Sieges Even are one of progressive metal’s great cult treasures — a German band whose intricate, melodic, endlessly inventive music won a devoted following without ever reaching the audience it deserved. Formed in Munich in 1985, they evolved from technical thrash into a sophisticated, Rush- and Yes-influenced progressive rock, powered by guitarist Markus Steffen and the extraordinary Holzwarth brothers. Here is our fellow fan’s ranking of their finest songs.

The short version

If you only hear a few, make them “The Weight”, “These Empty Places”, “Styx” and “Paramount” — the ten-minute opener of their acclaimed comeback, the sweeping closer of their 1991 masterpiece A Sense of Change, a soaring late-period highlight, and the culminating title track of their final album. The full ranking is below.

Progressive metal’s best-kept secret

Sieges Even formed in Munich in 1985 and began as a fiercely technical thrash-metal band, but quickly grew into something more ambitious. Their 1991 album A Sense of Change, with its clean guitars, jazzy chords and Rush-like sophistication, remains a landmark of European progressive metal. After a hiatus, the band returned in 2005 with guitarist Markus Steffen, the virtuoso Holzwarth brothers — bassist Oliver and drummer Alex — and Dutch singer Arno Menses, releasing two of their most acclaimed albums: The Art of Navigating by the Stars and Paramount, rich with Yes-like harmony vocals and melodic, intricate songwriting. These fifteen songs are the best.

How we ranked them

This is one fan’s order, weighing melody, ambition, musicianship and lasting impact. The facts are accurate; the order is a starting point for the debate.

The essential six

At the very top sits “The Weight” (2005), the ten-minute opener of The Art of Navigating by the Stars and one of their most powerful compositions. With it: “These Empty Places” (1991), the sweeping epic that closes A Sense of Change; “Styx” (2005), a beautiful, dynamic late-period highlight; “Paramount” (2007), the eight-minute title track that culminates their final album; “Dimensions” (1991), an intricate A Sense of Change centrepiece; and “To the Ones Who Have Failed” (2005), a heavy, emotional standout.

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Reliably great

The next tier is essential too. “Unbreakable” (2005) is a nine-minute showcase for the band’s chemistry; “Duende” (2007) rides a fantastic bassline; “The Waking Hours” (1991) is a graceful A Sense of Change highlight; “Stigmata” (2005) builds to a dark, Tool-like intensity; and “When Alpha and Omega Collide” (2007) opens Paramount in style.

Deeper cuts

For the dedicated, these reward repeat listens. “The Lonely Views of Condors” (2005) is a melodic gem; “Where Our Shadows Sleep” (2007) is an instrumental tour de force; “Change of Seasons” (1991) shows their early prog sophistication; and “Tangerine Windows of Solace” (1990) is the ambitious multi-part suite that opens Steps.

Every song at a glance

All fifteen songs, in chronological order — each linked to the album it comes from, so you can hear it in context.

Where to start

Begin with their two acclaimed comeback albums, The Art of Navigating by the Stars (2005) and Paramount (2007), then the classic A Sense of Change (1991), widely considered their masterpiece. From the rest of the catalogue, the technical Uneven (1997) and the early Steps (1990) reward fans who dig deeper.

The players

Sieges Even were built around the songwriting of guitarist Markus Steffen and the remarkable rhythm section of the Holzwarth brothers — bassist Oliver and drummer Alex — one of the most respected pairings in progressive metal, who later became full members of Rhapsody of Fire. The band worked through several singers over the years, from Franz Herde and Jogi Kaiser in their early era to the Dutch vocalist Arno Menses, whose clear, emotive voice defined their acclaimed final albums. After Sieges Even split in 2008, Steffen and Menses went on to form Subsignal.

Why they still matter

Sieges Even never had the profile of Dream Theater or Fates Warning, but among progressive metal connoisseurs they are held in the highest regard — a band who fused technical brilliance with genuine emotion and gorgeous melody. Albums like A Sense of Change and The Art of Navigating by the Stars are quietly revered, and, alongside modern peers like Haken, they helped show how intricate and heartfelt the genre could be. For anyone exploring the deeper corners of progressive metal, they are one of the great rewards.

Go deeper

Keep exploring: rank their records with our guide to the best Sieges Even albums, or place them in the bigger picture with the best progressive rock songs of all time.

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