[Kernmac]

I'm always looking at expanding my music collection in different directions.
Some of the big clear production sound and melodic tunes of both Dream Theatre and Opeth have taken my attention. I'm not into the death metal throat growls, I am more looking for the meloncholy, acoustic type sound. So is Damnation my best bet from Opeth? And would Dream Theater's Greatest Hit and 21 other pretty cool songs be the best introduction to their sound? Or are there other suggestions along similar lines?

 

[moogoob]

Are you looking for more laid-back or aggressive music? If aggressive I suggest Symphony X. Their stuff is very much mythology-based progressive/neoclassical metal.

 

[scytheavatar]

Firstly, Opeth and Dream Theater has little in common. If you are looking for "meloncholy, acoustic type sound", something Opeth-like but with less death growls you can try:

Porcupine Tree - any album (I recommend starting with Stupid Dream)
Riverside - any album (start with Second Life Syndrome)
Agalloch - any album (start with The Mantle)
Green Carnation - Acoustic Verse and Light of day, Day of Darkness
Novembre - Dreams d'azur, Novembrine Waltz and Classica

If you are looking for awesome progressive metal I recommend:

Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime
Disillusion - Back to Times of Splendor
Crimson Glory - Transcendence
Pain of Salvation - The Perfect Element I
Evergrey - In Search of Truth
Psychotic Waltz - A Social Grace
Orphaned Land - Mabool: The Story of the Three Sons of Seven

Plus I second moogoob, Symphony X to me is the flat out best metal band ever, or possibly even the best thing mankind has ever created

. I think that as far as "big clear production sound and melodic tunes" goes you are better off checking their stuff first than with Opeth or Dream Theater. Start with Divine Wings of Tragedy.

And although you say that you are not into the death metal throat growls, please keep listening to these albums until you learn to appreciate harsh vocals:

Edge of Sanity - Crimson
Maudlin of the Well - Any album
Subterranean Masquerade - Suspended Animation Dreams
Solefald - In Harmonia Universali

Questions?

Edit: and about Opeth, I recommend you to start off with Blackwater Park. For Dream Theater you can start off with Images and Words. But be warned that their stuff gets progressively worse as you move down their discography chronologically.

 

[Bullseye]

Have you heard Liquid Tension Experiment (side work of DT)?
I don't know too much about this genre but you might like Cynic.

 

[YtseJamer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kernmac /img/forum/go_quote.gif I am more looking for the meloncholy, acoustic type sound.

Here are some suggestions :

1- Anathema - Hindsight
2- Agalloch - The White EP
3- Borknagar - Origin
4- Riverside - Voices In My Head EP
5- Porcupine Tree - All their albums

 

[Oggranak]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kernmac /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm always looking at expanding my music collection in different directions. Some of the big clear production sound and melodic tunes of both Dream Theatre and Opeth have taken my attention. I'm not into the death metal throat growls, I am more looking for the meloncholy, acoustic type sound. So is Damnation my best bet from Opeth? And would Dream Theater's Greatest Hit and 21 other pretty cool songs be the best introduction to their sound? Or are there other suggestions along similar lines?

If you're looking at expanding towards some prog metal, I feel I have to recommend the album A Murder of Crows by Dead Soul Tribe. They have a pretty acoustic sound for a metal band.

 

[Kernmac]

Thanks for all for your thoughts. I will explore all your suggestions via Amazon or other sites where I can hear snipets of each track on each album. I will then go into a store and listen more to those that stand out. Cheers.

 

[PWilson]

Quote:

Originally Posted by scytheavatar /img/forum/go_quote.gif Firstly, Opeth and Dream Theater has little in common.

As a fan of both, I don't quite agree. While of course they ultimately sound very different, they share common elements of plenty of time changes and slower melodic parts intertwined with faster heavier parts. For people who like a range of metal (ie. handle the growls), it's not surprising when they like both or neither, rather than just one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by scytheavatar /img/forum/go_quote.gif If you are looking for awesome progressive metal I recommend: Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime Disillusion - Back to Times of Splendor Crimson Glory - Transcendence Pain of Salvation - The Perfect Element I Evergrey - In Search of Truth Psychotic Waltz - A Social Grace Orphaned Land - Mabool: The Story of the Three Sons of Seven

I'd add Fates Warning to that list. I only have a best of, but from the songs, I'd say Parallels would be more accessible, but something like The Spectre Within would be better.

