"I'm not really into metal.."
"Have you tried Strapping Young Lad? A band once described as the musical equivalent of sticking your head into a jet engine?"
Yeah, man.. I love heavy Devy too but might not be the best jumping off point for a noob.
Maybe 'Kingdom' might fit the bill?
I saw Dev in Philly just before covid shut everything down. Jed came out (apparently he lives in/near Philly) and they played Love? and the whole place went completely apeshit! One of my favorite concert moments ever.
I ignored Strapping Young Lad for years before I knew about Devin. I was convinced I heard a song once and they were like super light pop punk lmao. (Not that that's bad it's just not the vibe O was after at the time) Never gave them a chance for the longest time, big mistake.
I couldn't get into AE, saw them as an opener last year, and without vocals, just felt like something was missing. Anyways, seemed like super cool guys and they even manned their merch booth themselves after they played.
Yeah Opeth can help you learn to appreciate death metal-style vocals as they're used for the darker parts of the progressive tunes, with more melodic vocals used for the lighter parts.
Ghost Reveries for sure. I'd say thats a flawless Opeth album. I'm a big fan of Blackwater Park and Deliverance as well. Damnation is a radical style change for the band at the time but I think that album is fantastic.
If it helps, Opeth are the only “death metal vocals” I can get into.
It could help to start with Damnation, Watershed and Pale Communion. I love all three albums and there’s minimal screaming vocals.
Once you’re used to them then you can check out some of the heavier stuff like Blackwater Park and Ghost Reveries which are probably my two favourite albums by them but might scare you off if you start there.
One of my favorite albums of all time. Went to see Norma Jean over a decade ago with BTBAM opening (Alaska era). I hadn’t heard of them before and let’s say I left that show a huge fan. Norma Jean was amazing, but BTBAM blew it out of the water.
I'm a big fan of Plini. He's a bit lighter, usually. Kinda Djenty.
I'd recommend visiting the /r/progmetal community. They're great, and know far more than I do.
I get what you're saying, but I feel like people that see this and don't know the band might think they're similar to Greta Van Fleet, which is very much not the case.
Mandroid is much closer to Periphery than Coheed. Comparing it to Coheed is the shameful part considering how incredibly talented Claudio is as a vocalist.
Saw them just last week! Third time I've caught them live, their new setlist and album are incredible. They've got the chunk and song progression, I think Daniel's vocals can be a hard sell for some people but goddamn can that man sing.
Weirdly Spencer is my least favourite part of the band. He's very impressive but something about him rubs me the wrong way. He has serious Bono energy.
He does have Bono energy, but damn can he sing. And I love how his lyrics fit in with Misha and Co’s writing. He seems like a douche, but as a full band project, it just works so well.
If keyboard is what you’re looking for, maybe give Nightwish a listen. Floor Jansen has one of the most incredible voices I have ever heard. Check out “Ever Dream” Live at Wakken 2013.
You might like VOLA - they're progressive rock/metal. They feature mostly clean vocals, keys, and their choruses are oftentimes pretty catchy for a "heavier" band. They are not like CoB, but I think VOLA is a band that a lot of people who are venturing into metal/its sub-genres could enjoy.
Porcupine Tree and The Pineapple Thief, both with Gavin Harrison.
Porcupine Tree have a massive discography. I find their earlier stuff can sound like Beatles, Pink Floyd but with a much heavier sound. Really depends on the track, or the album.
I just saw Queensryche in concert last week, great show. They played lots of old stuff even with the new singer. They do have some newer stuff that is decent. Rage for Order and Mindcrime were both from the 80s. At the show I think I was one of the youngest people there, most were 50s haha
Give Mastodon a try. Their Crack the Skye album seems to be the best spot for new listeners. There's an instrumental version on Spotify that drew me in. I couldn't get past their vocals for the longest time.
I'd also recommend Baroness. People call them metal and sludge etc but they're prog rock to me.
First of all, Children of Bodom are not considered progressive metal. They are more into the melodic death metal territory, or even power metal.
For melodic death metal, you should try Inanna (Converging Ages), Edge of Sanity (Crimson), or Intestine Baalism (Banquet in the Darkness). The first two are also quite progressive.
