Synopsis
While Metallica had vaguely progressive leanings in the '80s, it wasn’t until the early '90s that there was an explosion of genuine progressive metal bands.
Progressive metal blends the power of metal with the musical ambition and tireless noodling of prog. It combines intricate riffs, complex structures and shifting time signatures to create sprawling behemoths of metal.
Dream Theater’s second album, Images And Words, was a landmark release for the sub-genre and signalled the pinnacle of prog metal popularity. However, a renewed interest in prog and noise suggests there could be a resurgence in prog metal right now. Make it so.
Key band: Queensrÿche
Taking their guitar sound from KISS and their structures from Pink Floyd, Queensryche paved the way for prog metal in the late '80s.
Key album: Dream Theater - Images and Words (1992)
High-level musicianship, big drums and complex song structures made this a benchmark progressive metal album.
Prepare for 10 minutes of epic guitar churning, logic-defying genius.
Further reading
Prog Archives