Progressive metal

Progressive metal
Other names	Prog metal
Stylistic origins	Heavy metal progressive rock
Cultural origins	Mid-1980s, North America, United Kingdom
Subgenres
Djent
Fusion genres
Progressive metalcore progressive doom technical death metal
Regional scenes
United Kingdom United States Scandinavia Canada Germany

Progressive metal (often shortened to prog metal) is a broad fusion music genre melding heavy metal and progressive rock, combining the loud "aggression"^[1] and amplified guitar-driven sound of the former with the more experimental, cerebral or quasi-classical compositions of the latter.

The music typically showcases the extreme technical proficiency of the performers and usually uses unorthodox harmonies as well as complex rhythms with frequent meter changes and intense syncopation. The rhythmic aspects are especially emphasized in the djent subgenre.^[1]

Although the genre emerged towards the late-1980s, it was not until the 1990s that progressive metal achieved widespread success.^[1] Watchtower,^[2] Queensrÿche, Dream Theater, Tool, Symphony X,^[3] Shadow Gallery, King's X, and Fates Warning are a few examples of progressive metal bands who achieved commercial success. Soon after the rise of the genre's popularity, other thrash and death metal bands started to incorporate elements of progressive music in their work.

History

Progressive metal, as a distinct musical style, was primarily advanced by members of the American heavy metal scene of the mid-1980s, particularly Queensrÿche, Savatage, Fates Warning, Watchtower and then later on, Dream Theater and Symphony X. It has since developed in a non-linear fashion, with countless groups demonstrating innovations in personal ways.^[4][5]

The origins of the genre date back to the very beginning of heavy metal/hard rock and progressive rock when some bands began to merge the two different approaches. 1960s pioneers King Crimson maintained their musical innovation while incorporating a harder approach, using dissonance and experimental tones, yet still maintaining a relationship to the power chords of hard rock, with the main example being "21st Century Schizoid Man".^[6] Canadian trio Rush are widely recognized as bridging the gap between hard rock, English progressive rock, and pure heavy metal. Initially influenced by Led Zeppelin, they evolved to combine established progressive rock technique with blues-based power chords. Records such as 2112 (1976) showcased technical expertise and complex compositional skill while still utilizing a more direct and heavier approach than the well-established English progressive rock sound.^[7]

Dream Theater live in 2015

1984 brought full-length debut albums from American bands Queensrÿche^[8] from Washington state, and Fates Warning^[9] from Connecticut. Both expanded their music to include more progressive elements (The Warning, 1984; The Spectre Within, 1985) – some through sound experimentation and compositional refinement, others through extremely complex structures and atypical riffs – up to the two seminal works in 1986: Rage for Order and Awaken the Guardian.^[10][11] In the following years the two bands, while following different paths – more basic and simple the first, more articulate and complex the latter — explore and expand the technical refinement and sonic finesse of their music, continuing to lay the foundations of the genre with important works such as Operation: Mindcrime (1988) by Queensrÿche,^[12] and Perfect Symmetry (1989) by Fates Warning.^[13] Progressive metal also found a home in the growing U.S. thrash metal movement, influencing popular heavy metal bands like Megadeth, with its acclaimed album Rust in Peace (1990), together with Metallica and its famous album ...And Justice for All (1988).^[14] Among the other pioneering thrash metal bands, one of the most important is Canada's Voivod, with their complex and experimental style, full of psychedelic dissonances (Dimension Hatröss, 1988; Nothingface, 1989).^[15] "Math-metal" pioneers Watchtower, from Texas, took the concept of time-changes to a new level, combining thrash metal, syncopation and prog in their albums Energetic Disassembly (1985)^[16] and Control and Resistance (1989), giving rise to an extremely technical approach based on the rhythmic deconstruction typical in jazz fusion.^[17] This same direction in prog metal would be later integrated into death metal by bands such as Atheist (Unquestionable Presence, 1991),^[18] which would become known as technical death metal or progressive death metal. Bands which also explored fusion-inspired prog metal include most notably Death and Cynic.^[19]