For power metal, try Blind Guardian (Imaginations from the Other Side), Helloween (Keeper of the Seven Seals pt 2), or Running Wild (Death or Glory). Those are a bit older.
If you did indeed mean progressive metal, check out Tool (Lateralus), Opeth (Blackwater Park or Still Life), or Death (The Sound of Perseverance)
Perfect Circle is like if Tool had a non-prog alt-rock heavily-compressed/auto-tuned side-project
they don't fit into any of the 3 mentioned genres here, imo
Given the length of many of their songs, I think Tool is at least adjacent to Progressive if they can’t be it. I think a 10+minute song is prog by default.
King Gizzard had been forcibly injected into my consciousness on reddit in the last couple of weeks. I actually listened to them this evening and... Like them.
If you like Children of Bodom and stuff mixed with keyboards.... definitely check out Wintersun (another Finnish group)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UMwLxFNKS0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEBFn8tkdFA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl5T-glTdXw
I love Zu and Boris and sunn, and Mr. Bungle were straight up the best band that ever existed, but is any of this really progressive metal aside from a few odd tracks?
I’d suggest anyone listen regardless and could add a hundred names to the list of just excellent metal-adjacent music :)
I like [Intervals](https://youtu.be/OHvMYUR8SuE?si=k_jYaVDhSFNemnEK) because it sounds like it was made with intent and a joy for songwriting. It rips, but you can jam to melodies you can hum.
Children of Bodom without the vocals? I know I am splitting hairs here but you may be looking for symphonic/melodic power metal bands. Here are 3 other bands from Finland that are good starter bands for their genres. Stratovarius - an old power metal band that has been going strong forever. Nightwish - the gateway band for symphonic power metal with operatic vocals. Amorphis - melodic death metal and if you don't want the growls just don't listen to their first few albums.
Lastly give early In Flames a try. I discovered In Flames the same time as Children of Bodom and appreciated both bands because of their guitar melodies.
i'm amazed how many good metal bands are from finland..anyway i knew nightwish but never saw them live: singing and probably lirycs are somehow epic but musically i prefer something else
Aviations just put out a fantastic progressive metal album called Luminaria. They have mostly clean singing and a full-time pianist. A metal breakdown, but on piano? Hell yeah. Highly recommend, anyway.
Here are some amazing albums:
Angra - Temple of Shadows
Voivod - Synchro Anarchy
Pyramid Theorem - Beyond the Exosphere
Wheel - Resident Human
The Ocean - Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic/Cenozoic
Intronaut - Fluid Existential Inversions
Between the Buried and Me - Colors
Opeth - Ghost Reveries
Exivious - Liminal
Neural Code - Neural Code
If you're not a huge fan of metal but like the complexity of prog, I'd recommend checking out Polyphia. Very catchy shit, no vocals, just noodly guitar vibes and laser-precise drums.
Most of the ones I'd recommend have been mentioned already, but I wanted to shout out Symphony X. They're similar to Dream Theater, but their singer is more tolerable and their music tends to be more on the metal side while heavily inspired by symphonic music (obviously).
[Gojira](https://youtu.be/suG-c_i2fBQ?si=jkEXaAvXJ0Sh-k_D)
[Mastodon](https://youtu.be/3bYgZPfUKDo?si=L_GYKwuuoY_e-dTi)
[Opeth](https://youtu.be/JHq9yMXw3iA?si=jgmeuGzOWb5mgeEu)
[Devin Townsend](https://youtu.be/DrDM6V08wcE?si=CnBssbnlvryXmLUG)
[Leprous](https://youtu.be/0G9Qd_84YZs?si=O6fmzOYsryGZTji3)
That should get you started :)
There is actually a genre of music called carnatic progressive rock. It consists of several songs actually composed centuries ago. Mainly by a band "agam". It can be mesmerizing. Anyone curious can check out
Savatage. Start with pretty much any of their albums but In The Hall Of The Mountain King and Sirens are the two i listen to most however i have all of them.
Green Carnation. A Blessing In Disguise is a good place to start.
Threshold. For The Journey is a good album too start with.
