Progressive Metal 1990-1995

Helm · Post by **Helm** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 5:48 pm

I'll do the dirty work, don't worry. I did it for technothrash (let me tell you, that was a headache and a half) and I'll do it for early progressive metal. If there's 2 or 3 hidden gems in the field it'll be worth it. I am looking for the ESSENTIAL, the records I'll take to my grave, not just variations of the form.

There must have been another big article in which Civil Defiance have been briefly mentioned in Metal Hammer GR then because I distinctively remember the Zaxaropoulos beatdown (for whichever reason, heh)

Yeah I understand how people into US Power and generally power metal in the early 90ies would at the time be really excited about where progressive metal were going because there appear to have been many excellent releases that pushed the envelope for sure. But for every Mind Over Four, Last Crack or Mayfair there turned out to be 50 DT clones or Parallels-era Fates clones (jeez if you're going to copy Fates at least go with something more difficult!).

That said, Mind Over Four! I need to listen to more than I have!

Post by **DaN** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 6:49 pm

What Ion said.

..And now for something completely different: PAN-THY-MONIUM anyone? I know, I know, the vocals were 10 times more annoying than ALCHEMIST's ever where, but hearing the debut CD for the first time way back when really blew my mind. Not sure if they've aged that well but at the time they sounded like the most experimental, "out-there" band in Metal history. Well, at least compared to the all the other up'n'coming DM acts of the day. I hold their swansong "Khaooohs & Kon-Fus-Ion" from '96 as their best effort.

ChildOfTheDamned · Post by **ChildOfTheDamned** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 7:46 pm

Check out Psycho Symphony,they're Romanian and I'm sure you can spot their Psychotic Waltz influences. I love 'em!

The Sentinel · Post by **The Sentinel** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 8:04 pm

ChildOfTheDamned wrote:I'm listening to Vauxdvihl now but I guess you already know them. I'll come back with some suggestions later on...

I still need to hear that one. I remember it being officially reissued. Is that true?

Noisenik · Post by **Noisenik** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 8:17 am

DaN wrote:What Ion said.

..And now for something completely different: PAN-THY-MONIUM anyone? I know, I know, the vocals were 10 times more annoying than ALCHEMIST's ever where, but hearing the debut CD for the first time way back when really blew my mind. Not sure if they've aged that well but at the time they sounded like the most experimental, "out-there" band in Metal history. Well, at least compared to the all the other up'n'coming DM acts of the day. I hold their swansong "Khaooohs & Kon-Fus-Ion" from '96 as their best effort.

Wow! You really knocked your socks off in the meantime. Dawn Of Dreams rules for sure as do Khaaaoooossss, hehehe!

ChildOfTheDamned · Post by **ChildOfTheDamned** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 8:29 am

No Vauxdvihl stuff was reissued,but TDL also exists in digipack form,maybe that's what you mean. Anyway,they had a MySpace page with a new song about a year ago,a very good one,no electronic shit in it and just hearing the voice of the singer made me shiver. Too bad I didn't know how to save MySpace songs (that had the "download" option disabled) back then!

And yes,that Zaxaropoulos article namechecks them all,I had that as a guide for what bands I should try and check out.

I got no comments on my suggestion for Psycho Symphony...Anyway,check out Mas Optica and Absence Of Malice as well...

msp · Post by **msp** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:03 pm

DaN wrote:What Ion said.

..And now for something completely different: PAN-THY-MONIUM anyone? I know, I know, the vocals were 10 times more annoying than ALCHEMIST's ever where, but hearing the debut CD for the first time way back when really blew my mind. Not sure if they've aged that well but at the time they sounded like the most experimental, "out-there" band in Metal history. Well, at least compared to the all the other up'n'coming DM acts of the day. I hold their swansong "Khaooohs & Kon-Fus-Ion" from '96 as their best effort.

Great band. I can't really think of many others quite like them.

I have the Dawn Demo '90 and Dream II 7" from 91 at home (tape trading days) - might have to dig those out again...

Noisenik · Post by **Noisenik** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 1:07 pm

I haven't detected the following bands so far: Enchant, Wicked Maraya and Damn The Machine. All progM, but not sure of what degree of quality.

