Is Prog Metal a "fusion" genre?

Faul_McCartney wrote: Is Prog Metal simply a mix of metal and prog rock in the same way jazz fusion is a mix of jazz and rock, or country rap is a fusion of country and rap? Or is it a legitimate progression of metal that builds upon and/or subverts established trends of the genre in the same way that the original progressive rock had continuity with the (mostly) psychedelic rock bands of the 60s?

In general, no. Nor is jazz rock fusion simply a mix of jazz and rock. It's about one genre incorporating characteristics and attributes of another genre. The innovators/originators are the ones who find a fresh take to create new music. Some may just merely "mix," while others do not. And with any category, there are followers who use the originators' music to inspire their music or there are followers who more or less imitate.

Dating back to the 30s and 40s there were Jazz guitarists that played a "pull off" style combined with "tapping". This particular style of guitar playing became part of the Metal identity..

In Jazz the name most mentioned is Tal Farlowe..however there were several other Jazz guitarists mastering that style throughout Europe in the 20th century and it originally was a technique that existed in European Folk.

The harmonies played by two guitarists in a Metal band is commonly known to be based on Norwegian Folk melodies and of course the Classical times. In the more melodic side to Metal this has been utilized with singing as well. Typically a vocal phrase which contains a melodic minor sound, but never strays completely away from dissonance...which of course gives a Metal song its creepiness.

The duel guitar harmony leads were often heard in the music of Wishbone Ash...but the idea itself unleashed itself in Progressive Rock with Stephen Stewart and Francis Lickerish of The Enid in the 70s. It mainly derived from Classical music and because of their tone it did in fact ( at times),have a Metal style.

Much of the more technical or intricate plectrum style of Randy Rhodes, Ynigwie Malmstein etc..was full of precision attack and probably mastered through the practice of violin pieces..Paganini etc.

Originally I thought I had heard the quickness of these note passages played by Ritchie Blackmore on "Highway Star". I believe that was in 1972 and as time progressed more guitar players began adding that to their own vocabulary and it became popular in Metal. It was a progressive way of playing because it derived from Classical music.

Such as the way Keith Emerson could move his fingers across the keyboards like grease lightning...guitar players were doing the same ...but mostly in Metal. Regardless of categorizing it as Heavy Metal ...Metal...Speed Metal...etc...many of the ideas or concepts derive from fast pace notes in the Classical times.
..but over decades Metal was never thought to be Progressive Rock. The guitar lines may have been progressive and required technique to play, but it didn't sound like Prog to the hard core supporters of Prog for years...








Edited by Jacob Schoolcraft - January 02 2023 at 17:26

Jacob Schoolcraft wrote: Dating back to the 30s and 40s there were Jazz guitarists that played a "pull off" style combined with "tapping". This particular style of guitar playing became part of the Metal identity.. In Jazz the name most mentioned is Tal Farlowe..however there were several other Jazz guitarists mastering that style throughout Europe in the 20th century and it originally was a technique that existed in European Folk. The harmonies played by two guitarists in a Metal band is commonly known to be based on Norwegian Folk melodies and of course the Classical times. In the more melodic side to Metal this has been utilized with singing as well. Typically a vocal phrase which contains a melodic minor sound, but never strays completely away from dissonance...which of course gives a Metal song its creepiness. The duel guitar harmony leads were often heard in the music of Wishbone Ash...but the idea itself unleashed itself in Progressive Rock with Stephen Stewart and Francis Lickerish of The Enid in the 70s. It mainly derived from Classical music and because of their tone it did in fact ( at times),have a Metal style. Much of the more technical or intricate plectrum style of Randy Rhodes, Ynigwie Malmstein etc..was full of precision attack and probably mastered through the practice of violin pieces..Paganini etc. Originally I thought I had heard the quickness of these note passages played by Ritchie Blackmore on "Highway Star". I believe that was in 1972 and as time progressed more guitar players began adding that to their own vocabulary and it became popular in Metal. It was a progressive way of playing because it derived from Classical music. Such as the way Keith Emerson could move his fingers across the keyboards like grease lightning...guitar players were doing the same ...but mostly in Metal. Regardless of categorizing it as Heavy Metal ...Metal...Speed Metal...etc...many of the ideas or concepts derive from fast pace notes in the Classical times. ..but over decades Metal was never thought to be Progressive Rock. The guitar lines may have been progressive and required technique to play, but it didn't sound like Prog to the hard core supporters of Prog for years...

This is a lovely post. Thank you.

Funny enough, routing through my cd collection I came across a Paganini cd I’ve not heard in forever.
Gonna change that. :)

Edited by David_D - January 03 2023 at 09:06