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Thread: Is There Happy Prog Metal?

  1. #1

    Is There Happy Prog Metal?

    I'm just curious about that since I can't think of any. For example, is there the Prog Metal version of the band Caravan that sing cute songs about happy things except with a malfunctioning jackhammer sound and someone screaming about it.
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  2. #2
    Member Zeuhlmate's Avatar
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    Perhaps


  3. #3
    Member chalkpie's Avatar
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    Not sure but any metal for me has to be evil

    Isn't some Dream Theater in major keys?

  4. #4
    Deafheaven. And particularly the album Ordinary Corrupt Human Love.

    I think these lyrics are sublime: https://deafheavens.bandcamp.com/track/glint

    And I happen to think these tracks are simply beautiful:

    https://deafheavens.bandcamp.com/track/you-without-end
    https://deafheavens.bandcamp.com/track/honeycomb
    If you're actually reading this then chances are you already have my last album but if NOT and you're curious:
    https://battema.bandcamp.com/

    Also, Ephemeral Sun: it's a thing and we like making things that might be your thing: https://ephemeralsun.bandcamp.com

  5. #5
    Outraged bystander markwoll's Avatar
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    Freak Kitchen has a not too serious side.
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  6. #6
    I absolutely -love- this. Perhaps not exactly "happy", but entirely uplifting in tone etc.:

    "Improvisation is not an excuse for musical laziness" - Fred Frith
    "[...] things that we never dreamed of doing in Crimson or in any band that I've been in," - Tony Levin speaking of SGM

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  8. #8
    I think some of Haken qualifies.
    I want to dynamite your mind with love tonight.

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    Are you referring to lyrics? I think a lot of prog metal sounds happy, bright, and/or positive, but that is with respect to music.

  10. #10
    Member chalkpie's Avatar
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    I would guess "happy" would refer to anything in major keys? I'm not a hardcore Devin Townsend expert, however some of his stuff does wander into major key tonality at times.

  11. #11
    Quote Originally Posted by chalkpie View Post
    I would guess "happy" would refer to anything in major keys? I'm not a hardcore Devin Townsend expert, however some of his stuff does wander into major key tonality at times.
    Like pleasant lyrics that are about love or something except someone is yelling it at me.
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  12. #12
    The eons are closing
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    DT - Metropolis Pt 1

    "Love is the Dance of Eternity" (in D Maj)
    Death inspires me like a dog inspires a rabbit

  13. #13
    Member chalkpie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Splicer View Post
    Like pleasant lyrics that are about love or something except someone is yelling it at me.
    I'm not sure about that....aggressive vocal styles usually go hand-in-hand with most metal, regardless of subgenre.

  14. #14
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    First, need to appreciate that high-energy (and often high-pitch) vocals in "metal" is not synonymous with yelling and screaming...Example? Well, notice in TV vocalist shows where Simon Cowell etc often rightfully say "it was yelly" to distinguish preferable performances from yelly ones. It's about vocal style and control.

    First I thought the thread was looking for a progressive Happy Meal, I don't know much about that one either

    Especially if you're willing stretch your definition of prog, can start with example happy (or positive) songs from metal bands and see if the song is prog enough. This whole topic is one where naming songs rather than bands or albums is perhaps the way to go. Is Van Halen's "Why can't this be love" an example, well it's up to the listener -- with the keyboards and a few other song elements, it's prog is someone's book out there maybe.

    Don't know much about Flower Kings but in the late 90s weren't they said to be writing uplifting songs unlike some Swedish bands --- they might have a heavy song in their catalog maybe? No idea.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Yaman Aksu View Post
    can start with example happy (or positive) songs from metal bands and see if the song is prog enough.
    Here's one candidate song for "seeing if the song is prog enough" in one's own way, mentioned above. It certainly fulfills both the 'happy' and 'metal' criteria.

    https://youtu.be/kTESmfBWCO0

  16. #16
    Member Paul's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by chalkpie View Post
    Isn't some Dream Theater in major keys?
    Not so much Dream Theater but John Petrucci's last solo record Terminal Velocity sprang to mind for me. There's even a song called The Happy Song.
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  17. #17
    I guess I'm not really talking about the operatic metal sounding stuff where it's like epics about Egypt or something. They're not really happy or angry or anything except epic sounding.
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  18. #18
    Quote Originally Posted by Splicer View Post
    I guess I'm not really talking about the operatic metal sounding stuff where it's like epics about Egypt or something. They're not really happy or angry or anything except epic sounding.
    Then did you read the lyrics and listen to the songs I shared above? They are neither operatic nor particularly epic.
    If you're actually reading this then chances are you already have my last album but if NOT and you're curious:
    https://battema.bandcamp.com/

    Also, Ephemeral Sun: it's a thing and we like making things that might be your thing: https://ephemeralsun.bandcamp.com

  19. #19
    Member rcarlberg's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by battema View Post
    Deafheaven. And particularly the album Ordinary Corrupt Human Love.

    I think these lyrics are sublime: https://deafheavens.bandcamp.com/track/glint
    Oy. I thought there was some hope... until the vocals(?) kicked in.

  20. #20
    Highly Evolved Orangutan JKL2000's Avatar
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    Helloween! Lots of other Power Metal too, but Helloween is especially dopily happy.

  21. #21
    Quote Originally Posted by rcarlberg View Post
    Oy. I thought there was some hope... until the vocals(?) kicked in.
    Ordinary Corrupt Human Love is a desert island disc for me, so the vox are just fine for my ears That being said, on their last album they took a stab at tweaking their sound a bit and going with clean vocals. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF70xjmMJ9I
    If you're actually reading this then chances are you already have my last album but if NOT and you're curious:
    https://battema.bandcamp.com/

    Also, Ephemeral Sun: it's a thing and we like making things that might be your thing: https://ephemeralsun.bandcamp.com

  22. #22
    The eons are closing
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    Quote Originally Posted by Paul View Post
    Not so much Dream Theater but John Petrucci's last solo record Terminal Velocity sprang to mind for me. There's even a song called The Happy Song.
    And if JP was honest about it, Happy Song might as well be a sequel / clone of Kindred Spirits by LTE... And Happy Song also appears to contain a reworked Metropolis Pt 1 riff in D Maj (same key as Metropolis Pt 1) noted earlier in thread ;⁠-⁠)

    So yes - go to Petrucci for happy prog metal.
    Death inspires me like a dog inspires a rabbit

  23. #23
    Is Edenbridge prog enough to qualify?
    Confirmed Bachelors: the dramedy hit of 1883...

  24. #24
    Studmuffin Scott Bails's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Splicer View Post
    Like pleasant lyrics that are about love or something except someone is yelling it at me.
    So, like, when Cookie Monster actually gets some cookies?
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  25. #25
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    Well if the thread is looking for novelty songs that fit the mentioned criteria,there's always this one that combines the song I'm Walking On Sunshine with the band Slayer
    https://youtu.be/7MrMfoHejiw

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