Top 10 Best Progressive Metal Bands

True masters of their craft and innovators when it comes to their instruments. When hearing the phrase "progressive metal," DT is the only pure form of it that comes to mind. With a great focus on progressive forms and intricate musical composition, no other band creates the familiar sounds of a relatively obscure genre that requires a deep understanding of music and instrumental work, as well as mixes in new sounds without ruining either the "progressive" or "metal" aspects of their field.

There is no limit to what the band can release, from extremely difficult-to-follow solos to 20+ minute songs, to even beautiful compositions that are film score worthy. Although not the first to make such a splash in the genre, they have nonetheless extracted the essence of it and have continuously worked on it with every record they release. Ambitious, stylistic, and creative, they are worthy of taking the number 1 spot.

True masters of their craft, Opeth combines soft rock and death metal, polar opposite genres, yet ones that go together oh so well. Opeth are true innovators of music and have pushed their sound to the absolute limit. No metal band has been this consistently creative.

Opeth have, as of late, unfortunately, stripped away the death metal sound in favor of worshipping '70s progressive rock groups like King Crimson and Yes. As a result, they've lost their own sound and spend time imitating rather than innovating. However, this doesn't scar their legacy and the true perfection of their vast discography.

Okay, so I've tried listening to Opeth, and they're pretty good. But Dream Theater, how are they number one? The voice of the vocalist is also an instrument, but they don't even have a singer. I think Tool is the best because their bass is amazing. Maynard James Keenan has to be one of the best vocalists in the world. Maynard has a way of making any song sound good. I mean, I have not heard one song by Tool that I disliked.

All of Tool's songs are smart, have lots of meaning, and make you think. Now, I will say this: they only have about six albums out, but in my opinion, that is smart because that will make people crave them more. Tool's sound can also vary, so they can twist and turn with their music. Tool is the definition of talent and is superior to all bands. I will say Korn is also another band worth checking out, but they are nu metal.

Music is purely subjective. I respect other people's likes. Symphony X is my ultimate favorite, though. I appreciate how the vocals have a melody composition as strong as the rest of the music. I like how the lyrics are often negative but aren't too real or anything that you can strongly relate to, so they don't bring you down.

For a contrasting example, I love Dream Theater, but their lyrics are very powerful and very real. Too much listening makes me start to feel miserable. Symphony X doesn't do that despite also having a lot of negative lyrics.

Such a great progressive metal band. They have both emotion and energy in their music, which is pretty cool. Brent, Bill, Troy, Brann - they look like they live in U-Haul trailers, but they are four solid songwriters, contributing equally to both lyrics and music. They have three singers (Brent, Brann, and Troy) with cool, distinct voices.

Brent is an epic lead guitarist with an epic southern accent. Bill is the riff crafter. Brann is one of the best metal drummers of our time and has the higher, more clean voice. And Troy is a unique bassist with an epic, louder, deeper voice. If there was a competition for riff writing between bands, Mastodon would obviously be among the last few standing, along with Opeth.

Listen to the riff at 8:18 in the song "The Last Baron" - glorious! Their album "Crack the Skye" is a masterpiece. If you want to get more versed in progressive metal, especially if you're a musician, Mastodon is a must. Try also Opeth, Tool, Dream Theater, and Symphony X.

They are considered a progressive metal band but are also a technical death metal and groove metal band as well. Masters of work like Flying Whales and Stranded really set the standard for them. Plus, I love how there are two members of the band that are actually brothers.

Beautifully criticizing society, a journey to save the world through flying across space to find another planet to live on since our planet was destroyed by, presumably, global warming, and a soul-crushing goodbye to Joe and Mario Duplantier's mother.

People often view this band as more extreme metal, which is understandable, but they do everything that makes Progressive Metal progressive, just in their own way. Their compositions may never be as long as maybe Dream Theater or Opeth (except for I and Catch 33), but each individual riff progresses, as the polymetric guitar floats over the drums, before snapping back into 4/4 for a single bar before blasting off into another bout of syncopated madness.

