250,000 before W:O:A 09!

[xforeverxmetalx]

6. When showcasing a new prog metal band to a non-musician friend, put on the most technically difficult song, and skip directly to the solo part.

 

[xforeverxmetalx]

7. If your friend says that it is cool, tell him that he has grasped the grandeur of prog and shown that his intelligence is superior to that of the mainstream sheep.

 

[xforeverxmetalx]

8. If he doesn't, accuse him of lacking musical intelligence and not being a true prog fan.

 

[xforeverxmetalx]

9. Renounce all contact with friend in rule 8. Racial purity isn't all bad.

 

[xforeverxmetalx]

10. Make sure your drummer has a double bass pedal.

 

[xforeverxmetalx]

11. If he hasn't, kick him out and get another one who has. Single pedal is not prog.

 

[xforeverxmetalx]

12. Own every side project a member of Dream Theater has been involved in. Listen to approximately none of them regularly.

 

[xforeverxmetalx]

13. When a mainstream fool asks you what prog metal is, tell him something along the lines of "prog is the evolution of musical expression and experimentalism in rock." In any case, make sure that the person in question is left with no idea of what prog metal is. He wouldn't have understood anyway.

 

[xforeverxmetalx]

14. Insist that music should always progress, although as long as you write an album in the prog vein, you don't necessarily have to.

 

[xforeverxmetalx]

15. Accuse anyone who disagrees with you regarding rule 14 of lacking musical intelligence and not being a true prog fan.

 

[xforeverxmetalx]

16. Refer to progressive metal as intelligent music for intelligent people, preferably at every occasion where a mainstream group or genre is mentioned.

 

[xforeverxmetalx]

17. Note that the above does not qualify as arrogance any more than pointing out that wine is drink for the more sophisticated.

 

[xforeverxmetalx]

18. A song under four minutes is not prog. If you are stuck with a song under four minutes, insert a phrygian solo trade-off between the guitarist and keyboardist for another four minutes. Now you have a decently lengthed song.

 

[xforeverxmetalx]

19. If a mainstream fool tells you that shredders are mindless wankers, tell him that "at least they can tune their guitars", and walk away defiantly.

 

[mental_mercury]

2. Accuse anyone who disagrees with you regarding rule 1 of lacking musical intelligence and not being a true prog fan.

same with black metal, gosh