Top 25 Progressive Metal Albums

Top 25 Progressive Metal Albums

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A list by
nonZero
Created
September 11, 2024
Entries
25
Endorsements
2
I've always enjoyed metal that combined progressive metal with other genres such as Opeth, Edge of Sanity and Death's later work. But outside of Dream Theater, I hadn't deep-dived into "pure" prog until around 2017. Since then, I've discovered tons of fantastic prog bands through MS including Leprous, Queensrÿche and Riverside.

So here are my favourites of the genre with my rating, its sub-genre and release year:

(Score is an average of each album's song ratings, full list located here)

If you discovered any new albums or like the same sort of progressive metal, be sure to give this list a thumbs-up and leave a comment so more people can find these amazing bands!

My other lists:
Top 500 Albums (ordered & rated)
Top 25 EPs (also ordered & rated)
Top 200 Overlooked Albums (with genres)
Top 200 Overrated Albums (trigger warning)
So I Heard You Like Wintersun... (Time II find new bands)
25.
1.
Leprous - Tall Poppy Syndrome
9.44/10 · Progressive Metal · 2009
25.
2.
Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime
9.25/10 · Progressive Metal · 1988
25.
3.
Riverside - Anno Domini High Definition
9.10/10 · Progressive Metal · 2009
25.
4.
John Petrucci - Suspended Animation
9.00/10 · Instrumental Progressive Metal · 2005
25.
5.
Riverside - Second Life Syndrome
9.00/10 · Progressive Metal · 2005
25.
6.
Leprous - Bilateral
8.95/10 · Progressive Metal · 2011
25.
7.
Ostura - The Room
8.95/10 · Symphonic Progressive Metal · 2018
25.
8.
Eumeria - Rebel Mind
8.94/10 · Progressive Metal · 2011
25.
9.
Dream Theater - Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory
8.90/10 · Progressive Metal · 1999
25.
10.
Jun Mitsui - Evacuation
8.90/10 · Instrumental Progressive Metal · 2019
25.
11.
Jason Becker - Perpetual Burn
8.88/10 · Instrumental Progressive Metal · 1988
25.
12.
Cryptomnesia - Primordial Oddity
8.88/10 · Instrumental Progressive Metal · 2010
25.
13.
Mastodon - Crack The Skye
8.86/10 · Progressive Sludge Metal · 2009
25.
14.
Conquering Dystopia - Conquering Dystopia
8.80/10 · Instrumental Progressive Metal · 2014
25.
15.
StarSystems - StarSystems III
8.80/10 · Instrumental Progressive Metal · 2016
25.
16.
Koyaanisqatsy - From The Yearning To Burst The Perpetual Circle
8.70/10 · Symphonic Progressive Metal · 2000
25.
17.
Dream Theater - Black Clouds & Silver Linings
8.67/10 · Progressive Metal · 2009
25.
18.
Tool - Lateralus
8.65/10 · Progressive Metal · 2001
25.
19.
Pain Of Salvation - Remedy Lane
8.64/10 · Progressive Metal · 2002
25.
20.
Element (USA) - The Energy
8.64/10 · Instrumental Progressive Metal · 2010
25.
21.
Voivod - Dimension Hatröss
8.63/10 · Progressive Metal · 1988
25.
22.
Soen - Lotus
8.61/10 · Progressive Metal · 2019
25.
23.
Ayreon - Into The Electric Castle
8.60/10 · Progressive Metal · 1998
25.
24.
Merrow - Retrospecial
8.56/10 · Instrumental Progressive Metal · 2012
25.
25.
Tool - 10,000 Days
8.56/10 · Progressive Metal · 2006
Disclaimer: All top lists are unofficial and do not represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
[ More lists by nonZero ]

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Comments: 4 Visited by 23 users

Posts: 1376


Permalink
11.09.2024 - 12:14

Posts: 1376


Are there any must-listens I'm missing here?

I've listened to Images and Words by Dream Theater, Fear of a Blank Planet by Porcupine Tree and The Human Equation by Ayreon - all fantastic albums but I didn't enjoy them quite enough to make this list.

I’ve not included bands that cross over genres here (e.g. Progressive Death Metal).
----
Top 500 Albums (ordered & rated)
Top 200 Overlooked Albums (with genres)
So I Heard You Like Wintersun... (Time II find new bands)
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Posts: 5630


Permalink
11.09.2024 - 12:30

Posts: 5630


Written by nonZero on 11.09.2024 at 12:14

Are there any must-listens I'm missing here?

I've listened to Images and Words by Dream Theater, Fear of a Blank Planet by Porcupine Tree and The Human Equation by Ayreon - all fantastic albums but I didn't enjoy them quite enough to make this list.

I’ve not included bands that cross over genres here (e.g. Progressive Death Metal).

Well, Voivod and Anacrusis crossed genre, Anacrusis being a thrash band with progressive leanings, I don't mind them being called progressive thrash. And Voivod is a mixed of genres, thrash being just one of them
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I thought the two primary purposes for the internet were cat memes and overreactions.
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Permalink
11.09.2024 - 12:40

Posts: 1376


Written by John_Doe on 11.09.2024 at 12:30

Well, Voivod and Anacrusis crossed genre, Anacrusis being a thrash band with progressive leanings, I don't mind them being called progressive thrash. And Voivod is a mixed of genres, thrash being just one of them

Agreed with Anacruisis (moved to my Thrash list). Voivod is a little tricker with them being a mix as you mentioned. Progressive is the closest genre to my ear for the purpose of this list.
----
Top 500 Albums (ordered & rated)
Top 200 Overlooked Albums (with genres)
So I Heard You Like Wintersun... (Time II find new bands)
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Posts: 5630


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+1
11.09.2024 - 12:43

Posts: 5630


Written by nonZero on 11.09.2024 at 12:40

Written by John_Doe on 11.09.2024 at 12:30

Well, Voivod and Anacrusis crossed genre, Anacrusis being a thrash band with progressive leanings, I don't mind them being called progressive thrash. And Voivod is a mixed of genres, thrash being just one of them

Agreed with Anacruisis (moved to my Thrash list). Voivod is a little tricker with them being a mix as you mentioned. Progressive is the closest genre to my ear for the purpose of this list.

I'm totally fine with Voivod being in any progressive list. They are so unique, it's rather difficult to classify them (these kind of bands often make the most interesting music).
----
I thought the two primary purposes for the internet were cat memes and overreactions.
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