Organic and non-Poppish Progressive Metal?
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Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
Forum Description: Discuss specific prog bands and their members or a specific sub-genre
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=131546
Printed Date: November 22 2024 at 02:27
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Topic: Organic and non-Poppish Progressive Metal?
Posted By: David_D
Subject: Organic and non-Poppish Progressive Metal?
Date Posted: August 26 2023 at 07:23
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Most of all the straight Progressive Metal with more or less clean vocals I've heard has seemed to me having rather synthetic sound and/or being Pop-influenced while I like it best organic and only little poppish at most. So far, I've only found these albums of about that kind and which I could like: Fates Warning (USA) - The Spectre Within (1985) Voivod (CAN) - Nothingface (1989) Psychotic Waltz (USA) - Into the Everflow (1992) Tool (USA) - Lateralus (2001) Taal (F) - Skymind (2003) Indukti (PL) - S.U.S.A.R. (2004) Riverside (PL) - Second Life Syndrome (2005) Can you recommend any other albums of that kind? - And please only that kind (organic, non-poppish and straight Progressive Metal with more or less clean vocals), it's important. I'm also curious about how many of such albums have been made. Thanks! Edit: and now plus Thought Industry (USA) - Songs for Insects (1992) ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Replies:
Posted By: mathman0806
Date Posted: August 26 2023 at 09:16
| I recommend Mind Over Four The Goddess (1990) and Half Way Down (1993). |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: August 26 2023 at 11:57
Thanks, the cover and the (even few) ratings of Half Way Down look promising to me, so I'll definitely give it a listen. ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
mathman0806 wrote:Posted By: Necrotica
Date Posted: August 26 2023 at 13:46
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For prog-thrash in the vein of classic Voivod, I would recommend: Coroner - No More Color, Mental Vortex Tourniquet - Psycho Surgery Target - Master Project Genesis Also, if you're ok with vocals that are a bit harsher, I'd recommend "Tribe" by Sadist. Absolutely fantastic prog-death album... imagine Cynic's first album, but with even wackier keyboards  ------------- Take me down, to the underground Won't you take me down, to the underground Why oh why, there is no light And if I can't sleep, can you hold my life https://www.youtube.com/@CocoonMasterBrendan-wh3sd |
Posted By: mathman0806
Date Posted: August 26 2023 at 14:16
A very under-recognized band. I was surprised to see they were on PA. Another band/album from that time period, with a similar but more experimental vibe, is Thought Industry Songs for Insects (1992). |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: August 26 2023 at 22:06
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I guess, I better add that I'm looking for the "Progressive Metal" the way it's defined and labeled by RYM, and is the more straight Prog Metal. ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: August 27 2023 at 12:36
After two listenings, I find this album almost amazingly creative due to its many different influences and large complexity. Also definitely interesting, so I'll give it some more spins and see what I further think and how much I like it.  ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Date Posted: August 27 2023 at 13:44
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Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: August 28 2023 at 14:52
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^ Frankly speaking, the band name alone is too silly to me.  Edit: Anyway, it inspired me to give King Gizzard a new listen with another album, and this one too. ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: I prophesy disaster
Date Posted: August 29 2023 at 04:29
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I'm not sure if my recommendation satisfies your requirements, but a favourite metal album of mine is "Crack the Skye" by Mastodon. They are listed in PA under Tech/Extreme Prog Metal, so I guess that means they do have tracks with growling vocals. On "Crack the Skye", there is only one track with growling vocals. The vocals on the other tracks are not necessarily clean, but they are not growling. I especially love the Sabbathesque sound of a number of their tracks. The two tracks below are highlights for me: The Czar The Last Baron ------------- No, I know how to behave in the restaurant now, I don't tear at the meat with my hands. If I've become a man of the world somehow, that's not necessarily to say I'm a worldly man. |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: August 29 2023 at 07:39
Yes, it's about the kind I'm looking for, and it's also about to become one of the greatest Prog Metal classics, so it's very good to include it here. I can thus certainly understand your fondness of this album too, I'm afraid though that personally, I don't find it to be that good or particularly original. - But I may give it some more spins and see what I then think. It would be a nice addition to my Metal collection, even I'm not very fond of the flashy and very colourful artwork, and can't get it fit with the music.
