The difference, by ear
Progressive metal is darker, less melodic and less interested in a chorus. This keeps power metal's tunefulness and adds prog's structures.
Both are sung cleanly, but progressive metal is a little slower: 90 to 180 bpm against 140 to 190. To hear the difference, play Symphony X next to Dream Theater. They share a root in heavy metal, and progressive metal came first, by six years. United States appears in the origins of both.
In figures
Progressive power metal
Where it sits
Heavy metal › Power metal › Progressive power metal
In short
Power metal choruses laid over prog structures and meters.
How it sounds
- Long structures and odd meters, with the memorable chorus left intact.
- Keyboards in a lead role, on equal footing with the guitar.
- Technical vocals with wide range and complex phrasing.
Key acts
- Symphony X
- Kamelot
- Angra
Start here
The pickSymphony X - The Divine Wings of Tragedy. The title track runs twenty minutes.
Full page →Progressive metal
Where it sits
Heavy metal › Progressive metal
In short
Prog rock ambition with metal weight: odd meters, concept albums and instrumental virtuosity.
How it sounds
- Odd meters and frequent metric shifts, with pieces running eight to twenty minutes.
- Keyboards in a lead role, equal to the guitar, and highly technical bass.
- Concept albums with recurring themes and narrative structures.
Key acts
- Dream Theater
- Queensrÿche
- Opeth
- Tool
Start here
The pickOpeth - Blackwater Park. Growls and acoustic guitar in one song, and nothing forced about it.
Full page →