{{Short description|Music genre melding heavy metal and progressive rock}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox music genre | name = Progressive metal | other_names = Prog metal | stylistic_origins = * Heavy metal * progressive rock | cultural_origins = Mid-1980s, North America, United Kingdom | derivatives = | subgenres = Djent<!-- djent is sourced as a subgenre in the text --> | fusiongenres = * Progressive metalcore * progressive doom * technical thrash metal * technical death metal * progressive death metal | regional_scenes = * United Kingdom * United States * Scandinavia * Canada * Germany }}
'''Progressive metal''' (often shortened to '''prog metal''') is a broad fusion music genre melding heavy metal and progressive rock, combining the loud aggression<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/style/progressive-metal-ma0000002797|title=Progressive Metal Music Genre Overview - AllMusic|website=AllMusic}}</ref> and amplified distorted guitar-driven sound of the former with the more experimental, cerebral or quasi-classical compositions of the latter.
The music typically showcases the extreme technical proficiency of the performers and usually uses unorthodox harmonies as well as complex rhythms with frequent meter changes and intense syncopation. The polyrhythmic aspects are especially emphasized in the djent subgenre.<ref name=allmusic/> Although the genre emerged towards the late-1980s, it was not until the 1990s that progressive metal achieved widespread success.<ref name=allmusic/> Dream Theater, Watchtower,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sharpe-Young |first=Garry |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KNrV3iQ_qrIC&dq=%22control+and+resistance%22+%22jazz+fusion%22+%22watchtower%22&pg=PA495 |title=Metal: The Definitive Guide : Heavy, NWOBH, Progressive, Thrash, Death, Black, Gothic, Doom, Nu |date=2007 |publisher=Jawbone Press |isbn=978-1-906002-01-5 |page=495 |ol=8776949M}}</ref> Queensrÿche, Tool, Symphony X,<ref name=allmusictool>''AllMusic''. [http://www.allmusic.com/artist/tool-mn0000790820 Tool]. Retrieved on February 11, 2013.</ref> Shadow Gallery, King's X, Fates Warning, and Mastodon are a few examples of progressive metal bands who achieved commercial success.
==Characteristics== ''Metal Hammer'' describes progressive metal as "a genre with way fewer boundaries than the rest of the heavy metal family tree, meaning that each year will always bring fresh sounds from unexpected places."<ref name="mills">{{Cite web |last1=Mills |first1=Matt |last2=Hobson |first2=Rich |date=2025-12-22 |title=The 10 best progressive metal albums of 2025 |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/best-progressive-metal-albums-2025 |access-date=2026-02-06 |website=Louder |language=en}}</ref> The publication stated that in the 1980s, "metal took on the DNA of progressive rock," that gave way to "a mutant strain of music that married volume and aggression with brain-melting complexity, far-reaching ambition and barking mad concepts."<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Mills |first1=Matt |last2=Lawson |first2=Dom |last3=Hobson |first3=Rich |last4=Everley |first4=Dave |date=2022-11-05 |title=The 20 greatest prog metal bands of all time |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-20-greatest-prog-metal-bands-of-all-time |access-date=2026-02-06 |website=Louder |language=en}}</ref> According to AllMusic, the genre's earliest acts such as Fates Warning and Queensrÿche developed their sounds by "merg[ing] their love of Yes and Rush with their admiration for Iron Maiden and Judas Priest."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fates Warning Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & Mo... |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/fates-warning-mn0000160975 |access-date=2026-04-01 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}</ref>
Most bands labeled under the genre have considerably different musical influences when compared to each other. Bands such as Dream Theater, Planet X and Puya have a jazz influence, with extended solo sections that often feature "trading solos".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mateus |first1=Jorge Arévalo |editor1-first=Deborah Pacini |editor1-last=Hernandez |others=D. Fernández, Héctor l'Hoeste; Zolov, Eric |title=Rockin' las Américas: the global politics of rock in Latin/o America |url=https://archive.org/details/rockinlasamerica00paci |url-access=registration |publisher=University of Pittsburgh Press |year=2004 |isbn=0-8229-5841-4 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/rockinlasamerica00paci/page/94 94–98] |chapter=Boricua Rock}}</ref> Some progressive metal bands incorporate ballads and acoustic music into their arrangements.