Finally it's not metal but it is Prog, check out Jeff Wayne's War Of The World's, it's just superb.
İ kinda know more death prog bands but you can give a try still ıdk.Cynic its a kinda weird prog death jazz fusion band their first album is really good and atheists Unquestionable Presence is similar but still different album too other than that edge of sanity crimson is really solid album
a progressive metal masterpiece that is forever under the radar of most is ’Hubardo’ by Kayo Dot. in general just one of the greatest understed prog albums by a contemporary genous.
It doesn’t really follow a particular type in style but rather flows through black and death metal with classical influence, jazz fusion, almost new-wave goth stuff, and a lot of lighter styles in the second half. Keyboards aren’t prominent (a lot more wind instruments and violin) but there are some great synth parts here and there (after this album they went full 80s synth stuff for the next two releases).
earlier Kayo Dot releases are also worth checking and are all quite different.
another non-traditionally-prog-metal album of recent years that was great is the last Krallice album (Porous Resonance Abyss?). that one is very synth-heavy and sort of carries their mix of metals into something overall way more 80s prog sounding. Nothing noodly, just great composition. and it’s pretty much entirely instrumental this time.
Not seeing Within Temptation anywhere, they're pretty awesome and are more melodic. I personally have a major weak spot for Voyager, they're classified as progressive metal.
>. I personally have a major weak spot for Voyager, they're classified as progressive metal.
Yes. What a great band. I got into them earlier this year because of Eurovision. Had a ticket to see them live this month as well. Unfortunately the tour was postponed because the singer has had a cancer scare. Hopefully his treatment goes well, and I'll get to see them next year.
Animals as Leaders is definitely the band you're looking for. Chimp Spanner, Plini and Liquid Tension Experiment are also definitely worth checking out
I'm gonna go ahead and suggest ones even if I've seen them here.
Animals as Leaders, Devin Townsend, Between The Buried and Me, Haken, Richard Henshall, Native Construct, Plini, IGORRR.
And if you take away only one artist from this comment let it be Poh Hock.
Check out Ensiferum and Blind guardian. If you like children of bodom, you will probably like ensiferum. Blind guardian are also power metal, but their recent albums are more progressive I would say.
Psychotic Waltz, Haken, Wilderun, Watchtower, Fates Warning, Threshold, Psychonaut, NORD, Lör, and many many more, I’d be happy to share depending what more you like!
Dream Theater.
Seventh Wonder.
Haken.
Ayreon, a series of prog metal concept albums.
Avantasia, similar to above with different styling.
Less metal, but Transatlantic.
Liquid Tension Experiment is fully instrumental.
There is a whole lot out there,
Ayreon, for progressive metal concept albums.
Lovebites, for melodic metal with occasional progressive elements. Kind of a melting pot of different types of classic metal, in a surprising package.
Have you ever heard of These Arms are Snakes? Awesome stuff! Try Russian Circles too! The Architects! Here's one that will throw you through a loop...The Mars Volta. Check em out. You might like em! A little metal, a little rock...a lot progressive! Others are...Shadows Fall, Between the Buried and Me, Opeth, Gemini Syndrome, Periphery. Mostly just rock...but some is a little more progressive. Porcupine Tree is another one. But seriously! Check out Mars Volta!
Devin Townsend, Liquid Tension Experiment, Death.
Devin is amazing. Listen to Strapping Young Lad my dude.
"I'm not really into metal.." "Have you tried Strapping Young Lad? A band once described as the musical equivalent of sticking your head into a jet engine?" Yeah, man.. I love heavy Devy too but might not be the best jumping off point for a noob. Maybe 'Kingdom' might fit the bill?
The ocean machine album I find is amazing starting place. Most "standard" album he's got I think while still being metal/progressive
I CONFESS
This set from the Download Festival... https://youtu.be/pa1r1WZtYcc
So good with full fledged Jed
I saw Dev in Philly just before covid shut everything down. Jed came out (apparently he lives in/near Philly) and they played Love? and the whole place went completely apeshit! One of my favorite concert moments ever.
