Neo-Classical Metal?

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What can you give as  example of tunes that meet the criteria for progressive rock? And a one-off like Malmsteen's Inspirations covering other bands prog rock and heavy rock tunes, is really a non-starter.

Neo-Classical? Derived and loosely converted Baroque, more like!

I like YJM's earlier material - although don't mention his first album to Barry Barlow, if you see him...

Much as I like some of the material - Icarus' Dream Suite is really good, extraordinary in its execution - but the compositional style is lifted almost directly from Vivaldi, using standard "classical" (broad term) techniques but simply transcribed to guitar instead of violin - few advanced techniques such as double-stopping or multi-string trilling are employed.

This is not to bring the guys down in what they do, I just hesitate when anyone compares what they did with "classical" music. And the keyboard parts nearly all suck - they're pale imitations of the guitar parts.

In terms of true classical guitar playing, however, there is very little in common - listen to any recording of, say Rodrigo.

The term neo-classical already refers to a period in music, which is another reason for finding the term unacceptable... (picky, me???? )

The main problem I have with considering this music as a sub-genre of prog is that it doesn't delve deeply enough into exploratory territory - the narrow circle is pretty much staked out in track 1 - you know exactly where the music will take you. Prog albums typically don't hold your hand in such a fashion - they brutally send you on a journey into unchartered territory and back again. Consider "In The Court of the Crimson King". You just wouldn't know by listening to "21st Century Schizoid Man" that the album would also take you through the delicacy of "I Talk to the Wind" to the ultimate symphonic grandeur of the title track. Now that's what I call a prog album!

To understand a bit more about what I mean by "exploratory", before I drive everyone mad with all these under-grad double quotes, check out Queen II. That is ostensibly a rock album, but ducks, dives and delves into prog territory many times, whilst sustaining that unmistakable "classical" feel that early Queen was steeped in.

In short, great music, just not prog!

Certif1ed wrote: To understand a bit more about what I mean by "exploratory", before I drive everyone mad with all these under-grad double quotes, check out Queen II. That is ostensibly a rock album, but ducks, dives and delves into prog territory many times, whilst sustaining that unmistakable "classical" feel that early Queen was steeped in. In short, great music, just not prog!

Right-o   CERTainly. QII is their best.

Yngwie - NO

I'll totally agree with everyone who says Yngwie and his ilk don't make progressive music.  For me, prog is a mixture of skilled musicianship and creative ideas while Yngwie only possesses the former really.

If you're looking for great progressive metal, listen to a Japanese 3 piece called Sigh.  Fantastic Iron Maidenish guitar riffs, black metal vocals and a keyboardist who uses a Fender Rhodes, moog, Yamaha string machine, clavinet and all sorts of other instruments.