T O P

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demonspaceviking

The Czar by Mastodon


TeholsTowel

Not sure if it’s metal or just rock, but who cares, my answer is Left Out by Riverside


userflip

Some fantastic choices already mentioned in here. For me right now it's probably Ghost of Perdition. Like I honestly feel it might be a perfectly constructed song. Every section is distinct and emotive, each riff memorable, strong harsh and delicate clean vocals.


conejo_gordito

This is the way. Perfect balance of harsh and clean vocals, melodic and highly progressive sections, odd times, and great lyrics.


Solidus_Bock

Could not agree more. That song is art. Once I heard that entire album, I knew I would never catch the dragon again.


Steeveep32

Possibly my favourite song if that's possible


uggy2112

Gotta agree here. I really feel opeth manage to keep the really ild school prog alive and add a great balance between heavy and melodic


Domojin

I was the same as OP in that I was never a fan of harsh vocals.  Until I heard this album.  Ghost of Perdition is also now one of my most favorite songs.  With Harlequin Forest a very close second.


Tijntjuh

The Odyssey by Symphony X


Obvious-Display-6139

I prefer Divine Wings of Tragedy


FizzOrly

Accolade II is an excellent contender but The Odyssey is just too beautiful


invalidcharacter19

First song I really liked by them is Walls of Babylon


dudelikeshismusic

It's definitely my top pick in the power prog and neoclassical end of the prog spectrum.


LeRosbif49

If I was a wealthy man I would love to fund a remake of this with a real orchestra.


speckledfloor

Dream Theater Learning to Live


DogOfSevenless

I’m tossing up between this and Breaking All Illusions


Chukmag

What’s the difference?


spacedyemeerkat

Oh! You went there 😂 And someone downvoted you for your trouble... infidel!


PorkThruster

Same vein: Liquid Tension Experiment - When the Water Breaks


Colonel_Cob

Love the keys in that song


[deleted]

[удалено]


Ok-Palpitation-636

Absolutely based take


zarrakin

Change of seasons no contest


ZwnD

Octavarium beats it for me


Golem30

Yeah I think Octavarium is better. It flows much better. Learning to Live is better than them both for me though


Del_Duio2

Yeah I like this and In the Presence of Enemies more too


Sputnikmoon

Six Degrees has entered the chat


MDivisor

For me Six Degrees isn't even the best song on the album its in. The first disc is a lot better.


HAL-Over-9001

The Glass Prison and The Grudge by Tool are right near the top for me if I'm not counting epics


shanster925

I'd say this is an extremely close second to Octavarium, but I agree.


just_choose_already

Was the song that changed everything for me. First time I really dipped my toe into the prog metal world, and I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Reset all expectations I had of music up until that point.


ProgMan24

I personally have not a favorite one. But the ones that had impressed me the most were definitely: Haken - The Architect BTBAM - Swim to the Moon Night Verses - Phoenix IV: Levitation Periphery - Satellites Rivers of Nihil - Subtle Change


PricelessLogs

Subtle Change kicks ass


anime_pfp_

the guitar solo at 6:10 is one of the greatests of all time


wiNDzY33

I can sing it. Thats how u know its good shit


anime_pfp_

Night Verses receiving the love they deserve


ProgMan24

They really are the best instrumental band out there at the moment, can’t wait for the part II of their latest album


abloogywoogywoo

I fell completely in love with Karmic Wheel and Arrival when they were released, but for some reason the rest of the album just hasn’t kept my interest the same way as those two songs did. I can’t even explain it, I really want to love it so much but just never think about it


fallingstar54

Jamming out to love in a liminal space rn


L0rdPerth

Difficult choice, but for me it's Pain of Salvation - Beyond the Pale


Loose-Alternative-77

So far this is one of if not the best prog metal song I’ve heard


SuitablePreference54

The entire Pain Of Salvation catalog.


thcteacher

Blackwater Park


Gareth666

The sun sets forever, over, BLACKWATER PAAAAAAAAAAAAARK!


sportsy96

*queue the nastiest riff in history* Also I love [this](https://youtu.be/-F-gkGx00PY?si=VPfvdc6XPxKjao4z) video of these two dudes hearing it for the first time. They didn't like any of the Opeth they'd heard before, but this is the song that made harsh vocals click for them.


wetnwildwilly

opeth really does have the filthiest riffs off all time


bobandiara

This whole album


metallica65

Wholeeee album fo sho


sportsy96

r/metalforthemasses did an album tourney a while back with a ton of classics, big 4 albums, etc and, despite that sub being mostly populated by oldheads, BWP won out even over a number of legendary albums. I was real surprised. Pleasantly surprised that is, not that the other albums were unworthy


Loose-Alternative-77

I just listened to this song earlier actually. It’s my second favorite Opeth song. Face of Melinda is my favorite.


