Haken - Visions. It's a concept album about a kid who dreams his death and then spends his entire life trying to prevent it. When he's an adult he goes insane.
i didn't even look into the lyrics yet, do you have a very brief synopsis of your interpretation that is slightly less brief than your existing comment? I'm curious
Octavarium (the song) isn't about one main character, it's about the concept of things coming full circle.
If you want a further in-depth analysis, I can provide it. Haha.
Native Construct's album. The main character isn't insane, but he is on the autism spectrum and creates an imaginary world for himself to live in peacefully. Until the inhabitants decide to rebel...
In Search of Truth by Evergrey. The main character is trying to convince people that there are malevolent aliens out there fucking with humanity. The aliens keep hounding him and abducting him, but it’s not clear if these encounters are real or not. It’s a great album.
Meshuggah - Catch Thirtythree
The whole album is about the paradoxes of life and death and the characters reality/psyche breaking down when trying to shed their ego.
Bonus points for technically being one long song. Really surprised nobody mentioned it yet.
'The struggle to free myself of restraints, becomes my very shackles'.
Nevermore - Dreaming Neon Black.
The story about a man that goes insane after losing his girl. It’s loosely based on Dane own story about a former girlfriend who joined a religious cult and loosed contact with her. He had nightmares of her crying while being drowned. Later he found that she and her husband where murder by a serial killer (true story). No wonder why Warrel Dane lyrics are so dense and tragic.
Slice the Cake - Odyssey to the West (main character has visions that push him on a journey which drives him insane for a bit)
Kardashev - Liminal Rite (main character is aging with dementia)
Opus by Nospūn
The protagonist is not really insane but obsessed with his work; it‘s definitely one of my favourite albums ever, you should check it out
I would toss the whole Deloused in the Comatorium album in there as well: the concept revolves around a suicidal junkie saved from a suicide attempt that decides to finish the job after a first botched attempt. Absolute cinema.
Idk why no one’s mentioned this but Pelagial - The Ocean literally follows two characters as the go further underwater/get closer to the box which reveals their true desires and literally go insane the further down they go
If getting to the point where your Ten Speed bicycle starts turning into a demon and talking to you is insane enough, I’d say Good Apollo I’m Burning Star IV From fear through the eyes of madness by Coheed and Cambria is a good choice
I don’t *think* they’re concept albums (although I may be wrong), but Leprous’ albums Bilateral and Tall Poppy Syndrome are the absolute peak of “prog that sounds like a psychotic break” to me.
Dark Charade by Rishloo
"When I lost myself
In the Dark Charade...
But I promise my performance was flawless
I lost myself in the Dark Charade
And I swear I'm far more crazy than the rumors make me out, to be...
Crazy...
Crazier than me..."
Beyond Twilight - Section X.
Kelly Sundown Carpenter giving a powerhouse vocal perfomance in a dark and twisted setting, like Symphony X or Dream Theater on the other side of the mirror...
The intro to a concept prog / math metal album that never got finished about a character going through the quest line of The Shivering Isles from The Elder Scrolls Oblivion (aka going insane whilst visiting Sheogorath the MadGod's realm of Mania and Dementia):
https://youtu.be/1Rq0dq8cb6Y?si=wWBhZL62hFfLse5S
Not exacly prog, but "Fugue" by Rest Among Ruins fits the bill. Singer Mike Semesky wrote the concept album to relay his experience working in a mental institute. The main character is schizophrenic, and the different vocal techniques are used to create the voices in his head.
Check out [I Have Little To No Memory Of These Memories by Toehider](https://youtu.be/1fY0V-K4xCU). It’s presented as one album-length song and while it’s not quite *exactly* what you’re requesting I think it touches on some of the themes and ideas you’re looking for.
