Can you recognize what is PROG when you're listening music for the first time?

[WildRanger]

I always doubt whether is PROG ROCK/METAL a genre of a specific style of rock music. If it is a genre it seems to me that is not defined by specific instrumental sounds - what kind of sound a guitar or drums should band members make for something that can be called that genre.
And according to this, all bands which made some specific, defined sound that is musically pretty similar basically, are lumped into one genre as it is not a case with prog, where prog bands sound so different, esp. when we compare for example bands Yes, Jethro Tull and Rush. For example Steve Howe in Yes plays one kind of guitar tones, while Alex Lifeson in Rush plays totally different tones than Howe(his guitar tones are obviously hard rock, unlike Howe), but both of them are lumped into one same genre.

Do you recognize what is prog and HOW? Is prog rock/metal as a genre defined by what kind of sound instruments should make?
I think prog is not defined by instrumental sounds as genres e.g. BLUES ROCK, HARD ROCK or THRASH METAL. Bands in these three mentioned genres sound basically pretty similar or the same while in prog music they sound very different. For a first time when I'm listening some blues-rock song I would easily recognize a basic guitar sound and call it blues rock, same thing with thrash metal. But I think prog is a different animal.

What you say?

[ChuckSteak]

Genre definition is also subjective. What is prog to you may not be prog to the next guy. And no genre can be defined by "what kind of sound instruments should make".

I think anyone can recognize what is prog or not based on their own standards of genre definition.

[Big Hath]

And no genre can be defined by "what kind of sound instruments should make".

you can argue if it should be called a genre or not, but djent sort of falls into this category, no?

[Adami]

If it doesn't have a mellotron, it's not prog.

End of story. Objectively. Genre defining. Yes/no. Polls.

[Elite]

"Progressive metal" as a genre descriptor is about the stupidest possible name, apart from everything named 'alternative' (rock/metal - you name it), because it doesn't tell you anything about the actual music. Historically 'progressive metal' used to be a fusion of 'progressive rock' and 'heavy metal'. Where progressive rock had definite actually progressive traits like the use of odd-meters, instruments not found as often in other popular music genres, usually a virtuosic playing quality on the instruments used, longer song structures that defied the verse/chorus treatment and lyrics with often phylosophical or fantastical themes. Nowadays, you can argue that 'progressive rock' as a genre isn't nearly as progressive as it used to be, as its repeating the same formula - and actually using most of the same traits - started in the late sixties and early seventies.

That said, is there actual progressive music out there? Sure, definitely. But a lot of the bands/artists lumped in the 'progressive rock/metal' definition box aren't really doing many new things.

By the way, I personally don't really give a shit about genre descriptions, because genre is a fluid thing that perhaps even differs for different people.

[Train of Naught]

My band is genre-fluid

[RoeDent]

The promoters of bands might say something pretentious like "We refuse to be bound by genre labels" or whatever, and then you listen to the music and it turns out to be very easy to label them.

Just...stop it. We the listeners will assign your band a label whether you like it or not.

[King Postwhore]

My band is genre-fluid

So porn rock.

[KevShmev]

My band is genre-fluid

So porn rock.

[TAC]

 

Wow, that is awesome!!

[Nekov]

Where progressive rock had definite actually progressive traits like the use of odd-meters, instruments not found as often in other popular music genres, usually a virtuosic playing quality on the instruments used, longer song structures that defied the verse/chorus treatment and lyrics with often phylosophical or fantastical themes. Nowadays, you can argue that 'progressive rock' as a genre isn't nearly as progressive as it used to be, as its repeating the same formula - and actually using most of the same traits - started in the late sixties and early seventies.

100% this. Progressive rock and metal in general stopped progressing. There are a few bands that use some of those elements and try to do so in a new way, but most of them just follow the same patterns.

[King Postwhore]

I'd say that happens in all genres and out of them genres expand to what is around them in today's sounds.  Ever changing.

[Cool Chris]

There is only one genre that I can 100% unequivocally say for certain I know it what it is when I hear it and that is country.

[pg1067]

I think it would be awesome if it turned out that WildRanger is really a member of DT....or MP.

[Stadler]

Well, prog IS like porn in that I can't define it, but I know it when I hear it. 

[KevShmev]

Well, prog IS like porn in that I can't define it, but I know it when I hear it. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqHSrJ2mLo0