Yeah well progressive and power are all pretty damn close in musical structure, Id say symphony x is a cross between power and prog.
Although I can easily grasp how you've fallen victim to such a common misconception, allow me to assure you, there is no such similarity between the progressive and power metal genre. Indeed, there are certain bands that encompass elements from both genres, however the majority of them can be holistically partitioned into one. The power-metal genre is usually demonstrated by simple circular structure, bombastic production, sweeping technical-melodies, and lyrical themes that explore such themes as Romanticism, heroism, the human imagination, etc. (which can wear a listener's patience since Tolkien narratives account for about 80% of them). The progressive metal/ rock genre is normally characterized by irregular/ unorthodox song-structures and time-signatures, notably complex instrumentation and conceptual themes, as well as musical variation/ diversity.
While many would dismiss this all as lifeless technical-wankery, I happen to possess a differing opinion(which, for your convenience, I won't delve into) that technicality does not necessarily cause a song to lose its direction.
Nonetheless, my point is that there is a fine line between cheesy/ simplistic power metal with no variation and tiresome circular-structures, such as for instance, Manowar, Hammerfall, Stratovarius, Gamma Ray, etc., and music that fits the above description, such as Symphony-X, Ayreon, King Crimson, Pain of Salvation, Frank Zappa, Dream Theater, and innumerable others that I'm far too slothful to name. What I'm trying to explain is, to structurally juxtapose Symphony-X's most recent material with a band like Manowar is as absurd as comparing a Cryptopsy record to one of say, Emperor.
Please pardon my incessant lecturing, by the way
, but I would be remiss if I neglected to correct you.
