Top 10 Best Progressive Metal Bands

Some progressive metal bands might blow you away with their technical wizardry, effortlessly weaving complex time signatures and mind-bending guitar solos into their music. Others might transport you to fantastical worlds with their conceptual storytelling and theatrical live shows. And then there are those that simply create an irresistible groove that gets your head banging and your feet moving.

Prog metal isn't just about musical complexity, though. It's a genre that encourages experimentation, blending elements of heavy metal, rock, jazz, and even classical music. This spirit of adventure has led to some truly unique and unforgettable sounds, from the ethereal atmospheres of Opeth to the djent-infused riffs of TesseracT.

So, what are the best progressive metal bands? Ultimately, it comes down to your personal taste and what you value most in music. But by exploring the vast landscape of prog metal and listening to the opinions of fellow fans, you're sure to discover some amazing bands that will leave a lasting impression on you.

The Top Ten

Dream Theater

Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band from Boston, Massachusetts. The band was formed in 1985 under the name "Majesty," later changing it to Dream Theater. The original lineup consisted of John Petrucci (guitar), John Myung (bass), and Mike Portnoy (drums).... read more

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.
Opeth

Opeth is a Swedish progressive metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990 by David Isberg, who invited Mikael Åkerfeldt into the band as a bassist. Isberg ended up leaving the band, which led to Åkerfeldt becoming the band's vocalist, guitarist, principal songwriter, and driving force.... read more

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.

I'm totally indifferent towards this genre and almost all of the bands falling under this category. My relationship with Opeth is an age-old one, and even though I've skewed away from them slightly over the years, their impact on my current musical taste and knowledge is a significant one.
Having said that, they are the band that has lasted in my memories for a longer stretch of time. Twenty-one years ago, at a friend's backyard, I got my first exposure to them through the song "Demon of the Fall," and now I'm listening to it and trying to recall forgotten childhood memories.
Tool

Tool is an American alternative and progressive metal band formed in 1990.
The lineup includes Maynard James Keenan (vocals), Danny Carey (drums), Adam Jones (guitar), and Justin Chancellor (bass), who joined in 1995. The band is recognized for incorporating electronic influences and for their... read more

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.
Symphony X

Symphony X is an American progressive metal band from Middletown, New Jersey. Founded in 1994, the band currently consists of guitarist Michael Romeo, keyboardist Michael Pinnella, drummer Jason Rullo, lead vocalist Russell Allen, and bassist Michael Lepond.

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.

Symphony X should be first! Michael Romeo is a master on lead guitar, Russell Allen has a voice like no other, Michael Pinnella is magical on the keyboard, Jason Rullo tears it up on drums, and Michael LePond commands a thundering bass.
My absolute favorite part about Symphony X is the bass playing. Michael LePond gives his all. His passion for music and dedication shine through. On their latest album, Underworld, Michael LePond also did some of the co-writing, showcasing his pure talent for the musical world. To feel his bass bouncing off the wall is awesome.
In my opinion, Michael LePond and the talented guys from Symphony X should be number one. They are in my book!
Mastodon

Mastodon is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia. The band was formed in early 2000 and includes Troy Sanders on bass, Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher on guitars, and Brann Dailor on drums. They are known for their complex song structures and blending of multiple metal subgenres.

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.
Gojira

Gojira is a progressive and death metal band from Bayonne, France. The band was originally known as Godzilla until 2001. Its members include Joe Duplantier on vocals and rhythm guitar, Mario Duplantier on drums, Christian Andreu on lead guitar, and Jean-Michel Labadie on bass.

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.
Meshuggah

Meshuggah is a Swedish progressive metal band from Umeå, formed in 1987. They are often considered pioneers of the djent subgenre due to their use of downtuned, polymetric guitar riffs and complex rhythms. They are also known for their song "Bleed," which is notable for its intricate instrumentation... read more

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.