The major US bands that contribute to further delineating and developing the genre are Psychotic Waltz and Dream Theater. The former, with an approach halfway in between Watchtower and Fates Warning, produced A Social Grace (1990), melding their signature sound with the psychedelic Into the Everflow (1992),^[20] while the latter explored the legacy of the bands that preceded them while advancing their personal style with When Dream and Day Unite (1989). Both albums focused on keyboards and band members' instrumental skills. As for Dream Theater, their efforts resulted in two fundamental albums, which helped institutionalize classic progressive metal — Images and Words (1992) and Awake (1994).^[21]

Among European pioneers of the genre are Germany's Sieges Even, who, starting out of technical thrash stylistically significant to Watchtower, explored the more technical and angular side of progressive metal with The Art of Navigating by the Stars (2005).^[22]

Opeth live in 2015

Among the bands of the late 1990s who brought innovation to the genre are the Dutch Ayreon (a project by Arjen Anthony Lucassen) and Swedes Pain of Salvation. Ayreon focused on theatrical and melodramatic rock operas Into the Electric Castle (1998) and The Human Equation (2004), performed by many different members of prominent metal bands.^[23][24] Pain of Salvation was always working towards a more or less unusual style, demonstrated by the eclecticism and anti-conformism found on One Hour by the Concrete Lake (1998), and BE (2004).^[25] Forerunners of a more experimental and alternative approach include Thought Industry, as seen in their album Mods Carve the Pig: Assassins, Toads and God's Flesh (1993).^[26]

Puerto Rican band Puya rose to prominence in the late '90s with their innovative fusion of jazz, salsa, and progressive metal, evident on their 1999 album Fundamental.^[27]

Some of the first bands to pioneer the combination of progressive rock and extreme metal influences were Dan Swanö's Edge of Sanity, and Opeth,^{[citation needed]} both bands hailing from Sweden. In particular, Edge of Sanity's Crimson (1996), a 40-minute concept album consisting of a single track, brought the band critical acclaim and was heralded as one of the first extreme-metal forays into a progressive rock-esque concept album,^{[citation needed]} featuring death-metal vocals and heavily distorted guitars, with guest vocals and lead guitar from Opeth's Mikael Åkerfeldt. Dan Swanö produced Opeth's first release, Orchid (1995), which was unique for its combination of death metal vocals and instrumentation, melodic guitar harmonies, and acoustic passages, but it wasn't until their hallmark record Blackwater Park (2001) that they received critical acclaim. Steven Wilson, progressive rock icon and frontman of Porcupine Tree, was given a copy of Opeth's prior record Still Life (1999) from a friend, and, after listening, noted that the experimental music he had been after had drifted into extreme metal. Being mutual fans of each other's work, Steven ended up co-producing Blackwater Park along with Opeth's frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt, and would go on to co-produce Deliverance (2002) and Damnation (2003), together a would-be double album.^{[citation needed]} Their next release, Ghost Reveries, became an "instant classic," followed by Watershed, their last "heavy" album, both of which have had significant influence on the progressive metal genre,^[28][29] along with other "extreme metal" bands like Meshuggah. This style of progressive metal is often referred to as "extreme progressive metal," or "extreme prog," for short.^[30] Later bands who would play in this style are Ne Obliviscaris, Disillusion.^[31][32] Porcupine Tree would later be influenced by this style, and in particular from Opeth, while Opeth would subsequently switch to a more traditional progressive metal/rock band, devoid of extreme metal elements.^[29]

Haken live in 2014

Between the Buried and Me, who started as a more straightforward metalcore band, also began to incorporate both progressive metal and death metal into their music on their 2003 album The Silent Circus, a landmark album in the progressive metalcore genre.^[33] They would later add avant-garde elements as well on releases such as The Great Misdirect (2009).^[34][35]

In the 2010s, due to the rapid growth of djent led by bands such as Periphery and After the Burial,^[36] progressive metal saw an increased interest with a large number of newcomers to the genre. Some of the newer progressive metal bands that have gained popularity since the 2010s are Haken, Plini, Vola, and Caligula's Horse, among others.^[37]

Stylistic diversity

One of the hallmark musical qualities of progressive metal is eclecticism. In between the riffs, choruses, and solos typical of rock and metal songs, prog metal bands often include sections inspired by jazz, classical and Middle Eastern music, among others. Progressive metal is difficult to define specifically, since most bands labeled under the genre have considerably different musical influences when compared to each other.^[38]

Similarly, bands such as Dream Theater, Planet X and Puya^[39] have a jazz influence, with extended solo sections that often feature "trading solos".

