Most of the time, when I encounter “progressive death metal” (which this sounds like to me, but which it isn’t categorized as on RYM), I think “this isn’t very progressive.” It usually sounds like more ambitious death metal, but it doesn’t sound very proggy. Well, not so here. If there is one thing this record …
Tag: Progressive Metal
My Arms, Your Hearse (1998) by Opeth
This is the first Opeth record I’ve ever heard. I thought I had listened to one of their more recent ones a few years ago, but I must have confused them with another one-word, two-syllable metal band. I’ve of course heard of Opeth but I guess I just never got around to listening to them …
Undertow (1993) by Tool
I have come at Tool backwards from the very beginning of when I started listening to them: The first time I ever listened to a full album was 10,000 Days. When I discovered I liked them I got Lateralus. Then once I finally discovered I liked Lateralus, I got Aenima. This is relevant (for my …
The Divine Wings of Tragedy (1997) by Symphony X
Dream Theater remains the only prog metal band I’ve listened to on the progressive side of the spectrum. And I can’t help but hearing their (massive) influence here, for good or ill. (This includes at least one reference in the lyrics to the only Dream Theater album I know well, and I’m sure there are …
Ex Eye (2017)
I have been intending to listen to Colin Stetson for way too long and so I find myself coming to this, without having ever listened to his records (or seen him in concert), knowing about the technique but not much else.
Skullgrid (2007) by Behold…the Arctopus
This is some utterly bonkers playing. These guys are clearly incredible musicians. Just incredible. But it’s half an hour of (almost) exclusively bonkers riffs and nothing else. There are a few moments (such as on “Canada”) when they move out of their (admittedly extremely difficult) comfort zone, but for the most part, these guys just …