Top Prog Metal

Good tech extreme metal band is CYNIC

The most important progressive metal band is Riverside.

Although I would recommend Arena's Immortal album for metal fans, even if they are Neo-prog. Trust me.

Guys. Check out 7th REIGN and BRAINSTORM.

Just my favorites really, but:

Edited by HemispheresOfXanadu - July 12 2013 at 17:37

From a historical perspective, you would not have prog metal without Black Sabbath and, later, Rush. (Even though there were some bands in between them). Queensryche was also seminal.

Mellotron Storm wrote: Fates Warning is right up there as far as importance goes. If you like it heavy then check out Zero Hour.

I lIke Zero Hour as well. They do offer a pretty decent sound.
Great bass player, especially on the album The Towers of The Avarice.

^ na. It'll be good. I like how they have 2 en suites. The album structure looks promising.

Oh hey guys. Speaking of dream Theater. Here are the track listings for the new album.
Looks exciting!! A proggy adventure indeed!


1. False Awakening Suite
   i. Sleep Paralysis
   ii. Night Terrors
   iii. Lucid Dream
2. The Enemy Inside
3. The Looking Glass
4. Enigma Machine
5. The Bigger Picture
6. Behind the Veil
7. Surrender to Reason
8. Along for the Ride
9. Illumination Theory
   i. Paradoxe de la Lumière Noire
   ii. Live, Die, Kill
   iii. The Embracing Circle
   iv. The Pursuit of Truth
   v. Surrender, Trust & Passion

Well let's be clear on who's at the top and who is important for the whole birthing on the genre itself.

Important.

Queensrÿche. Everything they did before 1991's promise land.
Fates Warning. Incrediblely one of America's best prog metal acts that really fully emerged in 1989.
Dream Theater. Still to this day they are the quintessential prog gods and re-formed early 1990's metal. Best in the business I think. They are the Wayne Gretzky of Prog Metal.
Symphony X--went their own way and created some pretty incredible prog that is largely iron maiden and dream Theater influenced.
Iron Maiden--of course these guys gave rise to a more technical/heavy metal sound in the early 80's. One of thee most important bands. They are the UK's stamp on the genre.
Metallica--Once again. Thrash metal that actually had some grace and finesse to it. And Justice For all is a very important album. The song 'ONE' became a hallmark or even a bench mark for proggy thrash metal style creations.
PSYCHOTIC WALTZ---need I say more. ;)

Now. As for who is on a major rampage for creating great, innovative prog metal today. Here are my votes.

Symphony X. They are still very relevent and are at the height or high point Of their career right now with the last 2 album releases 1) Paradise Lost and 2) Iconoclasts. Truly one of the best still to this day. I've got a ton of respect for them.

AGALLOCH. Although they are considered to be more experimental in the prog metal world where by they do not fit into prog metal's typical molds, none the less their sound is very important in the metal world of things. It's the difference they create that is outstanding and hugely innovative. The Mantle and Ashes Against the grain are important listens.

RIVERSIDE. Poland's best prog metal band by far. Have an emerging following ever since Second Life Syndrome.
Hugely consistent band that releases quality music like the air tight ANNO DOMINI.

DREAM THEATER.-- music may not be overly innovative or exciting for the past 4 albums except for ADTOE, but none the less they still create quality music and are still exciting fans with a new album coming out this September! Believe it or not, a ton of proggers like myself, still give a sh*t about what Dream Theater will do next.

Arch/MATHEOS-- only one album to their credit but I expect big things to come with this project, especially since it carries 3 of the orginal Fates Warning members. ;)

Lastly. SOULFLY. although this band is not on PA (they should be!) SOULFLY are South America's very best thrash/prog metal bands that carry the south Amercian culture with in their music with use of Latin instrumentments and percussion tools as well. They have released 8 albums to their credit and they are all good. My most relevent prog metal band for me. Their last Album (2012) ENSLAVED did very well in the metal market.

Ok. I' has yammered enough. Anyway. Great thread!   

RedNightmareKing wrote: Opeth Dream Theater Symphony X Maudlin of the Well Devin Townsend Later period Porcupine Tree Tool Mastodon Pain of Salvation Riverside doesn't really click with me, but then again I haven't delved too far into their territory yet.