Band: Dream Theater

Dream Theater are credited with creating the modern prog metal sound, and countless bands have tried to copy their style to no avail. They continue to push the boundaries of prog, as each CD shows marked growth and improvement (except "Falling Into Infinity" which is a rather mediocre album). Labrie's vocals seem to be a controversial topic, with many, myself included, finding them to be quite good, and others who seem to really hate them. He does, at times, have a slight nasal tone, but generally his voice is quite smooth and melodic. Musically, DT are all about technically intricate and melodic pieces. Best album is another hotly debated subject; many prefer the early releases, but I personally think they have mostly improved their sound over time. "6 Degrees" is a complex, dark masterpiece, IMO, and "Scenes" is one of the best concept discs to date, but I still find "Awake" to be almost on par with them. Many of the band members are also involved in side projects, but they still manage to tour extensively and record new material. This is the band by which all other prog metal bands are measured, and deservedly so.