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Progressive metal (often shortened to prog metal or prog) is a broad fusion music genre melding heavy metal and progressive rock, combining the loud "aggression" [1] and amplified guitar-driven sound of the former with the more experimental, cerebral or quasi-classical compositions of the latter.
- Opeth, 'Blackwater Park' (2001) With ‘Blackwater Park’, Opeth mastered what could be capable with progressive metal. It’s an album filled with personality and careful attention to detail, easily blending together moments of dissonance and harmony.
- Dream Theater, 'Images and Words' (1992) It’s almost hard to imagine the thought and care that went into crafting Dream Theater’s opus, ‘Images and Words.’
- Queensryche, 'Operation Mindcrime' (1988) ‘Operation Mindcrime’ helped bring progressive metal to the masses, showing how appealing the guitar work and sound could be to anybody.
- Fates Warning, 'Awaken the Guardian' (1986) Fates Warning would become godfathers of progressive metal, constantly evolving their work from one song to the next.
- Dream Theater. 1,806 votes. Dream Theater is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of progressive metal, with a discography spanning over three decades filled with technically brilliant musicianship and complex arrangements.
- Opeth. 1,532 votes. Opeth is a Swedish progressive metal band that has been captivating audiences since the early 1990s with their unique blend of death metal, folk, and progressive rock elements.
- Tool. 1,875 votes. Tool is an awe-inspiring progressive metal band known for their intricate, often haunting soundscapes and thought-provoking lyrics. Their music merges heavy riffs with polyrhythmic drumming and atmospheric arrangements, creating a unique and captivating style.
- Rush. 1,236 votes. Canadian legends Rush are often cited as one of the most influential bands in progressive metal history, with their signature blend of hard rock, progressive elements, and thought-provoking lyrics inspiring countless musicians to follow in their footsteps.
Jul 20, 2024 · This is why the bands who actually have new shit to say deserve to get their voices heard. Below, Metal Hammer has collected seven albums from 2024 that truly sound peerless and progressive. Whether it’s by immersive psychedelia or cinematic black metal, prepare to have your mind expanded.
- Opeth – Blackwater Park (2001) Opeth’s Blackwater Park helped pave the way for bands from the more extreme end of the musical spectrum to spread their creative wings, and 20 years later it remains an album that has rarely (if ever) been bettered in prog-metal terms.
- Queensryche – Operation: Mindcrime (1988) Progressive metal as a recognisable entity in its own right stemmed largely from two bands: Queensrÿche and Fates Warning (with Dream Theater arriving not far behind to form the scene’s ‘Big Three’).
- Fates Warning – Perfect Symmetry (1989) It might not have had the same impact as Queensrÿche’s crowning moment, but Perfect Symmetry by Fates Warning was another seminal moment in the development of prog-metal.
- Dream Theater – Images and Words (1992) If Queensrÿche and Fates Warning lit the torch, Dream Theater picked it up and did a runner with it. Over the course of more than three decades, they’ve become the quintessential prog-metal band.
Jan 18, 2024 · Here is the history of prog metal in 21 albums. As much as we metalheads love traditionally straightforward and savage tunes, it’s often more enticing when bands challenge us with radically...
Dec 17, 2023 · While other subgenres weather peaks and valleys of relevance, progressive metal is always there, testing the boundaries of what heavy musicians think they can do. It’s no surprise, then, that the genre had yet another stellar year in 2023, with so many of its albums wowing both critics and fans.
