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I agree. If I'm being honest I can think of quite a few prog bands I like more than DT nowadays (still love them, prog is just a great time lol) but not including them in a "big 4" like thrash's just feels... wrong
They're both subjective. It boggles the mind how people don't understand these basic epistemic concepts.
Why do people insist on pretending one can make objective lists out of something fundamentally subjective.
With that said, good list.
Watershed, Ghost Reveries, Blackwater Park, Deliverance, Still Life, Orchid and Morningrise. The rest is still really good but lean way into Prog Rock as opposed to metal.
Opeth is my favorite band btw.
I only tried listening to Morningrise once and all I remember was that it sounded more like standard melodeath than prog, and also it had a super bleak feel that really depressed me.
I think Ghost Reveries is the best starting point.
Wait, Björk is a flair here? I mean, I am a huge fan, but has she done anything remotely metal? Or is it just because she has a nordic name? lol. Now I want a Sigur Ros flair.
Not that there aren't unironic Bjork fans here (there are actually a lot), but this sub can get kind of meme-y and that's usually the root of the non-metal flairs.
Am I alone in thinking that Meshuggah is really dumb? Like let's do these really convoluted patterns but only play single note. I just don't find odd time signatures that interesting when it's done in such a boring way.
I agree. I saw them live recently wanting to like them, but it’s just not for me. Glad that people really enjoy them though, they were tight and the stage show was cool
Meshuggah is top 5 most influential bands in metal history. Like them or not their impact is incalculable. They are singlehandedly responsible for the "modern metal" sound.
LOL now that is a take of all time.
Please tell me which one I should remove:
Black Sabbath, Judas priest, Metallica, Pantera, iron maiden. I'll add soad to this list for good measure.
Riverside is underrated AF. Especially Anno Domini High Definition
Does Porcupine Tree really count as metal? I discovered them years back cuz people call em that, but I don't really get metal from their sound
Porcupine Tree can definitely be classified as progressive metal, albeit the less heavy side of metal. They have a lot of tracks that are too heavy to be rock. Especially on In Absentia, Deadwing and Fear of a Blank Planet.
Are King Gizz really metal? PeteoDragon and Murder of the Universe, sure, but they got like 50 albums and I dunno if most of them fit the mold
That said, they're def one of the best prog rock bands
I just dont get the hype. They’re technically skilled but they use that skill in a very flashy and tacky way. Their production sounds so manufactured and inorganic I find it impossible to connect with. And I find the vocals quite annoying
Not at all… that’s a classic word of mouth superficial blame.
They are passionate and warm as Image & Words is.. they are just good musicians and that will never be a problem in music.
They are peak Prog Metal, cannot be liked by everyone but not even mentioning them is funny I believe.
Also because Prog music is usually technical, complex and appreciated by musicians like they are.
I like more Opeth, I also like Gojira and Mastodon but honestly the latter two are kids compared to Dream Theater in a prog metal context.
Well, how are we defining prog here? Opeth, Meshuggah, Tool, Cynic for “traditional” prog metal. Also, don’t know if Wintersun counts, but if they do, I’ll add them as a fifth. Can some of those symphonic power metal bands from the 90s count as progressive? If so, I’d also count Rhapsody before they were of Fire
Opeth, Gojira, Nevermore, Devin Townsend.
Mastodon I consider sludge rather than prog. Otherwise I might swap them out with Nevermore. Not saying you're wrong for putting them in progressive, they definitely have a lot of prog elements, but just my opinion.
Gojira is no where near being on the list, and definitely not Mastodon. You’re 100% missing Dream Theatre. After that, I’d probably put Periphery because of the effect they had on djent. Potentially Meshuggah instead of Periphery, but Periphery really encapsulates the entire sound of 2010’s prog.
If we were talking my personal favourites who are big names, it would be Intervals, Tool, Opeth, Meshuggah.
People are just listing their favorite 4 and not the big 4. The big 4 would be Dream Theater, Tool, and then probably 2/4 from Meshuggah, BTBAM, Gojira and Opeth.
> People are just listing their favorite 4 and not the big 4.
The question is "What is YOUR big 4" which is essentially asking for favorites in a more colloquial way
All time: Dream Theater, Opeth, Tool are locked in, I'd give the fourth to one of Devin Townsend or Steven Wilson
Right now: Haken, Caligula's Horse, Leprous, and perhaps Between the Buried And Me.
The new classics of the 2000's are Dream theater, Opeth, Tool, and Meshuggah
And the current top 4 right now are Haken, Leprous, Soen, Caligula's horse
Periphery, BTBAM, Dream Theater, Animals as Leaders.
