Progressive Rock and Metal

[IrishCanadian25]

Progressive Metal - The Forgotten Genre of Music​

A position peice by IC25​

For the sake of typing less, "progressive rock" with hereafter be referred to as "prog rock" or just "prog."

In the history of music, some of the greatest work in history has been a result of pure experimentation. As much as painting, sculpture, theatre, or literature, music has been an extension of the artistic tendencies of human culture since ancient times. And in the last 100 years, perhaps no other musical genre is a ripe with artistic qualities as prog rock - nor has any genre been more discredited or forgotten.

A joint effort of rock and technology - "rocknology" - Prog Rock fused metal, jazz, classical, and world music together the way a great restaurant bring Western Cuisine together with sushi and pasta. The existance of epic tales or songs - often times an entire album used to tell one long story - is a hallmark of progressive rock and metal, as are songs well in excess of 10 minutes.

Despite being one of music's forgotten terms, many classic bands are regarded as progressive rock artisits. Jethro Tull, Genesis, Yes, Rush, King Crimson, Emerson Lake and Palmer, ever Pink Floyd. In this thread, I want to focus on some of the great progressive rock bands of all time, and ask what some of yours are.

Genesis. Helped launch and nuture progressive rock with the help of visionary Peter Gabriel.

Yes. The pinnacle of progressive rock in the late 1970's, marked in part by Chris Squire's working of the wah-wah pedal, phasing, and tremolo into bass lines.

Rush. The flag carriers of prog rock for many years. Originators of fantasy lyrics, libertarian views, and amazing overall technical talent. Directly influenced Metallica, Smashing Pumpkins, and several other bands on this list.

Queen. The greatest rock band in history. If you've ever listened to the album "Queen II," you are aware of the focus on the fantasy lyrics as well as their use of tech in songs, including keyboards, harmonious guitar riffs, etc. Also the inventors of "Opera Rock."

Styx. Come Sail Away, Mr. Roboto, Renegade. Tremendous collection of musical talent, Styx carried prog rock into the 1980s.

Alan Parsons Project. APP worked on projects with the Beatles and Plink Floyd, eventually deciding to begin writing music that paralleled film. a specific influence came from Hitchcock films, they produced Tales of Mystery and Imagination.

Toto. Progressive cheese at its finest. Toto was a collection of legendary session musicians, added an element of funk to prog rock, and is best known for classics like Africa, Rosanna, and Hold the Line.

Queensryche. The most under rated band on this list, and possibly ever. Queensryche began the transition of prog rock to progressive metal, marked with epic albums such as Empire and Operation: Mindcrime, as well as visually stunning stage shows.

Fates Warning. The full circle transition to Prog Metal is complete with Fates Warning, the band who were the precursor to Dream Theatre. I honestly feel that, without Fates Warning, we may not have bands such as Trivium, Atreyu, and Avenged Sevenfold.

Dream Theatre and King's X. I lump them together because they represent the magic that was created in 1985 by these two bands. Dream Theatre has gone one to be Progressive Metal's most recognizable and influential acts. Their greatest hits album describes the lack of mainstream interest in this genre by it's title "Our Greatest Hit and 20 Other Really Cool Songs." Dream Theatre also did an amazing tribute to Dimebag Darrel of Pantera by covering Cemetary Gates. Authors of the first and only true prog metal song ever heavily featured on MTV with "Pull Me Under."

Tool. Though King's X originated it, Tool popularized progressive metal mixed with grunge. From Undertow to Aenema, Tool is one of progressive metal's most famous and successful acts.

Mudvayne. A combination of alt metal and prog, Mudvayne represents Prog's hardest sound to date, with songs like Dig feuling their success.

Muse. Helping lead the 00's resurgence of British Prog Rock, Muse brings back the full technological aspects of bands like Yes and Genesis, as well as the stunning stage shows akin to Electric Light Orchestra, BTO, and Queensryche.

Mars Volta, Coheed and Cambria, and Mastadon also have formed recently under a serious prog influcence.

Lesser known bands from the 70's and 80's such as Savatage and Testament flew under the Progressive Flag for many years, and eventually members of those bands would form with producer Paul O'Neil to form the amazing ensemble "Trans-Siberian Orchestra," which challenges Dream Theatre, Yes, Genesis, and Queensryche for greatest pure progressive rock act of all time.

 

[Cena's Little Helper]

Hmmmm...I am a huge fan of prog rock. I like Yes, Rush, Jethro Tull, Focus (well, I just like their song Hocus Pocus; I don't know anything else that they've done), and Kansas. Furthermore, I love Toto, ELO, and Genesis. However, although Genesis is my second favorite musical act of all-time, I really wasn't a big fan of their work with Peter Gabriel; rather, I liked their reincarnation as the arena rock band fronted by Phil Collins. But, I am a huge fan of Prog Rock. I listen to Toto on a daily basis (although what I listen to varies), as well as the songs "Tom Sawyer," "Telephone Line," and "Carry On Wayward Son."

 

[NSL]

I'm a fan of a ton of the bands listed, but I'm also a fan of one that seems to be forgotten. Orgy.

They got their boost from covering Blue Monday, but they also had great songs with Stitches, Fetisha, and Dizzy. And those are all on the same album. The main reason, I feel, that they didn't catch on, was because they didn't have the look of a mainstream band, and they were being buried in their own category by Marilyn Manson, among others, including Mudvayne.

They're still out there today, but they'll never regain what could've been, and they'll almost assuredly never be on the radio again.

 

[The Dewbliners]

I'm a fan of a ton of the bands listed, but I'm also a fan of one that seems to be forgotten. Orgy.

They got their boost from covering Blue Monday, but they also had great songs with Stitches, Fetisha, and Dizzy. And those are all on the same album. The main reason, I feel, that they didn't catch on, was because they didn't have the look of a mainstream band, and they were being buried in their own category by Marilyn Manson, among others, including Mudvayne.

They're still out there today, but they'll never regain what could've been, and they'll almost assuredly never be on the radio again.

I agree with the Orgy. Not only did they deserve top billing over bands like Mudvayne and Static-X, but they were head and shoulders above Manson at that point. Plus, how many of those episodes of that MTV show (name escapes me at the moment, but the one where exes would go before a "judge" to determine who was to blame for the breakup?) ended with the guy "singing" Blue Monday? Truly is a shame they didn't get the recognition they deserved.

 

[Shadowmancer]

I love Prog. I look at a specific websites for finding new bands, Im not sure if it contravenes the rules for advertising so Im not going to mention it. There is only one problem I have with Prog and that is with certain groups of fans, the rpog elitists as I like to call them just annoy me, they only think that prog is supposed to have a certain sound and albums that are certainly progressive in nature, like Mastodon's Blood Moutain, they say isn't prog at all. They complain about Dream Theater and think that the only good music that Genesis did was with Peter Gabriel and not Phil Collins.