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=The 'Big 4' Bands of 17 Metal Subgenres|url=https://loudwire.com/big-4-bands-metal-subgenres/|website=Loudwire|date=2021-11-19|access-date=2026-02-02|language=en}}</ref> ''Loudwire'' stated that the genre is "unaffected by trends."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blum |first=Jordan BlumJordan |date=2026-02-16 |title=The 11 Best Progressive Metalcore Bands of All Time |url=https://loudwire.com/best-progressive-metalcore-bands/ |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=Loudwire |language=en}}</ref>
Orphaned Land from Israel debuted as a melodic death-doom/melodic death metal band that fused Middle Eastern rhythms and melodies into their music with a progressive edge. The band were always viewed as progressive due to the nature of the middle eastern elements of their music, which is known for using time signatures that are uncommon in the west, expansive song structures, and microtones. As their career developed, they would later play in a more traditional progressive metal style, comparable to Opeth, Symphony X, and the like, while maintaining their "oriental" edge.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Farhi|first=Kobi|title=Orphaned Land - 30 Years of Oriental Metal art booklet|publisher=Century Media|year=2021}}</ref><ref name="kobi2">{{cite web |date=February 27, 2004|title=Interview: Orphaned Land – Kobi Farhi|url=https://metalrefuge.wordpress.com/2004/02/27/interview-orphaned-land-kobi-farhi/|website=Metal Refuge|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Interview with Matti Svatizky (Orphaned Land)|url=https://www.metalfan.ro/en/interviuri/interview-with-matti-svatizky-orphaned-land-623.html?print|website=www.metalfan.ro|access-date=December 4, 2023|archive-date=December 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204035008/https://www.metalfan.ro/en/interviuri/interview-with-matti-svatizky-orphaned-land-623.html?print|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="landnobel">{{cite web |title=Orphaned Land|url=https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/arts-letters/articles/orphaned-land-israeli-heavy-metal|website=Tablet|date=July 6, 2021}}</ref> Steven Wilson, who lived in Israel for some time playing in Blackfield, found Orphaned Land to be "something special" after listening to Mabool and, would end up producing and engineering ''The Never Ending Way of ORWarriOR''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth|date=September 24, 2009|title=ORPHANED LAND: New Album Due In January|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/orphaned-land-new-album-due-in-january/|access-date=December 5, 2023|website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Orphaned Land - Vayehi Or 20 Years Of Journey (Documentary)|date=July 18, 2013|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1zRQVjAJf4|access-date=December 5, 2023|language=en}}</ref>thumb|left|Orphaned Land live in 2019
Lyrics in progressive metal draw influence from fantasy and literature, similar to the progressive rock of the 1970s.<ref name=":1" /> Themes may also include outer space and anti-capitalism.<ref name="mills" />
==History== Progressive metal, as a distinct musical style, was primarily advanced by members of the American heavy metal scene of the early-to-mid-1980s, particularly Queensrÿche, Savatage, Fates Warning, Watchtower, and a few years later on, Dream Theater, and then even later than that in the mid-1990's, Symphony X. It has since developed in a non-linear fashion, with countless groups demonstrating innovations in personal ways.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/10-essential-progressive-metal-albums |title=10 essential progressive metal albums |last=Wilson |first=Rich |date=March 10, 2020 |website=Loudersound.com |accessdate=June 6, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://loudwire.com/roots-of-progressive-metal-11-songs/ |title=The Roots of Progressive Metal in 11 Songs |last=Rivadavia |first=Eduardo |date=June 6, 2018 |website=Loudwire.com |access-date=June 6, 2021}}</ref>
