The Tech/Extreme Prog metal appreciation

Well as far as I am concerned, true Avant Garde music came and went in the early twentieth century with a lot of classical composers experimenting.  It just means that they "broke" traditions and conventions or the perceptions of music.  A great series of double discs is called "An anthology of noise and electronic music"
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_0_12?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=an+anthology+of+noise+%26+electronic+music&sprefix=an+anthology

which pretty succinctly summarizes this period of early experimentation... really, one could claim any style has "died" once people just begin to copy each other; further one could claim that music as we know it has died.... as there is not much originality to be had any longer.... there may be some in underground alcoves, but they all borrow from the past. 

Avant Garde music still exists, but true avant garde in terms of breaking conventions is hard to find.  For instance, a lot of what is termed avant garde today is not so (in my opinion)... like I don't consider Code (black metal band) to be avant garde at all.  People tend to think that if they add some odd noises or a few layers of strangeness to their rather plain musical machinations, that it instantly becomes avant garde.

DSO is certainly experimental, especially considering the very, very, very (did I stress the word VERY enough) restricted/ing rules of black metal as a genre.  There are certainly elements that you could argue are avant garde, but they are a little too structured to be full on avant.  They do have several surprises up their sleeves and are as chaotic as a schizo preacher, but they are not full on avant.  I love them more than any other black metal band in existence, partially for their love of experimentation.... and their overall uniqueness (within previously mentioned parameters- especially given their inspirations- which are safely outside of the high and xenophobic walls of black metal). 

I guess I would reserve the term avant garde for bands like Shubb Niggurath.... or like I said, the early 20th century classical stuff.  Harry Partch built his own microtonal instruments.  That's pretty damn avant garde/experimental if you ask me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cKnTj2cyNQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOHBqFevy0k

I guess I find more "avant garde" stuff in magazines like Wire and Signal to Noise...   most true avant garde drives most people crazy.  many musicians with the tag either accept that they will rarely make a living off of it, or they add some structure and hooks to make it appealing to the untrained/unprepared ear.

Savvy?


ps, DSO is musically extreme, so I think they do belong in tech/extreme, as they are technical (especially for black metal's standards) and quite extreme, thematically/lyrically and musically.







Edited by avalanchemaster - December 18 2009 at 10:20

Maybe DSO is in tech/extreme for their avant-garde genre, though IMO they're more experimental than avant-gard.

Sing A Long Songs for the Damned and Delirious, despite having bad cover art, occasionally annoying lyrics, a stupid title, and the band members suffering from poor fashion sense, is at least as good as Butcher's Ballroom, although I really do not like Tap Dancer's Dilemma at all. Recommended to anyone who wants to inject a little bit of fun into your super serious death metal. ;-)

Edited by Henry Plainview - December 17 2009 at 22:21

well guys , you convinced me , i will give Gnaw Their Tongues another chance, when i'll be prepared for that  

He he Well some masochistic part of me seems to enjoy the torture. I´ve grown kind of fond of the music.

Haven´t listened much to Cloudkicker yet. But I´ve been listening a lot to this artist lately: http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=4884

avalanchemaster wrote: well that makes three of us!  Now if we could only convince others that their new album is just stupendously amazing....   http://www.myspace.com/lyebymistake

fourth

avalanchemaster wrote: well that makes three of us!  Now if we could only convince others that their new album is just stupendously amazing....   http://www.myspace.com/lyebymistake

OOooooOoooh. album on amazon mp3 for $5.99.  ::purchase::

No, no.. I've been listening to the new Lye By Mistake, been in my car for a month now

Edited by Plankowner - November 14 2009 at 19:40

TheProgtologist wrote: Agreed,everyone needs to check out the new Lye By Mistake album.It's very different from their first album,and for the better imo.

Losing the vocalist was no loss at all.  In fact, they are better off without him.... more room for instrumental muscle-flexing and showmanship... and complexity.