Melancholic prog
Not sure if a list like this has already been done. My autumnal gloomfest continues with this venture into the most depressive music that progressive rock and metal has to offer. Let me know of any artists/bands I've missed out |
| 1 |  | Porcupine Tree
In Absentia
An obvious but essential choice. Steven Wilson really can craft some bleak prog and, on the 2000s output for Porcupine Tree at least, pair it with some prog metal fury. |
| 2 |  | Opeth
Damnation
Another obvious choice. All of Opeth's output is fairly sorrowful but this album really turned that up to 11. The quietness and emptiness of this album really helps to reflect that mood. |
| 3 |  | Riverside
Love, Fear and the Time Machine
I found this album to be a fair bit bleaker than the rest of the Riverside discography but again they're not what I'd call a happy band. |
| 4 |  | Lunatic Soul
Lunatic Soul
Seems fitting to include Mariusz's solo project on this list as well. Some great instrumentation on this one. |
| 5 |  | Steven Wilson
Hand. Cannot. Erase.
Steven Wilson has seemingly moved towards a poppier sound with his solo material, but this album was so quintessentially representative of what he does best. Routine still brings me to tears. |
| 6 |  | Pink Floyd
Wish You Were Here
Perhaps the grandaddy of depressing prog? Written largely as a tribute to Syd Barrett, who had all but disappeared from the limelight due to some pretty awful mental health conditions. |
| 7 |  | Novembre
Materia
Phenomenal Italian doom metal band that really let their progressive side shine through on this album. Poetic lyrics in English and Italian and fantastic musicianship |
| 8 |  | Nosound
Afterthoughts
Another Italian band, this one being a real underrated gem in my books. Some of the most depressing music I've ever heard |
| 9 |  | Anathema
Weather Systems
Again another band that has a fairly bleak discography, although there's a certain glimmer of hope on this one at times that gives it a slight bittersweet feeling. It'll still bring you to tears though. |
| 10 |  | Antimatter
Leaving Eden
Sometimes dubbed the most depressing band in the world. I'm not as familiar with this band as I am with the other ones on this list, but what I've heard I do like, and it definitely isn't happy. |
| 11 |  | ShamRain
Goodbye to All That
Another band I'm not that familiar with and need to do a proper deep-dive into soon, but I know these guys are grouped into this style. |
| 12 |  | Katatonia
Dead End Kings
The Swedish kings of gloom. Originally doom metal but their later output is way proggier, with this album being a personal favourite of mine. |
| 13 |  | Klimt 1918
Undressed Momento
Another underrated gem, once again from Italy. Somewhere in between old-school Anathema and Novembre sound wise, with a slight shoegaze influence that was more noticeable on their later stuff. |
|
