Why does prog metal dominate the last 10-15 years?

CCVP wrote: ...commercial pressure from the recording companies may lead the artists to "play safe", what practically does not exist in the metal world.

Eh, and I would say (Prog) Metal is probably the most complacent and formulaic genre in the world. (Well ok, R&B is worse probably )
There are innovators and original artists of course but 95% is dishing up exactly the kind of stuff that their target audiences/niches want to hear.

Those 5 other percents however, that's why I keep digging through all the dirt!




Edited by Bonnek - August 25 2011 at 16:26

So you think 95% of PA stinks? Too bad for you.

I think a bit of truth lies in most of the explanations given here, but I'd like to add my thoughts to it. Firstly it is my experience that prog metal is the easiest genre for a listener to get into prog for many reasons:

1) Many of the bands have achieved huge commercial success and it grows as they gather new fans
2) Bands such as Rush, DT, Symphony X and others have created sort of a mixed genre, a bridge over the gap between traditional '70s prog and contemporary mainstream rock music.  

And also that is very true:

Gerinski wrote: I guess it's only normal that many young people tend to enjoy high-energy music rather than pastoral or symphonic qualities.

And one other thing:

I always get a bit sceptical when I read posts from people saying that from their early childhood they listened to hardcore prog from their father's vinyl collection and have loved it from the first moment they heard it, while others only enjoyed Dido, Backstreet Boys or whatever pop music. That is normal, but it is a psychological effect - you associate music with pleasant childhood memories (first emotions created by hearing music, being with family etc), not to mention that children are more receptive to different things overall. What interests me more is people who grow from pop music into prog through their musical journey by asking questions and seeking new sensations and emotions. That is where prog metal comes into play... or some other crossover genre, to be honest. I for example became interested in prog through Jaga Jazzist and DT's SFaM simultaneously.    

Edited by Oliverum - August 26 2011 at 12:37

Because for a very long time, DT was probably the only progressive band that achieved a certain popularity and cult following. For a lot of people of my age (I'm 22) it was the only "prog rock" reference they have, still today. My first prog rock band was ELP i believe, and I was just a little boy when I first heard of them, but I always regarded them as classic rock mostly because I didn't knew what "progressive rock" was at the time, although I was also a big Pink Floyd fan. But when I heard stuff like Octavarium, Images And Words, and also LTE's debut, it opened me a whole world of weird music. By that time I was like 15 and also liked Maiden, so hearing a band playing "my" prog rock mixed with "my" metal was completely awesome, as it has been said.

In my opinion, older people shoudln't be too hard on youngsters who only know DT. Don't ask them about Mahavishnu Orchestra or Dixie Dregs because it's obvious that they will not know those bands. Most of the times, the people who lived the golden yeard of prog and neo prog often hear the "prog metal" label and just say "meh....", but it's very true that we should thank DT for keeping prog rock's spirit alive.

Bonnek wrote: So you think 95% of PA stinks? Too bad for you.

It weirds me out when other people don't dislike most of anything.

Henry Plainview wrote: Bonnek wrote: So you think 95% of PA stinks? Too bad for you. It weirds me out when other people don't dislike most of anything.

paganinio wrote: The question is why. Why has metal become so prevalent during the last 10-15 years?

Maybe it's because those of us in the first wave of prog fans are beginning to die off?

I'd point out too that some of these albums and groups listed under 'prog metal' aren't really metal.

Jbird wrote: I'd point out too that some of these albums and groups listed under 'prog metal' aren't really metal.   Haken, Porcupine Tree, and others.

I believe Haken and Porcupine tree are listed under heavy prog...

Ugh, I'm not a prog metal fan, and I despise most metal, unless it's something really slow and extreme, like drone that concentrates more on riff than solo. I've always had a Sabbath/Blue Cheer/Melvins attitude, where I prefer slowness to speed.

The reason I stray away from metal though, is that it tends to go towards a "I'm heavier/can do a longer solo than you" approach, and forgets about all other aspects of the music.