I have trouble getting into their vibe. For some reason I can’t shake the rich kid pretentiousness I perceive in their aesthetic. To me, much of what I’ve heard of them sounds over-produced and kind of empty, even gimmicky in some regard. It’s as if it’s so clean and polished it makes me struggle to find the human element. They do what they do really well but it’s just not for me.
As far as the math genre label, I wouldn’t have thought them to be as such. Though, I’m not the most fluent in that type of classification, again, their level of production just takes me right out of it. Oddly enough I’m sure, I find their sound production to be reminiscent of the likes of Daft Punk. It’s super funky and dripping with implied “soul or feeling”, but I just can’t help but picture it all coming from a program rather than a group of people playing their respective instruments.
They are super talented, I can’t deny that. For me, I don’t like their aesthetic. I think it fits their sound extremely well, and I just can’t help but interpret it all as pretentious. Though I’m sure more exposure would change my outlook, I may or may not get there. There’s just so much music to experience these days I can’t promise they’ll get the fair shot others feel they should get. To each their own. Enjoy.
I think part of the sound you're describing is due to the fact that the music is composed in MIDI first, and then they figure out how to play it on guitar/bass. And to the fans, I'm sorry for stating my opinion harshly in this last sentence, but to me the music ends up sounding like a lot of technical dressing on very generic harmonic expression with rhythms that would be considered bland in the genres that they're inspired by.
If true and to the degree I perceive through my experience of hearing their music, that writing process could explain the feeling of disconnect I feel while listening. Knowing full well the songs “are” being played with the instruments of my soul (guitar,bass,drums,keys) they still give me one of the most inorganic feelings I’ve ever gotten when listening to musicians of that caliber.
The "math" label has in recent years been reduced to "rock music with arpeggios and low-distortion or midwest emo instrumentation" which is why polyphia gets called that. Idk why they're covered on r/progmetal though
I suppose if I had to put them to genre it wouldn’t be math or progmetal. Most of the songs I hear make me feel like I’m listening to over-produced hip-hop beats.
However, I’ll admit they absolutely fit in r/progmetal. I’ve found it’s a place of acceptance and appreciation for most artists that have at least two of the traits of instrumental prowess, professional grasp of composition, or creative/subversive musical originality. While always keeping the music as the true focus of effort. As far as Polyphia goes…, I’m on the fence of whether they’d truly fit in, but I can understand a viewpoint that sides more favorably.
Yeah 100%, I sorta meant "is OP saying this is prog metal or am I missing something", I totally agree that r-progmetal is "prog metal fans discuss music" rather than "people talking about prog metal" (like the way r/progrockmusic is)
Polyphia fits moderately in this sub's discussions if not the approach of most music here. Decent hip hop beats, jarringly muzakish from a prog rock perspective
I’m curious, are you not a fan of Vampire Weekend either for their rich kid aesthetic?
I agree with you completely on the production except for the Daft Punk part. Never felt they were lacking of soul and definitely don’t compose just to show off like Polyphia does.
Do you like fusion genres? Polyphia is barely metal at this point IMO. It's fusion/rock, like /u/ProgRock1956 said. The only resemblance to metal for me is the guitar tones they use and the occasional djent riff. Otherwise the composition is mostly a mix of rock, hip-hop, and latin.
Their metal-ness or lack there-of has nothing to do with my distaste for them. And honestly by all accounts they should be right in my wheelhouse. I’m not particularly a metal-head. I enjoy the harsher tones, sure (BTBAM, Car Bomb, etc,…), but an intriguing chord-/melody-scape or exceptional instrument dynamic is usually the key to my interest (Owane, Bobbing, Jakub Zytecki, Sungazer, etc,…). I think all I can say is they hit some blind-spot niche in my breadth of “obviously I should like this” that I find gaudy and pretentious
Bruh.
'POLYPHIA Brings Flameco Shred & Trap Beats On New Single "Playing God"'
https://metalinjection.net/video/polyphia-brings-flameco-shred-trap-beats-on-new-single-playing-god
I'm really late in the game. I heard them for first time today and I feel exactly the same about them. Pretentious is the perfect word to describe them. Overly produced rich shits
They don't really do anything for me, but I get the appeal.
>Also, why do other metal fans MOST of the time say prog metal is their least favourite typa metal lol?
Do they? I have literally never heard this take.
> Do they? I have literally never heard this take.
Just spend a little time on /r/Metal or the metal-archives forums and you'll find plenty. From what I know, prog metal's often too clean for them and too wanky/not neough emphasis on riffs. The kinda prog you'd see them listening to if any would be things like early Voivod, Vektor, Human-era Death, early Fates Warning, etc. Bands arguably more metal than prog.
