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Organic and non-Poppish Progressive Metal?

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David_D View Drop Down
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    Posted: August 26 2023 at 07:23

 Most of all the straight Progressive Metal with more or less clean vocals I've heard has seemed to me having rather synthetic 
sound and/or being Pop-influenced while I like it best organic and only little poppish at most. So far, I've only found these albums 
of about that kind and which I could like:


Fates Warning  (USA)  -  The Spectre Within   (1985)

Voivod  (CAN)  -  Nothingface  (1989)  

Psychotic Waltz  (USA)  -  Into the Everflow  (1992)

Tool  (USA)  -  Lateralus  (2001)

Taal  (F)  -  Skymind  (2003)

Indukti  (PL)  -  S.U.S.A.R.   (2004)

Riverside  (PL)  -  Second Life Syndrome  (2005)


Can you recommend any other albums of that kind? - And please only that kind (organic, non-poppish and straight Progressive 

Metal with more or less clean vocals), it's important. 

I'm also curious about how many of such albums have been made.


Thanks!  Smile


Edit: and now plus     Thought Industry  (USA)  -  Songs for Insects  (1992)



Edited by David_D - January 25 2024 at 09:01
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mathman0806 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mathman0806 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 26 2023 at 09:16
I recommend Mind Over Four The Goddess (1990) and Half Way Down (1993).

Edited by mathman0806 - August 26 2023 at 09:17
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David_D View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote David_D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 26 2023 at 11:57
Originally posted by mathman0806 mathman0806 wrote:

I recommend Mind Over Four The Goddess (1990) and Half Way Down (1993).

Thanks, the cover and the (even few) ratings of Half Way Down look promising to me, so I'll definitely give it a listen.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Necrotica Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 26 2023 at 13:46
For prog-thrash in the vein of classic Voivod, I would recommend:

Coroner - No More Color, Mental Vortex
Tourniquet - Psycho Surgery
Target - Master Project Genesis

Also, if you're ok with vocals that are a bit harsher, I'd recommend "Tribe" by Sadist. Absolutely fantastic prog-death album... imagine Cynic's first album, but with even wackier keyboards Smile
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mathman0806 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 26 2023 at 14:16
Originally posted by David_D David_D wrote:

Originally posted by mathman0806 mathman0806 wrote:

I recommend Mind Over Four The Goddess (1990) and Half Way Down (1993).


Thanks, the cover and the (even few) ratings of Half Way Down look promising to me, so I'll definitely give it a listen.


A very under-recognized band. I was surprised to see they were on PA. Another band/album from that time period, with a similar but more experimental vibe, is Thought Industry Songs for Insects (1992).
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David_D View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote David_D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 26 2023 at 22:06

I guess, I better add that I'm looking for the "Progressive Metal" the way it's defined and labeled by RYM, and is the more straight
Prog Metal.







Edited by David_D - August 29 2023 at 11:53
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote David_D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 27 2023 at 12:36
Originally posted by mathman0806 mathman0806 wrote:

Another band/album from that time period, with a similar but more experimental vibe, is Thought Industry Songs for Insects (1992).

After two listenings, I find this album almost amazingly creative due to its many different influences and large complexity. Also definitely interesting, so I'll give it some more spins and see what I further think and how much I like it. Tongue

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Saperlipopette! Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 27 2023 at 13:44
Originally posted by David_D David_D wrote:


Can you recommend any other albums of that kind? - And please only that kind, it's important. 

I'm also curious about how many of such albums have been made.


The first I thought of match the description you wrote better thn you list of examples. King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard's latest album PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation is full of playful, progressive ideas and themes while  moving along rather organically - and keepin' it metal while doing so. An highly enjoyable ride (imo)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote David_D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 28 2023 at 14:52

^ Frankly speaking, the band name alone is too silly to me. Big smile
Edit:
Anyway, it inspired me to give King Gizzard a new listen with another album, and this one too.






