Give Some Recommendations to a Prog Dabbler!

Why not try checking out the top few albums in each of the prog sub-genres on here. It might give you a wider perspective on things, as I notice you haven't mentioned any Italian bands, or any jazz rock / fusion for example.

I do this occasionally, and sometimes unearth some gems.

Another idea might be to nip onto LastFM.com, and try starting up a radio station with the name of one of the bands you like, and then it will automatically play music of a similar nature for you, and you might pick up something useful that way.

Specific recommendations:

Si Partie 1 - Nemo
Unfolded Like Staircase - Discipline
Conquest of the Pacific - Oaksenham
Doomsday Afternoon - Phideaux
4th - D.F.A.
Starborn, Tome I - The Chronicles Of Israfel

First off, if you like Opeth you NEED to check out Edge of Sanity. If you like the heavier (yet still melodic) side of Opeth, Edge of Sanity should appeal to you. There aren't as many acoustic sections, but their music is firmly rooted in Swedish melodic death metal mixed with prog influences (like Opeth). They are led by Dan Swanö (who produced the first 2 Opeth albums). I recommend starting with Crimson, and if you like that get the other Edge of Sanity albums and explore the rest of Swanö's extensive bands and projects (Nightingale, Pan.Thy.Monium, Unicorn, Second Sky, Bloodbath, Infestdead, etc.).

If you like Cynic and Death, also check out Atheist and Pestilence, both of which play a death metal/prog fusion similar to Cynic. From Atheist start with Unquestionable Presence and Pestilence start with Spheres.

Also on the metal side of the equation, you need to check out Pain of Salvation. They mostly lead toward the prog rock side, and have created some of the most beautiful (and best) music I have ever heard. All of their albums are fantastic, but The Perfect Element and Be are the two best IMO. However, you can't really go wrong with any of their albums. Of course, there's also bands like Fates Warning, Symphony X, Queensrÿche, Dream Theater, Ayreon, Riverside, and Shadow Gallery that every prog metal fan should hear as well.

As for the more symphonic stuff (Yes and Genesis), there are plenty of modern bands that play in a similar style that are worth checking out as well. I recommend checking out Spock's Beard, which plays in a retro prog style with an original feel. Their first 6 albums with Neal Morse are all fantastic, and their newest album, X, is pretty great as well. The solo Neal Morse albums are also worth checking out.

Hope this helps!
Jeff

Yes, Astray is excellent, in particular the opener, Now. I like it a lot more than Horror Express.

I would recomend trying the post-rock side of things. because you love Tool I would recomend starting with Isis, in particular start with In The Absence Of Truth.

I'd repeat an earlier suggestion by going to the top albums in each sub genre and going through reviews and choose from there. From the look of your opening post, you seem to have a wide range of tastes, so this should be the starting point.

On a specific artist, if you like Oldfield' Tubular Bells, definitely check out TB II & III, Crises, Anarok, and move on from there.

40footwolf wrote: 1. The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway-Genesis

I need to check Parmenter and Discipline out further since I liked The Unfolded one so much.

By the way, I'm by no means an expert in this genre, but in post rock, try Maserati before Explosions. 

Another really good instrumental album, if you want to try something different,  is Jonas Hellborg's Art Metal.

Knifeworld's Tales Of Crushing Defeat is really good and might work for you,  I'm the only one to review it so far, so you'll have only my opinion to go on.


Edited by Slartibartfast - July 12 2010 at 18:25

That should just about do you.

40footwolf wrote: 1. The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway-Genesis You could check out 'Snow' by Spock's Beard if you're keen in modern Symphonic prog 2. Red-King Crimson Get 'Inner Mounting Flame' by Mahavishnu Orchestra trust me 3. Traced in Air-Cynic 4. Lateralus-Tool 5. Wish You Were Here-Pink Floyd Get 'The Sky Moves Sideways' by Porcupine Tree if you haven't yet, as well 'The Masquerade Overture' by Pendragon which has both, Floyd and Genesis influences 6. Melt-Peter Gabriel 7. Crack the Skye-Mastodon 8. Still Life-Opeth 9. Fragile-Yes Like my first recommendation, if you're keen on modern symph prog, check guys like The Flower Kings, Transatlantic, Beardfish, Shadow Circus, Epignosis are all very enjoyable though different. If you want more from the 70's Symph Prog, bands like Camel and Focus are stupendous, check 'Mirage' and 'Moving Waves' respectively by each band. 10. 666-Aphrodite's Child Some other prog albums I like are: Milliontown-Frost* Hall of the Mountain Grill-Hawkwind Brain Salad Surgery-Emerson, Lake and Palmer Keen on a more melodic take on ELP? Check out German band, Triumvirat and their masterpiece 'Illusions on a Double Dimple' The Bedlam in Goliath-The Mars Volta Tubular Bells-Mike Oldfield Deadwing-Porcupine Tree Check out the rest of their 00's releases if you haven't yet Breakfast in America-Supertramp Nothingface-Voivod Awake-Dream Theater The Sound of Perseverance-Death Death Walks Behind You-Atomic Rooster If you haven't check them out yet, Deep Purple is an obvious recommendation if you like organ-led rock/prog. Check their albums 'In Rock' and 'Made in Japan'.

I'm pleased to see Aphrodites Child 666 on your list (although the rest are not bad!)

The Truth wrote: Pablo has pretty much got you covered he's like a prog insurence company  (Sadly, they have that)