MP's Guide to Modern Prog for Metal Edge

Yeah, I would say those are the main prog bands of today, though personally I don't see the big deal with BtBaM.

ORIGINAL: TrueSagan

Yeah, I would say those are the main prog bands of today, though personally I don't see the big deal with BtBaM.

Listen to everything BUT the vocals. Especially the guitars.

Hmm, very good article and selections by the man himself. Maybe we can add some a little salt to the soup with these:

Unexpect : They've the sick, avantgarde and the progressive approach of course, but be aware they're not for everybody's cup of coffee (i think somebody used that line before :p)

Pure Reason Revolution : Following the footprints of Porcupine Tree, they have a really powerful sound & amazing compositions where it takes you from the metalic riffs to the melodic clean chrous. Their The Dark Third album is a must have for everyone on here.

The Mars Volta : Despite their latest album wasn't good as the two, these guys bring back the old fashion progressive sound like Beardfish&Spock's Beard&etc (espcially for the vocals) And they are the progressive version of Led Zepplin in the millenium

Good list to keep in mind for the next cd buying binge
Gonna have to add space AGAIN in my dvd drawer for DT's newest one, between DT and all the MP drum dvds, space is getting hard to find
Saw Symphony X  3 times (once in Madrid)last year and they're always great to see too.

Some awesome reccomendatons.
 
Love the fact that you mention Death and Cynic.

ORIGINAL: TrueSagan

Yeah, I would say those are the main prog bands of today, though personally I don't see the big deal with BtBaM.

Me neither. They sound emo to me. I bought colours because everyone was having fits over it. I've never been able to make it through the whole album. I do like the drums though. Can't stand the singing, songs or guitars. Not my cuppa.

Symphony X are a wicked live band, though I feel they have more in common with the old 80s heavy metal like Dio...

Well well, thanks to this I have discovered Beardfish and they are quite a band to check out.
Thanks Mike. :)

Yep, but you didn't mention the best band coming out of Sweden: SEVENTH WONDER !!


What about SCAR SYMMETRY?  By far my favorite recent discovery.


Indeed, Scar Symmetry is another Swedish gem. Their newest album, Holographic Universe is by far, my favorite album this year.

Agreed it's one awesome cd like their others , but I am enjoying the new Into Eternity.

ORIGINAL: kevdog

Looks like I have to check out Beardfish and Anekdoten.

 
You should certainly check out Beardfish.
 
But - I'm sure MP would agree, its a different world. A different vibe. If you love the old style Hammond driven music, check out Beardfish, or even Rikard's other band; Bootcut.
 
I can see the makings of a new Supergroup here. MP - Give Rikard a call ;)
 
 

Well Mike... with summer drawing to a close it sounds as if you just might be starting to gear up and get back at it... back on July 11 you hinted that the first order of business would be the LTE DVD & CD  along with an Octerberish return to the studio for DT... you also hinted that either sometime 'before' or 'after', the next YTSEJAM batch might get some attention... Do you know yet if it will be a thumbs-up "Before"   or kind of a thumbs-down "After"  !!! Just wondering...!!! Hope your summer time off was a blast.

ORIGINAL: nant

Well well, thanks to this I have discovered Beardfish and they are quite a band to check out.
Thanks Mike. :)

Same here. At the moment, my next batch of CDs on its way will include Phideaux's Doomsday Afternoon, The Tangent's Not as Good as the Book (with the book, I am an English major after all), and the Beardfish Sleeping in Traffic albums. A very exciting haul. I can't wait to send out for it. That's a lot of music, and great music at that.

ORIGINAL: Portnoy

ORIGINAL: EviLLivE

Wow. 2 Swedish bands.. Makes me proud.

Actually, I mention 7 Swedish bands/artists if you read the whole article:
 
Beardfish
Opeth
Pain Of Salvation
Anekdoten
The Flower Kings
Meshuggah
Yngwie Malmsteen
 
Something must be in the water over there....some truly amazing talent coming from your country!

MP 

 
Glad to see you like the music from our country, I can only say I agree. Fact is I'm very proud to say just weeks ago I recorded in the Beardfish studio and both them and Scar Symmetry are from my hometown! Cool to see that people here know about them!

ORIGINAL: ricosuave

ORIGINAL: TrueSagan

Yeah, I would say those are the main prog bands of today, though personally I don't see the big deal with BtBaM.

Listen to everything BUT the vocals. Especially the guitars.

I have nothing against the vocals, i'm sure many people like them. It's the same with james probably, I'm sure many people would take BtBaM vocals over James any time. They're just not my style, I think they ruin the whole atmosphere of the songs. Spiral Architect did tech metal and still managed to have good wailing vocals. I like Akerfeldt's Opeth vocals a lot, for example, but they say a lot more to me than Tommy Rogers' vocals.

I'd rather take Circus Maximus as an important modern prog band over BtBaM. BtBaM has always come across as more of a hardcore/math metal band to me, than a progressive one.

