had a sexchange op.. and all. Bizarre stuff. Love that album. It�s such a filthy grindcore album. I guess I�ll have to make a grindcore appreciation thread sometime.

 

UMUR wrote: Did you know that the frontman is now a woman? Had a sexchange op.. and all.

Those who doesn't like DT and PoS should be cast away into oblivion. Hail the gods of progressive metal