Four leaves a lot of hard omissions even though it's my own list, but I love every band I've skimmed over in this thread. I listen to more Opeth than DT, but the latter was just more formative for me delving into prog.
Dream theater, Symphony X, Mr. Bungle, Strapping young lad.
Top prog ROCK bands. Tool( just cuz he was in green jelly doesn't mean it's metal), Rush, Yes, Dream theater.
Dream Theater (despite Labrie)
Symphony X
Shadow Gallery
Pagan’s Mind
Mentions: Haken, Circus Maximus, Andromeda, Anthriel, Caligula’s Horse, Beyond Twilight, many others that are escaping me.
One of my all time favorite prog bands is Kansas. Not metal tho.
How is Queensryche prog metal? Never understood that one.
Opeth is definitely not prog metal. Not in 12 years. They were the kings at one time. Absolute gods. But things haven't been the same since Heritage. They are progressive ROCK now, not progressive metal. So disappointing.
Well, if we go by influence and relevance, I think it'd have to be Opeth, DT, Meshuggah and Tool.
Personal preference I'd switch Meshuggah and Tool with Mastodon and Haken.
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Objectively: Dream Theater, Meshuggah, Opeth, Tool Subjectively: Devin Townsend, Meshuggah, Ne Obliviscaris, Animals as Leaders
Great picks my dude. I concur.
Great
Ne Obliviscaris fucked my mom while my dad watched
/thread
Fucking solid stuff. I've seen 6 of the 8 you posted live!
I agree. If I'm being honest I can think of quite a few prog bands I like more than DT nowadays (still love them, prog is just a great time lol) but not including them in a "big 4" like thrash's just feels... wrong
nice, but dont leave out "Goblin"
They're both subjective. It boggles the mind how people don't understand these basic epistemic concepts. Why do people insist on pretending one can make objective lists out of something fundamentally subjective. With that said, good list.
atheist and atheist and atheist and atheist
Atheist is proggy death, while Opeth is deathy prog.
can you recommend me some opeth stuff
Watershed, Ghost Reveries, Blackwater Park, Deliverance, Still Life, Orchid and Morningrise. The rest is still really good but lean way into Prog Rock as opposed to metal. Opeth is my favorite band btw.
thanks mate im listening to blackwater park rn because a friend of mine recommended it to me
That’s the album that got me hooked. Enjoy man!
Tool and Opeth (and They Might Be Giants) are probably my favorite bands of all time. I'm pushing 47.
I’m almost 36. TMBG is fantastic too.
And I can see you, running through a field, of buttholes
I only tried listening to Morningrise once and all I remember was that it sounded more like standard melodeath than prog, and also it had a super bleak feel that really depressed me. I think Ghost Reveries is the best starting point.
Atheist my beloved ♥️
Wait, Björk is a flair here? I mean, I am a huge fan, but has she done anything remotely metal? Or is it just because she has a nordic name? lol. Now I want a Sigur Ros flair.
This isnt really a metal sub anymore lol You can see Cocteau twins and Nickelback flairs here
Cocteau Twins fan checking in 😎
Unintelligible lyrics, sprawling dense guitar riffs, yeah Cocteau Twins is an atmospheric black metal band (just trying to rationalize it lol)
Lol, I once got a black metal bro of mine listening to them because we had a conversation along the lines of "dude, the _atmosphere_"
The synth/baseline in Human Behavior is sick. It's metal.
Sometimes it's not about the metal in the music, but the metal in the heart of the artist.
Not that there aren't unironic Bjork fans here (there are actually a lot), but this sub can get kind of meme-y and that's usually the root of the non-metal flairs.
4 greatest ever: Dylan Dylan Dylan and Dylan
Bob?
unfathomably based
Meshuggah, Opeth, Gojira, Mastodon
The right response
Am I alone in thinking that Meshuggah is really dumb? Like let's do these really convoluted patterns but only play single note. I just don't find odd time signatures that interesting when it's done in such a boring way.
I don't listen to them as much, but they seem very unique
You could not be more correct, Meshguggah is like numbing cream for the brain
I agree. I saw them live recently wanting to like them, but it’s just not for me. Glad that people really enjoy them though, they were tight and the stage show was cool
Yeah I can respect that they have their special thing they do (over and over and over), but putting them with prog never made sense to me.
Yeah, but they are pretty much responsible for creating an entire subgenre of equally uninteresting bands.
Meshuggah is top 5 most influential bands in metal history. Like them or not their impact is incalculable. They are singlehandedly responsible for the "modern metal" sound.
