Your opinion on Prog Metal

I didn't know where to post this topic, considering it's more about progressive metal than anything else.

I've always been a big metal fan. It's also the sub-genre that introduced me to music in general, and to prog later. Still today, even if I'm listening to a lot more of rock-prog, I still have a inclination towards well written metal pieces, like some Dream Theater epics, etc. Though, I've never believed that it was in any way a superior sub-change, just as respectable as any kind of genres (Except for commercial pop ;p).

Sadly, two of my friends doesn't have the same opinions as me. One of them listen to a lot of jazz/pop/retro (He's an hipster, after all) and the other listen exclusively to classical music.

Their general consensus is that, while metal music can be melodic, it's without doubt emotionless, violent, and overall unimpressive mess that tries to put as many notes as possible in their songs.

I blieve their description is deeply inaccurate, considering the many highly emotional, complex (and sometimes calm!) albums and songs made by artists like Pain of Salvation, Opeth, Maudlin of the Well, Fates Warning, Ayreon, Riverside or, once again, Dream Theater.

I would love to hear some opinions from people on PA around metal, especially metal prog, whether you like it or not. I believe I can count on the community to be a lot more open-minded then my pals.

Look at my signature and at my avatar! So, now you know which is my favorite band and my favorite kind of music.

Frankly... Don't waste your time trying to convince people to listen to whatever music you're into - or ask your friends to lend you some of their favorite records.

CPicard wrote: Frankly... Don't waste your time trying to convince people to listen to whatever music you're into - or ask your friends to lend you some of their favorite records.

That's not what I'm trying to. I'm just curious to hear opinions from people around here.

Purple_Floyd wrote: Triceratopsoil wrote: 1) Listening to jazz doesn't make somebody a hipster. He's dressing like my grand father, is pretty smug and drinking PBR. He's definitely hipster ;p

Okay, but you can say he's a hipster without using jazz music as a symptom :P

Purple_Floyd wrote: Triceratopsoil wrote: 2) Most prog metal is pretty bad, with the exception of course of maudlin. Why? Could you develop a little more?

I just find it - in general - corny, cliched, and tasteless.

Purple_Floyd wrote: Triceratopsoil wrote: 4) You shouldn't force your musical tastes on others anyway, especially not if you are a fan of Dream Theater. I'm not forcing my tastes on them. I have absolutely no problem with classic and jazz, I respect these genres. I don't even care what they listen to, I'm not looking for trouble or anything. Debates often rise because they are judging and bashing my tastes out of nowhere.

In that case, just punch them in the face.

Metal can be very bad. But when it's good, it's really damn good.

Purple_Floyd wrote: I didn't know where to post this topic, considering it's more about progressive metal than anything else. I've always been a big metal fan. It's also the sub-genre that introduced me to music in general, and to prog later. Still today, even if I'm listening to a lot more of rock-prog, I still have a inclination towards well written metal pieces, like some Dream Theater epics, etc. Though, I've never believed that it was in any way a superior sub-change, just as respectable as any kind of genres (Except for commercial pop ;p). Sadly, two of my friends doesn't have the same opinions as me. One of them listen to a lot of jazz/pop/retro (He's an hipster, after all) and the other listen exclusively to classical music. Their general consensus is that, while metal music can be melodic, it's without doubt emotionless, violent, and overall unimpressive mess that tries to put as many notes as possible in their songs. I blieve their description is deeply inaccurate, considering the many highly emotional, complex (and sometimes calm!) albums and songs made by artists like Pain of Salvation, Opeth, Maudlin of the Well, Fates Warning, Ayreon, Riverside or, once again, Dream Theater. I would love to hear some opinions from people on PA around metal, especially metal prog, whether you like it or not. I believe I can count on the community to be a lot more open-minded then my pals.

More than Cinema Show, it's the solos on Musical Box that evoke Iron Maiden heavily for me. Yeah, Dancing too. Gets so heavy and then the finish is so delicate, as if like a touch-me-not.  I also don't find most prog metal drummers I have heard to be as expressive as Collins was on say that track, he was brilliant on the heavy sections of Dancing.  That again is a matter of taste, but yes, prog rock bands tried to cover a wide spectrum and in the process, incorporated elements of metal too in their music.  

I listened to some BTBAM and the Number Twelve Looks Like You in my sophomore year in high school. I've tried, but haven't gotten into anything else since.

Prog music is a very broad church...