Darkest Prog Bands

Soft Machine is pretty dark and eery sounding.  Take into account that I don't listen to them anything after Three and Four, when they started becoming a completely different band.  In the Court of the Crimson King is pretty dark.  Interstellar overdrive too...

el böthy wrote: cacho wrote: If it hasn't been mentioned, I'll say it, The Tangent. Yeah, I think they're darkest of the Retro Prog ones I know, rather than the up-lifting(not a bad thing) Transatlantic or The Flower Kings. (I heard Karmakanic latest was dark? or just heavier?) Hahahahaha The Tangent? The Sun is in my eyes-The Tangent?

Agreed. The Tangent is quite far from dark although I do like them a lot.
As for the latest from Karmakanic, they have some darker moments. I wouldn't suggest it to anyone looking for a dark album. Maybe if they were looking for a dark symphonic prog sound I would recommend it although I am far from the best authority to speak for dark prog.

Anekdoten is really dark, but really fantastic!

Deathspell Omega!!!!!!

Fas - Ite, Maledicti, in Ignem Aeternum (Latin for Divine law - Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire) is the second album among the conceptual trilogy by French black metallers Deathspell Omega. Though the albums within the trinity are linked by concept, they are all musically unique. The trilogy proclaims the relationships of God, Hell, and man. Fas' concept is focused around man. The album was released by the French underground black metal label Norma Evangelium Diaboli in Europe on July 16th, and in the US by Ajna Offensive (and distributed by Southern Lord) on the 17th. It was originally released both as a CD Digipak and on vinyl LP. The vinyl version also contains a poster of the cover and a 12 inch booklet. Despite it's large size, the booklet is identical to the Digipak version.

One who enters the domain of this 45 minute LP will certainly be left drawn and exhausted by the end. This album is harsh, brutal, and inexplicably magical. Through the use of technical insanity and subtle atmospheric details, Deathspell Omega created an experience unlike one in existence before.

Although the basis of this album is black metal, do not confuse it with raw black metal via Darkthrone or Mayhem and do not be misguided by the bands primitive early recordings. They have long since progressed above the cheesy generic black metal of their early career. Since then they have utilized a much cleaner produced aesthetic and instead of pumping gnarly dissonance, they have acquired a method of utmost technicality.

Through this blazing disarray of impossible-to-play drum lines and nimble guitars are groovy post-esque segments that allow the listener a bit of time to rest. A physical rest perhaps, though these segments certainly do not lighten the atmosphere. Imagine an Isis cover band that had died and is playing in an eternal prison within hell. And I'm not alluding that these parts were ripped off of Isis, they are certainly unique.

The amount of details hidden within this album is incredible. I have listened to the album maybe 40 or 50 times now and upon each spin I unearth new layers of which I was previously unaware. For example, it was only the last time I listened to the album that I realized the prominent use of piano. Even in the heavy chaotic moments there is that far off layer of creepily out of tune piano that just adds to the atmosphere. Further more there are terrified screams, choral arrangements, and samples of classical music (played on cello I believe) within the mix. In my opinion it is the ability to dig and analyze and be surprised by music even after dozens of repeated listens that certifies an album as purely progressive.

In conclusion, this is in my opinion the most accomplished piece of black metal to be yet released. It is my second favorite album of all time and it is one that I believe I will enjoy for years to come. I highly recommend it for fans of tech/extreme or avant-garde prog (though perhaps post-metalers will enjoy it as well). If you do not listen to this album you are doing a disservice to the entire history of metal...

- Jake Kobrin

NaturalScience wrote: Captain Capricorn wrote: Univers Zero Shub-Niggurath Van der Graaf Generator Magma King Crimson   ...& in that order I like this new guy!

Hmm...dark...

I'll have to, along with everyone else, reaffirm the status of Crimso and V der G as the darkest of the classic prog set. 

Some additions: High Tide has a fairly bleak outlook on life. You know, what with the song titles like "Futilist's Lament" and "Death Warmed Up." Their buddies The Doors ain't exactly the happiest band on earth either--wasn't the term "goth rock" coined for them?

From the modern set...I'm surprised no one's mentioned Radiohead. They've taken the Pink Floyd "we're all terribly depressed and going to die" line and taken it to a new level. No one's done paranoid and depressing in such a personal way for me, not since Morrison and friends. 

*Disclaimer: none of Tull's album's are hideously dark, but they're always very cynical, and a few (Heavy Horses, Benefit, Minstrel) can be kinda depressing and hopeless. Just sayin'. 

Edited by The Whistler - February 22 2009 at 21:25

Comus if lyrics are allowed to contribute to the discussion. If not I can't really decide.

EDIT: Gotta voice it for Sleepytime Gorilla Museum.


Edited by Equality 7-2521 - February 25 2009 at 22:58

Pink Floyd (namely the Waters era)
Porcupine Tree (and all Steven Wilson's solo projects)
Opeth
Tool


Edited by Eraserhead - February 26 2009 at 20:41

Captain Capricorn wrote: Argh! Art Zoyd

Yes! Now you got it right.

Too few know this guy in my avatar: Igor Wakhevitch Docteur Faust, Hathor (& Logos) are darker than most (all, really) suggestions here.

Only one mention of Heldon? And that was by myself.