The Nordic Prog Rock Appreciation Thread

Jan 7, 2010 at 10:24 PM Post #31 of 194
Anglagard is one great example to how modern prog rock should sound like.

Spiral Architecth a Nowergian tech-metal band also worth mentioning here.Even though I am not a fan of this style, they are very original.How many rock bands out there that have songs with lyrics influenced from Ayn Rand?
 
Jan 7, 2010 at 10:29 PM Post #32 of 194
Who are the biggest bands based on sales, charts, tour audience numbers? I would guess it is Opeth and The Flower Kings.

Opeth have had an impact on the UK metal charts, but that is about it AFAIK.
 
Jan 7, 2010 at 10:36 PM Post #33 of 194
Quote:

Originally Posted by Prog Rock Man /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Who are the biggest bands based on sales, charts, tour audience numbers? I would guess it is Opeth and The Flower Kings.

Opeth have had an impact on the UK metal charts, but that is about it AFAIK.



There are some big bands not necessarily of progressive rock (which Opeth isn't)
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Other metal genres have a bit more success (like Nightwish, Children of Bodom, etc).

In progressive rock I think The Flower Kings are probably the biggest selling scandinavian band.

BTW: Spiral Architect is, indeed, a fantastic band (like Twisted Into Form) but it's metal and not rock.
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Jan 7, 2010 at 10:37 PM Post #34 of 194
Quote:

Originally Posted by Prog Rock Man /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Who are the biggest bands based on sales, charts, tour audience numbers? I would guess it is Opeth and The Flower Kings.

Opeth have had an impact on the UK metal charts, but that is about it AFAIK.



Opeth is #1 for sure.
 
Jan 7, 2010 at 11:34 PM Post #35 of 194
Quote:

Originally Posted by xtr3me /img/forum/go_quote.gif
There are some big bands not necessarily of progressive rock (which Opeth isn't)
wink.gif


Other metal genres have a bit more success (like Nightwish, Children of Bodom, etc).

In progressive rock I think The Flower Kings are probably the biggest selling scandinavian band.

BTW: Spiral Architect is, indeed, a fantastic band (like Twisted Into Form) but it's metal and not rock.
biggrin.gif



Totally agree.But since there are names like Opeth and Amorphis under this thread,I think there is no reason for them not to
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Jan 8, 2010 at 2:21 PM Post #36 of 194
I am going with Opeth as progressive. In the UK prog rock had become huge stadium bands playing music on an epci scale, such as Pink Floyd, Genesis and Yes. Early prog rock had also been very psychedellic and also crossover with folk, but that had died away into obscurity. When punk hit the charts in 1976 and really got going in 1977, prog became a dirty word in the music press. Only the very boggest, such as mentioned above survived. The chances of record companies financing new prog style bands was nil.

In the late 1970s early 1980s came the 'New Wave Of British Heavy Metal' with bands such as Rainbow, Whitesnake and Saxon. There were prog elements in the music; the solos, the fantasy lyrics and album covers. Marrillion became the first UK prog metal band that I am aware of. Other than that there was very little in the way of prog anything. Radiohead were the first band I know of who were mainstream, successful and acknowledged their prog influences with King Crimson. Initially Radioheads sound was indie rock. But as they became more successful and could indulge, their sound has become more prog rock.

Meanwhile prog in Scandinavian had continued throughout and certainly in the 1990s had become far stronger then hear in the UK. Prog metal, heavy rock had taken up the mantel that had been occupied by the stadium bands, some of which had gone almost pop, such as Genesis.

Now prog is a term that many bands, particularly in Europe are happy to have. There is still a bit of resistence here in the UK. Furthermore, as with so many genres (dance/house mucis) prog has split into many sub sections. Jazz, metal, symphonic, psychedellic, folk, heavy prog, crossover etc etc.

I am quite happy to use a very broad definition of style included in prog music. The overall definition is music that emphasises musicianship, exploring sounds, not sticking to ususal time scales and song structure (verse chorus verse) etc.
 