Orphaned Land from Israel debuted as a melodic death-doom/melodic death metal band that fused middle eastern rhythms and melodies into their music with a progressive edge. The band knew they wanted to create a new subgenre of metal from the very beginning, a style they would dub "oriental metal," and were always viewed as progressive due to the nature of the middle eastern elements of their music, which is known for using time signatures that are uncommon in the west, expansive song structures, and microtones. As their career developed, they would later play in a more traditional progressive metal style, comparable to Opeth, Symphony X, and the like, while maintaining their "oriental" edge.^{[40][41][42][43]} Steven Wilson, who lived in Israel for some time playing in Blackfield, found Ophaned Land to be "something special" after listening to Mabool and, would end up producing and engineering The Never Ending Way of ORWarriOR.^[44][45]

Orphaned Land live in 2019

In the late 2000s, bands such as Periphery, Tesseract, Animals as Leaders and Vildhjarta popularized the "djent" style of progressive metal in a sound originally developed by Meshuggah. It is characterized by high-attack, palm-muted, syncopated riffs (often incorporating polymeters), as well as use of extended-range guitars.^[46] Extended-range guitars also feature in other forms of progressive metal; artists including Dream Theater, Devin Townsend, Dir En Grey, and Ne Obliviscaris have used seven-string guitars without being part of the djent movement, Dream Theater having been one of the earliest progressive metal bands to incorporate seven-stringed guitars into their music.^{[citation needed]}

Proyecto Eskhata, a Spanish band, has received much press coverage in Spain for its fusion of progressive rock and rap metal, which journalists have described as "progressive rap metal".^{[47][48][49][50]}

Progressive doom is a fusion genre that combines elements of progressive metal and doom metal.^[51] Bands include King Goat,^[51] Below the Sun,^[52] Sierra,^[53] and Oceans of Slumber.^[54]

See also

• Heavy metal subgenres
• List of progressive metal artists
• Timeline of progressive rock

