Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index

Progressive metal

 This article is an overview
of the heavy metal series.
 Heavy metal
 Thrash metal
 Black metal
 Power metal
 Nu metal
 Doom metal
 Christian metal
 Progressive metal
 NWOBHM
 Death metal
 Hair metal
 Stoner metal
Progressive metal (prog metal) is a heavier brand of Progressive Rock (prog rock) incepted during the late 1980's, but which never gained mass appeal like prog rock did in the early 1970's. While it may not have a wide audience, it does have a very loyal, usually rather musically mature, fanbase. Prog metal could be broken down into an absurd infinite number of other sub-genres (see bottom of article), however it suffices to say that extraneous influences such as Jazz (Dream Theater), Classical Music (Symphony X) and Death Metal (Opeth) make this genre as diverse as can be.

A closely-related genre is progressive fusion, which tends to lean more towards jazz than metal, and is usually instrumental. Progressive Fusion includes bands like Liquid Tension Experiment and Planet X.

Terms describing similar music include art metal, melodic metal, concept metal, power metal, melodic power metal, symphonic metal, space metal and so on.

Examples of progressive metal artists: