Watchtower

Often considered the ultimate progressive technical thrash band, Watchtower ushered in a new era of extreme metal with their debut album, Energetic Disassembly, released in 1985. Featuring an array of chaotic time changes, aggressive vocals, and possibly one of the most accomplished rhythm sections in metal, this was one of the highlights of metal in the 80s. By 1989 Watchtower's lineup had changed when they released their sophomore effort, Control And Resistance. The album's quality did not diminish, although the overall atmosphere was a bit more reined in compared with the wildness of their debut. While Watchtower never received much popular fame, they are often considered the fathers of the progressive/technical metal movement and have been cited as influences on popular progressive bands such as Dream Theater.