Top 10 Best Progressive Metal Songs of All Time

Progressive metal - or prog metal, as the fans call it - is where things get really interesting. It's a genre known for pushing musical boundaries, shattering expectations, and taking you on a wild ride. Think long, complex song structures, insane time signatures, and lyrics that reach into the depths of philosophy and space. Buckle in, because this genre will make you see music in a whole new way.

So, what makes a prog metal song truly legendary? Is it the technical wizardry on full display? The way it weaves a story that leaves you breathless? The sheer emotional power? You get to decide.
The Top Ten
1 Octavarium - Dream Theater

The amount of greatness in this song is too high to describe in a short comment. This will change your life if you give it a chance.

Have you ever heard a song that was so good that you didn't know what to do after it finished? This happens to me every time I hear this song.

Octavarium is one of the greatest songs of all time and by far the best song by Dream Theater. It slowly progresses from soft to heavy in its 20-minute length.

2 Lateralus - Tool

Only the best progressive song ever made. Not only for the music but also for the incredible emotions it gives and for these lyrics.

I don't believe in God, but I believe that this masterpiece is the best song I've ever heard. Every second of this song has pure meaning. Everything about it is amazing. Tool and Opeth are better than DT by far.

Following our will and wind, we may just go where no one's been. This song is all you need to go by in your life.

3 A Change of Seasons - Dream Theater

This is by far the greatest song ever written, in my opinion. I cannot even begin to describe how much this song has changed my life and how much it means to me.

It's an emotional and epic 23-minute journey with some of the greatest lyrics ever, thanks to Mike Portnoy. Thank you, Dream Theater.

If ACoS is below #1, then it is too low. Purely incredible from start to finish. A Change of Seasons definitely does what few 24+ minute songs will ever do: it keeps you engaged and then leaves you wanting to hear more.

Definitely the best song Dream Theater ever did. Those were the days when they got inspiration and ideas.

4 Metropolis, Pt. 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper - Dream Theater

Images and Words changed my musical world. Every DT album is a monumental masterpiece. But when I heard Pull Me Under and Take the Time on the radio, I was totally blown away. I bought the album and figured maybe those were the only two good songs.

Then, by the sixth to seventh minute of Metropolis, I nearly passed out. This song gave me hope that real music with real talent wasn't dead. Legendary epic - legendary album! Enough said!

Just euphoric. I cannot believe there are people in this world who have not experienced the absolute passion of listening to Dream Theater.

5 Black Rose Immortal - Opeth

This 20-minute "magnum opus" is progressive death metal with black metal elements. It's an awesome song that defines Opeth's early style.

The epic riff played around 13:39 of the song will just give chills to any listener, along with the lyrics. There's a burst of emotions in this song.

Wow, man, Opeth this low on the list? What? Dream Theater is way overrated. Dream Theater has the worst fan base. That's why 12-year-old American pricks vote for DT. Just check out the riffs in this song and Blackwater Park.

Deserves to be first. A magical song, the acoustic part is just amazing!

6 The Count of Tuscany - Dream Theater

This one is a classic, from start to finish. Sure, there are a lot of other good songs from Dream Theater, Tool, and Symphony X, but this one should be a lot higher.

It expresses emotions, and the last part is out of this world. The solos are awesome, and the continuum by Rudess is mesmerizing. Overall, one of the best and worth listening to.

Masterpiece. Not many other words can describe this. From start to end, it never gets old, never drags on, blends heavy with beauty and happiness with sadness, and then leaves you breathless at the end. Masterpiece.

7 Anesthetize - Porcupine Tree

This is one of the most metal Porcupine Tree songs.

8 White Walls - Between the Buried and Me

Really underrated track. It has a great opening riff, one of the best guitar solos I have ever heard, and an epic conclusion. This was the first BTBAM song I ever heard, and I am still amazed by it.

Octavarium is still my favorite song, but White Walls is pretty close.

This is one of the greatest songs of all time.

