technical metal
what it is
Technical metal is a sub-genre of metal that takes the compositional structures of progressive metal to its furthest extremes, resulting in extremely complex and often experimental music. Songs also sometimes exhibit a fast, shred-like playing style. The earliest bands to develop this sound were Meshuggah and Cynic, while some current bands include Spiral Architect and Aghora.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make technical metal a playlist
turn these 25 artists into something you can press play on.
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questions
What is technical metal?
Technical metal is a sub-genre of metal that takes the compositional structures of progressive metal to its furthest extremes, resulting in extremely complex and often experimental music. Songs also sometimes exhibit a fast, shred-like playing style. The earliest bands to develop this sound were Meshuggah and Cynic, while some current bands include Spiral Architect and Aghora.
What are good technical metal albums to start with?
Try Nothing by Meshuggah, Centralia by Car Bomb, A Sceptic's Universe by Spiral Architect, and The Migration by Scale the Summit.
Who are some women making technical metal?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/technical-metal/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making technical metal, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20