Narnia (the band) & other progressive bands

[dyzzispell]

Was wondering if anyone else has heard of them?
I love Dream Theater , and what I've heard from the latest album is very much like DT, but the vocals aren't as good. However, they ARE Christian.
Their website is http://www.narniaworld.com if you're interested.

I also found a couple other Christian progressive bands - Fall of Echoes, Visual Cliff and Neal Morse. Not crazy about samples I heard, but it's still nice to see that there is a Christian progressive scene afterall...
I just love Dream Theater's style, talent and creativity, but I don't always like the lyrics. So it's nice to know there are others out there. You guys know of anyone else that's Christian but similar to Dream Theater?
I'd LOVE opinions...

[GrubbTheFragger]

The Human Abstract is Progessive metal with a healthy bit of screamo vocals

[dyzzispell]

The Human Abstract is Progessive metal with a healthy bit of screamo vocals

Blech, if there's one thing I hate, it's screamo.

[GhostontheNet]

Myself I would include:

Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of War of the Worlds

Comments: Self describing and entirely unique, a true progressive rock album.

Saviour Machine

Comments: Gothic rock/progressive metal band which Narnia founder is a member of, focuses greatly upon themes of apocalyptic justice.

Renaissance

[Scarecrow]

Here are some ones I like... I don't like narnia's vocals either so I'm not crazy about them but anyway...

Magnitude Nine (Melodic/Prog)
Vision Divine (Prog/Power)
Labyrinth (Power)
Rob Rock (Melodic/Progressive)
Venia (Melodic/Power)
7 Days (Symphonic)
Random Eyes (Melodic/Rock)
Seventh Avenue (Power)
Veni Domine (Melodic)
Jacobs Dream (Progressive)

All of those are Christian except Labyrinth and I'm not sure about Vision Devine but both have some spiritual lyrics and stuff... very good bands.

Helloween is another awesome power metal band that used to have alot of christian overtones in their songs songs however there has been quite of change of band members over the years, I think the Christian memebers have left, so their newer stuff some may find a bit offensive but some old Helloween stuff is quite good.

[dyzzispell]

Here are some ones I like... I don't like narnia's vocals either so I'm not crazy about them but anyway...

Magnitude Nine (Melodic/Prog)
Vision Divine (Prog/Power)
Labyrinth (Power)
Rob Rock (Melodic/Progressive)
Venia (Melodic/Power)
7 Days (Symphonic)
Random Eyes (Melodic/Rock)
Seventh Avenue (Power)
Veni Domine (Melodic)
Jacobs Dream (Progressive)

Wow, where did you find all these guys? Your description of each band's classification is great, very helpful.
I have a question though, but I'm not sure who can answer it. I used to listen to stuff that sounded a lot like this in the late 80's/early 90's, and back then it was just metal. Has there been a re-classification that I wasn't aware of? Because in my opinion, much of what they call metal today, is just plain talentless noise. I now know that the "metal" I knew still exists, it's just pretty much been sent underground and renamed, I guess.
As it was, I stumbled across Fall of Echoes, Visual Cliff, and Neal Morse from a link on Dream Theater's news page. How did you find all these guys?
I've always wondered why much (not all, just much) of today's Christian music seems relatively talentless and repetitive, and why no one with real talent seems to exist in Christian circles. Well now I know they DO exist, they are just a bit obscure!
Thanks again, this has opened me up to a whole new world I didn't know still existed in Christian form!

[Scarecrow]

Lol... most of those I don't even remember how I found them. Mostly just over the months browsing Christian message forums and what not. Venia I found cause one of the band members posts on a Christian Hard Rock message forum I occasionally visit so they are pretty obscure but really good IMO.

Two other Christian bands I could mention as well would be Teramaze and New Eden. I haven't really got around to checking out either one but someone recommended both of those on another forum. New Eden is more classic 80s type stuff and Teramaze is supposedly touted by their lable as a Dream Theatre like band although the guy who recommended them said they are not. He said they are good though and some good power/progressive moments.

So anyway, I dont really know how good those two are but you could check em out still.

Oh sorry, missed your question. Umm...