The origins of the genre date back to the very beginning of heavy metal/hard rock and progressive rock when some bands began to merge the two different approaches. 1960s pioneers King Crimson maintained their musical innovation while incorporating a harder approach, using dissonance and experimental tones, yet still maintaining a relationship to the power chords of hard rock, with the main example being "21st Century Schizoid Man".{{sfn|pages=1–8|Wagner|2010}} Canadian trio Rush is widely recognized as bridging the gap between hard rock, English progressive rock, and pure heavy metal. Initially influenced by Led Zeppelin, they evolved to combine established progressive rock technique with blues-based power chords. Records such as ''2112'' (1976) showcased technical expertise and complex compositional skill while still utilizing a more direct and heavier approach than the well-established English progressive rock sound.{{sfn|pages=21–31|Wagner|2010}}thumb|Dream Theater live in 2015
1984 brought full-length debut albums from American bands Queensrÿche{{sfn|Wagner|2010|pp=47–54}} from Washington state, and Fates Warning{{sfn|Wagner|2010|pp=55–63}} from Connecticut. Both expanded their music to include more progressive elements (''The Warning'', 1984; ''The Spectre Within'', 1985) – some through sound experimentation and compositional refinement, others through extremely complex structures and atypical riffs—up to the two seminal works in 1986: ''Rage for Order'' and ''Awaken the Guardian''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Awaken The Guardian Retrospective|url=https://powerofprog.com/fates-warning-awaken-the-guardian-30th-anniversary-retrospective/|website=Power of Prog|date=April 16, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=10 Essential Progressive Metal Albums|url=http://teamrock.com/feature/2016-10-23/10-essential-progressive-metal-albums|website=teamrock|date=March 10, 2020}}</ref> In the following years the two bands, while following different paths—more basic and simple the first, more articulate and complex the latter—explore and expand the technical refinement and sonic finesse of their music, continuing to lay the foundations of the genre with important works such as ''Operation: Mindcrime'' (1988) by Queensrÿche,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-12-12-9104210845-story.html|title=METAL GETS MENTAL|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=November 18, 2021}}</ref> and ''Perfect Symmetry'' (1989) by Fates Warning.<ref>Spencer, Trey (June 30, 2008). [https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/26145/Fates-Warning-Perfect-Symmetry/ "Review: Fates Warning - Perfect Symmetry"]. Sputnikmusic. Retrieved March 20, 2015.</ref>
Progressive metal also found a home in the growing U.S. thrash metal movement, and many bands of the genre released albums that drew elements and influences of progressive music, including the "Big Four" of thrash metal—Metallica (''Ride the Lightning'', 1984; ''Master of Puppets'', 1986; ''...And Justice for All'', 1988),{{sfn|Wagner|2010|pp=40–41}} Slayer (''Hell Awaits'', 1985),<ref>{{cite web|title=Slayer's Hell Awaits still burning 30 years later|url=https://crypticrock.com/slayers-hell-awaits-still-burning-30-years-later/|access-date=July 15, 2025|website=crypticrock.com}}</ref> Anthrax (''Persistence of Time'', 1990),<ref>{{cite web|title=Album Review: Anthrax – Persistence of Time Reissue - Ghost Cult Magazine|url=https://ghostcultmag.com/album-review-anthrax-persistence-of-time-reissue-megaforce/|access-date=July 15, 2025|website=ghostcultmag.com}}</ref> and Megadeth (''Rust in Peace'', 1990).{{sfn|Wagner|2010|pp=42–44}} Bands that took a technical and progressive approach similar to the "Big Four" were Toxik (''World Circus'', 1987; ''Think This'', 1989),{{sfn|Wagner|2010|pp=82–83}} Overkill (''The Years of Decay'', 1989),<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Jersey's Best (If Sometimes Cringey) Thrashers: Five Crucial Overkill Albums|url=https://www.invisibleoranges.com/overkill-five-albums/|access-date=July 15, 2025|magazine=Invisible Oranges}}</ref> Dark Angel (''Leave Scars'', 1989; ''Time Does Not Heal'', 1991),<ref>{{cite web|title=15 of the Greatest Technical Thrash Albums of the 1980's!|url=https://www.worshipmetal.com/features/20-of-the-greatest-technical-thrash-albums-of-the-1980s/|access-date=July 15, 2025|website=worshipmetal.com|archive-date=June 20, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250620100118/https://www.worshipmetal.com/features/20-of-the-greatest-technical-thrash-albums-of-the-1980s/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=6 Of The Most Mind-Blowing Technical Thrash Albums Ever Recorded!