The first prog-metal album in time

Going through my books and excluding any prog-metal related albums (or however else you call them) I concluded that the first progressive metal (as we know it now) album in time should be the mighty

Rage for Order from Queensryche


Listening to the album again and again I realise now why this has been hailed as one of the first real progressive metal albums. Although there are no crazy complex arrangements, obscure timing patterns and unexpected breaks, it still sounds very very ahead of its time (1986). I still believe that the term progressive metal has been given to this album due its innovative sound - a sound that has not been heard before with some avant-garde and ''electronic'' elements.

While the band had released an EP and The Warning album in 1983 and 1984 respectively, both of them where much closer to american power metal (which I also believe was somewhat first played by them...).

In 1986 there are also albums such as Awaken the Guardian but I see it as a more technical power metal album rather than ''prog'' as we call it now.

I am always fond of discussions on views on groundbreaking albums that changed or invented a musical genre and looking forward to hear your views.

Come on! No one else has any comments!

Sabbath Bloody Sabbath by Black Sabbath 

I agree that Queensryche was the first real prog metal band. I think that The Warning would get my vote for very first prog metal album. I don't think that the electronic or avant-garde elements are essential to create prog metal. That said, I still think these elements were somewhat present on The Warning.

Edited by Tarquin Underspoon - October 03 2009 at 22:51

J-Man wrote: I respectfully disagree with that statement. Rage for Order was 1986, but 1985 had a few albums that were key in the formation of prog metal. The be honest, I don't find Rage for Order to even be that progressive. My vote goes for Watchtower's Energetic Disassembly. This 1985 album was the first prog metal album ever IMO. It contained complexity and variety, and it is certainly not the type of metal you just bang your head to. I think Queensryche played a key role in the formation of prog metal, but this is the first actual prog metal album. -Jeff

Edited by UMUR - October 04 2009 at 02:21

never heard of watchtower but am intrigued. 

^ I certainly saw this coming ... 

Edited by Mr ProgFreak - October 04 2009 at 04:59

sleeper wrote: UMUR wrote: J-Man wrote: I respectfully disagree with that statement. Rage for Order was 1986, but 1985 had a few albums that were key in the formation of prog metal. The be honest, I don't find Rage for Order to even be that progressive. My vote goes for Watchtower's Energetic Disassembly. This 1985 album was the first prog metal album ever IMO. It contained complexity and variety, and it is certainly not the type of metal you just bang your head to. I think Queensryche played a key role in the formation of prog metal, but this is the first actual prog metal album. -Jeff   I fully agree with Jeff here. I saw the headline of the thread and instantly thought of this album. That makes 3 of us then, and well put Jeff.

That makes 4 of us now Jeff...

I completely forgot Watchtower's debut, shame on me... I always thought Energetic Disasasembly was released in 1986 but that's utterly wrong...

Indeed a worth-listening album which has not received the proper attention if you ask me

BaldJean wrote: this is the first prog metal album (from 1969):

Fly By Night or Caress of Steel