Now for all you metalheads especially, who are some of your favorite symphonic metal bands or ones that you enjoy the most? Also which symphonic metal band was the first one you come across? The first one that you listened to?
The VERY first symphonic metal band that I’ve ever come across and listened to was either Nightwish or Within Temptation for me here. At the same time they’re currently the ones that I enjoy listening to the most as well as have the most exposure to
A duet with Tarja, formerly of Nightwish/former member of Nightwish. Now that’s what I called SYMPHONIC METAL at its finest. At the same time they put the “symphonic” in symphonic metal
Within temptation since they are from Holland like me and thought they made wonderful music, wasnt previously really aware of the music genre…
The a friend who noted my interest introduced me to nightwish and it has been one of my top 5 musical acts ever since. Now the lead singer is dutch aswell I’ve know her since she was a singe in another symphonic metal band called After Forever, where I fell in love with her voice.
Current singer (last album) from Nightwish is Floor (Dutch) the previous 2 albums the singer was Anette (or something like it) the first 4 albums were Tarja.
I enjoy Within Temptation. I don’t have a ton of stuff from them, but songs like “Faster,” “Ice Queen,” and the above mentioned “Paradise” are all pretty awesome in my book!
Would the Trans Siberian Orchestra be considered symphonic metal? Probably not lol. Either way, “Christmas Eve Sarajevo” is freakin awesome.
Other non-symphonic metal bands that I enjoy:
Trivium (their Ascendency album is one of the best metal albums I’ve ever heard)
Slipknot
In Flames
Skindred (if you like reggae metal, their Babylon album has some great tracks on it)
Lamb of God
All That Remains
Killswitch Engage
Lacuna Coil
Avenged Sevenfold
Sevendust
Five Finger Death Punch
Children of Bodom
Hatebreed
Mushroomhead
I also like a few songs by Chimaira, like “Salvation” and a few by Shadows Fall as well.
More Rock than Metal:
Tool (ie the best band of the last 30 years)
Rise Against (the best Chicago export since deep dish pizza)
Also have that song “Paranoia” by A Day to Remember and “Stuck in Your Head” by I Prevail umm, stuck in my head lately.
Tarja received a letter from the band (an open letter since it was also later published online, look it up) where the band states they cant go on with her because of different reasons (things to do with her friend/husband and how it took time away from the band and that she always wanted more money, etc…)
Tanja replied with a decent letter of her own (also can be found online)…
The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle…
Their follow up singer Anette Olzon was also fired from the band though…I personally suspect the band is pretty passionate about their music (and I feel that shines through pretty clearly) and when one of their members doesnt or cant give that same 110% then it ends up a problem…
Whether or not thats fair or a good thing…
Personally I ended up liking Anette Olzons 2 cd’s the best…