|url=https://www.worshipmetal.com/features/6-of-the-most-mind-blowing-technical-thrash-albums-ever-recorded/|access-date=July 15, 2025|website=worshipmetal.com}}{{Dead link|date=March 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> and Bay Area thrash metal bands Forbidden (''Twisted into Form'', 1990),<ref>{{cite web|title=Forbidden – Twisted into Form|url=https://metalinvader.net/en/heathen-screaming-for-metal-with-every-breath/|access-date=July 15, 2025|website=metalinvader.net}}</ref> Heathen (''Victims of Deception'', 1991),<ref>{{cite web|title=Heathen: Screaming for Metal With Every Breath|url=https://metalinvader.net/en/heathen-screaming-for-metal-with-every-breath/|access-date=July 15, 2025|website=metalinvader.net}}</ref> and, on some of their late 1980s and 1990s output, Testament.<ref>{{cite web|title=Testament: Practice What You Preach (1989)|url=https://consumethetangible.com/2025/01/29/testament-practice-what-you-preach-1989/|access-date=July 15, 2025|website=consumethetangible.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Alex Skolnick (Testament • Alex Skolnick Trio) • interview • 2020 • Peek-A-Boo Magazine|url=http://www.peek-a-boo-magazine.be/en/interviews/alex-skolnick-testament-alex-skolnick-trio-2020/|access-date=July 15, 2025|magazine=Peek-A-Boo Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=T e s t a m e n t L e g i o n s . c o m|url=https://www.testamentlegions.com/bio-v5.htm|access-date=July 19, 2025|website=testamentlegions.com}}</ref> One of the most notable thrash metal bands outside of the U.S. is Canada's Voivod, with their complex and experimental style, full of psychedelic dissonances (''Dimension Hatröss'', 1988; ''Nothingface'', 1989).{{sfn|Wagner|2010|pp=103–129}} "Math-metal" pioneers Watchtower, from Texas, took the concept of time-changes to a new level, combining thrash metal, syncopation and prog in their albums ''Energetic Disassembly'' (1985){{sfn|Wagner|2010|pp=69–72}} and ''Control and Resistance'' (1989), giving rise to an extremely technical approach based on the rhythmic deconstruction typical in jazz fusion.{{sfn|Wagner|2010|pp=83–84}} This same direction in prog metal would be later integrated into death metal by bands such as Atheist (''Unquestionable Presence,'' 1991),{{sfn|Wagner|2010|pp=160–169}} which would become known as technical death metal or progressive death metal. Bands which also explored fusion-inspired prog metal include most notably Death and Cynic.{{sfn|Wagner|2010|p=117–120-140-205}}
The major US bands that contribute to further delineating and developing the genre are Psychotic Waltz and Dream Theater.{{Citation needed|date=November 2025|reason=this sounds like a personal opinion vs a claim coming from a music theory/culture study.}} The former, with an approach halfway in between Watchtower and Fates Warning, produced ''A Social Grace'' (1990), melding their signature sound with the psychedelic ''Into the Everflow'' (1992),{{sfn|Wagner|2010|pp=79–82}} while the latter explored the legacy of the bands that preceded them while advancing their personal style with ''When Dream and Day Unite'' (1989). Both albums focused on keyboards and band members' instrumental skills. As for Dream Theater, their efforts resulted in two fundamental albums, which helped institutionalize classic progressive metal—''Images and Words'' (1992) and ''Awake'' (1994).{{sfn|Wagner|2010|pp=91–107}} King's X, who emerged from a Christian rock background, incorporated their sound with influences of hard rock, metal, progressive rock, funk, soul and bands from the Beatles to U2 on their early albums—particularly their first three albums, ''Out of the Silent Planet'' (1988), ''Gretchen Goes to Nebraska'' (1989) and ''Faith Hope Love'' (1990)—before leaning more towards an alternative and grunge-inspired hard rock sound on their later output, including the highly-successful ''Dogman'' (1994).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/coulda-shoulda-didnt-why-did-kings-x-never-make-it-big|title=Coulda, shoulda, didn't: Why did Kings X never make it big?|website=loudersound.com|access-date=July 20, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/top_5_kings_x_songs-168156|title=Top 5 King's X Songs|website=Ultimate Guitar|access-date=July 20, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/how_this_underrated_album_put_alternative_and_prog_metal_scenes_together_in_perfect_balance-161428|title=How This Underrated Album Put Alternative and Prog Metal Scenes Together in Perfect Balance|website=Ultimate Guitar|access-date=July 20, 2025}}</ref> Other hard rock bands from this era that experimented with influences of progressive music into their sound include Europe,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/europe-the-final-countdown-album-of-the-week-club-review|title=Europe: The Final Countdown - Album Of The Week Club review|website=loudersound.com|access-date=July 20, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/hair-metal-songs-progressive-lyrics/|title=5 Hair Metal Songs That Actually Have Progressive Lyrics|website=Loudwire|access-date=July 20, 2025}}</ref> the Cult,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://smedmusic.substack.com/p/the-cults-glorious-three|title=The Cult's Glorious Three|website=Substack|access-date=July 20, 2025}}</ref> Winger,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.1heavymetal.com/Interviews/kipwinger.