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Post by julesd68 on Nov 13, 2021 9:26:24 GMT
Having started to listen to some Dream Theater, this came up on my Google feed. "The 13 essential progressive metal albums you need to know" www.kerrang.com/features/13-essential-progressive-metal-albums/First I have looked at Kerrang magazine in 30 years + ! Used to buy and read it religiously as a teenager. I'm going to check out their suggestions on Spotify - think the Tool album is the only one I have heard. If anyone can add to this list that would be cool.
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Post by John on Nov 13, 2021 10:07:52 GMT
I will do a massive post later
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Post by julesd68 on Nov 13, 2021 10:24:05 GMT
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Post by julesd68 on Nov 13, 2021 11:38:44 GMT
Opeth - Blackwater Park (2001)
With a name like Opeth I was expecting some black metal and whilst it can be quite heavy this is certainly more in the progressive style and there is some superb music for sure on this doom laden album. Not a bad track on it.
I'm struggling a bit with the 'growl' vocals but thankfully this vocal style doesn't dominate the album. I like the regular use of acoustic guitar and in fact the instrumentation is very good throughout.
Apparently their recent efforts have steered towards 70's prog so might be worth checking out too ...
I think this 9 min track showcases the album very well - stick with it if you struggle with the opening vocals!
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Post by julesd68 on Nov 13, 2021 12:51:21 GMT
Queensryche – Operation: Mindcrime (1988)
One of the most influential early prog metal albums, it's a fairly grandiose sci-fi concept album about a drug addict turned assassin.
Back in the day I was most suspicious of prog metal so never gave this a chance. An interesting listen as musically it's the very start of this movement and still has plenty of rifftastic 80's US metal vibe but with more variety to the song structure and more mature attitude to the lyrics. Vocally it often reminds me of Bruce Dickinson. Monster drum sound and fat bass sounds great - I want to rock it on the big rig.
Again, I'm surprised how enjoyable this is, it's a really powerful album and I now understand why it is revered by so many. Would have been awesome to seen them touring this album. Wonder if gig-master John was there???
Try this for size.
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Post by Slinger on Nov 13, 2021 14:38:03 GMT
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Post by julesd68 on Nov 13, 2021 15:31:53 GMT
Lol - I like that album but just the use of keyboards doesn't qualify for 'prog metal' status IMO.
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Post by Slinger on Nov 13, 2021 15:58:27 GMT
I thought that might give you a chuckle, Jules.
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Post by John on Nov 13, 2021 18:28:29 GMT
Queensryche – Operation: Mindcrime (1988) One of the most influential early prog metal albums, it's a fairly grandiose sci-fi concept album about a drug addict turned assassin. Back in the day I was most suspicious of prog metal so never gave this a chance. An interesting listen as musically it's the very start of this movement and still has plenty of rifftastic 80's US metal vibe but with more variety to the song structure and more mature attitude to the lyrics. Vocally it often reminds me of Bruce Dickinson. Monster drum sound and fat bass sounds great - I want to rock it on the big rig. Again, I'm surprised how enjoyable this is, it's a really powerful album and I now understand why it is revered by so many. Would have been awesome to seen them touring this album. Wonder if gig-master John was there??? Try this for size. I was big fan of Operation Mindcrime and of course seen they them do the whole album a few times at Hammersmith
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Post by julesd68 on Nov 13, 2021 19:11:56 GMT
I knew it!!
Jealous much. A shame that lineup will never play together again.
Here's a very different looking Geoff Tate with an acoustic Eyes of a Stranger. He's still got it!
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Post by John on Nov 13, 2021 22:48:57 GMT
I thought I do a bit of a overview of the genre Early Influences Rush has to be the biggest influence tracks like 2112 and albums like Hemispheres. I also see bands like Yes when they get a bit heavy. Rainbow tracks likes Stargazer and Gates of Babylon come to mind. Mix that up with a touch Metallica and Iron Maiden and you have the foundations. To be honest I see Queensryche as more a metal band with progressive leanings that are also part of the foundations to bands like Power of Omens
You then have the first generation of bands This includes Dream Theater, Fates Warning who started off quite like Queensryche but then became a lot more complex in song structure. More obscure bands would include Cynic almost Jazz metal, Watchtower a Thrash version of Rush. Unfortunately their albums are really badly mixed. Last but not least Psychotic Waltz a kind of prog metal version of Jethrol Tull. They never quite made it but some great albums non the less. Check out Social Grace or Bleeding.