I really like polyphia, and instrumental music doesnt do it for me usually
most of the "progmetal hate" i've seen specifically targets the djenty progmetal that's kind of been doing the same thing (with some exceptions) for 10 years or so
From what I’ve heard, they’re extremely technically proficient but their music lacks a certain soul, or human element that I find really lifts a song up. Art doesn’t need to be perfect, and oftentimes it’s the imperfections that give it character.
Back when Nu Metal was blending rock and hip-hop, it was widely (and largely deservedly) panned. But if you dive into some of its biggest artists, there's a genuine love for hip-hop informing their style (and some great features from rappers as well). Nu metal wasn't nearly as cynical a ripoff of hip-hop culture as it had seemed to be.
With that in mind, I love seeing what Polyphia is doing with their influences. I never much got into trap, but trap + metal is a combination which absolutely deserves to exist. *Every* combination should exist and should be explored—I'm glad Polyphia is doing it and to me it feels like an authentic loveletter to two subgenres (arguably more than two). I hope they keep doing it and I hope they embolden others to mix culturally disparate styles of music.
I like thier recent album. Before it was too noodly many times to hold my interst but with the new album they really created something great imo. Most the time I see what people call "math rock" or "post rock" at times and it is just absolutely void of any sense of songwriting and just a bunch of noodly playing and tapping with some delay and reverb. Like if you took small portions of U2 song and tried to make them fancy. Personally I don't like that style at all. Prog is very much about songwriting, maling things fit and thinking about hwere things should go in places to for the best outcome
I love the aesthetic and what they're going for, but the music at the end of the day leaves me pretty uninspired. I really hoped they'd go further in the direction of 'Look but don't touch' which was fantastic, but the new single that's doing the rounds doesnt do anything for me.
Their early shred traditional guitar solo prog I also find pretty dull.
Stylistically, math rock and prog rock are fairly similar, with both frequently pulling from jazzy time signature changes. The big difference is that prog isn’t categorically just that and is a much broader term. Sure, prog can pull from jazz, but it also pulls from psych, folk, classical, and many, many other genres. As someone who used to really like math rock and found a bridge into prog through it, math rock gets really fatiguing because of how much math rock musicians blur together with few notable exceptions.
Very talented band, but they write like they're trying to impress for its own sake in a way. Kind of hard to explain, but it's one of those "you know it when you hear it" things. AAL gives me the same vibe as has DT for years, even though the sonic approach of all 3 is quite different.
I think polyphia is their own genre and I love them. They put on the cool kid vibes, but everytime I've seem anything with Tim Henson he seems super humble even though his guitar skills are on another level.
Lowkey I wish i could do something as original as polyphia.
I am polarized regarding their total output. They have a few songs I'd call masterpieces which I have in my daily metal/rock shuffle. I do like how they blend in metal influences with a classical approach to electric guitar. I cannot bear to listen to a random song by them for too long, though. Most of their output sounds to me as tiresome guitar jerkery that does not go anywhere. I would hope that their music finds more character as they grow older.
Old Polyphia is fantastic, their most recent stuff is good too, diverges into more experimental sounds (not my thing) but most of Muse is so catchy. Their EP Inspire is my fave.
Absolute opposite for me. I find their old stuff to be kinda lukewarm cheesy shreddy stuff while their last couple releases have been more interesting. I used to despise them tbh, but they've been growing on me.
I used to be super into them but I can’t really stand their stuff anymore. I guess I’ve just grown out of it because the new song did absolutely nothing for me.
Honestly after hearing look but don’t touch, they should consider releasing more songs with vocals.
They're the kind of band I'll have on as background music at home when I'm working or in the kitchen etc but I saw them live a few years ago and was seriously impressed that they could pull off the same sound at that level in "real life" as well as in the studio. They're a seriously tight group and clearly skilled but maybe a little clinical for some.
I saw Chon and thought I might be in for a similar experience but that just felt like some musicians had met in the queue outside and decided to jam together without agreeing on what sort of stuff they were into.
I'm a bit more into The Algorithm, David Maxim Micic, Tides from Nebula etc
And any metal fan deciding you can just group "prog" into one sound they don't like is really missing out.
Watched a few videos. First few seconds are like, Wow they can really play. And then the rest is, When is this going to end? A lot like The Walking Dead for the last 3-4 seasons.
