WINTER MADNESS!! PA's Battle of the Bands.

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A 'Lack of Space' another reason to include Hawkwind.

Guldbamsen wrote: This is tough Micky......mostly because of the always interesting (NOT) definition of prog. What constitutes a prog band? ......and no please let us not go down that road - I still have soar elbows from the last time. But if we're talking about the top prog artists, or indeed the top artists featured here on PA, then in terms of sheer popularity and albums sold, then you're missing Neurosis, Tool and Alcest. All hugely influential and have sold more records than most of the bands featured on your list

I know Micky's shot this down already, but I'd disagree strongly with Alcest, I know they're quite successful but IMO are a long way from being the best the Atmospheric Black Metal genre has to offer and even further from being one of it's first bands. Groups like Weakling, Drudkh and Wolves in the Throne Room had been there and doing that for years before Alcest came along. There not even Niege's first band in the style, with Amoseurs pre dating them.

I'd argue for Isis over Neurosis, mainly because Neurosis have been producing rather middling albums since the seminal Through Silver in Blood and because I think Isis did more to further the genre and may have been more popular in the end anyway. Completely agree on Tool though.

I'm thinking it might be a good idea to go with 64 bands, and set them up in a group stage to cut the first 32 before getting into the brackets.  It might need including bands that are solely there to be shot down, but hay that can be fun too as are upsets. I think whats been shown here is that there are a lot of bands that have had a strong impact on Prog and that whittling it down to just 32 may mean that several bands get cut simply due to a lack of space more than any actual reasoning regarding their music and influence.

It's also hard not to throw in a list of another 20 bands that I find amazing, but I'm well aware that I may be the only that would consider them worth voting for.

I'm also interested to see which band it is that you want revenge on Micky!


Edited by sleeper - November 16 2014 at 12:21

sleeper wrote: I'm thinking it might be a good idea to go with 64 bands, and set them up in a group stage to cut the first 32 before getting into the brackets.  It might need including bands that are solely there to be shot down, but hay that can be fun too as are upsets. I'm also interested to see which band it is that you want revenge on Micky!

that is a nice idea. Really beyond seeding the first 8.. perhaps 16 it is a coinflip anyway.

I might just do that.


As far as revenge.  We go back many years to a Battle of the Bands polls we had. A result I never forgot nor forgave... this time I meant to have revenge. And still might if we go up to 64

its been a running joke for years.  f**king Camel.   

I don't think I would vote for f**king Camel above any of the bands you listed.

and surely f**kiing Camel is illegal? Even in Texas.

It might be a personal bias but looking at the list I would take Opeth over DT. I feel that DT had a huge influence over the early days of prog metal but they have really failed in the recent years and these days are trying to copy THEIR OWN INFLUENCE to try to stay afloat instead of trying to push the boundaries. They are a technically inclined band who often times forgets that it is a SONG that people are interested in listening to and not just the instruments.

Opeth on the other hand are highly dynamic band that is willing to sacrifice what their fans know about them (Damnation, Heritage) in order to actually further their sound. They took up the tipping progressive metal flag and have led the charge since Blackwater Park (which was likely helped by Steve Wilson's production and Porcupine Tree's foray into metal in the early naughties.) Others have come along since then that have also made an impact but I would say that Mikael and his Swedish clan would have been able to make their mark with or without the groundwork laid by DT in the 90s.


Edited by Queen By-Tor - November 16 2014 at 12:46

'Dream Theater though is a must, no matter how much they suck or how tasteless the group is'

Michael678 wrote: sleeper wrote: Can't really argue with that list, I may not like many of those listed but they really are the top 32 based on impact, influence and popularity. same here, man!!

What's up with you guys? We're meant to argue endlessly about this sort of stuff.