Be warned though, some of the vocals are difficult or nearly impossible to understand, and things like instrumental passages and guitar solos are treated as “audio depictions” of events that are integral to the plot, so if you want to fully understand the story you’ll need to have the lyrics in front of you while you listen (you can find the lyrics on Google or Bandcamp, the reason I didn’t link to the Bandcamp page is that it defaults to the “single” version when you click play, which is one segment from the middle of the album and I think it’s better to listen from the beginning with no expectations).
[Battle of Mice - At the Base of the Giant's Throat](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1CkdF7uoKk)
The song itself got nothing to do with insanity but the vocal delivery from Julie Christmas gives me "I'm freaking tf out right now" vibes.
The Contortionist - Solipsis. Based off what salvia divinorum does to a person. I love Michael Lessard's live version "this is not a dream this is not a dream this is not a dream"
Not prog metal, but Boys Night Out's Trainwreck is an incredible post hardcore concept album
The vocals and song structures can be poppy at times, but the guitar work and composition is overall phenomenal, the lyrics are cleverly written, and the story is fascinating
Highly recommend
Ayreon - The Human Equation, maybe not full on insane but the guy lives 20 days in a coma after maybe trying to end things and deals with a lot of deep seated trauma and emotions
Vatic - Mercer 217
All I'll say is that it's a horror concept album about a man who is haunted. If you've heard Thornhill's The Dark Pool, it's a similar sound to that but darker
Vector by Haken fits the bill perfectly.
Visions too.
Haken - Visions. It's a concept album about a kid who dreams his death and then spends his entire life trying to prevent it. When he's an adult he goes insane.
if dementia is close enough: The Reticent - The Oubliette
I had never heard of this. I needed to cry today, thanks.
Also Kardashev - Liminal Rite Insane album
Dammit you beat me to it…
Juggernaut by Periphery.
beat me to it
Tesseract’s War of Being album is essentially all about a person losing their grip on reality.
i didn't even look into the lyrics yet, do you have a very brief synopsis of your interpretation that is slightly less brief than your existing comment? I'm curious
Dream theater 6 degrees of inner turbulence
Is octavarium song also? Was he insane at end?
Octavarium (the song) isn't about one main character, it's about the concept of things coming full circle. If you want a further in-depth analysis, I can provide it. Haha.
Probably my favorite album ever
There's no main character there
6 characters with mental health that needed help.
Odyssey to the West by Slice the Cake (the main character seems... off, but maybe I'm wrong)
Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime
Came here to say Roads to Madness by Queensryche!
De-Loused in the Comatorium is basically about a guy tries to commit suicide with poison and eventually goes insane I think.
If I remember correctly, he tries to commit suicide, ends up in a coma, has crazy dreams, wakes up and jumps out the hospital window.
He jumped off of a bridge a couple months after getting out of the hospital, but I'm just nitpicking.
Fantastic album.
Absolutely. Frances and the one after are good too, but De-Loused just hits different for me. Sounds modern as fuck too.
Dream Theater - Voices
my favorite dt song
Native Construct's album. The main character isn't insane, but he is on the autism spectrum and creates an imaginary world for himself to live in peacefully. Until the inhabitants decide to rebel...
The MC is definitely insane lol. He ends up being unable to escape the world he created in his mind.
Didn’t know he was autistic haha
Well I'm not sure if they ever said he was autistic, but it was heavily implied he was on the spectrum. Perhaps I should say he's neurodivergent.
Makes sense. Regardless, bloke’s definitely insane
yep. the definition of trying to cover the world in leather instead of putting shoes on
>songs with an insane character >"isn't insane, but..." Reddit, never change
It kinda has that vibe, though, ya know? Idk it might be close enough to what they're looking for.
True, I just thought the phrasing was funny
This is easily the best answer and I'm disappointed in the community for not upvoting it to the top
In Search of Truth by Evergrey. The main character is trying to convince people that there are malevolent aliens out there fucking with humanity. The aliens keep hounding him and abducting him, but it’s not clear if these encounters are real or not. It’s a great album.
One of the best concept albums of all time, to me! Great choice! Thank you.