Edited by David_D - August 29 2023 at 04:17
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote I prophesy disaster Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 29 2023 at 04:29
I'm not sure if my recommendation satisfies your requirements, but a favourite metal album of mine is "Crack the Skye" by Mastodon. They are listed in PA under Tech/Extreme Prog Metal, so I guess that means they do have tracks with growling vocals. On "Crack the Skye", there is only one track with growling vocals. The vocals on the other tracks are not necessarily clean, but they are not growling. I especially love the Sabbathesque sound of a number of their tracks. The two tracks below are highlights for me:
 
 
The Czar
 
 
 
The Last Baron
 
 
 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote David_D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 29 2023 at 07:39
Originally posted by I prophesy disaster I prophesy disaster wrote:

I'm not sure if my recommendation satisfies your requirements, but a favourite metal album of mine is "Crack the Skye" by Mastodon

Yes, it's about the kind I'm looking for, and it's also about to become one of the greatest Prog Metal classics, so it's very good to include it here. I can thus certainly understand your fondness of this album too, I'm afraid though that personally, I don't find it to be that good or particularly original. - But I may give it some more spins and see what I then think. It would be a nice addition to my Metal collection, even I'm not very fond of the flashy and very colourful artwork, and can't get it fit with the music. Smile


Edited by David_D - August 29 2023 at 13:59
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote David_D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 30 2023 at 07:19

This thread may so far seem to confirm my up till now experience that  albums of organic, non-Poppish and more straight Progressive 
Metal with fairly clean vocals have not been made in a very large number. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cristi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 30 2023 at 07:28
Originally posted by David_D David_D wrote:


This thread may so far seem to confirm my up till now experience that  albums of organic, non-Poppish and more straight Progressive 
Metal with fairly clean vocals have not been made in a very large number. 

Or some have not understood your initial post. 
Non-poppish?! What does that even mean? What kind of vocals are those?! Catchy vocals does not equal pop vocals. And what kind of pop vocals? Classic pop? Modern pop? 

Fairly clean? LOL Clean vocals but not that clean? LOL

Does Pain Of Salvation qualify? They got an amazing vocalist, and their songwriting I find excellent. 
Riverside has catchy vocals, and yet you listed an album of theirs. Confused

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote David_D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 30 2023 at 09:15
Originally posted by Cristi Cristi wrote:

Does Pain Of Salvation qualify?

Not the albums I've heard, too sentimental, and Riverside's Second Life Syndrome is on the borderline.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MikeEnRegalia Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 30 2023 at 09:44
^ may I suggest you buy a microphone and record your vacuum cleaning session? Totally unique, definitely not sentimental, and no growling vocals either. Try to do funny walks, that will also take care of complex time signatures! Thumbs Up
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cristi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 30 2023 at 10:12
Originally posted by David_D David_D wrote:

Originally posted by Cristi Cristi wrote:

Does Pain Of Salvation qualify?

Not the albums I've heard, too sentimental, and Riverside's Second Life Syndrome is on the borderline.

How are the vocals too sentimental?! What have you listened to come to such a conclusion?! Confused 

Explore the progressive metal lists and its subgenres, go to youtube and search a few titles, listen a little bit and get back to us. I don't know... Confused
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MikeEnRegalia Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 30 2023 at 12:16
^ this seems like a really sophisticated form of trolling - have the busy helpers scramble and provide suggestions, only to reject most of them.

Edited by MikeEnRegalia - August 30 2023 at 12:18
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote David_D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 30 2023 at 12:19

Sorry for having other tastes and preferences than yours. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Necrotica Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 30 2023 at 12:33
^ I mean, it doesn't help that your original criteria was so hyper-specific. You're not really gonna find a lot of artists in such a narrow field of options like that

Most of the non-"synthetic" prog metal artists fall into prog-death or prog-thrash territory, the majority of which use harsh vocals

Also, I find it interesting that you don't want maudlin or sentimental vocals, but then put Lateralus on your list. Don't get me wrong, I love Lateralus, but it's pretty poppy/alternative-leaning for prog metal 


Edited by Necrotica - August 30 2023 at 12:39
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote David_D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 30 2023 at 15:41
Originally posted by Necrotica Necrotica wrote:

^ I mean, it doesn't help that your original criteria was so hyper-specific. You're not really gonna find a lot of artists in such a narrow field of options like that

Most of the non-"synthetic" prog metal artists fall into prog-death or prog-thrash territory, the majority of which use harsh vocals

Also, I find it interesting that you don't want maudlin or sentimental vocals, but then put Lateralus on your list. Don't get me wrong, I love Lateralus, but it's pretty poppy/alternative-leaning for prog metal 

Thanks for this interesting input, Necrotica.

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