Death - Human

Genre: Death Metal, Progressive
Year: 1991
About: Released by what has been called "the death metal band that started it all," Human marked a stylistic change for the band to a more technical, progressive death metal sound. The lyrics changed from the cliche blood and gore to the introspective and pensive. Get this: you can actually understand these lyrics though he screams them. This album is constantly heavy, relentless, and aggressive, with a few spacey interludes thrown in for good measure, and the riffs are amazing. There are great time changes and start/stop rhythms throughout. This album is incredible, unlike any other in its genre, and if you're a fan of death metal, or metal in general, you're sure to enjoy it.
Sounds Like: Morbid Angel, Atheist, Obituary, Necrophagist
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Rush Partial Discography 1974-1985

Genre: Progressive, Hard Rock

About: Does Rush even need an introduction? Here you will find about the first half of Rush's impressive body of work. Formed in Toronto, Ontario, Rush quickly expanded their sound past the original hard rock formula and became some of the front runners of the burgeoning progressive rock scene around the world. Each member has much technical skill, and the complex songwriting draws heavily from many ideas and otherworldly concepts. After joining in as drummer in 1974 before their first U.S. tour, Neil Peart assumed lyric writing duties for the band, adding more of a fantasy and science-fiction element. Rush rapidly rose to the status of a talented band not to be ignored. They have become one of the most successful musical acts in history, placing them third behind the Beatles and the Rolling Stones in consecutive gold or platinum studio albums, and have influenced a variety of acts in the progressive, metal, and alternative genres.

Sounds Like: Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, Kansas, Camel

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Rush (1974)

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Fly by Night (1975)

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Caress of Steel (1975)

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2112 (1976)

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A Farewell to Kings (1977)

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Hemispheres (1978)

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Permanent Waves (1980)

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Moving Pictures (1981)

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Signals (1982)

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Grace Under Pressure (1984)

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Power Windows (1985)

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Frank Zappa - Hot Rats

Genre: Experimental, Progressive, Jazz Fusion
Year: 1969
About: Highly influencial, Frank Zappa's first solo studio outing is full of inventive songwriting and large scale composition. Unlike anything beforehand, Zappa paved the way for various genres of music on this album, exploring vast uncharted territory with this release. There is some stellar jamming lead guitar throughout the album, carrying the listener through much of the quirky fusion excursions. The ensemble features several new instruments to the rock scene, such as flute, saxophone, clarinet, and electric violin. On a side note, this album marks one of the first 16-track recordings to be released to the public while the Beatles were still working with 8-track technology. For those new to Zappa, as with much of his work, it may take a few listens, but it is thoroughly worth the time.
Sounds Like: Captain Beefheart, Gong, The Mothers of Invention, King Crimson
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Premiata Forneria Marconi - Per un Amico

Genre: Progressive
Year: 1972
About: Not only a masterpiece of Italian progressive, but of progressive rock in general, Premiata Forneria Marconi expand upon their debut record wonderfully. There is liberal use of acoustic guitar, and other non-electric instruments such as flute, piano, and violin, that echo from a lost Baroque era, as well as a more recent Symphonic approach with electric guitar, base, synthesizer, and mellotron. It's pure progressive in nature and swings both maniacally and smoothly between moods, tempos, and melodies. The vocals are smootly sung beautifully in their native tongue of Italian. Even to this day this stunning record doesn't seem dated.
Sounds Like: Gentle Giant, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Le Orme, Banco del Mutuo Soccorso
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