Albums That Define Their Respective Sub-Genres

Gentle Giant - Int'rview - Eclectic Prog

For Tech-Metal:
Voïvod - Killing Technology (1987), then Dimension Hatröss (1988)
Coroner - R.I.P. (1987 - and, yeah, I know they are not on PA, and, yeah, I consider as a fault) ;
Pestilence - Testimony of the Ancient (1991) ;
Death - Human (1991) and I would even mention Spiritual Healing (1990), even if we could see it as a "transition album".

Defining a (sub-) genre with one album is pretty harsh...even sub -genres are quite wide. Let me try for one of my fav genres...neo prog...
While I read this thread I saw a lot of albums mentioned for neo (Marillion - Script most prominent). I think that is a very good neo prog album, although it is by today's standards not centre of the genre, I think.
My choice is IQ - Subterrenea.. This (double) album contains everything neo prog is about: Keyboard and guitar driven symphonic rock, wich emphasizes melody over technical exposior (which doesn't mean there is no technical quality, far from that), and (totally) without (jazz type) jamming.All the music is composed. It does include some heavy (metal type) riffing, without becoming metal. Melody is centre-stage everywhere.

In the Rectory of the Bizarre Reverend defines Doom Metal. But this is a prog forum anyway

Most famous =/= representative of the genre

Neo Prog: Marillion - Script for a Jester's Tear

Neo Prog: The Masquerade Overture-Pendragon

The Runaway wrote: Magma - MDK - Zeuhl ELP - Brain Salad Surgery - Symphonic King Crimson - In the Court - Eclectic Mahavishnu Orchestra - Birds of Fire - JR/F Rush - Hemispheres - Heavy Phideaux - Chupacabras - Crossover maudlin of the Well - Part the Second - Experimental/Post Metal Dream Theater - Octavarium - Prog Metal Neu! - Neu! - Krautrock

In the court of the Crimson King defines symphonic prog, not ecletic.

Sean Trane wrote: harmonium.ro wrote: How I would introduce people to Zeuhl: Magma's KA Post  Rock: GY!BE's Moya EP Math Rock: Don Caballero's 2 Fusion: Miles' Bitchess Brew Extreme Prog Metal: one of Opeth's albums Experimental/Avantgarde Metal: Kayo Dot's Choirs Of The Eye Post Metal: Isis' Wavering Radiant Krautrock: Amon Duul II's Tanz Der Lemminge I wouldn't try to "define" the Art Rock subgenres because eclecticism is their first feature. RIO/Avant is also too diverse and eclectic to do it justice with just one album.   I agree totally with your first four choices

Thanks Hugues, this means I haven't been around PA for years for nothing!

I like your list too, though I avoided Soft Machine's Third because though it is the best album of the genre IMO it's not very representative of it, and Can's Tago Mago who despite being my favourite Krautrock album I also thought it emphasizes more the jam & avantgarde side of Kraut, leaving other aspects of Kraut (like pastoralism, electronic soundscapes, or even interplay a la classic prog) unrepresented.

harmonium.ro wrote: How I would introduce people to Zeuhl: Magma's KA Post  Rock: GY!BE's Moya EP Math Rock: Don Caballero's 2 Fusion: Miles' Bitchess Brew Extreme Prog Metal: one of Opeth's albums Experimental/Avantgarde Metal: Kayo Dot's Choirs Of The Eye Post Metal: Isis' Wavering Radiant Krautrock: Amon Duul II's Tanz Der Lemminge I wouldn't try to "define" the Art Rock subgenres because eclecticism is their first feature. RIO/Avant is also too diverse and eclectic to do it justice with just one album.