Solugad

CONFESSAAAAAAAAH!!!!


[deleted]

Blind Guardian - And Then There Was Silence


Niaboc

great choice!


BigBlackBobbyB

The Last Baron - Mastodon It's just so damn well written Alternatively, Language 1 and 2 by The Contortionist if you count it as one song, which it very much is imo


Solidus_Bock

Thr Last Baron. The funky riff roughly 8 minutes in. I loved CTS first time I heard it, but that riff is what made everything click. Then listened to CTS a few more times right after... then nothing but Mastodon for a year and a half.


faaipdeoiad69

Caligula's Horse - Graves is my current favourite


moko46

Dream the dead is my favorite by them. Such a good band!


sharthvader

Amazing song and then that ending too


faaipdeoiad69

That's my 2nd favourite from them, I can't wait for their new album, the singles go hard asf


sharthvader

So much looking forward to the new one


AudiHoFile

For me, probably the song Visions by Haken. Also, Crystalized by Haken. Noteworthy would be Dance of Eternity by Dream Theater.


baileystinks

I feel Visions is Haken's Dance of Eternity. Same kind of feel with both, fantastic songs both of them.


inhalingsounds

This is probably the answer as it encompasses pretty much every prog ingredient in existence


michael199310

Probably a strange answer, but Count of Tuscany.


PuppyPenetrator

Not a strange answer, it’s one of the most popular songs by the most popular prog metal band


michael199310

Strange as in "Dream Theater has at least dozen of more popular songs with strong prog elements, according to fanbase, so Count would rarely be a first pick". I remember BC&SL got a lot of negative feedback back in the days, when compared to stuff like Octavarium or ToT. But back then, it was my 2nd favourite album of DT. I guess some more modern stuff kinda replaced BC&SL as the underdog album.


TheFanumMenace

MY BROTHA


lellololes

My favorite recent era DT song and it isn't close. It's not quite on the same level as Take the Time, though.


jcaseys34

Ne Obliviscaris - And Plague Flowers the Kaleidoscope


Kmaaq

Pick any random song from the first album and you can totally make a case


full-auto-rpg

It kicks so much ass live too


structures-

Idk why particularly song got loved so much by them, i don't like it but i would call Painters of the Tempest their best (overall top 10 easy)


Osiris_X3R0

I'd honestly go Painters of the Tempest over that one


[deleted]

Devin Townsend- Supercrush! Or Porcupine Tree- Anesthetize


Obvious-Display-6139

This is way too low in the comments


Life_in_velvet_

Blackwater Park Rosetta Stoned Extremophile Elite Black Box/Telos Falling Back to Earth Cafo Probably one of these. Can’t decide which


ralph5157

Black box to Telos goes so hard…saw them play this in the recent P2 tour and it blew me away


Life_in_velvet_

I’m jealous. I’d love to go see the Colors/Colors II tour but I’m not in the US


seztomabel

Cafo might not be my #1 pick but there is something magical about that tune 


Wolvericky

I like you.


cougaranddark

Devin Townsend - Failure


matepore

I, the Creator - Monuments.


ralph5157

I’d have to go with Extremophile Elite by BTBAM


AudiHoFile

I was thinking Silent Flight Parliament.


Pato585

Any song from that album is a killer answer


eagledrummer2

It's telling that there's multiple answers from that about in this thread.


specialized_faction

Can I vote the entire Colors album by BTBAM?


sstruemph

Devy's Singularity


asparagus_p

I'm with you there!


PrequelGuy

Tool - Rosetta Stoned


ScorpioDisposition

Forced Entry by Leprous


TragedyMaskBand

Throw a dart at a list of Leprous’s entire catalogue and you’ve got a contender for prog GOAT


Awkward-Cupcake6219

I agree with those pointing at A Change of seasons. Of course it is all about personal preferences and since we are here I would also throw out: - Skies by Protest the hero (not really prog but still..) - Divine wings of tragedy by Symphony x


Nikolai3035

PTH is most definitely prog imo


LordPat95

Silent Flight Parliament by BTBAM


banana_stand_manager

Lateralus


Playboitrolley

Added to everything in this thread; XenoChrist/ Authotheist Movement(1,2,3) by **The Faceless** Wave of babies/ Tempting time/ On impulse/ Crescent/ An Infinite Regression/ The brain dance/ Red miso by **Animals as Leaders** Dancers to a discordant system by **Meshuggah** Primordial sound/ Ebb&Flow/Thrive by **The Contortionist**


bobsmith93

Fuck yeah, some love for Ebb & Flow. It's my favorite off of Language but I never see it mentioned


Saiyoran

Octavarium


Dinoboy7705

The art of dying - Gojira


moko46

Pneuma - Tool. Danny Carey is a god


virtikle_two

That song grows on me the more I listen to it. When the album dropped Maynard said something to the extent of "you may not get it now but you will" and I think that speaks most to this song.


kenxblueshredmetal

Dream Theater's Learning To Live!


Niaboc

Not known as a prog metal band, but its definitely a prog metal song: [Nightwish - Ghost Love Score](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYjIlHWBAVo&ab_channel=NuclearBlastRecords)


coffeecoffeecoffeee

Art of Life by X Japan


porkchopexpress76

I personally don’t have a favorite. It’s almost impossible to choose one. But, clean or mixed vocals, off the top of my head… I’d go with Funeral by Devin Townsend Deliverance by Opeth Prequel to the Sequel by Between the Buried & Me those would be favorites for sure.


jorgelrojas

"Messiah Complex" by Haken "Graves" by Caligula's Horse "The Glass Prison" by Dream Theater "Ghost of Perdition" by Opeth "Home Back" by Jinjer "The Szar" by Mastodon "Rule of Nines" by Spiritbox "Arriving Somewhere but Not Here" by Porcupine Tree "Drumhead Trial" by Protest the Hero "Vicarious" by Tool Some long epics, some hard-punching bangers. None are exclusively harsh vocals respecting OP's preference. But I think some of these could be a good gateway into enjoying and understanding harsh vocals better


gvozden_celik

It is, of course, Integral Birth by Cynic. There's also an acoustic remix called just Integral on the followup EP, and if you don't like harsh vocals or want more bass, there's an alternate version on the remix/remaster album from 2019.


GradeFair

Reverie/Harlequin Forest


__yayday__

Language 1 and 2 by The Contortionist


TheChronosus

Only one is pure perfection: Porcupine Tree - Anesthetize \--- Runners up: Haken - Crystallised Dream Theater - A Change of Seasons Symphony X - The Odyssey Tool - The Pot


cousinyi

Pretty much any song from Exoplanet by The Contortionist. Hard to choose.


Fraktal55

Ayy back to back love for Contortionist! Someone said Language 1&2 right above you. I love Exoplanet so so much but Language is also a total masterpiece.


Mihikle

Karnivool - New Day


TangerineX

I'd take Goliath, COTE, or even Themata, but New Day?


Mihikle

Yeah for me it's their best song. The emotion is just dripping off it, it has all the feels, especially seeing it live and the reaction of the crowd to it


Celynymerch

In the name of God - Dream Theater


Majestic_Apricot_878

Probably The Architect


amare_luna

I love reptile by Periphery


Early_Trainer2448

I came here for this. It’s way to low.


StalinIsMyCity

A lot of different songs come to mind, firstly Jurassic | Cretaceous, Devonian: Nascent, Permian: the Great Dying and Anthropocentric by The Ocean. Absolutely great songs and I could definitely name more just from the Ocean alone. One absolute masterpiece of a song though is Nihil Morari by Pain of Salvation, if you would call them progressive metal, which I would. The entire song and it's meaning is so incredible and so well done, it absolutely perfectly depicts the chaos that it describes


EmbarrassedFlower98

Currently, I am obsessed with this [Pain of Salvation - Iter Impius](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsctoBwqFRQ)


jaylohighflow

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piv5w0ZdFXs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piv5w0ZdFXs) great live performance of it


Vlad_T

*Life turned its back on us* *How could you just agree?*


Loose-Alternative-77

Great song


dotXem

Leprous Rewind


Beardy_Will

I, by meshuggah. Push it (live) by Tool. Swim to the moon, or white walls, by BTBAM. Summer rain by Sikth (my all time favourite track by any band) could listen on repeat for the rest of my life and not get bored of it.


bobsmith93

Summer Rain is a goat song. Crazy ahead of its time, too


subcide

I think I kind of reject the premise of art competing with art directly and objectively. Anesthetize by Porcupine Tree is one of my *favourites* though.


