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

I've always felt that almost all modern (2000s) prog bands who have some degrees of success have one thing in common: they play prog metal or at least integrate prog metal elements in their music. Using the PA Top Albums chart, I found 15 metal albums in the top 20 albums of 1999-2011. This includes Choirs of the Eye by Kayo Dot and Vehicle by miRthkon (these two aren't categorized under progressive metal on the site but they are prog metal albums). There are also 2 heavy prog albums in the top 20 albums list, In Absentia and De-Loused in the Comatorium, both of which are heavy enough to be considered prog metal to some extent. In total, 17 albums out of 20 are prog metal or heavy prog.

The question is why. Why has metal become so prevalent during the last 10-15 years? Maybe it's because prog metal is the ultimate form of progressive music, and musicians before 1996 (namely, Ænima and Crimson) either didn't know enough about the genre, or weren't technically proficient enough to veer into the genre. As soon as they overcame those difficulties, they immediately embraced prog metal. What other reasons can you think of that explain the dominance of prog metal over the last decade (and quite possibly this), I'll be happy to hear.

^ It's pretty much like he said.

Negoba wrote: Because when grunge hit, metal was the only genre that still embraced technicality. While mainstream metal was driven out, there was a void for those who liked complex music.   And if you define "metal" as anything using distorted guitars, well that's just part of the vocabulary of modern music.

But then Soundgarden was quite a technical band who also are labeled as a grunge band, so that argument can go many ways. Not saying grunge are a genere filled with technical and complex band, but even outside of grunge Soundgarden are a complex band. They also were gifted as technical (relatively) musicians who know how to play their instruments inside-out and was never afraid to experiment with genres such as psychadelia, jazz and midel eastern influences. And yes Soundgarden embraced technicality in so many uniqie ways like alternative tunings, wierd/crypic lyrical subjects, odd-time signature, neck braeking instrumental passages and ferosious frett-play, often layerd and complex song structure, but also songs that developed over the length of the songs timemeter.

this song goes from a 12/8, 15/8, to a 9/8 and 6/8



and here a song that develops though the length of the songs, it progresses after each section




Edited by aginor - August 24 2011 at 10:34

The thing is, "popular" music, which is controlled mainly by media, has generally been music with low levels of talent. At our time, its basically eternal sh*t, its just based on image and how good their hair looks, and the only music part of it is "can this person sing". I think we all understand and agree on this.

Now, why are so many progressive musicians turning towards metal?

Metal is generally easier to explain as more complicated music, because of the faster playing, and so people can explain themselves more. And they feel belonged in a group that is relatively large. With Progressive Rock, its harder to communicate the intelligence. The outside listener must really understand music.

purplesnake wrote: Metal is generally easier to explain as more complicated music, because of the faster playing, and so people can explain themselves more. And they feel belonged in a group that is relatively large. With Progressive Rock, its harder to communicate the intelligence. The outside listener must really understand music.

I guess it's only normal that many young people tend to enjoy high-energy music rather than pastoral or symphonic qualities. I myself have always enjoyed symphonic such as Renaissance, early Genesis or ELP because I grew up listening to it, but in my teens I could perfectly combine listening to real 70's prog with things like AC/DC, Judas Priest, Van Halen and the likes, I had also my heavy metal period.

 

purplesnake wrote: The thing is, "popular" music, which is controlled mainly by media, has generally been music with low levels of talent. At our time, its basically eternal sh*t, its just based on image and how good their hair looks, and the only music part of it is "can this person sing". I think we all understand and agree on this.

Nope, music was never good.

Metal is generally easier to explain as more complicated music, because of the faster playing, and so people can explain themselves more. And they feel belonged in a group that is relatively large. With Progressive Rock, its harder to communicate the intelligence.

How does complexity equate to intelligence?

The outside listener must really understand music.

Nope.

Guldbamsen wrote: The short version would be that "metal" still is a fairly new genre, at least the modern day version of it. I´ve tried playing some Judas Priest from the 70s to some young people(13-17) a while back - and they said it had absolutely nothing to do with metal I agree that metal back then was highly rooted in rock n´roll ( as it is today), but the parallels between the likes of Zep and Purple seem to have deterred somewhat.

It is funny to me how the early "metal" bands would be considered merely hard rock at best now. I'm not sure what that means, though.

I don't think that this happened over a single reason, but actually because a series of them. Some of them were pointed already (lack of complex music in the pop music scene, aggressive music appeal more to the younger audience, metal has a bigger stablished niche public), but there rare also other reasons.

Edited by CCVP - August 25 2011 at 08:42

I started off listening to bands such as Sabbath, Purple, Rainbow, Led Zep & etc. before getting into prog. Although all of those bands are on this site, I never regarded them as prog in any shape or form, but they were absolutely massive in the 1970's.

If you Dig any heavier prog you will love "Black Atom Reign" Look it up on facebook or youtube! This needs to be heard!!

 http://www.youtube.com/user/BlackAtomReign