Akercocke - Amazing Progressive Death! - Progressive Rock Music Forum

Author

Message

Topic Search

Topic Options

Conor Fynes View Drop Down

Prog Reviewer

Joined: February 11 2009
Location: Vancouver, CA
Status: Offline
Points: 3196

Topic: Akercocke - Amazing Progressive Death!
Posted: July 19 2011 at 20:08

I would tend to disagree..

Andy Webb

Special Collaborator

Retired Admin

Joined: June 04 2010
Location: Terria
Status: Offline
Points: 13298

Posted: July 19 2011 at 16:33

Yea I remember this band now. They really weren't progressive.

harmonium.ro View Drop Down

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin

Joined: August 18 2008
Location: Anna Calvi
Status: Offline
Points: 22989

Posted: July 19 2011 at 10:45

^ Looks like in this case they were pretty unanimous, though.

However if the band comes with a new album that's consistently progressive, they can be reevaluated.

Andy Webb

Special Collaborator

Retired Admin

Joined: June 04 2010
Location: Terria
Status: Offline
Points: 13298

Posted: July 18 2011 at 17:14

Different eras of the Prog Metal Team have different standards of clearance, really. Different members interpret the definition of the genre differently.

windir2245 View Drop Down

Forum Newbie

Joined: January 19 2010
Status: Offline
Points: 11

Posted: July 18 2011 at 16:33

I know this has been /threaded. But can I just leave a bitchy "lol" towards the band TALANAS that has been accepted on progarchives. They're the biggest Akercocke rip-off that I've ever heard and somehow they've found a spot on here. Okay, and now I'm gone.

harmonium.ro View Drop Down

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin

Joined: August 18 2008
Location: Anna Calvi
Status: Offline
Points: 22989

Posted: April 03 2011 at 13:41

windir2245 wrote:

I think you misinterpreted my statement about Drudkh. By "pure" I mean that I couldn't see it be categorized in anything but black metal. That being said, the wall of sound is so beautiful and oddly light sounding that it's definitely less grating on the ears than typical bm. Would you agree with that? (There's been moments when listening to Drudkh in which I don't even feel as though I'm listening to black metal because the production softens it so much).

Is Drudkh considered "prog" though? I'm still confused about the criteria on allowing metal bands in the site. Do they need to be similar to bands that play the style of prog or is there something else? My idea would be bands that push the boundaries of metal music, but apparently that idea has already been poo-pooed.

I agree about Drudkh, but I think songwriting is much more important in their case than production. Neat production only comes in their case as a colateral aspect of their artistic ambitions of developing the black metal style into a progressive direction.

RE prog, depends of what you mean by prog. If prog's Genesis and Gentle Giant only, than no. They are progressive metal of the extreme kind, though.

windir2245 View Drop Down

Forum Newbie

Joined: January 19 2010
Status: Offline
Points: 11

Posted: April 03 2011 at 13:34

I think you misinterpreted my statement about Drudkh. By "pure" I mean that I couldn't see it be categorized in anything but black metal. That being said, the wall of sound is so beautiful and oddly light sounding that it's definitely less grating on the ears than typical bm. Would you agree with that? (There's been moments when listening to Drudkh in which I don't even feel as though I'm listening to black metal because the production softens it so much).

harmonium.ro View Drop Down

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin

Joined: August 18 2008
Location: Anna Calvi
Status: Offline
Points: 22989

Posted: April 03 2011 at 13:20

If you can't make the difference between Autumn Aurora and plain black metal then you're helpless. Tongue

And yes, prog is a style (only innitially it was just a new way of thinking rock; but it codified pretty quick).

windir2245 View Drop Down

Forum Newbie

Joined: January 19 2010
Status: Offline
Points: 11

Posted: April 03 2011 at 13:10

Then I suppose I would consider Madonna and Prince to be prog. I guess my question to you guys is twofold: what constitutes "prog" to you and what does a metal band need to do to be onto this site? It seems like there are a number of bands on here that copy the early creators of progressive rock and are accepted because they play "progressive rock." I find this ridiculous though, considering that copying older bands and conforming to a certain genre is the opposite of progression. I feel like prog isn't so much a generic restriction as an attitude one takes when creating music.

Also, I'm one of the biggest fans of Drudkh around. Autumn Aurora and Microcosmos are some of my most-listened and favorite albums of all time, but there is not a doubt in my mind that they are pure black metal. How does a band like that get unanimous "yes" votes and Akercocke doesnt? What do you look for in metal bands to be considered "Tech/Extreme"?

If it really is impossible for you guys to reevaluate, then I accept it. But I don't appreciate this attitude of "this is the way it is. We say it isn't progressive, you need to accept it." I'd appreciate some dialogue...This is exactly why I stopped participating at the Metal Archives. They have this very dictatorial attitude about their decisions that allows for little to no possibility of discussion

Bonnek

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: September 01 2009
Location: Belgium
Status: Offline
Points: 4521

Posted: April 03 2011 at 11:01

A more thorough evaluation?
There is barely any band in the world that's been voted on by more PMT members then Akercocke. The verdict:
2 Yes
1 Unsure
11 No

Pushing the genre doesn't make a band Prog. Madonna and Prince have pushed their genres forward very much as well.