------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: August 30 2023 at 07:19
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This thread may so far seem to confirm my up till now experience that albums of organic, non-Poppish and more straight Progressive Metal with fairly clean vocals have not been made in a very large number. ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: August 30 2023 at 07:28
Or some have not understood your initial post. Non-poppish?! What does that even mean? What kind of vocals are those?! Catchy vocals does not equal pop vocals. And what kind of pop vocals? Classic pop? Modern pop? Fairly clean?  Clean vocals but not that clean? Does Pain Of Salvation qualify? They got an amazing vocalist, and their songwriting I find excellent. Riverside has catchy vocals, and yet you listed an album of theirs.  |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: August 30 2023 at 09:15
Not the albums I've heard, too sentimental, and Riverside's Second Life Syndrome is on the borderline. ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: August 30 2023 at 09:44
^ may I suggest you buy a microphone and record your vacuum cleaning session? Totally unique, definitely not sentimental, and no growling vocals either. Try to do funny walks, that will also take care of complex time signatures!  ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Mike" rel="nofollow">Recently listened to: 
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Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: August 30 2023 at 10:12
How are the vocals too sentimental?! What have you listened to come to such a conclusion?! Explore the progressive metal lists and its subgenres, go to youtube and search a few titles, listen a little bit and get back to us. I don't know...
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Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: August 30 2023 at 12:16
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^ this seems like a really sophisticated form of trolling - have the busy helpers scramble and provide suggestions, only to reject most of them. ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Mike" rel="nofollow">Recently listened to:
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Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: August 30 2023 at 12:19
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Sorry for having other tastes and preferences than yours. ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: Necrotica
Date Posted: August 30 2023 at 12:33
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^ I mean, it doesn't help that your original criteria was so hyper-specific. You're not really gonna find a lot of artists in such a narrow field of options like that
Most of the non-"synthetic" prog metal artists fall into prog-death or prog-thrash territory, the majority of which use harsh vocals Also, I find it interesting that you don't want maudlin or sentimental vocals, but then put Lateralus on your list. Don't get me wrong, I love Lateralus, but it's pretty poppy/alternative-leaning for prog metal
------------- Take me down, to the underground Won't you take me down, to the underground Why oh why, there is no light And if I can't sleep, can you hold my life https://www.youtube.com/@CocoonMasterBrendan-wh3sd |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: August 30 2023 at 15:41
Thanks for this interesting input, Necrotica. ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: August 31 2023 at 00:09
That's not the issue. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive-aggressive_behavior" rel="nofollow - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive-aggressive_behavior You also reject recommendations for surprising reasons. "Meh - the cover art is too colorful". I mean, you could have stated up-front that you're really picky with cover art. But of course that would lead to practically zero recommendations, since nothing really fits your rigid criteria which nobody can predict. That makes it almost appear like your asking for recommendations only to then be able to criticise them.
------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Mike" rel="nofollow">Recently listened to:
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Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: August 31 2023 at 03:44
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Sorry, Mike, but you interpret my posts like the devil reads the bible, and yes, I am picky and not least with the cover art.  ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: August 31 2023 at 05:07
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^ I guess so, I'm interpreting them literally ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Mike" rel="nofollow">Recently listened to:
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Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: August 31 2023 at 07:11
After 6 listenings, I begin to really get into and like this very complex and impressive but not easy to access work of the more early Prog Metal. ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: September 02 2023 at 04:24
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Yeah, I'm just about finding Songs for Insects to be qualified adding to my exclusive collection, and here's a sample from this definitely remarkable album: ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: dauinghorn
Date Posted: September 02 2023 at 14:11
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So nice to see both Voivod and Fates Warning mentioned! Awaken the Guardian is an absolute classic banger. As with Voivod, I really like their "progressive rock"-trilogy, with Nothingface, Angel Rat and Outer Limits. But both Killing Technology and Dimension Hatröss is extremely cool as well. Superb bands!
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Posted By: Tuzvihar
Date Posted: September 02 2023 at 14:39
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Do you know a Polish band Kobong? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhQ66kicWgG_ByK3djSDQ8Q8ypFpwjeoZ" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhQ66kicWgG_ByK3djSDQ8Q8ypFpwjeoZ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDXMx5t0L6U6J2H8Ldxr59xLWyWrsk4bM" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDXMx5t0L6U6J2H8Ldxr59xLWyWrsk4bM And Neuma? ------------- "Music is much like f**king, but some composers can't climax and others climax too often, leaving themselves and the listener jaded and spent." Charles Bukowski |
Posted By: Hrychu
Date Posted: September 02 2023 at 16:07
I can recommend it. It's very raw. Personally, Kobong's sound annoys the hell out of me but I'm pretty sure it's just a taste thing. ------------- “On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.” — Ernest Vong |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: September 03 2023 at 04:09