Metal that uses Atheist's free jazz arrangements combined with the influence of Metallica. And then there's the koan-structured lyricism and advanced terminology such as Chaosphere, Catch 33, and Obzen. This band goes beyond music and deep into the realm of subjective and universal philosophy.
Queensryche

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 1983 and gained wider recognition with the critically acclaimed album Operation: Mindcrime in 1988. As of now, they have released one EP... read more

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.
Between the Buried and Me

Between the Buried and Me is an American progressive metal band from Raleigh, North Carolina. Formed in 2000, the band originally featured vocalist and keyboardist Tommy Giles Rogers Jr.
The group is known for blending progressive, technical, and metalcore elements, and their conceptual albums... read more

It is impossible for these guys to disappoint. Each album takes a new step but still retains a certain quality of technicality and insanity.
"Colors" is their magnum opus and arguably one of the best achievements in prog in the 21st century. "The Great Misdirect" has their best song in "Swim to the Moon." "The Parallax 1 and 2" show their expert storytelling but are also technical marvels. "Coma Ecliptic" took a more proggy turn with less harsh vocals to focus on melody (haha), and now "Automata" has a very dark undertone that kind of mashes all of their past stuff.
Truly a great band. Just listen to any of their 3 album closers from '07 to '12 and you'll hear why they're so respected.
Porcupine Tree

Porcupine Tree are an English progressive rock band formed by musician Steven Wilson in 1987. The band began as a solo project for Wilson, who created all of the band's music in its early years. They later evolved into a full band, gaining critical acclaim for albums like In Absentia and Fear of a Blank... read more

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.

The Newcomers

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Jinjer

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.
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Tourniquet

They are a "Christian" thrash band, not a progressive band (though they did have some elements of prog in their early albums).
Unlike other bands on this list that aren't progressive metal (Metallica, Rush), they had no influence on the genre.

The Contenders

Fates Warning

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. They are considered one of the pioneering bands of the progressive metal genre. Their influential... read more

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.
Nevermore

Nevermore is an American progressive metal band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1991. Their music blends elements of power metal, modern hard rock, classic heavy metal, and technical thrash. The band has been on hiatus since 2011 due to personal issues among the members.

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.
Pain of Salvation

Pain of Salvation is a Swedish progressive rock band led by Daniel Gildenlöw, who is the band's main songwriter, lyricist, guitarist, and vocalist. The band is known for its complex compositions and concept albums that explore philosophical and personal themes. Since its formation in the early 1990s... read more

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.
Periphery

Periphery is an American progressive metal band based in Washington, D.C., formed in 2005. They are known for their heavy, progressive sound that incorporates polyrhythmic patterns and melodic vocals. The band played a key role in popularizing the modern djent movement.... read more

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.

They've been helping to popularize the genre among metal fans. While Dream Theater definitely deserves number one, these guys should be number two.
Not many bands put the amount of work into their music that Periphery does. And only a year after Alpha Omega, they're already making new music. That's what I call dedication to the fans.
Ayreon

Ayreon is a musical project by Dutch songwriter, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer Arjen Anthony Lucassen. The project's music blends progressive rock, progressive metal, and power metal with influences from folk, electronica, experimental, and classical music. Many of Ayreon's albums... read more

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.
Death

Death was an American death metal band formed in 1983 by Chuck Schuldiner. The band is widely considered one of the most influential in heavy metal and a pioneer of the death metal genre. Their debut album, Scream Bloody Gore, is regarded as the first true death metal record. Death released seven studio... read more

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.
Artcell

Artcell is a Bangladeshi progressive metal band formed in October 1999. According to The Daily Star, a leading English-language daily in Bangladesh, Artcell is "one of the leading bands of the country." The band is known for its complex compositions and socially conscious lyrics.

Great band, with an indescribable contribution to the Metal music scene in Bangladesh. If only people could understand the Bengali language, because most of their songs come with intense messages that would definitely reach out to anyone, combined with their musical skills.
I was very surprised to see that "Artcell" made it to the TheTopTens list and they even surpassed "Porcupine Tree"! I suggest everyone check out their music because even if you don't understand what they're saying, you will understand how much they know what they're doing.
Hail, hail BD Metal!

