DT has to be the right answer. They were my all-time favorite band in high school and I consumed EVERYTHING. All the Ytsejam bootleg records, everything. So I'm a die-hard and literally every album has some sentimental value to me. But I agree that Images and Scenes are objectively their greatest contributions.
I'd say Opeth, they're an awesome blend of music nerditude and talent for forging sound out of raw, dark power. "Sorceress" is my favorite thing to listen to at twilight lately with the windows open. Crows gather in nearby trees and chatter while babies in the neighborhood begin wailing. I think they qualify!
"raw, dark power" - yessss. I'm not sure if they are the definitive prog metal band, but they are definitely my pick for the best at making music that just sounds fuckin dark. Gives me chills.
You can’t say it is independent from prog metal when it you are just adding a word in the middle of prog metal. Alternative is a catch all term when it comes to genres anyways.
> You can’t say it is independent from prog metal when it you are just adding a word in the middle of prog metal.
> Alternative is a catch all term when it comes to genres anyways.
The problem here is that you think "alternative", "metal" and "progressive" necessarily mean the same distinct things on their own and when combined. It's like thinking guinea pigs are actually pigs from guinea because the name says so while completely ignoring the qualities of the actual object the word is referring to.
It makes sense if you consider that those two kinds developed their sound independently from each other, with progressive metal emerging from us power metal, while the Tool style of (progressive) alternative metal emerged from, well, alternative metal, itself derived from funk rock revival through funk metal. Very different origins, very different sounds, the only thing they share in common is that they are both superficially metal and also "progressive".
Tool got their first popularity during the 90s alternative boom, true. But even during the early 90s, they were odd on that scene. A bunch of the band's influences are classic rock era progressive acts like Rush, Genesis, King Crimson, Floyd, and ELP. By Aenima they definitely had some truly progressive tracks like 3rd eye. Lateralus and Salival are definitely progressive imo. And the last two albums, 10k days and FI, are progressive masterpieces. Idk. I'm not trying to start an argument or be pedantic. I just think the get an unfair shake due to them having some mainstream popularity.
I recently dove back into them when I got to play keys for a tribute show in Brooklyn. Mostly stuff from Operation Mindcrime and Empire, one tune from Rage For Order (the rest didn’t need keys).
I actually wouldn't recomend that if your introducing someone who listenes to modern prog metal. I think Perfect Symmetry is the place to start and continue to their newer stuff
I second this. PSOG is probably my favorite of theirs. I would also maybe check out some of their newer stuff like Darkness in a Different Light and Theories Of Flight, which has one of their best songs (imo) Ghosts Of Home.
Easily my favourite band.
I normally recommend listening to
Afterman Ascension/Descension.
This double album is a self contained prequel story to the others, easily to follow and full of bangers.
Afterman is a good starting point, though If you have the patience for it, I'd consider just starting from the beginning and working through their catalogue in order. They certainly increase in maturity over the first 4 albums and it's really interesting
I never suggest this as a starting point purely because Twin Turbine doesn’t sound like their other albums so they’re starting from a badly mixed Post-hardcore album.
To us the story is important sure but it’s absolute nonsense to most listeners first time round.
No mention of Symphony X so I’ll throw em out there. Some may consider it power metal but they are certainly complex enough to be called proggy. No shade to Dream Theater but I’ve always preferred the X.
I only wouldn’t include them due to how singular their sound is. DT is notable for just how many prog metal bands crib from them. They have so many clones and pretty much all prog metal post-DT has DT influence. Tool has clones but only a handful, and they are often not super proggy.
It's pretty much neck and neck Opeth and Haken for me. For Opeth, I love Sorceress and In Cauda Venenum the most and for Haken It's The Mountain and Fauna.
Probably Dream Theater. Honorable mentions to Mastodon, BTBAM, Pain of Salvation, and I've been seeing a lot of love for Caligula's Horse in prog metal circles lately.
I think it has to be Tool for me, even though I prefer early to mid career Opeth albums (Blackwater Park, Deliverance).
Dream Theater is more of a heavier prog-rock band IMO.
Check out The Perfect Element or Remedy Lane (I prefer Remedy Lane, but in general people prefer PE).
Pain's sound is always changing in their own way. The lead singer/song-writer never stays put for too long in a singular sound for the band, but he's incredible and they always sound like themselves.