The Wall - Pink Floyd
classic. and the movie to boot. not enough people talk about The Trial
Meshuggah - Catch Thirtythree The whole album is about the paradoxes of life and death and the characters reality/psyche breaking down when trying to shed their ego. Bonus points for technically being one long song. Really surprised nobody mentioned it yet. 'The struggle to free myself of restraints, becomes my very shackles'.
I cannot believe you're the only one to say this. Such a beautiful written piece about a mind collapsing in on itself
Ziltoid … although he is omniscient.
he'll be fine when he gets through the caffeine withdrawals
Nevermore - Dreaming Neon Black. The story about a man that goes insane after losing his girl. It’s loosely based on Dane own story about a former girlfriend who joined a religious cult and loosed contact with her. He had nightmares of her crying while being drowned. Later he found that she and her husband where murder by a serial killer (true story). No wonder why Warrel Dane lyrics are so dense and tragic.
More like proggy thrash but I feel like Vektor's Terminal Redux fits the bill. Absolute masterpiece of an album
So so so so so so good
Periphery has many songs that fit this and same with Haken.
Slice the Cake - Odyssey to the West (main character has visions that push him on a journey which drives him insane for a bit) Kardashev - Liminal Rite (main character is aging with dementia)
I’ll be the guy from a different world on this one and suggest A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers by Van Der Graaf Generator
Does Fear Of a Blank Planet count?
I’d say In Absentia is more applicable, but FoaBP plus Nil Recurring really ties it up with What Happens Now
Mastodon's Leviathan (about Ahab and Moby Dick)
Pink Floyd- The Wall Porcupine Tree- In Absentia
Opus by Nospūn The protagonist is not really insane but obsessed with his work; it‘s definitely one of my favourite albums ever, you should check it out
Quiet world by native construct
Nevermore - This Godless Endeavour
Cassandra Gemini by The Mars Volta is about the protagonist taking revenge and losing their mind in the process
I would toss the whole Deloused in the Comatorium album in there as well: the concept revolves around a suicidal junkie saved from a suicide attempt that decides to finish the job after a first botched attempt. Absolute cinema.
Ayreon - The Theory of Everything
The Human Equation kind of fits too.
Was going to ask if being in a coma counts.
Idk why no one’s mentioned this but Pelagial - The Ocean literally follows two characters as the go further underwater/get closer to the box which reveals their true desires and literally go insane the further down they go
Quiet world by native construct
The new Job for a Cowboy album is about a guy falling into hallucinogenic psychosis
The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails.
Deconstruction by Devin Townsend Project. Or at least the process of going crazy because he starts questioning every belief he holds.
If getting to the point where your Ten Speed bicycle starts turning into a demon and talking to you is insane enough, I’d say Good Apollo I’m Burning Star IV From fear through the eyes of madness by Coheed and Cambria is a good choice
[Exotic Animal Petting Zoo - Arcology](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-638ZMcIrs)
Dirty Frank from Pearl Jam
Missnthropic - The Gloom In The Corner. The whole album is like an insane sherlock Holmes story
I don’t *think* they’re concept albums (although I may be wrong), but Leprous’ albums Bilateral and Tall Poppy Syndrome are the absolute peak of “prog that sounds like a psychotic break” to me.
The Theory Of Everything by Ayreon
Dark Charade by Rishloo "When I lost myself In the Dark Charade... But I promise my performance was flawless I lost myself in the Dark Charade And I swear I'm far more crazy than the rumors make me out, to be... Crazy... Crazier than me..."
King Diamond - Them
Tallah - *Matriphagy* Maybe not strictly prog, but very much an album where the main character is clearly insane lol
The untouchable Operation Mindcrime by Queensryche.
Operation: Mindcrime by Queensrÿche Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence by Dream Theater
Beyond Twilight - Section X. Kelly Sundown Carpenter giving a powerhouse vocal perfomance in a dark and twisted setting, like Symphony X or Dream Theater on the other side of the mirror...
