Biv's Prog-Metal Journey

As a reader, it's important to know some information about the author. I am 46 and have loved metal for over 30 years. My first metal concert was Metallica opening for Ozzy in 1986, just months before the tragic accident that would claim the life of Cliff Burton. To this day, I still love classic metal, but my true passion is progressive metal, which, if you haven't guessed by the name, is what this page is about.

This website will feature progressive-metal news, reviews, interviews and more, helping you, as a metal fan to stay up-to-date in one convenient place. So why progressive metal? Here's my story...

On a fateful day in 1992, when I was watching Headbanger's Ball on MTV, a new video came on by a band I'd never heard of; Dream Theater. The song? "Pull Me Under".  I immediately went out and bought the album Images and Words and played it for what seemed like a thousand times. I heard this term called progressive metal soon after and began finding other bands who were laying the foundation for this new genre.

While I realize any "Greatest of all-time" list is subjective, the albums below are what influenced me
the most as a listener. Full Disclosure: I've been known to like albums others don't...and that's okay. This list is simply here so that you understand where my tastes are. The following are in no particular order

Dream Theater - Images and Words (1992)

What can you say? This is where it all started for me. The crunchy power chords of "Pull Me Under" and "Take the Time" are contrasted beautifully by "Wait for Sleep" and the closer, "Learning to Live." Another fan favorite, "Metropolis Pt. 1" is still in their
playlist to this day, and inspired their first concept album "Metropolis Pt. 2" in 2000.




Savatage - Dead Winter Dead (1995)

This was their 2nd concept album, this one set in Bosnia, which was raging with war at the time. The story is stellar, if you'd like to read more on it, Wikipedia page.  As the story develops, the music is stellar, full of simple, yet fulfilling prog elements. This CD would spawn the hit "Christmas in Sarajevo", which would be the foundation of Trans-Siberian Orchestra.




Threshold - Legends of the Shires (2017)

Unti this album was released, I probably would have had Dead Reckoning here. Yes, I could have gone with Subsurface, Critical Mass or Psychedelicassen, but this is the culmination of their creative prog genius. With Glynn Morgan returning on vocals, and the fully mature band, this CD combines the sound we've all come to love from them, but with a perfect balance of crunchy riffs, elegant keyboards, excellent song writing and Glynn's impeccable vocal range. This was my 2017 album of the year.




Redemption - Snowfall on Judgement Day (2010)

My co-host on According to Metal, turned me on to this when it came out, and I am very glad he did! I've never been a fan of Ray
Alder's  vocals, hence why you won't see Fates Warning on my list. Having said that, Ray kills it on this CD and the song writing is superb. "Peel", "Walls", "Black and White World" and the heart-wrenching "What Will You Say" just deliver thought provoking metal.

Vanden Plas - The God Thing (1997)

When this CD came out, I was immediately captured by the opening tracks "Fire Blossom" and "Rainmaker" and the incredible "Crown of Thorns" a few tracks later. I still enjoy their newer works, but this had the art of simplicity and wasn't overly busy like some of their newer stuff. If you are a newer fan of the band, don't make the mistake of not checking this out.


SEE MORE:

BIV'S PROG-METAL JOURNEY PT. 2

BIV'S PROG-METAL JOURNEY PT.3


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