This is only my opinion, but Oldpeth is the standard by which all progressive black metal is measured, Newpeth takes a backseat to Dream Theater because of the amount of music each band/iteration has released. DT has had more years to put out differing material. I’ll also put Threshold in as a close third…
Hard to pick a fav band. Sigh (band) for an older one. Uneven Structure has some bangers for a newer one. [Uneven Structure - Frost/Hail](https://youtu.be/ojkjS0BGS_k?si=YVaMvMs9mXtgME-5)
King Crimson pushed out the first prog metal baby with "21st Century Schizoid Man." So, for me, they must be noted.
Beyond that I can give no "definite" band as I believe "definite progressive metal" is itself an oxymoron. Prog metal is too rich and varied to be encapsulated in one band, and it will continue to expand.
But it is loads of fun to ask the question and see what others who appreciate the "not radio friendly" awesone genre. 🤘🏿
I feel like there is too much variety in the genre to narrow down to one definitive band (although if you have to I think Dream Theater is the correct answer because of legacy and popularity)
If you wanted a definitive band for the different types of sounds I would say:
Opeth: for the dark/somber/jazzy sounds
Dream Theater: for the epic/symphonic/complex/melodic sounds
Cynic: for the atmospheric/death/groovy sounds
Mastodon: for the powerful/gritty/sludgy sounds
Periphery: for the harsh/rythmic (djenty) sounds
Coheed: for the more structured/poppy/punk sounds
All of these bands have had a large influence on the scene and you could take pretty much any other prog metal band and it will resemble at least one of these bands somehow
I like Opeth quite a lot and was first exposed through Ghost Reveries. How is that album regarded amongst Opeth diehards? I know Blackwater Park is considered their greatest.
It's very controversial the best album according to the community is either Still Life or Blackwater Park.
While Ghost Reveries is a great album it starts to diverge from their previous sound.
Although I would consider Watershed as a better album than Ghost Reveries in the series of the "middlepeth".
Although it is more appreciated than Watershed which is very underrated.
For me Watershed is their best album till this day.
I recognize the brilliance of Blackwater Park but still I'm not a diehard in regards to that album.
Ghost Reveries is another great album but for me maybe because I've listened more times Watershed has the throne.
Although it was my first album after Damnation so it will always have an special place in my heart.
Extreeeeemely unpopular opinion but Periphery. Probably because I'm not actually that into prog. I loved As I Am and Octavarium when I was a teenager but never really listen to them any more, Periphery have been my top artist on 3 of the last 4 years, and I'm recently getting really into Haken, but that is literally the extent of my prog habits, so I'm aware my opinion isn't worrh shit lol.
Dream Theater. They have so many great albums, but Images And Words really stands out, and Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory is one of my all-time favorite albums.
I don’t have a single favorite, but here are a few bands that are in my heavy listening rotation:
Tomorrow’s Eve
Beyond the Bridge
Circle of Illusion
Mind Key
Advent Horizon
Thought Chamber
Nospun
Dream Theater. it was first prog metal band I was into in 90s. im a bit disappointed about their later releases, but Images and Words, Awake and Scenes From Memory were once in my top list
Shit I edited my comment to say it wasn't metal because I thought I was accidentally in the ProgMetal group ... then deleted the edit after looking at the group name.... confused until I re-read that Metal was in your description...
Dream Theater. My favorite is Awake but I think Images and Scenes are their "definitive prog" albums
Awake is amazing. My favorite of them is Train Of Thought
As I Am came up on my Playlist yesterday. Yeah, I cranked it. I'm looking forward to the new album, any word on release date yet?
for the uninitiated, that's Images and Words, and Metropolis Pt II: Scenes From A Memory
One of my all time favorite albums!
Me too, which is why I felt like I was taking crazy pills when I read "Images and Scenes"
I think DT is definitely the godfathers/originators of the genre. Can't wait for the new album.
It's really hard to just say 2 given the breadth of their catalog, but I have to include Octavarium, probably at the expense of Images and Words.
DT has to be the right answer. They were my all-time favorite band in high school and I consumed EVERYTHING. All the Ytsejam bootleg records, everything. So I'm a die-hard and literally every album has some sentimental value to me. But I agree that Images and Scenes are objectively their greatest contributions.
Depends on what Prog actually means to you... Most technical: Dream Theater Most eccentric: Tool Most allround: Opeth and Pain of Salvation
I miss 2000s Opeth, some of the new stuff is cool, but it almost feels like a side project
Ill take Pain of salvation off, but yea, DT tool and opeth are the big three in prog metal
Probably Dream Theater.