I'm not that knowledgeable on the subject but metal has grown ALOT since the 70s/80s. In fact I was listening to metal before I even knew that was concidered metal I always thought metal was just AAAAAAAAAHDIFH KHKLA JHADKJFH KJHADA *headbang*. Anyway, its not really so much of a re-classification as much as that metal has just evolved into so many differnt styles over the years. The stuff you used to listen to is still there you just have to know what to look for. Finding secular bands similar to the bands you like is pretty easy. Finding Christian bands similar to the secular stuff I like is alot harder because most of the really good ones are so obscure you pretty much just find them through word of mouth.

[GhostontheNet]

Wow, where did you find all these guys? Your description of each band's classification is great, very helpful.
I have a question though, but I'm not sure who can answer it. I used to listen to stuff that sounded a lot like this in the late 80's/early 90's, and back then it was just metal. Has there been a re-classification that I wasn't aware of? Because in my opinion, much of what they call metal today, is just plain talentless noise. I now know that the "metal" I knew still exists, it's just pretty much been sent underground and renamed, I guess.
As it was, I stumbled across Fall of Echoes, Visual Cliff, and Neal Morse from a link on Dream Theater's news page. How did you find all these guys?
I've always wondered why much (not all, just much) of today's Christian music seems relatively talentless and repetitive, and why no one with real talent seems to exist in Christian circles. Well now I know they DO exist, they are just a bit obscure!
Thanks again, this has opened me up to a whole new world I didn't know still existed in Christian form!

As the reasons for this go, I would say:

1. A lot of it is that a lot of Christian bands will try to capture and emulate the sounds of other artists rather than making their own, ignoring the point made by Christian synthpop group Joy Electric that "The good will not be cloned" (The White Songbook), that is to say that any really good musician cannot be duplicated because the other artist is not that musician and cannot really think like that musician.
2. As has been pointed out in another recent thread, mainstream music right now is very lame, and emulation of what is already lame makes it worse. For this reason also, just as excellent secular underground music can be difficult to find, so too
3. I recall one atheist I knew back in high school joking that the difference between Christian and secular music is that Christian music will replace "baby" with "God. Several Contemporary Christian Artists' lyrics consist of piecemealed stock Christian phrases without any application of the rich traditions of Biblical symbolism. Indeed, I'm sorry to say that secular gothic and industrial music (no, I'm not kidding) makes better useage of the Bible's symbolism than most Christian musicians, to our shame.
4. Many Christians make their music more in the spirit of propoganda for Christ than art for Christ, and the music likewise suffers the cheeze of all propoganda.
5. Many Christian artists who are both skilled and authentic will in fact remain unconnected with the CCM scene (which most conceed has authenticity issues) itself, but will instead stick to more underground operations. An example of this is the label Flaming Fish ( http://www.flamingfish.com), which covers underground electronic genres like industrial, synthpop, and gothic music by Christian artists. For this reason, this stuff is less well known outside of those "in the know".

Now, there are in fact a good deal of excellent Christian musicians out there. For example, I don't think I can think there are many people who could emerge from Saviour Machine ( http://www.myspace.com/saviourmachine ) and say the music is talentless.

[dyzzispell]

Now, there are in fact a good deal of excellent Christian musicians out there. For example, I don't think I can think there are many people who could emerge from Saviour Machine ( http://www.myspace.com/saviourmachine ) and say the music is talentless.

I wouldn't say Saviour Machine is talentless. I don't like them, but it's just a matter of my own tastes. I never really liked what I've heard of goth music. It's sort of freaky to me.

Ever since the "worship" movement started, I've had some serious trouble with the mainstream Christian music scene:

1. As soon as it started to gain momentum, every artist who was anyone HAD to put out a "worship" album, or they'd pretty much fade into nothingness and be left behind. Or maybe they were just afraid they would. It's funny, because Petra put out Petra Praise LONG before anyone else did anything like that, and that album for the most part was an awesome album. Yet I don't know much about how popular it was then...

2. Every person who put out a "worship" album, for the most part, each had to do their own version of the same 6 songs. The Bible says to sing a new song - so why did everyone feel the need to regurgitate all the same songs in their own version? It's almost like saying "hey, I can do it better than he did, so why don't I?" It's crazy redundant.

3. I understand that many of them were trying to make worship "hip", but I think that undermines all who came before them, but didn't call their albums "worship" and didn't regurgitate the same old songs. I look at lyrics from bands I listened to in the 80's/90's when I was a teen, and some of those are so much deeper worship-wise, than many of today's overdone choruses.

