Where are the christian progressive metal bands?!
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ManipulatorGeneral404
timekeeper
Cailen
Temple of Blood
Devon Hill
Nyx74
Soldier777
sentient 6
Markus1987
Dynamis
Black Rider
Staybrite
metaldude
Professor_Valconian
Andreas89
19 posters
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Where are the christian progressive metal bands?!
A few months ago there was this thread here that wanted to list christian top albums per genre. And it occurred to me that there was no mention of prog albums (at least up until some point). And with "prog" I mean the likes of Dream Theater, Fates Warning, Threshold, Haken and so on; "melodic prog" if you like. Both the variants with the longer songs and the shorter songs. I'm not counting the so called "progressive power metal" bands here.
This raised two questions:
1) Why would christian artists stay away from prog metal that much? I mean in general of course, because there are some christian prog bands. Sidenote: I see the same tendency in progressive rock, but this is largely masked by Neal Morse's incredible productivity with both his solo/band albums and Transatlantic. And all Kerry Livgren projects of course (Kansas, Proto-Kaw, Flagship).
2) Which christian prog bands do we know? I can sum up 7Days (although they're not that explicit), Affector(!), S91, Mehida/Wingdom. That's not an awful lot; other genres have way more representatives.
Any thoughts on this?
This raised two questions:
1) Why would christian artists stay away from prog metal that much? I mean in general of course, because there are some christian prog bands. Sidenote: I see the same tendency in progressive rock, but this is largely masked by Neal Morse's incredible productivity with both his solo/band albums and Transatlantic. And all Kerry Livgren projects of course (Kansas, Proto-Kaw, Flagship).
2) Which christian prog bands do we know? I can sum up 7Days (although they're not that explicit), Affector(!), S91, Mehida/Wingdom. That's not an awful lot; other genres have way more representatives.
Any thoughts on this?
Andreas89- Resident Power Metal Aficionado
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Re: Where are the christian progressive metal bands?!
Neal Morse. Incredibly productive. Incredibly talented. If you don't have his last two ... The Grand Experiment and Similitude of a Dream, you must purchase them immediately. You owe it to yourself.
Professor_Valconian- Metal Warrior
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Re: Where are the christian progressive metal bands?!
Before I heard of the "progressive" label, I referred to this style as "musician's music". It's my opinion that it appeals to musicians more than the general music listening public.
Here are a few more bands I enjoy.
Wake of Redemption
God's Equation
Above Symmetry
Here are a few more bands I enjoy.
Wake of Redemption
God's Equation
Above Symmetry
metaldude- Holy Unblack Knight
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Re: Where are the christian progressive metal bands?!
I know! And you could have known that I know, because I mentioned Neal and his band in my original post Anyhow, those two albums are really great indeed! They are staples at my place (my wife enjoys them too).Professor_Valconian wrote:Neal Morse. Incredibly productive. Incredibly talented. If you don't have his last two ... The Grand Experiment and Similitude of a Dream, you must purchase them immediately. You owe it to yourself.
Andreas89- Resident Power Metal Aficionado
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Re: Where are the christian progressive metal bands?!
It may also appeal to people with a really refined taste in music.Before I heard of the "progressive" label, I referred to this style as "musician's music". It's my opinion that it appeals to musicians more than the general music listening public.
Thanks for sharing! I will check them out later, right now I have Transatlantic's Kaleidoscope playing.metaldude wrote:Here are a few more bands I enjoy.
Andreas89- Resident Power Metal Aficionado
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Re: Where are the christian progressive metal bands?!
Andreas89 wrote:It may also appeal to people with a really refined taste in music.Before I heard of the "progressive" label, I referred to this style as "musician's music". It's my opinion that it appeals to musicians more than the general music listening public.
True. My point is that popular music has been driven by simple and repetitive hooks and progressions for almost seven decades. Progressive music is driven more by longer songs full of odd time signatures and key changes.
metaldude- Holy Unblack Knight
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Re: Where are the christian progressive metal bands?!
I'm actually not a huge fan of most progressive music (I guess I'm just a musical simpleton)
There are a few that I really enjoy.
Fall of Echoes (from their album Red Tree)
Orphan Project (from their album Spooning Out the Sea)
Souljourners (from the album Mind Control)
Delorean (from the album Edge of Existence)
There are a few that I really enjoy.
Fall of Echoes (from their album Red Tree)
Orphan Project (from their album Spooning Out the Sea)
Souljourners (from the album Mind Control)
Delorean (from the album Edge of Existence)
Staybrite- Holy Unblack Knight
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Re: Where are the christian progressive metal bands?!
Check out Shadow Gallery, not specifically christian but some members are/were. Darkwater, Veni Domine and Torman Maxt are worth checking out.
Black Rider- Sacred Metal Prophet
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Re: Where are the christian progressive metal bands?!
Sorry. Skimmed your post. I read your point # 2 and didn't see Neal mentioned.
Professor_Valconian- Metal Warrior
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Re: Where are the christian progressive metal bands?!
I can also confirm that Orphan Project is some quality music. Maybe not quite as proggy as some others, but definitely tends in that direction. I have both of their albums, and can hear a fair amount of Kansas influence, especially on their first ... Orphan Found. I highly recommend.
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Markus1987- Seasoned Guardian
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Re: Where are the christian progressive metal bands?!
