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Neo-progressive rock (or often shortened to neo-prog, not to be confused with the significantly more modern New prog
New prog

New prog is a term used to describe a number of recent alternative rock bands who incorporate elements from progressive rock.Bands described as new prog include:...
) is a sub-genre
Genre

A genre is a loose set of criteria for a category of composition; the term is often used to categorize literature and speech, but is also used for any other Art#Art forms or utterance....
 of progressive rock
Progressive rock

Progressive rock is a form of rock music that evolved in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." The term "art rock" is often used interchangeably with "progressive rock", but while there are crossovers between the two genres, they are not identical....
, developed in the UK and popular in the 1980s, although it lives on today

In the book "The Progressive Rock Files", author Jerry Lucky dedicates a chapter on Neo-progressive rock with the title "A Neo Beginning!", stating that this sub-genre "surfaced in late 1981, bearing testimony to the lasting values of this musical form" of progressive rock, but distinguishing it from this main genre by going on to say that "Sure the sound was a bit different....a little more bite, a little more eighties".

Later in the same book, Jerry Lucky suggested that this sub-genre of Progressive Rock peaked in the mid-1980's: "As 1984 dawned all of the British neo-progressive rock bands release material.






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Neo-progressive rock (or often shortened to neo-prog, not to be confused with the significantly more modern New prog
New prog

New prog is a term used to describe a number of recent alternative rock bands who incorporate elements from progressive rock.Bands described as new prog include:...
) is a sub-genre
Genre

A genre is a loose set of criteria for a category of composition; the term is often used to categorize literature and speech, but is also used for any other Art#Art forms or utterance....
 of progressive rock
Progressive rock

Progressive rock is a form of rock music that evolved in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." The term "art rock" is often used interchangeably with "progressive rock", but while there are crossovers between the two genres, they are not identical....
, developed in the UK and popular in the 1980s, although it lives on today

In the book "The Progressive Rock Files", author Jerry Lucky dedicates a chapter on Neo-progressive rock with the title "A Neo Beginning!", stating that this sub-genre "surfaced in late 1981, bearing testimony to the lasting values of this musical form" of progressive rock, but distinguishing it from this main genre by going on to say that "Sure the sound was a bit different....a little more bite, a little more eighties".

Later in the same book, Jerry Lucky suggested that this sub-genre of Progressive Rock peaked in the mid-1980's: "As 1984 dawned all of the British neo-progressive rock bands release material. Marillion's second Fugazi, Pallas' The Sentinel, Pendragon's Fly High Fall Far, Twelfth Night's Art and Illusion, Solstice's Silent Dance, and plenty of others including records from Haze Ce'st La Vie, Craft, Mach One Lost For Words, BJH Victims of Circumstance, The Enid The Spell, and others"

Neo-progressive rock is characterized by deeply emotional content, often delivered via dramatic lyrics
Lyrics

Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song, either by speaking or singing. The word 'lyric' comes from the Greek word ,lyricos, meaning "singing to the lyre"....
 and a generous use of imagery and theatricality on-stage. The music is mostly the product of careful composition
Musical composition

Musical composition is:* an original piece of music* the musical form of a musical piece* the process of creating a new piece of music...
, relying less heavily on improvised
Improvisation

Improvisation is the practice of acting, singing, talking and reacting, of making and creating, in the moment and in response to the stimulus of one's immediate environment and inner feelings....
 jamming. The subgenre relies very much on clean, melodic & emotional electric guitar
Electric guitar

An electric guitar is a type of guitar that uses pickup to convert the vibration of its steel-cored strings into an electrical current, which is made louder with an instrument amplifier and a speaker....
 solos
Solo (music)

In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer. In practice this means a number of different things, depending on the type of music and the context....
, combined with keyboards. The main musical influences on the neo-prog genre are Genesis
Genesis (band)

Genesis are an English rock music band formed in 1967. With approximately 150 million albums sold worldwide, Genesis are among the top 30 List of best-selling music artists....
, Yes
Yes (band)

Yes are an England progressive rock band that formed in London in 1968 in music. Their music is marked by sharp dynamic contrasts, extended song lengths, abstract lyrics, and a general showcasing of instrumental prowess....
, Camel
Camel (band)

Camel are an England progressive rock band formed in 1971. An important figure in the Canterbury scene, the group has been releasing studio and live recordings steadily, with considerable success, since their formation....
, and Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd are an English Rock music band who initially earned recognition for their psychedelic rock and space rock music, and later, as they evolved, for their progressive rock music....
.