/thread

Andy Webb

Special Collaborator

Retired Admin

Joined: June 04 2010
Location: Terria
Status: Offline
Points: 13298

Posted: April 03 2011 at 10:56

At this point, there really is no point in trying to argue for them. Almost every member of both the current team and the previous teams have rejected them, so it would be insane to think that randomly the team would unanimously vote yes. Although they are a good band, they aren't being passed anytime soon.

windir2245 View Drop Down

Forum Newbie

Joined: January 19 2010
Status: Offline
Points: 11

Posted: April 03 2011 at 10:32

I'm shocked that this band is continually rejected from the archives. They are without a doubt one of the leading progressive and experimental metal bands around today. Everything they've done from Choronzon onwards is pure Progressive Metal. It's amazing to me that metal bands like Drudkh, Wolves in the Throne Room, Psycroptic, and Turisas have somehow found their way onto this site, while Akercocke hasn't convinced all of the moderators.

Not only does Akercocke take an experimental approach to songwriting in general by incorporating clean vocals, electronics, extreme technicality, and unorthodox instruments, I also hear a definite Rush influence in much of their work since 2003. (I even recall seeing a picture in which one of the members is wearing a Rush shirt). In my opinion, they deserve to be on Progarchives because they are pushing death/black metal into previously unseen territory, increasing the possibilities of the genres by becoming more esoteric, experimental, and technical. Wasn't that what the very first Prog bands were doing back in the late 60s/early 70s? Pushing the rock and roll genre into higher forms of complexity? (This will probably piss some people off, but) It really irritates me that bands like Dream Theater are continually lauded as purveyors of the progressive metal moniker, when I find them to be so bland and predictable, while a band like Akercocke is always shoved under the rug. Please listen to them again!! here are some song samples that I believe unequivocally prove their "prog"ness

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKMKoIqD_hM (definite Rush influence)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3ggGbj0a4U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jv9Zm8qBT-U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DBjRIrKVEQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKKnWls7Ads

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lalmm8uF9d0

I strongly suggest giving them a more thorough evaluation.

Andy Webb

Special Collaborator

Retired Admin

Joined: June 04 2010
Location: Terria
Status: Offline
Points: 13298

Posted: January 20 2011 at 18:48

The first song you supplied Conor is.... IMO not prog... barely at least, but not really. They have some good elements, but are more just pure heavy death metal with some hard rock twists than anything else. But that's just a first impression of one song.

CCVP

Prog Reviewer

Joined: September 15 2007
Location: Vitória, Brasil
Status: Offline
Points: 7971

Posted: January 19 2011 at 17:04

harmonium.ro wrote:

Looks like they aren't going to make it. If a band was previously rejected it needs a unanimous "yes" vote at the reevaluation, and that isn't happening. All the votes so far are negative.

Yeah, so fat 11 negative votes and one undecided, counting previous team members that rejected the band. I don't think they will make it.

harmonium.ro View Drop Down

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin

Joined: August 18 2008
Location: Anna Calvi
Status: Offline
Points: 22989

Posted: January 19 2011 at 11:11

Looks like they aren't going to make it. If a band was previously rejected it needs a unanimous "yes" vote at the reevaluation, and that isn't happening. All the votes so far are negative.

Prog Geo

Forum Senior Member

Joined: November 09 2010
Location: Athens (Greece)
Status: Offline
Points: 2555

Posted: January 19 2011 at 11:01

One of my favorite bands.Great band.I would like to suggest them here.But I was afraid to do it.Because Mendonca's growls and screams are very extreme. Big smile

So,I want to see them here.

Sonorous Meal show every Sunday at 20:00 (greek time) on http://www.justincaseradio.com

(De)progressive View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: March 24 2010
Location: Turkey
Status: Offline
Points: 495

Posted: January 19 2011 at 04:44

For those who don't accept the progressive side of Akercocke, I suggest them to listen especially 'Shelter From The Sand' from the WTGU/DTGU album.

''Hope is the first step on the road to dissapointment.'' (Friedrich Nietzsche)

Conor Fynes View Drop Down

Prog Reviewer

Joined: February 11 2009
Location: Vancouver, CA
Status: Offline
Points: 3196

Posted: September 08 2010 at 17:53

How is Akercocke doing in terms of their submission to the site??

{Note: I merged the new Akercocke topic consisting of this post with the existing one since it's better to search, and bump if considered useful, an existing suggestion thread than to create a new topic - L}

Edited by Logan - September 08 2010 at 23:57

UMUR

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: October 19 2007
Location: Denmark
Status: Offline
Points: 3082

Posted: August 14 2010 at 02:22

They were rejected the first time around, so all current members of the PMT will have to give their yes votes before Akercocke is accepted. The voting process on the PMT is very slow at the moments as we currently have around 200 acts to evaluate for inclusion so be patient.

Metal Music Archives

UMUR on RYM

dtd350

Forum Senior Member

Joined: July 17 2010
Location: Connecticut, US
Status: Offline
Points: 111

Posted: August 13 2010 at 19:27

They should most definitely be in here. They have some excellent stuff and are really the epitome of Progressive Death for me. When I think of Progressive Death...the first band that comes to my mind is definitely Akercoke. I really hope they get accepted (I was surprised to read that they were not in here).

http://www.last.fm/user/dtd350