Top Ten Bands to Make Up the Big Four of Progressive Metal
I did this for NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) on my last account, which was one of the few good things to come out of my last account. Now it’s time to pay tribute to my favorite metal subgenre, not counting heavy metal because that’s the root of all metal.I put some of the others above QR (Queensrÿche) because they’re more proggy, QR is basically a heavy metal band with a lot of prog characteristics.
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band from Boston, Massachusetts. The band was formed in 1985 under the name of "Majesty", only to change its name to Dream Theater later.The members of the band’s original lineup consisted of John Petrucci (Guitar), John Myung (Bass) and Mike Portnoy (Drums). The band had multiple keyboardists and singers, but as of and since 1991, the band's lead vocalist has been James LaBrie.
The band released their debut album "When Day and Dream Unite" in 1989, but only gained success and notoriety after the release of their second album, "Images and Words" in 1992. ...read more.
The current top 4 is great, each of the bands bring something different to the table, yet they all fall under the term progressive metal. DT is the closest to pure prog metal out of the 4 in my opinion, SX successfully mixes power and neoclassical, Opeth focus much more on tone rather than technicality (though they still have that too) and are death metal, and Queensryche sounds extremely close to classic metal with progressive elements mixed in.
Dream Theater, Queensryche, and Fates Warning. Those are the big three (optionally add in Watchtower or Crimson Glory as a 4th).
Opeth is a Swedish progressive death metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990 by David Isberg, who invited Mikael Akerfeldt into the band as a bassist. Isberg ended up leaving the band, which lead to Mikael becoming the band's vocalist, guitarist, principal songwriter, and driving force. Along with Edge of Sanity, Opeth is credited with being the first progressive death metal band, although they now play progressive rock. Akerfeldt is good friends with Jonas Renkse of Katatonia, and Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree. Progressive death metal. Most people would place Blackwater Park as their favorite Opeth album, but my favorite is Pale Communion because it’s lost the growls (not that I have a problem with Mikael’s growls, I just prefer his clean voice) it’s more of a pure prog album then a prog death album. I really have been enjoying the direction they’ve been going in the past decade, where they’re becoming more of a prog rock band rather than a brutal death prog band.
Symphony X is an American progressive metal band from Middletown, New Jersey. Founded in 1994, the band consists of guitarist Michael Romeo, keyboardist Michael Pinnella, drummer Jason Rullo, lead vocalist Russell Allen and bassist Michael Lepond. Basically Dream Theater’s little brother, I don’t love SX as much as I love DT, but it’s pretty close. I think their peak masterpieces are The Divine Wings Of Tragedy, which is basically their A Change Of Seasons (not quite as masterful, but still phenomenal) and The Odyssey (their Octavarium, but I honestly prefer The Odyssey). Iconoclast, their second latest studio effort, is also pretty great, even though my favorite album of theirs is Paradise Lost.
Queensrÿche is an American progressive heavy metal band formed in 1982 in Bellevue, Washington, out of the local band the Mob. They released their self titled EP in 1984, but didn’t gain notoriety until the release of their critically acclaimed album Operation: Mindcrime in 1988. As of now, they have one EP, and 15 studio albums.
Mastodon is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in early 2000 and composed of bassist Troy Sanders, guitarists Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher and drummer Brann Dailor. They’re a near perfect balance between progressive metal and alternative metal. Not too proggy that it overshadows their alternative side, but their alternative side does tend to overshadow their progressive side a little. Still an amazing band overall, and they deserve a spot here for sure.
Meshuggah is a Swedish progressive metal band from Umeå, formed in 1987. They are often considered the fathers or founders of the djent metal sub genre due to their use of downtuned guitars. They are also known for their song “Bleed”, which is known for its extremely complicated instrumentation, especially the drumming. They released their most recent album, “The Violent Sleep of Reason” on October 7th, 2016.
Meshuggah's line-up consists of founding members vocalist Jens Kidman and lead guitarist Fredrik Thordendal, drummer Tomas Haake, who joined in 1990, rhythm guitarist Mårten Hagström, who joined in 1992 and bassist Dick Lövgren since 2004.
Fates Warning is an American progressive metal band, formed in 1982 by vocalist John Arch, guitarists Jim Matheos and Victor Arduini, bassist Joe DiBiase, and drummer Steve Zimmerman in Hartford, Connecticut.
Ne Obliviscaris (Latin for "forget not") are an extreme progressive metal band from Melbourne, Australia, formed in 2003.
Between the Buried and Me is an American progressive metal band from Raleigh, North Carolina. Formed in 2000, the band consists of Tommy Giles Rogers, Jr.
Obscura is a technical/progressive death metal band from Germany, founded in 2002. The band became prominent when members of Necrophagist and Pestilence joined Steffen Kummerer to release the critically acclaimed second full-length album, Cosmogenesis. The band was named after the Gorguts album Obscura. ...read more.
Death was an American death metal band formed in 1983 by Chuck Schuldiner. Death is considered to be one of the most influential bands in heavy metal and a pioneering force in death metal. Its debut album, Scream Bloody Gore, has been widely regarded as the first death metal record, while the band's driving force, Chuck Schuldiner, is acknowledged as the "Godfather of Death Metal." Death released 7 studio albums, and are the band that started the Florida Death Metal scene. They were known for their death metal classics Lack of Comprehension and Crystal Mountain. Death ended in 2001 when Schuldiner died of Brain Cancer.
Tool is an American alternative metal/progressive metal band, that was formed in 1990. ...read more. I think they shouldn't be on this list because they aren't only the least proggy band on this list (as MindCrime noticed). They are also the least metal band and they never sounded like metal to me. By the way, they aren't on the Metal Archives.
Their general sound is nothing like progressive metal, alternative or experimental rock fits them much better
Not a big fan of Tool, which is partly why they’re at the bottom. The other reason is because they’re the least proggy band on this list. I hear much more alternative metal/rock in their music than progressive metal/rock. They’re still proggy in a few cases (i.e Third Eye), but I don’t hear that much, plus they just really bore me. Not because of the song lengths, but because a lot of it is either repetitive, or just uninteresting, which is the case more often. Plus I hate all of the pointless interludes and noise/static. I like them, but they’re flawed.
I managed to type up an entire thing about what I dislike about Tool without mentioning Maynard. But that sorta just went out the window.
Should be second behind Dream Theater, why the hell are they at the bottom
Haken are an English progressive metal band formed in 2007 by multi-instrumentalist Richard Henshall, guitarist Matthew Marshall, and vocalist Ross Jennings.
Avenged Sevenfold is an American heavy metal band, that was formed 1999 in California. Their longest lineup of members was M. Shadows (Vocals), Synyster Gates (Lead Guitar), Zacky Vengeance (Rhythm Guitar), Johnny Christ (Bass Guitar), and The Rev (Drums). ...read more.
Watchtower is an American progressive metal band based in Austin, Texas. The band was influenced by late 1970s progressive rock acts, such as Rush and U.K., as well as the burgeoning new wave of British heavy metal scene.
Periphery is an American progressive metal band based in Washington, D.C., formed in 2005. They are known for their heavy, progressive sound which employs poly-rhythmic patterns and soaring melodies. They are credited with popularizing the modern djent scene. Over time they have progressed from djent to a more experimental sound. Members include Spencer Sotelo on vocals, mulit-instrumentalist Adam Getgood, guitarists Misha Mansoor and Jake Bowen, and Mark Halcomb, and drummer Matt Halpern.
Theocracy is a Christian progressive power metal band founded in 2002 by Matt Smith of Athens, Georgia.