The "problem" with prog metal - Progressive Rock Music Forum

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MikeEnRegalia View Drop Down

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Posted: March 26 2007 at 12:05

Try ... the Hammers of Misfortune. Smile

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thellama73 View Drop Down

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Posted: March 26 2007 at 11:50

I really like straight metal bands like Black Sabbath, Megadeth, the Melvins, etc. But I have never liked Prog Metal. It just feels so... soulless.

MikeEnRegalia View Drop Down

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Posted: March 26 2007 at 11:21

http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=56292

Tongue

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Gamemako

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Posted: March 26 2007 at 11:19

MikeEnRegalia wrote:

Vovin ... well, I'll keep my comments to myself this time. Embarrassed

Haha, take your pick of the litter. As long as you don't dig past Lepaca Kliffoth, you pretty much can't lose. Wink

MikeEnRegalia View Drop Down

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Posted: March 26 2007 at 11:13

Vovin ... well, I'll keep my comments to myself this time. Embarrassed

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Gamemako

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Posted: March 26 2007 at 09:58

I think some of the "problem" of prog metal comes from the legions of fans of a prog metal band or two who tend to enter and vote up the least prog acts of the least progressive bands. I find it both amusing and horrifying that Therion's best-reviewed work is Sirius B. Not that the album is bad by any stretch of the mind. It's just their least progressive album. It's a far cry from Vovin. But it is their most accessible work to date (easier than their latest work, Gothic Kabbalah, I'd say). Things like this tend to keep good prog metal hidden and pop-prog stuff where the old-school hardcore proggers can safely launch attacks on it.

MikeEnRegalia View Drop Down

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Posted: March 26 2007 at 09:36

^ but it created the same type of response back then. People did not understand why someone would do that ... and eventually guitar amps were built which were even designed specifically for that purpose (creating distortion).

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FruMp

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Posted: March 26 2007 at 09:31

MikeEnRegalia wrote:

Floydian42 wrote:

I can't understand why people would scream into a microphone.

Back in the 50s/60s people didn't understand either why guitarists would overdrive their amps, creating a distorted sound.

Hardly a worthy comparsion

KeleCableII View Drop Down

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Posted: March 26 2007 at 00:41

With the exceptions of Pain of Salvation, Ayreon, Opeth and some Tool and Dream Theater, I find prog metal rather boring and generic. I feel the same way with neo prog as well.

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Posted: March 25 2007 at 23:39

Anyway, the title of this thread is a non-starter:
Prog metal does not have a "problem," because it has a large, appreciative audience. Stern%20Smile

So we don't all like it. Wow. As with ANY genre of music (hip hop, country, reggae, disco, classical, jazz, etc), because it is specialized ( focussed in one overall "direction"), it will not appeal to everyone.

In order for me to like it (as with other stuff -- & not just music -- I don't like), it would have to be very different than it is.

That is, it would have to stop being metal.

I'd probably like Nirvana if they didn't sound like Nirvana, and Axel Rose's vocals if he sounded like someone else, singing in a different style....

Edited by Peter Rideout - March 25 2007 at 23:47

"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.

Floydian42 View Drop Down

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Posted: March 25 2007 at 23:01

You know, I don't see how you can hate a genre as a whole, genre title's are too ambiguous. I can't say I hate Prog Metal, parts of Ghost Reveries are Good (Minus the vocals), and Damnation is a good album. Also, Liquid Tension Experiment has some good stuff. Although thats all I can say I like from what I've heard, it's enough to keep me open minded.

(In my earlier post, I was absent minded to LTE when I said that "The closest thing to prog metal I listen too was PT, and even then I was thinking of an artist with the whole collection of their work. My overall feelings on the genre as a whole are the same, however.)

Edited by Floydian42 - March 25 2007 at 23:04

Atavachron View Drop Down

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Posted: March 25 2007 at 21:45

The fact that some progressive metal is 'cold' or 'over-produced' doesn't mean there aren't some great artists, like LTE or the F-ing Champs. Also, if a music genre is heavy on technique and light on soul, I don't really care as long as it makes me go "Wow.."

Edited by Atavachron - March 25 2007 at 21:46

oliverstoned View Drop Down

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Posted: March 25 2007 at 21:27

Indeed, i've listened to Riverside and i've been completly traumatized!! Some people compared that to PF

darkmatter View Drop Down

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Posted: March 25 2007 at 20:59

sircosick wrote:

The "problem with prog metal" is simple: it sounds noisy, soulless and overproduced, almost as industrial music. It's the worst mix that I've known (between prog rock and metal).

Ugh, I'm tired of hearing how prog metal is "soulless". You can't possibly convince me that bands like Riverside, Anathema, and Tool are soulless. Stop making these petty generalizations.

Edited by darkmatter - March 25 2007 at 20:59

oliverstoned View Drop Down

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Posted: March 25 2007 at 20:05

Sell back all these Cds and buy some prog!

Trademark

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Posted: March 25 2007 at 19:36

I've tried and spent many hundreds of dollars trying prog metal ( I have all or most releases from DT, Fate's Warning, Evergrey, Symphony X, POS, etc., etc.) but I can't manage to find much I really can say I like. Pretty much all 2 or 3 star stuff. It is interesting to a point, but I'm not sure I've ever actually gotten all the way through any of thse CD's without needing a break.

For me, I have to second the "noisy, soulless and overproduced" sentiments and have given up trying.

Edited by Trademark - March 25 2007 at 19:37

MikeEnRegalia View Drop Down

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Posted: March 25 2007 at 17:40

^ many people oppose prog metal simply because it's more aggressive than prog rock (in general) ... that's ridiculous IMO.

And to all of you who are desperately trying to get into prog metal (and failing to do so): Maybe it's just not for you. Smile

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avestin

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Posted: March 25 2007 at 17:38

I have to ask, what bands did you listen to? There are so many different sounding bands here. Like there are in other genres represented in PA. I mean, how can you make a generalization of a whole genre which is as diverse as any other?

I listen and love all genres represented here on PA (as my friends will atest) and I've heard criticism on each of them, and while each argument has some truth to it, it never can be stretched out to a whole style/genre/part of music. I have friends who say that all Electronic Prog is soulless, but again, that's because they don't understand the point of origin from which these musicians come from. I find it to be extremely beautiful and a unique voyage. The same goes for Krautorck, RIO/Avant etc.

About the Soulless, I really don't see how you say this. What's soulless in say, In The Woods? Listen to the first track in Omnio. And that's one small example.

But I don't want to defend, I am tired of it (keep doing other defending each day in the real life and don't care to do the same here in PA, have more constructive things to do, like adding bands), so if you dislike it, so be it.

Let's find a common love in another genre and rejoice at that.

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stonebeard View Drop Down

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Posted: March 25 2007 at 17:33

All the arguments I've seen against prog metal are stereotypes. Sleepy

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Floydian42 View Drop Down

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Posted: March 25 2007 at 17:27

MikeEnRegalia wrote:

Floydian42 wrote:

MikeEnRegalia wrote:

Floydian42 wrote:

I can't understand why people would scream into a microphone.

Back in the 50s/60s people didn't understand either why guitarists would overdrive their amps, creating a distorted sound.

And I'm sure they never did.

Ok, so you're not a guitarist ... but the guys on your signature image know what I'm talking about. Smile

I am too a guitarist, I can't say I know much about the history of guitars or what people thought of the effects on them, but I can say this: I love distortion. All I mean to say is, I don't understand nor like screaming, I just don't see the appeal.