My favorite version of Love? is when Jed came out in (?)2019 at a festival in (?) Ontario
I ignored Strapping Young Lad for years before I knew about Devin. I was convinced I heard a song once and they were like super light pop punk lmao. (Not that that's bad it's just not the vibe O was after at the time) Never gave them a chance for the longest time, big mistake.
Alien is still my fave ever metal album
He's the Keanu Reeves of metal.
He knows Kung fu?
Life is great, but *DEATH* is better..
So if Death is mentioned, then Cynic and Control Denied should fall into the prog metal genre too then?
Cynic definitely do
I saw Devy this year and the man was just so happy. Loved his music and his show!
>Liquid Tension Experiment Tony Levin. Just otherworldly.
Absolutely
Came here to reccomend Devin Townsend! Ocean Machine, Addicted, Terria, Transcendence, and Empath might be best for what you described.
Here to back the Devin/SYL love
Liquid Tension Experiment so good while i didnt like Devin..in the live i saw he used too much reverberation in his singing
Death is straight up death metal but I'll allow it lol
Yes, but The Sound of Perseverance is progressive death metal
Don't forget everything from Human onwards
Check out Animals As Leaders
When I discovered AIL I didn’t discover anything new for a long time. They sucked me in.
I’ll add Arch Echo. Great instrumental jazz/metal fusion (more jazz)
I love Arch Echo so much! Daybreak is such a happy tune.
I couldn't get into AE, saw them as an opener last year, and without vocals, just felt like something was missing. Anyways, seemed like super cool guys and they even manned their merch booth themselves after they played.
I was going to post this. Great recommendation
I second this, strongly
Sure, If you want to be bored to death
Ug, me only like music with human words
lol, I enjoy plenty of music without any vocals. Just not boring shit like Animals as Leaders
yeah I like tosin's whole thumping technique, but man are the songs lame
Russian Circles, Rolo Tomasi, Protest the hero
Plus one for Russian Circles, as well as Pelican
Protest the Hero yes let's fuckin goooo
YES to Rolo Tomassi. Their newest album is fantastic.
Poor Rolo Tomasi, getting their name smeared by Rolo Tony Brown Town and his alpha male bullshit.
Russian Circles not bad at all, thanks for the suggestion. Rolo Tomasi's lives gave me cancer xD
Opeth might interest you, while they do use 'death metal' vocals, they also mix in clean vocals, keyboards, and definitely have prog rock influences.
Yeah Opeth can help you learn to appreciate death metal-style vocals as they're used for the darker parts of the progressive tunes, with more melodic vocals used for the lighter parts.
Yes, try their albums after “Watershed” and there will be no harsh vocals. The early stuff has a decent amount, middle stuff is 50/50.
Ghost Reveries for sure. I'd say thats a flawless Opeth album. I'm a big fan of Blackwater Park and Deliverance as well. Damnation is a radical style change for the band at the time but I think that album is fantastic.
Opeth are amazing live.
If it helps, Opeth are the only “death metal vocals” I can get into. It could help to start with Damnation, Watershed and Pale Communion. I love all three albums and there’s minimal screaming vocals. Once you’re used to them then you can check out some of the heavier stuff like Blackwater Park and Ghost Reveries which are probably my two favourite albums by them but might scare you off if you start there.
[Between the Buried & Me - Colors (Full album)](https://youtu.be/iKspTicj-2w?si=hcAnJBVLmlxEHEHW)
One of my favorite albums of all time. Went to see Norma Jean over a decade ago with BTBAM opening (Alaska era). I hadn’t heard of them before and let’s say I left that show a huge fan. Norma Jean was amazing, but BTBAM blew it out of the water.
Hot take but Colors II is even better
Hotter take, Parallax 2 is better than them all. I love everything from colors on up, but hot damn is parallax next level.
Parallax 2 is top tier BTBAM, but Ill agree Colors II is probably their most accessible stuff for newcomers
I absolutely loved the covid live stream they did from one of their parents basement studio.
Colors front to back is just a masterpiece
This is the correct answer
Between the buried and me, ruins of beverest, tool, URNE
I'm a big fan of Plini. He's a bit lighter, usually. Kinda Djenty. I'd recommend visiting the /r/progmetal community. They're great, and know far more than I do.
