An idea that just crossed my mind. There could be variations of this in the future, if there is an interest for it. I'm starting with this one for now, out of genuine interest. The idea is, if you are an avid listener / fan of this big genre umbrella of music, to give 10 suggestions of albums you'd recommend to an absolute beginner / to someone who is interested in getting a first taste of the genre. The concept is a bit different than that of a Top 10, as the purpose is to get a varied sample rather than an exhaustive list of the best stuff. To reach that aim, I suggest a couple of guidelines. At least 3 albums that are considered all-time classics and "Must Listen"' At least 3 albums that were released within the last 10 years and are recent highlights At least 1 album that was released in the previous year A maximum of 2 records for the same artist Beside the lists, feel free to discuss other topics related to the genre (new discoveries, favorite artists, etc.)
OH BOY @IGibbedYEIH @Sasuke you guys also will be good resources. Hopefully we can give non-overlapping suggestions haha At least 3 albums that are considered all-time classics and "Must Listen"' In the Court of the Crimson King, King Crimson. Widely considered one of the foundational prog rock records. If someone can't get down with "21st Century Schizoid Man," I don't even know what to tell them. Close to the Edge, Yes. This is another early prog classic album, when Yes was really proggy. It's great and if I have to choose among the many foundational classic prog albums, this is going to be up there. Operation: Mindcrime, Queensrÿche. There are other classic foundational prog rock albums, but this one is a very popular release from one of the bands considered to have spawned the prog metal style (Queensrÿche and Fates Warning are the two big ones I hear talked about FWIW). Great concept album! At least 3 albums that were released within the last 10 years and are recent highlights Fauna, Haken. Since their widely acclaimed The Mountain JUST falls out of the range (would still highly recommend that one), I'm recommending this one. Haken is one of the premier modern prog metal bands, and this has a mix of all of their influences. It's not their best work (The Mountain generally is regarded as such) but showcases a lot of aspects of this band really well. Stranger Heads Prevail, Thank You Scientist. I know this band can be hit or miss for a lot of people, and it doesn't do it for Gibs, but I really like them. Very uptempo, strongly jazz-influenced prog rock with strong math rock tendencies that always gets me going. Παραμαινομένη, Ὁπλίτης (Paramainomeni, Hoplites). This is not a Greek band, actually. It's a one-man project originally from China actually, of all places, and he's now in France I want to say. He just really likes the Greek angle for some reason? Was a new discovery for me in 2022 when I found the debut EP. Hoplites consistently puts out really good stuff that's black metal/prog metal, and this album has lots of little nuggets of other stylistic variations. I'm not really a regular seeker of black metal, but I enjoy the way this guy does it with the proggier angle! At least 1 album that was released in the previous year Absolute Elsewhere, Blood Incantantion. Gibs might say this too, and he begged me to listen to this until I caved like 4 days before the end of 2024. 3 others (my top three favorites not covered already basically): Images and Words, Dream Theater. Their best album, really 80s-influenced, has some amazing landmark songs like "Another Day" or "Metropolis Pt 1 - The Miracle and the Sleeper". It's iconic and really really pleasant to listen to, while being technical. Very balanced overall imo. Biomech, Ocean Machine (Devin Townsend). It's been rereleased as Ocean Machine: Biomech under his name, but technically those were the original artist and album names. Devin's first solo album and probably his peak. He's more of "production prog" kind of musician so to speak. He loves to build unique soundscapes and has a big wall of sound approach. But he also really has the chops on guitar, and his vocal ability is incredible. Devin is also extremely audio-visual synesthetic and personally I just love how he writes melodies in that way. I remember in an interview he mentioned one time he tuned his guitar when sitting in a foggy field to make it sound the way he felt corresponded with the view. I think that shines through on this album a lot. It has a lot of good variety, and I absolutely adore some of the lyrical work on the back half of this album, starting with "Voices in the Fan." Moving Pictures, Rush. At this point in their career, Rush were more moving away from prog more, but this still retains some of the prog influence while also being more accessible, and contains the anthems "Limelight" and "Tom Sawyer" while also including proggier numbers like "Red Barchetta" and the instrumental "YYZ". Neil Peart is one of my favorite drummers, though that's not an uncommon opinion hahaha. I tend to be less into the djent-y, more modern crisp produced prog overall, though I do enjoy a lot of those artists still. I just really get into some of the jazzier or more classic-sounding ones. My favorites are Devin Townsend, Dream Theater, and Haken, which are really standard picks but I don't care too much about that. I would definitely be interested in a variation of this thread for hip-hop and hearing suggestions from @Deliveranze and @minuteforce!