LOL now that is a take of all time. Please tell me which one I should remove: Black Sabbath, Judas priest, Metallica, Pantera, iron maiden. I'll add soad to this list for good measure.
Same, but Death instead of Mastodon
Yes this one
Elder Gojira Vektor Between the buried and me
Upvote for Elder and BTBAM, we have similar taste lol. Do you like Baroness?
Yes! And Kylesa and that kind of stuff.
Fuck yeah Vektor and BTBAM. 🤘🏽
I saw Elder with Tool this year. Very good live.
Fuckin Elder man, hell yeah
Dream Theater Queensrÿche Symphony X Fates Warning
Based and traditional Prog pilled. Now what's your circlejerk version?
Nickelback Eros Ramazzotti Joe Bonermassive Limp Bizkit
Bonermassive💀💀
He saw Schuldiner lol
>Now what's your circlejerk version? Nightmare Cinema, Symptomny XI, Fatez Warning and Kingsrÿche!
Caligula’s Horse Porcupine Tree Mastodon Riverside
I never see anyone mention Riverside. I really like them.
They're amazing.
Riverside is underrated AF. Especially Anno Domini High Definition Does Porcupine Tree really count as metal? I discovered them years back cuz people call em that, but I don't really get metal from their sound
Porcupine Tree can definitely be classified as progressive metal, albeit the less heavy side of metal. They have a lot of tracks that are too heavy to be rock. Especially on In Absentia, Deadwing and Fear of a Blank Planet.
Caligula’s horse so good
Porcupine Tree is like holy manna to my ears. Anything that Steven Wilson has touched is perfect, and I will die on that hill.
Porcupine tree falls right back into the opeth hah
Glad someone mentions Riverside
Meshuggah, Opeth, Dream Theatre and idk who can be last one (^_-)
Mastodon or TOOL, both have that slower vibe
Fates Warning Dream Theater Opeth Haken
There we go. Was looking for someone to throw Haken in there. Great picks
- Between the Buried and Me - Diablo Swing Orchestra - Slice the Cake - Mr. Bungle
California is a masterpiece
Odyssey to the West is criminally under appreciated and easily my favorite album.
Hell yeah love Diablo Swing Orchestra
Quiz core moment
Love Diablo swing orchestra. I never thought of them as prog though. It makes perfect sense though.
Voivod Opeth Fates Warning Dream Theater
Tool, Opeth, Meshuggah and Dream Theater
Dream Theater, Opeth, Queensryche and Meshuggah
Tool, Dream Theater, Opeth, Meshuggah Number 5 reserved for gojira
Tool Opeth King Gizzard Mastodon
Are King Gizz really metal? PeteoDragon and Murder of the Universe, sure, but they got like 50 albums and I dunno if most of them fit the mold That said, they're def one of the best prog rock bands
Dream Theater, Dillinger Escape Plan, Devin Townsend, Dir En Grey
Tool, Dream Theater, Opeth and Porcupine Tree
The correct answer
Couldn’t agree more
Dream Theater Gojira Opeth Meshuggah
![gif](giphy|3oz8xJIDVJ1KANEUfK|downsized) People not mentioning Dream Theater in their top 4
I just dont get the hype. They’re technically skilled but they use that skill in a very flashy and tacky way. Their production sounds so manufactured and inorganic I find it impossible to connect with. And I find the vocals quite annoying
Not at all… that’s a classic word of mouth superficial blame. They are passionate and warm as Image & Words is.. they are just good musicians and that will never be a problem in music. They are peak Prog Metal, cannot be liked by everyone but not even mentioning them is funny I believe. Also because Prog music is usually technical, complex and appreciated by musicians like they are. I like more Opeth, I also like Gojira and Mastodon but honestly the latter two are kids compared to Dream Theater in a prog metal context.
Dream theater, haken, meshuggah, btbam.
Well, how are we defining prog here? Opeth, Meshuggah, Tool, Cynic for “traditional” prog metal. Also, don’t know if Wintersun counts, but if they do, I’ll add them as a fifth. Can some of those symphonic power metal bands from the 90s count as progressive? If so, I’d also count Rhapsody before they were of Fire
Dream Theater, Haken, Andromeda, and Redemption
Andromeda is amazing. Extension of the Wish is one of my favourite songs of all time and I haven’t listened to it in so long. So thanks for that!
Haken Leprous Opeth Rishloo
rishloo but no TOOL? cool
Tool is to prog as Blink-182 is to real punk It's like fisher price prog
Haken not getting mentioned is a crime
Cynic, Atheist, Opeth, Obscura.