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060212014626/http://www.1heavymetal.com/Interviews/kipwinger.htm|url-status=dead|title=Kip Winger Interview at Heavy Metal and Power Metal Portal|archive-date=February 12, 2006}}</ref> Living Colour,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.knittingfactory.com/tm-attraction/living-colour/|title=Living Colour - Knitting Factory|website=knittingfactory.com|access-date=July 20, 2025|archive-date=August 27, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250827092502/https://www.knittingfactory.com/tm-attraction/living-colour/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Mr. Big,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.therockpit.net/2021/mr-big-celebrates-30th-anniversary-of-chart-topping-album-lean-into-it-with-remastered-expanded-edition-vinyl-single-box-set/|title=Mr. Big celebrates 30th anniversary of chart-topping album "Lean into It" with remastered expanded edition & vinyl single box set|website=The Rockpit|access-date=July 20, 2025}}</ref> and Extreme.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/iii-sides-to-every-story-mw0000614926|title=III Sides to Every Story - Extreme|website=AllMusic.com|access-date=July 20, 2025}}</ref>
Among European pioneers of the genre are Germany's Sieges Even, who, starting out of technical thrash stylistically significant to Watchtower, explored the more technical and angular side of progressive metal with ''The Art of Navigating by the Stars'' (2005).{{sfn|Wagner|2010|pp=76–78}} Swiss band Coroner, formed by roadies of Celtic Frost, have also been credited as pioneers of the style of technical thrash metal. They released a string of influential albums through the late 1980s and early 1990s, including ''Punishment for Decadence'' (1988), ''No More Color'' (1989) and ''Mental Vortex'' (1991), the latter two "etched Coroner's name onto the walls of the progressive metal hall of fame."{{sfn|Wagner|2010|pp=129–133}}[[File:Opeth 12 (21906436614).jpg|thumb|Opeth live in 2015|left]]Among the bands of the late 1990s who brought innovation to the genre are the Dutch Ayreon (a project by Arjen Anthony Lucassen) and Swedes Pain of Salvation. Ayreon focused on theatrical and melodramatic rock operas ''Into the Electric Castle'' (1998) and ''The Human Equation'' (2004), performed by many different members of prominent metal bands.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/28381/Ayreon-Into-the-Electric-Castle/|title=Review: Ayreon - Into the Electric Castle|website=Sputnikmusic|access-date=November 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-100-greatest-prog-anthems-of-all-time|title=The 100 Greatest Prog Anthems Of All Time|date=March 26, 2018|website=Loudersound.com|access-date=November 18, 2021}}</ref> Pain of Salvation was always working towards a more or less unusual style, demonstrated by the eclecticism and anti-conformism found on ''One Hour by the Concrete Lake'' (1998), and ''BE'' (2004).{{sfn|Wagner|2010|pp=195–229}} Forerunners of a more experimental and alternative approach include Thought Industry, as seen in their album ''Mods Carve the Pig: Assassins, Toads and God's Flesh'' (1993).<ref name="sputnik">{{cite web|last=Spencer|first=Trey|title=Thought Industry Mods Carve The Pig|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/14302/Thought-Industry-Mods-Carve-The-Pig/|work=Sputnikmusic|access-date=December 31, 2013|date=November 20, 2007}}</ref>
Puerto Rican band Puya rose to prominence in the late 1990s with their innovative fusion of jazz, salsa, and progressive metal, evident on their 1999 album ''Fundamental''.<ref name="bouley">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fw0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA12 |title=MCA's Puya Gets 'Fundamental' With Mix Of Rock, Salsa| author=Charles R. Bouley II | date= January 9, 1999 | publisher=Billboard |access-date=May 23, 2011 }}</ref>