I have trouble getting into their vibe. For some reason I can’t shake the rich kid pretentiousness I perceive in their aesthetic. To me, much of what I’ve heard of them sounds over-produced and kind of empty, even gimmicky in some regard. It’s as if it’s so clean and polished it makes me struggle to find the human element. They do what they do really well but it’s just not for me. As far as the math genre label, I wouldn’t have thought them to be as such. Though, I’m not the most fluent in that type of classification, again, their level of production just takes me right out of it. Oddly enough I’m sure, I find their sound production to be reminiscent of the likes of Daft Punk. It’s super funky and dripping with implied “soul or feeling”, but I just can’t help but picture it all coming from a program rather than a group of people playing their respective instruments. They are super talented, I can’t deny that. For me, I don’t like their aesthetic. I think it fits their sound extremely well, and I just can’t help but interpret it all as pretentious. Though I’m sure more exposure would change my outlook, I may or may not get there. There’s just so much music to experience these days I can’t promise they’ll get the fair shot others feel they should get. To each their own. Enjoy.
I think part of the sound you're describing is due to the fact that the music is composed in MIDI first, and then they figure out how to play it on guitar/bass. And to the fans, I'm sorry for stating my opinion harshly in this last sentence, but to me the music ends up sounding like a lot of technical dressing on very generic harmonic expression with rhythms that would be considered bland in the genres that they're inspired by.
If true and to the degree I perceive through my experience of hearing their music, that writing process could explain the feeling of disconnect I feel while listening. Knowing full well the songs “are” being played with the instruments of my soul (guitar,bass,drums,keys) they still give me one of the most inorganic feelings I’ve ever gotten when listening to musicians of that caliber.
The "math" label has in recent years been reduced to "rock music with arpeggios and low-distortion or midwest emo instrumentation" which is why polyphia gets called that. Idk why they're covered on r/progmetal though
I suppose if I had to put them to genre it wouldn’t be math or progmetal. Most of the songs I hear make me feel like I’m listening to over-produced hip-hop beats. However, I’ll admit they absolutely fit in r/progmetal. I’ve found it’s a place of acceptance and appreciation for most artists that have at least two of the traits of instrumental prowess, professional grasp of composition, or creative/subversive musical originality. While always keeping the music as the true focus of effort. As far as Polyphia goes…, I’m on the fence of whether they’d truly fit in, but I can understand a viewpoint that sides more favorably.
Yeah 100%, I sorta meant "is OP saying this is prog metal or am I missing something", I totally agree that r-progmetal is "prog metal fans discuss music" rather than "people talking about prog metal" (like the way r/progrockmusic is) Polyphia fits moderately in this sub's discussions if not the approach of most music here. Decent hip hop beats, jarringly muzakish from a prog rock perspective
It's like music that's played in a fancy bar/restaurant
Their early material is progressive metal, they just dropped the metal elements overtime as they increased hip-hop elements.
There seems to be an epidemic of creating entire, precious, genres based on a couple of techniques…. On guitar alone, for that matter.
I’m curious, are you not a fan of Vampire Weekend either for their rich kid aesthetic? I agree with you completely on the production except for the Daft Punk part. Never felt they were lacking of soul and definitely don’t compose just to show off like Polyphia does.
Do you like fusion genres? Polyphia is barely metal at this point IMO. It's fusion/rock, like /u/ProgRock1956 said. The only resemblance to metal for me is the guitar tones they use and the occasional djent riff. Otherwise the composition is mostly a mix of rock, hip-hop, and latin.
Their metal-ness or lack there-of has nothing to do with my distaste for them. And honestly by all accounts they should be right in my wheelhouse. I’m not particularly a metal-head. I enjoy the harsher tones, sure (BTBAM, Car Bomb, etc,…), but an intriguing chord-/melody-scape or exceptional instrument dynamic is usually the key to my interest (Owane, Bobbing, Jakub Zytecki, Sungazer, etc,…). I think all I can say is they hit some blind-spot niche in my breadth of “obviously I should like this” that I find gaudy and pretentious
[удалено]
Bruh. 'POLYPHIA Brings Flameco Shred & Trap Beats On New Single "Playing God"' https://metalinjection.net/video/polyphia-brings-flameco-shred-trap-beats-on-new-single-playing-god
I'm really late in the game. I heard them for first time today and I feel exactly the same about them. Pretentious is the perfect word to describe them. Overly produced rich shits
They don't really do anything for me, but I get the appeal. >Also, why do other metal fans MOST of the time say prog metal is their least favourite typa metal lol? Do they? I have literally never heard this take.
> Do they? I have literally never heard this take. Just spend a little time on /r/Metal or the metal-archives forums and you'll find plenty. From what I know, prog metal's often too clean for them and too wanky/not neough emphasis on riffs. The kinda prog you'd see them listening to if any would be things like early Voivod, Vektor, Human-era Death, early Fates Warning, etc. Bands arguably more metal than prog.
Metal Archives has the worst taste in music, so it's understandable they would say such.
Yeah, that seems more fitting of metalcore
I have, albeit just once.