I continue with the second wave later
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Post by julesd68 on Nov 14, 2021 1:52:01 GMT
Fates Warning are next up on my Kerrang playlist - always been aware of them but don't know the music at all.
I know what you mean about Queensryche but still an important album in terms of starting to move away from the LA hair metal scene that dominated early to mid 80's.
BTW the Deluxe Ed of Op Mindcrime on Spotify also has the whole album live from Hammy Odeon so might be one of the shows you went to.
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Post by John on Nov 14, 2021 5:07:15 GMT
I would be at that show
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Post by John on Nov 14, 2021 5:49:44 GMT
The next bunch of bands took a few years to make music, many would be inspired by Dream Theatre and not really have their own sound but some really good bands come out from this period Pain of Salvation A band that continue to push themselves and never really standing still. They produce a more emotional form of Progressive metal but can also be quite heavy when they want to be. They usually write conceptual based albums. Spiral Architect. The band prefer to call themselves Technical Metal. The music is complex and has dark view on humanity hence the title of their only album A Sceptic Universe. The album is quite rare and not available on most streaming platforms apart from YouTube. Zero Hour with the twins brother Jason and Troy The music is often heavy and complex and use a lot of polyrhythms to create their sound. Not quite as complex as Spiral Architect but heavier. Power of Omens. They are quite inspired by Queensryche with a even better drummer. They only made 2 albums and are not easy to get hold off. They do not really have the same lyrical prowess of Queensryche Wastefall They remind me of Pain of Salvation They only made 2 albums the first Soulrain 21 is a classic and deals with a real life disater where 21 young people died in a coach accident. Heavy and emotional and sometimes has a Greek feel to the music. Other bands worth checking out Fragile Vastness Poverty No Crime Circus Maximus Seventh Wonder Threshold Redemption Symphony X Pagans Mind Vanden Plus Sun Caged Andromeda Sphcric Universe Experience Beyond Twilight DGM I could go on a lot more but that covers quite a lot I will add the 3rd wave and recommended albums later
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Post by John on Nov 14, 2021 10:24:36 GMT
The Third Wave of Bands Between the Buried and Me They are influenced by Cynic and bring more aggression into their music I find them hard to get into myself mainly due to the extreme vocals Animal As Leaders Highly technical like Cynic and BTBAM I can only handle in small doses myself Scale the Summit Another highly technical band and again I find them hard to get into Leprous More emotional and often mix this with a almost industrial sound as I will have my 3rd jab I will see them in December Devin Townsend A talented vocalist and guitar player his music can go in any direction and has lots of different influences I struggle to really like him myself but admire his talent. Haken A British band doing this and worth checking out. They can mix traditional prog and then more Dream Theater inspired music.
Looking back I missed bands like Tool and Opeth both deserved to be mentioned. I also missed bands like Death who started off as Thrash band but their music developed into something a lot more challenging.
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Post by John on Nov 14, 2021 10:57:21 GMT
Here a top 7 in no particular order. So I am just going to allow myself one pick from each band Dream Theater For me this has to be Systematic Chaos Well recorded some great tracks on it
Psychotic Waltz Bleeding
Spiral Architect A Sceptic Universe
Zero Hour The Towers of Avarice
Pain of Salvation Remedy Lane
Threshold Wounded Land
Leprous The Congregation
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Post by julesd68 on Nov 14, 2021 12:41:16 GMT
Great stuff John, I have a lot of listening to do with this and the other playlists I have as well ...
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Post by Slinger on Nov 14, 2021 15:47:55 GMT
How are you getting on with the Symphonic Metal, Jules? I've got some great Operatic Metal for when you're done.
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Post by rfan8312 on Nov 14, 2021 16:53:36 GMT
I can only speak about a few of those bands but yes I'm an absolute Meshuggah nut and I love Mastodon.
But would like to bring attention to Mastodon's 'Once More Round The Sun' album. What a gem. My favorite of theirs. The first 3 tracks are classics. Here's Track 3.
Another good one is from a French band called Blut Aus Nord. Their 'Epitome' series is wonderful along with other works like The Procession Of Dead Clowns.
Both of the Blut Aus Nord tracks are so beautiful.
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Post by julesd68 on Nov 14, 2021 17:20:19 GMT
Nice one - that Mastodon track is immense!
I like their new album so have now saved all their back catalogue to my Spotify.
I'm not familiar with the other bands so will add them to my lengthening list ...
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