Progressive metal is a sub-style of metal. This genre is based on progressive rock and includes complex compositional structures, bizarre musical dimensions and intriguing instrumentation. The highest level of professionalism of the musicians is often combined with the lyrical in the form of conceptual epic lyrics, resulting in rather long songs and concept albums. The result of these factors is that progressive metal is not often heard on the radio or seen on television.
History
The origins of progressive metal can easily be traced back to progressive rock bands of the 1960s and 1970s such as Yes, Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Genesis and Rush. This style only emerged as a separate, self-sufficient style by the mid-80s. The bands Dream Theater, Queensrÿche and Fates Warning took elements of progressive rock bands – instrumental and compositional structure of songs and crossed it with the musical heavy metal attributes of bands such as Metallica, Megadeth, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Death (later work) and Iron Maiden. The result was music with a progressive mentality and heavy metal sound.
Progressive metal gained its greatest popularity in the early 90s, when Queensrÿche’s song “Silent Lucidity” (1990 Empire) ) suddenly became a hit on radio and MTV. This song is not a “typical” progressive metal song, but it made Queensrÿche’s music accessible to fans and, in addition, gave impetus to the development of other progressive metal bands around the world. In 1993 Dream Theater with the song “Pull Me Under” (from 1992’s Images and Words) also gains worldwide popularity. This song is less in the progressive metal direction than “Silent Lucidity”, but more in the heavy metal canon, and it is the song that keeps Dream Theater on the wave of popularity to this day.
Progressive metal can be successfully categorized into countless sub-styles corresponding to other styles of music that have influenced bands. For example, two bands that could very well be categorized as part of the genre under discussion, King’s X and Opeth, are at opposite ends of the sonic spectrum. King’s X are more influenced by mainstream and grunge. Paradoxically, Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament once said: “King’s X invented grunge as a style”, meaning that the influence of this band on all grunge was very great. And at the same time, Opeth’s vocalist’s growling and heavy guitar sound (partially diluted by gothic acoustic passages) can be considered as death metal style.
Progressive metal is sometimes referred to as “future metal” because of the fact that it is quite difficult for the untrained listener to experience. This style is also an excellent vehicle for science fiction themes and all things similar to them.