Helm · Post by **Helm** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 1:41 pm

oh let's not forget the singular experience that is THOUGHT INDUSTRY

ChildOfTheDamned, Psycho Symphony are very interesting. I've had that record for 6months+ and I have had much difficulty digesting the songs. I can't even mention a single riff from anything than the first track right now heh. They're good, for sure, just really really dense so it'll take so much time to get into them proper. But they're a good suggestion for sure.

I am glad to hear Vauxdvihl got over their modern metal hump. I don't know Mas Optica nor Absence of Malice (totally unmetal name, hehe) so I guess I'll check them out.

Pan-thy-monium had a bit of bad sound, also I must say I find Dan Swano's projects usually to be quite uninteresting.

Enchant : were they the Marillion-influence DT clone?
Wicked Marya : nnnnnot for me. Balls-less.
Damn the Machine I've only heard by name.

ION BRITTON · Post by **ION BRITTON** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 1:47 pm

Helm wrote: Damn the Machine I've only heard by name.

I really liked that one. I don't know what impact it would make today, but i enjoyed quite lot back then.

ChildOfTheDamned · Post by **ChildOfTheDamned** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 4:19 pm

Aaaargh! This topic is expanded quite a lot! I thought you only wanted weird psycho prog metal stuff,hehe!

Well Enchant are great,but not metal,mostly rock. They're not a DT clone for sure,find out which are their last 3 albums and get the ones before them,haha!
(check out Thought Chamber,their album came out 2 years ago,it has Michael Harris on guitar and Enchant's singer on vocals,top prog metal!!!)

Wicked Maraya are demi-GODS! The first Maraya rules as well,the second is a fuckin abortion!

Damn The Machine's CD is one of my all-time fave prog metal records,it's unbelievable man! Check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9R2VQUOa6U

Noisenik · Post by **Noisenik** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 5:04 pm

ChildOfTheDamned wrote:Aaaargh! This topic is expanded quite a lot! I thought you only wanted weird psycho prog metal stuff,hehe!

Well Enchant are great,but not metal,mostly rock. They're not a DT clone for sure,find out which are their last 3 albums and get the ones before them,haha!
(check out Thought Chamber,their album came out 2 years ago,it has Michael Harris on guitar and Enchant's singer on vocals,top prog metal!!!)

Wicked Maraya are demi-GODS! The first Maraya rules as well,the second is a fuckin abortion!

Damn The Machine's CD is one of my all-time fave prog metal records,it's unbelievable man! Check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9R2VQUOa6U

as COTD said. + Enchant's Blueprint Of the World was quite appreciated in Metal circles when it came out 13 years ago. And WM were one of the few who were influenced by Crimson Glory.

ChildOfTheDamned · Post by **ChildOfTheDamned** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 6:12 pm

Speaking of "progressive metal" I think that the term started when "Images And Words" came out,what do you guys think? I have lots of magazines pre-'92 both in english and in greek and I haven't seen the term mentioned for any record that we NOWADAYS call prog metal.

Noisenik · Post by **Noisenik** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 6:24 pm

ChildOfTheDamned wrote:Speaking of "progressive metal" I think that the term started when "Images And Words" came out,what do you guys think? I have lots of magazines pre-'92 both in english and in greek and I haven't seen the term mentioned for any record that we NOWADAYS call prog metal.

That's because the word "progressive" wasn't sth Metalhead should utter back then, ever since Ozzy openly expressed his loathing towards Progrock bands of the 70's after visiting ELP concert. Thus Watchtower and VoiVod said they play "technical" or technically more refined Metal, although it is clearly progressive in many aspects. True, the word "progressive" starts to flourish after IAW, but I think there was usage of it in Metal reviews prior this, but really, really seldom.

ION BRITTON · Post by **ION BRITTON** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 6:56 pm

To find out when the term was first used is a significantly easier task than to define what exactly is progressive metal and which bands should be considered progressive metal.

Anyway, i think the term was widely spread with the release of IAW, but i can't be 100% sure that noone ever used it before '92. Besides, there were bands that played prog metal before '92, DT did not start alone the whole prog metal phase.