Man, just listen to the last 4 minutes of this song. These 4 minutes are the best tunes I've ever heard in my life.

That's enough, I think.

The closer to what will be considered a classic and essential album for decades. It's the perfect song.

9 Eyes of a Stranger - Queensryche
10 The Divine Wings of Tragedy - Symphony X

Quintessential classic prog metal epic. The structure, infectious motifs, solos, and grandiose neoclassical nature of it. Just everything. Perfect musicianship and vocals.

One of Symphony X's best prog metal songs. The abstract detail that was put into this very song is just astounding.

It definitely is one of the top songs along with The Odyssey and Through the Looking Glass.

This wins because of the choir.

The lyrics are pretty good too.

Symphony X needs to make a new album soon. And it better have something over 17 minutes.

The Contenders
11 Visions - Haken

Should be more well known. Great progressive metal song.

12 Second Life Syndrome - Riverside

A long epic that raises the tension till the end. Absolutely adorable.

Love this song, and personally think Riverside is one of the most consistent bands around.

13 Roads to Madness - Queensryche

Sheer sublime genius. They really don't write them like this anymore.

14 Swim to the Moon - Between the Buried and Me

One of the band's best songs. I think this deserves to be in the top 10, although I'm also a huge fan of Opeth, Dream Theater, and Tool.

White Walls is better and more technical, but Swim to the Moon, in my opinion, has better lyrics and a beautiful chorus. Really underrated track and really underrated band. There should be more BTBAM songs on this list in the top 25.

15 Vicarious - Tool

This one is awesome, crude, powerful, and energetic. Also features mystery, excellent imagination, and lyrics.

One of the most realistic songs ever. Great guitar work and hard-hitting lyrics.

16 Panic Attack - Dream Theater

First Dream Theater song I ever listened to, so obviously it holds a special place in my heart. This song is just gorgeous in every second of it.

I personally love this song. I wish it would be a bit higher on the list, though.

Love the bass solo in the intro. Like every DT song, it's just great.

17 Aniket Prantor - Artcell

I don't know how it came to be in the top 10. But a lot of people love this song, even those who don't like metal. It's a starter for prog metal.

I've been listening to it ever since I remember. I was getting into metal at that time, so I couldn't listen to the full song because it gets heavy at some point. But after a few days, I started to love the whole song.

Just listen to this 16-minute masterpiece, and you will realize why this song should be on the list. The progression, the guitars, the drum solo, and the vocals are just awesome.

Really, one of the best prog metal songs I've heard.

18 10,000 Days - Tool

Not the most technically impressive or overwhelmingly heavy, but it deserves at least top 3, as it's possibly the perfect manifestation of grief and the deepest, most human emotions in any song. Highly recommended for Floyd fans.

19 The Sleep of Restless Hours - Disillusion

Awesome song. Should be higher.

20 Pull Me Under - Dream Theater

This song literally got me into prog. If I hadn't played it on Guitar Hero, I wouldn't have ever started to listen to these guys.

Amazing. Dream Theater wins all Progressive Metal songs with Pull Me Under. The live concert is even better, great and blazing.

I am proud to say that I can perform this wonderful song!

21 Queen of the Reich - Queensryche
22 Options - Going Nowhere - Anubis Gate
23 Crystallised - Haken
24 The Czar - Mastodon

One of the first Mastodon songs I listened to and my favorite for a reason.

Mastodon is the best new progressive metal band and this song should be in the top ten.

25 The Odyssey - Symphony X

What a masterpiece of a song. At 24 minutes, not a single minute feels drawn out. It's the perfect example of what a progressive metal epic - or even any song - should be.

Excellent musicianship, a great story that drives the lyrics, and really catchy riffs. Russell Allen is one of the best metal singers out there, and I'm not saying Michael Romeo is better than Petrucci...but damn, he can give him a run for his money on certain songs.

This is easily in my top ten favorite songs of all time, and with every listen, I feel I can make a case for putting it in the number one spot.

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