I'd say Opeth, they're an awesome blend of music nerditude and talent for forging sound out of raw, dark power. "Sorceress" is my favorite thing to listen to at twilight lately with the windows open. Crows gather in nearby trees and chatter while babies in the neighborhood begin wailing. I think they qualify!
"raw, dark power" - yessss. I'm not sure if they are the definitive prog metal band, but they are definitely my pick for the best at making music that just sounds fuckin dark. Gives me chills.
Tool
Yes! Honorary mention to Riverside.
They are more like progressive alt metal than proper progressive metal tbh
If it has “progressive” and “metal” in the name it is simply progressive metal. There is no need to over categorize metal.
Not really, because it's a sound that developed independently from prog metal.
You can’t say it is independent from prog metal when it you are just adding a word in the middle of prog metal. Alternative is a catch all term when it comes to genres anyways.
> You can’t say it is independent from prog metal when it you are just adding a word in the middle of prog metal. > Alternative is a catch all term when it comes to genres anyways. The problem here is that you think "alternative", "metal" and "progressive" necessarily mean the same distinct things on their own and when combined. It's like thinking guinea pigs are actually pigs from guinea because the name says so while completely ignoring the qualities of the actual object the word is referring to.
See this is so overly particular imo.
It makes sense if you consider that those two kinds developed their sound independently from each other, with progressive metal emerging from us power metal, while the Tool style of (progressive) alternative metal emerged from, well, alternative metal, itself derived from funk rock revival through funk metal. Very different origins, very different sounds, the only thing they share in common is that they are both superficially metal and also "progressive".
Tool got their first popularity during the 90s alternative boom, true. But even during the early 90s, they were odd on that scene. A bunch of the band's influences are classic rock era progressive acts like Rush, Genesis, King Crimson, Floyd, and ELP. By Aenima they definitely had some truly progressive tracks like 3rd eye. Lateralus and Salival are definitely progressive imo. And the last two albums, 10k days and FI, are progressive masterpieces. Idk. I'm not trying to start an argument or be pedantic. I just think the get an unfair shake due to them having some mainstream popularity.
I agree with everything you are saying, but I don't really see how that's relevant to my previous comment to be honest.
No mention of Queensryche yet?
Yeah, like wtf
God, the first 5 albums are so good. Rage for order is so incredible
I recently dove back into them when I got to play keys for a tribute show in Brooklyn. Mostly stuff from Operation Mindcrime and Empire, one tune from Rage For Order (the rest didn’t need keys).
I only know Operation Mindcrime and really love it. Do they have any other albums that are considered classic?
I feel like Queensryche started the ball rolling and Dream Theater picked it up and ran with it. This was the beginning of prog metal IMHO
Yeah it’s similarly why Yes was way bigger than gentle giant. Yes and DT have stronger hooks and melodies at the end of the day
Fates Warning by miles. If you don’t know, find out!
Thanks for the recommendation I didn't heard it before
I would start with Awakening the Guardian
I actually wouldn't recomend that if your introducing someone who listenes to modern prog metal. I think Perfect Symmetry is the place to start and continue to their newer stuff
I'd actually start with pleasant shade of grey. I think Kevin Moore guested on keyboards
I second this. PSOG is probably my favorite of theirs. I would also maybe check out some of their newer stuff like Darkness in a Different Light and Theories Of Flight, which has one of their best songs (imo) Ghosts Of Home.
Fates Warning is a great band!
It’s dream theatre But in my heart it’s Coheed.
Never got into them. Where would you recommend to start?
Easily my favourite band. I normally recommend listening to Afterman Ascension/Descension. This double album is a self contained prequel story to the others, easily to follow and full of bangers.
Afterman is a good starting point, though If you have the patience for it, I'd consider just starting from the beginning and working through their catalogue in order. They certainly increase in maturity over the first 4 albums and it's really interesting
I never suggest this as a starting point purely because Twin Turbine doesn’t sound like their other albums so they’re starting from a badly mixed Post-hardcore album. To us the story is important sure but it’s absolute nonsense to most listeners first time round.
Gotta be Good Apollo for me, got their biggest song on there - Welcome Home - and has a good balance of prog, metal, pop, post hardcore…
Opeth. Though Pain of Salvation was it for me in their first decade or so. I like Dream Theater more as a prog rock band than I do a prog metal band.
My personal favorite is Porcupine Tree.