Early neo-prog was marked by sophisticated lyrics
Lyrics

Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song, either by speaking or singing. The word 'lyric' comes from the Greek word ,lyricos, meaning "singing to the lyre"....
 and often dark themes. While the accessibility of neo-prog by the mainstream is debatable, the form did generally seem more radio-friendly, with shorter tracks, than earlier progressive rock. Nonetheless, neo-prog never achieved the heights of popular success that bands like Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd are an English Rock music band who initially earned recognition for their psychedelic rock and space rock music, and later, as they evolved, for their progressive rock music....
 did.

The early notable neo-prog albums included Fact and Fiction
Fact and Fiction

Fact And Fiction is a studio album released by UK neo-progressive band Twelfth Night in 1982....
 (1982) by Twelfth Night
Twelfth Night (band)

Twelfth Night are an England neo-progressive rock band of the 1980s, reformed in 2007....
, Script for a Jester's Tear
Script for a Jester's Tear

Script for a Jester's Tear is the first album by the progressive rock band Marillion. Released in 1983, it included songs like "Forgotten Sons" and the title track, regarded by some as modern classics....
 (1983) by Marillion
Marillion

Marillion are a United Kingdom Rock group. Formed in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England in 1979, their recorded studio output comprises fifteen albums and is generally regarded as comprising two distinct eras, delineated by the departure of original vocalist & frontman Fish in late 1988 after their first four albums, and the subsequent arr...
, The Wake
The Wake (album)

The Wake is the third studio album by the United Kingdom neo-progressive rock band IQ and was released in 1985 . Its release was almost simultaneous with that of Marillion's Misplaced Childhood album....
 (1985) by IQ
IQ (band)

IQ are a United Kingdom neo-progressive rock band founded by Mike Holmes in 1982 following the dissolution of his original band The Lens. Although the band have never enjoyed major commercial success, IQ have built up a loyal cult following over the years and are still active as of 2009....
, and The Sentinel (1984) by Pallas
Pallas (band)

Pallas is a progressive rock band based in the United Kingdom They were one of the bands at the vanguard of what was termed the "neo-progressive" movement during progressive rock's second-wave revival in the early eighties ....
.

Marillion is almost certainly the most popular neo-prog band, peaking in popularity with their albums Misplaced Childhood
Misplaced Childhood

Misplaced Childhood is the third studio album of the progressive rock band Marillion. It was released in 1985 and has been their most commercially successful album, reaching number one in the ....
 (1985) and Clutching at Straws
Clutching at Straws

Clutching at Straws is the fourth studio album by progressive rock band Marillion, and is a concept album. Released in 1987, it was the last album with lead singer Fish who left the band in 1988....
 (1987). Following this peak, neo-prog declined as a mainstream genre, although these three pioneering bands are still active , and several newer groups have worked in the same space in the 1990s and 2000s.

By some fans of progressive rock
Progressive rock

Progressive rock is a form of rock music that evolved in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." The term "art rock" is often used interchangeably with "progressive rock", but while there are crossovers between the two genres, they are not identical....
, neo-prog is criticised for lacking originality compared to other progressive rock
Progressive rock

Progressive rock is a form of rock music that evolved in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." The term "art rock" is often used interchangeably with "progressive rock", but while there are crossovers between the two genres, they are not identical....
 - even by such artists as Robert John Godfrey
Robert John Godfrey

File:RobertJohnGodfrey1998.jpgRobert John Godfrey is a British composer, pianist and founder member of The Enid.Born on the Leeds Castle estate in Kent, England, Godfrey was educated at Finchden Manor in Tenterden, which was described by its founder George Lyward as a "therapeutic community for adolescents" , other alumni of which include...
 of The Enid
The Enid

The Enid is a United Kingdom Rock music band founded in 1975 by Robert John Godfrey, Stephen Stewart and Francis Lickerish. Another early member was William Gilmour, who subsequently founded his own band Craft and now plays keyboards in Lickerish's band Secret Green....
 , whose own band has sometimes been promoted by neo-prog fans.

