Progressive metal

Progressive metal (often called prog metal) is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that mixes the powerful, guitar-driven sound of metal with the complexity of progressive rock, which includes odd time signatures and complicated instrumental playing. Some progressive metal bands are also influenced by jazz fusion and classical music. Like progressive rock songs, progressive metal songs are usually much longer than other metal songs, and they are often themed in concept albums. As a result, progressive metal is rarely heard on mainstream radio and video programs.

Progressive metal
Stylistic origins	Progressive rock, heavy metal
Cultural origins	1970s, United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada
Typical instruments	Guitar Bass guitar drums keyboards

History

Progressive metal started with progressive rock bands from the late 1960s and early to mid-1970s such as Yes, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, King Crimson, Genesis, Kansas and Rush. It did not evolve into a genre of its own until the mid-1980s. Bands such as Queensrÿche, Fates Warning and Dream Theater took certain aspects of progressive rock music and mixed them with heavy metal styles.

Related pages

• Progressive rock
• Heavy metal