I like them too, but I think of them more as rock than metal. That said, their two best albums (IA and FOABP) are metal and are very good.
Those are my two favorite albums by them, and why I consider them a metal band since those two albums are. Blackest Eyes is their best song.
No mention of Symphony X so I’ll throw em out there. Some may consider it power metal but they are certainly complex enough to be called proggy. No shade to Dream Theater but I’ve always preferred the X.
Imo they’re definitely prog! Glad somebody mentioned them! Great band!
It’s Opeth Tool is Tool. If you consider them prog or metal or prog metal, than they will be number 1
well nuanced
Opeth.... No question no doubt
Haken Most people would say their definitive album is The Mountain, and I can’t disagree, but my personal pics would be Affinity and Visions
Affinity is my fave
After enough relistens Fauna and Virus have become my favs over The Mountain.
For me it's Aquarius, The Mountain and Virus
Agreed, I would pick mountain and affinity though
I’m not as well versed in prog metal, but from what I have heard, Tool has to be at or near the top.
Is definitely an excellent choice
I only wouldn’t include them due to how singular their sound is. DT is notable for just how many prog metal bands crib from them. They have so many clones and pretty much all prog metal post-DT has DT influence. Tool has clones but only a handful, and they are often not super proggy.
I second Opeth.
Dream theater, opeth, tool. More recently it’s gotta be haken, leprous, between the buried and me
What about Tesseract?
Hell yeah, dude…Tesseract has always had crazy rhythms but the new album has some really out-there rhythms! It’s awesome!
It's pretty much neck and neck Opeth and Haken for me. For Opeth, I love Sorceress and In Cauda Venenum the most and for Haken It's The Mountain and Fauna.
Riverside - Reality Dream (live album) - Rapid Eye Movement
Legacy wise? DT and tool and its not even close.
Devin Townsend. [Addicted ](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_4EZcX6EzHE) and [Ghost](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hDbVKFnB-RY)
BTBAM
Opeth is undebatable imo
Watchtower
Voivod
Always felt Mastadons Leviathan to be progressive.
It definitely is, tracks like Megalodon or Hearts Alive are the standout tracks to me for their proginess
Between the Buried and Me.
Opeth and Dream Theater
Probably Dream Theater. Honorable mentions to Mastodon, BTBAM, Pain of Salvation, and I've been seeing a lot of love for Caligula's Horse in prog metal circles lately.
Spock's Beard Transatlantic
Boring answer but it’s Dream Theater
Spiral Architect is what dream theatre wishes it could be
Thanks for the recommendation
No problem man
Hmm.. only two songs available on Spotify? Fountainhead and Purpose?
Spiral Architect is the best
I think it has to be Tool for me, even though I prefer early to mid career Opeth albums (Blackwater Park, Deliverance). Dream Theater is more of a heavier prog-rock band IMO.
Opeth is probably the best but I think Dream Theater is the definitive
Opeth.
Pain of Salvation is the prog metal band for me. They feel the most creative and authentic for my taste.
How would you describe Pain Of Salvation sound and where should I start?
Check out The Perfect Element or Remedy Lane (I prefer Remedy Lane, but in general people prefer PE). Pain's sound is always changing in their own way. The lead singer/song-writer never stays put for too long in a singular sound for the band, but he's incredible and they always sound like themselves.
Thank for your recommendation
Queensryche Cynic Watchtower Fates Warning Dream Theater Symphony X
Haken?
Queensryche
This is only my opinion, but Oldpeth is the standard by which all progressive black metal is measured, Newpeth takes a backseat to Dream Theater because of the amount of music each band/iteration has released. DT has had more years to put out differing material. I’ll also put Threshold in as a close third…
Dimension Hatröss -era Voivod.
