Dark Prog

[IncogNeato]

I tend to lean darker in my tastes. I love things like Porcupine Tree and Katatonia.

What are some darker-leaning prog bands I should investigate? Old or new.

[Facelift]

I tend to lean darker in my tastes. I love things like Porcupine Tree and Katatonia.

What are some darker-leaning prog bands I should investigate? Old or new.

What is your criteria for something being "dark?" This is not an adjective that has any inherent meaning insofar as music is concerned.

[battema]

Not technically prog but you might consider exploring the 3rd and the Mortal. Especially 'Painting on Glass' and 'In this Room.'

You might also dig Anekdoten, although they are a different sort of dark to the two bands you mentioned.

Enjoy!
J

[Rarebird]

How about Anathema - Alternatieve 4?

[battema]

How about Anathema - Alternatieve 4?

Great pick

[IncogNeato]

Anathema I love. Yeah.

Adding 3rd & The Mortal and Anekdoten to my list.

Dark as is dark, melancholic or "evil" sounding atmosphere. "Welcome To The Machine" is a dark song, for example. "Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun" is another.

[Scrotum Scissor]

If you allow yourself into the strands of esoteric avant-progressive (with merely the faintest reference to any "big" bands from the 1969-75 tenure), there are numerous purveyors of various dark or sombre sounds. However, they share little next to nothing with the likes of PTree etc., whose apparent darkness somehow escapes me.

[battema]

One trick with Anathema...their earliest stuff was closer to traditional doom (with growling vocals), and became much more upbeat with "We're Here Because We're Here." So, depending on your flexibility regarding harsh vocals and/or happier themes, you may want to stick to the middle era

[battema]

From the more modern side of symphonic prog, I'd also throw a nod to Discipline.

From the 70's, the Island album 'Pictures' is pretty goddamned dark, and awesome.

[100423]

How about this?

[IncogNeato]

If you allow yourself into the strands of esoteric avant-progressive (with merely the faintest reference to any "big" bands from the 1969-75 tenure), there are numerous purveyors of various dark or sombre sounds. However, they share little next to nothing with the likes of PTree etc., whose apparent darkness somehow escapes me.

Hit me with some band names.

[battema]

Hit me with some band names.

Univers Zero springs to mind immediately.

Also, Magma.

[Garden Dreamer]

IQ has had some pretty dark tunes over the years.

[battema]

How about this?

What a wonderful selection! Not only is the music fantasticaliciously amazeballs but you can close your eyes and practically visualize the rugged handsomeness of the keyboardist

In unrelated news I'm off to sob quietly into a pint of Ben & Jerry's...

[Rarebird]

One trick with Anathema...their earliest stuff was closer to traditional doom (with growling vocals), and became much more upbeat with "We're Here Because We're Here." So, depending on your flexibility regarding harsh vocals and/or happier themes, you may want to stick to the middle era

I only have Alternative 4 and Judgement, which I like.

[IncogNeato]

I only have Alternative 4 and Judgement, which I like.

yeah, the very early stuff has deathy vocals. I quite like the last several albums. I love the 'Hindsight' albums they did as well.

[IncogNeato]

How about this?

I think this is quite good. I do prefer music with vocals, though.

[Jay.Dee]

Univers Zero springs to mind immediately.

Also, Magma.

Too lightweight and frivolous. I´d rather suggest Shub-Niggurath instead.

[battema]

Too lightweight and frivolous. I´d rather suggest Shub-Niggurath instead.

I was going to mention them, but was sticking with 70's bands. But yeah, they're pretty damned dark (and awesome) too.

[Scrotum Scissor]

yeah, they're [Shub-Niggurath] pretty damned dark (and awesome) too.

And don't forget that they are effectively "music with vocals", which the OP likes.

Folks always go pretty easily from Porky to the Chubbs, kinda.

[IncogNeato]

And don't forget that they are effectively "music with vocals", which the OP likes.

Folks always go pretty easily from Porky to the Chubbs, kinda.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtmL5K2p3pA

I actually like the music...but those vocals are atrocious.

[jeffo621]

Since it sounds like you might lean towards a bit more in a "dark symphonic" direction, how about Pulsar? "Halloween" and "Strands of the Future" are a one-two punch that are probably top-25 all time for me.

Sticking with the French, Shylock, Carpe Diem or Arachnoid (possibly a little too harsh, tho)might work for you. More modern (released after 2000) bands might be Nil or NeBeLNeST. The latter is a bit more spacy/avant/instrumental but is definitely dark.

Jeff

[battema]

Keeping along the lines of darker but melodic metal bands, you might consider The Gathering circa 'Mandylion' and 'Nighttime Birds.' Like Anathema, earlier albums are different, and later albums took on a heavy trip-hop feel (not a bad thing, but may not appeal to everyone).

Riverside would probably also be your thing, especially regarding the sound of Porcupine Tree.

[IncogNeato]

Keeping along the lines of darker but melodic metal bands, you might consider The Gathering circa 'Mandylion' and 'Nighttime Birds.' Like Anathema, earlier albums are different, and later albums took on a heavy trip-hop feel (not a bad thing, but may not appeal to everyone).

Riverside would probably also be your thing, especially regarding the sound of Porcupine Tree.

I love The Gathering. I have been familiarizing myself lately with Riverside which is part of the reason for this post.

[Scrotum Scissor]

those vocals are atrocious.

Well, they sported three different female sopranos during their career, all of whom were craftly trained. So I suppose those vocals came out more or less exactly as intended. And honestly I don't think there are many followers of this ensemble that would want them to employ voices much different from these.

Seriously, there are shitloads of truly dark progressive artists emannating from various parts of the globe, perhaps especially Eastern Europe during the Cold war era (granted that you can stand foreign tongue, of course). I'll return with a set of suggestions once I've collected my wits about it.