prog metal - the future of prog ??

MikeEnRegalia wrote: Seriously, SoaD are not prog. Inventive, thoughtful, ambitious, mature, clever ... but not prog.

The description you gave above are equal to how you would describe most prog bands, King Crimson, and Gentle Giant certainly could be desribed by those words, so why would System of A down not be Prog!!!!!?????

Even Mojo Magazine labeled them as the future of Prog in their special Prog issue together with DT, and Mars Volta.

SOAD Harmonizes as in Prog, Uses foreign influences and Instrumentation often used in prog, Has Virtuoso playing and plenty of signature changes, musical variety within a single song as often dictated in Prog. Has significant lyrics that often tell a story, as in prog....I canot see why anyone would not agree that SOAD is not a Prog band, their sound is sooo unique that I would even go as far as stating that they are a modern version of Gentle Giant, (nowhere as good but certainly as original or creative and Unique).

I hereby open the floodgates to attack my opinion.

SYSTEM OF A DOWN IS PROG!

MikeEnRegalia wrote: They are a popular band who try to be a little bit weird and unpredictible, that's all.

Now you're basically just saying they aren't innovative after all.

Logos wrote: MikeEnRegalia wrote: They are a popular band who try to be a little bit weird and unpredictible, that's all. Now you're basically just saying they aren't innovative after all.

What did they do that hasn't been done before by either prog or non-prog artists?

MikeEnRegalia I treasure your posts on all subjects , thats why it's surprises me you disagree, but I value your opinion, but that is what prog is all about, we Prog lovers are unique and our love of music is based on loving a musical style that is considered by most " an overarchievers waste of time". Prog has never been the media's darling and alwys will be the black sheep of the musical family of styles. (So this is not personal, and no attck on your former post specifically)

On occasion we have a band come along that surprises us in its stylings, maybe its a conglamorate of music styles that has been done before but they may just add one element, or one instrument that is different, one thing that makes them harder to identify. I listen to SOAD and yes they have all the elements of Metal, the fast guitars, the screaming, but at the smae time they have a sensitivity to their vocals, not unusual in Metal ballads or Prog Metal. Their songs have the time signature changes, varied rhythms, often heard in prog. Their comes their ethnicity, the fact that the members of the band all are of Arab decent they have decided to include the elements of their heritage, the music, some instruments and their vocal stylings to their music.

Now we have the hodge podge that makes a band interesting and hard to define. I am not saying that SOAD is as good as Gentle Giant, but GG had so many influences, Classical, Madrigal, renaissance, folk, rock, and chant and jazz in their songs that could switch on the drop of a dime, which is similar to what SOAD is doing but with different styles of music. Maybe they don't do at as well as GG, but they do give it a shot.

Are they Prog, I believe so, but that is my opinion, and how I classify things that are prog, I infact believe thay are more Prog than Metal.

I personally cannot give any specific innovations as to what or why SOAD is different, or why they should be included in the band list, I appreciate the argument that has evolved around the band, I am more insulted by the post who thought that the mention of System of a Down on this forum was "OMG!!!!!!!" the worst thing ever posted.

I have made my case and I stand behind my decision, I am nearly fifty years old, and I have been around Prog a longtime, a fan since its beginnings....The fact that I am standng up for a modern band is actually quite hilarious as I favor the old prog.

Also the initial objective of this post was to see If Prog Metal was the Future of PROG?