Jan 8, 2010 at 2:31 PM Post #37 of 194
Quote:

Originally Posted by Prog Rock Man /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I am going with Opeth as progressive. In the UK prog rock had become huge stadium bands playing music on an epci scale, such as Pink Floyd, Genesis and Yes. Early prog rock had also been very psychedellic and also crossover with folk, but that had died away into obscurity. When punk hit the charts in 1976 and really got going in 1977, prog became a dirty word in the music press. Only the very boggest, such as mentioned above survived. The chances of record companies financing new prog style bands was nil.

In the late 1970s early 1980s came the 'New Wave Of British Heavy Metal' with bands such as Rainbow, Whitesnake and Saxon. There were prog elements in the music; the solos, the fantasy lyrics and album covers. Marrillion became the first UK prog metal band that I am aware of. Other than that there was very little in the way of prog anything. Radiohead were the first band I know of who were mainstream, successful and acknowledged their prog influences with King Crimson. Initially Radioheads sound was indie rock. But as they became more successful and could indulge, their sound has become more prog rock.

Meanwhile prog in Scandinavian had continued throughout and certainly in the 1990s had become far stronger then hear in the UK. Prog metal, heavy rock had taken up the mantel that had been occupied by the stadium bands, some of which had gone almost pop, such as Genesis.

Now prog is a term that many bands, particularly in Europe are happy to have. There is still a bit of resistence here in the UK. Furthermore, as with so many genres (dance/house mucis) prog has split into many sub sections. Jazz, metal, symphonic, psychedellic, folk, heavy prog, crossover etc etc.

I am quite happy to use a very broad definition of style included in prog music. The overall definition is music that emphasises musicianship, exploring sounds, not sticking to ususal time scales and song structure (verse chorus verse) etc.



I have just noticed two curious things about your post:

- You mention NWOBHM and you mention lots of bands but probably not the biggest of all: Iron Maiden
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- You recognize marillion as prog metal band when I think it's, in fact, a (neo) prog rock band. Probably the most exciting, paired with Frost* (fantastic band to those of you who do not know them), of all the neo prog rock bands.

I'd point out one of the first UK prog metal bands as being Threshold. Not sure if it's the first though.
 
Jan 8, 2010 at 2:38 PM Post #38 of 194
I was never a fan of Iron Maiden, I just picked the first examples that came into my head. I will have a search for Threshold, who I had not heard of. Marillion were the one band with real exposure and chart success.

First time round I did not particularly like this album. Gave a second listen, wow.....

61OW7NpYl0L._SL500_AA280_.jpg
 
Jan 8, 2010 at 2:44 PM Post #39 of 194
Threshold and Marillion are nothing alike.

Can't see Marillion as metal band as it's really not that heavy. For me they're prog rock all the way.

Check out Frost* if you don't know them. Also a great prog (rock) band.

I'm not very fond of Threshold. Just pointed it out because the conversation was heading towards british prog metal bands.
 
Jan 8, 2010 at 4:59 PM Post #40 of 194
Quote:

Originally Posted by Prog Rock Man /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I am quite happy to use a very broad definition of style included in prog music. The overall definition is music that emphasises musicianship, exploring sounds, not sticking to ususal time scales and song structure (verse chorus verse) etc.


That was true for 60's, and 70's.Rock music open to experiments could be taken under the name "progressive".The doors were open for the term.
I dont think it is still the case.Progressive rock shaped itself along time.
Thus, calling Opeth progressive because it has 20 min songs or some unusual signatures in their music does not work anymore,IMHO.
 
Jan 10, 2010 at 7:36 PM Post #41 of 194
Jan 11, 2010 at 5:41 PM Post #42 of 194
Probably not prog, but close enough and a very interesting sound of goth rock metal is Virus.........

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Jan 12, 2010 at 1:19 PM Post #43 of 194
From Norway, Fig Leaf and the heavy prog album Fearless

519N1X4Ee7L._SL500_AA240_.jpg
 
Jan 16, 2010 at 7:40 PM Post #44 of 194
Isildurs Bane, from Sweden. Eclectic compositions and a huge mix of styles and instruments make this a very interesting and satisfying listen...

cover_2537171552009.jpg
 
Jan 16, 2010 at 8:49 PM Post #45 of 194
Have you heard Black Bonzo from Sweden ? I have their second album " Sound of the apocalypse" on vinyl, and it's some outstanding oldschool prog rock...you can hear influenced of many 70's bands, especially Kansas.

BLACK BONZO music, discography, MP3, videos and reviews
 

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