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- Nightwish. 1,373 votes. Nightwish, a Finnish symphonic metal band, has consistently pushed the boundaries of the genre since their formation in 1996. Integrating classical elements, intricate orchestrations, and soaring melodies, they create epic soundscapes that are both powerful and enchanting.
- Epica. 962 votes. Epica, hailing from the Netherlands, has been a formidable force in the symphonic metal scene since their inception in 2002. Combining dynamic, complex arrangements with hauntingly beautiful female vocals, and aggressive growls, Epica presents an engaging duality that defines their sound.
- Within Temptation. 971 votes. Within Temptation has made their mark as one of symphonic metal's most successful and influential bands. Formed in 1996, the Dutch group masterfully fuses rich orchestration, gothic undertones, and a powerful rock sensibility to create a truly immersive sound.
- Kamelot. 528 votes. Kamelot, an American-based symphonic metal band, has been captivating fans since the early 1990s with their blend of progressive, power, and symphonic metal elements.
- Blind Guardian – Nightfall in Middle-Earth
- Rhapsody – Symphony of Enchanted Lands
- Haggard – Awaking The Centuries
- Symphony X – V: The New Mythology Suite
- Therion – Secret of The Runes
- After Forever – Decipher
- Within Temptation – The Silent Force
- Kamelot – The Black Halo
- Nightwish – Dark Passion Play
- Epica – The Quantum Enigma
Though some may claim they have more in common with power metal, Blind Guardian also deserve a place on any roll call of symphonic metal’s finest, thanks largely to the way they compose and arrange their songs. Wallowing in its weighty subject matter of Tolkien’s The Silmarillion, …Middle-Earth provides a banquet of medieval/folk, speed/power metal...
Few albums have attained a finer, cleaner blend of orchestral sounds and heavy metal than Symphony Of Enchanted Lands. Though somewhat inferior, its eventual sequel was anointed by an appearance from fanboy Christopher Lee. However, the original is equal parts Conan The Barbarian and Last Night Of The Proms. Italy’s Rhapsody (later legally forced t...
The name of Haggardmay be unfamiliar to casual fans of symphonic metal but the Germans have existed since the 1990s, albeit in more death metal-style earlier incarnations. While rivals tend to utilise keys for orchestral effect, Haggard prefer to keep it real, their line-up pretty much a revolving door of players, most of whom wield traditional med...
New Jersey’s Symphony Xhave been blending symphonic, neo-classical and power metal with progressive elements for more than two decades to create some of the most striking and colourful music around. A conceptual piece dealing with the story of Atlantis, ancient Egyptian mythology and astrological possibilities, their fifth album doffed its feathere...
Therion remain the original and – the purists would have you believe – the best of all the symphonic metal acts. Named in honour of Celtic Frost’s second album To Mega Therion, the Swedes have been led by multi-instrumentalist Christofer Johnsson since 1987. While others have prospered by ‘sexing-up’ the genre’s principles, the Therion experience r...
The second album from this pioneering and much-missed Dutch outfit, who ran from 1995 to 2009, Decipher employed live classical instruments and a full choir to complement the stirring soprano delivery of Floor Jansen (now, of course, with Nightwish). Soon afterwards Mark Jansen quit, taking his growled co-vocals along to the guitarist’s next band o...
Three albums in, Holland’s Within Temptation began to discard the doomier baggage of their early days, settling upon a uplifting symphonic-based style that was rendered all the more saleable by the irresistible voice and presence of Sharon den Adel. Later on they would infuse more gothic elements and in a career nadir indulge in a regrettable dalli...
Featuring cameos from Epica’s Simone Simons and Stratovarius/Blackmore’s Rainbow keysman Jens Johansson among others, The Black Halo was the seventh album from these Americans. The conclusion of two conceptual pieces inspired by Goethe’s Faust, it picked up where predecessor Epica had left off some two years earlier. Tracks such as March Of Mephist...
Debate over the merits of the three female lead vocalists employed by Nightwish will most likely rage forever, though their current frontwoman Floor Jansen is probably the best. Dark Passion Play may feature the Finnish group’s least popular singer, Anette Olzon, but it’s their finest set of songs, the Swedes’ melodic approach being perfectly suite...
This fine Dutch band has played a crucial part in the development of symphonic metal via a string of consistently impressive releases, but with The Quantum Enigma– their sixth studio record – Epica raised the bar to a whole different level, hiring a live chamber choir and a string orchestra to enhance a collection of tunes that is uniformly strong....
- Dave Ling
- Nightwish - Once. Was there even an ounce of doubt that a Nightwish with Tarja Turunen on vocals would take a top spot on this list? And interestingly enough, we have the final record that the band recorded with Tarja, 2004's "Once."
- Blind Guardian - A Night at the Opera. Over the years, Blind Guardian made their name synonymous with power metal and symphonic metal. And it's no wonder at all – just take a listen to their 7th studio album, "A Night at the Opera."
- Wintersun - Time I. Now getting nearer to the top of this list, we have Wintersun with their second album "Time I." With a guitar master and a wonderful vocalist Jari Mäenpää, you can't expect to have a weak record at all.
- Rhapsody - Symphony of Enchanted Lands. Back in the old days, when Rhapsody of Fire was Rhapsody, they marched on to define the exact characteristics of power metal.
THE 25 GREATEST SYMPHONIC METAL ALBUMS. It’s become one of metal’s most enduring subgenres - and it’s even spawned some of our biggest bands. Grab your keyboard and come dig inside some classics WORDS: HYWEL DAVIES, MALCOLM DOME, ELEANOR GOODMAN, CHRIS CHANTLER, CONNIE GORDON, SPENCER GRADY, ADAM REES, JONATHAN SELZER.
- Metal Hammer
- Ihsahn - IHSAHN. February 16, 2024. Progressive Metal, Symphonic Metal. Critic Score 85 9 reviews. Amazon. Music. Spotify.
- Lorna Shore - Pain Remains. October 14, 2022. Deathcore, Symphonic Metal. Critic Score 83 9 reviews. Amazon. Music. Spotify.
- Nightwish - Endless Forms Most Beautiful. March 25, 2015. Symphonic Metal. Critic Score 81 5 reviews. Amazon. Music.
- Delain - Apocalypse & Chill. February 7, 2020. Symphonic Metal. Critic Score 80 5 reviews. Amazon. Music. Spotify.
Sep 6, 2024 · The list below showcases a diverse number of symphonic metal bands, including symphonic black metal, symphonic power metal, symphonic death metal, and symphonic progressive metal bands. If you are a fan of this metal subgenre, you will have something to say. Feel free to express your views and opinions in the comments section.
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Jun 17, 2024 · Symphonic Metal History. Symphonic metal emerged in the mid-1990s, blending the power and aggression of heavy metal with the grandeur of classical music. Pioneers of this genre, such as Therion and Nightwish, set the stage with their innovative use of orchestral elements and operatic vocals. Therion’s “Theli” (1996) and Nightwish’s ...