For me, my main 5 favorite modern prog are DT, Opeth, Pagan's Mind, Ayreon and Blind Guardian (who are originally a power metal band but recently very progressive). In fact it's strange to me that Mike didn't mention Ayreon since he has so many albums out and it's such an elaborate and awesome project. I would say they are way way above even DT sometimes, just brilliant music and wonderfully produced.

WTF is "mathcore"? 

ORIGINAL: DTD

WTF is "mathcore"? 

It's like death metal but eeeeeeeeeeeeeven cheesier...

So Mike has noticed Baroness as well... nice.

ORIGINAL: Chen Zen

ORIGINAL: DTD

WTF is "mathcore"? 

It's like death metal but eeeeeeeeeeeeeven cheesier...

BTBAM is referred to as "deathcore" on wikipedia, though.

BEARDFISH

ORIGINAL: Portnoy

ORIGINAL: EviLLivE

Wow. 2 Swedish bands.. Makes me proud.

Actually, I mention 7 Swedish bands/artists if you read the whole article:
 
Beardfish
Opeth
Pain Of Salvation
Anekdoten
The Flower Kings
Meshuggah
Yngwie Malmsteen
 
Something must be in the water over there....some truly amazing talent coming from your country!

MP 

Thanks for the article!

But...Dungen.  DUNGEN!

I have that issue!

Well said MP....

Oh...he mentioned Beardfish! SITT pt. 1 is one of the most wonderful 70´s-influenced-records i´ve ever heard! 

who am i to argue with The man himself, but Symphony x and Pain of Salvation under the same roots?

isn't PoS more Beardfish as The Flower kings is?

ORIGINAL: yitseyjamm

ORIGINAL: HomerJ

ORIGINAL: A Change of Stevens

On The Sunday of Life was released in 1991, two years before Radiohead's Pablo Honey and quite some time before Muse's debut.  Just who exactly is the roots of who?   

Porcupine Tree's late 90s material was clearly influenced by The Bends and OK Computer.  On the other hand, considering that Muse didn't hit the scene until '99, I don't see how in the world you could trace Porcupine Tree's roots to them.  I don't know anyone who has ever said that PT and Muse sound similar, anyway.

yeah i read that and i was like ... huh?

Yep.  Agreed.  Even their recent work really has very little connection to Muse.

And PT are just in a different league to Muse anyway.

yeah, i kinda agree with this last item, hail for including dillinger escape plan on try out

Just wait 'till you hear the new Freak Kitchen album. The snippets I've heard are some of the best shizznizzle I've heard in a long time. They seem to be on a whole new level of awesomeness!


 
Didn't know there was a new Freak Kitchen album on the way....
Sweet.    Have they announced an official release date yet?
Mattias "IA" Eklundh was the highlight of last year's ProgPower for me.  Speaking of awesomeness from Sweeden, check out Mattias Eklundh and Jonas Hellborg's Art Metal CD if you haven't already.
 

Thanks Mike, willdefinately checkout Beardfish.

ORIGINAL: Portnoy

ORIGINAL: EviLLivE

Wow. 2 Swedish bands.. Makes me proud.

Actually, I mention 7 Swedish bands/artists if you read the whole article:
 
Beardfish
Opeth
Pain Of Salvation
Anekdoten
The Flower Kings
Meshuggah
Yngwie Malmsteen
 
Something must be in the water over there....some truly amazing talent coming from your country!

MP 

Not to quibble with The Man, but I'd just like to say that Kaipa belongs on any list of the best Swedish prog bands around right now. Their output since they got back together has been nothing short of magical, IMO.



-- Jeff

ORIGINAL: The Siamese Monster

Oh...he mentioned Beardfish! SITT pt. 1 is one of the most wonderful 70´s-influenced-records i´ve ever heard! 

This just arrived today. I'm liking it a lot, even though I haven't run across quite as much fun wildness like in Part 2, as I was hoping...

nice, don't know some of these bands, so i'll check them!! thanks mp

Excellent! Hopefully there might be another cool bands out there that are not well recognized yet. Symphony X, Porcupine Tree and Pain of Salvation are my favorites.

Actually, I mention 7 Swedish bands/artists if you read the whole article:
 
Beardfish
Opeth
Pain Of Salvation
Anekdoten
The Flower Kings
Meshuggah
Yngwie Malmsteen
 
Something must be in the water over there....some truly amazing talent coming from your country!

MP

 
Don't 4get "Meatloaf"......oh wait, that's meatballs my bad!

Porcupine Tree makes me feel the weight in my legs XD
(Anesthetize is all)

I never listen Opeth, better I hear some songs...
Well, this is it!
Stay Heavy Mike o/

ORIGINAL: Casaroli

who am i to argue with The man himself, but Symphony x and Pain of Salvation under the same roots?

isn't PoS more Beardfish as The Flower kings is?

Indeed, what do SX have to do with PoS? I'm surprised that only a few seem to have noticed this.. What were you thinking Mike??

Anyway, I'm glad to see so many Swedish bands being mentioned, I guess you have a pretty decent taste after all