Any Thought Industry fans? Kalamzoo Prog-metal band from the early 90's

[The Czar]

I love these guys, they constantly changed their sound.

First album:



Second Album:



Third album:

[The Czar]

Fourth album:


Fifth album:

[The Czar]

By the end, they weren't very proggy

[ashratom]

Personally I think the first album is the pinnacle of progressive thrash, or whatever the genre warriors want to call it (they get all amped up about these things).

IMO, it's on the same level of creative genius as the early 70s Italian prog albums, but through a completely different lens. The title track and 'The Chalice Vermillion' alone are worth the price of the disc and are complete head spinners. There really has never been any album like this one before, during, or after. A true moment of brilliance and one of my all-time favorite albums.

[zravkapt]

Love the first two albums, some of the best 'prog metal' ever.

By the end, they weren't very proggy

Yeah, the last two albums I think are more alternative rock if I remember right.

[The Czar]

There is a facebook page for the band.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/96212327823/

[The Czar]

Personally I think the first album is the pinnacle of progressive thrash, or whatever the genre warriors want to call it (they get all amped up about these things).

IMO, it's on the same level of creative genius as the early 70s Italian prog albums, but through a completely different lens. The title track and 'The Chalice Vermillion' alone are worth the price of the disc and are complete head spinners. There really has never been any album like this one before, during, or after. A true moment of brilliance and one of my all-time favorite albums.

I posted this reply on the TI facebook page.
Their guitarist Christopher Lee Simmons just shared it saying "so proud"

I totally agree with your review of that album.

[ashratom]

I posted this reply on the TI facebook page.
Their guitarist Christopher Lee Simmons just shared it saying "so proud"

I totally agree with your review of that album.

Cool - thanks for doing that! I predict that album will find its audience many years from now. Often times it's history that sets the record straight on creative works such as this.

[Valen]

Mods Carve The Pig is on my list of Jeff Wagner's 50 recommended progressive metal albums.

I've been gradually acquiring his recommendations, mostly taking a leap of faith without hearing them, and for the most part finding something to like in each of them, but this one by Thought Industry has me dithering over whether to purchase or not. I listened to a couple of clips online and wasn't too enamoured with the more overtly punk thrash overtones.

But I may be doing the album a disservice? (I'm trying to be open-minded about the term 'progressive metal', and my tastes go way beyond the traditional stuff like Dream Theater

So here's your starter for ten - why should I buy this album? What has it got going for it?

[zravkapt]

The first two are sorta like thrash metal mixed with avant-rock. They sound nothing like Dream Theater, Fates Warning, etc. The vocals are more punk/alternative/indie than most metal of the time. If you're not a fan of thrash or playful avant-rock, they may not be for you. I remember reading a review of their first album in a metal mag; it went on about how 'pretentious' they were and being "complex for the sake of being complex." Sound familiar?

[ashratom]

Mods Carve The Pig is on my list of Jeff Wagner's 50 recommended progressive metal albums.

I've been gradually acquiring his recommendations, mostly taking a leap of faith without hearing them, and for the most part finding something to like in each of them, but this one by Thought Industry has me dithering over whether to purchase or not. I listened to a couple of clips online and wasn't too enamoured with the more overtly punk thrash overtones.

But I may be doing the album a disservice? (I'm trying to be open-minded about the term 'progressive metal', and my tastes go way beyond the traditional stuff like Dream Theater

So here's your starter for ten - why should I buy this album? What has it got going for it?

Mods Carve the Pig is a good album IMO, but it's definitely more hardcore. But Songs For Insects is on its own planet and definitely not punkish. I highly suggest ownership here for repeated listens. My comments are already registered above. Not sure I can froth on any further about it.

[ashratom]

The first two are sorta like thrash metal mixed with avant-rock. They sound nothing like Dream Theater, Fates Warning, etc. The vocals are more punk/alternative/indie than most metal of the time. If you're not a fan of thrash or playful avant-rock, they may not be for you. I remember reading a review of their first album in a metal mag; it went on about how 'pretentious' they were and being "complex for the sake of being complex." Sound familiar?

Yep! Like every hair-brained Rolling Stone Record Guide review that set back the progress of music 30 years.

[SteveSly]

I live in Kalamazoo and these guys used to play around here all the time. Their home base was a club called “Club Soda” where I saw them on numerous occasions. They were totally unique and never really sounded like anyone else at the time. As someone else mentioned, they were prog metal, but not in a Dream Theater type of way. They definitely mixed prog with thrash. I still think “Songs For Insects” was probably their best album. The late 80’s and early 90’s was kind of the golden era for bands here in Southwest Michigan. There were several acts that came very close to “making it” with The Verve Pipe probably being the most successful. I always thought Thought Industry would get bigger than they did, although they did manage to have a moderate level of national success. The band did a couple of re-union shows here in Kalamazoo at Shakespeare’s Lower Level, and Louis Trophy House if I remember correctly (Club Soda no longer exists) about 2 years ago. Unfortunately I was out of town and unable to make either of them. I don’t think most (if any) of the guys live around here anymore, but could be wrong on that.

[The Czar]

Mods Carve The Pig is on my list of Jeff Wagner's 50 recommended progressive metal albums.

I've been gradually acquiring his recommendations, mostly taking a leap of faith without hearing them, and for the most part finding something to like in each of them, but this one by Thought Industry has me dithering over whether to purchase or not. I listened to a couple of clips online and wasn't too enamoured with the more overtly punk thrash overtones.

But I may be doing the album a disservice? (I'm trying to be open-minded about the term 'progressive metal', and my tastes go way beyond the traditional stuff like Dream Theater

So here's your starter for ten - why should I buy this album? What has it got going for it?

It's on youtube, so you can listen without financial risk.

Also "Mods..." is an album that changes from song to song, yet keeps a unified theme...?