Progressive metal

Progressive Metal, or Prog Metal, a subgenre of progressive rock, is a form of progressive music with heavy metal influences. Progressive Metal came about in the late 80s-90s, with the birth of bands such as Dream Theater, Opeth, and Symphony X. All of these bands differ greatly from each other, as they each have individual metal influences ranging from thrash metal to death metal. 
== History ==
=== Influences ===
Many of Rush's albums, though not truly progressive metal, had a large influence on late progressive metal bands, such as Dream Theater. Specifically 2112 (1976) and Caress of Steel (1975) were the heaviest of Rush's discography. 
Other albums, such as U.K.'s self-titled debut album, U.K. (1978), were also inspirations on later progressive metal. 
=== Early Development ===
Progressive Metal began in the early 80s when NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) bands, such as Iron Maiden, Queensryche, and Legend, brought some progressive influences into their music. Specifically Iron Maiden's Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (1988) and Queensryche's Operation: Mindcrime (1988) were heavily influenced by progressive rock.
When Dream Theater, perhaps the most famous progressive metal band, formed around 1986, the subgenre was still in its early stages of development. Listed among Dream Theater's influences were bands such as Yes, Genesis, Rush, and Queensryche, some of which are progressive rock, and some of which are closer to the metal side of the spectrum. Their debut album, When Dream and Day Unite (1989), though primitive compared to albums to come, was a success, not in a commercial sense, but in that no bands before really blended metal and progressive rock in the way that Dream Theater did.
=== Main Era ===
The 1990s brought about the bulk of the genres content. Dream Theater released a second album, Images and Words (1991), which is considered by many to be the greatest progressive metal work out there.
Bands such as Opeth and Symphony X released notable albums as well, branching out progressive metal to places never explored.
=== Later Years ===
The 2000s brought about bands such as Mastodon, as well as more releases from Dream Theater, Opeth, and Symphony X
----A large portion of the information in this article was taken from this article:
https://metalstorm.net/pub/article.php?article_id=1259#:~:text=In%201985%20Watchtower%20(formed%201982,with%20its%20many%20time%20changes.
Category:Subgenres