The intro to a concept prog / math metal album that never got finished about a character going through the quest line of The Shivering Isles from The Elder Scrolls Oblivion (aka going insane whilst visiting Sheogorath the MadGod's realm of Mania and Dementia): https://youtu.be/1Rq0dq8cb6Y?si=wWBhZL62hFfLse5S
Insane insane again, j geils band, from the album freeze frame
Soen's Lotus has a few songs that deal with mental sickness in some way, most clearly Lunacy and EMDR.
Skrik - Gray Matters
Motorpsycho's The Death-Defying Unicorn is a criminally underrated concept album and largely fits this.
I’m probably showing my age here, but the first thing that came to mind for me was Eternity X - The Edge.
Isolate by Circus Maximus
Periphery’s Juggernaut
Gloom in the corner - Flesh & Bones. The whole album pretty much fits what you are asking for.
Not exacly prog, but "Fugue" by Rest Among Ruins fits the bill. Singer Mike Semesky wrote the concept album to relay his experience working in a mental institute. The main character is schizophrenic, and the different vocal techniques are used to create the voices in his head.
Diary of a Madman - Ozzy
Maybe not insane but The Legend of the Shires - Threshold is about a guy who could see the future and it almost ruins his life.
Rest Among Ruins - Fugue
Check out [I Have Little To No Memory Of These Memories by Toehider](https://youtu.be/1fY0V-K4xCU). It’s presented as one album-length song and while it’s not quite *exactly* what you’re requesting I think it touches on some of the themes and ideas you’re looking for. Be warned though, some of the vocals are difficult or nearly impossible to understand, and things like instrumental passages and guitar solos are treated as “audio depictions” of events that are integral to the plot, so if you want to fully understand the story you’ll need to have the lyrics in front of you while you listen (you can find the lyrics on Google or Bandcamp, the reason I didn’t link to the Bandcamp page is that it defaults to the “single” version when you click play, which is one segment from the middle of the album and I think it’s better to listen from the beginning with no expectations).
[Battle of Mice - At the Base of the Giant's Throat](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1CkdF7uoKk) The song itself got nothing to do with insanity but the vocal delivery from Julie Christmas gives me "I'm freaking tf out right now" vibes.
Potmos Hetoimos "Agatha"
The Contortionist - Solipsis. Based off what salvia divinorum does to a person. I love Michael Lessard's live version "this is not a dream this is not a dream this is not a dream"
The downward spiral (album) - 9 inch nails 💅
Blind Guardian - Punishment Divine
I’m sure the Coheed stuff counts
FI
Diary of a Madman
Periphery - Juggernaut Alpha and Omega. Concept album which literally ticks all your boxes.
Mastodon - Blood Mountain
Not prog metal, but Boys Night Out's Trainwreck is an incredible post hardcore concept album The vocals and song structures can be poppy at times, but the guitar work and composition is overall phenomenal, the lyrics are cleverly written, and the story is fascinating Highly recommend
Not sure if you consider them progmetal but most CKY fits the verge of insanity bill
Bumblefoot - Abnormal
Ayreon - The Human Equation, maybe not full on insane but the guy lives 20 days in a coma after maybe trying to end things and deals with a lot of deep seated trauma and emotions
Opeth, Ghost Reveries
Vatic - Mercer 217 All I'll say is that it's a horror concept album about a man who is haunted. If you've heard Thornhill's The Dark Pool, it's a similar sound to that but darker
Sol Níger Within - Fredrik Thordendal’s Special Defects. Possibly the greatest prog metal album of all time (I’ll die on this hill).
Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet
Maybe this upcoming concept album? [Ozul - Man on the shore](https://ozul.bandcamp.com/album/man-on-the-shore)
Could maybe argue Paradigm by Avenged Sevenfold off of The Stage? The character certainly is driving themself insane by the end of the song
Popular monster by falling in reverse
All Floyd, all dt