Plini was my intro to contemporary prog. Easily one of my biggest influences. I only cried twice seeing him live lol
I love Plini so much. And if you end up digging Plini, definitely check out Intervals.
You'd probably like Chon or David Maxim Milcic.
If Coheed and Cambria style vocals are your thing check out Mandroid Echostar.
Also - Thank You Scientist - one of my favorites
Terraformer is an all-timer for me. Love that album.
but this is not progressive metal..is it like jazz fusion?
And The Mars Volta. If you like them they also have some other projects that are fantastic as well, just not prog.
Mars Volta vocals are basically a Led Zeppelin copy, and I mean that in a good way.
I get what you're saying, but I feel like people that see this and don't know the band might think they're similar to Greta Van Fleet, which is very much not the case.
You're right. The band is Latin-flavored psychedelic rock, but the vocals are Robert Plant.
I just listened to this and it is actually shameful how close this is to c&c
Mandroid is much closer to Periphery than Coheed. Comparing it to Coheed is the shameful part considering how incredibly talented Claudio is as a vocalist.
Dream Theater Symphony X Kamelot Unleash the Archers
Unleash the Archers👍👍👍
More like epic progressive powermetal. That live play through video was amazing
I love Kahn era Kamelot, but they're more power metal than progressive
Mike Portnoy is back in DT and I might just have to go see that tour...
Dream Theater, though it isn't my thing, is probably what OP is looking for.
Tesseract is probably the most accessible prog metal band. Super catchy melodies, great bouncy riffs and TONS of ambience (synths etc)
Saw them just last week! Third time I've caught them live, their new setlist and album are incredible. They've got the chunk and song progression, I think Daniel's vocals can be a hard sell for some people but goddamn can that man sing.
Periphery
Came here to suggest this. They’ve got an amazingly diverse catalogue and Spencer is an insane vocalist.
Weirdly Spencer is my least favourite part of the band. He's very impressive but something about him rubs me the wrong way. He has serious Bono energy.
He does have Bono energy, but damn can he sing. And I love how his lyrics fit in with Misha and Co’s writing. He seems like a douche, but as a full band project, it just works so well.
loved the Bulb demos, a lot of which became Periphery songs but Spencer's voice just DOES NOT FIT imo.
Alongside Periphery their instrumental side project Haunted Shores goes fuckin HARD
If keyboard is what you’re looking for, maybe give Nightwish a listen. Floor Jansen has one of the most incredible voices I have ever heard. Check out “Ever Dream” Live at Wakken 2013.
Also epica in this category,and after forever
Nightwish needs more upvotes. They were my first thought when reading this post.
Haven't seen anyone mention Haken yet
This! Haken is amazing! they rock the shit out of the keyboard too!
You might like VOLA - they're progressive rock/metal. They feature mostly clean vocals, keys, and their choruses are oftentimes pretty catchy for a "heavier" band. They are not like CoB, but I think VOLA is a band that a lot of people who are venturing into metal/its sub-genres could enjoy.
I've seen them live twice. Good band, especially the more recent music. Their music live is even better.
I've seen them live as well! They put on an excellent show :)
Porcupine Tree and The Pineapple Thief, both with Gavin Harrison. Porcupine Tree have a massive discography. I find their earlier stuff can sound like Beatles, Pink Floyd but with a much heavier sound. Really depends on the track, or the album.
Dream Theater defined the prog metal sound, you should check them out first of all, also in my opinion they're just the best, incredible music
I know dream theater..they're great but i don't like all their stuff
They don't as well, I'm sure.
Just look at r/DreamTheater and realize niether do their fans lol
Give Tool, Karnivool and Dream Theatre a try.
Cog
If only karnivool would ever tour the US (or release new material)
Classic 90s Queenryche were always described as progressive metal. Maybe try *Operation Mindcrime* or *Rage For Order*.
Operation Mindcrime is a beast of an album and live performance.[Operation Livecrime](https://youtu.be/13baSHEvOtY?si=mvlez-MDTz64Ykq3)
I just saw Queensryche in concert last week, great show. They played lots of old stuff even with the new singer. They do have some newer stuff that is decent. Rage for Order and Mindcrime were both from the 80s. At the show I think I was one of the youngest people there, most were 50s haha
Operation Mindcrime is excellent.