Some of the first bands to pioneer the combination of progressive rock and extreme metal influences were Dan Swanö's Edge of Sanity, and Opeth,{{citation needed|date=May 2022}} both bands hailing from Sweden. In particular, Edge of Sanity's ''Crimson'' (1996), a 40-minute concept album consisting of a single track, brought the band critical acclaim and was heralded as one of the first extreme-metal forays into a progressive rock-esque concept album,{{citation needed|date=May 2022}} featuring death-metal vocals and heavily distorted guitars, with guest vocals and lead guitar from Opeth's Mikael Åkerfeldt. Dan Swanö produced Opeth's first release, ''Orchid'' (1995), which was unique for its combination of death metal vocals and instrumentation, melodic guitar harmonies, and acoustic passages, but it wasn't until their hallmark record ''Blackwater Park'' (2001) that they received critical acclaim. Steven Wilson, progressive rock icon and frontman of Porcupine Tree, was given a copy of Opeth's prior record ''Still Life'' (1999) from a friend, and, after listening, noted that the experimental music he had been after had drifted into extreme metal. Being mutual fans of each other's work, Steven ended up co-producing ''Blackwater Park'' along with Opeth's frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt, and would go on to co-produce ''Deliverance'' (2002) and ''Damnation'' (2003), together a would-be double album.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}} Their next release, Ghost Reveries, became an "instant classic," followed by ''Watershed'', both of which have had significant influence on the progressive metal genre,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Böhmer |first=Dominik |date=December 8, 2018 |title=A SCENE IN RETROSPECT: Opeth - "Ghost Reveries" |url=https://everythingisnoise.net/features/a-scene-in-retrospect-opeth-ghost-reveries/ |access-date=December 5, 2023 |website=Everything Is Noise |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Kennelty |first=Greg |date=September 18, 2019 |title=OPETH Wrote And Deleted A Death Metal Record After Watershed |url=https://metalinjection.net/shocking-revelations/opeth-wrote-and-deleted-a-death-metal-record-after-watershed |access-date=December 5, 2023 |website=Metal Injection |language=en-US}}</ref> along with other "extreme metal" bands like Meshuggah. This style of progressive metal is often referred to as "extreme progressive metal," or "extreme prog," for short.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Shteamer |first=Hank |date=July 26, 2017 |title=Opeth's Mikael Akerfeldt: My 10 Favorite Metal Albums |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/opeths-mikael-akerfeldt-my-10-favorite-metal-albums-198740/ |access-date=December 4, 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref> Later bands who would play in this style are Ne Obliviscaris, Disillusion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kennelty |first=Greg |date=July 11, 2019 |title=DISILLUSION Announces First New Album In 13 Years The Liberation |url=https://metalinjection.net/upcoming-releases/disillusion-announces-first-new-album-in-13-years-the-liberation |access-date=December 4, 2023 |website=Metal Injection |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Harrington |first=Chris |date=January 4, 2018 |title=Ne Obliviscaris Put Progress In Motion |url=https://www.invisibleoranges.com/ne-obliviscaris-tim-charles/ |access-date=December 4, 2023 |website=Invisible Oranges - The Metal Blog |language=en-US}}</ref> Porcupine Tree would later be influenced by this style, and in particular from Opeth, while Opeth would subsequently switch to a more traditional progressive metal/rock band, devoid of extreme metal elements<ref name=":0" /> until 2024's The Last Will And Testament.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=2024-11-20 |title=The Last Will & Testament |url=https://blabbermouth.net/reviews/the-last-will-testament |access-date=2026-04-30 |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |language=en}}</ref> left|thumb|Haken live in 2014 Between the Buried and Me, who started as a more straightforward metalcore band, also began to incorporate both progressive metal and death metal into their music on their 2003 album ''The Silent Circus'', a landmark album in the progressive metalcore genre.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prog-sphere.com/specials/btbam-albums-ranked/|title=BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME Albums Ranked|date=June 4, 2018|website=Prog-sphere.com|access-date=May 9, 2021|archive-date=May 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518015055/http://www.prog-sphere.com/specials/btbam-albums-ranked/|url-status=dead}}</ref> They would later add avant-garde elements as well on releases such as ''The Great Misdirect'' (2009).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://rockandrollglobe.com/experimental/greater-colorful-complexity-between-the-buried-and-mes-the-great-misdirect-turns-10/ |title=Greater Colorful Complexity: Between the Buried and Me's the Great Misdirect Turns 10 |date=December 3, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://propermusic.com/products/betweentheburiedandme-thegreatmisdirect?srsltid=AfmBOore49N790P0PNkurB7H9175hC6dcGs0jqR3yFu0nvWe15xybgHP |title=The Great Misdirect}}</ref>