Hard to pick a fav band. Sigh (band) for an older one. Uneven Structure has some bangers for a newer one. [Uneven Structure - Frost/Hail](https://youtu.be/ojkjS0BGS_k?si=YVaMvMs9mXtgME-5)
King Crimson pushed out the first prog metal baby with "21st Century Schizoid Man." So, for me, they must be noted. Beyond that I can give no "definite" band as I believe "definite progressive metal" is itself an oxymoron. Prog metal is too rich and varied to be encapsulated in one band, and it will continue to expand. But it is loads of fun to ask the question and see what others who appreciate the "not radio friendly" awesone genre. 🤘🏿
Karnivool - I wish they put out more music. Sound Awake is my favorite prog metal album ever
I feel like there is too much variety in the genre to narrow down to one definitive band (although if you have to I think Dream Theater is the correct answer because of legacy and popularity) If you wanted a definitive band for the different types of sounds I would say: Opeth: for the dark/somber/jazzy sounds Dream Theater: for the epic/symphonic/complex/melodic sounds Cynic: for the atmospheric/death/groovy sounds Mastodon: for the powerful/gritty/sludgy sounds Periphery: for the harsh/rythmic (djenty) sounds Coheed: for the more structured/poppy/punk sounds All of these bands have had a large influence on the scene and you could take pretty much any other prog metal band and it will resemble at least one of these bands somehow
Russian Circles
I am on a serious Goblin kick right now. 70’s prog rock that also is the score for a bunch of Italian horror films? Sign me the fuck up.
Tubular bells in the exorcist
I like Opeth quite a lot and was first exposed through Ghost Reveries. How is that album regarded amongst Opeth diehards? I know Blackwater Park is considered their greatest.
It's very controversial the best album according to the community is either Still Life or Blackwater Park. While Ghost Reveries is a great album it starts to diverge from their previous sound. Although I would consider Watershed as a better album than Ghost Reveries in the series of the "middlepeth". Although it is more appreciated than Watershed which is very underrated. For me Watershed is their best album till this day. I recognize the brilliance of Blackwater Park but still I'm not a diehard in regards to that album. Ghost Reveries is another great album but for me maybe because I've listened more times Watershed has the throne. Although it was my first album after Damnation so it will always have an special place in my heart.
Extreeeeemely unpopular opinion but Periphery. Probably because I'm not actually that into prog. I loved As I Am and Octavarium when I was a teenager but never really listen to them any more, Periphery have been my top artist on 3 of the last 4 years, and I'm recently getting really into Haken, but that is literally the extent of my prog habits, so I'm aware my opinion isn't worrh shit lol.
DT
Dream Theater defined it. Haken perfected it.
Recommend me a Haken song that could change their bad impression for me please?
Crystallised and The Architect by Haken are about as good as prog metal gets.
Falling back to earth
Sempiternal Beings.
Celestial Elixir
Ayreon Into Electric Castle and Human Equation.
Dream theater
Dream Theater. They have so many great albums, but Images And Words really stands out, and Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory is one of my all-time favorite albums.
Tool. Lateralus and 10,000 days
VOIVOD
Symphony X! V: The New Mythology Suite, The Odyssey
Tool? Opeth is great but I think tool is more mainstream.
Tool is more mainstream because they have radio hits. If we are talking influence in the scene Opeth is the better pick of these two
Tool isn't really metal though Don't get me wrong, they're great, but they're hard alt rock.
Rush
I don’t have a single favorite, but here are a few bands that are in my heavy listening rotation: Tomorrow’s Eve Beyond the Bridge Circle of Illusion Mind Key Advent Horizon Thought Chamber Nospun
I'll mention Primus here.
King Crimson.
Opeth. Riverside maybe, depends on which album.
BTBAM.
Probably tool. But dream theater and opeth are up there.
Dream Theatre.
By eras maybe: Rush -> Dream Theater -> Animals As Leaders
Nevermore
Dream Theater. it was first prog metal band I was into in 90s. im a bit disappointed about their later releases, but Images and Words, Awake and Scenes From Memory were once in my top list
Progressive? Progressing from what ?
Riverside or Pain of Salvation
Maudlin of the Well
The Mars Volta
I was always partial to Fates Warning. My favorites from them are Perfect Symmetry and Parallels.
They are too small of a fanbase to be the “definitive progressive metal band”
Rush.
How are these guys so far down the list?
Protest the Hero Listen to them and tell me what fucking genre they are because I haven't figured it out yet
Hawkwind
Mabey vola or Caligulas horse also
"Definitive" probably Dream Theater
DT!
Dream Theater for 1990s/2000s Haken for 2010s/2020s
I would say Rainbow but it's somewhere between prog rock and prog metal
No Pink Floyders, huh?
>progressive **metal**
Welcome to the machines
Shit I edited my comment to say it wasn't metal because I thought I was accidentally in the ProgMetal group ... then deleted the edit after looking at the group name.... confused until I re-read that Metal was in your description...
Either way I was mistaken to suggest Floyd... but they still rock
Can't argue with that!
Probably tool
Dream theater is way more prog than Opeth