Favorite Prog Concept Album?(One Christian, One Secular)

Christian: Afterwinter - Paramnesia, Awesome and interesting story. Very unique. Great music. I don't normally enjoy female vocals in metal but this is awesome.
Secular: Dream Theater - Metropolis, Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory, Interesting story. I enjoy how each song is Scene 1:, Scene 2: 1. etc. It makes following the story a little easier I guess. Also just great music.

Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime
Not sure about a Christian album. Maybe Terium by Seventh Avenue.

How could I forget Terium in the other list? That’s one of my favorite albums. I’ll go with that one for Christian. 

And for secular, Operation: Mindcrime is tops.

I can't let a day go by without listening to Tales From the Topographic Ocean by Yes.

Just kidding, however, I gave that album my best shot in college, but I just wasn't esoteric enough.  This seems to plague a lot of concept albums by well-known groups like Quadrophenia, The Wall, and Metropolis part 2.  The concepts are just too high minded and not story oriented enough.  That's why you can chalk another one up for Mindcrime.  It's the best story.  I'll nominate On To Evermore by Glass Hammer as well.

Why isn't Kerrick in here jumping all over Seventh Son of s Seventh Son?  Although it is more of a loose concept album according to the band.

Electric Light Orchestra - Time

I'm not sure I'd categorize 7th Son as full on "prog" but it is a masterpiece either way!

Christian: Affector - Harmagedon

Secular: Orphaned Land - Mabool

^Mabool is amazing.  That was my gateway album into extreme metal vocals haha.  Great band musically, I just wish their lyrics were better!

Kerrick wrote:I'm not sure I'd categorize 7th Son as full on "prog" but it is a masterpiece either way!

One of my favorite Maiden albums. 

Technically, Seventh Avenue isn’t really prog, either, but I dig it so I wanted to mention it.

Technically Queensryche isn't pure prog but it has prog tendencies.
Nice to see Glass Hammer get a mention.

I have no Christian examples…


1. Operation Mindcrime

2. Seventh Son of a Seventh Son

Black Rider wrote:Technically Queensryche isn't pure prog but it has prog tendencies.
Nice to see Glass Hammer get a mention.

It is generally held that Queensryche is the first prog metal band.  Its just that Fates Warning and Dream Theater took it to another level instrumentally and composition-wise later on.  And then DT's sound and approach became the stereotype for prog metal.  Ryche was just more influenced by Floyd than Rush & Yes.  They were mainly more progressive in terms of their overall sound than creating wild instrumental passages.  Heck, they even had one of Pink Floyd's producers work on The Warning and Rage For Order is more progressive in terms of breaking new ground in sound and studio experimentation.  The songwriting is actually pretty intricate, they just don't have long jam sessions or showcase virtuoso musicians, it's just more compacted in a short space.  Geoff Tate is the virtuoso.

Only thing I disagree with is, I think Degarmo is the virtuoso, they're not the same without him.