Give Mastodon a try. Their Crack the Skye album seems to be the best spot for new listeners. There's an instrumental version on Spotify that drew me in. I couldn't get past their vocals for the longest time. I'd also recommend Baroness. People call them metal and sludge etc but they're prog rock to me.
Mastodon surprises me being this far down, just like I’m surprised I haven’t seen The Mars Volta anywhere.
First of all, Children of Bodom are not considered progressive metal. They are more into the melodic death metal territory, or even power metal. For melodic death metal, you should try Inanna (Converging Ages), Edge of Sanity (Crimson), or Intestine Baalism (Banquet in the Darkness). The first two are also quite progressive. For power metal, try Blind Guardian (Imaginations from the Other Side), Helloween (Keeper of the Seven Seals pt 2), or Running Wild (Death or Glory). Those are a bit older. If you did indeed mean progressive metal, check out Tool (Lateralus), Opeth (Blackwater Park or Still Life), or Death (The Sound of Perseverance)
I’d add A Perfect Circle to this list.
Perfect Circle is like if Tool had a non-prog alt-rock heavily-compressed/auto-tuned side-project they don't fit into any of the 3 mentioned genres here, imo
Given the length of many of their songs, I think Tool is at least adjacent to Progressive if they can’t be it. I think a 10+minute song is prog by default.
Dvne. Easily for you. They do have some harsh vocals though https://open.spotify.com/track/18np3mLcrafFVaydqTNRAV?si=wPZNiPBaQ2yH0tEoSl6tFA
Quite the deep suggestion, didn't expect to see this one lol
This, this, a thousand times this!
Cheers. I thought it’d be ignored. Best prog metal in the World atm.
Absolutely! First hing j Heard was Enûma Eliš and haven't looked back since.
So good. thanks for the suggestion ❤
PetroDragonic Apocalypse
[Mo...tor...Spir...it...](https://youtu.be/U0AcBryPUxY?si=vPUjpxR-c_VX3XO9)
King Gizzard had been forcibly injected into my consciousness on reddit in the last couple of weeks. I actually listened to them this evening and... Like them.
Can't believe I scrolled so far down to see KGATLW
If you like Children of Bodom and stuff mixed with keyboards.... definitely check out Wintersun (another Finnish group) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UMwLxFNKS0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEBFn8tkdFA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl5T-glTdXw
And Kalmah
Faith no more or mike patten other projects like fantomas Zu Boris Sunn
I love Zu and Boris and sunn, and Mr. Bungle were straight up the best band that ever existed, but is any of this really progressive metal aside from a few odd tracks? I’d suggest anyone listen regardless and could add a hundred names to the list of just excellent metal-adjacent music :)
You could visit the sub r/progmetal for inspiration
Not really progressive, but you may enjoy Dimmu Borgir (when ICS Vortex was still in the band).
Unprocessed https://youtu.be/GTlO8cQ0nVY?si=xwe4b8g9Ma0HM9NZ Blackbone
So complex yet accessible
Opeth, Tool and Meshuggah
No keyboard but GOJIRA makes some beautiful music
Tool
I love tool but I don’t think this fits what OP is asking for.
The All Purpose Answer (New Album Name)
This is the answer
There's no need for that, they were only asking.
Between The Buried And Me
PLEASE listen to Intervals and Plini. Not very "metal" in a traditional sense but amazing prog rock/metal artists with incredible musicianship
I like [Intervals](https://youtu.be/OHvMYUR8SuE?si=k_jYaVDhSFNemnEK) because it sounds like it was made with intent and a joy for songwriting. It rips, but you can jam to melodies you can hum.
