I think the problem is that at a certain point the label prog became profitable in its own way which as always leads to over-saturation of a genre (or idea in this case).

Nice input Pleb.

The term "progressive" in music these days seems to relate more to a specific sound than it does to it's original meaning.

It even has a specific definition on wiki about what instruments are used and in what way. I think that shows how far the mindset has drifted over the years.

Album Rating: 3.0

Nice input Pleb.

Album Rating: 3.0

Unfortunately that's the case. Prog has come to be just lengthy polyrythmic tracks with endless soloing,

rather than out of the box thinking. Another unfortunate event is that, modern prog metal bands think that

out of the box refers to just extreme playing, chaotic and out of the blue, which differs from the melodic

outputs of bands of the past. Breaking boundaries is the point, but if comes with breaking music, then the

whole substance is missing.

Album Rating: 3.5

Lol nice input pleb[2]



I do agree that some bands shouldn't be labeled as progressive nowadays. I can even name some bands that I love, but them not being "truly progressive" shouldn't automatically make it bad. Some bands aren't trying to be anything and they just wanna play. Like PT for example. Wilson himself said he doesn't want to be labeled as progressive because, well, the truth is some of PTs songs just aren't progressive.

Album Rating: 4.0

"they just aren't progressive in nature or innovative like the classic prog bands were"



I'm not sure what you expect them to do from now on. Sure, I guess prog bands could be a little more innovative, but the genre was still finding itself back then. i don't think there's as much room for innovation as before whilst still being "prog rock"

No Mongi, it doesn't automatically make them bad, it just means that they don't embody the spirit of prog which I believe is the statement of mine that you were querying ;)

I don't except them to do anything, I'm just saying progressive rock isn't really a thing anymore (at least not in the same exciting sense that it used to be), it was more of a movement that started in the late 60's and then gradually faded as the 70's came to an end.

Woah JamieTwort I thought you'd be all over this album, dat 1.5

You thought I'd be all over this album!? You obviously don't know me very well at all ;)

Album Rating: 4.0

Yeah, I agree with that.



But does it need to "progress" in order to be prog rock?

But why a 1.5?

Album Rating: 3.0

He just doesn't like it... There doesn't really need to be a whole justification.

Album Rating: 4.0

If anything, experimental rock/metal/whatever is what's actually "progressive" now

@Choccy: If you take it for what it was originally then yes it needs to show some kind of progression, otherwise it's the most pointless genre term ever.

Prog has become a term used more to describe a sound now though so I guess it doesn't need to progress to fit the current definition of the genre.

Like I said earlier, it's got to the point that if I want progression or creativity in modern music, prog is one of the last places I would look.

Album Rating: 4.0

"if I want progression or creativity in modern music, prog is one of the last places I would look."



Sadly true for prog rock at least. Prog metal is doing pretty well right now though

As for the 1.5, I just find everything about this album irritating, especially Wilson's songwriting, lyrics and vocal delivery all of which annoy me at the best times let alone when they're at their very worst as they are here.

I tend to view prog metal as a different genre altogether. It's more of a hybrid of two musical styles. As a genre it definitely hasn't suffered as much over time as prog rock (or simply prog).

It helps that it was already somewhat detached from what the original prog movement was about back when it first emerged.

Album Rating: 4.0

Yah, I completely agree with you now. I think the next stage will be something really awkward like indie prog rock or something like that