All-Time Top 10 Progressive Rock Bands

Deadwing wrote: No Dream Theater nor Tool surprises me as well, although they aren't in my top 20 either   (Opeth definitely is though)

10 years ago DT would certainly be in there.

Psychedelic Paul wrote: Deadwing wrote: No Dream Theater nor Tool surprises me as well, although they aren't in my top 20 either   (Opeth definitely is though) In that case, maybe we need a Top 10 Progressive Metal bands poll, where Dream Theater will be at #1 (hopefully).

I agree... OH wait, I thought you said Neorosis. ;) In 2005 and some some other times, there were lots of DT fanboys. I say fanboy because of behaviours I recall.

I'd be up to such a Progressive Metal bands poll as long as people understand that it includes any act included in all of PA's metal categories and that YOU think fits whether in that category or not. Much of what I like in such categories I think might not be considered Progressive Metal, really even if metal is an aspect and it is progressive, and I would not want to be arguing with people over classification overmuch. Always happy to have those conversations if we can try to appreciate where others are coming from (even when they're wrong -- stubbornly wrong I will not respect).

Floydoid wrote: ...10) Catherine Ribiero + Alpes

Lots of very well-known faves of mine in your list, but this is wonderful to see.

Psychedelic Paul wrote: Logan wrote: Psychedelic Paul wrote: Deadwing wrote: No Dream Theater nor Tool surprises me as well, although they aren't in my top 20 either   (Opeth definitely is though) In that case, maybe we need a Top 10 Progressive Metal bands poll, where Dream Theater will be at #1 (hopefully).  I agree... OH wait, I thought you said Neorosis. ;) In 2005 and some some other times, there were lots of DT fanboys. I say fanboy because of behaviours I recall. I'd be up to such a Progressive Metal bands poll as long as people understand that it includes any act included in all of PA's metal categories and that YOU think fits whether in that category or not. Much of what I like in such categories I think might not be considered Progressive Metal, really even if metal is an aspect and it is progressive, and I would not want to be arguing with people over classification overmuch. Always happy to have those conversations if we can try to appreciate where others are coming from (even when they're wrong -- stubbornly wrong I will not respect). Speaking of which, I'd include The Gathering and Porcupine Tree in a Top 10 Progressive Metal bands list, even though they're not categorised as Progressive Metal here on PA.

The Gathering, included in PA's Experimental/Post Metal category for those that don't know, is from my favourite metal related category at PA and might well make my list. Kayo Dot is a favourite of mine with metal qualities. It used to be in Experimental/Post-Metal but then was moved to Avant Prog. The related Toby Driver project maudlin of the Well is in Experimental/Post Metal. Of course a problem with classifying an act as Prog Metal or whatever is that how well it fits that categorisation often depends on the album. Kayo Dot's Choirs of the Eye fits metal much better than Coyote or Blue Lambency Downward. Porcupine Tree's The Sky Moves Sideways is not metal, but in Absentia fits that label better (still Prog metal would not be my primary classification for that album). I don't think of PT as metal as I don't think it defines the discography that well. It's more like metal is a component or quality of various albums. I can say the same of Kayo Dot. I now realise that the exercise does get too problematic for me when discussing bands with diverse discographies rather than individual albums. And while I tend not to appreciate anality commonly, I can get rather anal about such matters. I've been a collab at an archive for a long time and nomenclature/ classification matters to archivists.

Edited by Logan - March 21 2025 at 13:00

Floydoid wrote: 1) Pink Floyd 2) Emerson Lake & Palmer 3) Santana 4) Curved Air 5) Moody Blues 6) Camel 7) Renaissance 8) Yes 9) Focus 10) Catherine Ribiero + Alpes

Psychedelic Paul wrote: AFlowerKingCrimson wrote: Personal favorites or bands we think are the most important in prog?   Personal favourites.

1. King Crimson

Edited by ThyroidGlands - March 21 2025 at 21:47

Top 20 update with Atavachron's votes added:-