Beginner’s Guide to Metal Genres

PROGRESSIVE METAL

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FREQUENT TRAITS

• Complex compositional structures
• Odd time signatures
• Intricate instrumental playing
• Typically, longer songs than standard metal
• Often thematically linked in concept albums
• Favors experimentation

HISTORY

• Where it came from
  • Developed from artists looking for more complexity and experimentation in metal music
• Where it is today
  • Like Alternative Metal, Progressive metal has continued to diversify and elements of the genre are being found more often in other types of metal.
  • It has maintained a consistent following, though it’s complexity and experimentation limits it’s accessibiltiy to the general population

BANDS

• DREAM THEATER
• QUEENSRYCHE
• SYMPHONY X
• GOJIRA
• MASTODON

SUB-GENRES

• Avant-Garde Metal (MESHUGGAH)
• Neo-Classical Metal (STRATOVARIUS)

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