I haven't, my brother should've put it on my external hard drive when I was visiting Vancouver a few weeks ago but he didn't, I'm sure I could dig you up a link though.

Queensryche
 

Big Queensryche fan here. Operation Mindcrime was and is still one of the most influential albums of my lifetime.

But is it really Progressive Metal, or simply a kind of concept album done in a technically slick metal style?

Queensryche are kind of an odd group really, their stuff before Operation Mindcrime was very Iron Maiden in feel, then came Operation Mindcrime a concept album (a very good one) and seemed to have as you say a slick metal style rather than a natural metal style, but from then on albums such as Empire and Promised Land had a slick radio rock feel, much in the mould of Journey, in fact Geoff Tate sounds like Steve Perry on those albums.

i kind of have to agree with Seltzer's posts in that i'm not too big a fan of progressive metal cause of how it tends to miss the point of what progressive music is about. still, i can fnd myself enjoying some groups here and there, Devin Townsend, Cynic, Opeth, etc.

There are some Metal albums that I would describe as Progressive;

Watchtower's "Energetic Disassembly" - although I fully agree this is not "Prog" per se, rather it's a collection of outrageously technically oriented thrash riffs under a sheen of Samson-esque NWoBHM which gets old pretty quickly.

It's a fascinating listen though, especially given the time of its release - you can hear why Metallica suddenly decided to take a more technically oriented route with "...And Justice For All" in the light of such fretboard fireworks.

Naked City's self-titled album from 1990 is another fascinating listen - a mixture of Napalm Death and jazz.

In the same kind of vein (but better) is John Zorn and Fred Frith's "Art of Memory" from 1995, and Fantomas' "Suspended Animation" from 2005. Prog Archives describes these as "Avant Prog" (whatever the **** that is), but it's not - it's metal at its core.

Spastic Ink are another band well worth checking out for the "real stuff" - kind of like Watchtower done properly. Guitar wizard Ron Jarzombek has done some other impressive projects, such as Blotted Science - but none really hit the mark as well as "Ink Complete".

Ya like Blotted Science, then?

I think "Am impressed by" is probably more accurate than "like" :D

Therion did some very entertaining Symphonic Metal, starting with "Theli", combining dm, opera, some Eastern scales as well as some acoustic folk songs. It's a big production that would make mighty fine music for a Broadway show. Pestilence is part of that early 90's group of blazing dm bands like Death, Atheist, and Cynic.

I certainly do. Brilliant stuff.

between the buried and me
opeth
three

^ Nice call. I just went to see Between the Buried and Me for the second time last Tuesday. They're from not far from where I live, and I caught them on the last night of their tour. They were obviously a little tired.

I've come to notice that what classifies a Metal band as being "Progressive" is the use of clean vocals and/or uncommon instrumentation - i.e. keyboards, world percussion.
Whereas I just took the word progressive for what it means literally. In my mind a band that takes their music in different directions and pushes the envelop of what they're able to do is progressive.

The advent of creating a sound or a subgenre for "Progressive" music is a little silly to me. Kind of how people tried to capitalize on "Emotional" music. Maybe I just think about it too hard. Or literally.

Yes, prog metal is great. *hesitates about whether I will get lynched for being a big Dream Theater fan*

Anyway, I've been a bit hesitant about whether to get Cynic's Traced in Air. I mean, Focus was brilliant, but it seems like a bit of a once-in-a-lifetime-brilliance thing. Besides, it's been fifteen years between that masterpiece and Traced in Air, so... have they lost it at all? Is it worth getting?

I'm not a huge Prog metal fan,Opeth,Coroner and Symphony X are about the only ones I'm familiar with.Does VoiVod count as Prog metal?They were pretty awesome.

Most Dream Theater fans have been lynched on here already. Luckily, I was able to escape with my neck intact. They may well have a Christmas burning ritual though.

I quite enjoy a bit of Dream Theater. Only problem is that at least 80% of their music is complete crap. :laughing:

But that remaining 20%... damn good. Especially on Images and Words.

I really like Dream Theater's covers. Anyone hear their cover of Pink Floyd's "Time"? It was great. They also have a few good Led Zeppelin covers. I can't speak about their own stuff, I've never listened to that stuff. They are on the list of bands to listen to though.

Images and Words despite being one of their best releases, is also one of their most commercial sounding albums, to the point that James LaBrie actually sounds annoyingly like Robbie Williams on some songs.

I agree, they are one of the few bands that do rock and metal covers quite well. Unlike say Megadeth, whose covers are absolutely terrible.

Their singer James Lebrie's voice is a bit too metal for me, but the instrumentalists play super well. Mike Portnoy is an excellent, probably one of the best drummers in recent prog music.

to the discussion going on for the past few posts....

Dream Theater is pretty awesome, ther are probably my fav prog metal band. Octovarium (the DT album I know the best by far) is okay for the most part but The Answer Lies Within, Sacrificed Sons and the title track my god... The title track is my favorite song ever unless you count instrumental stuff.

I attended Prog Nation (infact, anyone remember DT being mentioned in the Chronical or was it the Murcury because Rudess was using an Iphone app? I was at the very concert they got the cover photo from) and was pretty disapointed when they didn't play any of the above three songs.

I posted the title track on the metal battle thread and DistOb was totally like "Uh... I'm not sure this is better [of course it's not, how the *&^% can you top Octovarium] but it's different *insert Lamb Of God*

if Distant hadn't pertended he new something better than Octovarium, I would still be winning (and it looks like I am with Guns 'n Roses' Estranged) but that's aside the point...


Anyways...

Just picked up some of that feared Viking music by Enslaved, "Eld" and "Isa" ("Fire" and "Ice", how nice, lol!) Very impressive progressive black(Viking) metal. Eld is old school 90's minimal black metal with multi-segments and tempo changes. "Isa" has the big and modern production value...both equally stunning.

Yea, yea so the guy on the cover is dork.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA240_.jpghttp://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA240_.jpg

Enslaved are a personal favourite of mine and if you don't have Below The Lights and Mardraum: Beyond the Within then you need them ASAP.

I like Opeth a lot, and a bit of Protest The Hero. Between The Buried And Me's colors is one of the more interesting albums the past decade, it probably needs a few more listens from me.

Thanks for the tip! Enslaved is absolutely amazing.

I love Ayreon, Riverside and Opeth. I like Dream Theater and Pain of Salvation.
And I am going to try to listen to something from Symphony X, Anathema, Katatonia.
I am not sure about Orphaned Land... is it good? (Do you have some other recommendations for me?)

Sieges Even
Tomorrow's Eve
Echoes Of Eternity

You'll definitely love Anathema (begin with Alternative 4).
There's a Metal Opera by Aina named Days of Rising Doom. Similar to Ayreon, but not as good.
You might as well like Shadow Gallery (try Room V or their new album Digital Ghosts), Fates Warning (try Disconnected) or even Queensrÿche (try Operation: Mindcrime or Empire).

I should definitely check these out.

Thanks for recommendations! :thumb:

I watched some Youtube video of Orphaned Land... Interesting, I really like this oriental sound and also the fact that they have some songs in hebrew :)
I think I am going to try them too.

After glancing through here I noticed my name being slammed. Umm dude I know 'Octavarium' is great but the point of the metal battle thread started to drop off. So that means people were posting just random songs and judging songs posted previously...

I am a huge DT fan and own all their albums except Dream & Day Unite. I also love 'Octavarium' (the song itself, the album is alright though). So yeah, I can post what I want man, I wasn't knocking the masterpiece that is 'Octavarium' okay?

You were right. I started with Alternative 4 and Judgement and this band is really great for me :)

Oh yeah... I loved A Natural Disaster... one band that changed significantly and grew with the change. That album is atmospheric ambient rock... 'Are You There?' is one of the most beautiful songs you'll hear. :D

(though it really doesn't fit in this thread I think it deserves a post because of the bands beginnings in Death Metal)



Stunning... utterly beautiful

Yeah, this song is beautiful ambient :)

Loved? And now you don't like it?
I have this album too and acoustic Hindsight but I need more time for them, still don't know what is my favourite. I will try all discography because I like when one band has more periods... (It's like with Porcupine Tree ;) )

No, no I still LOVE it hahaha :bowdown:
...sorry I should've been more clear

Oh I want Hindsight but can't find it anywhere. I've heard that version of 'Are You There?' is even better?

I agree with you on bands that have many different sounds. The varied genres make them more appealing and you can listen again and again to different periods of the bands career and like a certain aspect more or less. It leaves them more open to discussion and much more interesting.