And +1 for Queensrÿche

 

[RationalGaze]

I would second the Liquid Tension Experiment albums.
Better produced than the Dream Theater albums IMHO

 

[katanka]

Also look at Isis, i think you will enjoy them, try oceanic at first.

 

[Dusty Chalk]

I don't really hear these as similar at all. Seems like two different requests.

 

[xaval]

Also Tool, Pendragon or Transatlantic anyone?

And yeah, Porcupine Tree all the way. As a serious fan of Stevens work I have all the PT, Blackfield and Bass Communion discography (and many other SW projects) and cannot really recommend a single album from where to start given that PT is one of those rare few bands who really evolved in the material they present. Early records dwelve around the experimental and psychedelic side of things. As the work grows, you'll get into the rock-heavy stuff... and the you hit We Lost the Sky Line... however, like, for example, the Rolling Stones although they belong to different eras, it's really hard to hit on exactly what kind of music they make because of such versatility it's put on.

Lot's of great recommendations on this thread! LTE is the best side of DT because of the vocals

 

[Kernmac]

Once again thanks to all for your suggestions. I have listened to some great music on my journey to delve into a genre/genres where I haven't been before. Some feedback on where I am at.
1. I think I am looking more for progressive rock than prog metal.
2. I definately can't get into the cookie monster vocals (hey- each to their own)
3. I can see why Porcupine Tree is a favourite, but it doesn't quite do it for me. I like it, but it wouldn't get a lot of play time. (Maybe Deadwing)
4. I have gone off Dream Theatre and Opeth (maybe Damnation, but I cut Blackwater Park- Throat growls) as I have now heard stuff I like better, thanks to you Headfiers.
5. Liquid Tension Experiment seemed interesting, but I think an album full would see me getting bored with it.
6. So what has stood out for me to date? see below.

 

[plonter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kernmac /img/forum/go_quote.gif Once again thanks to all for your suggestions. I have listened to some great music on my journey to delve into a genre/genres where I haven't been before. Some feedback on where I am at. 1. I think I am looking more for progressive rock than prog metal. 2. I definately can't get into the cookie monster vocals (hey- each to their own) 3. I can see why Porcupine Tree is a favourite, but it doesn't quite do it for me. I like it, but it wouldn't get a lot of play time. (Maybe Deadwing) 4. I have gone off Dream Theatre and Opeth (maybe Damnation, but I cut Blackwater Park- Throat growls) as I have now heard stuff I like better, thanks to you Headfiers. 5. Liquid Tension Experiment seemed interesting, but I think an album full would see me getting bored with it. 6. So what has stood out for me to date? see below.

i got the riverside album..it's great but it's more like porcupine tree style with a little more metal but not pure metal...know what i mean..?. for progressive metal i would too recommend symphony x , their best albums and most melodic ones are:
1."v-the new mythology suit" , A M A Z I N G!!! the best metal album i have ever heard!

2. "the odyessy"
3. "paradise lost" - also melodic but with more aggression from the first two.

and don't need to mention dream theater.. my picks are (and ofcourse the most melodic ones): "images and words" and "awake"

tell me if you want some great death metal recommendations..i know a few great ones. again...melodic ofcourse.
I don't know a lot of "regular" progressive rock but rush is my favourite and purcupine tree is very nice (as you already know) .
you also have transatlantic,the flower kings. i got a fwe albums of their but i am not too impressive, i guess i prefer progressive metal.

again man..you MUST check symphony x and dreams' "images and words" album if you still on prog metal buisness.

 

[Patu]

Melancholy sounds would be Anathema and Katatonia. Check them both.

Also when talking about Dream Theater and Opeth I can't help thinking about Pain of Salvation. Check album Remedy Lane from them.