Symphonic metal???

[markh1]

Clicking on the links to the side of one of the videos posted by someone in the 'heavy music' thread led me to this song...

After Ever - Energise me...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjm4BrNAf6s

It may be a bit cheesy but I think it is pretty damn good. The vocalist is amazing! Looking at more videos of ilk it seems as though the main fan base are goths? Certainly some of the band and song names sound gothicy! These bands imho are miles ahead of bands like the 'killers' or so called other rock bands. They all seem to have very powerful female vocalists.

Within Temptation - All I need

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6ViM8tKG1Q
The singer from this band is called Sharon Den Adel. Apart from being stunning I think she is one of the best singers I have heard. She has done some more mainstream stuff...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxvpctgU_s8&fea...

Sirenia - The other side...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njPWBTIv9qw&fea...

Unsun - Whispers...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LapknbGS7Os&fea...

Epica - Never Enough...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfLtA8SkmVw&fea...

Epica lead me to this band is fronted by a guy but I think it is the same sort of stuff..

Kamelot - The Haunting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lecZ8UnsjLs&fea...

[S7Paul]

I'd add this to the above list:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdZn7k5rZLQ

Nightwish - Amaranth

[The real Apache]

IMO Evenescence had this sector sown up

[The real Apache]

don't know if this counts but it's bloody good and I had no idea Sharlene Spiteri had such a great voice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IB8gVc4xij0

[hornet]

Not my favourite style of metal by any means, but Therion probably deserve a mention here.

They've changed styles a LOT over the years, as they were originally a death metal band. Of their older stuff, the albums "Lepaca Kliffoth" and "Theli" are well worth a listen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pcwlUy4pmE&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Eegv66yP3c.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSge5p0SAlw&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTonwsIdVP0&fea...

Bottom link is still one of my favourite extreme metal songs.

Edited by hornet on Sunday 1st August 20:41

[toxgobbler]

The real Apache said:

IMO Evenescence had this sector sown up

+1 Amy Lee

[Si_steve]

+1 for nightwish, mostly the early stuff tho. Seems more ,I dunno...epic

[StripeyNick]

Nightwish are a great band.........especially more so with the latest singer even though the more die hard fans seem not to like her.

I find it quite an interesting genre but it somehow works.

[Nevin]

The real Apache said:

IMO Evenescence had this sector sown up

Most of these bands, at least Nightwish and Within Temptation, pre-date Evanescence, and have better singers IMO.

Delain is another worth looking at in the genre.

I've seen Within Temptation and Nightwish live and both were top. Within Temptation's Black Symphony tour looked pretty amazing, but that was a European stadiums deal rather than the Barrowlands in Glasgow where I saw them. They've just announced their new concert dates for next year. Only one in the UK so far at Shepherd's Bush Empire.

Oh, and I don't like Nightwish's' new singer, much preferred Tarja Turunen, who now has her own album out too.

Edited by Nevin on Monday 2nd August 09:58

[The real Apache]

Is time relevant? One thing I find hard to get used to with Nightwish and BT is the lack of vocal range, it all seems pretty similar to my uncultured ears.

[Chris71]

No mention of Lacuna Coil yet? Perhaps a little less symphonic, but a direct contemporary of Nightwish etc.

I'd probably go for Within Temptation.

Oh, and do Apocalyptica count?

[Ewan S]

Not female fronted, but I always liked Symphony X and Rhapsody (plus Luca Turilli's solo stuff).

Big fan of nightwish, within temptation aren't bad. Evanescance always seemed like wannabe's to me, compare their singer to nightwish's previous singer and you'll hear there's a huge difference in ability.

[The real Apache]

Ewan S said:

Not female fronted, but I always liked Symphony X and Rhapsody (plus Luca Turilli's solo stuff).

Big fan of nightwish, within temptation aren't bad. Evanescance always seemed like wannabe's to me, compare their singer to nightwish's previous singer and you'll hear there's a huge difference in ability.

You mean Tarja Turunen? interesting, I've just listened to a bunch of her stuff on YT and still feel her range and pitch a little samey, I do with LC as well, must be me.
I saw Evenescence live at the Apollo and was quite blown away by them, in my opinion, which seems at odds with most others here, Fallen was one of those rare albums where everything came together and wont be repeated. The song writing, the emotion and Amy Lees vocal dexterity was a potent mixture indeed and I can't recall ever seeing an audience so enthusiastic, I feel lucky to have seen them before it all fell apart

[JaymzDead]

I find a lot of symphonic stuff too cheesy for my liking, and I've never understood the attraction of Nightwish at all.

I do like Ihsahn's (guitarist and vocalist in Emperor) solo stuff and that tends to border on a symphonic sound, eg. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpTlsWgrCSc&fea... and http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ihsahn...

also always liked Old Man's Child: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiBpdB2McYk
and Dimmu Borgir: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joEAb_y7ZYA who both have quite a symphonic sound in places.

[hornet]

Don't know if it's just me, but having watched a bunch of those links (Kamelot, Nightwish et al), I just find it all rather contrived. Never really seems to have enough oomph for me - everything sounds rather muted and watered down. It's not bad, and I'd take it over bloody power metal any day of the week, but it's just a bit...inoffensive?

[The real Apache]

JaymzDead said:

I find a lot of symphonic stuff too cheesy for my liking,

[anonymous-user]

I' ve seen Within Temptation a couple of times in concert in London, they are very good live. I also prefer the older Nightwish stuff, Amaranth wasn't bad however I was rather disappointed with the rest of the album.

Not sure whether Evanescence qualify as Symphonic Metal, they are more rock IMHO.

[TedMaul]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Agree, neither they or We Are the Fallen are metal as such imo, certainly no more than Sisters of Mercy.

COF are often described as Symphonic Black Metal which is probably about right and have to admit to being a bit of a fan. Not heard Nightwish so added a couple of CDs to wish list

[clonmult]

Chris71 said:

No mention of Lacuna Coil yet? Perhaps a little less symphonic, but a direct contemporary of Nightwish etc.

I'd probably go for Within Temptation.

Oh, and do Apocalyptica count?

Never really got on with Nightwish - always felt there was something epic waiting to happen and it, well, didn't.

Lacuna Coil are definitely not quite as symphonic as others, but its definitely epic, and they've got the mandatory sexy lead singer.

Within Temptation are for me the best in the genre though. And what surprised me was that they're so much stronger live.

Apocalyptica are a genre of their own, and pretty damn good with it as well.

[The real Apache]

TedMaul said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Agree, neither they or We Are the Fallen are metal as such imo, certainly no more than Sisters of Mercy.

COF are often described as Symphonic Black Metal which is probably about right and have to admit to being a bit of a fan. Not heard Nightwish so added a couple of CDs to wish list

Yeah I guess Evenescence is rock, but WATF seem to be a copy? pretty damn good though

COF? who are they?


I thought this was worth posting, indulge me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQj2iOEx-V8&fea...

Edited by The real Apache on Tuesday 3rd August 10:58