The four current members were school friends from Dhaka who used to play Metallica songs. Eventually, Ershad came up with compositions of his own, and the group began to play them at shows. The response they got was encouraging, which led to the formation of the band. It was an underground band but is now one of the most recognized mainstream bands in the Bengali rock music scene.
The name Artcell was decided upon because it was softer sounding than a typical heavy metal name. In Cezanne and Shaju's words: Even though we were a heavy metal band when we started, we didn't want a heavy metal name. We wanted a softer or an artistic touch to the heavy metal side. 'Cells where art is produced' - that was pretty much the basic idea behind the name Artcell. According to the bassist of the band, Cezanne: Our inspiration was Metallica, but we would like to label ourselves as a 'progressive rock band'.
Liquid Tension Experiment

Liquid Tension Experiment is an instrumental progressive metal band founded in 1997 by Mike Portnoy, who was then the drummer for Dream Theater. The band has released two studio albums through Magna Carta Records. It is known for its complex compositions and features musicians John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess... read more

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.
Seventh Wonder

Seventh Wonder is a progressive metal band from Stockholm, Sweden, formed in 2000. As of now, they are working on their fifth studio album, which was originally planned for release in 2017 but has since been delayed.

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!

Best progressive metal. All five members are talented. All albums are beautiful art. The Great Escape is one of the best metal albums. I hope they will release more masterpiece albums. Kamelot deserves the second place.
Ne Obliviscaris

Ne Obliviscaris, which means "forget not" in Latin, is an extreme progressive metal band from Melbourne, Australia. The band was formed in April 2003 by vocalist Marc "Xenoyr" Campbell and violinist Adam Cooper. They have released four studio albums, with the most recent being Exul, which came out on... read more

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.
Leprous

Leprous is a Norwegian progressive metal band formed in 2001 in Notodden, Norway. The band gained prominence as the live backing band for former Emperor frontman Ihsahn. They have released several acclaimed albums, including Bilateral and Malina.

I discovered this band just recently and I love them. It has been years since I could fall in love with a band like when I was young. Recently, I found myself saying something like, They don't hold instruments when they play. They're holding your emotions, when trying to explain what they sound like. It is something so cheesy it must mean I'm in love with them.

Dream Theater? Tool? Symphony X? Between the Buried and Me? Gojira? Don't make me laugh. This band is easily better than all of them. This band is a real breath of fresh air in a sea of Dream Theater and Meshuggah clones. Excellent songwriting held together by Einar Solberg's fantastic vocals.
Crimson Glory

Crimson Glory is an American progressive and power metal band that originated in Sarasota, Florida. The group formed in 1979 under the name Pierced Arrow, briefly adopted the name Beowulf, and finally became Crimson Glory in 1983. They are known for their influential albums Crimson Glory (1986) and Transcendence... read more

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.
Animals as Leaders

Animals as Leaders is an American progressive metal band from Washington, D.C. It was formed in 2007 by guitarist Tosin Abasi and currently includes Abasi, guitarist Javier Reyes, and drummer Matt Garstka. The band is known for its instrumental compositions and complex musical style, often described... read more

Tosin Abasi is pretty much the only guitarist I know who has a band focused around him, who doesn't drift into the endless number of egotistical shredders these days. One of the things that struck me about Animals as Leaders on first listen was that it not only featured the incredible guitar skills of arguably the most unique and technical shredder of this age, but also created absolutely brilliant compositions, which is often overlooked in prog in favour of all-out technicality.
This band still has plenty of technical ability, but it is showcased in a much more controlled manner than most. Also, John Petrucci of progressive gods Dream Theater, who happen to be one of my favourite bands, stated that some of the riffs on the self-titled DT release were inspired by the likes of Animals as Leaders and Periphery (another good progressive band).
Enslaved

Enslaved is a Norwegian extreme metal band formed in Haugesund in June 1991. They later relocated to Bergen, Norway, which became their base of operations. The band is known for blending black metal with progressive and Viking metal elements, earning critical acclaim and a dedicated global fan base.

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.
Orphaned Land

Orphaned Land at 123? Yeah, sure, there are a lot of other prog metal bands that may be better than Orphaned Land. But seriously, this band has quite a unique sound, and many of their songs hold very important messages and themes.