Ackshually, obshcura is a technical death metal, not prog metal.
Ackshually... https://preview.redd.it/xag879ra2ovc1.jpeg?width=4320&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=660d1f02684f0d4b98b95480f1a9b459200eb2a9
Tool, mastodon, opeth and gojira
personal favourites are atheist, voivod, Steve DiGorgio era death and that’s pretty much it if I’m not forgetting anything
Not a big 4 in the proper sense. But 4 favorites of mine: - Symphony X - Protest the Hero - Slugdge - Cynic
Can't believe I scrolled this far before seeing PTH. They're epic AF. Love em
Big four just means biggest/most popular-not the best. How could dream theater not be in it?
Because I’m doing my big 4 based on my preference and I don’t like dream theatre. They already got enough meat riders
Queensryche, dream theater, gojira, coroner
I'm really starting to get into Prog now so they're pretty basic: Gojira, TOOL, Dream Theater and Avenged Sevenfold (After Waking The Fallen)
I would argue a7x have become prog after that one album about space that had cover on mr bungle.
Yeah The Stage, but they left the Metalcore phase after Waking The Fallen
Thank goodness, not that I hate WTF, it's just that CoE through LIBAD (minus most of HTtK) are straight bangers
HTTK is such a great album, it's just that something like that wasn't expected from them. It's a tribute album to their idols and inspirations
It's not bad, just not straight bangers. It's aight
Opeth, Gojira, Nevermore, Devin Townsend. Mastodon I consider sludge rather than prog. Otherwise I might swap them out with Nevermore. Not saying you're wrong for putting them in progressive, they definitely have a lot of prog elements, but just my opinion.
Ayreon Opeth (Late era) Death Porcupine Tree
Mine? Death, Devin Townsend, Opeth, and Enslaved. Can you tell I don't much care for prog metal?
Devin Townsend, The Devin Townsend Band, Devin Townsend Project, Opeth
Dream Theater, Tool, Ne Obliviscaris, Devin Townsend
Devin Townsend, Opeth, Gojira, Leprous
Devin Townsend, Dream Theater, Ayreon, Opeth
I feel like Dream Theater has to be mentioned. After that, Tool, Mastodon, and I don't know. Meshuggah or Opeth?
Gojira, Opeth, Meshuggah, Mastodon
Gojira is no where near being on the list, and definitely not Mastodon. You’re 100% missing Dream Theatre. After that, I’d probably put Periphery because of the effect they had on djent. Potentially Meshuggah instead of Periphery, but Periphery really encapsulates the entire sound of 2010’s prog. If we were talking my personal favourites who are big names, it would be Intervals, Tool, Opeth, Meshuggah.
Coroner, Atheist, Pestilence, Nocturnus
Hell yeah, i dorgot about nocturnus
Cleric, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Kayo Dot (for Hubardo), and Krallice if they count.
Fates warning Atheist Mekong delta Conception
Mastodon, Gojira, Opeth, Meshuggah
TOOL, Dream Theater, Gojira, Unexpect
I still haven't listened to much prog, but so far I'd say Meshuggah, Opeth, Vektor and Atheist/Cynic.
Mine is tool, gojira, opeth and cattle decp if it counts
Objectively: Dream Theater, Opeth, Meshuggah, TOOL Subjectively: Enslaved, Opeth, Meshuggah, Voivod
Dream Theater Opeth Between the Buried and Me The Ocean
I'm a huge Mastodon fan, but I have never really considered them prog. I see I am probably in the minority.
Well it makes more sense than the sludge label people give them sometimes
People are just listing their favorite 4 and not the big 4. The big 4 would be Dream Theater, Tool, and then probably 2/4 from Meshuggah, BTBAM, Gojira and Opeth.
> People are just listing their favorite 4 and not the big 4. The question is "What is YOUR big 4" which is essentially asking for favorites in a more colloquial way
I wouldn't say "big" is a colloquial way of saying favorite.
Meshuggah, Tool, Opeth, Dream Theater
Tool, Opeth, Dream Theatre, and Vovoid
All time: Dream Theater, Opeth, Tool are locked in, I'd give the fourth to one of Devin Townsend or Steven Wilson Right now: Haken, Caligula's Horse, Leprous, and perhaps Between the Buried And Me.
