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What is Symphonic Metal?
Well, naturally it is one of the many raindrops under the metal umbrella. It combines elements of classical música with orchestral music, gótico music, opera, and of course metal music. Sometimes it can actually include the folk/Celtic elements. Lyrically, Symphonic Metal is usually enchanting with themes of nature and sometimes fantasy. It's really poetic. Guitars, keyboards, drums, keyboards, violins...Symphonic Metal has it all. Typically the vocals are clean and powerful, and of course very pleasing to the ear. Speaking of vocals; it is actually a strikingly common trend for the band to consist of all males on the instruments and a wonderful lead female vocalist. A vocalist who may or may not be accompanied por a segundo vocalist who does the 'death-metal'esque growls. The genre popularized in the early 90's when a band called Believer released a song called Dies Irae. This song would later influence bands like Therion and Nightwish. It was in 1997 when Nightwish dropped their first album--and it is worth mentioning that, that is when Within Temptation released their first album. This is when the genre really took off.
Based on personal experience the fandom is really nice and accepting. And the show, concerto experiences are lovely; I find myself meeting great people at them (a few of which I still talk to via Facebook). And if you aren't one for rough moshing crowds, there's another perk of Symphonic Metal for you.
Every genre has it's 'big 3' so who are the big 3 of Symphonic metal? Well two of them have already been mentioned:
Within Temptation
por now everyone has probably seen me go rambling on about Within Temptation. They are a group from the Netherlands formed in 1996. The band is fronted por thee beautiful and wonderful Sharon antro, den Adel. At this point in time they have released 6 ear-pleasing albums (Enter, Mother Earth, The Silent Force, coração Of Everything, The Unforgiving, and Hydra) as well as an acoustic album. Within Temptation has been described as many things; in their early years as doom metal to Silent Force where they were described as mais gothic-influenced. Within Temptation didn't really take off until 2001 though, when they released the song Ice Queen. That song acted as their break though. And with Sharon's angelic voice they are still playing strong, and as of 2015 on a world tour.
Check them out for yourselves:
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Epica
Epica, originally to be called Sahara Dust, the band was founded in 2002 and remains to this dia an grand example of what Symphonic Metal is. The band features the wonderful fiery-haired Simone Simons, whose high notes are killer (in a good way)! Epica has put out 6 fantastic albums; Phantom Agony, Cosign To Oblivion, The Divine Conspiracy, design Your Universe, Requiem for the Indifferent, and Quantum Enigma. Lyrically, Epica is known for having deep messages--quite heavily science influenced. I mean their latest album is named for string theory! With their philosophical themes, Epica certainly has earned their band name. Like Within Temptation, they are a Dutch band. Hence why I would like to mover to the Netherlands, they have all the cool bands.
Listen for yourself:
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Nightwish
The last (but equally as amazing) of the big three is Nightwish. Founded in Finland in the ano 1996, Nightwish is perhaps the most well-known of the Symphonic Metal bands. Nightwish has had three stellar vocalists (Tarja Turunen, Anette Olzon, and Floor Jansen) who each bought their own unique sound and talents to the band. Nightwish has released the most albums of the 3. por name these 8 albums are: anjos Fall First, Oceanborn, Wishmaster Century Child, Once, Dark Passion Play, Imaginaerum,
and Endless Forms Most Beautiful (released just this year). Onceborn being the album that popularized them on a global scale.
Fill your ears with joy:
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(They get 3 so you can hear all of the vocalists)
Other Bands
Naturally there are mais than three Symphonic Metal bands to grace your ears with and love. Some other noteworthy bands who are just as astounding as the big 3; Therion, Delain, Sirenia, Xandria, and Leaves Eyes. seguinte to Within Temptation, Delain is my personal favorite.
What is Folk/Celtic Metal?
I usually put these two together since they are (in my opinion) so stylistically similar. Like Symphonic Metal they clearly fall under the metal category. Surprise, surprise Folk/Celtic Metal is influenced por traditional Folk/Celtic música with a blend of rock and metal. These two genres are also closely related to pagan metal, doom metal, and sometimes even black metal. Heck they are even associated with power metal and 'viking metal'. I have found that lyrically that Folk/Celtic metal speaks of nature and the world around us. A good many of the bands choose to sing in their native tongue unlike the Symphonic Metal bands (who sing a few songs--if that--in their native language but mostly in English). Like Symphonic Metal, the genre emerged in the 90's. But it didn't catch on until the 2000's, most popularly in Finland.
Again based on personal experience; the Folk/Celtic metal crowd is pretty tame. There's a bit mais moshing than with Symphonic Metal, but it is a far cry from the crazy crowds at death metal concerts.
Like the above; Folk/Celtic metal has it's popular bands. I'll admit I'm not as familiar with this genre as I am Symphonic Metal so I did my best to pick out some well-knowns.
Eluveitie
Eluveitie was founded in 2002 in Switzerland. The band features some clean, smooth, and beautiful vocals from Anna Murphy and harsh growls from lead vocalist Chrigel Glanzmann. At this point in time, the band has 6 albums; Spirit, Slania, Evocation I: The Arcane Dominion, Everything Remains (As It Never Was), Helvetios, and Origins. As mentioned, these guys sing mais in the Gaulish language than in English. But there are definitely some English songs to be found on their albums. In fact their band name derived from "graffiti on a vessel from Mantua." They released their first EP in 2003 and popularized around 2008, they still play strong today. Lead singer Glanzmann describes them as "The new wave of folk metal".
Give them a go:
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Ensiferum
Ensiferum is a Finnish band that formed in '95. They like to add the term 'melodic' to 'Folk Metal' when describing their style. Fronted por Markus Toivonen, they have released 6 albums; Ensiferum,
Iron, Victory Songs, From Afar, Unsung Heroes, One Man Army. With their name meaning 'sword baring' and their album names in mind you wouldn't be wrong in guessing that their theme is of the war nature.
Have some songs;
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Korpiklaani
And finally we have Korpiklaani (once called Shaman), another Finish group founded in 1993. They take a less serious play on Folk/Celtic metal with their party & alcohol themes. They have released a whopping 12 albums: Hunka Lunka, Idja, Shamániac, Spirit of the Forest, Voice of Wilderness,Tales Along This Road, Tervaskanto, Korven Kuningas, Karkelo, Ukon Wacka,
Manala, and Noita. What can I say, these guys go hard! And all of their efforts paid off because they are a truly awesome band.
Fill your ear-holes with Korpiklaani:
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Other bands
Of course I won't leave you with just these theree bands. Some other bands worth listening to are; Finntroll, Elvenkings, Hyubris, Mago De Oz, and (the female fronted) Lyriel.
To be honest I can't talk about Folk/Celtic Metal without going to their equally as stunning roots. Some Folk/Celtic singers and bands worth a listen; Omnia, Moon and the Night Spirit, and Loreena McKennitt.