These guys are more progrock than metal...but still pretty good.
sentient 6- Sacred Metal Prophet
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Re: Where are the christian progressive metal bands?!
I have all the Dream Theater CD and DVDs/BluRays. I would like to get some Neal Morse stuff too and based on the recommendations mentioned, I may get his 2 latest albums. I do like some prog rock and metal and I may check out the bands mentioned above.
Is Millennial Reign a prog band?
Is Millennial Reign a prog band?
Soldier777- Holy Unblack Knight
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Re: Where are the christian progressive metal bands?!
Millenial Reign is closer to power metal than progressive.
metaldude- Holy Unblack Knight
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Re: Where are the christian progressive metal bands?!
I believe Believer's Dimensions also fits the category. Though a bit older....... I still get the chills when listening to Trilogy Of Knowledge
Nyx74- Metal Warrior
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Re: Where are the christian progressive metal bands?!
Nyx74 wrote:I believe Believer's Dimensions also fits the category. Though a bit older....... I still get the chills when listening to Trilogy Of Knowledge
+1
metaldude- Holy Unblack Knight
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Re: Where are the christian progressive metal bands?!
One of the best Christian prog metal bands is Menahem in my opinion.
Another really promising new one is Narrow Gate.
Cosyns has lots of really good progressive elements in their music too.
https://cosyns.bandcamp.com/track/outward
Another really promising new one is Narrow Gate.
Cosyns has lots of really good progressive elements in their music too.
https://cosyns.bandcamp.com/track/outward
Devon Hill- Seasoned Guardian
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Re: Where are the christian progressive metal bands?!
Antithesis
Alethian
Warlord
Tourniquet
Believer
Haven
Savatage
Alethian
Warlord
Tourniquet
Believer
Haven
Savatage
Re: Where are the christian progressive metal bands?!
You should check Skies Over Bethany. They are rocking
Markus1987- Seasoned Guardian
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Re: Where are the christian progressive metal bands?!
Thanks for the suggestions so far, some I can filter out for several reasons though.
Affector - Mentioned them already in my original post
Narrow Gate - I know them, they don't have an album yet. But promising!
Antithesis - too much on the power/thrash side
Millennial Reign - don't get me started on this band they're more prog power metal anyway
Warlord - more like heavy/doom metal
Tourniquet - cookiemonster vocals
Believer - same as far as I know
Savatage - not really christian, good band though!
Affector - Mentioned them already in my original post
Narrow Gate - I know them, they don't have an album yet. But promising!
Antithesis - too much on the power/thrash side
Millennial Reign - don't get me started on this band they're more prog power metal anyway
Warlord - more like heavy/doom metal
Tourniquet - cookiemonster vocals
Believer - same as far as I know
Savatage - not really christian, good band though!
Andreas89- Resident Power Metal Aficionado
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Re: Where are the christian progressive metal bands?!
OK, I listened to most of the suggestions (not all because youtube in Germany...). Some great stuff, sadly also stuff with cookiemonster vokillz. Didn't mean that by "melodic prog".
But what I did find interesting is that there were bands among them that have had a fairly short lifespan and a disappointing amount of releases. This raises the question, maybe this time more explicitly: why is "normal" prog metal and christian music such a bad marriage? I mean, just look at the number of well known active prog metal bands in the christian music scene. How many can you list? I can't think of any other metal subgenre that is so underrepresented in the harder regions of christian music.
A sidenote before I will try to trigger some of you: just because prog metal is "musician's music" hasn't stopped bands like Dream Theater and Fates Warning (and recent examples like Haken) from having a fairly large fanbase. So complexity should not be an excuse.
Or should it? I mean, let's speculate about this shortage of prog in the christian music scene. Are christians maybe less interested in complexity? Is the attention span of christian music lovers not that great? Or are christian artists in general not -that- creative?
Sounds a bit demeaning of course, but I like to see it as inviting you guys to think about this
But what I did find interesting is that there were bands among them that have had a fairly short lifespan and a disappointing amount of releases. This raises the question, maybe this time more explicitly: why is "normal" prog metal and christian music such a bad marriage? I mean, just look at the number of well known active prog metal bands in the christian music scene. How many can you list? I can't think of any other metal subgenre that is so underrepresented in the harder regions of christian music.
A sidenote before I will try to trigger some of you: just because prog metal is "musician's music" hasn't stopped bands like Dream Theater and Fates Warning (and recent examples like Haken) from having a fairly large fanbase. So complexity should not be an excuse.
Or should it? I mean, let's speculate about this shortage of prog in the christian music scene. Are christians maybe less interested in complexity? Is the attention span of christian music lovers not that great? Or are christian artists in general not -that- creative?
Sounds a bit demeaning of course, but I like to see it as inviting you guys to think about this
Andreas89- Resident Power Metal Aficionado
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Re: Where are the christian progressive metal bands?!
I was very impressed by Narrow Gate.
Thanks for posting this!
Thanks for posting this!
Cailen- Seasoned Guardian
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Re: Where are the christian progressive metal bands?!
As was I - sounds very good.cailen wrote:I was very impressed by Narrow Gate.
Thanks for posting this!
timekeeper- Metal Warrior
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Re: Where are the christian progressive metal bands?!
Maybe I'm on to something here...Andreas89 wrote: Is the attention span of christian music lovers not that great?
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