They are very underrated among mainstream metal listeners.

Oh, come on! Queensryche practically invented the genre of progressive metal, and Operation: Mindcrime is inarguably one of the best concept albums in all of metal, let alone in progressive. They deserve to be Number 1.

With albums such as Operation: Mindcrime, Empire, Rage for Order, and The Warning, Queensryche are definitely one of the best progressive metal bands out there. For me, they're number one in this genre.

I can speak only for myself, but Queensryche is easily in my top 5. When non-metal people ask me to describe progressive metal and give an example they might have heard of, I lead off with Queensryche.

This band's underrated. These guys are well respected among the prog rock community, but they fail to get mainstream attention unlike, say, Tool, for example, which is another band that I personally love. Porcupine Tree can be dreamy, psychedelic, really complex and proggy, heavy, or just really emotional.

Also, Gavin Harrison's drumming is incredible.

Porcupine Tree is an atmospheric, often melancholic, prog rock band that doesn't spend their time noodling around. In Absentia is probably their most popular album, Deadwing is just flat-out nostalgic, and Fear of a Blank Planet is probably the greatest album I've ever owned, musically and lyrically speaking.

Be prepared for some depressing rock anthems.

Jinjer is a very good mixture of different genres, including varying time signatures, unusual song structures, and other progressive elements.

Jinjer is one of the most promising young metal bands at the moment. In fact, they are very progressive. They should be much higher on this list.

Nevermore is fronted by Warrel Dane, one of the most amazing singers in the progressive metal genre, with plenty of formal training. Jeff Loomis, the band's lead guitar player, can barely be matched by many. They mix elements of complex time signatures, classical arrangements, and execute such synthesis with amazing precision.

While quite a bit harder than some other progressive metal bands, Nevermore also has a brilliant clarity both live and in the studio.

This band not being in ProgArchives is probably the only elitist non-inclusion of that site I know, as opposed to the multitude of gatekeeping on Encyclopedia Metallum.

I would argue that this was the first progressive metal band. Sure, Queensryche was around first, but they were making heavy/power metal with a few slightly odd time signatures. Crimson Glory had yet to write any original material. The moment where progressive metal truly started was when Fates Warning released their second album, The Spectre Within.

But they perfected it with their third album, Awaken The Guardian, which was where they shed their Iron Maiden roots in favor of a progressive/power metal sound. Perfect Symmetry is arguably the first progressive metal album that couldn't be placed under any other sub-genre (Crimson Glory was prog/power, Dream Theater's debut had power metal influences as well). Awaken The Guardian is my all-time favorite album.

Every album is conceptual and dramatically different. Masters of their craft. One of the few bands where the musicians could play whatever music style they wanted and still make it their own. Daniel is certainly a genius and an amazing songwriter. Easily one of the best prog bands to have ever risen during the '90s.

Just recently discovered PoS and absolutely fell in love with them. Truly progressive metal, they do crazy things that most bands wouldn't dream of attempting.

My vote put them at 12th, leaving Fates Warning behind. I think they should be at least in the 10th spot though.

The last four albums are prog death, Opeth is prog death as well. I love both, but Death should definitely be on 3 or 4 at least. I say 3 or 4 only because the first three albums are pure death. Anyway, they are the best death metal and the best band ever in my opinion.

Wow, Death is way too low on this list. I mean, sure their old school stuff is pure death metal. But their newer albums, specifically Symbolic and especially The Sound of Perseverance, are a mix of death and progressive metal. Rest in peace, Chuck.

Amazing band. Simply spectacular and one of my all-time favorites, but not progressive. One of the best death metal bands ever. Period.

A side project by the members of Dream Theater, except for the bassist and the vocalist. Check out "Acid Rain", "Universal Mind", and "Paradigm Shift" from the Liquid Tension Experiment albums among the prominent ones, and then try to say, "I hate Dream Theater".

