Brutal Prog

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"Brutal Prog" was a term coined by Flying Luttenbachers leader Weasel Walter on the "avant-progressive" listserve in 2000 to delineate an aesthetic within the general idiom of progressive rock which is more focused on dissonance and intensity than traditional "prog". Brutal Prog is not an organized movement in anyway, but rather a term to delineate newer, more extreme bands from the traditional trappings of what is known as progressive rock. The posting from march 28, 2000 follows:

member of avant-progressive: "I could also recommend the last Gorguts album, calle (sic) "Obscura", I've only heard one song off it, but is sounds interesting enough."

response by weasel walter: "This gorguts album IS progressive rock from HELL. It is 60-minutes of total abstraction and incredibly (almost unbearably) intense. I don't think there's a bar of 4/4 on the whole album. The band acheives some really startling new timbres on the guitar - - this is no average death metal album. Not for the weak!!!! Highly recommended. I'm a fan of the more, uh, "brutal" prog a la Magma, Univers Zero, prime-Heldon, Massacre, Shub Niggurath, King Crimson 'Red'- era, Ruins, etc., so take it from me..."

Contents

[edit] Archetypes

The so-called brutal prog bands seem to have strong roots in or a likeness to one or more of the following historical aesthetics: DIY/punk attitude and aggression; the deconconstructivist/nihilistic "no wave" ethos; characteristics of the Rock in Opposition (RIO) movement from Europe; musical influence from some of the darker traditional progressive rock bands such as Magma, Present, King Crimson, Univers Zero; or the music of Japanese cult band Ruins (led by influential musician Tatsuya Yoshida). Other bands that predated the tenets of Brutal Prog include Cheer-Accident, Molecules, Dazzling Killmen, Doctor Nerve, The Muffins, Massacre.

[edit] Characteristics

Despite adventurous attitudes towards structure and meter, many classic "prog" bands like Yes or Genesis focused on harmonic consonance, with diatonic tonality prevaling. Brutal Prog bands are generally more challenging harmonically, often engaging sophisticated approaches to dissonance. For many of the groups there is also an emphasis on speed or sonic extremity for its own sake. Audio fidelity is sometimes sacrificed in the name of rawness or urgency.

[edit] Major Bands

[edit] References

  • "Brutal prog and Beyond", by Will York, San Francisco Bay Guardian, August 7, 2002
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