4. If there's one thing I'm sick of, it's the same vague lines, like "We worship You" and "we love you" and "why would you save someone like me". While these are all true, they are just not very creative, not very deep. Can't we come up with more creative ways to say these things?

It is for these reasons that I must agree, much of today's CCM is propaganda, not art. It seems like somewhere along the way, the focus shifted from glorifying God to making a buck. Why on earth would anyone else make another version of "Breathe" (which is somewhat vague as well) and expect you to buy their CD of it, when you already own 14 others? I just don't get it...

(Actually I think much of this is to blame on the movement towards the vague and compromised within the church. The music will reflect the church's direction, but that's something else best not discussed here.)

Thanks to both of you guys for your help, and insight into what's been happening in the Christian music world that I never knew about. It's wonderful to know that not ALL hope has faded...

[Eric]

You'd probably like Pyramaze.

http://www.myspace.com/pyramaze
http://www.pyramaze.com

And btw, it's good to see that there are some people on here who aren't obsessed with the music that Tooth and Nail, Solid State and Facedown Records spews out. (the only exceptions on Solid State being Extol, Lengsel, and Becoming the Archetype) It gets a little tiring seeing people talk about the same bands all the time.

[dyzzispell]

You'd probably like Pyramaze.

http://www.myspace.com/pyramaze
http://www.pyramaze.com

What style of music are they? Are they Christian?

[Eric]

They're progressive power metal. Not a Christian band, but they have very positive lyrics. Pretty much every band out there that plays progressive or power metal has positive lyrics.

[joeblade]

i listen to most if not all of the ones listed and would have suggested them if they werent already
i didn't see divinefire anywhere but i might have missed it they have the same vocalist as narnia and i actually like them better
but the band i think you would really like would be circus maximus
im not 100% sure they're Christian since i never hear any talk about them and i bought their cd on a totally random whim but their lyrics are pretty much undenyable as Christian lyrics and these guys definitely have the prog thing down

[ShiroiHikari]

Coheed and Cambria is an excellent progressive band. Their music will blow you away, though a lot of people don't like Claudio's vocals and judging by what you said about Dream Theatre's lyrics, I doubt you'd like Coheed's lyrics much. You can judge for yourself by going to their Myspace or Purevolume to have a listen.

http://www.purevolume.com/coheedandcambria
http://www.myspace.com/coheedandcambria

[Knives]

I love Dream Theater, if you like christian progmetal, there is a local band that my friend is in called "The Awakening", they have a myspace (/myawakening), however the samples they have on it right now are all acoustic stuff, but when they put up some new samples, you should listen to em.

[Kkun]

You'd probably like Pyramaze.

http://www.myspace.com/pyramaze
http://www.pyramaze.com

And btw, it's good to see that there are some people on here who aren't obsessed with the music that Tooth and Nail, Solid State and Facedown Records spews out. (the only exceptions on Solid State being Extol, Lengsel, and Becoming the Archetype) It gets a little tiring seeing people talk about the same bands all the time.

You're so funny. Extol and BTA are alright, but Lengsel is awful.

Pyramaze is pretty good, thanks for posting that. I like the vocals. I've been on a search for some metal that I don't think is horrendously boring after I bought Dragonforce's new CD and have enjoyed it.

I second Coheed and Cambria, dyzzispell, but they might be too mainstream for you or whatever. I don't know. They've made some largely enjoyable music. I think my favorite of their albums is "In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth:3." http://www.myspace.com/coheedandcambria

Also, the Sound of Animals Fighting and the Mars Volta are a couple of pretty new progressive rock bands that I think are pretty good. They aren't Christian, but Sound's music is clean and TMV's first CD, "Deloused in the Comatorium" is clean. I've been listening to the Sound of Animals Fighting a lot lately and the Mars Volta's "Deloused In the Comatorium" is full of self-indulgent guitar solos and ten minute long songs.

http://www.myspace.com/thesoundofanimalsfighting
http://www.myspace.com/themarsvolta

[joeblade]

Lengsel awful??! they're great but i guess you just have to like that kind of music

i wonder what the The Revelation Band is doing lately that's another Christian prog band with at least one cd i know about out (you would like circus maximus)

[Kkun]

Lengsel awful??! they're great but i guess you just have to like that kind of music

i wonder what the The Revelation Band is doing lately that's another Christian prog band with at least one cd i know about out (you would like circus maximus)

Yeah, no offense or anything if you like Lengsel. I just think gothic metal is about the cheesiest kind of music out there. It starts to sound silly after a while, is all. I can only take it in small doses.