A great side project from Dream Theater, although it is not as good as the band itself. It gives us an inside look at the heavy technical side of Dream Theater.

Dream Theater without a singer is a dream come true.

Take some of the biggest and best vocalists and musicians to grace the world of prog rock, along with many various forms of metal. Put them in a great big melting pot. Stir with care, and you get Ayreon.

Heck, the current top 2 on this list (DT and Opeth) both had their respective vocalists taking huge roles on the same Ayreon album.

Ayreon is a concept that has been masterfully carried out by Arjen Lucassen in order to present some of the world's greatest album line-ups, presenting some of the world's greatest music.

You have your prog, folk, metal, neo-classical, symphonic, and God knows what else when you listen to Ayreon. Each album is a concept album, some of which have the best stories and characterization to ever grace the world of music.

As you can tell from my endless raving, there is a lot to be said about why Ayreon is as special as it is. It is an awe-inspiring musical project that deserves every bit of attention it gets.

These guys are quite unique... they should definitely be higher up. I love bands like Symphony X, but in some cases, they just sound like Dream Theater but with a better vocalist. Periphery has very interesting and awesome guitars, bass, and vocals, and their drummer is just something else.

Usually, with metal bands, the drummer just hits a ton of double bass and uses basic rudiments, but Halpern takes creativity to another level for a metal band. He may not be as fast as Mangini, but at least he doesn't sound like a robot half the time.

I wish I could fathom the hype surrounding this band. They're undoubtedly proficient with their instruments. Yet, I don't think they've put out anything extraordinary or influential that justifies them being ranked among the greatest artists. Speaking from a general perspective, incorporating a violin doesn't add value to music when the focus is predominantly directed towards skill exhibition rather than complementing the soundscape.

Introducing many musical elements isn't more important than structuring them cohesively to give the music a more purposeful air. I'd suggest you listen to some early My Dying Bride albums if you have a little itch for violin work in metal. Check out the track 'For My Fallen Angel' from their album 'Like Gods of the Sun'. They're not extravagant in their approach, but the utilization is enough to move you.

Seventh Wonder has one of the most amazing singers ever. I was afraid that Tommy Karevik would leave this band after joining Kamelot, which I think deserves second place, but that wasn't the case. Mind-blowing musicianship and heart-touching stories. Break the Silence and Tears for a Father are just unbelievably heartbreaking. Every time I listen to them, I end up crying.

Amazing in every way, and Mercy Falls is the second-best concept album ever! Plus, they aren't just another attempt to copy Dream Theater. Vote for them!

Certainly the best prog black metal band and one of the best prog metal bands. Every album they've released is good or a masterpiece. The voice is one of the absolute best, and the compositions are magnificent.

I can't believe they're this low on the list. If you like prog and black combined, check them out.

This band deserves top 20 at least. It's the best progressive black metal band out there, in my opinion.

I lived through this era. It was insane. There was a before Crimson Glory and after. They made all metal at the time seem obsolete. Then grunge really made metal obsolete, and Crimson Glory self-destructed. Worth a listen today, it's retro enough to sound fresh again, unlike some of their contemporaries.

Crimson Glory's first two albums are the two albums ALL Progressive Metal bands claim to have been inspired by. Period.

The originator with one of the most amazing haunting voices ever.

This is the complete journey into prog sound, from heavy, weird odd time changes rhythms, bouncing basslines like Tool, into the most atmospheric soundscape you could ever imagine! Powerful vocalist with pop melodic and turns into Tool, Deftone, Linkin Park style! Every MTV metalhead should listen to this! A must album for every beginner in progressive music!

Why so low? This band and Gojira are a new breath of prog metal (sorry for my English, I'm Brazilian).

Tesseract at 46? You've got to be kidding me. These guys are awesome. They should be in the top 20 at least.