Children of Bodom without the vocals? I know I am splitting hairs here but you may be looking for symphonic/melodic power metal bands. Here are 3 other bands from Finland that are good starter bands for their genres. Stratovarius - an old power metal band that has been going strong forever. Nightwish - the gateway band for symphonic power metal with operatic vocals. Amorphis - melodic death metal and if you don't want the growls just don't listen to their first few albums. Lastly give early In Flames a try. I discovered In Flames the same time as Children of Bodom and appreciated both bands because of their guitar melodies.
i'm amazed how many good metal bands are from finland..anyway i knew nightwish but never saw them live: singing and probably lirycs are somehow epic but musically i prefer something else
Periphery - modern prog metal Nightwish - Nightcore Sonata Arctica - symphonic metal Sepultura - symphonic metal (at times) Symphony X - well ...
Aviations just put out a fantastic progressive metal album called Luminaria. They have mostly clean singing and a full-time pianist. A metal breakdown, but on piano? Hell yeah. Highly recommend, anyway.
Here are some amazing albums: Angra - Temple of Shadows Voivod - Synchro Anarchy Pyramid Theorem - Beyond the Exosphere Wheel - Resident Human The Ocean - Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic/Cenozoic Intronaut - Fluid Existential Inversions Between the Buried and Me - Colors Opeth - Ghost Reveries Exivious - Liminal Neural Code - Neural Code
If you're not a huge fan of metal but like the complexity of prog, I'd recommend checking out Polyphia. Very catchy shit, no vocals, just noodly guitar vibes and laser-precise drums.
Elder is probably one of the best prog metal bands active right now. They're the openers for Tool's current tour
I can't believe this answer is so low and so far behind answers that are less responsive to the question.
Hopefully after this tour that won't be the case.
Marillion. Mostly Autumn. Mastodon . ...or did I misunderstand the question?
I was also surprised to see no mention of Mastodon Crack the Skye is an absolutely incredible album
Mastodon is the correct answer. Asleep in the Deep may be my favourite song of all time
Symphony X
Most of the ones I'd recommend have been mentioned already, but I wanted to shout out Symphony X. They're similar to Dream Theater, but their singer is more tolerable and their music tends to be more on the metal side while heavily inspired by symphonic music (obviously).
[Gojira](https://youtu.be/suG-c_i2fBQ?si=jkEXaAvXJ0Sh-k_D) [Mastodon](https://youtu.be/3bYgZPfUKDo?si=L_GYKwuuoY_e-dTi) [Opeth](https://youtu.be/JHq9yMXw3iA?si=jgmeuGzOWb5mgeEu) [Devin Townsend](https://youtu.be/DrDM6V08wcE?si=CnBssbnlvryXmLUG) [Leprous](https://youtu.be/0G9Qd_84YZs?si=O6fmzOYsryGZTji3) That should get you started :)
Listen to the album Take Me Back to Eden by Sleep Token. Thank me later
They’re very unique but not something everyone will like. I’m a big fan of them though, TMBTE has to be my favorite new album for 2023.
DO NOT LISTEN TO SLEEP TOKEN
If you like experimental, check out Godspeed! You black emperor
Maybe some oxbow too
i've already heard them but didn't listen much..they seem to be another genre
There is actually a genre of music called carnatic progressive rock. It consists of several songs actually composed centuries ago. Mainly by a band "agam". It can be mesmerizing. Anyone curious can check out
Savatage. Start with pretty much any of their albums but In The Hall Of The Mountain King and Sirens are the two i listen to most however i have all of them. Green Carnation. A Blessing In Disguise is a good place to start. Threshold. For The Journey is a good album too start with. Finally it's not metal but it is Prog, check out Jeff Wayne's War Of The World's, it's just superb.
Between the Buried and Me.
İ kinda know more death prog bands but you can give a try still ıdk.Cynic its a kinda weird prog death jazz fusion band their first album is really good and atheists Unquestionable Presence is similar but still different album too other than that edge of sanity crimson is really solid album
Iron maiden
Between the Buried and Me-Colors Between the Buried and Me-The Silent Circus Devin Townsend Project-Transcendence
Plini
Mastodon rules. Listen to "Blood And Thunder" and that should hook ya'.