I do think it's cool that Tor from Lengsel is/was (is he still?) involved in Extol, though. I like them some.

[joeblade]

lengsel isnt really goth metal that would be more like saviour machine or virgin black but i see where youre coming from even though it doesnt get old for me
Tor Glidje was definitely in extol and still is as far as i know

[Eric]

Yeah, no offense or anything if you like Lengsel. I just think gothic metal is about the cheesiest kind of music out there. It starts to sound silly after a while, is all. I can only take it in small doses.

I do think it's cool that Tor from Lengsel is/was (is he still?) involved in Extol, though. I like them some.

Have you ever even listened to Lengsel? Solace is black metal, not gothic metal. Gothic metal would bands such as Sirenia, Tristania, Trail of Tears, Lacrimosa, Stream of Passion, etc. And anyways, Solace has excellent musicianship throughout the entire cd. Keep in mind that production is not the most important part of music; it is the music itself. If you pay close enough attention, you'll be able to hear what's going on. Actually, the production on Solace isn't all that bad; I've heard much much worse than that.

[Kkun]

[quote="Eric"]Have you ever even listened to Lengsel? Solace is black metal, not gothic metal. Gothic metal would bands such as Sirenia, Tristania, Trail of Tears, Lacrimosa, Stream of Passion, etc. And anyways, Solace has excellent musicianship throughout the entire cd. Keep in mind that production is not the most important part of music]

Hey, I don't claim to be a huge metal fan and know all the differences, and their MySpace says "Black metal/Hardcore/Gothic." I just kind of blended it all together.

Also, for realious, dude, I wouldn't just go "Lengsel is awful" if I hadn't heard them. Although, I guess that was a poor choice of words. XD They probably aren't "awful" for their genre, I'm just not into it.

As for the production quality, I just said that it's cool that Tor is involved with them. I've listened to and enjoyed stuff with a LOT rougher/worse production than Solace. Of course the music is the most important part.......I just don't like that kind of music. I'm entitled to my opinion still, eh?

[joeblade]

lol if you dont like something you dont like it
great musicianship does not mean everybody has to like it

[Eric]

lol if you dont like something you dont like it
great musicianship does not mean everybody has to like it

I already know that.

[GrubbTheFragger]

http://www.myspace.com/TheHumanAbstract

Amazing Band! I was wrong about the screamo vocals they are more Hardcore. They are said to be Experimental/Progressive/Metal. I got the cd and Wow its just really good. Its clean also ^^

[Knives]

http://www.myspace.com/TheHumanAbstract

Amazing Band! I was wrong about the screamo vocals they are more Hardcore. They are said to be Experimental/Progressive/Metal. I got the cd and Wow its just really good. Its clean also ^^

I have been listening to the stuff on their myspace. I like them a lot!

[GrubbTheFragger]

I have been listening to the stuff on their myspace. I like them a lot!

yea they are Amazing. I highly recommend there cd and by highly I mean HIGHLY!

[Hitokiri]

Prog metal is ok. I only truly like Stream of Passion, Opeth, Vintersog, Porcupine Tree, Ayreon, and Novembre. I can't stand Dream Theatre.

[Eric]

Well the only really metal cds Dream Theater has done are Train of Thought and Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (I think); I'm not too familiar with most of their discography. You should check out:

Canvas Solaris
Textures (progressive/death/thrash, lots of Meshuggah influences)
Intronaut
In Vain (progressive death, Christian)
Andromeda (fairly similar to Dream Theater, but much better musically)
Zero Hour
Farmakon (progressive death, comparable to Opeth at times)
Pain of Salvation
Enslaved (progressive/black/viking metal)
Altera Enigma (progressive metal/jazz fusion)
Orphaned Land (progressive middle-eastern folk metal)
Frantic Bleep (also has post black metal influences)
Borknagar (progressive/folk/black metal)
Age of Silence (progressive metal/avant garde)
Winds (progressive metal/avant garde/classical)
Black Pajent (progressive death, Christian)
Green Carnation



Oh and Porcupine Tree and Ayreon are mostly progressive rock.