I've heard some of Kobong but not Neuma, as far as I remember. So I'll check them out, and thanks! ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: Angelo
Date Posted: September 03 2023 at 13:16
Target! Great to see that name here. I once went to school with guitarist Lex Vogelaar. No idea where he is now unfortunately. ------------- http://www.iskcrocks.com" rel="nofollow - ISKC Rock Radio I stopped blogging and reviewing - so won't be handling requests. Promo's for ariplay can be sent to [email protected] |
Posted By: zwordser
Date Posted: September 03 2023 at 14:33
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You might like Karnivool. Sound Awake is a great album: ------------- Z |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: September 21 2023 at 06:44
Now I've listened to this album quite a lot of times and have got it in my collection, I can really say thanks for recommendation of this cool Prog Metal. ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: mathman0806
Date Posted: September 21 2023 at 08:58
You're welcome! It's definitely a favorite of mine. I thought of it based on your list of albums initially overlapped with what I like. Voivod, Tool, and Riverside I like in this general genre. |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: September 21 2023 at 14:38
You surely hit the spot, and while Voivod, Tool and Riverside are easy to spot, it's certainly something else with Thought Industry. I might though have heard some of Songs for Insects on previous occasion, but wasn't ready for it then. It's not easy to access and requires some more special tastes - I'd say. ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: September 22 2023 at 12:22
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Songs for Insects may also show to be my way to get really into Nothingface which, I have to say, is still a bit of a challenge for me. Anyway I think that I for the time being, with 31 albums and quite a lot of various sub-genres, have enough of Metal in my exclusive collection while Songs for Insects with its certainly special character is also a very nice addition to it. ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: I prophesy disaster
Date Posted: September 22 2023 at 13:47
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@ David_D: Are you willing to consider music that is progressive metal - adjacent? For example, The Mercury Tree, classified as Heavy Prog in PA, has metal in the music, but in albums such as the newly released "Self Similar", the focus is on microtonal music. https://themercurytree.bandcamp.com/album/self-similar" rel="nofollow - https://themercurytree.bandcamp.com/album/self-similar The Mercury Tree - "Self Similar" - Recursed Images ------------- No, I know how to behave in the restaurant now, I don't tear at the meat with my hands. If I've become a man of the world somehow, that's not necessarily to say I'm a worldly man. |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: September 22 2023 at 16:30
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^ I think it's best to keep this thread to what the OP is asking for. ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: I prophesy disaster
Date Posted: September 22 2023 at 16:38
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^ But that's the question: is my recommendation what the OP (you) is asking for? ------------- No, I know how to behave in the restaurant now, I don't tear at the meat with my hands. If I've become a man of the world somehow, that's not necessarily to say I'm a worldly man. |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: September 22 2023 at 16:51
Okay, I wasn't quite sure but in that case I can tell that the Progressive Metal definition I have in mind here is the one RYM use, and it doesn't include Mercury Tree. ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: September 22 2023 at 17:27
I'm so happy you've discovered THought Industry! The debut and the next album are two of my favorite albums (of any genre) of all time! Unique and unlike ANYTHING ever recorded. My only gripe is the production is crap but the music and originality is so excellent that i don't care. -------------  https://rateyourmusic.com/~siLLy_puPPy |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: September 23 2023 at 04:11
Very nice with this post of yours. I've seen your 5 stars review of Songs for Insects from 2013 and wondered if you still appreciate this album so much - you certainly do! Personally, I find the production of it quite good (as I hear it on the 1995 reissue), also considering the often very dense character of the music which is not easy to produce well.
------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: mathman0806
Date Posted: September 23 2023 at 05:01
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^out of curiosity, what did you think of my other suggestion, Mind Over Four. The Goddess was one I listened to a lot back in the early 90s with Voivod and Thouht Industry. What I didn't like was that it was only 33 minutes long. |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: September 23 2023 at 05:12
Well, the cover art of The Goddess put me of, so I haven't given it any chance yet. I liked some of Half Way Down, but I found it also too derivative which I don't like. ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: September 28 2023 at 07:54
Btw, since you're very fond of Crack the Sky and apparently also fond of The Mercury Tree's Self Similar, I could recomend you Isis' In the Absence of Truth which is Sludgy and have some but more pleasant growling vocals.
------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: Deadwing
Date Posted: September 28 2023 at 09:16
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Opeth - Ghost Reveries, if you haven't checkout them out yet. Baroness - their last or Blue record are a good starting point. Ihsahn - some great harsh vocals with cool ideas. Animal as Leaders - great instrumental band. Thank You Scientist - More close to Mars Volta maybe? They are sometimes prog-metal. Might be too pop though. Soen - Kinda similar to Tool Messhuggah - Very heavy with only harsh vocals. They last 2 or 3 albums were great for me - especially https://music.youtube.com/browse/MPREb_uxV2WwFuYSy" rel="nofollow - The Violent Sleep of Reason , hated the earlier ones, though haha Dreadnought - With female vocals (also harsh ones), reminds a bit of "classic opeth", but it is more experimental and somewhat loose. Ok Goodnight - The Fox and the Bird is great, but it is very storytelly and definitely pop in places. It's still ones of my favourites releases of 2023, though. Female vocals as well (some growling in 2 songs) They are still somewhat Pop, but closer to Mastodon and Riverside instead of Dream Theater or Haken, for example.
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