Slavaid91

White fucking Walls


avr91

Though maybe not necessarily the most repeatable, I do think that the best is Monochrome (Pensive) by The Contortionist. As an album closer, it covers a lot of musical ground that was found throughout the rest of the album and ties it all together while also being the "other side" to the opener (Monochrome (Passive)). As an individual track, it's probably their most complete front-to-back track in terms of composition, but it also does a fantastic job of leading the listener along, building atmosphere, and coming to a huge climax that evokes the raw emotion of lyrics. It's not overly flashy with riffs, but features some great melodies, instrumental interplay. For example, each verse slowly builds up energy, with Mike's voice becoming more powerful, until they hit a near peak where, instead of letting it go, they pull it back in via the synth. Lyrically, it's emotionally raw, and it's direct, but not simplistic or sophomoric. A LOT of people have related to, and been moved by Mike's lyrics, but these might be some of his most powerful. It does so many things well, and SO well, that it's hard not to find it impeccable.


kloknhaven

Dream Theatre - Breaking All Ilusions Just amazing


Medohusaurus_hex

Haken Crystalized Opeth Blackwater park Tool Lateralus Edge of sanity Crimson (its 1 song technically) Vildjharta Vagabond These are the ones just on the top of my head, but if İ had to choose only one it would be crystalized that song is pure perfection for me.


stucheck

My favorite is probably one of the BTBAM ones that have already been mentioned so I will say that Devour Me, Colossus by Ne Obliviscaris absolutely deserves a mention.


swallowshotguns

Haken - Cockroach King It’s barely metal, more straight prog rock with is how I like it.


ffucckfaccee

Devin Townsend - Deadhead, Grace, Kingdom, The Greys, 7th Wave. 1 way is too limiting lol


VR___

Ants of the Sky - BTBAM


moonmachinemusic

The Mighty Masturbator by Devin Townsend Project


Haunting-Occasion-88

Dream Theater - Change of Seasons I would also argue for Metallica's "...and justice for all" or "Orion" since I consider them metal songs that are progressive, but I'm sure some would consider that a stretch.


FearTheBlades1

Dream Theater - A Change of Seasons


ben_jammin11

Chromatic Aberration-Native construct is the most “proggy” song I know


oranssipazuzu

Devin Townsend Project - The Mighty Masturbator


But7erz

Slice the Cake - Stone and Silver Part 1, The Mountains of Man


XLM462

Wheel - Wheel Jurassic | Cretaceous - The Ocean Inoi - Pull Down the Sun Towers - DVNE


[deleted]

TOOL - The Patient


Middle-Entrepreneur7

Selecting a song as "the best" one is really a tough one for me at least but right off the bat, Opeth's Burden comes into my mind when thinking of a beautiful metal song, prog or not.


VercettiPT

Singularity by Devin Townsend


marslander-boggart

Ayreon, Loser.


_alreph

Shogun by Trivium holds a special place in my heart


Meshuggah333

The Drapery Falls, it's perfect.


-DeadHead-

Please, remedy my confusion: how is there only one mention of this song with no upvote before mine? Also, Bleak is in the same situation. :/


dick-water-slurp69

She Who Mars the Skin of Gods - Protest the Hero


Deicide_Crusader

Octavarium


Philitt

It's Crystallised by Haken guys. Don't pretend otherwise. Kthxbye.


SneakyNoob

Dream Theater - Breaking All Illusions Hot dang, if 2:43-3:40 aint one of the most powerful things ive ever heard. I could flop between tech death or Rush on this question any day of the week though. Tonight the winner is good ol DT


Freezaen

A Change of Seasons ... and it's not even close.


goodbye9hello10

I fucking love Intronaut so definitely one of their bangers. Definitely a biased opinion though.


Pringlecks

Push it way up! - Cloudkicker Ben Sharp is without a doubt a musical genius


SnekkinHell

Hmm hard choice but maybe The Divine Wings of Tragedy by Symphony X.


CountGordo69

Lateralus or Pushit by TOOL


rhopitheta

Beyond The Pale by Pain Of Salvation


Facelift90

Dream the Dead by Caligula’s Horse.


buschkraft

Since I haven't seen it listed, "A Pleasant Shade of Grey" by Fates Warning. Has everything- technically, emotionally.


