Progressive Metal 1990-1995

[DaN]

you mean demo '90? If I remember correctly apart from vox there wasn't much difference between demo '91 and Jar Of Kingdom ...

Nope, '91, i.e. this one: http://www.metal-archives.com/release.php?id=12209
True, the music didn't differ that much, but I was soooo disappointed with the way he changed his vocals. It didn't fit the music at all and at the time it felt a bit like a conformist move towards the Death Metal market. Mucho unworthy of such a talented act.

The 1990 demo is great too, but unfortunately a bit underproduced.

[Noisenik]

I've said it before but I'll say it again: RED HARVEST - "Nomindsland"! Absolutely possitively nothing in common with their later industriüll-drivel, just all-out brilliant progressive Metal w/ fantastic SONGWRITING.

DaN, how often do you see that one offered at fairs in your area? and at what price?

[DaN]

I've said it before but I'll say it again: RED HARVEST - "Nomindsland"! Absolutely possitively nothing in common with their later industriüll-drivel, just all-out brilliant progressive Metal w/ fantastic SONGWRITING.

DaN, how often do you see that one offered at fairs in your area? and at what price?

I picked up the vinyl a few years ago for maybe 10 euros. I doubt it's an "official rarity" but I can't remember seeing it since then. Since I'm not much of a Ravager Of CD-Bins I can't tell weather the CD version is rare or not. Maybe Knut or leifkr knows more?

[Helm]

I'm glad to hear that about the Alchemist demo because I have a few records of their and I found that there's so much great stuff in terms of ideas in there but the overdigitalized production hurts the material. They list 'hard drive controller' band member if memory serves, heh. So I wondered if the demos were any different. I've found the demo in question and will give it a few thorough listens soon enough.

Kingsbane: for me this isn't very good but it's not very bad either. Might go either way. Jester's March are very worthwhile. Something to be said about House of Spirits too.

Auditory Illusion: DT pseudoprogressive metal I say, sss fie!

Digital Ruin's Listen suffers from a very very annoying DT-clone singer. Good god, what was it with Labrie that made so many people wimp out in similar ways? The sound indeed is really pants and what Psychotic Waltz influence is there is from the latter stuff (Bleeding and Mosquito) and as such of not much interest to me. On the recycle bin pile soon enough I fear. The singer makes it really impossible to listen to this for me.

[BlackStele]

Ok, I don't know, if I'll move a little further, maybe I won't be off topic...what the Hell, let's try it: For example, we can refer to some names such as Syris, Throes Of Sanity, Lethal, Omega Point, Zaxas, Dead Calm, Awake, Chozzen Phate, Oracle, Latent Fury, Mystic Force, Mercury Rising, Scarlatina, Osiris, Letter X, Recon, Secrecy, Spastic Ink, Talisphere, Symphony X, Osiris, etc..All these bands are most into, what we call Power-Prog, but technical, healthy Metal without redundant exaggerations, that may tire some listeners out...

[Helm]

Yeah that sort of power-progressive also fits this category and it's for the most part quite honest I've found (as long as it doesn't go the DT-we-can-too-make-it-big way). I love Syris, Oracle (Knights of the Round Table is a 10/10 track for me). Lethal, Omega Point etc are a bit too Queensryche-copies (mainly the vocals) which is neither here nor there (depends on tolerance for Queensryche-copies!) but I wouldn't say they're progressive inherently. Secrecy are amazing and stand a bit above most stuff mention in this thread heh and I recognize/have briefly heard of some of the other bands you mention, but others not. I shall investigate! Thank you very much for the informative post

[ION BRITTON]

Helm, do you have an old Metal Hammer which featured a Prog Metal article? It mentioned, if not all, 90% of the bands that are mentioned in this thread. Quite informative i must admit, one of the very last times that i virtually learned something from this ex-Metal magazine.

[BlackStele]

...LOL, Ion, all my old MH issues are in my attic now, just because of lack of space here...I don't fuckin remember this, what was its number, do u remember?

[Helm]

Zaxaropoulos probably. I had read that article but I was at the time friends with Jason who has sadly now passed away who got me into HM in the first place and who basically knew everything there is to know about the -then new- progressive metal scene so I didn't really need it.

[ION BRITTON]

I'm searching out my MH issues right now, i'll be back with issue #

Edit:

HOLY FUCK! Issue No166 10/1998, it's older than i thought! God, i'm getting older... Black Sabbath on the front cover, the article was called "ΤΟ ΑΠΟΛΥΤΟ PROGRESSIVE ΑΦΙΕΡΩΜΑ" by B.Zaxaropoulos.

All the big ones are reviewed and there is a very brief mention to tons of others. There's even an "indicative discography" column the reading of which will cause various responses.

Helm, i think you need this article.

[Helm]

I do have it but I do not archive magazines so it's a chore to search all my book and stuff (I live a bit like mad wizard) for it. No scanner in your house? I remember he pisses on Civil Defiance and I really really like them heh

Yeah we're getting older. I was only into HM for 2 years or so then.

[ION BRITTON]

I have a scanner at work, but i don't promise anything, i will try though.

No, he's not harsh with Civil Defiance. There are other drawbacks which will make you madder as for example the fact that the recommended album from Depressive Age is Electric Scum (say something now if you dare )

[BlackStele]

..omg, I feel like a granny! I still don't remember this though, and I WON'T go to my attic now...not with this heat!! Any scanning would be useful btw Ion..

[Helm]

Electric Scum is easily the second best album by Depressive Age after First Depression. His Civil Defiance bit was something like 'they try to be smart and thrash and pop at the same time and it doesn't work' right? WHY DO I REMEMBER THESE THINGS?

They *do* try to be smart and thrash and pop at the same time, but it does work.

Thank you in advance if you manage to scan Zaxaropoulos has a few... interesting opinions here and there and there is something to be said about his completist packrat mindset, but at the same time, it's useful to have such people around to write lists. The difficult job is listening to all the mentioned names that a packrat comes up with and finding the 1% that actually emotionally resonates.

[ION BRITTON]

Here's what he wrote:

"Οι Civil Defiance με το " The Fishers..." ανακατεύουν μια σωρεία στυλ, οδηγώντας το δικό τους στυλ στα απόλυτα ακρά και την πειραματικότητα στην απόλυτη τιμή της"

As for the other thing you said...i lost my interest in prog metal years ago. I was an avid fan in the beginning, you know the time when i was still discovering bands like Sieges Even, Psychotic Waltz and also Mayfair, Jester's MArch, Xerxes, Mind over four, Secrecy, early Eldritch and the likes, but then, as i was digging deeper, i realised a significant decline in quality and originality. I understand that you don't meet Mayfair everyday in the underground circles, but the things i was listening to were not even half as good. Too many Dream Theater wannabies, bad copies of Fates Warning, dozens of outrageously uninspired bands. I have hardly found 7-8 undiscovered (by me) and really worthwhile bands since then, the bands that you describe as being able to resonate emotionally. I still listen to the first bands i heard and stuff like "Behind" or "Into the everflow" will never fade for me, but as i said, i don't have the courage to search more in that genre. Recommendations from people whose taste is close to mine are always welcome of course.