References

1. "Progressive Metal Music Genre Overview - AllMusic". AllMusic.
2. Sharpe-Young, Garry (2007). Metal: The Definitive Guide : Heavy, NWOBH, Progressive, Thrash, Death, Black, Gothic, Doom, Nu. Jawbone Press. p. 495. ISBN 978-1-906002-01-5. OL 8776949M.
3. AllMusic. Tool. Retrieved on February 11, 2013.
4. Wilson, Rich (March 10, 2020). "10 essential progressive metal albums". Loudersound.com. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
5. Rivadavia, Eduardo (June 6, 2018). "The Roots of Progressive Metal in 11 Songs". Loudwire.com. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
6. Wagner 2010, pp. 1–8.
7. Wagner 2010, pp. 21–31.
8. Wagner 2010, pp. 47–54.
9. Wagner 2010, pp. 55–63.
10. "Awaken The Guardian Retrospective". Power of Prog. April 16, 2016.
11. "10 Essential Progressive Metal Albums". teamrock. March 10, 2020.
12. "METAL GETS MENTAL". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
13. Spencer, Trey (June 30, 2008). "Review: Fates Warning - Perfect Symmetry". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 2015-03-20.
14. Wagner 2010, pp. 40–44.
15. Wagner 2010, pp. 103–129.
16. Wagner 2010, pp. 69–72.
17. Wagner 2010, pp. 83–84.
18. Wagner 2010, pp. 160–169.
19. Wagner 2010, p. 117–120-140-205.
20. Wagner 2010, pp. 79–82.
21. Wagner 2010, pp. 91–107.
22. Wagner 2010, pp. 76–78.
23. "Review: Ayreon - Into the Electric Castle | Sputnikmusic". Sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
24. "The 100 Greatest Prog Anthems Of All Time". Loudersound.com. March 26, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
25. Wagner 2010, pp. 195–229.
26. Spencer, Trey (November 20, 2007). "Thought Industry Mods Carve The Pig". Sputnik Music. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
27. Charles R. Bouley II (January 9, 1999). MCA's Puya Gets 'Fundamental' With Mix Of Rock, Salsa. Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
28. Böhmer, Dominik (December 8, 2018). "A SCENE IN RETROSPECT: Opeth - "Ghost Reveries"". Everything Is Noise. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
29. Kennelty, Greg (September 18, 2019). "OPETH Wrote And Deleted A Death Metal Record After Watershed". Metal Injection. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
30. Shteamer, Hank (July 26, 2017). "Opeth's Mikael Akerfeldt: My 10 Favorite Metal Albums". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
31. Kennelty, Greg (July 11, 2019). "DISILLUSION Announces First New Album In 13 Years The Liberation". Metal Injection. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
32. Harrington, Chris (January 4, 2018). "Ne Obliviscaris Put Progress In Motion". Invisible Oranges - The Metal Blog. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
33. "BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME Albums Ranked". Prog-sphere.com. June 4, 2018. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
34. "Greater Colorful Complexity: Between the Buried and Me's the Great Misdirect Turns 10". December 3, 2019.
35. "The Great Misdirect".
36. "What Is Djent Music? Explore the Heavy Metal Subgenre". MasterClass. August 17, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
37. Loudwire Staff (March 3, 2023). "10 Best New Prog Rock + Metal Bands Since 2010, Chosen By Haken's Ross Jennings". Loudwire. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
38. "The Genres at Heavy Harmonies". Heavy Harmonies.
39. Mateus, Jorge Arévalo (2004). "Boricua Rock". In Hernandez, Deborah Pacini (ed.). Rockin' las Américas: the global politics of rock in Latin/o America. D. Fernández, Héctor l'Hoeste; Zolov, Eric. University of Pittsburgh Press. pp. 94–98. ISBN 0-8229-5841-4.
40. Farhi, Kobi (2021). Orphaned Land - 30 Years of Oriental Metal art booklet. Century Media.
41. "Interview: Orphaned Land – Kobi Farhi". Metal Refuge. February 27, 2004.
42. "Interview with Matti Svatizky (Orphaned Land)". www.metalfan.ro.
43. "Orphaned Land". Tablet.
44. Blabbermouth (September 24, 2009). "ORPHANED LAND: New Album Due In January". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
45. Orphaned Land - Vayehi Or 20 Years Of Journey (Documentary), July 18, 2013, retrieved December 5, 2023
46. "What is Djent". Djent Hub. Archived from the original on July 6, 2022. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
47. "Proyecto Éskhata + Zarcort". Timeout.es. Retrieved November 18, 2021.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
48. "MetalKorner - PROYECTO ESKHATA adelanta un tema de su futuro álbum". Metalkorner.com. Archived from the original on September 22, 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
49. "PROYECTO ESKHATA - SALEM - INVISIBLE". Mariskalrock.com.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
50. "[Críticas de Discos] Proyecto Eskhata – La edad postcontemporánea (2015)". Lamancharock.com. May 29, 2015. Archived from the original on February 14, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
51. Goat, King (March 15, 2018). "The 9 albums that inspired King Goat's progressive doom sound". Loudersound.com. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
52. "Full Album Stream: Below The Sun - 'Alien World' - Decibel Magazine". May 23, 2017.
53. "Canada's purveyors of progressive doom metal issue new video". Axs.com. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
54. "6 New Metal Albums That Set a Strong Mood - Pitchfork". Pitchforkcom.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

References

• The Absolute Guide To Progressive Metal by Rocking.gr.
• Wagner, Jeff (2010). Mean Deviation: Four Decades of Progressive Heavy Metal. Bazillion Points. ISBN 978-0-9796163-3-4.