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Prog metal...where do I start?

#85
JimmyM said:
Dream Theater music was absolutely written so they can solo. I once read an interview with their producer, and he said he told the drummer that he shouldn't play so much all the time, and his reply was, "I have to win some musician polls!" Hated them and everything they stand for ever since.
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Although the "I have to win some musician polls" thing was a joke there is absolutly a element of truth to what your saying. Everyone in that band has a tendancy to overplay eccept their bassplayer. I still like them though.
 
#86
Alarum - Eventuality: I got this album yesterday and its extremely good. I guess you could call it jazz influenced progressive metal. I was immedieatly impressed when I popped this in my CD player. It reminds me a lot of Atheist and Cynic with a hint of Botch. I'd say a fan of any of those 3 bands will find something they really like about this band. I look forward to listening to and absorbing this more. Plus the bass player sings and plays very well too which I always find cool. Check it out:
Invalid Link Removed :bassist:
 
#88
I third the Liquid Tension Experiment suggestion. All instrumental, and a lot of it was improvised (or so I've heard). They only have two albums, check 'em out. Liquid Tension Experiment and Liquid Tension Experiment II.

Graeme
 
#89
BassGod said:
I third the Liquid Tension Experiment suggestion. All instrumental, and a lot of it was improvised (or so I've heard). They only have two albums, check 'em out. Liquid Tension Experiment and Liquid Tension Experiment II.

Graeme
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I'll definitely check them out. I really enjoy most of the instrumental prog metal I've heard.

I don't want to generalize here, but I've come to the conclusion that I like "extreme" prog metal. Or progressive death metal, or whatever you want to call it. I've tried some Dream Theater, Pain of Salvation, Aryeon, etc...and it just doesn't do it for me. Something about alot of it sounds cheesy to me. I think its the vocals...they just bother me.
 
#90
You may also want to check out Into The Moat since you like Dillinger Escape Plan, they are along the same lines. Tons of crazy tempo changes in every song.

Also you may like Cephalic Carnage, I would suggest their newest album Anomalies.
 
#92
Don W said:
You may also want to check out Into The Moat since you like Dillinger Escape Plan, they are along the same lines. Tons of crazy tempo changes in every song.

Also you may like Cephalic Carnage, I would suggest their newest album Anomalies.
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I have "The Design" by Into the Moat...great stuff, good suggestion.

I forgot about Cephalic Carnage, I have one of their albums, forgot the name- it has an eyeball on it. Haven't listened to it in a long time, if I remember correctly it had some pretty good stuff on it. I'll have to break it out. I'll keep an eye out for Anomalies too.
 
#93
Spiral Architect - A Sceptic's Universe: First of all I loved the fact this CD came with a disclaimer on it that read something to the effect of: Warning, not for the faint of heart, this may damage your mental state. Very impressive musicianship. The bass player is insane. He might be guilty of overplaying a bit, but hey it works perfectly for this band IMO. This band is seriously sick. The only thing I'm luke-warm about is the vocals. I feel theyre a little overdone at times. Theres a bunch of parts I where I feel the vocals are taking away from whats going on musically. Just my 2 cents...still an excellent album, very technical and interesting.
 
#96
I've been reading the responses hear and a lot of people have complained that all Dream Theater does is wank.

I don't disagree that they do a lot of wanking, but I will say they are the ones that started it all, and that, simply put, is a fact.

But there seems to be two schools of thought here. First, there are bands out there like Dream Theater who are considered technical algebra bands that don't put much feeling into their music. Now for Dream Theater, if you want technical, AND feeling, then check out Scenes From A Memory. The musical spectrum on this album is insane, and is probably my all-time favorite album to date. And the story is delivered like a play, which I find incredibly enthralling.

Someone before mentioned Fate's Warning's A Pleasant Shade of Gray. That was another one I really got into and is also an incredible album, but the mood their music ellicits is probably the same mood you find yourself in when pushing the living room curtain aside and finding it dark and rainy outside. They almost have a depressing sound about them. That's not a slam, but the only real way I can describe them musically. They have a unique way of getting to the bowels of your soul. But in a good way of course.

Here are some other heavier progressive bands you can try on for size:

Galactic Cowboys
Attention Deficit (More heavy jazz fusion)
Dali's Dilemma
Divine Regale
Lemure Voice
Tiles
Spiral Architect

Some of these bands are no longer around, but they have great music. But why Stop there? If you are looking to get into heavy progressive, I'm sure you'll be looking into other forms of progressive. How about some symphonic progressive like:

Yes
Emerson Lake and Palmer
Flower Kings
Spock's Beard
Transatlantic
Glass Hammer
The Tangent

I wrote a college paper on progressive music. If any of you would like to read it, I'll send it. But these are just a few of the many bands that I love, and I am moving away from the algebra-type metal prog and favoring more flavorful prog that sounds more delicate, and subtle.
 
#98
I'm actually jamming with some guys tomorrow who cite Spiral Architect and Watchtower as their main influences. The samples they sent me are treally cool, highly technical prog metal with some 70s fusion sounding keyboardsiis a project that should really push my limits as a player and keep me on my toes.
 
#99
Tash said:
I'm actually jamming with some guys tomorrow who cite Spiral Architect and Watchtower as their main influences. The samples they sent me are treally cool, highly technical prog metal with some 70s fusion sounding keyboardsiis a project that should really push my limits as a player and keep me on my toes.
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Sweet. Good stuff...I wish I could find people around here that want to play tht kind of stuff.

Thanks for the recs everyone. I'm updating my "bands to check out" list. Because of this thread and everyones posts I've found some seriously amazing new music!

I've been looking and I can't find any Watchtower. :(

I also found this link for the 100 Greatest Prog Metal Albums.
 

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