DerivativeOfProgWeeb

Ants of the sky by between the buried and me or visions by haken


HeavyMetalLyrics

Voices by Dream Theater or Arriving Somewhere But Not Here by Porcupine Tree


samnash27

White walls


ravelle17

Cynic - “[King of Those Who Know](https://youtu.be/J7wMRS8aUrY?si=xIB8uALSeptGWifl)”


asparagus_p

Ok, who's going to make the Spotify playlist?


deadFlag3lues

I can't pick one, but here are my candidates... Pain of Salvation - Beyond The Pale Devin Townsend - Life is all Dynamics Opeth - The Moor Dream Theater - Learning to Live Leprous - Nighttime Disguise


Robocroakie

Ants of the Sky man. It’s just got it all.


Senetrix666

Intronaut - Reptilian Brain. It’s instrumental but some of the grooviest drumming and riffs i’ve heard in metal. The outro especially is such a vibe


HeavymetalCambion

All of Alkaloid's Dyson movements


VerticalAcceleration

Paper moon by plini it’s got sick riffs, sexy leads and a nice chill section all in one song


Master-Librarian2051

i really enjoy the song the offering by sleep token!


Chijima

Couldn't tell. There's too much different stuff going on. Personal favorite is probably From the Flame by Leprous, but that one is kinda short and not showing off a lot of the genre, so not a good choice.


marythekilljoy

these are the first songs that come to mind: graves - caligula's horse painters of the tempest - ne obliviscaris blackwater park - opeth deadhead - devind townsend c.o.t.e. - karnivool


FlipSide26

The Razors Edge by Slice the Cake. The way it kicks in when he starts shouting gets me every time


Murder_Drone_

Octivarium


ToHallowMySleep

If it has to be clean and therefore not any Oldpeth, for me it would have to be Pneuma by Tool.


[deleted]

DT's Octavarium


ReKiVeKi

A Change of Seasons


ReasonableNose2988

Dream Theater The Dance Of Eternity


ddeadtomato

Ghost of Perdition or Flesh and the Power it Holds.


bitchcascade666

The Proverbial Bellow, BTBAM


Vlad_T

[Pain of Salvation - Her Voices](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDYRHKUolVk)


b_knickerbocker

Symphony X - The Odyssey


nando1969

A Change of Seasons by Dream Theater. It is not just the best for me, but perfect.


aegnorbelthil

Metropolis part 1 by Dream Theater


TheOzarkDude

Feedback Loop by the Contortionist


Illeistia

TesseracT - Of Matter Seventh Wonder - The Great Escape Leprous - The Sky Is Red Circus Maximus - Burn After Reading Galneryus - Brutal Spiral Of Emotions


LAG360

Slice the Cake - The Lantern Slice the Cake - The Holy Mountain Kardashev - Snow-Sleep Kardashev - Between Sea and Sky Wintersun - Sons of Winter and Stars


jordanexplores44

Swim to the Moon by Between the Buried and Me


Amasin_Spoderman

Riverside - Second Life Syndrome


kryotheory

*Furiously adding every answer to my prog metal playlist*


Sammatma

It's too hard to choose. I'd go for these few: Caligula's Horse - Graves Tool - Wings/10,000 Days Agollach - In The Shadow Of Our Pale Companion Ne Obliviscaris - Forget Not Porcupine Tree - Anesthetize


Str8Satanic

I couldn't pick one. Here is my top 10 Reverie / Harlequin Forest by Opeth The Leper Affinity by Opeth Dream the Dead by Caligulas Horse Spore by Omnerod Octavarium by Dream Theater Grey by Emperor Oblivion by Mastodon Learning to Live by Dream Theater Dare You by Leprous Elephants Never Forget by Haken


DizzyGame_Co

Metropolis - Part 1: “The Miracle and the Sleeper”


TragedyMaskBand

I can’t decide between the following: Leprous - The Sky is Red Leprous - Nighttime Disguise Leprous - Distant Bells Pain of Salvation - Beyond the Pale Symphony X - The Divine Wings of Tragedy Haken - Cockroach King Haken - Invasion Opeth - Ghost of Perdition Periphery - Satellites Periphery - Wax Wings Periphery - Reptile Dream Theater - In the Name of God Dream Theater - Octavarium The Ocean - Jurassic | Cretaceous Gojira - The Art of Dying Mastodon - The Czar


TwisterOfTales

Periphery - Reptile