I got into prog metal only recently (2019, to be specific), and the first band that truly drew me in was Leprous. Here are some albums I’d consider to be good starting points, depending on what you're looking for. I like to divide my main suggestions into two categories, while also including a few others I feel deserve a mention. Also I'm mostly into modern prog music, so you won't find any classic stuff from the 70s here. Because first, I prefer working my way backward through music, and second, I tend to gravitate toward more polished produced things. Clean Vocals (only singing): Karnivool – Sound Awake (Alternative prog) People will immediately mention Tool when it comes to this style, but I think Karnivool places much more focus on melody. Also, this is my favorite album ever, so it’s only fitting to start with it first . Plus, it's accessible af with the production being some of the most perfect you’ll ever hear. Song to start with Goliath. Haken – The Mountain (Classic prog) Haken is probably the best band when it comes to classic prog metal style for me at least (wacky guitar/keyboard solos, odd time signatures, and +10 minutes songs). What sets them apart though is their ability to make it all sound accessible. This album is an ideal starting point because it's the perfect middle ground of their Dream Theater inspired first albums and the more modern and heavier later works. Start with Atlas Stone. Leprous – The Congregation (Rhythmic prog) As I mentioned, Leprous was the first prog metal band I liked. While I was aware of big names like Tool, Dream Theater, and Opeth, something about Leprous captivated me the most. This album is the best starting point because it strikes a perfect balance between the avant-garde weirdness of their earlier work and the more accessible sound of their newer stuff. While some might argue their newer releases are easier to get into, they’ve completely moved away from metal elements after this album, which I personally preferred. Start with The Price. Mixed Vocals (singing + screaming): Periphery – P4: Hail Stan (Djent) If you’re unfamiliar with djent, it’s essentially a subgenre of prog metal focused heavily on rhythm, with the guitars tuned way lower than what's usually common. While djent was pioneered by Meshuggah, Periphery’s approach is far more accessible and even poppy at times. As a Linkin Park fan, I find them a great starting point since their vocalist draws massive inspiration from Chester. Start with Garden in the Bones. Opeth – Ghost Reveries (Death metal-style prog) Opeth is one of the most influential metal bands ever, and I think this is their most accessible album (though I haven’t listened to their entire discography yet). Unlike Periphery, the screams here are low-pitched death growls, a vocal style that might take some getting used to if you’re unfamiliar with it. However, the growls are essential to the overall atmosphere and intensity of this style. Start with Ghost of Perdition. The Ocean – Phanerozoic I: Palaeozoic (Sludgy/Post-metal style) When it comes to this style, most people will initially mention Mastodon or Cult of Luna, but I haven’t gotten into them yet and honestly, I think The Ocean is better anyway (fight me!). Post-metal is generally more experimental than standard metal, often focusing on instrumentation with vocals taking a less prominent role. Most songs on this album are epic and feature massive climaxes. I chose this one because it’s their most consistent work, with absolutely no wasted moments. Start with Permian: The Great Dying The rest of my recommendations: Ne Obliviscaris - Citadel. Similar to Opeth, this album features a lot of growling (there are clean vocals as well) but being a lot more extreme metal. The atmosphere here is simply unmatched, intense and beautiful at the same time. The songs are all over 10 minutes long, with hardly any standard song structures, but I have to mention this band because they are absolutely brilliant. Start with Devour Me, Colossus. The Contortionist - Language. This isn’t a heavy album, though it does include a bit of screaming. What makes it truly special is the atmosphere, it’s incredibly relaxing and almost therapeutic. It's also incredibly consistent, some might argue it's a modern classic. Start with Language I. Parius - The Signal Heard Throughout Space. An in-your-face rock opera that is both irresistibly catchy and technically impressive. Vocally it's mostly clean with a bit of screaming, and I fucking love how the vocalist portrays the different characters. Released in 2022, but it has already become one of my all-time favorites. Start with Spaceflight Dementia. Omnerod - The Amensal Rise. Oh boy, this is far from accessible (almost every song is +10 minutes long), but for me, it’s an absolute masterpiece that I have to mention. Again the atmosphere is the standout feature: an intense, almost terrifying "nightmare asylum" vibe that’s simply incredible. Stylistically, it's a mix of death metal, avant-garde and modern djenty stuff, with the mixed vocals. It was released in 2023, but I only discovered it this year. Start with Satellites. Here, I'll make it easy for him: Fear of a Blank Planet x10
At least 3 albums that are considered all-time classics and "Must Listen" Pink Floyd - "Wish You Were Here" Pink Floyd at their proggiest. A highlight of 70s prog rock. The two part "Shine On Your Crazy Diamond" that bookends this record is their best piece of music in my book, and was a bit of a template for a lot of progressive music to come. A must listen not just for prog rock, but for music fans in general. Dream Theater - "Metropolis, Part Two: Scenes from a Memory" Widely considered to be one of the greatest progressive metal albums of all time. I hesitate a bit to recommend to beginners because of the conceptual nature of the record, but it's the band in top form, and something to this day they have not topped. It was their first record with keyboardist Jordan Rudess, who has been with the band ever since. It's this album where they really dive deep with the complex instrumentation they're known for, and isn't overindulgent like a lot of their latter records would