EDIT:

Here's one of the many examples:

The amount of times I would be absolutely loving some music, and thinking “oh yeah, this is for me”, only to be ruined as soon as the vocalist opened his mouth seemed to be unreal. I hated the vocals for ruining the music for me. They were a barrier, that seemed to deny me entry into a world I could tell was otherwise one I would most likely enjoy,

It took me years to get over my aversion to harsh vocals. I eventually managed to build up a tolerance to them. I still didn’t like them (AT ALL!!!), but I could manage to listen past them, in able to enjoy the music. Once I had managed this, a whole new world opened up to me. There were some bands that I still couldn’t listen to, because not all harsh vocals are alike. Some are far harsher than others, and many were still beyond my tolerance level. I also couldn’t listen to any bands that utilised only harsh vocals at this time. I needed to have a mix of clean and harsh (the greater the ratio of the former to the latter, the better).

But over time, my tolerance seemed to almost naturally grow. There are still bands I can’t listen to, and some vocals I can’t deal with, but I can listen to a lot. And in some cases (a minority, it is true), I actually not only tolerate the vocals, but enjoy them! 😱 I still prefer to have some clean vocals, but I no longer be require them, and I do own and enjoy some albums that have solely harsh vocals.

What it comes down to me, always, is the music. If the music is good enough, I can hear last the vocals. And, to be fair, this is something I have always done (and in some cases HAD to do). I like Yes, but can’t stand Jon Anderson’s vocals. I like Smashing Pumpkins, but can’t stand Billy Corgan’s vocals. For a lot of people, those vocals are one of the main drawcards. For me, they are no different in many ways to harsh vocals - a hurdle that I need to get over to enjoy the music.

This is absolutely true. I focussed on harsh vocals in my last post, because that was clearly the complaint of the OP. But there is absolutely far more prog metal WITHOUT harsh vocals, than with. So if someone is suggesting that they don’t like prog metal because of the harsh vocals, it very much comes across as that someone not even having any real idea of what prog metal actually encompasses, and probably has listened to very little, if any.

I don’t think everyone needs to be open-minded, and I don’t think everyone needs to like everything, or attempt to give something a second go (or third, or…) after being initially put off. If someone doesn’t like harsh vocals, so be it. I can definitely understand that, having once been put off completely by them, no matter how much I might like the music. And if someone doesn’t like the music either, then there is even less reason to try and appreciate the music.

The OP is hardly alone in not liking harsh vocals. I dare say the majority of forum users probably don’t. Nor is the OP alone in not liking prog metal (or making a judgement of it, without actually listening to much of it, or any). But let’s hope this doesn’t turn into a crushingly negative hate fest. It is possible to have a constructive discussion about harsh vocals. It’s even possible to express a critical opinion of then, and remain constructive. Unfortunately, the tone of the OP does suggest that they are unlikely to be willing to be anything other than negative. 🤷🏻‍♂️

They used to make make me laugh, or make me feel sick in the stomach. I honesty used to find some harsh vocals vomit-inducing. And, yeah, it was a shame, because the music could be fierce.

But, harsh vocals are never going to be everyone’s pint of ale. Luckily we can all sit in a pub and chat, and sup on whatever pint we do enjoy. Vive la difference! 🍻 

Love those bands, specially Agalloch, Enslaved. Borknagar and Opeth, i{ll add two more bands, Ulver (their first 3 albums) and In The Woods...

Those vocalists certainly seem like they are very upset about something, I just can't quite make out what.

of what i heard the music was stellar but the growling ruined it for me.. Recently i came across this, and i really dig it.. not all growling but mixed in nicely.

I had an album of In The Woods, and I've got a CD by Ulver. Very good ! 

I usually respond with a growling "No it's not"

I don't mind little bits of growling, but constant throat-vomit sounds turn me off.

I especially don't like it when I'm listening in my car, with the windows open.  It's embarrassing when someone hearts me go by.

Do you mean like this:

It's interesting though, my mom listens to this kind of stuff, with growling vocals and blast beats (another thing I find is just white noise that distracts from the music), but she finds stuff like Zappa or ELP noise and 'nervous'. Go figure.

I doubt it...she's not really into prog. She really only listens to types of screamy metal I don't even know the genre names of.

I have no problem with extreme vocals, but sometimes when they are either performed in a generic fashion, or just don´t suit the instrumental part of the music, I´m put off...but that goes for regular clean singing too. So it all depends on the singer.

Personally some of my favorite extreme metal singers are those who are able to articulate every word while delivering a face melting growl. If they add a spoonful of aggression, I´m usually all in.

Wouldn't you say that was a little... extreme?

Care to stand against that wall sir?