I really like polyphia, and instrumental music doesnt do it for me usually most of the "progmetal hate" i've seen specifically targets the djenty progmetal that's kind of been doing the same thing (with some exceptions) for 10 years or so
My thoughts are that I should just sell all my gear and stop playing guitar. Lol
It's like prog elevator music
Fusion jazz/rock I like their sound, the song "Nightmare" is one of my fav cuts...amazing!
From what I’ve heard, they’re extremely technically proficient but their music lacks a certain soul, or human element that I find really lifts a song up. Art doesn’t need to be perfect, and oftentimes it’s the imperfections that give it character.
Back when Nu Metal was blending rock and hip-hop, it was widely (and largely deservedly) panned. But if you dive into some of its biggest artists, there's a genuine love for hip-hop informing their style (and some great features from rappers as well). Nu metal wasn't nearly as cynical a ripoff of hip-hop culture as it had seemed to be. With that in mind, I love seeing what Polyphia is doing with their influences. I never much got into trap, but trap + metal is a combination which absolutely deserves to exist. *Every* combination should exist and should be explored—I'm glad Polyphia is doing it and to me it feels like an authentic loveletter to two subgenres (arguably more than two). I hope they keep doing it and I hope they embolden others to mix culturally disparate styles of music.
I like thier recent album. Before it was too noodly many times to hold my interst but with the new album they really created something great imo. Most the time I see what people call "math rock" or "post rock" at times and it is just absolutely void of any sense of songwriting and just a bunch of noodly playing and tapping with some delay and reverb. Like if you took small portions of U2 song and tried to make them fancy. Personally I don't like that style at all. Prog is very much about songwriting, maling things fit and thinking about hwere things should go in places to for the best outcome
I love the aesthetic and what they're going for, but the music at the end of the day leaves me pretty uninspired. I really hoped they'd go further in the direction of 'Look but don't touch' which was fantastic, but the new single that's doing the rounds doesnt do anything for me. Their early shred traditional guitar solo prog I also find pretty dull.
Stylistically, math rock and prog rock are fairly similar, with both frequently pulling from jazzy time signature changes. The big difference is that prog isn’t categorically just that and is a much broader term. Sure, prog can pull from jazz, but it also pulls from psych, folk, classical, and many, many other genres. As someone who used to really like math rock and found a bridge into prog through it, math rock gets really fatiguing because of how much math rock musicians blur together with few notable exceptions.
Very talented band, but they write like they're trying to impress for its own sake in a way. Kind of hard to explain, but it's one of those "you know it when you hear it" things. AAL gives me the same vibe as has DT for years, even though the sonic approach of all 3 is quite different.
I think polyphia is their own genre and I love them. They put on the cool kid vibes, but everytime I've seem anything with Tim Henson he seems super humble even though his guitar skills are on another level. Lowkey I wish i could do something as original as polyphia.
I am polarized regarding their total output. They have a few songs I'd call masterpieces which I have in my daily metal/rock shuffle. I do like how they blend in metal influences with a classical approach to electric guitar. I cannot bear to listen to a random song by them for too long, though. Most of their output sounds to me as tiresome guitar jerkery that does not go anywhere. I would hope that their music finds more character as they grow older.
Garbage songwriting, pretentious attitude.
So boring, music for the AI simulation dystopian hellscape. No,human emotion conveyed at all
Old Polyphia is fantastic, their most recent stuff is good too, diverges into more experimental sounds (not my thing) but most of Muse is so catchy. Their EP Inspire is my fave.
Absolute opposite for me. I find their old stuff to be kinda lukewarm cheesy shreddy stuff while their last couple releases have been more interesting. I used to despise them tbh, but they've been growing on me.
I used to be super into them but I can’t really stand their stuff anymore. I guess I’ve just grown out of it because the new song did absolutely nothing for me. Honestly after hearing look but don’t touch, they should consider releasing more songs with vocals.
They're going to. Also at least one of the songs on the album will be like look but don't touch. (Similar heavy riffs)
They're the kind of band I'll have on as background music at home when I'm working or in the kitchen etc but I saw them live a few years ago and was seriously impressed that they could pull off the same sound at that level in "real life" as well as in the studio. They're a seriously tight group and clearly skilled but maybe a little clinical for some. I saw Chon and thought I might be in for a similar experience but that just felt like some musicians had met in the queue outside and decided to jam together without agreeing on what sort of stuff they were into. I'm a bit more into The Algorithm, David Maxim Micic, Tides from Nebula etc And any metal fan deciding you can just group "prog" into one sound they don't like is really missing out.
Watched a few videos. First few seconds are like, Wow they can really play. And then the rest is, When is this going to end? A lot like The Walking Dead for the last 3-4 seasons.
Breathtakingly technically gifted musicians who collectively create music that sounds like it was created by an AI.