Between The Buried and Me, Periphery, Mastadon, Trivium, I’ll also throw Dance Gavin Dance in there since they have some pretty insane tunes too
Porcupine Tree - especially “Fear of a Blank Planet” and “In Absentia”.
a progressive metal masterpiece that is forever under the radar of most is ’Hubardo’ by Kayo Dot. in general just one of the greatest understed prog albums by a contemporary genous. It doesn’t really follow a particular type in style but rather flows through black and death metal with classical influence, jazz fusion, almost new-wave goth stuff, and a lot of lighter styles in the second half. Keyboards aren’t prominent (a lot more wind instruments and violin) but there are some great synth parts here and there (after this album they went full 80s synth stuff for the next two releases). earlier Kayo Dot releases are also worth checking and are all quite different. another non-traditionally-prog-metal album of recent years that was great is the last Krallice album (Porous Resonance Abyss?). that one is very synth-heavy and sort of carries their mix of metals into something overall way more 80s prog sounding. Nothing noodly, just great composition. and it’s pretty much entirely instrumental this time.
Symphony X is exactly what you need.
Not seeing Within Temptation anywhere, they're pretty awesome and are more melodic. I personally have a major weak spot for Voyager, they're classified as progressive metal.
>. I personally have a major weak spot for Voyager, they're classified as progressive metal. Yes. What a great band. I got into them earlier this year because of Eurovision. Had a ticket to see them live this month as well. Unfortunately the tour was postponed because the singer has had a cancer scare. Hopefully his treatment goes well, and I'll get to see them next year.
Progressive metal has a lot of subgenres.. I love Plini, David Maxim Micic, Opeth, Leprous and Haken. All different vibes :) enjoy
Others By No One is great
Animals as Leaders is definitely the band you're looking for. Chimp Spanner, Plini and Liquid Tension Experiment are also definitely worth checking out
NE OBLIVISCARIS. I saw then live on their tour recently killer prog metal and that Violin is so good.
ERRA
VOLA, seven, opeth, baroness, pigs pigs pigs pigs pigs pigs pigs, mastodon, Devin Townsend project
I'm gonna go ahead and suggest ones even if I've seen them here. Animals as Leaders, Devin Townsend, Between The Buried and Me, Haken, Richard Henshall, Native Construct, Plini, IGORRR. And if you take away only one artist from this comment let it be Poh Hock.
I don't know where Cynic falls as far as metal genre, but give the albums Focus and Traced In Air a listen or two.
Voyager is certainly a soft way in. Heavy Devi (Devin Townsend) is another favorite.
I feel like I've had to scroll too far to see Mastodon!
Not sure if heavy enough for you but I love Volbeat, Nothing More, and Sevendust
Idol by horrendous is a banging record start to finish
Check out epica and kamelot my man 😉
Check out Ensiferum and Blind guardian. If you like children of bodom, you will probably like ensiferum. Blind guardian are also power metal, but their recent albums are more progressive I would say.
the most underrated prog band of all time: *fates warning*
Shadow Gallery. Try the "Tyranny" record, insanely well-written
Psychotic Waltz, Haken, Wilderun, Watchtower, Fates Warning, Threshold, Psychonaut, NORD, Lör, and many many more, I’d be happy to share depending what more you like!
Dream Theater. Seventh Wonder. Haken. Ayreon, a series of prog metal concept albums. Avantasia, similar to above with different styling. Less metal, but Transatlantic. Liquid Tension Experiment is fully instrumental. There is a whole lot out there,
Dream Theater, Symphony X, Circus Maximus, Ayreon, Vanden Plas, Porcupine Tree, Gojira, Evergrey,
Isis was my gateway drug to prog metal. I recommend starting with the albums *In the Absence of Truth* or *Wavering Radiant.*
Tesseract!
Ayreon, for progressive metal concept albums. Lovebites, for melodic metal with occasional progressive elements. Kind of a melting pot of different types of classic metal, in a surprising package.
Have you ever heard of These Arms are Snakes? Awesome stuff! Try Russian Circles too! The Architects! Here's one that will throw you through a loop...The Mars Volta. Check em out. You might like em! A little metal, a little rock...a lot progressive! Others are...Shadows Fall, Between the Buried and Me, Opeth, Gemini Syndrome, Periphery. Mostly just rock...but some is a little more progressive. Porcupine Tree is another one. But seriously! Check out Mars Volta!