Are you prog only? Or do you like prog metal?

I had to Google cookie monster vocals, which I guess answers the original question.  

rushfan4 wrote: Walter, I assume that you do like a little song called 21st Century Schizoid Man though, eh?

The 1969 progressive rock track featuring heavy jazz-tinges and improvised guitar soloing by the innovative band King Crimson?

I think "progressive" mean "open mind", so I accept any growl, metal, distortion, odd element having sense. I prefer a good cookie monster singing than a banal classical prog chant. I mean, when I hear for the 1.000.000.000th time a "new" (?) band replaying the same old consumpted usual Yes or Genesis scheme I get disturbed as much as when I hear disgusting talentless musicians like Lady Gaga or similar no-artists.

I believe "progressive means also "making steps forward". To me a band that play today what was old already 20 years ago, is not progressive. It's patethic, like a grandfather telling you "things went better in my times". That's absolutely wrong: things are messy and bad in every time. :-D

I would like to hear more bands like Thinking Plague or Zappa (meaning open to any musical solution) and less copycats of Yes, Gentle Giant or Genesis. Gentle Giant are one of my favorite band, but already Yezda Urfa sounded disturbing to me... too copycats. I mean, there was one, and it was enough. Let's go for new artists, not for new copies of old artists.

I do indeed like both kinds of music; Country AND Western.

Hox wrote: I think "progressive" mean "open mind", so I accept any growl, metal, distortion, odd element having sense. I prefer a good cookie monster singing than a banal classical prog chant. I mean, when I hear for the 1.000.000.000th time a "new" (?) band replaying the same old consumpted usual Yes or Genesis scheme I get disturbed as much as when I hear disgusting talentless musicians like Lady Gaga or similar no-artists. I believe "progressive means also "making steps forward". To me a band that play today what was old already 20 years ago, is not progressive. It's patethic, like a grandfather telling you "things went better in my times". That's absolutely wrong: things are messy and bad in every time. :-D I would like to hear more bands like Thinking Plague or Zappa (meaning open to any musical solution) and less copycats of Yes, Gentle Giant or Genesis. Gentle Giant are one of my favorite band, but already Yezda Urfa sounded disturbing to me... too copycats. I mean, there was one, and it was enough. Let's go for new artists, not for new copies of old artists.

Bravo!!! And a belated welcome to PA from a fellow Italian, though an expatriate one...

As to the original question, I listen to just about everything - bot out of sheer curiosity, and because of my reviewing activity. Though I grew up with classic prog (especially of the Italian variety - my first approach to the genre), in the past few years I have got acquainted with a lot of new stuff, and found a lot to enjoy and appreciate - for instance, The Mars Volta have quickly become one of my steady favourites.

On the other hand, I am somewhat more ambivalent towards prog-metal. While in the Eighties I was a big metal fan, and still enjoy a lot of 'classic' heavy metal from that era, I have tried in vain to get into Dream Theater and their ilk. As a whole, 'traditional' prog-metal leaves me cold, and  I especially dislike those 'symphonic' PM bands with operatic female vocals - I'd rather listen to death growls. I am much more interested in the tech-extreme or experimental varieties of prog-metal (I'd take Opeth over DT any day), and especially appreciate instrumental bands that combine metal with jazz and other genres.

Kashmir75 wrote: I've noticed on this site that there seems to be a lot of proggers who only enjoy classic prog, like Yes, Crimson, Floyd, Genesis, Gentle Giant, etc. Anything with a touch of metal is looked upon with suspicion.

Negoba wrote: I like pretty much every genre here on PA, some more than others, but almost every one has some great stuff.

I like old prog and some metal (on a thrashy side)
Prog metal is not my cup of tea. To be frank, I'm not too keen on modern prog in general.
Of course there are exceptions...and they're growing every day. This site helped me realise there's not only good modern music..but there's also bad music from the 70's, which I idealized in a way.



As for prog-metal, it's unfair to say I dislike it simply because I'm not familiar with it. Most of the stuff I checked leave me cold. Not all though (Pax Cecilia are great).

I do like some modern prog which is often intersecting with prog metal - The Mars Volta, Chrome Hoof, Taal. Hence, I'm sure prog metal is hiding some nice surprises for me in the future. Especially, if on a thrashier side, with not-so-perfect production.

As for the staples of the genre, Dream Theater, I have mixed emotions. Some moments are awful, some are great.

I've liked various different metals in the past before I discovered prog, and find that I like some prog metal as well. So far Experimental/Post Metal has been the genre that I've enjoyed the most, with Tech/Extreme being the least. However, the songs that are just heavy chugging guitars + screaming, I dont enjoy so much. I enjoy the more melodic or at least interesting compositions - so, for example, I love Devin Townsends "Soul Driven" while loathing his "Universe in a Ball". 

By far the best album I've heard so far this year is "The Never Ending Way Of The ORWarriOR" by Orphaned Land - I urge all and every Prog fan to hear this album - if you don't like prog metal this could change your mind.