be. @Christøffer 's recommendation of Images & Words might be a bit of a better entry point, as it is also one of their best albums. Either way, you can't go wrong. Yes - "Close to the Edge" The title-track here is what prog is all about. It's an amazing piece of work, with a particular section involving an organ being one of my favorite moments on like, any song ever? The other two tracks on this one are great as well, but Close to the Edge is an absolute staple. At least 3 albums that were released within the last 10 years and are recent highlights VOLA - "Applause of Distant Crowd" A band hailing from Denmark, they take a lot of influence from the modern djent prog scene and blend it in such interesting ways with electronic music. While the music here might not be as immediately accessible as 2021's Witness (which is also a big recommendation), the songs here are more interesting and rewarding. I've had "Alien Shivers" stuck in my head for months now. Native Construct - "Quiet World" Much like the founding members of Dream Theater, these guys were students out of the Berklee College of Music who decided to put together a prog metal band. Their slice of prog metal is most akin to blend of Haken and Between the Buried and Me. Their keyboardist and main songwriter is a classically trained composer, so there are a lot of thoughtful parts here that feel very musical theater. Almost like the aforementioned prog metal bands had a baby with Queen. The fact that these guys only ever did one record, and called it quits will forever haunt me. Leprous - "Pitfalls" An album that takes the more technical and avant-garde metal they're known for, and throwing it through a prog pop lens. An album that has some of their most accessible, catchy tracks, while having some of the best prog metal behemoths of their career. Not as well regarded by fans as their other records upon release (including myself), but it's really caught on sicne. At least 1 album that was released in the previous year: Blood Incantation - "Absolute Elsewhere" As @Christøffer suspected, this my pick for 2024. I was a fan of their 2019 record "Hidden History of the Human Race," but this record is simply on another level. Consisting of two 20 minute songs (split into 6 tracks), I've never heard a band so expertly, and so seamlessly, blend together such brutal death metal with 70s, Floydian prog rock. In the first 8 minutes of this record, you are met with s brutal death metal section, that transitions into a keyboard solo, to a guitar solo that is some of the most gorgeous stuff I've heard on a prog album in years. I can't recommend this album enough. It's that good. 3 others (my top three favorites not covered already basically): Haken - "The Mountain" One of my favorite prog albums. Haken started off as a bit of a Dream Theater worship band, but it was with this record that they really came into their own. Leans more into 70s prog rock leanings like Gentle Giant while keeping things nice and heavy. It contains their most well known song, "Cockroach King," which is basically the prog metal equivalent of Bohemian Rhapsody. It came out 12 years ago now, and I still love it so much. Steven Wilson - "To the Bone" My favorite of Steven Wilson's solo work. Where a lot of his work has been influenced by 70s prog rock and jazz, this album takes a lot of influence from progressive pop of the 80s in the vein of Kate Bush's "Hounds of Love" and "The Seeds of Love" by Tears for Fears. Not as well loved among his fanbase as much as I love it, but they're wrong! For something a tad more heavy and proggy, go for 2015's Hand. Cannot. Erase., which was my favorite for a long time. Ne Obliviscaris - "Citadel" These guys lean into the more extreme side of progressive metal, in the vein of the death metal/black metal leanings of Opeth. The thing that makes this band so unique is that they have a violinist, so the kinds of music that they can play with in contrast to the heavier stuff is so different from other bands on the scene. You can have brutal, technical metal alongside flamenco, sometimes on the same track! I love these guys to death. I'm so glad I got to see them for the first time two years ago. EDIT: It has come to my attention I didn’t even mention Fear of a Blank Planet by Porcupine Tree, my avatar. An absolute classic. it’s just not in regular rotation with me anymore since I’ve heard it so much. Slipped my mind.
It's true. I've actually never listened to prog in my life. I've been faking scrobbles for all this time. I apologize to all those whose trust this will break. I will make 2025 the year that I own who I am: a poser.
My recent obsession is a band called Scarlet Stories. Prog metal tends to be male-dominated, so I was really glad to find an amazing female-fronted band (with two other female members) that isn't symphonic metal. I especially love the vocals, she’s so good, man. @Christøffer I love TYS too, Stranger Head Prevail is definitely my favorite. It's so sad they lost their vocalist, he was incredible. Let’s see what the new guy brings to the table. Also how could I forget the masterpiece that is Altered State?
Thanks all already for the great contribution so far, glad to see this sparked a little fire I can't wait to start diving in the multiple records mentioned here, although it will take a while to get through the bulk of it - but that's the name of the game with music ^^ Out of what's been mentioned so far, I own copies of Ghost Reveries, Wish You Were Here, and Fear of a Blank Planet, makes me happy there was a tiny little something I was familiar with. I also know some of the bands like Dream Theater or Haken by name, but haven't taken the time to dive into them yet, so it's great to have a starting point! Funnily enough, the Blood Incantation record was also in my to-listen-to list for 2024, but didn't get to it just yet, now it's definitely on top of the list. Most of the other names I haven't really heard before, so a lot to unfold!
Best prog rock band of all time is Porcupine Tree. Stupid Dream, In Absentia, The Incident, and Fear of a Blanket are some of their lust listen to albums but I'd just listen to them all tbh.