Progressive Rock and Metal

[sarcasticguy]

Any fans? My discovery of progressive rock music is what totally changed my outlook of music. My top 3 bands are total Progressive bands, one of them being progressive metal: Opeth, Porcupine Tree and Dream Theater. I would like to talk about their music if I find some fans out here...

[Tiggi]

I have a couple of Porcupine Tree albums, and a couple by Blackfield (Wilson side project), but most of the Prog stuff I like stems from growing up when the early 70s stuff was still popular.

King Crimson, Yes, and to a lesser extent Genesis are all bands that I've had a fondness for, and I guess KC are the ones that I still feel closest to. TRBC08 is a big fan of theirs too.

If Pink Floyd count as Prog (not in my book), then I'm still a massive fan, & if Radiohead can be counted as 21st century Prog (which they are in the same book), then I like them lots too. Idiotechesque is a big Radiohead-head.

Prog is often reviled, and this is to a large extent justified, but there is some Prog music that will stand the test of time.

[trbc08]

I'm not particularly a fan of any of those bands... I think they're kind of cheesy and just latch on to the "surface noise" of old progressive rock. Porcupine Tree is okay, though... But I wasn't terribly impressed by the album I heard.

I love King Crimson, on the other hand... They're one of my favorite bands. So is the Mars Volta, as far as new progressive rock goes. I also like a bit of old Genesis and the occasional Yes song.

[sarcasticguy]

I am also a big fan of King Crimson. Although I hated the later Genesis albums because of their poppish-sounding nature. I have listened to only a few songs after the 70's. For some reason, I like only a couple of songs by Yes. On the other hand, I absolutely adore Camel.

I guess you are right about Pink Floyd and Radiohead not being prog-rock. They should be categorized as Psychedelic.

When I used to listen to the famous songs of the 60's and the 70's from Led Zep, The Doors and Hendrix, I used to think that the music in my generation pretty much sucked. That is when I discovered progressive rock through Porcupine Tree, and so, it will always be one of my favorite bands.

There is still hope for Prog stuff, because the world still produces geniuses like Steven Wilson and Mikael Akerfeldt.

[trbc08]

I think that Omar A. Rodriguez-Lopez fits into the category of modern geniuses in regard to progressive rock. He composes and records all of his band's music, much in the vein of Frank Zappa (another genius, though I think he transcends the "prog" label).

I also heard that the drummer of Porcupine Tree is joining King Crimson as part of their dual drummer lineup. I haven't heard any evidence of his skill, be it in Porcupine Tree or King Crimson, but I am sure that the band wouldn't have recruited him if he wasn't a good drummer.

I think that "math rock" (dumb label) is also interesting... It's kinda like where jazz and prog meet punk rock. Notable bands include Don Caballero and Hella, Don Cab moreso... They may be less sensationalist as far as youths are concerned, but their compositions stand on their own. Lightning Bolt is also a good band in this category. I've also read of a new subgenre jokingly called "brutal prog," another melding of prog's compositional sensibility with the aggression of punk (or in some cases girndcore). Examples include Upsilon Acrux (good band from what I've heard; their debut is even called "In The Acrux of the Upsilon King"... A haha for King Crimson fans) and Orthrelm (good from what little I've heard).

Another notable band is Tera Melos... Hard to classify. It echoes with both an over the top avant-garde and minimalist sensibility. Their album and EP that I have is good stuff.

Rant... Sorry.

[sarcasticguy]

Wow! Its always good to hear a rant from a knowledgeable person. Thanks a million for all the band names that you gave me. I will definitely try them out.

Yeah, Chris Maitland is a very good drummer, but there are a million other bands, even in the current generation with better drummers, IMO. I feel that the drummers in metal bands have got to be more talented. But, of all the instruments that I pay attention to in a song, drums is the lowest in that list. So, I can never really know who is a great drummer and who is not.

About the genres that you spoke of, I have only heard of Math Rock, and its pretty cool indeed. Since jazz is my third favorite genre (with classical coming in second spot), I would definitely love to try more of this genre.

That the current state of mainstream music is pathetic just became exceedingly clear to me in that one single post. I consider myself to be a connoisseur of music, and you just humbled me with a million bands that I haven't even heard of. I feel sorry for the guys who only listen to Greenday and consider themselves to be above the Backstreet Boys listeners.

Again, sorry for the rant and for the evilness against the bands towards the end!

[Iota]

Check out maudlin of the Well (and Kayo Dot of course). It's sort of a mix of progressive, doom and death metal.

So is the Mars Volta, as far as new progressive rock goes.

They haven't done anything new since De-Loused. That's progressive, y0!

I think that "math rock" (dumb label) is also interesting... It's kinda like where jazz and prog meet punk rock. Notable bands include Don Caballero and Hella, Don Cab moreso...

Good bands, but Don Cab's last album is totally shite. And so are the last two albums by Hella. 65daysofstatic's The Fall of Math is a good one.

[trbc08]

Yeah, maudlin of the Well is a good band... I have one of their albums.

I don't really understand why everyone says that... X__X Lol. I think their newer albums are a lot more adventurous than De-Loused.

Ah yeah, Don Cab's last album was terrible... It's because the drummer is the only original member of the band. I only have one EP by Hella, "Total Bugs Bunny On Wild Bass." It's pretty good... Though I think as far as geetar goes that Ian Williams is far better than Hella's guitarist. I'll have to look more into 65daysofstatic.

As far as drummers go, I think it depends. A lot of metal drumming is like Ywngie(sp?) Malmsteen's guitar playing... It's fast and sounds impressive, but takes little technical skill. Jazz drumming, on the other hand... You should look at Buddy Rich or Gene Krupa for some true drumming skill. The drummer of Meshuggah, another good band in the vein of prog metal, is amazing. He can play some crazy drum beat in a weird time signature with his feet, then a danceable 4/4 beat with his hands... Kind of like Bill Bruford of King Crimson... And I think that takes more talent than playing fast.

Lastly, don't worry about the rant. If you stick around long, you'll see a great many of my own rants coming out.

[Iota]

Yeah, maudlin of the Well is a good band... I have one of their albums.

Argh! None of the stores I know sell albums by maudlin. Even Amazon doesn't ...

I only have one EP by Hella, "Total Bugs Bunny On Wild Bass." It's pretty good... Though I think as far as geetar goes that Ian Williams is far better than Hella's guitarist.

Well, who actually cares about the guitar when Zach's playing.
Check out Hold Your Horse Is.

Ywngie(sp?)

Yngwie

[trbc08]

Yeah, Zach Hill is an amazing drummer... Maybe Ian Williams and Zach Hill should have a mega math rock band where they somehow try and outdo each other.

Thanks for the correction.