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best symphonic metal band?

[Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 68
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in Music #1
Im a huge fan of within temptation but saw delain live this year and they blew me away charlotte from delain is sexy and so so talented.....but there is lacuna coil, epica, after forever, nightwish

peoples thoughts please

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    [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 5,105
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    #2
    Delain are amazing! And Charlotte doesn't do that weird thing with her hands that Sharon always does. :D Don't get me wrong, I love her but the Sharon-dance makes me want to rip out my fingernails. I definitely prefer Dutch symphonic metal (including Within Temptation) to the Scandinavian variety. I don't really get why Nightwish are more well-known.

    I assume you've heard of Tristania (more gothic)? Tombstone (more celtic/proggish) are pretty cool too.

    Within Temptation at their best are hard to beat though.
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    Scratchy7929Scratchy7929 Posts: 3,252
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    #3
    Don't forget Symphonic Metal covers a more diverse field that what you have mentioned above.You seem to limiting it to Femme Metal / Operatic vocal lead (Lacuna Coil probably not in that grouping - new stuff has gone in a Nu-metal direction even).Although, you could say alot of these groups have the odd death metal grunt in their mix along the way (not something I am that keen on).
    Just listened to After Forever's album before they split up - one of the best examples of Operatic Femme Metal I have heard.This has made me want to check out Floor Hansen's new group Revamp latest offering - which is supposed to be less Operatic (not listened to yet though).I think Stream of Passion sound better or equal to some of the groups you have mentioned above also.Don't forget Tarja Turunen's solo effort's - the biggest initial influence on the singing style of the genre.There are probably loads of other's out there which I haven't got around to listening to yet - there are loads out there !!!! (Too many ????)
    My interest in the area has mainly been due to one of my favourite groups The Gathering.Anneke van Giersbergen is probably one of the leading figures in the early developement of the Femme Metal (operatic) genre (big influence on early Lacuna Coil), although she has rarely sung in that style truely on record.Other related groups I think are a good listen / interesting are Autumn & Kingfisher Sky (both on the progressive side which I prefer).
    Not to keen on Symphonic Power Metal sub-genre - therefore don't particularly like alot of Nightwish's stuff - not all though.Alot of these groups tend to over rely on power metal to my personal taste.
    Oh! Yes there's Ayreon (Arjen Anthony Lucassen other projects) who often cover the symphonic / operatic metal sub-genre.

    If anybody want's to research (& hopefully listen) further please check below out - loads of other internet sites out there as well (good start though).

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_metal
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphonic_metal#Symphonic_power_metal
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_symphonic_metal_bands
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    JasonJason Posts: 76,557
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    #4
    may i just say .. mmmmmmmm .. sharon den adel .. :D

    i was aware of delain but hadn't really heard their stuff until i heard "april rain" which I thought was brilliant.
    Scratchy7929 wrote: »
    My interest in the area has mainly been due to one of my favourite groups The Gathering.

    I head this when I worked in Amsterdam about 12 or 13 years ago and it remains one of my all time favourite songs.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1jX8icLHtU

    Scuzz used to do an hour of symphonic metal every sunday night, but it got to a point where they'd show most of Within Temptation's back catalogue, interspersed with some Lacuna Coil.

    Oh, and Sharon Den Adel .. mmmmmmmmmmmmm :)
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    eugenespeedeugenespeed Posts: 66,695
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    #5
    I do love a bit of symphonic metal.

    One little thing that makes me laugh, in a good way, that I thought I'd share with you.

    This is a fantastic track by Delain called The Gathering. Pay attention to chunky guitar riff that kicks in about 30 secs in, and repeats occasionally during the song.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nExce26tXs

    Brilliant track there, if you weren't awake on a Saturday morning, you are now.

    Anyway

    Bit of classic southern metal, the mighty Pantera, and becoming. The main riff kicks in after a few seconds

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DcuJBM9xbw

    Anyone notice a similarity :)

    Anyway, both good tracks and I think I'll slap them both on the iPod before I go out :D
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    MattyHustedMattyHusted Posts: 74
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    #6
    Cant go wrong with Nightwish but more tarja era than annette
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    J.R HartleyJ.R Hartley Posts: 272
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    #7
    Nightwish

    Also Metallica did some work with a 100 piece philamonic orchestra and it was brilliant
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    darkjedimasterdarkjedimaster Posts: 18,621
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    #8
    brian_clough_is wrote: »
    Im a huge fan of within temptation but saw delain live this year and they blew me away charlotte from delain is sexy and so so talented.....but there is lacuna coil, epica, after forever, nightwish

    peoples thoughts please

    Thank you so much for suggesting Delain, I have just had a look & they are great.

    Their cover of Bronski Beat "Smalltown Boy" is 1 of the best covers ever :)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TV36HQ_YC0&feature=fvw
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    yorkieUKyorkieUK Posts: 2,159
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    #9
    The Sensational Alex Harvey Band had quite a number of "symphonic and theatrical works" long before bands like Kiss and even Alice Cooper.

    Alex use to encourage the band to play like an orchestra apparently. I have to admit I am not quite sure what that really means but take a look/listen at these:

    Vambo
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X362odPkcs

    Isobel Goudie
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0EmUnspgqA
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    A321A321 Posts: 6,363
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    #10
    I really like Scar Symmetry, but I think they are more melodic death metal?
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    [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 323
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    #11
    I'm not a huge fan of symphonic metal, but bands like Cradle of Filth and Chthonic have symphonic/orchestral touches to their music (mainly synths, but with some live instruments).
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    ags_ruleags_rule Posts: 19,608
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    #12
    Anyone heard Tarja's new album?

    The opening track, 'Anteroom of Death', is an absolutely genius piece of music. Going from thrashy riffs to a sort of medievil acoustic breakdown, it's immense!
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    [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 1,269
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    #13
    Kamelot and At Vance are superb - lean toward Power Metal more so though.
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    Glawster2002Glawster2002 Posts: 15,215
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    #14
    ags_rule wrote: »
    Anyone heard Tarja's new album?

    The opening track, 'Anteroom of Death', is an absolutely genius piece of music. Going from thrashy riffs to a sort of medievil acoustic breakdown, it's immense!

    Yes, it is brilliant - she was great @ The Shepherd's Bush Empire last month too.

    Delain are really good as are a a Swiss band called Lunatica.

    There's also a really good british band called Pythia, whos singer is one of the Mediaeval Babes.
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    [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 739
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    #15
    Symphony X and Dream theater without a doubt for me
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    Glawster2002Glawster2002 Posts: 15,215
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    #16
    mvood wrote: »
    Symphony X and Dream theater without a doubt for me

    Two more good calls!!

    It will be interesting to see what Dream Theater do now they need a new drummer!!!
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    skunkboy69skunkboy69 Posts: 9,506
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    #17
    Apocolyptica play Metallica on cello's.And Beatallica mash up Metallica with the Beatles which is rather amusing and worth a listen for the laugh factor.
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