In the 2010s, due to the rapid growth of djent led by bands such as Periphery and After the Burial,<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 17, 2021 |title=What Is Djent Music? Explore the Heavy Metal Subgenre |url=https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-djent-music |access-date=December 4, 2023 |website=MasterClass}}</ref> progressive metal saw an increased interest with a large number of newcomers to the genre. Some of the newer progressive metal bands that have gained popularity since the 2010s are Haken, Plini, Vola, Caligula's Horse, and Karnivool among others.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Loudwire Staff|date=March 3, 2023 |title=10 Best New Prog Rock + Metal Bands Since 2010, Chosen By Haken's Ross Jennings |url=https://loudwire.com/best-new-prog-rock-metal-bands-since-2010-haken-ross-jennings/ |access-date=December 4, 2023 |website=Loudwire |language=en}}</ref>
== Derivative forms ==
=== Djent === {{Main|Djent}} In the late 2000s, bands such as Periphery, Tesseract, Animals as Leaders and Vildhjarta popularized the "djent" style of progressive metal in a sound originally developed by Meshuggah. It is characterized by high-attack, palm-muted, syncopated riffs (often incorporating polymeters), as well as use of extended-range guitars.<ref>{{cite web |title=What is Djent |url=http://www.djenthub.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706172134/https://djenthub.com/ |archive-date=July 6, 2022 |access-date=April 21, 2016 |work=Djent Hub}}</ref> Extended-range guitars also feature in other forms of progressive metal; artists including Dream Theater, Devin Townsend, Dir En Grey, and Ne Obliviscaris have used seven-string guitars without being part of the djent movement, Dream Theater having been one of the earliest progressive metal bands to incorporate seven-stringed guitars into their music.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}
=== Other fusions === '''Progressive doom''' is a fusion genre that combines elements of progressive metal and doom metal.<ref name="loudersound.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-9-albums-that-inspired-king-goats-progressive-doom-sound|title=The 9 albums that inspired King Goat's progressive doom sound|first=King|last=Goat|date=March 15, 2018|website=Loudersound.com|access-date=November 18, 2021}}</ref> Bands include King Goat,<ref name="loudersound.com" /> Below the Sun,<ref>{{cite web |date=May 23, 2017 |title=Full Album Stream: Below The Sun - 'Alien World' - Decibel Magazine |url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2017/05/23/full-album-stream-below-the-sun-alien-world/}}</ref> Sierra,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Canada's purveyors of progressive doom metal issue new video |url=https://www.axs.com/canada-s-purveyors-of-progressive-doom-metal-issue-new-video-77344 |access-date=November 18, 2021 |website=Axs.com}}</ref> and Oceans of Slumber.<ref>{{cite web |title=6 New Metal Albums That Set a Strong Mood - Pitchfork |url=https://www.pitchforkcom/thepitch/6-new-metal-albums-that-set-a-strong-mood/amp/ |website=Pitchforkcom}}{{Dead link|date=February 2024|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
==See also== * Heavy metal subgenres * List of progressive metal artists * Timeline of progressive rock
== References == {{Reflist}}
==References== * [http://www.rocking.gr/articles/en/The-Absolute-Guide-To-Progressive-Metal/17150/ The Absolute Guide To Progressive Metal] by [http://www.rocking.gr/ Rocking.gr]. * {{cite book |last= Wagner |first= Jeff |title= Mean Deviation: Four Decades of Progressive Heavy Metal |year= 2010|publisher= Bazillion Points |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8ZwZcZ2X5ToC |isbn= 978-0-9796163-3-4}}
{{Heavymetal}} {{Progressive music}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Progressive Metal}} Category:Progressive metal Category:Heavy metal genres Category:Progressive rock Metal Category:Fusion music genres Category:American styles of music