I like all kinds of music. I grew up with classical piano lessons, and currently play flamenco guitar. But a strange thing happened to me on my way to the grave. Last year I discovered Progressive Metal music in my old age.
As far as "classic rock" songs -- I'm so tired of them I could just spit. Classic rock stations have played them to death. I like Stairway to Heaven, but do I have to listen to it twice a day for the next 30 years, having already listened to it for 30 years? Enough already.
Progressive metal typically combines the sound of heavy metal music with clear vocals. Most of the songs are lyrical. Prog metal bands are often, but not always, from outside the U.S., often from Europe. And I think it is fair to say that they are almost never played on American commercial radio. Where I live they are never played.
The problem is that many prog metal songs are longer than the three-minute limit typically allowed on commercial radio, even approaching almost twenty minutes long. Prog metal albums are sometimes "concept albums," in which the listener is expected to hear the whole album and not just a single track.
Anyway, the following is a small sample of prog metal music as presented on YouTube videos. If you have time and inclination, plug in headphones with a decent bass response (please, not the worthless iPod headphones, that should be outlawed), crank up the audio, select the wide screen option, and see what you think. I can almost guarantee that you have never heard this on American commercial radio. YouTube audio is not CD-quality, but hopefully you'll get the idea.
After you click on the video links you'll have to hit the "back" arrow on your browser to get back here.
Porcupine Tree, from Britain, with their concert video of "Trains," one of their "less-metal" offerings. Currently my favorite band.
Vanden Plas, a prog metal band from Germany, playing "Iodic Rain" in concert. Not my favorite piece, but their "Christ 0" concept album, loosely based on the story of the Count of Monte Cristo, just about knocked me out of my chair. You can see Iodic Rain here.
The Italian goth metal band Lacuna Coil, with their music video Swamped.
Andromeda, from Sweden, with In the Deepest of Waters from their concert video filmed in Poland. Lead guitarist Johan Reinholdz seems to have forgotten his shirt, but I forgive him.
Here's a short guitar vs. bass battle by two musicians from Angra, a Brazilian progressive metal band.
Anyway, if you want to hear some different music, check 'em out. And if you want to comment on my second childhood as manifested in my age-inappropriate taste in music, go ahead; I can take it.TIP:
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Comments
Angra's little face-off was astounding. When I hung out with my friends' kids who played in metal bands, they were writing precisely these kinds of tunes. 5/4 time (like Vanden plas), power chords inventing their theory as they go, stratospherically talented solos and highly personal lyrics, lost on an outsider (geezer). Andromeda is like a Return to Forever tribute band. And you're right, the Porcs are great! These guys' chops are advanced geometrically. Flamenco is only attempted with an hyphen i - s - h around here. Last night I helped my wife learn "Long Black Veil," in the manner of Lefty, not the Band. Worlds apart. Thanks again.
By contrast, a few months ago I asked an email question of Cristina Scabbia, lead singer of Lacuna Coil, located in Italy. I got an answer the next day.
I think a lot of these progressive metal band have the followings they do largely because of the Internet. Without that it wouldn't be possible to have an international following.
Speaking of the internet, I think one of the best ways to hear new music is by getting a Pandora account at pandora.com. They classify music not by genre but by several hundred features of the music. They call this the "musical genome" project. With Pandora you create your own personal "radio station," and seed it with tracks and artists that you already like. Then you hear tracks that are similar to those you have seeded. As you rate tracks "thumbs up" or "thumbs down," the system uses that information better to play music that you want to hear. The variety is amazing, and I've heard all sorts of bands of which I was not aware. To top it off, it's a free service. I thought about doing a post on it here, but thought it might sound too much like advertising.
Opeth are from Sweden with death metal roots. Their last several albums were produced by Steve Wilson from Porcupine Tree and they are amazing.
3 have been playing in upstate NY for close to 20 years and have moved toward more of a prog sound in the last 6 or so years. They incorporate classical/flamenco style guitar and additional percussion for a really original sound.