Prog Timeline

^ but not all tech metal is necessarily prog. The distinction is very difficult and also quite subjective ...

^ How so?

Certif1ed wrote: MikeEnRegalia wrote: ^ Thanks! Could you name some of these early tech/shred metal bands/albums? I agree that the "core" timelines need to be adjusted ... Neo prog begins a bit too early for example. The more I think about what "Technical" actually means, the further back it goes;   I think it's probably rooted in (early) Deep Purple, Colosseum II and Uriah Heep - but there's also a Led Zeppelin (and hence Yardbirds/Bluesbreakers) link, as Rush (later) indisputably brought technique to the forefront - so "Proto-prog metal" would fit these bands.   The technical approach progressed through bands like The Scorpions and arguably Focus (when Focus played heavy, it was very heavy, and very technically oriented), with Budgie worth consideration. It's quite hard to see how Krautrock fits in, despite the heavy moments, as nothing I've heard from this period is particularly technically-oriented - although Necronomicon's "Tips Zum Selbstmord" is very interesting, formally, and Eloy later developed their music in a more metal vein.   Of course, King Crimson are a constant, throughout their numerous changes, in terms of technique and heavy, riff-oriented music.   This covers 1969-1973.   Also indisputable is the root in "Glam" rock - Queen and Bowie providing the increasing technical slant. I'm currently investigating this period in greater depth, looking at bands like Man and Nazareth, and even the Sweet, in order to find the links - but more importantly, development of technique in heavy bands (AFAIK, the phrase "metal" wasn't really used until the late 1970s to describe the "second wave", but "heavy" has been in use since the late 1960s). Again, there's nothing in the Krautrock scene that jumps out to me as being technically outstanding, in relation to metal.   This covers 1973-1975.   Fairly obviously, Judas Priest dominate in terms of technique in the next stage - albeit rather clumsily at first - "Exciter" is the first piece of music in which I've heard the thrash (up and down picking) technique used, and it's extremely important in the development of technical metal. Rush, obviously fit in here, and it shouldn't be overlooked that Ritchie Blackmore brought a temporary "classical" approach to Rainbow.    This covers 1976-1978.   Raven's debut and follow-up, Rush (again) and Ozzy's new band (featuring ex-Heep Lee Kerslake and ex-Rainbow Bob Daisley, although, allegedly uncredited on Ozzy's 2nd album). Yup, that's right - no mention of Sabbath, whose influence on all things metal is a given, but Ozzy's band cited as an important influence. Well, that's thanks to Randy Rhoades, who used the thrash technique used by Priest on "Exciter" on "I Don't Know", also used more advanced classical techniques than Ritchie Blackmore, and, as far as I can tell, introduced the "shredding" style to metal - I'm still looking for earlier examples.   This period also includes Van Halen and Iron Maiden, whose foundational contributions are legendary.   So now I'm up to 1980, and I'll have to revisit, as I've run out of time today... any comments or glaring omissions?

Need to verify, by revisiting the music, but I found this article - which is interesting, because I was going to mention UFO, primarily because of Schenker - who was also in the Scorps with UJ Roth.

Edited by Certif1ed - April 15 2007 at 05:03

MikeEnRegalia wrote: ^ Thanks! Could you name some of these early tech/shred metal bands/albums? I agree that the "core" timelines need to be adjusted ... Neo prog begins a bit too early for example.

Edited by Certif1ed - April 15 2007 at 03:07

I don't like the naming of "nu prog," since it makes it like it's drawing a parallel to nu metal, which is just a good concept simplified and made formulaic. Also, I tend to think prog is a lot more musical than metal, so it really can't be simplified and "punk-ized." Also, The Mars Volta is not punk prog.

Mike,

Nice first shot - although I get rashes from the moniker Nu-Prog, like I got a couple of years ago with Nu-Metal. Oh well....

Are you picking the genres from Progtology or common use, or are you naming them specifically for this chart?

I suspect what you mean by power prog, but the term was used initially to desribe bands like Savatage and Crimson Glory in the eighties/early nineties, so saying it's a post-'95 affair is not really exact. Then again, I realise you have a totally different style in mind, but think about where the said bands would fit in that case.

Canterbury Scene missing too?

Excellent!

However, my usual comment: careful with that word 'fusion'!
Indo jazz fusion from 1965 (e.g. Harriott-Mayer Indo-Jazz Fusion Double Quintet) - which allows you bring in Indo-prog......
US proto jazz rock from 1966 (e.g. Free Spirits)
UK proto jazz rock from 1963 (e.g. Graham Bond, Georgie Fame)
First distinct jazz rock album Emergency by Lifetime - possibly - 1968. Soft Machine Volume 2 clearly shows the cross over from psychedelic to jazz rock fusion

In fact Mike you have inspired me to make a more detailed time-line for jazz fusion, bringing in acid jazz, fuzac, (god forbid) smooth jazz, and that more exciting and often cutting edge jazz fusion dating from the 90's: nu.fusion, drum'n'bass jazz, rap jazz, nu.jazz, etc.


Edited by Dick Heath - April 14 2007 at 06:56