A Prog Metal Poll: American vs. European - Progressive Rock Music Forum

I included some of the prominent prog metal bands from the USA and Europe. The poll doesn't ask if you prefer American or European prog metal in general. Consider only the bands included here for your preference. I didn't include Opeth, as they are not "metal" or even edgy rock anymore.

Which one is your "bunch"?

Edited by Shadowyzard - December 12 2021 at 06:38

None.

I prefer Ayreon to Dream Theater, but I don't know the other four bands in the poll, so I choose Neither. Confused

I really only listen to one of the American, and one of the European bands listed, and of those two, Europe is the winner. But if I looked at the question more broadly, the answer would still be European as there is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY more European prog metal that floats my boat than American.

Actually, I would go as far as to say there is way more European music, in general, and probably in every genre, that I prefer to the American equivalent. But then, that is possibly because I am assumin by the bands listed, that the OP means North American only. If Central and South America were included, it would give the Americas a boost. Unfortunately, it probably still couldn’t compete with the sheer variety Europe has to offer - simply because there are so many geographic regions within Europe that have such different cultures, traditional musical styles, and instrumentation.

It’s not really a fair contest, from my point of view. But I’m well aware my view may be a minority, as a lot of people will listen to only the bands from Europe and America which are largely homogeneous, and drawing upon the same influences and sounds.

Reviewer for The Progressive Aspect

^Yeah, I wondered. For me, American means anyone from North, Central or South America. I have never used the term to mean simply residents of the US. A Canadian is as American as a Mexican or Venezuelan. I once had a Canadian query me after describing him as American if I would want to be called Australasian, and was bewildered when I said it wouldn’t bother me at all, because I know I am Australasian. Then again, seeing how many Englishmen don’t like to be called European, it’s not just a Canadian/American thing.

If you meant the US vs Europe, then Europe would almost certainly win hands down with me, every time.

Reviewer for The Progressive Aspect

I've lived my entire life in the U.S.A. Americans is the term we use for ourselves. Other than derogatory terms, I've never heard of us being referred to by any other term. History of this usage dates back to the British colonies on the eastern part of North America. Before that it did refer to both continents, but I'm not aware of anyone using it in this manner other than here in this thread. I don't believe there is any official term for peoples of both continents, but have heard academics use the phrase "peoples of the Americas," otherwise, North Americans and South Americans for the individual continents.

Not that this matters, but the U.S.A. is the only country on both continents that has America in its name. I know of no other person on these two continents that is having some battle over the usage of the name Americans, though I will admit I may be ignorant of such a thing going on. I know most Canadians would never want to be called Americans, though given the last few years, I would consider it an honor if somebody called me a Canadian.

Inside my country, sometimes we are referred to by the state we live in. In my case, Pennsylvanians. But that isn't common usage where I live. Similar examples are Californians, Texans, Arizonans, Minnesotans, etc.

English is a weird language.

Edited by progaardvark - December 12 2021 at 11:44

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i'm shopping for a new oil-cured sinus bag
that's a happy bag of lettuce
this car smells like cartilage
nothing beats a good video about fractions

I'm not the prog metal enthusiast I once was, but as far as I'm concerned, there's Fates Warning, Savatage, early Dream Theater, Threshold with Damian Wilson, and then there's everything else.

eBay

Shadowyzard wrote:

^ I think the name of your country, The United States of America, makes it hard to give you a precise word denoting your nationality. I'm fine with saying "American culture", "American people", "American movies" etc. for the "things" that belong to the United States of America. But another day, I might get mad and call you the USians as an Asian (actually Eurasian). Tongue

I get mad at my country all the time. When I do, I usually call them turds or poopheads. Maybe not so helpful in the grand scheme of things, but at the least a form of stress relief.

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i'm shopping for a new oil-cured sinus bag
that's a happy bag of lettuce
this car smells like cartilage
nothing beats a good video about fractions

All I can tell is that I like Fates Warning's The Spectre Within and Riverside's two first albums.

quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond

although I am English it should be noted there are actually other countries in the U.K. such as the one I currently live in which is Wales. The people here would not take kindly to being called English at all…..

I voted neither since I just can’t see the appeal in anything metal related

Poll Question: Which "group" do you pick?
Poll Choice	Votes	Poll Statistics
Dream Theater/Symphony X/Fates Warning (American)	14	[25.45%]
Pain of Salvation/Riverside/Ayreon (European)	18	[32.73%]
I wish I could choose both.	6	[10.91%]
Neither.	17	[30.91%]
You can not vote in this poll

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