Despite criticisms, neo-prog still draws a significant fan base and albums are consistently released. One of the biggest labels for neo prog is InsideOut Music
InsideOut Music

InsideOut is an independent record label company, specializing in the progressive rock and progressive metal genres. It was founded in Germany and has since expanded to Europe, then partnered in the United States with sister company InsideOut US....
 . According to the Progressive Archives website , the most popular neo prog artists are Marillion, IQ, Arena and Pendragon. News about neo progressive rock bands is given regularly on The Dutch Progressive Rock website .

Key artists


  • Arena
    Arena (band)

    Arena are a United Kingdom neo-progressive rock band founded in 1995 by Clive Nolan and Mick Pointer. Most of the band's lyrics are written by Nolan, though Pointer contributed lyrics to Sirens and other tracks on the first two albums....
  • Enchant
    Enchant (band)

    Enchant is an United States neo-progressive rock band, formed in 1989. Their music is characterized by ambitious lyrics and melodies along with harmonic experimentation....
  • Final Conflict/FC
    FC (band)

    FC, originally named Final Conflict, are a United Kingdom neo-progressive rock band based in Staffordshire....
  • Fish
    Fish (singer)

    Derek William Dick, better known as Fish , is a Scottish people progressive rock singer, lyricist and occasional actor....
  • Frost*
  • IQ
    IQ (band)

    IQ are a United Kingdom neo-progressive rock band founded by Mike Holmes in 1982 following the dissolution of his original band The Lens. Although the band have never enjoyed major commercial success, IQ have built up a loyal cult following over the years and are still active as of 2009....
  • Jadis
    Jadis

    Jadis is a United Kingdom neo-progressive rock group. They play guitar-driven rock with the use of synthesizers to add depth and atmosphere, and an emphasis on melody....
  • Janysium
    Janysium

    Janysium are a United Kingdom neo-progressive rock band founded in 1980 by two pupils from Little Ealing Middle School Peter Matuchniak and Simon Strevens....
  • Landmarq
    Landmarq

    Landmarq are a United Kingdom-based neo-progressive rock band. Since formatting in 1990, they have so far released six CD albums, two of which were recorded live at various concerts in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe....
  • Mach One
    Mach One (band)

    Mach One are a United Kingdom neo-progressive rock band founded in 1980 by a group of students attending Burlington Danes High School in West London....
  • Marillion
    Marillion

    Marillion are a United Kingdom Rock group. Formed in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England in 1979, their recorded studio output comprises fifteen albums and is generally regarded as comprising two distinct eras, delineated by the departure of original vocalist & frontman Fish in late 1988 after their first four albums, and the subsequent arr...
  • Clive Nolan
    Clive Nolan

    Clive Nolan is a United Kingdom musician, composer and producer who has played a prominent role in the recent development of progressive rock....
  • Pallas
    Pallas (band)

    Pallas is a progressive rock band based in the United Kingdom They were one of the bands at the vanguard of what was termed the "neo-progressive" movement during progressive rock's second-wave revival in the early eighties ....
  • Pendragon
    Pendragon (band)

    Pendragon are an England neo-progressive rock band established in 1978 in Stroud, Gloucestershire as Zeus Pendragon by electric guitar Nick Barrett....
  • Shadowland
    Shadowland (band)

    Shadowland are a United Kingdom neo-progressive rock band originally formed in the 1990s. The band's music tends towards the pop side of progressive rock, while retaining its melodic and emotional intensity....
  • Sylvan
    Sylvan (band)

    Sylvan is a German Progressive rock band....
  • Twelfth Night
    Twelfth Night (band)

    Twelfth Night are an England neo-progressive rock band of the 1980s, reformed in 2007....
  • UK
    UK (band)

    U.K. were a short-lived British progressive rock supergroup active from 1977 through 1980.In September 1976, singer/bassist John Wetton and drummer Bill Bruford, alumni of King Crimson,...