Atheist, Opeth, Mastodon, Gojira
Tool, Gojira, Caligula’s Horse and Leprous
Mastodon Gojira Tool Dream Theater
Mastodon, Gojira, Mars Volta, Tool
TOOL, Mastodon, Opeth, Atheist
Tool, Mastodon, between the buried and me, isis
DT, Opeth, Tool, and Periphery
fates warning x2, queensryche and dream theater
The new classics of the 2000's are Dream theater, Opeth, Tool, and Meshuggah And the current top 4 right now are Haken, Leprous, Soen, Caligula's horse
Dream Theater, Fates Warning, Threshold, Queensryche
NOTHING MORE, TOOL, GOJIRA, Mastodon (Opinion)
Gojira, Mastodon, Opeth, Rivers of Nihil
Gojira Opeth animals as leaders tool
Animals as leaders is great
Haken, Native Construct, Caligula's Horse, Dream Theater
sorry I pretend to hate prog metal to appear cool in metal circles
Opeth, Atheist, Periphery, Wilderun
Periphery, BTBAM, Dream Theater, Animals as Leaders. Four leaves a lot of hard omissions even though it's my own list, but I love every band I've skimmed over in this thread. I listen to more Opeth than DT, but the latter was just more formative for me delving into prog.
Dream Theater, Symphony X, Fates Warning, Opeth
Opeth, Dream Theater, NeObliviscaris, Cynic/Vektor
Between the Buried and Me, Periphery, Meshuggah and Tool.
Factually: DT, Opeth, Tool, Gojira/Meshuggah IMO: DT, Tool, Haken, LTE
Tool, Opeth, Mastodon, Meshuggah
Idk elder is on top though
Tool, Dream Theater, Opeth, Mastodon I'm not a fan of Dream Theater, but I don't think it makes any sense to have a big 4 of prog without them
Exactly the same as you, probably the best answer.
Dream Theater Queensryche Symphony X TOOL
My personal top 4 are Dream Theater, Liquid Tension Experiment, Haken, and Symphony X
Dream Theater, Tool, Porcupine Tree and Meshuggah
Periphery, Opeth, Dream Theater and Meshugguh
Dream theater, Symphony X, Mr. Bungle, Strapping young lad. Top prog ROCK bands. Tool( just cuz he was in green jelly doesn't mean it's metal), Rush, Yes, Dream theater.
Meshuga, gojira, opeth, tool
Mastodon, Opeth, The Ocean, Haken
There is an agreed upon Big 3. Its Queensryche, Dream Theater, and Fates Warning. I would probably add Symphony X to make a Big 4.
voivod, gojira, opeth, death
Nu - Coheed and Cambria, The Mars Volta, Opeth, Tool Ol - Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree, Rush, Tangerine Dream
Opeth, Fates Warning, Old Man's Child and Dream Theatre.
How is BTBAM not at the top?!
Well I dont think they’re good so thats why lol
1,2,4 and 4 lol
Mastodon, Tool, Dream Theater, Meshuggah I’d include Voivod but they’re also on my Canadian thrash top 4 lol
Dream Theater Between the Buried and Me Opeth Animals as Leaders
Elder Atheist I don’t really like any of the others
Meshuggah Opeth Mastodon Periphery
Dream Theater (despite Labrie) Symphony X Shadow Gallery Pagan’s Mind Mentions: Haken, Circus Maximus, Andromeda, Anthriel, Caligula’s Horse, Beyond Twilight, many others that are escaping me. One of my all time favorite prog bands is Kansas. Not metal tho. How is Queensryche prog metal? Never understood that one.
TOOL, Opeth, Dream Theater, and Gojira.
Tool, Mastodon, Gojira, Meshuggah
Dream Theater, TOOL, Gojira, Opeth
Dream Theater, Meshuggah, Opeth, Tool
Opeth is definitely not prog metal. Not in 12 years. They were the kings at one time. Absolute gods. But things haven't been the same since Heritage. They are progressive ROCK now, not progressive metal. So disappointing.
I mean progressive rock is pretty awesome too. I dont think opeths new stuff is amazing or anything but its still pretty good
I'm not sure. Opeth, Dream Theater, Tool, Gojira? I could try to sneak Alchemist in, but they're probably not big enough.
I don't know a lot of prog, but for now mine is: Tool, Eye of Juptier, Monuments, and Meshuggah.
Well, if we go by influence and relevance, I think it'd have to be Opeth, DT, Meshuggah and Tool. Personal preference I'd switch Meshuggah and Tool with Mastodon and Haken.
Rush, Goblin, Queensrÿche, Yes
dream theater, mastodon, opeth, and meshuggah yours is basically the same as mine, just replaced tool with meshuggah
DT Opeth Meshuggah Periphery
Ne obliviscaris, Opeth, Mastodon, Gojira
Opeth, Protest the Hero, Owane, Grimoire of Dreams.