I'm no expert on post-punk, this is just going by what I've heard.

prog is short for progressive. it was to the 70s what 'alternative' was to the 90s. an offshoot of the popular rock music of its day.

for the most part prog bands feature lots of technically proficient musicians bordering on virtuosity, long drawn out songs that feature far more components than simple verse / chorus / verse tunes, and lots of instrumental bits.

Hmmmm which bands might he be referring to.

that's why I joined...lol

like Tool?

Two bands. Suffocation and Mercyful Fate. Suffocation just due to the fact that they were the first death metal band i ever listened to and they will always be in my top list of bands. Its funny that Pierced From Within was released in 93 and ever since bands have been trying to top it in terms of aggression, brutality, and heaviness, but no band can touch it. Mercyful Fate has King Diamond on vocals. That statement alone should be enough for every fan of music in general to love Mercyful Fate. People say his vocals are silly or exaggerated but in my eyes, and millions of other metalheads' eyes, his vocals are downright haunting. The King along with Shermann and Denner on guitar combine for two of the greatest heavy metal records ever made: Don't Break the Oath and Melissa.

Yes, Tool are most definitely progressive.
But keep in mind there are many different sub-genres of progressive music that range from early stuff right up to today and often have quite different sounds.

Modern Progressive rock is not progressive...a blanket statement I know, but they all sound the same: same chord progressions, pretentious lyrics, same production, same guitar sounds etc.
The difference between say the butterfly effect and tool is negligible.
Where has the diversity gone?
(sorry shishedo)

I don't care what anyone says about this. The Donnas have influenced me so much, and I have become a much better musician since listening to them. I started playing more and writing more, also playing better and writing better. If it weren't for them I would still be in the same position I was two years ago.

Tool was interesting in a way up til' after Aenima at the very least. The ball began to roll downhill after that.

Anyway, if I had to give a band or two credit for influencing me the most early on, I would have to give props to either The Alan Parsons Project or Pink Floyd. :)

Are you kidding? I see worlds of difference between Tool and The Butterfly Effect in their lyrics, musicality, themes, everything. I can understand what you're saying about The Butterfly Effect, but in my opinion I think Tool are definitely progressive. It's kind-of elitist to say that modern progressive music is not really progressive...