What am I listening to? (For people who know all about new music and stuff...)

[Perpetual Change]

Me and a friend of mine both love Dream Theater. We both consider ourselves fans of "progressive music." We're about the same age, but are constantly exploring different areas of the genre. For me, I'm always looking backwards, into Dream Theater's influences and so one. For him, he's always looking forward, to the next big thing. We're united, mainly, by our love for Dream Theater, and our mutual (sometimes reluctant) interest in aritists such as Porcupine Tree and Opeth.

Lately my friend has recommended three bands to me: Cynic, Periphery, and TerresacT. I've listened to albums from all three, and I've got to say despite for not liking the vocals I think this style is pretty cool. But I'm NOT really sure what I'm listening to. Is this prog? Metal? Some kind of experimental mix that isn't quite either? I don't know. And are their more good bands in this genre? And, also, what is the general consensus on this stuff from other DTFers?

This stuff forms the center of what my friend listens to. On the margin are some bands I'm more familiar with, like Opeth and Devin Townsend and so on. But I'd like to learn more about this stuff as well.

[Seventh Son]

Cynic is Technical Death Metal, although their style changes from album to album. Focus/Traced in Air are very much different from their numerous demos that I recommend anyone check out.

[Gadough]

Cynic is unique. They can be classified as technical death, progressive, and even jazz fusion, but they're their own band.

I've never heard of the other two bands, but if you like the harder-edged elements of Cynic's sound, you'd do yourself good to check out Unquestionable Presence by Atheist and Symbolic by Death.

[Seventh Son]

Cynic is unique. They can be classified as technical death, progressive, and even jazz fusion, but they're their own band.

I've never heard of the other two bands, but if you like the harder-edged elements of Cynic's sound, you'd do yourself good to check out Unquestionable Presence by Atheist and Symbolic by Death.

This x10000000000000

 

[TheOutlawXanadu]

Gadough's sentiments must be echoed: If you are going to listen to Cynic, you must listen to Atheist and Death as well. They are the fathers of technical progressive death metal.

[LTE]

Periphery and Tesseract are a new sub genre of prog metal called "Djent", personally I hate the term and a lot of the artists.. They basically rip-off Meshuggah's completely unique rhythmic style and add some basic prog metal elements.

[Zantera]

Periphery's album is really a "top10 albums 2010"-contender though.

[Perpetual Change]

Periphery and Tesseract are a new sub genre of prog metal called "Djent", personally I hate the term and a lot of the artists.. They basically rip-off Meshuggah's completely unique rhythmic style and add some basic prog metal elements.

Huh. Honestly, I can't stand Meshuggah, but like this stuff. I wonder why?

[DarkEternalNight]

WHAT?

[Seventh Son]

Don't worry PC, I don't like Meshuggah either. 

[AwakeFromOctavarium]

Meshuggah's fun from time to time, but I can't listen to their songs for more than half an hour or so. So much blasting guitars and all that.

[sneakyblueberry]

DJENT!  DJENT DJENT DJENT!

[Gadough]

Meshuggah's fun from time to time, but I can't listen to their songs for more than half an hour or so. So much blasting guitars and all that.

Pretty much.